Faribault County Minnesota
The history of this county properly begins with the events of the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-five. It was in that year the county was named, its boundaries defined and its first settlement made by civilized men. But the present occupants of the soil were preceded by other races and it is a matter of profound interest to learn what is now known of them.

At least two races of men, wholly different in origin, language, religion, habits and customs from each other and from our own race, have appeared here and each performed its part, in a great drama of national, or tribal and individual life, through unknown centuries and at last retired, the curtain, thick and dark, falling upon scenes and hiding them forever.

In the eloquent words of Senator Ramsey, it is truthfully said that, "Not a foot pf ground that we tread but has been trodden by nations before us. Tribes of men have marched their armies over the sites of our towns and fields; fierce battles have been fought where churches now rear their spires; our plow-shares turn furrows amidst the graves of buried races and our children play where perhaps generations of children have played, centuries before them."

When will the drama end and the curtain drop upon the higher and grander scenes being enacted here by the present race? Never! exclaims the hopeful and confident. Yet, who in the light of all past human history, may answer thus ? But who were our predecessors here ? What manner of men were they ? What of their deeds and destiny ?

THE MOUND BUILDERS.
No mounds, or tumuli, have yet been discovered within the limits of this county to indicate that the mysterious and lost race of of the Mound Builders ever existed here, but several small copper implements and articles of pottery, such as is usually believed to be the remains of that forgotten race, have been found, and at some distance south of us, in the state of Iowa, and in several of the counties on the east, north and west of this, their undoubted works exist; from all of which it may be confidently inferred, that they knew and probably inhabited, this intervening territory.

It may reasonably be expected that still more conclusive evidences will yet be discovered, in, or near, this county, that they once existed here.

They were a pre-historic race and but little is now known of them. Almost all memorials of them have perished from the earth. Even their true name, as a race, or people, is lost and they are now known and named only from the great and curious mounds, extending through the Mississippi valley from the Great Lakes to the gulf, which were the works of their hands.

From what remains of them—these mounds—their contents and other evidences, it may fairly be determined that this "Ancient population was numerous and widely spread, as shown from the number and magnitude of their works and the extensive range of their occurrence." That they were not nomadic, but lived in villages and settlements, generally near great rivers and their tributaries. They were far in advance of the American Indian in their knowledge of arts and in civilization. They were agriculturists and wore clothing of woven cloth and had comfortable dwellings. They had a variety of articles of food, of which fish was the principal one. They were industrious, even very laborious, and possessed considerable mechanical and artistic skill. They had some knowledge of the arts of war and of the construction of fortifications.

They manufactured beautiful vases and other articles of pottery, and they could model clay into a variety of objects, such as birds, quadrupeds and the human face.

They used sun-dried bricks. They mined for copper and other precious ores. They had a definite standard of measurement and they had tools of copper, silver and stone. They had axes, chisels, knives, mauls, hammers, crucibles, spear-points, slates and cups, beads and bracelets, all well finished.

Though they cultivated the soil, it appears that they had no horses, oxen or carts.

They had a system of hieroglyphic, or picture-writing, but unintelligible now, and knew something of practical surveying. They had commercial relations with some now unknown and distant nations. They made toys for their children and had some articles of fine workmanship, for the adornment of their persons and the embellishment of their homes and temples. They had a sense of the humorous, as appears from the caricatures and grotesque figures they sketched on vases and other articles.

They had a peculiar art, that of building mounds of earth, some of which were of vast size and of considerable height; some were circular, others square and others were circular enclosures. Some of their mounds, made on the level ground, were in the shape of animals, birds, bows, arrows and human figures. Some represented elephants, or mammoths, the turtle and immense serpents, and some the hide of some animal stretched on the ground. In some localities these mounds and figures occupied as much as twenty acres of ground. It is supposed that some of these curious shaped earth-works, were used as fortifications, others as burial places of the distinguished dead, and others as places of sacrifice and religious worship.

The mounds built by the Indians, are quite different from those of the Mound-builders. It is a curious fact that the skulls found in the mounds of the Mound-builders, are of a shape entirely different from those that characterize the Indian, and the shin bones resurrected from the same place, singularly flat, a peculiarity not noticed in the bones of any other tribe or race of people.

