Waseca City (part 1 of 3)

Waseca City

got out of the wagon that could run, and hurried on as fast as possible, but all to no purpose - the savages were soon upon them. The men marched at the head of the team, with their guns, in order to protect the women and children who were in advance. The men thought at first that perhaps all they wanted was the team, and for that reason sent the women and children ahead. As the Indians approached almost to within gunshot, they spread out in a long, single line, and came on yelling like demons. "When at long range they fired a volle}^ but no one was hurt. Two of the men, Rhodes and Smith, deserted the company, and ran for dear life, leaving the balance to their fate. They escaped without a scratch. One went to Dutch Charley's and warned his family, and the other went to the Walnut Grove settlement.

As soon as the Indians fired the first round they rushed for the team, and one of them seized the horses by the bits and turned them around. At this juncture, some of the white men fired upon the Indians, and the one having hold of the team fell dead.

It was now evident that there was to be a deadly conflict. The men directed the women and children to a slough nearby, and told them to conceal themselves as well as they could in the tall grass, the men covering their retreat. All started amid a shower of shot from the Indian guns.

Mrs. Eastlick received a ball in one heel ; Ireland's youngest child was shot through one leg ; Emma Duly received a wound in the arm, and "Willie Duly received a shot in the shoulder. They soon reached the slough, and although concealed from view, it afi'orded little protection. There were about two hundred Indians and only six white men left. For two hours the cowardly savages, keeping out of sight as much as possible, poured volley after volley into the slough. They would skulk behind the hills, crawl to the top, rise and fire, then drop out white men to fire his gun, for immediately there would be a volley fired into the grass where he was. One after another of the whites were wounded or killed. Eastlick, after doing brave work, was killed. Mrs. Eastlick received a scalp wound and another in the side. Mrs. Everett received a shot in her neck. Everett received a bullet in the thigh which struck the bone, followed around and lodged under the knee. Charles Hatch was wounded in the hand and arm, and Bentley in the arm. There was little chance for further resistance by the settlers. The firing ceased. Three of the skulking Indians, one of them old Pawn, then came forward and called upon the women to come out of the slough. Everett answered them. Pawn who knew the voice, commanded him to come, out of the slough. Everett told him he could not for he was wounded. Pawn said : " You lie ; you can walk if you want to."

Two of the Indians then fired into the grass where Everett was, one of the bullets striking his arm near the elbow and shattering the bone and a buckshot entering his foot. Mrs. Everett, forgetting all fear, bravely arose and in the most piteous manner told them her husband was dead, and they had killed him.

Pawn then told her that he would not hurt the rest of them, but that they must come out of the slough, for he wanted her and Mrs. "Wright for his squaws. Mrs. "Wright could speak the Sioux language, to some extent, and under the advice of Everett, who was now helpless, the two women concluded to go out and confer with the Indians. "While this hurried conference was going on between Mrs. "Wright and Everett, Uncle Tommy Ireland, a short distance from them, arose out of the grass and begged of the Indians to spare the women and children. Two of the murderous Indians, onh'^ a few rods distant, fired upon liim, and he fell to the ground with a groan, saying : " Oh God ! I am killed ! " He received seven buckshot,

Mesdames Wright and Everett, having been advised by Everett that perhaps by going out to the Indians they might be able afterward to make their escape, and that refusal would be certain death to all, ventured to go to the Indians. After a short talk with the villain, Pawn, they returned and reported that he said he would s]«ire all the women and children if they would come out of the slough. After a short consultation the women concluded to go forth with all the children.

Ah, the sad parting ! Mrs. Eastlick's husband was dead. Mrs. Ireland bent over the prostrate form of her husband, whom she would never see again, to receive, as she supposed, his dying words, and husbands and fathers felt deep anguish as wives and children went forth to death or to a time of suffering worse than death.

Many of the prisoners as they came forth were wounded. Mrs. Smith, whose husband fled at the first fire, was wounded in the hip. Next to the youngest of Mrs. Ireland's childi-en was shot through the bowels and died in a short time.

Shortly after the surrender, the fiendish brutality and devilish cruelty of the Sioux were fully demonstrated. A little boy, five years old, son of Mrs. Eastlick, while following his mother, who was being led away by an Indian, was attacked by a squaw, beaten over the head with a club, and finally ri])ped open with a knife. Another of her children, Frank, was shot and murdered before her eyes. Mrs. Duly's boy, "Willie, was shot in her presence, and left in a suffering, dying condition on the prairie. Mrs. Ireland and Mrs. Smith were murdered in cold blood, and left near each other ; and near by was the corpse of Mrs. Eastlick's third child, Giles.

Mrs. Everett's little boy, which so excited her that she broke loose from her captor, and was running back to her boy, when she was shot through the body and mortally wounded, dying during the night.

Mrs. Eastlick in her account says : " The Indians sent Mrs. Wright back to the slough to gather up and bring out the guns. I found that I was quite lame and could hardly walk. . . The sky soon became overcast with heavy clouds, and a furious rain-storm, accompanied with thunder and lightning, was coming on. Soon the rain descended in torrents. The Indians caught their ponies, and made all preparations for starting away. We expected to be all taken along as prisoners, but we were disappointed ; for, as it afterward proved, some were taken, while others were put to death, or left in a dying condition. Those of us who afterward escaped, were, for a long time, in such a plight that death seemed inevitably to stare us in the face."

After giving an account of the death of three of her children, she continues : " Old Pawn came along with Mrs. Wright and her children. He brought along a horse which belonged to Charley Hatch, and ordered her to put her children on it, which she did. He then gave her the halter strap and sent her along, telling me to go along with her. . . I asked him what he intended to do with me, and if he meant to kill me? He replied in the negative, then stopped, leaned on his gun, and told- me to hurry on. . . I limped along at a rapid pace, but looking back I saw old Pawn standing where I had left him, loading his gun, and I instantly feared that, in spite of all his protestations, he was going to shoot me. I had a small slough to cross, and when about half way through it, some one, probably Pawn, shot me again, making four bullets which I had i-eceived that day, in all. The ball struck me in the small of the back, entering at the left side of the spine, and coming out at the right side, just above my hip - also passing through my right arm, between the elbow and wrist, I fell to the ground upon my face, and lay there for some minutes, . . expecting the Indians would ride over me, as I had fallen in the trail. Finding that I could move I crawled about a rod from the trail, and laid down again on my face. In a few moments more I heard the step of an Indian, and held my breath, thinking he might pass me, supposing me dead. But I was sadly mistaken. He came close beside me, stood a moment, then commenced beating me on the head with the butt of a gun. He struck me many times so hard that my head bounded up from the sod, and then gave me three severe blows across the riglit shoulder. I did not lose all presence of mind, although the blows fell heavy and fast. . . I was so nearljf smothered with my face beaten into the grass, tliat I caught my breath several times. He probably supposed me to be d3'ing, and threw down his gun. I thought he was preparing to scalp me. I expected every moment to feel his hand in my hair and the keen edge of the scalpingknife cutting around my head. But for once I was happily disappointed, for he went away, thinking no doubt I was dead.

" I laid here some two or three hours, not daring to stir. . . The rain had continued to fall all of this time ; my clothes were wet through, and I was very cold and chilly. About 4 o'clock p. m., on trying to get up, I found that I was very weak, and that it required a great deal of painful effort to raise myself to a sitting posture. . . I then found that the blood had i-un down from my head and coagulated among my fingers ; hence I knew my head had bled quite freely, or the rain would have washed it away. . . I was insensible to pain, but by turning my head back and forth, I could plainly hear and feel the bones grate together. 1 thought my skull must be broken, and this afterward proved to be true. My hair was very thick and long, and this, I think, saved my life by breaking somewhat the force of the blows. Here I sat, wet and cold, not daring to move from the spot. I had heard the cry of a child at intervals during the afternoon, and thought it Johnny (her son). I thought Merton (an elder son) must have taken him to the wounded men (in the slough) to stay with them. So I detei'mined to try and go to them, thinking we could, perhaps, keep warm better, for the rain was still falling fast, and the night was setting in cold and stormy I rose up on my feet and found that I could walk, but with great difficulty. I soon heard Willie Dulj^ whom I supposed dead long before this, cry out, ' Mother, mother ? ' but a few steps from me. . . Having to pass close by him as I left the slough, I stoi^ped and thought I would speak to him, but on reflecting that I could not possibly help the poor boy, I passed him without speaking. He never moved again from the spot where I last saw him ; for when the soldiers went there to bury the dead, they found him in the same position, lying on his face, at the edge of the slough. I was guided to the place where my children and neighbors were murdered during the day, by the crying of a child, which I supposed to be Johnny ; but on reaching the spot where it lay, it proved to be Mrs. Everett's youngest child. Her eldest child, Lilly, aged six years, was leaning over him, to shield him from the cold storm. I called her by name. She knew my voice instantly, and said : ' Mrs. Eastlick, the Indians liaven't killed us yet.' ' No, Lilly,' I said, ' not quite, but there are very few of us left.' Said she, ' Mrs. Eastlick, I wish you would take care of Charley.' I told her it was impossible, for my Johnny was somewhere on the prairie, and I feared he would die unless I could find him and keep him warm. She then begged me to give her a drink of water, but it was out of my power to give her even that, or to assist her in any way, and I told her so. She raised her eyes, and with a sad, thoughtful, hopeless look, asked, ' Is there any water in heaven 'i ' - Lilly,' I replied, 'when you get to heaven you will never more suffer from thirst or pain.' On hearing this, the poor, little patient sufferer, only six years old, laid hei-self down again by her baby brother and seemed reconciled to her fate."

