Winona County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 23 of those read), 1883

A Bloody Conflict

During the winter and spring Jolmson had made his headquarters at the house he had built on Front street for the use of Andrew Cole, which he afterward sold to him. He, however, made his home with John Evans, whose daughter, Abigal M. Evans, he married later in the season. He usually spent his evenings at Evans' when on the prairie. Johnson became impatient at the delay in the trial of his suit against Simonds, and while at supper one evening he remarked that he would have to go down to the lower claim and "clean them out" himself if he ever expected to get possession. He soon after started for the village. This indicated another claim-fight. Johnson "cleaned them out "that night. The particulars of this fight were related to the writer by Royal B. Evans, a son of John Evans, who took part in the affray. Mr. Evans says : "It was about the middle of May or a little after that Johnson shot Simonds. I came home rather late that day and found that the rest of the family had been to supper ; they wer6 talking about Johnson, who had just gone down to tlie village. Father said Johnson would get into trouble if he attempted to drive Simonds and Charlie Hamilton off from the lower claim without he had some help. My sister wanted I should find him and tell him that father wished to see him.

"After supper I went down to the landing ; a steamboat had just come up and almost everybody living on the prairie was on the levee. Simonds and Charlie Hamilton were conspicuous, but Johnson was not there. John McDermott told me he saw him going back on the prairie just after the boat landed. It was then dark. I expected I should find him at the lower claim, and went down there in search of him. As I approached the Simonds shanty Jolmson hailed me and ordered me to halt. I answered him and he told me to come in. Johnson said he expected to have a fight and was ready for them. He had a Colt's rifle and an old 'pepper box ' pistol. I had brought nothing with me, not even a club. He said that when he saw Simonds and Hamilton up at the village he went and got his gun and pistol and started. We sat down in front of the shanty and examined them ; they had not been used in a long time. The rifle was out of repair and would not work. Finding it was of no use, he took the barrel off and stood it beside the door, saying, ' That will do to use as a club. '

"About ten o'clock we heard some one coming down the prairie, and knew that it was Simonds by his loud voice. Johnson hailed them to stop, and threatened them if they adv^anced. He then snapped two caps on the pistol without a discharge. They came on to where we were standing, near the shanty, when Simonds pitched at Johnson and they two had a regular fist-tight, which lasted some time. Charlie and I looked on without doing anything. We were about the same age and size. Simonds was much the larger and stronger man, and was too much for Johnson. They clinclied, and Johnson, finding that Simonds had the advantage, drew his pistol and shot him. The ball passed through the muscles of the forearm and broke the bone above the elbow. They continued clinched for awhile after, when Simonds called for Hamilton to take him off. Hamilton caught Johnson by the throat and tried to choke him. I then attacked (.harlie with my tists and knocked him down."

"It was a still, clear, starlight night, and the noise made while the fight was going on was heard at Hamilton's house, where some one halloed in return. Simonds called to them to bring his shotgun. Elder Hamilton and Jake McDermott came up just after Charlie and I had had our set-to ; Johnson kept back out of sight. Simonds complained of being faint, and asked the elder to take him over to his house. I had not received any very hard blows, but Johnson, as well as the other two, had been severely pounded.

"Elder Hamilton took hold of Simonds and supported his wounded arm, while I took hold of him on the other side to help take him to Hamilton's house. Just as we started, Charlie Hamilton attacked me from behind with a club - one of the oak stakes used in surveying the plot. He hit me once before I turned, and then struck me once or twice across the face, cutting me severely before McDermott separated us. McDermott then helped the elder take Simonds home. Not hearing anything of Johnson I went over to Hamilton's to see what was going on there. A steamboat chanced to be coming down and the elder signaled them with his lantern to stop at his landing, intending to send Simonds to La Crosse. A doctor on board examined and dressed the wounded arm, and word was sent by the boat to La Crosse to have a surgeon come up from there. The elder washed the blood oif from my head and face and bandaged up nay wounds. The scalp-cut on the back of my head was the worst, but my face was badly cut and bruised. I then went back down the prairie in search of Johnson. While I was up at Hamilton's he had torn the shanty down, and thrown it and everything belonging to it into the river. We then went up home ; Johnson was living with us. The next morning we were both arrested by McDermott, the constable. After we had had our breakfast he took us down to Squire Gere's office, where we were detained some time, when the justice decided that the examination could not go on without the testimony of Simonds, and adjourned the court to H. S. Hamilton's house. Johnson refused to walk down there. Squire Gere then sent the constable to find a conveyance. We walked down toward the river, when the justice called to us not to go away, but stay around where we could be found when McDermott came back. Johnson made no reply - I told him I was not going very far away. Johnson went over to* Andrew Cole's house to change his clothes. Mr. Cole was then absent. I went home, had my wounds dressed and went to bed, where I slept until the next morning. I then came down to the justice's office and was discharged from custody."