The Mound-builders had a system of religion—they were sun worshippers and believed in immortality and had many sacred places and temples for religious worship. And here our summary must end. They have passed away into the deep darkness and voiceless silence of the long past centuries. Prom whence they came, who they were and whether, as has been said, they "Migrated to remote lands under the combined attractions of a more fertile soil and more genial climate, or whether they disappeared beneath the victorious arms of an alien race, or were swept out of existence by some direful epidemic, or universal famine, are questions probably beyond the power of human investigation to answer." It seems probable that they disappeared because, as the poet Bryant has graphically said—

"The red man came,
The roaming hunter-tribes, warlike and fierce,
And the Mound-builders vanished from the earth."

Some late investigators have, however, claimed with much assurance, that the Mound-builders were not a race, or people, separate, or distinct from the Indian, but were, in fact, the ancestors of the Indians, who have degenerated. If so, the degeneration must have been very great indeed. At all events, the differences in the character and civilization of the Mound-builders and those of the Indians, were so great that, practically, they may well be deemed different races of men.

But the day may come, probably will, when the pyramids of Egypt, the ancient ruined cities of the East and America and these mounds shall give up their secrets. Yea, the deep, deep sea shall some day surrender up the story of the lost Atlantis, even the story of the lost Lemuria.

THE RED MEN.
The occupants of this region of country at the time of, and probably for many centuries prior, to the advent of the white man, were certain bands of the Indian nation, known as the Sioux or Dakotas. The Dakotas were among the most populous, warlike and powerful of the many savage nations which have inhabited the western continent.

They occupied a vast territory, including nearly all of Minnesota, the Dakotas and a region of country west of the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, and northward to the British Possessions. This great nation was divided into many tribes, four of which occupied nearly all of the country now comprising the state of Minnesota. These tribes were named the Medawakonton, Wapeton, Wapekuta and Sisseton Sioux, and each of them had its own hereditary chief. Each of these tribes was sub-divided into bands, each band having also its chief, and all these various bands had their own separate territory, or hunting grounds, but their claims of territory were often indefinite and conflicting. They are a confederate nation. It appears from a consultation of the best authorities on the subject, that the territory on the head-waters of the Blue Earth river and adjacent on the west, was anciently claimed by the Wapakutas, or Leaf-Shooters and the Sissetons. In the year 1700, when M. Le Sueur erected a rude fort, near the mouth of the Blue Earth river, referred to elsewhere in this work, this country was in possession of bands of the "Sioux of the west,'* known as the Ayavois (lowas) and Otoctatas (Ottoes). But little is known of any of these people and there is much confusion, some contradiction and a great deal of uncertainty in the very meagre records of the aboriginal inhabitants. Of the origin of the American Indian, as little is known as that of the Mound builders.

The Dakotas have ever been a barbarous and nomadic race. As to their physical characteristics, they are of a red copper color, variously shaded. The men are of middle stature, large boned and well made, eyes black, half closed and lodged in deep sockets; high cheek-bones, nose more or less aquiline, mouth large, lips rather thick and the hair of the head black, straight and coarse. In many tribes they pluck out all the hair of the beard. The general expression of the countenance is gloomy; stolid and severe. The women are usually short in stature and have broad, homely features and low foreheads, and while they sometimes have an expression of mildness and pleasantness, beauty is rare among them. They are the slaves and drudges of their race. Both the men and women are great lovers of ornaments, and are usually loaded with beads, rings, bangles and tinkling gewgaws.

The Indian has a fair understanding, a quick apprehension, a retentive memory and very acute senses and assumes a peculiar air of profound indifference, in his general appearance and actions.

President Sparkes, of Harvard, says: "With a strength of character and a reach of intellect unknown in any other race of absolute savages, the Indian united many traits, some of them honorable and some degrading to humanity, which made him formidable in his enmity, faithless in his friendship, and at all times a dangerous neighbor; cruel, implacable, treacherous, yet not without a few of the better qualities of the heart and the head; a being of contrasts, violent in his passions, hasty in his anger, fixed in his revenge, yet cool in counsel, seldom betraying his plighted honor, hospitable, sometimes generous. A few names have stood out among them, which, with the culture of civilization, might have been shining stars on the lists of recorded fame.