Mrs. Eastlick then continued her search for her missing children far into the night, and then detennined to go to the settlements to procure the help she stood so much in need of.

Mrs. Eastlick goes on to say : " I knew the road to be about two miles due east of this place. This night I kept the right direction b}' the north star, but did not travel far, for I could go but a short distance before I was obliged to lie down and rest. Just at daybreak I reached the road, having made the distance of two miles in the whole night! This, I thought, was slow traveling, but I was quite encouraged now that I had found the road and was sure of going right. I lay down and slept until after sunrise; then, after eating some green corn, I started again. Often did fatigue force me to sit down and rest, and each time after resting I could scarceh^ put my foot to the ground. My heel, which had been shot through, was badly swelled and very sore, but I still pressed onward till I reached Buffalo Lake, at about 11 o'clock a. m. Here I found that I must cross the outlet of the lake on a pole, and when I trusted my weight upon it, over the middle of the stream, it broke and I fell into the water. After laborious and repeated efforts I got out and passed on, but I was soon obliged to stop and repair damages. I took off and wrung out some of my clothing and spread them in the sun to dry. I also laid the meat in the sun to dry, for it had become so slippery that I could not eat it. After this I lay down among the bushes that grew around the lake, and slept very soundly. I arose at length, put on my skirt, coat and apron, dressed my feet again, ate some corn and forced down some meat. Just as I finished mv lonely meal, a flock of ducks flew off the lake and soon a crane followed them. This was proof that something had disturbed them, and fearing that Indians were upon my track and close at hand I hid behind a tree and watched the road in the direction I had just come.

" Presently the head of a horse was seen to rise over the hill near by. Indians, without doubt, thought I. and shrank down among the bushes, and watched to see a dozen or more savages file along before me !

" But oh ! what a change from fear to joy ! It proved to be the mail-carrier from Sioux Falls to New Ulm. I crept out of the brush and addressed him. He stopped his horse, and, staring at me in the utmost astonishment, asked, in the Indian tongue, if I was a squaw. I answered yes, not undei-standing him, and told him the Indians had killed all the white people at the lake. ' Why,' said he, ' you look too white to be a squaw."

'' I am no squaw,' I replied, ' I am Mrs. Eastlick ; you have seen me several times at Mrs. Everett's house ; I am very badly wounded.' He then inquired as to the extent of my wounds, and I showed him my wounded arm and the place where mv head was broken. He then helped me on to his sulky, and walked along leading the horse.

" At about -i p. m. we came in sight of Dutch Charley's, when he drove the horse into a ravine away from the road, helped me to the ground, telling me to conceal myself in the grass, and he would go to the house and see if there had been anj' Indians about. He returned presentl}^ saying there had been none there : that the family had deserted the premises, but that there was an old man there who came from Lake Shetek. He helped me to mount the sulky again, and we were soon before the door. As soon as I had got to the ground, the man made his appearance at the door, and, wonderful to tell, it was poor ' Uncle Tommy Ireland.' I hardly knew him, for he looked more like a corpse than a living being. His face was deathly pale, his eyes deeply sunk, and his voice reduced to a whisper. I hurried to greet him, rejoiced to find, still living, my old friend and neighbor who had witnessed the same heart-rending sights with myself. He clasped his arm around me and we both wept like children at the sight of each other.

" He told me that Merton had left the scene of the massacre on the same day, carrying little Johnny, and he thought, perhaps, they had reached the house before Dutch Charley's family had left and so gone along with them. I was filled with hope and joy to think that, perhaps, two of my children were spared."

Mr. Ireland, after following Mrs. Eastlick's boj^s half a mile from the scene of the first massacre, laid down entirely exhausted, expecting to die. He laid stretched upon the ground through all that rainy, stormy night, unable to turn over. All the next day and the next night he remained there without food or drink. The following morning, Friday, feeling a little better he made his way to Dutch Charley's, where the mail-carrier and Mrs. Eastlick found him on Saturday. So far he had been unable to get any food or drink. The mail-carrier furnished some water, and finally found a cheese which he fed to the wounded man and woman.

After feeding the horse and resting a short time, the mail-carrier took Mrs. Eastlick on the sulk}', put some turnips and cheese aboard, and started east again, Mr. Ireland accompanying them. At first, the wounded man made slow progress, but after awhile was able to walk as fast as the horse. After following the road about eight miles, they went about half a mile from it and camped for the night, eating turnips and cheese for supper. The mail-carrier had a quilt and an oil cloth blanket, and, notwithstanding a heavy rainstorm during the night, the parties did not suffer severely.

a long distance ahead of them, and suspecting they were Indians, the mail-carrier went cautiously ahead to reconnoiter, his two companions slowly following After a while he discovered that the objects they had seen were a woman and two children, and, upon overtaking them, found them to be Mrs. Hurd and her two children.

Mrs. Ilurd and children, and Merton and Johnny Eastlick had left Dutch Charley's place on Friday morning. Merton and Johnny were only a short distance ahead of Mrs. Hurd, and the mail-carrier and Mrs. Easthck, as may be well imagined, lost no time in overtaking them. Merton had then carried his little brother about fifty miles, with very little food or sleep. He looked like a skeleton, while the babe was so sick that he did not know his mother. His face was a complete scab where the mosquites and flies had bitten him.

The little company soon arrived at a Mr. Brown's place, found it deserted, and the door of the house fastened. The mail carrier crawled through a window into the house, where he found some bread on the table, brought it out and distributed it among the weary, hungry refugees. After feeding his horse, he started for New Ulm alone, advising the parties to remain about the premises, and telling them he would send a team and men to bring them to New Ulm.

The parties being afraid to stay about the house, went to the bank of the Cottonwood, some eighty rods from the house, and secreted themselves in a thicket till night. About sunset they returned to the house and crawled in through the window. Here they found bedding and clothing, some forty pounds of pork and a crock of lard. Mrs. Hurd gathered some potatoes and onions from the garden and cooked a meal, which was the first warm meal they had eaten since the Tuesday before. Here they remained in constant fear of Indians until Wednesday night, when the mail-carrier returned with sad news of the situation.

He reported tliat all the settlers on the Cottonwood River were driven away by the Indians or killed ; that he had gone in sight of 'New ITlm, on foot, leaving his horse hidden some miles behind ; that he could see the I'uins of many burnt houses there, and people of some kind walking about the streets, but could not determine whether they were Indians or whites ; that, as he was traveling along on foot, he suddenly came upon six Indians, two of whom fired upon and pursued him ; that he fled and concealed himself in a slough till his pursuers were tired of hunting for him and gave up the search.

All felt that there was no safety in the house, and they again repaired to the thicket - taking with them bedding and clothing. The kind mail-carrier then shook hands with them all, bidding them good-by, saying that he would return to Sioux Falls and send soldiers to their rescue. When he reached Sioux Falls he found that the settlers had all been killed, and also all the soldiers but two, who managed to escape. After many hardships and dangers, he reached Fort Clark in safety.

Mr. Ireland, the women and children, after great sufl'ering for two days and nights, from mosquitoes and flies, returned to the house, preferring the risk of discovery by Indians to their sufl'erings in the thicket

We now return to the camp at Little Creek, where we left Mr. Everett and his companions. The next morning, they started as early as ])ossible. Mrs. Meyers was no better, and Everett, if possible, suffered more than the day before. They drove as far as Leavenworth that day. On ever}'^ hand there was evidence of the murderous footsteps of the savages. The houses were all deserted and the fields laid waste.

After looking at several houses they finally went to one a quarter of a mile from the road just at dusk, and took possession. They unloaded Mrs. Meyers and the children, and had just dragged Everett into the house (for by this time he was almost totally helpless), when they heard loud talk not far off. Bentley and Hatch crept out through the corn field, and saw three Indians going past toward a house not far off, where the whites first thought of stopping. Bentley and Hatch then came back. The men took Mrs. Mej'ers and children, and hid in the brush some distance from the house. Everett could not well be moved so far, so he crawled and dragged himself along through a fence, and out into a buckwheat field. He had only just laid down in a hollow when the three Indians came to that house, looked around, and finally sat down on the fence, not far from him, and in full view. They stayed around the house about three-quarters of an hour, and finally departed without discovering any of the whites. It was a very close call, however.

All hands remained concealed during the night, Everett staying in the buckwheat patch. In the morning they started again, having nothing to eat except flour wet up with water and dried in the sun. They crossed the Cottonwood, and drove toward Mankato as rapidly as possible. During the forenoon they could hear the booming of cannon at New Ulm, which was the day of the battle there.