Considerable excitement was arous/ed over the matter by the new town site company, and when Johnson failed to make his appearance Sheriff lams was sent to tind him and bring him before the court. The sheriff got trace of him at Minnesota City, and overtook him at Hall's landing, below the mouth of the White Water, where he was waiting for a steamboat to come along. Johnson left the river and went up the bluff with the sheriff' after him. Johnson could outrun and outclimb the sheriff, and when beyond reach he stopped and told lams if he came any farther he would send some loose rocks down on him. The sheriff went back to the trail and watched for Johnson to again make his appearance. He was compelled to return without his prisoner. Johnson succeeded in reaching the river without being observed. The steamboats at that time would land anywhere if hailed by a passenger. Johnson went to St. Paul, where he secured counsel and returned to have the case disposed of and settled in some manner. He delivered himself up, and no one appearing against him he was discharged from custody. Simonds had been detained on the prairie to await the examination,

As soon as Captain Smith learned of the shooting of Simonds by Johnson he sent liis son S. J. Smith liere to take charge of matters. By the advice of John Evans it was deemed necessary to put up a shanty on the lower claim to hold possession. Mr. Smith secured the services of Mr. Evans and his son Royal, and took a load of lumber down to build a cabin. He was met there by Mr, Stevens from La Crosse, one of the proprietors of the new town, who warned him not to attempt to occupy it, for they should defend their rights to the claim. Mr. Smith decided not to have any more lighting, but trust to the law for redress. He ordered the lumber taken back to the upper landing, notwithstanding the protests of Mr. Evans, who asserted that he could stand as much shooting as they could. Mr, Smith then remained quiet at the hotel where he was stopping.

As soon as Stevens returned to La Crosse he sent Asa Hedge up, who built a shanty and took possession of the claim. The next day after he was discharged from custody Johnson went down and put up a shantj about where the one stood which Augustus Pentler once occupied. This was held by John Evans and Johnson, No collisions occurred between the occupants of the two shanties.

About a week afterward Captain Smith brought up from Galena a house ready made for claim No, 1, It was put up a few rods above where the house of Mrs, Keyes now stands. The same day Mr, Hedge went to La Crosse and his shanty was torn down. It was done by the consent of Mr, Hedge, who sold the possession of the claim to Captain Smitli for one or two lots on Front street, fronting on the levee.

Mr. Hedge at once built a small house on lot 1, block 11 - brought his family from La Crosse and made it his home for many years. He here opened a restaurant and saloon - the first saloon or place where intoxicating drinks were sold in the city of Winona. His liquors were bought up by the citizens and destroyed. The ladies were the movers in this transaction. He afterward opened his saloon with a new stock, when they were again destroyed or seized by the sherift". He afterward put up a better building and opened a grocery store, where he carried on quite a trade for two or three years. Frank D. Sloan was his clerk and salesman in the grocery business.

doing business, the following incident is noted relative to this property. In about 1856 or 1857 Mr. Hedge found it necessary to secure a loan to carry on his business. Gable & Werst, money loaners and dealers in real estate, advanced him $5, 000 and took a mortgage on the lot and store to secure the payment of his notes drawing two per cent per month. As a matter of course Mr. Hedge failed in business and the property was sold under the mortgage. . How much Gable and Werst posted to profit and loss in this transaction is unknown. They held the property for many years.

Among the early arrivals this season were Ithael Hamilton, the father, and Enoch 0. Hamilton, the brother, of H. S. Hamilton, and Erastus H. Murray, a brother-in-law. Harvey Hubbard and John I. Hubbard were also relatives of the Hamiltons.

Enoch C. Hamilton made a claim where the city hospital is now located. His claim shanty stood twenty oi- thirty rods south of the building now used as a hospital. While living here the house was struck by lightning, during a severe thunderstorm on Sunday, June 19, 1853, and his wife instantly killed.

Mrs. Hamilton opened a select school, which she had been teaching for a week or two previous to her death. This may with a great deal of propriety be called the first school on the prairie. Tlie school opened in Mrs. Goddard's shanty, in 1852, by Miss Gere, then a girl of fourteen or fifteen, was hardly entitled to mention as an institution for instruction. Mrs. Hamilton was an experienced school-teacher. She left three children, Alvin, Alice and Julia. Previous to her marriage Miss Alice Hamilton was for many years a well known teacher in the public schools of the city of Winona.

Mr. Hamilton married again and pre-empted his claim as a homestead. It is now known as E. C. Hamilton's addition. Mr. Hamilton, with his second family, is now living at Minnesota City.

Harvey and John I. Hubbard built two large dwelling-houses on what is now block 5, Hamilton's addition, which they occupied for several years. None of their families are now residents of this county.

Erastus H. Murray bought the Viets House, and improved it by putting on additions in the rear, finishing off the second story, and building a good frame barn on the rear of the lot. He made it a comfortable hotel, although limited in capacity, to accommodate the traveling public. He i^iive it the name of " Winona House," and kept it until early in the spring of 1854, when he sold it to Charles Eaton, who came here at that time. The following June Mr. Eaton sold out his interest in the Winona House to S. H. Lombard, a recent arrival, and moved upon his claim, where George I. Parsons now lives. He is now a citizen of St. Paul. S. H. Lombard kept the Winona House a year or two, when he leased or sold it. The building was burned in the big fire of 1862. Mr. Lombard is yet a resident of Winona.