The Indians of this region are strangers to letters and wholly untutored. They know but little of the simplest arts and nothing of science, and leave behind them no records, monuments, or other memorials, except traditions of bloody deeds and some of their names given to states, mountains, rivers and localities. They are polytheists and their religion is a strange medley of superstitious incantations and sorceries, but yet has some redeeming, though crude, central ideas.

Speaking generally of their religion, the wild Indians believe in a good God, known as the Great Spirit, and a bad God, both equal in power. They have, also, some minor Gods. They think the good God wants no thanks or prayers, but the bad one they hate and fear, bribe and entreat. They believe in the immortality of the soul, and that their final destiny is the "Happy Hunting Grounds." They also believe in the existence of spiritual beings that are neither good nor bad.

But these Indians are devoid of any moral sense, or sense of moral obligation, or accountability, as connected with their religion. They have no code of morals. Their ideas of right and wrong are very shadowy and there are many differing shades, in their religious beliefs.

Their clothing is made of dressed skins and, since their acquaintance with the white man, cheap cloth and woolen blankets, and their dwellings are rude, temporary shelters, made of skins and bark, called wigwams, or teepes, and are moved from place to place.

They live by the chase and on wild rice and fish, and they also plant a little corn and raise a few potatoes, but they are much more skillful in planting a knife in a foe's back and in raising scalps. They are indolent and provide only for to-day. The men think labor degrading and hence the women do all the work. The war-path and the chase are the occupations of the men and when engaged in these, they are active, persevering and untiring. The phrase, "poverty, hunger and dirt," describes their normal condition. The attempts to civilize and christianize these Indians have proved an almost wasted labor. Yet of late years some little success has crowned these beneficent efforts.

The Dakotas like most other Indian peoples, delight in deeds of cunning, treachery and blood, but there have been a few notable individual exceptions. It really seems that "the only hope for the Indian is to educate him, make him a citizen with a citizens rights and responsibilities and absorb him into the body politic." Recognizing and treating with the Indian tribes within our jurisdiction, as separate nations from ours, they remaining subject to their own barbarous laws and customs, must always prove a failure, in all attempts to civilize them. Of those who inhabited this land in the long ago, there is dimly shadowed in old and wild traditions, recounted by the early trappers and voyageurs, visions of wild orgies and deeds of such darkness, indecency and cruelty, that they may not be written and of which "it is more blessed to be ignorant." We may know, however, that here in our own county have been heard the twang of the bow and the sharp crack of the rifle and the wild war-hoop of this wily savage—that here they lived for centuries, hunting over our prairies and fishing in the lakes and rivers and that this soil has witnessed the advance and retreat and drank the blood of many contending foes, and

"Here too that eloquence was heard ,
Around the council light,
Which made the sturdy warrior bold
And nerved him for the fight."

But wasted by incessant wars, starved by famines, swept by pestilences, poisoned and demoralized by drunkenness, eaten up by loathsome diseases—always the helpless pray of greedy plunders— decimated to mere remnants and these forced to retire, bearing the burdens of great wrongs suffered, as well as done by them and chanting their weird dirges, so suggestive of the dark and hopeless future of their race, they are "moving on," toward the setting sun and final extinction.

Upon no subject-race, except that of the Negro, perhaps, have ever been imposed such shames and frauds and wrongs, since the world began, as have been heaped upon the American Indian, and on the other hand, no oppressed race has ever struck back with such fiendish and persistent malignity as his, and in this matter of our dealings with the Indians, if God be just and man be immortal, and if all wrongs done by individuals and nations, must be righted, certainly, there is an awful day of reckoning coming sometime and somewhere, for somebody.

But we must proceed, another and a mightier race is advancing to occupy the vacant lands.

"I hear the tread of pioneers
Of nations yet to be;
The first low wash of waves,
where soon Snail roll a human sea."


THE COUNTY.
On the twentieth day of February, an act was passed entitled "An Act to Define the Boundaries of Certain Counties." By section six of said act, it is enacted, "That so much territory as is embraced in the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby established as the county of Faribault: beginning at the southwest corner of township one hundred and one (101) north, range twenty-three (23) west, running thence west on the boundary line between the territory of Minnesota and the state of Iowa, thirty-six miles to the township line, between ranges twenty-nine (29) and thirty (30) west; thence north on said township line twenty-four miles to the township line, between one hundred and four (104) and one hundred and five (105) north; thence east on said line thirty-six (36) miles to the township line between range twenty-three and twenty-four west; thence south on said township line twenty-four (24) miles to the place of be-ginning."