At noon they stopped in a ravine out of sight of the road. They were not very far south of New Ulm, but the firing in that direction, and all the indications surrounding them, made them believe that the Indians were in possession of all the country around New Ulm, at least. Meyers decided to leave them there, and make his way to New Ulm, if possible, hoping to bring a party to their relief. He tokl them if he did not return or send relief, by the next day at noon, to drive on to Mankato.

The situation was indeed critical. Bands of murderous Indians were prowling over the country in every direction. There was no safety anywhere. This little band of settlers was now entirely defenseless. The three men were all wounded, Everett so badly injured that he was almost entirely helpless. Mrs. Meyers was so very sick that there was little hope of her recovery. They had no food except a little raw corn and uncooked flour. They were worn out with constant watching and excitement. Tormented by an army of flies by day, and myriads of mosquitoes by night, sleep was almost impossible. A few gopher knolls on a distant hill- side looked like a band of Indians - every rustle of the tall grass brought a startled glance for the cause - every clump of weeds and each little grove might cover the presence of a murderous foe. The situation was enough to bring terror to the strongest heart in a robust man, and what must have been the feelings of persons half-starved, wounded, weak and worn out with constant watching and excitement, as they were compelled to wait and watch for twenty-four hours, with no assurance of relief even then ?

After Meyers left for New Ulm the hours wore slowly away, and at noon the next day he had not returned or been heard from. There was no choice left, and the wounded and sick must reach Mankato or perish on the prairie.

The oxen were put to the wagon ; Mrs. Meyers and William Everett were lifted into it, and again they started eastward. They drove till night and camped near a deserted house. Bentley and Hatch found some potatoes, which were eaten raw, as they still feared to build a fire lest the Indians should discover them.

As soon as daylight the next morning, they again started East, driving as rapidly as possible. When within eight or ten miles of Crystal Lake they discovered men in the distance, on horseback, whom they supposed to be Indians. The horsemen discovered them about the same time and came directly toward them.

Bentley and Hatch at once drove to a slough of tall grass near bj% and hid Mrs. Meyers, her children and Mr. Everett in different places ; drove the oxen and wagon some distance away and then secreted themselves in the tall grass. Their fear of Indians overpowered every other feeling. They had no doubt whatever that the horsemen were Indians, and that if they were discovered they would be tortured and murdered.

The horsemen came on rapidly and soon reached the place where the frightened, wounded and starved settlers were hidden. They searched the ground thoroughly and soon found one after another of the settlers until all were found except Charley Hatch.

William Everett was so sick and weak that he could scarcely speak, but he urged Capt. Dane (for he it was with a squad of soldiers) to keep up the search for Hatch. They searched long and called often, but could not find him, and were finally compelled to go on to Lake Crystal without him.

Poor Charley Hatch heard them plainly enough, but he believed them to be Indians and half-breeds who were calling him, seeking to murder him, and he refused to answer or stir from his hiding-place. He remained hidden in the grass all night. The next morning Everett prevailed upon tJie soldiers to renew their search for Hatch. They returned to the slough, and, after much time spent in looking and calling, finally rode on to his hiding-place. His joy at finding them friends instead of murderous savages quite overcame him. The wounded and nearly famished settlers from Shetek were at once removed to the hospital at Mankato. If we are correctly informed Mrs. Meyers died the day after her arrival at Mankato. Meyers finally reached Mankat© in safety. Bentley and Hatch soon recovered from their wounds and suffering, but Everett's life hung in the balance for a longtime. His wounded leg, by constant irritation, was fearfully swollen and terribly painful. His shattered arm was in an equally bad condition. Nothing short of an iron constitution could have brought him from death's door back to life and strength.

until the following February, when he had SO far recovered that he could hobljle around on crutches, with his arm in a sling ; and in that condition he went to Arena, Iowa County, Wis., where he remained for some time.

We must now return to follow briefly the history of those made captives at the time of the massacre. These were Mrs. Wright, her little boy and girl, Mrs. Duly and two children, Lillie Everett, two of Ireland's girls and Mrs. Cook. The prisoners were first taken from the camp on Cottonwood Eiver to Yellow Medicine, where they remained some time. At this place, Mrs. Wright's boy and other captives, including Mrs. Cook, were ransomed by Gen. Sibley. About that time, " Old Pawn " took the other Shetek prisoners and started across the country for tlie Missouri Eiver. The children, especially, were badly treated. An old hag of a squaw seemed to take particular delisrht in torturino^ them. On two or three occasions Lillie came near being killed by this old squaw. She pounded her with a club most brutally. They were finally taken into winter quarters on the Missouri River, some four hundred miles above Fort Randall.

Their final release was somewhat remarkable. Early one morning Mrs. Wright was down at the bank of the Missouri, getting a pail of water, when she discovered two white men in a boat, going down the river. She hailed them and told them the story of her capture, and that of the others. She said there were two women and six children, and she implored them to rescue the captives. They hesitated some time, but finally concluded that it would be impossible for them to do so. They told her however, that they would make all haste to report the facts to the government officers. True to their word, tliey did so, and tlie result was pubhshed by the Fort Dodge (Iowa) Times some years ago. We learn from this report that an Indian chief, Ma-to To-pa, Four Bear, who was friendly to the whites, was requested to go to the hostile camp and rescue the captives, either by force or treaty. He called a council of his braves, and it was determined that they would make an effort to rescue the captives. He selected ten of his best braves, and with eight good horses started for the hostile camp. They took their rifles, bows and arrows, as if going to war. They started in November, 18()2, and traveled seven days - snow falling nearly every day. They at last reached the camp of the hostiles, near the moutli of Grand River. The next morning the hostile Indians invited them to a council. They tied their eight horses close to the tepee and went in. Both parties were armed. Four Bear was asked what urgent business had brought him and his braves so far from home at that time of year.

He replied that he had heard they had been on the war path and had taken some prisoners. He made quite a speech, and told them he and his party had come for the captives and would not return without them.

One of tlie hostiles said : " You are all Indians, and belong to the same confederation that we do, and instead of being friendly to the accursed pale face you should unite with us and help slay them as long as there is a Dakota on the face of the earth."

Four Bear replied that he and his braves were friendly to the whites, and always would be - that they would never lift a hand against the women and children of the whites, and that the hostiles must give up the captives.

The council was a stormy one, lasting all day ; but finally one of the hostiles said they had the captives and they were woi'th money, and nothing less than $1,000 in ponies would get them. Near niglit tliey finally agreed that the hostiles should exchange their eight prisoners for the eight horses and saddles. The exchange was made that night, and then they smoked the pipe of peace.

and in consequence the prisoners were nearly starved to death. The first square meal for some time was indulged in that night, and it consisted of venison and coffee. Four Bear was of the opinion that the women and children relished his cooking that night.

The prisoners were so destitute of clothing, that they were compelled to divide their wardrobe with them. The weather was intensely cold, but the homeward march began. The six children had to be carried every step of the way, and the two women the greater part of it. Some of the Indians would go ahead and kill game, and get the camp ready at night when they arrived. In consequence of the great deptli of snow it was a slow, laborioils tramj). At Swan Lake they met some of their people and ti'aded some ammunition and blankets for sugar and coffee for the captives, and in the morning they all contributed everything they could spare for the use of a big horse to get home with. They made a "travoy," which is two long poles, one end of each fastened to the saddle, extending backward on each side of the horse with cross-pieces lashed on. The six children were bundled on this vehicle and they got along splendidly. They arrived at last at their camp, and the next day they took the captives across the river and turned them over to the officer in command, who gave Four Bear the following:

The bearer, Ma-to To-pa, is one of the eleven Indians that recovered Mrs. Julia "Wright, Mrs. Emma Duly and six children from the Ih-Sanu-Ta, near the Grand River, in November, 1862. He deserves to be kindly treated by aU.

at Cedar Falls, Iowa. He left Arena, "Wis., on crutches, his wounded arm still useless, to meet them at Cedar Falls. He was doomed to disappointment, for on his arrival there he learned they had not yet arrived, and that he must go to Fort Dodge to meet them. He took the stage for that jilace, but on his arrival there could hear no news of them. There he was taken sick and confined to his bed for two weeks. In the meantime the captives arrived, and among tliem iiis child, Lillie. Wright also met his wife and little daughter at that place.

Mr. Everett, as soon as he was able to travel, returned again to "Wisconsin with his little child. He remained at Arena until 1867. He lost all his propertj^ at Lake Shetek, amounting to $5,000, and only received' from the government for his loss $800.

It will be remembered by our readers that the mail-carrier, after his failure to reach New Ulm, returned to Brown's house, where he left Mrs. Hurd and her two children, Mrs. Eastlick and two children, and "Uncle Tommy Ireland." After the mail-carrier left, these parties remained at Brown's house for nine days, living upon the vegetables growing on the farm.

Thomas Ireland gradually recovered from his wounds, while Mrs, Eastlick was as yet unable to walk. Mr. Ireland proposed at last to make a trip to New Ulm, and get assistance to remove the women and children. During their stay there two large dogs had come to them and remained there.