Mr. Murray built a dwelling on Fourth street, which is yet standing and is part of the New England House. In 1854 he built a dwelling on lot 4, block 14, and also a building for a boot and shoe shop on lot 5 of the same block, on the corner of Second and Lafayette streets, where " Mues' Block" now stands. He carried on business here for two or three years with his brother, W. H. Murray. His shoe-shop was afterward used for the postoffice. Kone of Mr. Murray's family are now residents of this part of the state.

Warren Rowell became a resident of this county in April, 1853. He landed on Wabasha prairie and staid there with his family for about a month. During that time he occupied a ])art of the shanty built by Mr. Stevens the year before for Mr. Goddard. Late in the fall Mrs. Goddard had built a house on the southeast corner of Franklin and Front streets, where she lived during the winter.

Finding no better accommodations, Mr. Kowell fixed up a part of the Stevens shanty as a place for his family to stay in for a few weeks, until he could select a location suitable for a farm. The other end of the shanty (a long building) was used as a barn, or place for the storage of hay and corn. This building was afterward burned by a prairie fire.

Mr. Rowell selected a claim next above Gorr's, in what is now Pleasant Valley, built a log house, and moved there about the first of June. Some of the settlers from the prairie went out and helped raise his cabin. The claim he made in the spring of 1853 he still occupies ; it is the farm where he now resides, and has been his home about thirty years. The claim shanty - the log cabin of early days - has been superseded by more modern buildings. Large barns and outbuildings have taken the place of the pole sheds covered with wild grass.

In May, 1853, Dr. Jolm L. Balcombe returned to Wabasha prairie from Illinois, where he had spent the winter. When he left, in the fall previous, he sold out his interest here, including his houses, to Edwin Hamilton, retaining his shanty on the acre given him by Johnson. During the winter Ed. Hamilton had used his dwelling as a stable. When the doctor resumed possession he found it more economical and agreeable to move the cabin to a new locality rather than attempt to remove the refuse and renovate the building as it stood. He occupied this temporarily.

Not liking his location on the acre he had first selected, he abandoned it, and purchased lot 3 in block 9 of Smith and Johnson, for which he paid twenty dollars. The deed, a quit-claim, was made September 29, 1853, and filed for record January 25, 1854. He had had possession of the lot for two or three months previous, and built a house on it. This building fronted toward the river, and was designed for a store. It was about 20x40, two stories high. The front of the lower story was finished with large windows and folding doors. On the east side of the building a lean-to was attached, about 12x24. Before it was completed Dr. Balcombe sold this structure to Horace Kanney, but did not deliver possession of it until the spring of 1854. It was afterward known as the ''Ranney Building," and was used for quite a variety of purposes - as a private dwelling, for offices, as a hotel, and lastly as a tenement house for several families. It was burned in the fire of 1862. Early in the summer of 1853 (July 11) Dr. Balcombe bought an undivided half of twenty acres of the Beecher Gere claim, east of the eighty sold to A. M. Fridley, and of twenty acres west of the Fridley claim. The other half of these two lots was purchased by Sanborn and Colburn. He also made a claim on the upper prairie, where Charles Riley now lives. This he afterward improved, and built the farmhouse now standing, which he occupied at the time of his death, September 24, 1856. Although poor health prevented Dr. Balcombe from being prominent, he took an active interest in the development of this part of the territory and in the political questions of his day. M. Wheeler Sargent says, in his historical address, "Dr. John L. Balcombe was a man of the most extended information of any among the early settlers, * * * one of the first and hest of our early citizens."

George H. Sanborn came into the county early in the spring oi 1853 and settled on Wabasha prairie. Soon after Wm. H. Colborn came on and joined him here. About the middle of June these two young men o])ened the lirst store iii the county, with a general assortment of goods. For temporary occupancy, the "car-house" of Denman was moved to lot 5, block 10, and covered with a shingled roof. They here commenced business as Sanborn & Colborn. During the summer they built a store on the corner of the same lot, about 20x40, two stories high, and continued in business until the sj)ring of 1854, when Mr. Colborn withdrew and a new Ihrni was formed, consisting of G. H. Sanborn and M. K. Drew. E. L. King became a partner the same s])ring. They carried on the business during that season and then sold their stock of goods to Dr. Childs, who continued business for a short time in the same location. In 1855 Sanborn & King started in the forwarding and commission and wholesale and retail grocery business at the foot of Johnson street.

Mr. Sanborn in 1856 built a very large three-story building on the river, at the foot of Washington street, which was known as Sanborn's warehouse. The third story of this building was used as a hall for public meetings. It was fitted up with a stage and scenery by the Philharmonic Society soon after it was first organized, and used by them until they moved to their present location. The building was torn down many years ago by the railroad company, into whose possession the property passed.