An apportionment of the territory was made at the same session of the legislature, for legislative purposes. District number ten (10), was composed of the counties of Le Sueur, Steele, Faribault, Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet, Sibley, Pierce and Renville, and was entitled to one councilman and three representatives.

THE NAME OF THE COUNTY.
The county of Faribault was so named in honor of Jean Baptiste Faribault. Gen. Henry H. Sibley, a gentleman of distinguished character and abilities, and as well acquainted with the early history of the State, its prominent men and public affairs, as any other person in the State, and a member of the legislature, at the above session, in a letter answering an inquiry on this subject, says:

St. Paul, Minn., May 13, 1872.
J. A. Kiesteb, Esq.,
Dear Sir: 1 have your favor of the 9th Inst., and in reply beg leave to state, that while I have no positive information on that point, my strong Impression is, that your county was named for Jean B. Faribault, he having been one of the oldest of our pioneers, and reference to that fact being the basis upon where some of our counties were designated. You are right In the statement that the city of Faribault was named for his son, Alexander Faribault, who was the founder of the town and still resides there. I think you will not go wrong in assuming that Faribault County was named for the senior of that name. Very truly yours,
H. H. SIBLEY.

In reply to a letter subsequently addressed to J. F. Williams, Esq., the courteous and efficient Secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society, the following answer was received:

St. Paul., Dec. 26, 1872.
J. A. Kiester, Esq.,
My Dear Sir: I am still unable to ascertain anything definite, or satisfactory, relative to the naming of Faribault County. I have talked with several who (I thought) ought to know, but strange to say, they cannot tell any more than we can. I have written toothers with even less success. * * * What I can learn, however, leads me to conclude that Faribault County was named for Jean Baptiste Faribault. It would seem natural, reasoning on general principles, that it should have been named for him. He was one of the very earliest pioneers of Minnesota. * * * He was a man of fine education, good abilities, considerable means and great influence, both among whites and Indians, at an early day. If, as was done frequently, counties were named after pioneers and early explorers, he would be the one selected. I am perfectly satisfied as much as if I knew it, that Faribault County was named for Jean Baptiste Faribault.
I remain yours truiy,
J. F. WILLIAMS.
And who was
Jean Baptiste Faribault?

"We find the following brief notice of him in the Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. vol 1. "He was the son of Bartholomew Faribault, who was born in Paris, France, and who became an eminent jurist in that country, but emigrated in 1754, to Canada, and held office there until the downfall of the French dominion in America.

"His son, the subject of this sketch, was born in Canada. At the age of 17 he entered on mercantile pursuits, at Quebec, and remained until 1796, when he yielded to his adventurous and active disposition and entered the Indian trade, engaging in John Jacob Astor's "North-Western Fur Company," as an agent. He was sent to Mackinac first, and soon after came to the upper Mississippi river, and after a brief stay at a post near the mouth of Des Moines river, became a resident of what is now Minnesota. He carried on a trade with the Indians for about half a century, the last forty years on his own account. He married in 1814 a half-breed daughter of Major Hanse, then superintendent of Indian affairs. Mr. Faribault espoused the cause of the United States, during the war of 1812, and lost many thousand dollars thereby, as well as narrowly escaping with his life on several occasions. He labored all his life to benefit the red man, teach him agriculture and the arts of industry, and how to protect his interests. He had an unbounded influence over many of them; his advice was never disregarded. He was prominent at all the treaties and councils and rendered the United States many valuable services."

In an address delivered by Gen. Sibley in 1856, we find the following further facts, in relation to Mr. Faribault. "He removed to this country in 1798. His career in this region was marked with more of adverse fortune, than usually occurs, even in the perilous life of an Indian trader. Shortly after the close of the war with Great Britain, he was robbed by the Winnebagoes, at Prairie du Chien, of a large stock of goods, for which he never received any remuneration. Some years subsequently he fixed his residence upon Pikes Island, near Fort St. Anthony (now Snelling) and had barely established himself in his vocation of trader, when he was forced, by the Mandate of the Commandant of the Fort, to abandon his buildings and betake himself with his movable property to the bottom land on the east side of the Mississippi, where he erected new tenements. The following spring, the water, which was unusually high, carried off his houses and live stock, he and his family escaping in boats, by means of which he was fortunately enabled to save his goods and furs from destruction. Still undiscouraged, he built a house at the point now known as Mendota, where he resided many years, except during the winter months, when he assumed charge of his trading post at Little Rapids, on the Minnesota river. He acquired a considerable fortune though having met with so many reverses."