On Monday morning, the ninth day they had been there, Ireland, taking two cooked chickens as a supply of food, started for New Ulm, sajing that he should try and reach New Ulm that night, and would send relief on Tuesday. Mrs. Eastlick says :

"All the afternoon of Tuesday we looked long and eagerly for some one to come to our relief, until after dark, when I retired and slept some hours. At about midnight we were awakened by the loud barking of the dogs. Mrs. Hurd arose and went to the window, but could see nothing. The dogs, however, barked more savagely than before, running out a short distance and then back to the door. This frightened us very much, as we thought it must be Indians, or the dogs woukl not act so. But, thought I, whether it be friends or enemies, I must arise and dress, though it may be the last time. So I began putting on my clothes, still asking Mrs. Hurd if she saw anything, when, just as I was about dressed, she exclaimed, ' My God ! Cook, is that you ? ' Then I realized that it was some one whom she knew. It proved to be a young man named Cook, who lived at Lake Shetek, and some time before the outbreak had gone to Crystal Lake to work in harvest, and mj'^ neighbor, "Wright, who was also gone at the time. They came into the house and greeted us with tears in their eyes, while Mrs. Hurd and I wept aloud for joy. They were accompanied by a squad of soldiers, who also came into the house. The soldiers stationed guards about the house, to prevent a surprise. We now learned that ' Uncle Tommy ' had succeeded in getting into New Ulm about noon on Tuesday, and at once made known our condition to Capt. Dane, who ordered fourteen men under Lieut. Roberts to prepare to start as soon as possible to our relief. It was almost sunset before they were ready to start, when Wright and Cook came into town and, learning the facts, volunteered to attend them as guides. They reached our place at midnight, and fearful that the sight of them all at once would frighten us, Wright and Cook came on alone to rouse us. The soldiers brought some tea and crackers, killed some chickens, gathered some vegetaljles and prepared a good meal. At daylight they placed the feather bed, some quilts and a buffalo robe in a light, two-horse wagon. I was then helped in with Mrs. Hurd and our children.

little distance ahead of us. I looked in the direction he pointed, and beheld the body of a gray -haired man lying in the road. This was the body of Brown, who owned the house where we had stopped. We soon crossed a run where stood his wagon, the goods thrown out and scattered upon the ground. There were two feather beds which the soldiers took along. Near the wagon was the body of Mrs. Brown, with her head split open. As we started out in the morning, one of the soldiers, Gilfiilan, tarried behind, got lost from the company and his body was found next day some six miles from New Ulm, shot through the breast and his head severed from his body."

These parties I'emained for some time in New Ulm and were kindly nursed and cared for. About the 5th of September they went to Mankato under escort. As soon as Mi's. Eastlick was able to travel she went to friends in Wisconsin.

Mrs. Cook was taken with some of the other prisoners back to the settlement at Lake Shetek, to Ireland's house, where a large number of Indians were camped for the night. They held a big war dance that night, notwithstanding the storm. The Indian who claimed her told her to stay in the "tepee" or the other Indians would kill her. They kept up the pow-wow nearly all night, and their chief having been killed during the day, they chose " Old Pawn " to succeed him.

Next morning some of the Indians brought in Lillie Everett, so chilled and wet that she could hardly speak. Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Duly wrapped her in a shawl and sat her down close by the fire. This so enraged the savages that they fired at them, one bullet passing through the skirt of Mrs. Duly's dress, and another piercing the shawl worn by Mrs. Cook, just below her shoulders. Fortunately neither one of them was hurt.

While returning to the lake Mrs. Cook was leading little Belle Duly, five years old, when the murderous old squaw that killed Fred. Eastlick came along, snatched the child away, whipped her over the face with a raw-hide, raised her as high as she could and threw her upon the gi'ound with all her force ; next, tied the child to a bush, stepped back a few paces, threw knives at her, hitting her in various parts of the body until life was extinct, while the mother was forced to behold the sight, with no power to shield her child.

The Indians gathered together quite a drove of cattle, loaded several wagons with plunder, and compelled the women to drive the oxen that drew the wagons, and also the loose cattle. They went to the Cottonwood, and thence across the prairie to the Yellow Medicine country.

Mrs. Cook was with the savages seven weeks. For three or four weeks she had plenty to eat, but was finally sold to an old Indian who was very good to her sometimes, and at other times very cruel. One day he told her he was going to another band of Indians at some distance, and some of the squaws told her that where they were going there was hardly anything to eat. He finally started off, compelling her to go with him. She made no resistance, but after going some five miles, she offered to carry his gun for him. He gave it to her. She managed to take off the cap and throw it away, then spit in the tube to make sure the gun would not go off, and then told him she should go no farther with him. He seized his gun from her hands and told her to go on or he would shoot her, at the same time raising his gun. She boldh' told him to shoot for she would not go with him, and bared her breast as if to be instantly killed. He was amazed, and dropped the butt of his gun in astonishment. He probably thought her the bravest squaw he ever saw. At least he concluded to return with her.

squaw who had married a white man, and who was also a prisoner ; but their plan was defeated by the sickness of the squaw's babe. The next morning the child was better, and all the Indians left the camp except the one who claimed to own Mrs. Cook. This was an opportunity not to be lost. Mrs. Cook stole away to the river unperceived, and the squaw rode a pony in the same direction, pretending to be going to water him. She let him go at the river and started with Mrs. Cook. They traveled as rapidly as possible, crossed the Minnesota Kiver ten times that day in order to hide their trail if followed. They ti-aveled, they thought, about thirty miles, when they came upon " Ked Iron's" band of Indians, whom they joined. After remaining three or four days with this band they were surrendered, with a great many other captives, to Gen. Sibley's command by Ked Iron. Mrs Cook afterward married and settled in Mankato.

Thomas Ireland recovered from his wounds and has since lived in Mankato. He was married again some time ago. Both daughters remained with him until recently one of them was married.

Mr. Duly joined the Mounted Rangers and became captain of scouts. He it was Avho cut the drop that sent the thirty-eight condemned Indians into eternity on the 26th of December, 1862. The last heard of him he was in Iowa.

The young people of to-day, and the older people of the more eastern States, can have but a faint idea of the real situation of the ])eoj)le of this State at the time of the Indian outbreak. The State had then raised 5,000 troops for service in the war of the rebellion. The people were all pooi-, many of them in destitute circumstances.

Men were without suitable arms, destitute of ammunition and entirely unorganized. The Indians came like a thief in the night, and before the settlers were aware of it they had murdered and plundered all the frontier settlements. To add to the general fear in this section, the Winnebago tribe of Indians was located on a reservation occupying portions of Blue Earth and Waseca counties, between Mankato and Wilton. The wildest stories were in circulation everywhere, and everybody believed them, more or less, because they had no means of knowing the contrary.

Many people took teams and wagons, with a few household goods, perhaps, and fled, leaving cattle, crops and everything else to eo to destruction. The wildest excitement prevailed almost everywhere. At one time a strong guard was stationed on the bridge at Wilton to arrest the stampede of settlers, long after all danger was over. The loss of property and crops was immense tliroughout the State, and the consequent suffering the ensuing year was wide-spread on the frontier.

came back home. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson had born to them nine children: Hans, married in June, 1882, to Anna Hanson; Peter, Mar^^ Barbara, Annie, CaroHne (deceased,) Matilda, Caroline and Tollef M. Barbara was married December 3, 1886, to Ernest Oleson. Mrs. Hanson died May 22, 1886. Mr. Hanson is a Republican in politics. Halvor Thorson was also a settler of 1860.

Historic Items Organic

At the first organization of the county, in the spring of 1857, all the territory now embraced in the townships of New Richland, Byron anil Vivian, together with the south one-third of what is now AVilton and Otisco, was oro-anized into one civil town under the name of Otisco, but on the 5th of April, 1858, what now constitutes the town was set off and retained the name it bears. The first election was held at the house of Owen Salisbury, and that gentleman, H. G. Mosher and S. S. Griggs were the judges of the election.

Early in the summer of 1856, Watters and Chamberlain, taking advantage of the trouble between the settlers and the proprietors of the town of Wilton, purchased the claims of William and George Robbins, on the east side of the river, and there laid out a town wiiich they christened b}' the above name. This was right opposite the site of Wilton and tiie owners expected it would prove a formidable rival to the prospective town above named. A store and a hotel were erected that summer, the latter part frame and part log. But it never amounted to anj'thing ; the hotel was burned down in 1858, while occupied as a residence of William Murphy, and a fine farm is now found upon the site of this embryo town.

IIE cit}' of "Waseca, the seat of justice of the county, and the largest and most important town within its hmits,liesin Woodville Township, on sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, the greater part in the last two named. On the coming of tlie Winona & St. Peter Raih'oad to this part of the State in 1867, Ira C. Trowbridge laid out and platted a portion of land on sections 17 and 18, known as the Myers farm, into town lots, giving it the name of Waseca. The survey of this was made in July of the above-named year by Joseph H. Jenkins, surveyor. In September following, Mr. Trowbridge, in company with Mr. H. P. Norton, laid out what is known as the First addition on the northern part of the east half of the northwest quarter of section 17, north of the railroad. H. G. Mosher was the surveyor.