Soon after he came here in 1853 Mr. Sanborn purchased the Viets claim and subsequently had it surveyed and plotted. It is now known as Sanborn's addition. He built his first residence on this claim in 1855, a small story-and-a-half house, on the corner of Lafayette and Wabasha streets. It is yet standing, and forms a part of the present residence of J. L. Brink. Mr. Sanborn was engaged in business for several years in Winona. About 1859 he closed up his affairs here and went east to live. He is now in Northern Dakota, where it is reported that he has made some fortunate speculations as a pioneer in that locality.

As an incident of early days, an adventure of Mr. Sanborn's, brought to the mind of the writer, is thought worthy of notice. Mr. Sanborn was the owner of a pair of fine driving-horses. One of these was a valuable horse, which he used as a saddle-horse. Although broken to harness, he had nothing that he considered suitable to drive him in during the winter. Having business in St. Paul, he adopted the idea of taking his horse with him and bringing back a stylish cutter. There was not sufficient snow to drive up, and he proposed to ride his horse to St. Paul.

On the first of January, 1855, he started on his trip, taking along a new single-harness, with blankets and a buifalo-skin, on which he proposed to ride, instead of a saddle, expecting to reach Wabasha that day. He went up Straight slough on the ice. When he reached Haddock slough, about where S. M. Burns lost his horses two years before, his horse broke through the ice, which was thin at that place, and took Mr. Sanborn into the water with him. With some difficulty he crawled out on the ice, which was brittle and gave way to his weight. He was within about twenty reds of the shore, for which he was headed wheji the accident occurred.

The day was intensely cold, with a piercing wind, and a cold bath was far from agreeable with the thermometer showing zero. His .horse remained afloat and broke the ice in his effi^rts to climb out after his master. Mr. Sanborn hastened to the shore and procured some logs of wood and rocks, with which he broke the ice and opened a channel to where the water was less than two feet deep. The intelligent animal followed him closely, but was unable to climb out on the ice. He was chilled through by the length of time he had been in the water. Mr. Sanborn was completely exhausted from the fatigue and cold, he having slipped in several times while breaking the ice.

Feeling benumbed and unable to do more for his horse, he started ofi for help. When he reached Mr. Burley's, nearly a mile below, he was almost unconscious. His clothing was frozen stiff and solid, and he was compelled to crawl on his hands and knees to reach the house. He was taken care of, and men went up to help the horse, if he was not beyond help. They found him dead. Mr. Sanborn had loosened the harness and blankets while the horse was in the deep water, and they had floated away under the ice.

Mr. Sanborn recovered from his exposure with some frost-bites, but without any serious illness following. He returned to Winona as soon as he was able to be moved, which was in a day or two after, and sent to St. Paul for his cutter, which was brought down by the mail-carrier. His second-best horse was promoted and became the pet.

some time spent in prospecting and explorations in the western part of the county, he selected a claim at the head of a small branch of the White Water, in what is now the town of St. Charles, on Sec. 10, T. 106, R. 10. He returned to Clayton county, Iowa, where his family were then living, and made his arrangement to transport them with his household goods, farming implements and live stock, up through the country to the location he had selected in Minnesota as his future home.

Mr. Davidson started with four yoke of oxen and three wagons ; these, with his cows and young stock, and a saddle-pony used to collect the cattle, made up quite an immigrant train. They came into this county on the ''old government trail," - the trail over which the Winnebagoes were taken when removed from Iowa to Long Prairie in 1848, up through Money Creek valley and out on the ridge near the head of Burns valley. They then went west, keeping on the high land to avoid the ravines leading into the Rolling Stone, to Bentleys, now Utica, and reached their destination about the first of June. They were eleven days making this trip of about 125 miles.

Mr. Davidson was the first settler to come into the county by the "overland route." He immediately set his breaking team to work and put in a field of seed-corn and planted a garden. He built a commodious log house, making a trip to Winona in the latter part of June for lumber to complete it. Until their log house was ready for occupancy they lived in camp with but temporary shelter. He raised a good crop of corn and vegetables the first season, sufhcient for his own use. The cornmeal used in his family was ground by hand in a large coffee-mill.

Mr. Davidson here opened up a large farm, and in early days was prominently active in public affairs relative to the development of the county. He was county commissioner and held other official positions. He is now a resident of the city of St. Charles.

L. H. Springer and Benjamin Langworthy landed on Wabasha prairie on May 31, 1853. They brought witli them their families and four yoke of oxen, three horses, eight cows and other animals, and also two wagons. Mr. Laird gave them the use of his shanty for temporary occupancy until they found satisfactory locations. They made claims on the White Water, and moved there with their families about the middle of June.

He built a large, substantial log bouse and comfortable stables, and opened up a farm in tliis locality. This log house was used as a hotel for two or three years. " Springer's " was a favorite stopping place for all who bad business in that vicinity. These were the only settlers in the west part of the count}' in 1853.