In person, Mr. Faribault was below the medium height, of prepossessing appearance and of much dignity and frankness. It is said of him that he was a gentleman of the old French school, of Parisian style and of great affability and urbanity of manners and that, notwithstanding his long residence among savages and at the out post of civilization, in the far northwest, he never lost his accomplishments and character of a well bred gentleman. It appears from a letter received from his grandson, that Mr. Faribault, in very early days, in company with General John C. Fremont and General Sibley, visited this region of country, on an exploring and hunting expedition, and that they were near what is now the locality of Blue Earth City, for some days. He lived to a great age and spent the last years of his eventful life with his sons, at Fairbault, in Rice county, in this State. He died Aug. 20th, 1860, and was at the time of his death, the oldest white resident of what is now Minnesota. Our county is indeed worthily named and its people should, some day, erect an appropriate memorial, in honor of him whose name the county bears.

A brief notice of Alexander Faribault, the oldest and most prominent of the sons of Jean Baptiste Faribault, may be of interest.

In a letter from a friend, who, at the writer's request, visited Mr. Faribault, we find the following statements: "He was born at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1806. He is one-half French blood, one-fourth Scotch and one-fourth Sioux Indian. He settled at Fort Snelling in 1819, and removed to Faribault (Rice County) in 1853, where he still resides (December 12, 1871). He is the father of ten children, seven of whom are now living He possesses a good business education and speaks the English language very correctly. Since his removal to Faribault, he has adopted the manners and customs of the whites and is a good citizen, public spirited and generous to a fault, and has ever taken an active and lively interest in the growth and prosperity of Faribault, which was named for him. Mr. Faribault is quite actively engaged in business, and owns one of the best flouring mills in Faribault, which was built by him some eight years ago at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. His wife is a full blood, of the Dakota, or Sioux tribe of Indians, and still retains the dress and customs of her tribe. Mr. Faribault was chief of the Wabasha band of Sioux, up to the time of his settlement in Faribault."

It appears that Mr. Faribault once visited this region of country. It is stated in the history of Rice county, Minnesota, that he, "in the spring of 1833, followed the Indians south, to their hunting grounds, located in the present county of Faribault. (Should have added Martin.) The place had an Indian name signifying chained lakes." He was a member of the second territorial legislature, being one of the representatives of legislative district number seven. He died November 28, 1882. The following tribute to his memory was written by one who knew him well. "He was a man of the kindliest feelings, the most inflexible integrity and an eveness of temper, which was seldom ruffled. A man more universally beloved and respected has never departed from among us."

The county being now bounded and named, we shall proceed to relate

THE STORY OF THE FIRST SETTLER.
Moses Sailor

Moses Sailor was the first permanent settler of Faribault county. He was born in Monroe county, state of Ohio, in the year 1808, and was married at the age of twenty-four years. He has always been a farmer by occupation. Immediately after marrying he emigrated to Elkhart county, Indiana, which was then quite a new and sparsely settled country. Here he continued to reside for twenty-two years. His wife died in 1849, leaving him with nine children. In the fall of the year 1854, he emigrated, with his family, to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he took up quarters for the winter, in the village of Bradford. Finding that the country there had already been mainly taken up and, as he says, "Not being new enough to suit his pioneer tastes," and desiring to get lands for his boys as well as a home for himself, he concluded to prospect further, as soon as the weather would permit in the spring.

Having heard very favorable accounts of the territory of Minnesota, he, near the first of April, 1855, in company with James Little and John Love, carrying their guns, provisions and blankets, started on foot from Bradford, on an exploring expedition into Minnesota. After a day's journey, neither roads nor settlements existed, but striking out boldly into the wilderness, they directed their course by the aid of a pocket compass and a map, for the head waters of the Blue Earth river, as that stream was somewhat indefinitely laid down on the maps of that time. The first point at which they struck the Blue Earth river, was on the east branch, about two miles east of the site of Blue Earth City. Here they stopped and built a fire on the eighth day of April, at about eleven (11) o'clock in the forenoon. Leaving Mr. Little here, Mr. Sailor and Mr. Love proceeded across the prairie for the west branch of the river, to examine the timber and lay of the country. They reached the west branch on section twenty, in town 102, range 27, as was indicated by the section stakes and quite near where Mr. Sailor subsequently took his "claim."