In August of the same year, however, George W. Watkins laid out the site of a town south of the track, which he called Clear Lake City, on section 18. H. G. Mosher was the surveyor. This is now a part of Waseca, the greater having absorbed the less.

Lakeside addition, on section 17, was sui-- veyed April 17 and 18, 1868, by C. E. Crane, for Nathaniel and Eri G. Wood ; and Bennett's addition was placed on record January 27, 1872, Edward Bennett being proprietor, and C. E. Crane the surveyor. McNamara's addition, laid out in April, 1873 ; Trowbridge's addition, surveyed in June of the same year ; Jenkins' addition, in August, 1875 ; Ward's addition, in May, 1885 ; South addition, by W. G. Ward, October, 1885 ; South Side addition, by I. C. Trowbridge, in September, 1885 ; and Watkins' Second addition in May, 1885, with several smaller ones, go to make up the present incorporated city of Waseca.

It lies upon a beautiful slope of ground between the two lakes, Clear and Loon, both charming sheets of pellucid water, and is embosomed in trees and groves. No more lovely spot for a town could be desired, and the pride the citizens have in theh* lovely city is plainly evinced by the care taken of their surroundings, their dwellings and grounds. But few old buildings appear, nor tumbled-down i-ookeries give an air of insolvency to the place ; all is neat as paint and care can make them. The class of buildings is far in advance of towns of a like population in this or other States, and the people are cultivated, intelligent, and above all, public spirited.

Prior to the laying out of the town in the fall of 1866, William McVeigh opened a store near where the brewery now stands, and there dispensetl from a stock of general merchandise. After the commencement of the new town he removed thither, where he erected a store building and opened business. About a year subsequently he sold out and removed from here.

opened, and although the first edifice was commenced in the hitter part of July, before snow flew quite a respectable village had gathered at this point.

The following, quoted from the News, under date of December 6, 1S67, will give a very graphic picture of the sudden growth of the embryo cit}'. Remember, this was written when the place was only about four months old :

"On the north side of the track, the original Waseca, there are eighty-two buildings ; on the south side there are twenty, in all 102, built in the short space of four months. Of those north of the elevator there are some twenty-five, two stories high; one, two and a half stories high ; five, one and a half stories high, and the others are smaller buildings.

"There are about eleven mercantile establishments, eight liquor dealers, four hotels, two livery stables, two cabinet and furniture rooms, two harness shops, two shoemaker shops, two banks, two real estate offices and several carpenter shops, blacksmith shoi>s and meat markets. . . .

" It is almost incredible that so much work could have been done in so short a time, and still there are many who are yet engaged in building. . . . We doubt if any village in the State can show such a rapid and substantial growth as this."

Let us try and trace the rise of the town and its present status, giving the first institutions of each kind and the present state of that line of trade, interwoven with the personal history of prominent business men.

About the first of August, 1807, William Everett erected a store building, the pioneer business house of the town, which was occupied by Loi'd, Addison ct Co. with a stock of general merchandise. These ))arties continued in business for a few years, when the firm name was changed to Addison & Everett, who operated it until 1875, when they were succeeded b}' Everett & Eckenbeck. This firm, composed of William Everett and S. C. Eckenbeck, is still in existence, doing business in a fine large brick block on the main business street.

II. S. Swift & Co. opened a stock of general merchandise in the fall of 1867, in a building put up by Williams & AVashburn. In June, 1808, this establishment passed into the hands of W. G. Ward, they having made an assignment. Mr. Ward ran it about a year, when he removed the stock to a supply store at old Janesville, where he was engaged in railroad work.

This line, dry goods, groceries, etc., is now represented by McLoughlin Bros., C. McKenna, F. Voigt, A. E. Jay & Co., A. M. Johnson, S. C. Eckenbeck & Co. and R. Miller. Some of these, however, are exclusively engaged in the sale of dr^' goods.

T. F. McLoughlin, the junior partner in the firm of McLoughlin Bros., was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1860, and was brought to Minnesota b}' his parents in 1803. They settled at Cannon City, where he was reared. He came to Waseca in 1881, and entered into. partnership with his brother Dennis, the present postmaster, and has continued ever since a member of the firm, and is a prominent business man. lie is a member of the Ronum Catholic Church of this city.

In the fall of 1867 a clothing establishment was opened by Samuel Friend, with John Mollin as manager, in the building put up and used by II. P. Norton as an express office. This store, however, was not of longduration, closing out about the first of February, 1868.

This line of trade has the following firms as its exponents, in 1887: W. II. Gillis, G. Buchler, Bird Bros., Shubeine & Meinstein, Nicholas Ott and John Shea.

that he occupied at that time was on the lot just north of the fine brick store which he erected in 1875, and where he now transacts the same line of trade.

Comee & Young's furniture rooms were put up and opened but a few days after that of Mr. Grapp. A full history of this institution is given furtlier on in connection with that of the Waseca Furniture Company, into which it has grown.

A. Grapp, the pioneer furniture dealer of Waseca, is a native of Prussia, Germany, born June 26, 1841, and is the son of A. F. and Lena (Wineke) Grapp, natives of the same country. He remained at home attending school until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he commenced to learn his trade. After serving and working as an apprenticeship of three years, as is customary in the fatherland, he carried on the business for himself for about eighteen months, when he entered the German army, taking part in the Schleswig-Holstein campaign between Prussia and Denmark. He l)articipated in the attack on the forts at Diebel, on the 22d of December, 186-1, and in the battle at the village of Diebel, in which engagements the loss Avas something like 4,000 men. In December, 1865, he was discharged, and shortly after emigrated to America, arriving in Wisconsin August 8, 1866. For a little time he remained in that State, and then came to Owatonna. In the summer of 1867 he came to Waseca, as detailed elsewhere, and entered into his present business. December 14, 1870, he was united in marriage with Libbeline Wresloo, a native of Indiana. They liave been the parents of the following children : Willie, Otto, Albert, Freddie, Lydia, John and an infant not named. Freddie died in April, 1885.

Manufacturing Co., of which he was secretary and treasurer until the present company was formed, and became the successor of the old company. He was then elected to the same offices in the furniture company, and now has charge of the company's store. He was born at Gardner, AVorcester County, Mass., April IS, 1834, and is the son of Joseph D. and Marcia M. (Scribner) Sawin. He started in the dry goods and grocery trade in Bald wins vi lie, Mass., where he remained in trade for a number of years. He was also president of the Templeton Savings Bank for some nine years, taking the first deposit ever paid in there. In 18S1 he was elected to the State Legislature of Massachusetts, from his native county, and took his seat therein in January, 1882, and also served his constituents at the extra session in the fall of that year. In February, 1881, his establishment was destroyed by fire, but he did not replace his business there upon its footing, but came west in the spring of 1883, as already stated. August 19, 1858, he was united in marriage with Martha Comee.

Thomas Flynn established his furniture store in the fall of 1886, in connection with Mr. Lansing, and they carried on the business until June, 1887, when Mr. Flynn became the sole proprietor. Mr. Flynn is a native of Waukesha County, Wis., born in 1851. He is the son of Michael and Johanna Flynn. Thomas lived with his parents until about seventeen years of age, and then went to Milwaukee, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for four years. He then went to Chicago, where he remained one year. From there he went to Little Rock, Ark., where he stayed two more years, still following the same trade. After a short stay in Milwaukee he commenced building and contracting in his native countj^ where he remained until 1877, when he came to Waseca. Since then he has done considerable building throughout tiie county, and still contracts in that line. He was united in

History Of Waseca Cohntv

Baile}^ & Watkins were the pioneers in the hardware line of business, opening their store in the building now occupied by P. C. Bailey, and erected by him in August, 1867. This Arm continued until 1876, when J. M. Robertson & Co. bought in, and the above firm name was ado))ted. On the death of Mr. Robertson, in Januar}', 1885, P. C. Bailey, purchasing all the otlier interests, became the sole owner of the store.

Hardware and its various adjuncts is represented (1887) by the following named firms : P. C. Bailey, Trowbridge & Dale, Pugh & Goodman and Krassin ife Boucher.

The pioneer drug store in the new village was started in the fall of 1867 by Strong & Wilsey, who removed here from "Wilton as soon as the town commenced. After running for several years, Fred. Kittredge purchased the interest of Mr. Wilsey, thus forming the firm of Strong & Kittredge, wliich lasted until the death of the latter, whic!; occurred Januar}'^ i, 1875. He was a native of Ohio, born in 18iO, and came to this State in 1860. His interest was purchased by C. A. Wright, and the firm of Strong & Wright operated the business until April, 1885, when Mr. Wright acquired the in terest of his partner and has continued the business ever since. The building which he now occupies was the original one where Strong & Wilsey first opened the stand.