In the fall of 1854 L. H. Springer, George H. Sanborn and M. Wheeler Sargent, laid out the land claimed by Springer as a town site, and gave it the name of St. Charles. It was advertised as being " on the N.E. i of Sec. 19, T. 106, R 10, twenty-five miles west from Winona on the south fork of the Meniska or White Water river, in the midst of as good farming lands as can be found anywhere." Mr. Springer was prominently active in all measures to promote the general good. He, with William Davidson, was the first to open a wagon trail from St. Charles to Winona. Mr. Springer lived at St. Charles for several years and then removed to Olmsted county, where he yet resides.

Alexander McClintock came into the county this season and settled on a claim in the south Eolling Stone valley, above Putnams. He built a log house, and pre-empted this as a homestead after, and lived here with his family for several years, until his death. None of his family are now residents of the county.

Henry D. Huff" landed on Wabasha prairie Sunday, June 26, 1853. He stopped at the Winona House, then kept by E. H. Murray. It was supposed at the time that he came to assume charge of Capt. Smith's interest in the town, which his son, S. J. Smith, was then here flooking after. He purchased an undivided interest in the original town plot of Smith and Johnson, and later in the season also purchased the claim of Ed. Hamilton - claim No. 5. Hamilton had previously sold undivided interests to others ; Mark Howard held a third ; David Olmsted and Orlando Stevens held an interest. Through an arrangement with Hamilton and the others the whole claim was transferred to Mr. Huff, who at once had it surveyed and plotted, and recorded with the plot of Smith and Johnson's claim as the "original plot" of the city of Winona.

Mr. Huff built the cottage now occupied by Lafayett Stout, near the corner of Fourth and Huff streets, and brought bis family here. He lived in this cottage for several years, when he built the house on the same corner now owned and occupied by Hon. H. W. Lamberton, in which he resided until he left Minnesota. From the first of his coming here he was prominently active in all public enterprises.

Mr. Ilutt'liiul ])een in morct\ntile business in Kenosha, and a dealer in real estate, before coming here. He had prior to that passed some years of pioneer life in Wisconsin and Illinois, and was familiar with early settlements in towns and country. His experience, with his natural sagacity and enterprise and his indomitable will power, made him a leader in all public matters or affairs in which others were associated with him. His interests were intimately coimected with the development and j)ros])erity of the county and cit}' of Winona. There was no one among the pioneer settlers who accomplished so much by his individual efforts to build up the city of Winona as Henry D. Huff". To him more than to any other person this city is justly indebted for its early prosperity and many of its present advantages. It was by him that the name of Winona was substituted for that of Montezuma, [t was through his efforts that Fillmore county was divided and Winona county created with the county seat at the vilUige of Winona.

Mr. Huff' started the second newspaper in Winona - the first was the "Winona Argus," edited by Wm. Ashley Jones. The first issue was September 20, 1854. In April, 1855, Mr. Huff' issued the first number of the "Winona Express," edited by W. Creek. In November, 1855, Mr. Huff' sold the establishment to W. G. Dye & Co., who started the "Winona Kepublican." Soon after D. Sinclair became connected with it, and the paper has since been continuously issued under that name by D. Sinclair & Co. with the addition of a daily yjaper.

Huff's Hotel was built by Mr. Huff' in 1855. In 1867 he built a large flouring-mill near Youmans Bros. & Hodgins' sawmill. It was built at a cost of about $25,000, and was burned a few years after. He was one of tlie stockholders in the original Transit Railroad Company.

The time set by .Tudge A. G. Chatfield for holding the first session of a district court in what was then Fillmore county was at Wabasha prairie, on Monday, June 27, 1853, but the judge failed to reach Winona on that day. On Tuesday, June 28, he arrived with quite a large party of ladies and gentlemen from St. Paul, among whom were two attorneys, L. A. Babcock and H. L. Moss. He opened court in the Winona House. Wm. B. Gere was appointed clerk of the court. The petit jury was dismissed. The grand jury was organized and held a sitting on that day. On Wednesday, June 29. the grand jury made a presentment in the case of Erwin H. Johnson, for the shooting of Isaac W. Simonds, and indicted S. M. Burns, of Mt. Vernon (Hall's landing), for selling liquor to the Indians. They were dismissed at noon on that day and the court adjourned. This was the lirst district court held in southern Minnesota. In the afternoon Judge Chatfield, with the party from St. Paul, visited Minnesota City and the valley of the Rolling Stone.

John lams was the sheriff in attendance on the court. It is said that the sheriff brought his dinner with him from home each day. On the first day, as he approached the crowd assembled around the Winona House, he was greeted by W. T. Luark, who, with a laugh of ridicule, cried out, ''Here comes the great high sheriff" of Fillmore county with his dinner pail on his arm !" At noon the same crowd saw the sheriff and Mr. Luark sitting on the bank of the river eating their dinner from the dinner-bucket of the sheriff", and washing it down with river water.