After prospecting for a few hours and being much pleased with the country, they returned to Mr. Little and then all proceeded to the junction of the two branches of the river, afterwards known as "the forks," near which they were so fortunate as to find a small, rough log cabin, on the north bank of the stream. It was very rudely built, quite low and not more than ten by twelve feet in size, and had evidently been built as a mere temporary shelter.

This cabin had been erected by one Thomas Holmes, of Shakopee, a famous explorer and town-site locator, in the early days of the territory of Minnesota. He was in this region in 1854, and erected this cabin, with the intention of making a claim of the land adjoining, with a view of eventually laying out a town in the vicinity. This he never did, however, but went so far as to employ two men,, whose names are now forgotten, to go upon the land and who occupied this cabin a short time. But Mr. Holmes not coming with provisions, as agreed, they returned to Shakopee and the project of laying off a town was given up by him. This cabin was the first advance made in the building of a human habitation, on the capacity and architectural style of an Indian tepee. It was the first house erected in the county. To return to our company, it being now near night, they concluded to camp here. This country at the time, presented a very favorable aspect. The snow of which there seemed to have been but little during the winter, had all disappeared.

The ground was dry and the grass just starting. The streams were very low and easily forded. A bright, warm sun, cloudless skies and a mild and balmy atmosphere, welcomed our explorers to this new land.

The next morning they started northward to Mankato, exploring the timber and adjacent prairies and camped in the evening near Jackson's lake, in Blue Earth county. The next day they reached Mankato, which they found to be a small village of some fifteen houses, large and small, and a frontier hotel, where they stopped. This town had been laid out some three years before. Here they learned that it was currently reported that the Winnebago Indians, who were soon to be removed from their location in the more northern part of the territory, were to be located upon a "Reservation" on the head-waters of the Blue Earth river, in Faribault county. Should this occur, our pioneers would, of course, have to abandon any intention of settling in this county. They then proceeded to prospect the country for a few days on the Blue Earth, Maple and Cobb rivers, in Blue Earth county, with which they were highly pleased. At this time there were but a few scattered settlers in Blue Earth county and but one small village—Mankato. At an election held in that county, in the fall of this year, but eighty-six votes were polled. There were but a few settlers in Freeborn county, and this county and all the territory west, and northwest was vacant.

Being entirely satisfied with the country, our company returned by their former route, through this county to Bradford and deter-mined to remove into Blue Earth county, immediately in the vicinity of Mankato. In pursuance of this conclusion, Mr. Sailor, on or about the 8th day of May, started from Bradford with his family of children consisting of five sons, Jacob, Able, Daniel, William and Manuel and three daughters, Esther, Amanda and Roxina, all of whom subsequently remained here as residents of the county. He was accompanied by one Solomon Myers and Archibald Morris and family. They traveled in covered wagons heavily loaded with house-hold goods and provisions, each wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, the great motive power of new countries. They had decided to settle somewhere on the Maple river, in Blue Earth county, and the route they traveled lay by Clear lake, in Iowa, Walnut lake and Minnesota lake, in this county. This country as before intimated was then a trackless wilderness, no roads, or bridges, no human habitations and the "trail" made by Mr. Sailor and his company, was the first wagon track made in the county, by any settler. They stopped on the Maple river, about ten miles from Mankato, where Mr. Sailor left the company in camp and proceeded to Mankato. Here he found that the Indians had selected their Reservation in Blue Earth county. He then concluded to return and settle on the headwaters of the Blue Earth, in this county, but Mr. Morris decided not to accompany him and remained in Blue Earth county a short time. Mr. Sailor accompanied by Mr, Myers traveled on his return by the route he had taken when prospecting, there being no track, or road however, and on the twenty-fifth day of May, near noon, he had reached his journey's end and stopped on the west half of the southwest quarter of section twenty, which with the south half of the southeast quarter of section nineteen, adjoining, all in township one hundred and two, of range twenty seven, he determined to claim.