In 1868 a drug store was established Ijy Knappen & Eddy, but in the early part of that year Mr. Eddy I'etired from the firm and it was run by P. L. Knappen alone until January, 1869, when E. P. Latham became a partner. On the 1st of January, 1870, Mr. Latham bought out his partner and continued the business until the year 1876, when he disposed of it to Hall & Curamings. John Lock purchased the interest of Edward Cummings, and the firm of Hall & Lock for some time handled the establishment. After this Lock purchased the interest of his partner and ran it until 1885, when he died, when Dr. D. S. Cummings ran it about a year, as administrator, when it was sold to W. D. Belden. the present proprietor.

In 1876 Middaugh & Tarbell initiated a drug store which they continued until April, 1878, when it was purchased by the present proprietors, Sudduth & Preston. The building they occupied at that time was located opposite the Waseca County bank, but they moved into their present quarters in the fall of 1886. This firm, composed of H. H. Sudduth and S. H. Preston, carry on quite an extensive business in drugs, medicines, fancy goods, etc.

S. H. Preston, of the drug firm of Sudduth & Preston, is a native of Vermont, born September 11, 18-12, and is the son of Lucius and Rebecca H. Preston. He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in company G, Fifth Vermont Infantry, under Col. Smalley, and served with that gallant band of heroes, through the campaigns of the army of the Potomac. September 2i, 1864, he received his discharge, but reenlisted in the First Regiment, of Hancock's First Veteran Reserve Corps, and participating in all the engagements with that body of picked men until the close of the war, receiving his final discharge January 24, 1866. The same j'ear he went to Sheboygan, Wis., where he engaged in the drug trade, and where he remained one year. He then came to tliis county and located in the town of Woodville. Five years later he moved into Waseca, and has since been a resident, engaged in the drug business. October 8, 1866, he was united in marriage in Sheboygan, with Emily Durkee. They have a family of two children : Josie E. and Lutie, both at home.

A lumber yard was opened by W. W. Johnson, in 1867, the first in this line. Mr. Johnson remained in business here for a few years, when he sold out to Laii'd, Norton & Co., of Winona, the present proprietors.

At present the lumber trade is in the hands of the following firms : Winona Lumber Co., under the management of EUing Johnson ; Laird, Norton & Co., under the superintendency of A. D. Goodman, and the Waseca Lumber Co., E. W. Fiske, manager

The Winona Lumber Company's lumber yard was started by J. J. Elliott when Waseca was but a small village, and was operated by him until 1877, when he failed and Will Johnson became the proprietor thereof. Five years later he sold out to the present proprietors, who put it under the present management.

EUing Johnson, manager of the Winona Lumber Company's yard at Waseca, is a native of Norway, who was bcu-n in 184:0. He came to the United States when a youth of about sixteen and settled in McHenry County, 111., where he remained some four years, working as a mechanic, and then }noved to Dodge County, Minn., where, in 1861:, he enlisted in Company H, of the Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, under Col. James B. Gilfillan, and served for one year, receiving his discharge at Gallatin, Tenn., June 26, 1865. He then returned to Dodge County, where for seven years he followed farming. In 1876 he took charge of the lumber yartl of llorton & Hamilton, at Kasson, that county, and remained there for six years, and then moved to this place as above stated. He was married while in McHenry County, 111., to Miss G. Anderson.

E. W. Fiske, the manager of the Waseca Lumber Company's interests, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 8, 1851, and is the son of John and Elizabeth A. Fiske. He remained until he had reached his majority, and then started west. This was in the spring of 1872. lie remained here but a short time, going with an engineer corps of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad west, and remained two years. He then returned to Waseca, and engaged in the wheat trade, and afterward as book-keeper for the flouring mill, then operated by W. G. Ward. Minneapolis was the next place he went to, but only remained there a short time, when he returned here and took charge of the mill and continued therein some two years. He relinquished that and went to the Rocky Mountains on an expedition, and while there helped to build Fort Custer. Returning to Waseca, he took up the business of building and contracting, which he followed here until 1884, when he removed to Athol, D. T., where he was engaged in the same business. He then took charge of the Dakota Central Railroad station and express business, which he held for about a year, and then coming back to Waseca, became manager of Robinson & Co.'s lumber yard, and when they sold out to the present com pany, was continued in the same position. December 21, 1880, he was united in marriage with Kate I. Bailey. They are the parents of two children : Avis and Kennith.

George L. Arentsen, proprietor of one of the livery, sale and boai'ding stables, and of the omnibus line, is a native of Sheboygan County, Wis., born March 16, 1851. He is the son of George W. and Lucretia E. (Campbell) Arentsen, who came to Waseca County in 1869, and locating in Woodville Township, remained here until 1880, when they removed to Jackson County'-, this State. In

1887 they returned to this county and are now residents of this city. George L. lived with his parents until 1875, when he started for .himself and followed farming for two years, when he moved to Waseca in the fall of 1880 and set up a dray line, and in 1885 purchased the livery and omnibus business of Widger & Knowles. February 28, 1875, he was married to Ellen A. Wood. They have been the parents of five children : Edith M., Guy, Grace E., Roy and Ruth. Edith and Ruth are living, but the other three died in infancy.

Thomas Connelly, proprietor of one of the livery, boarding and sale stables of AVaseca, is a native of Ireland. He came to America in 1850, and for six or seven years thereafter, resided in McHenry County, 111. From there he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he lived until about 1870, when he moved to the State of Nebraska. Six years later he returned to Iowa, and located in Palo Alto County, where he was engaged in the hotel and livery business for four years. He came to Waseca, December 9, 1885, and opened the livery stable which he now owns and operates. He was married while in Fort Dodge to Kate Owens. They are the parents of three children : Joseph W., Emelia A. and Zeta.

The jewelry trade is well represented by Ed. Castor, Oliver Peterson and E. Preston. The last named is also engaged in the sale of organs and sewing machines.

A. E. Dearborn was the pioneer of the meat-market business in Waseca, setting up his establishment there in the autumn of 1867. This line of business is now in the hands of Smith & Myers, C. Fischer and C. Nitschke.

John W. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson & Claghorn, retail grocers and provision dealers, was born in Provmcetown, Barnstable County, Mass., March 31, 1832. On the sea-girt peninsula of Cape Cod, he grew to manhood, and in 1856 he started west to Chicago, and from there went to Bloomington, 111., where he was engaged in various pursuits until the fall of that year, when he came to Minnesota and located at Faribault, where he was employed as a clerk by Fuller & Smith. In the spring of 1857 he came to the village of St. Mary, in this county, and entered into the mercantile trade under the firm name of J. W. Johnson & Co. In 1858 they removed to Wilton, then the countyseat, where they erected a new store building and opened their stock of goods. There Mr. Johnson remained until 1868, when he removed to Waseca, where he has since remained. In 1871 the partnership between him and his brother George was dissolved and some time afterward the present firm was foi'med. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, June 27, 1866, with Mary A. Marston, a native of the " Old Bay State " also. They are the parents of two children : Edward P. and William M. Mr. Johnson is a member of Tuscan lodge, No. 77, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Waseca Chapter, No. 26, Royal Arch Masons, and Cyrene Comraandery, No. 9, Knights Temjilar.

Joseph Gatzman came to the city of Waseca early in 1868 and opened a grocery store and saloon on the site of his present building. He is a native of Baden, Germany, born May 1, 1837. He remained in the old countiT until 1857, when he came to the United States, first locating in Scott County, Minn., where he remained until 1861, when he removed to Faribault, Rice County. While there, in October, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Minnesota Infantry, undei' Col. Sanborn, and served for four years and nine months. He was in fourteen pitched battles, and at Mission Ridge was wounded and sent to the hospital. He was discharged at Santa Fe, N. Max., and returned to Fariljault, where he resided until coming to "Waseca in 1868. On the 14th of March, 1868, he was married to ]\Iiss G. Resslier, a native of Michigan City, Ind., and they are the parents of three children : Emma, Edith and Kate. Mr. Gatzman is a member of Lewis McKune Post, No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic, and of Comee Lodge, No. 25, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the latter of which he is the present Vice-Grand.

The pioneer dealers in agricultural implements and farm tools were Allen <k Dearborn, J. W. La Paul and F. H. Miner, all of whom commenced operations in February, 1868.

Samuel Hawkes, of the firm of Hawkes & Clement, agricultural implement dealers, is a native of Windham, Cumberland County, Me., born September 13, 1838. He is the son of Samuel R. and Hannah (Morrill) Hawkes, with whom he remained untd eighteen years of age, when he started out in the world for himself, coming west to Iowa in 1856, and to Minnesota the year following.' He purchased a claim in Meriden, Steele Count}', on coming to the State, from a man by the name of Hatch, and remained there two years, and then returned east again. In 1865 he came back to Steele County, and settled on his farm, where he lived some nine years. He then sold it and bought a place about a mile and a half north of Waseca, in this county, where he resided until 1883, when he moved to this cit^'. He commenced the sale of agricultural implements in 1878, Mr. Clement becoming a partner in 1883. October 1, 1865, Mr. Hawkes was united in marriage with Miss C. M. Skellings, and they are the parents of five children : Hannah, Allan S., Charles M., Annie and Julia.