Grove W. Willis came to Wabasha prairie about the first of July of this year. Before coming here he had been promised the position of clerk of the court by Judge Chatfield, but on account of his failure to arrive in time to attend to the duties of the office, the Judge was compelled to appoint Wm. B. Gere to the place. When Judge Chatfield was notified that Mr. Willis was at Winona awaiting his order, he revoked the appointment of Gere and gave the position to Mr. Willis, who was appointed clerk of the district court about the 7th of July.

Mr. Willis brought his family here and rented the building on Front street built by Dr. Balcombe (the Ranney building ), where he lived during the winter. He used the lean-to of the building as his office. The same room was also used as a schoolroom for a select school kept by his daughter, now Mrs. Giliett, living in the village of Chatfield. This school is really entitled to be called the first fully established school taught in Winona. It was kept three or four months with about twenty-five pupils.

Mr. Willis lived at Winona during the winter and moved to Chatfield in the spring of 1854. About ten or twelve years ago he returned to Winona, and has since made it his home.

John Keyes came to Winona on September 12, 1853. He landed with his wife and two children at Hamilton's, on the lower end of the prairie. He bought an undivided one-eighth of H. S. Hamilton's claim, and lived in a part of his house durinijj the winter and following; summer. While living here he procured timber and lumber to build a house on the upper part of the claim next below where the Hubbards built their houses. The following season he became dissatisfied with his investment with Mr. Hamilton, and having an opportunity purchased the interest of Cajjtain Smith in claim No. 1, the lower claim. The claim had been divided between Smith and Johnson, Johnson taking the west part, leaving the eastern portion for Captain Smith.

Mr. Keyes at once put up a shanty and took possession. He moved his family there about September 1, 1854, and the same fall built the house in which he lived nearly a score of years before he built the brick house (to which the old one is attached) where his family now resides. John Keyes died in November, 1877. Mr. Keyes was a lawyer by profession, and held his office in his house when he commenced business here. In the fall of 1855 he was appointed clerk in the United States land office by L. D. Smith, the receiver, and continued in that position until the spring of 1857, after the land office was removed to Faribault. He then resumed the practice of law. His office was in a small building on the levee near the Winona House, owned and occupied by John A. Mathews as a real estate and loan office. In 1862 this office was burned. He was afterward one of the firm of Sargent, Franklin & Keyes, and at the time of his death one of the law firm of Keyes & Snow.

From an early day Mr. Keyes took a great interest in the public schools of the city of Winona. He was a director and clerk of the board from the time the first district school was opened until long after the present system was established. The city of Winona is more indebted to John Keyes for its present system of graded schools than to any other one person among the pioneer settlers or citizens of more modern days.

M. Wheeler Sargent came to Winona in this year. His arrival, given in his address, from which quotations have been made, is mentioned as follows: "I first saw this county August 1, 1853, carrying a chain northward between towns 105 of ranges 8 and 9. The first house I saw was that of Wm. Davidson, August 11. Town 105 of ranges 7, 8, 9 and 10 had no occupants. Town 106, of the same ranges, had no inhabitants except L. II. Springer, Wm. Davidson and families, in 106. range 10, and Hull and Bently in range 9.

Benjamin Ellsworth

"Town 107, range 9, had Wra. Sweet and family - 107, range 10, none - 108, range 10, had John and David Cook. The other settlers of our county were on the Mississippi, or in the immediate valleys of some of its tributaries.

"On the 19th of September of that year the speaker first saw this prairie, coming in from the Gilmore valley. Fancy he made something of a spread that night, for, with a half-dozen others, he slept at full length on the ground, between his present ofiice and the Mississippi, with his hat for a nightcap and boots for a pillow. His toilet he prefers giving in an autobiography when called for ; it is not particularly allied to the history of this county."

When Mr. Sargent came into this county he was in the employ of Wm. Ashley Jones, who was engaged in surveying the public lands in this part of the territory. On reaching Wabasha prairie he decided to locate there and establish himself in the practice of his profession as a lawyer. He was appointed district attorney before the county of Fillmore was divided, and after Winona county was created he was elected register of deeds and appointed clerk of the district court. He was the first mayor of the city of Winona ; he was also a member of the legislature from this county. When he first came here he began the practice of law by himself ; in 1855 he was of the law firm of Sargent, Wilson & Windom, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1866, he was one of the firm of Sargent, Franklin & Keyes.

More extended notices of these two prominent pioneer settlers (John Keyes and M. Wheeler Sargent) would be made if it were not that their biographical sketches will be given under another division of this history.

Chaptek Xxxy A Celebration

The fourth of July, 1853, was celebrated with a great deal of patriotic enthusiasm at Minnesota City. The settlers of Rolling Stone invited the citizens of Wabasha prairie to join them in the customary honors and hospitalities of "independence day." The invitation was accepted, and many from the prairie were in attend-

The celebration was held in "the public square," under the oaks. The introductory was the following song, written by Kobert Pike, Jr., the ])oet of the colony. It was sung to the tune of '^ Baker's Farewell":

" We've left the homes our childhood loved, The friends we never can forget; The friends that long, long years have proved, The friends who still in dreams are met.