On locating Mr. Sailor proceeded to break up about five acres of land, which he planted to corn and potatoes, camping in the meantime, in his wagon and a large tent, which he had brought with him.

This sod corn produced plenty of "roasting ears,'' and fodder sufficient for one horse and a dozen hogs during the succeeding winter. The potatoes yielded abundantly and were of a superior quality. After getting in his crop, he proceeded to erect a log house. This building was eighteen by twenty-four feet and one story high and was completed in about a week, except the roof, which was partly covered by the tent cloth. And this was the second house in this county.

Provisions now getting scarce, Mr. Sailor went about 120 miles into Iowa, for a supply. He was gone some twelve days and on his return he finished up his house, putting on a "shake" roof. This old house long since disappeared, but it was once the head -quarters of the county—the only hotel, or stopping place, in a vast region for sometime—the first resort of new comers—the scene of many a hospitable entertainment and of many a frontier dance and social gathering in the early days. The boys set to work to break up some ten acres more of land in the early summer and a small additional tract was broken in October, which Mr. Sailor says did not prove valuable, as the sod instead of rotting, dried in tough strips and pieces like old sheep skins and lay about for some three or four years. He says he knows more about "breaking" now, than he did then.

During the year many Indians, sometimes as many as two hundred, or three hundred, in a company, would call on Mr. Sailor, generally wanting tobacco, sugar, pork and sometimes "fire-water," which latter article he never let them have. In fact the country was full of small bands of roving Indians, who were engaged in hunting and fishing and sometimes on the warpath, but he says they were always peaceable and well disposed towards him.

In those days he says game and fur-bearing animals were very plenty, especially wolves, foxes, mink, otter and elk, though but few deer. There were squirrels, rabbits, gophers, prairie chickens, geese, ducks, cranes, some few black bear, panthers, wild cats, wood chucks, musk rats and skunks, and the lakes and streams were stocked with fish. He further says that on his arrival he found no buffalo, but observed a stamping or herding ground near the state line, where a large number of buffalos had stopped during the preceding winter. During the year the health of himself and family was very good, and the weather until winter set in, unusually pleasant.

He has continued to reside on the land he first took up. His farm has been largely improved and he has long since erected a comfortable frame house and large barn. Mr. Sailor is of medium stature, well built and has black hair and a long dark beard, now well sprinkled with gray; dark eyes and dark complexion, and in his prime was a man of great muscular power and endurance—hard working and courageous. He belongs to that race of hardy adventurous pioneers, known only in the far west, who have the courage to abandon the advantages of old settled countries and go upon the extreme frontier, or plunge into the wilderness and amid want and hardships and privations, surrounded by many dangers, open up the ways of settlement and civilization.

He remarried some years ago (1869), and is passing his declining years in ease and comfort, owing no man anything, strictly honest in his dealings, hospitable and a Jackson democrat. In the early days of the county, he served the public well and faithfully for some years as County Commissioner. But he now takes no interest in politics, or public affairs, except to vote. He says he has no ambitions to gratify and hates turmoil and strife. May the evening of his days be cloudless, and his sun of life set in tranquility and peace, preluding a still brighter day that may break for him on the other shore.

Since writing the above sketch, Mr. Sailor departed this life. He died February 14, 1896.

OTHER SETTLERS AND VISITORS OF 1855.
A short time after Mr. Sailor had located, Austin R. Nichols and Harry G. Roberts, called upon him, having followed his wagon track from the north.

In a letter to the writer Mr. Nichols says, his and Robert's actual residence (or settlement) dates June 8th, and that Mr. E. Crosby came in a few days after their settlement.

These persons located in town 104, range 28, now Winnebago city township.

Mr. Archibald Morris, having concluded to follow Mr. Sailor arrived about this time. In June also came Henry T. Stoddard and Newel Dewey, and selected claims. As they had only come to look out the land, they remained but a short time, but about the first of November following, Mr. Stoddard returned, accompanied by his wife and his father, Mr. Dewey and Henry R. Walker. They all settled in town 103, range 28, now Verona.