Nicholas J. Breen was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, January 29, 1830. In the spring of 1842, his pai'ents having died, he went to live with an uncle living in the County Wexford, where he lived seven years, and while there commenced learning the trade of blacksmith. When he was nineteen 3'ears of age he came to America, and for a short time worked at Binghamton, N. Y., but in the fall of 1849 he came west, locating in Milwaukee, where he stayed two years. He removed in 1851 to Franklin, in the same State, where he started a cmithy for himself, and there remained until 1868, when he came to Waseca, then just started, and now is one of the largest manufacturers in his line in this section of countrj^ building all kinds of wagons and carriages, besides doing all kinds of regular blacksmith work. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Rosanna McAnanny, a native of New York City. They are the parents of the following children, all still at home: Margaret M., John J., Thomas Francis M., Agnes C, Rose Mary and Alice. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

The Waseca Plow Works was established by P. A. Bowe in 1882, who still carries on the business, making a specialty of making and repairing plows for local trade.

Patrick A. Bowe is a native of Milwaukee, Wis., born May 1, 1853. He remained in that city until 1867, when he came to Waseca with his parents, Dennis and Ellen Bowe, who settled in the town of Blooming Grove.

Patrick lived with them until 1873, when he commenced to learn the trade of blacksmith, and after serving a three-years' apprenticesliip, worked at the trade until 1882, when he started for himself in his present business.

In the fall of 1867 the first milliner_y establishment was opened bj' Miss C. A. Jones. The business is represented to-day (September, 1887,) by Mrs. Myrick, Anna Macklin and C. Sutter. Miss Forbes and the Misses Swift do dressmaking and millinery.

During the summer of 1869 the brewery was established, and the building erected by Edward and Samuel Ginsberg. It is operated at the jiresent writing by Anthony Guyer.

Anthony Guyer came to Waseca in May, 1883, and first engaged in the saloon business. Later, he and John Beierwalter formed a partnership and now are carrying on a saloon in -this city. In March, 1886, he rented the brewery here and has since that time carried on that business. He brews some twenty to twenty-five barrels of beer per week, most of wliich he sells here, although he ships some to other points. He is a native of Boiiemia, Austria, born January 7, 1860, but was brought to America when but nine years of age by his parents, who first settled in Oshkosh, Wis., where they remained one year and then removed to Janesville, this county, where they still live. Anthony remained with them until he was twentj^-one years of age, when he became bartender for William Kleeman, of Janesville, and remained in that village until 1883, when he came to Waseca. He was married September 20, 1883, to Carrie Manker, a native of Prussia. They have two children : William and George.

A brickyard was also established in the immediate vicinit\' of tiie village in April, 1868, by M. S. Green, and bricks supplied to those in the new town that used them.

The Waseca Iron Works is one of the manufacturing institutions of the city, and does a large amount of business in its line. Castings of any and all kinds are made here. It is operated by Crane & Veness. This was established by Paddock about the year 1877.

As soon as the town had started, H. P. Norton brought over here the agency for the American Express Com])any, and was the pioneer express agent of this town. The company still has its agency at Waseca, under the management of J. B. Hayden, a sketch of whom has been given in Chapter VIII.

The United States Express agency was established December 1, 1884, with A. G. Bush as the first agent. The business is still in the hands of the same accommodating, genial gentleman.

A. G. Bush is a native of West Virginia, born September 27, 1848. He is the son of Abraham and Rachel (Gofi') Bush, and remained at home with them until March 14, 1867, when he moved to Texas, but only remained there about a j'ear, when he went to Lee's Summit, Jackson County, Mo. There he stayed a short time, and then returned to the " Lone Star State," but six months later again trod Missouri soil. September 27, 1870, he started for Minnesota, and on arrival here settled in AA'^aseca, where he commenced as clerk in a hotel. In the winters of 1871-2 and 1872-3 he was tiie village night watchman, having been appointed to tliat ofiice. In 1873 he entered the store of E. Preston as clerk, where he remained a year or two. In 1876 he opened a restaurant, which he carried on for about three years, and then sold out and was made baggagemaster on the Ciiicago & Northwestern Railroad. In the spring of 1880 he returned to tliis city, where for eighteen months he was engaged as janitor of the schoolhouse and other occupations, and then entered the store of Mr. Preston again, where lie remained

C. E. Lewis and P. H. Swift were the pioneers of the legal fraternity, locating here in Februar}^ 1868, in an office over the McVeigh store. There are now eight attorneys in the city, as follows : E. B. CoUester, P. McGovern, Lewis Bi'ownell, S. D. Crump, B. S. Lewis, C. E. Leslie, W. D. Abbott and John Moonan, nearly all of wliom are mentioned in the chapter devoted to tiie bench and bar.

The first physicians to locate in the rising young village were H. J. Young and C. T. Peck. The medical profession is represented at the present writing by Drs. H. J. Young, D. S. Cummings, George Christie, A. M. Hutchinson, F. A. Swartwood. M. V. Hunt.

H. J. Young, M. D., the pioneer physician of the city of Waseca, and one of the leading ones of the county, came to this place in the fall of 1867, when there were but few buildings here. He is a native of Windsor County, Vt., born June 9, 1831. He remained in that place until he was some twenty-four years old, receiving his preliminary education in the excellent schools of his native town. In 18.51 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. A. Knight, of Springfield, Vt. He attended one course of lectures at Woodstock, Vt., and then went to Pittsfield, wliere he spent another term at the Berkshire Medical College, and then returned to AVoodstock and graduated from the college at that place, in June, 1854. For about eighteen months thereafter he practiced his profession with Dr. Knight, his preceptor. He then removed to Temple, N. IL, where he spent a year in practice, and then, taking the advice of Horace Greeley, came west and settled in Sheboygan, Wis., where he was engaged in the duties of his profession until 1862, when he was commissioned as assistant sui'geon of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, and proceeded with them to the front. After a year's service he was compelled to resign on account of sickness, and returned to Sheboygan, where he remained until tlie fall of 1864, when he accepted the commission of surgeon of the Forty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, but was detailed as examining surgeon at Madison, where he remained until spring, when he rejoined the regiment. On the close of hostilities and discharge of the regiment, lie was placed in charge of the general hospital at Tullahoma, Tenn., where he remained until he had discharged all the ]iatients, and had advertised and sold out the entire equipment to the people of that country, having as guard there at the time a part of acolored regiment only. Before he left there, it is no more than justice to say that he was offered a surgeon's commission in the regular army, being warmly recommended thereto by high officials, but declined tlie honor. He then returned to Sheboygan, where he remained in medical practice until coming here in 1867. In January, 1855, he was united in marriage with Lucy II. Preston. They are the parents of two children : Carl H., deputy county auditor, and John C, late of Curtis' Business College, St. Paul.

M. V. Hunt, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Waseca, was born in Darke County, Ohio, in 1848, and received his early education in Anderson, Ind., where his parents removed when he was yet a child. He pursued his studies in Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., from which he graduated in 1867. He then matriculated at the medical college of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated March 4, 1872, and commenced practice at Anderson, Ind. After a few months he removed to Janesville, Waseca County, Minn., and tiiere remained about eighteen months and then came to the city of Waseca, where he has resided ever since, and where he has a large and growing practice. In the fall of 1879 Dr. Hunt was elected to fill the office of county superintendent of schools, and filled that jiosition for two vears to tlie satisfaction of all. A man of great natural ability, heightened by a superior education, as the head of the educational department of the county government he \vas in his proper sphere, and but for his practice he should have been continued in that office. In March, 1876, he was united in marriage with Addie A. Andrews, who died in Juh', 1887, leaving one child, Montague Volney. The Doctor is at present the county coroner.

A. M. Hutchinson, M. D., the onl}^ homeopathic physician in Waseca, was born in Le- Roy, Genesee County, N. Y., in 1847. When he was but^ live years of age the family removed to Fond du Lac, Wis., and there he was reared. In 1867 he came to Austin, Minn. He commenced the study of medicine at an early age, he having a natural bent in that direction, and later attending the Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago, graduated from that institution, one of the best in the United States, and in 1877 commenced the practice of medicine. He came to the city of Waseca in April, 1885, and already has a large and inci'easing practice. While attending college, it is a matter of record that he took the first prizes on the theoiy and practice of medicine, and on diseases of the heart and lungs. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Libbie P. Otis, a native of Wisconsin. They have been the parents of five children : Eva M., deceased ; Edith A., deceased ; Mabel P., Harry and Clarence. The Doctor is a member of the Minnesota Homeopathic Institute, and also of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Dr. Mcintosh came to Waseca in 1867 and remained here until 1880. He was a native of Bethel, Vt., and studied medicine with Dr. William Huntingdon, of Eochester, that State. He was also a graduate of the medical college at Castleton, Vt., and moved to Sheboygan, Wis., in 1860, which year he married Rebecca Preston. When Dr. Young entered the army, Mcintosh took charge of his patients, but when the former was appointed surgeon of the Fortyseventh Wisconsin,

Robert Reichel, who is the house and sign painter of the city of Waseca, is also the proprietor of a paint and oil store, where is kept all manner of ]iainters' material, either for house painting or for artists' uses. He came to Waseca in 1881, and in 1882 put in a paint shop, although he commenced working at his trade when he first located in the place. In 1887 he opened his present place of business, with a full and complete stock, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, etc. He is a native of Germany, born in 1857. He remained in his fatherland until he was about twenty-four years of age, when he immigrated to this country, coming direct to Waseca, where he has since remained. His wife was Mar}^ Beeman, of this county, previous to their marriage which took place in 1884.