The orator of the day was Egbert Chapman, who, it is said, gave an admirable and exceedingly appro})riate address. He was followed by Robert Pike, Jr., who became really eloquent in his remarks, which were listened to with pleased expressions by the assemblage.

An elegant re^jast was furnished by the ladies, to which all were invited. The concourse then adjourned from "the park" to the tables prepared under the shade of the walnuts, wliere ample justice was awarded the good things provided. After all were satisfied, volunteer toasts were drank from glasses filled with pure cold water plentifully furnished.

Toasts were given by Robert Pike, Jr., Edwin Hamilton, W. H. Colburn, R. Taylor, O. M. Lord, T. K. Allen, S. J. Smith, and others. Some of them are given to show the character of the entertainment.

The first was by Robert Pike, Jr.: "The ladies. May they ever be pure, as our own bright fountains ; beautiful, as our wild flowers ; as even of temper as our own delightful climate ( except the thunderstorms ), and as fruitful as the soil to which they have been transplanted."

The second was by Edwin Hamilton : " Superior cookery. The art that makes us happy, and that none better understand than the ladies of Minnesota City."

The third was by W. H. Colburn : "The motto of our glorious country, ' Union is Strength.' Minnesota City and Winona, - may they be ever thus united is the earnest wish of Winona to-day."

The sixth was by Robert Pike, Jr.: "Winona and Minnesota Gty. May all the rivalry which exists between them be the rivalry of good neighborhood, and the desire to excel in oflices of kindness and humanity."

The thirteenth was by O. M. Lord : " Winona. Like her namesake, wild and beautiful, may she prosper till the height of her aspiration is amply rewarded."

The eighteenth was by S. J. Smith: "Here is to Minnesota City from her eldest daughter, Winona. Although the Dark Water city, yet her waters are clear and sparkling ; and to its men, who being Rolling Stone men, yet gather commercial moss ; and to its ladies, who are blooming."

Another by O. M. Lord : "The Mississippi river, the highway of the nation. As long as the water flows in its channel may her valleys annually resound with the sound of cannon proclaiming the independence of the American people."

The day's enjoyment closed with another song written by Robert Pike, Jr. This was the first time the " Glorious Fourth " was ever celebrated in southern Minnesota.

The part of tlie county north of a line west from a point five miles below the town plat of Mt. Vernon on the Mississippi river to the west line of the county was called Mt. Yernon precinct. James Kirkraan and Louis Krutzly, living at the mouth of the White Water, and A. P. Hall, of Mt. Vernon, were appointed judges of election. This precinct had twelve legal voters.

The Minnesota City precinct was the next south of the Mt. Vernon precinct. The judges of election were H. B. Waterman, O. H. Hauk and E. B. Drew. This had the largest number of voters of any precinct.

The Minneowah precinct extended south to a line due west from a point on the Mississippi opposite the mouth of Black river to the west line of the county. The line between this and the Minnesota City precinct was not defined. The judges of election were W. B. Bunnell, of Bunnell's landing, James F. Toms, of Minneowah, and William Hewitt, of Buyns valley. This had sixteen voters.

The Root River precinct was between the south line of the Minneowah precinct and a line west from the mouth of Root river to the west line of the county. The judges of election were G. W. Gilfillan, Joseph Brown and John L. Looney. It had ten legal voters.

The Brownsville precinct was all of the county lying between the Root River precinct at the Iowa state line. The judges of election were Charles Brown, Samuel McPhail and M. C. Young.

At this meeting of the board of commissioners a school district was established at Minnesota City, but no specific boundaries given. It was presumed to include the whole precinct.

A petition for a public road from Winona to Minnesota City was received and the following examiners appointed - Harvey Hubbard and E. B. Drew. These road examiners were to meet on Tuesday, July 19, at Minnesota City. C. R. Coryell, of Rolling Stone, was appointed county surveyor.

The next meeting of the board was at the Winona House, on July 22, 1853. At this meeting Gere and Luark were present. In the absence of Mr. Stall, the commissioners appointed Sylvester J. Smith clerk of the board pro tern.

A Celebration

"The examiners of the road between Minnesota City and Winona reported that they had located the road. The report was received, examined and fully accepted, and an order issued to the county surveyor to locate and survey the same."

This was the first public road ofiicially located in the county. The above copy of the record is the only documentary evidence of the fact. All books and papers relative to the proceedings of this board of county commissioners were taken to Chatfield, the first county seat of Fillmore county. Mr. E. B. Drew, one of the examiners, says the road was surveyed and located about where the present road from Minnesota City to Winona is now iaid. It was resurveyed after Winona county was created.