1867, and opened by Ira C. Trowbridge, the original owner of the town plat, in the fall of the same year. It was a frame building, two stories high. Mr. Trowbridge kept the house until April following, when it passed into the hands of J. B. Reynolds. In November, hotel, erected in the fall of 1867 by H. Vincent, on the corner of Second and Wood street. On its completion it was thrown open to the traveling public by the owner, as host. The building was 55x(50 feet in size, and cost about $3,000. Mr. Vincent, in the spring of 1871 sold the place to M. E. Priest, who ran it for some years ; finally it was cut up into various rooms, and rented to several parties, and is now occupied by saloon, meatmarket, cigar factory, etc.

The house now known as the Stevens House, on "Wood street, opposite tlie postoffice, was erected in 1867 also. Its first landlord was Daniel Grover.

The Waseca House, now so called, was erected in the fall of 1867, and under the name of the Clear Lake House, ran for a short time under the management of " Doc" La Dow. The Traveller's Home was another hotel south of the track, in the winter of 1867, kept by Augustus Gruhlke.

The hotel business is well represented in the city of Waseca, the following being the list of the various ones running in 1887: Grant House, Sheridan House, Stevens House, Arcade Hotel, Waseca House, Clayton House, Nora House, Crystal Hotel, Minnesota House, and railroad eating house.

The Grant House, the leading hotel of the city, was erected in 1882. In the spring of that year a few of the leading, public-spirited citizens raised a bonus of $5,000 to induce some one to put up a first-class hotel. That amount and the site upon which to erect the edifice were given to W. L. Grant, he agreeing to put up a hotel building to cost $15,000 or more. Too much praise can hardl}^ be given to the citizens who inaugurated this enterprise and gave so liberally from their funds, especially Ira C. Trowbridge, who donated the site, which was part of the block reserved for his family residence, and some $1,500, besides. The building was constructed by Mr. Grant, with Mr. Maybury, of Winona, as architect, and Craig & Davis, contractors. It is located on the corner of

Second street and Lake avenue, having a length on the former of eighty feet, and on the latter of seventy -four feet. It is a brick veneered building, three stories high, with a handsome veranda surrounding it on two sides. It contains about forty sleepingrooms, parlors, sample-rooms, reading and baggage-room, office and reception-room, kitchen, dining-room, etc., and is supplied with all the modern conveniences. W. L. Grant is still the proprietor.

Maurice S. Collins, the proprietor of the Ai'cade Hotel, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1832. When he was some fifteen years of age he came to Milwaukee, Wis., with his parents, and entered tlie employ of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Kailroad Company, and later on that of the Chicago & Northwestern Eailroad Company. He came to Waseca in the fall of 1867, and ran a construction train, aiding in building the road fi'om here to Watertown. He subsequently was in the employ of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Eailroad Company. In 1881 he built the structure known as the Arcade Hotel near the Union depot, which he has kept in good style since then. Although bred a railroad man, or perhaps because of that he makes a most excellent host, and his hostehy is well patronized by the traveling public. The building is new and well furnished throughout, and affords the comforts of a home to the wayfarer. Mr. Collins was married in 1863 to Margaret Ahern, and they are the parents of three children, living : Maurice, liosella and Mary A.

The railroad eating house was started as a lunch counter only, but in November, 1885, it was purchased by W. C. Wentworth, who added largely to the building and now has a complete dining-room and one of tlie finest lunch counters on the lines of the Chicago & Northwestern or Minneapolis & St. Louis railroads.

tember, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-first Wisconsin Infantry, under Col. Hobart, and remained with that regiment for three years. They were in service in the army of the Cumberland, and were with Gen. Sheniian in his famous march to the sea, and Mr. Wentworth participated in some twenty battles. In the spring of 1865 he was taken ])risoner on the line between North and South Carolina, and for a short time languished in Libby prison, in Richmond, Va., but was released just before the surrender of Gen. Lee, at Appomattox. Returning from the front, he entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and after that went to Atchison, Kan., where he remained some four years and then returned to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company again, with whom he has spent some sixteen years of liis life as conductor. He then came to this place and started in his present business. He was married in Janesville, August 10, ISTl, to> Mary E. Moran, and they have a family of four children : Guy, Gertrude. Addie and John.

The pioneer banking institution in the city of Waseca was that of Mills & Follett, who occupied a two-story building on Second street, put up and owned by George L. Tarbell. They came here and commenced operation in the fall of 1867, but in January,

About the same time that they removed from Waseca, Baldwin & Kittredge brought their bank from Wilton to this place, and commenced business. Everything seemed prosperous until on the 29th of January,

1869, it became known that the firm was bankrupt. William Everett was made assignee (jf the assets of the defunct firm, and did the best he could for the interests of the creditors. The building occupied b}' Baldwin & Kittredge was the small one now used as an office by Hawkes & Clement,

A bank was next opened by Kinyon Bros, at this place on the 2-J:th of August, 1870. The bank was broken into b^' bui'.glars, who blew open the safe by means of gunjiowder and rifled it of about $3,000. Some little time after this the firm wound up its business at this point. This bank was located in a one-story building which stood where the People's Bank now stands.

George W. Newell, of Faribault, and his brother, Frank A. Newell, who had been in Waseca about a year, on the 28th of February, 1872, opened a banking establishment in the building north of the courthouse, on Second street. This continued until January, 1875, when it was merged into the corporation known as the Waseca County Bank, an institution organized under the laws and chartered as a State bank with a capital of $25,000. The incorporators were the following named individuals : P. C. Bailey, G. W. Watkins, J. W. Johnson, William Everett, R. M. Addison, Charles Eckenbeck, G. P. Johnson, Lewis Brownell, W. H. Young Sr., C. A. Wright, Edward Bennett, J. E. Child, G. W. Comee, J. A. Claghorn, N. Garland, N. E. Strong, H. A. Mosher, E. G. Wood, H. Vincent, Josepii Gatzraan, S. S. Phelps. E. H. Gosper, Kelsey Curtis and F. A. Newell, all of Waseca County, and L. Emmet, L. R. Weld, K. B. Braley, F. A. Berry, H. Wilson, T. B. Clement, A. Renslow, J. W. Parmeter, H. M. Matteson, AV. B. Brown, and G. W. Newell, of Faribault. G. W. Newell was elected president ; F. A. Newell, cashier ; II. M. Matteson, W. B. Brown, L. Emmet, P. C. Bailey J. W. Johnson, R. M. Addison, S. S. Phelps, J. A. Claghorn and E. G. Wood, directors. The bank built the edifice now occupied by the People's Bank, on Second street, into which they moved on its completion. It continued in successful operation until the summer of 1885, when it went into liquidation, and winding up its business, surren-

The Bank of Waseca was founded by C. Hardin & Sons, in June, 1874, in a building that at that time occupied the site of the present one, with A. P. Jamison asmanager, coming here from Kasson, Dodge County, Minn. The firm at present consists of C. Hardin, president of the Second National Bank at Monmouth, 111.; C. D. Hardin, J. D. K. Smith, who is manager of the City Bank at Eldora, Iowa, also belonging to this firm, and A. P. Jamison. The individual responsibility of the members of the firm reaches the enormous sum of $600,000. The building now occupied by them was erected in 1882, by W. G. Ward.

Margaret (Giles) Jamison. He first attended the Madison College at Antrim, Ohio, after receiving his preliminar)' education at home. Later he attended the Knox College at Galesburg, 111., but graduated from Monmouth College, Monmouth, 111. When he was twenty-three years of age he entered the hardware store of C. Hardin & Sons, at Monmouth, and remained with them some five years, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was the secretary and treasurer of the Missouri Granite Company for one year, and then returned to Monmouth. The year following he came to Waseca and started the present bank, where he now is. Mr. Jamison was married in Henderson County, 111., September 18, 1860, to Miss A. Hardin. They have a family of eight children : Harry, Hattie, Arthur C, Flora M., William R., Nellie, Earl P. and RoscoeC. Hattie is now the wife of Charles E. Hasey and lives in Minneapolis, the others live with their parents.

The mail facilities are among the first things to be attended to in anv new community, and especially so if it is a mercan tile or commercial one. Hardly had Waseca started before the postoffice was established with G. N. Taylor as postmaster. He continued in office until 1876, when he was succeeded by Maj. W. C. Young, the present probate judge of the county, who held the position until March, 1886, when he gave way to his successor, Dennis McLoughlin, the present efficient and genial incumbent of the office. His commission is dated March 29, 1886, and bears the signature of the present president of the United States.

This was made a money order office in July, 1879, the first order drawn bearing the date of the 14th of that montli. It was issued to W. W. Satterlee, of Waseca, for $17.45, and made payable to I. F. A. Studdart, of St. Paul.