The first general election held in the county was on the second Tuesday, the 11th of October, 1853. At this general election Hon. H. M. Rice was elected delegate to congress from the Territory of Minnesota. Hon. O. M. Lord was elected a representative to the territorial legislature from this representative district. In January, 1854, when Mr. Lord attended the fifth legislature to which he was elected, he walked from Minnesota City to St. Paul for that purpose.

At this election the following officers were elected in Fillmore county: county attorney, Andrew Cole; judge of probate, H. B. Waterman ; register of deeds, William B. Gere ; sheriff, John lams; county commissioners, John C. Laird, Robert Pike, Jr., and W. B. Bunnell.

"The justices of the peace elected were - for Wabasha prairie, George M. Gere and Wm. H. Stevens (Mr. Stevens had previously served as justice of the peace. He was appointed in July, 1853, by Governor Gorman) ; for Minnesota City, H. B. Waterman and Robert Pike, Jr.; for Mt. Yernon, S. M. Burns; for Minneowah, Mynon Lewis.

Among the settlers who came into the county later in this season were Mathew Ewing, Dr. Allen, E. S. Smith, A. C. Smith, James McClellan, Luke Blair, G. W. Wiltse, Lysander Kately, James Worrall, George Gay and T. B. Twiford.

Mathew Ewing settled on H. S. Hamilton's claim, where he built a comfortable frame house and opened a store with a fair assortment of goods. He sold goods during the winter and in the spring closed out his stock and gave up the business. He then located himself in the village and purchased two lots on the corner of Third and John-

8on streets, and also a lot on the corner of Johnson and Front streets, where he built the building now standing on it. After two or three years here he sold out and left the county.

James McClellan brought a stock of goods with him and opened a store in the front part of the main portion of the residence of Rev. E. Ely, which was built this year.' Mr. McClellan remained here until early in the spring, when he moved his family and goods to Chattield.

Dr. Allen (his initials are unknown to the writer) came here and located himself as a practicing physician. He was the first to settle in the county to make that profession his special business. He remained here until the spring of 1854, when he moved to Chatlield.

E. S. Smith bought an interest in the Stevens claim, and for a year or two lived in Winona, dealing in real estate, etc. He married Miss Mary Burns, and settled in Burns valley, where he built the Glen Flouring Mill, He remained there several years and then sold out and moved to Winona, where his family yet resides. Mr. Smith went to Washington Territory, where he was for awhile connected with the western portion of the North Pacific railroad. Although he occasionally visits his home in Minnesota, he is yet engaged in business in Washington Territory, which requires his personal attention there much of his time.

Andrew C. Smith settled in Winona. In 1855 he started the first drug store ever opened in the county. After several years' residence here he moved to Stockton. He was a member of the State legislature from this county in 1869. He is now a resident of Rochester, Olmsted county.

L. D, Smith visited Wabasha prairie during the fall and winter of 1853, but did not bring his family here to live until the spring of 1854. He purchased the " Fridley claim" and built a house on it, where he lived several years. This house is yet standing near the corner of Franklin and Wabasha streets. He then moved to his farm in the south Rolling Stone valley about half a mile above the village of Stockton, where he lived at the time of his death. He was appointed receiver in the United States la'nd office in 1854, and was one of the most active in securing the land grant for the benefit of the railroads in this state. Further mention will be made of him in other divisions of this history.

public lands in southern Minnesota. In the fall of this year he visited Wabasha prairie, and in the spring following moved his family there and made Winona his home for about ten years, when he moved to Dubuque. He is now a resident of Dakota.

Mr. Jones held an undivided interest in the Smith and Johnson town plot, and also an interest in the Stevens claim (Stevens' addition). He opened up a large farm in the town of St. Charles. It is now known as the "Lamberton Farm." Besides dealing in real estate, Mr. Jones found time and means to start the first newspaper published in the county, "The Winona Argus."

Luke Blair came to Wabasha prairie in the fall of this year. He bought two lots on the corner of Center and Second streets, where the "Simpson Block" now stands. He brought with him a small drove of cattle, which he wintered in stables built on the back part of these lots. He made a claim in what is now the town of Saratoga, but did not occupy it until the following season. Early in the spring of 1854 he built a store on lot 4, block 16, and brought on a stock of general merchandise.

During the summer he moved his family out on his claim. In the fall he sold the two lots with his store building to W. G. Dye, who sold them to V. Simpson, the present owner, and sold his stock of goods to James H. Jacoby, who continued the business in the same locality under the name of Day & Co. The upper part of Blair's building was used as a public hall. Meetings were held here until it was used as a printing-office by Wm. Ashley Jones. This was where the "Winona Argus" was started, with Samuel Melvin as associate editor and foreman in the office. W. G. Dye set the first type for this paper.

Mr. Blair settled on his claim, which has been his permanent home. The vicinity was long known as the Blair settlement. Mr. Wiltse and Mr. Kately made claims in that part of the county, and wintered there in 1853-4.

George Gay made a claim in Burns valley, on what was afterward known as the Salisbury Place. He remained here a year or two and moved to Wabasha county. James Worrall settled in Winona, and about two years after went to Wabasha county.