A man by the name of White, with whom Mr. Sailor had become acquainted on the Cedar river, in Iowa, came to the county with his wife and son, about the first days of June, and took a claim near Walnut lake, in town 103, range 25. He erected a "shanty," broke up several acres of land and planted a few potatoes, but soon went back to Iowa. He returned in the fall and harvested his crop—some fourteen bushels—and brought them to Mr. Sailor. At this time he discovered that he had taken his claim on a school section and could not hold it. He left the country again and never returned.

Benjamin Gray and family and Aaron Mudge and family, became residents of the county this year. Orlow Webster, James L McCrery, J. G. Whitford, W. H. Furness and Rufus Nichols, visited the county and selected claims, and the next year brought in their families and remained. James Johnson was among the settlers of this year. Alexander Johnson visited the county but did not remain. The next year he returned and became a permanent resident.

In the latter part of August, Levi Billings, Sr., and Albert Billings, John Boon and his sons Nelson and William and Crawford W. Wilson passed through the county and called on Mr. Sailor. Mr. Wilson returned in the fall with his family, accompanied by Jacob Miller, and took a claim in town 101, range 27, now Elmore.

Mr. Billings, Sr., and one Dickinson and Rufus Clark, all residents of Iowa, had for a number of seasons previous to this, been in this county hunting buffalo calves and elk, which they shipped to Chicago, Illinois, and sold at large prices. Mr. Billings was thoroughly acquainted with the country and determined to locate a town near the "forks" of the Blue Earth river, either on the same ground, or in the vicinity of the present location of Blue Earth City. In pursuance of this design, in the autumn of this year, he sent in a number of teams loaded with provisions and the irons and castings for a saw mill, which he-designed to erect near the forks, on the east branch of the Blue Earth, the next spring. With these loads came Albert Billings, Levi Billings, Jr., William M. Scott and one Rouse. Several of these parties designed to remain here during the winter, but for some cause, after engaging Messrs. Gray and Mudge, to get out the mill timbers, during the winter, which they did, they all returned to Iowa, all purposing to come again to the county in the spring.

Owing to various unfavorable circumstances, Mr. Billings' intention of laying off a town and erecting a mill was never carried out, and the timbers, designed for the mill, were subsequently used for a bridge across the east branch of the Blue Earth river, near Blue Earth City, and was the first bridge across that stream.

During this autumn, Henry Schuler, also, made a flying visit to the county, and was so well pleased with the country that he returned the next spring. On his return, an accident occurred to him, which nearly cost him his life. He had selected a claim across the Blue Earth river, west of Stoddard's, where he was stopping. The water being very high at the breaking up in the spring, he had constructed a rude raft of logs, on which he passed back and forth to his work on his claim. On one occasion, some time in March, when far out in the stream, his raft swamped and he went down, but fortunately caught hold of some limbs and tops of small trees. After a long struggle in the water, which was very cold, swimming, and wading to his neck, he reached the west bank, nearly exhausted. He rested a moment, but found he should freeze to death, very soon, as the wind was very cold. He could not re-cross the stream and there were no residents on the west side. He must keep moving, and as there was no other way of saving his life, he started northward, but was compelled to wade, or swim, a number of streams, until at length he reached a house, near Vernon, in Blue Earth county. He was so worn out and chilled, that he could not have gone a mile further.

Here he recuperated somewhat and then went to Mankato. At Stoddard's, as Schuler did not return, it was concluded he had been drowned and Stoddard proceeded at once to Mankato also, where was the nearest blacksmith shop, to have some grappling hooks made to drag the river for Schuler's body. Stoddard had arrived at the shop and had just given his order, for the hooks, which were to be made at once, when suddenly Schuler stepped into the shop ! The hooks were not needed.

The names above given include all those, so far as the writer has been able to learn, after the most careful inquiry, who settled in the county, or visited it with the intention of locating here, in 1855.

The list of actual settlers is very short.

It is curious to observe, as we proceed with this history, how and when, the men who have taken a large part in the public affairs of the county and in its growth and development, appeared here upon the scenes of their life work. And it is worthy of record, as a valuable historic fact, that this county has been fortunate, beyond most others, in the character of its inhabitants generally from the beginning. With but rare exceptions, they have ever been an intelligent, law-abiding and industrious people. Among them too, even from the earliest years, have been quite a number of men of more than ordinary ability and of very liberal education in the schools and professions. And these facts have had their legitimate results, apparent on every hand.

PRODUCTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Nothing more than a few garden vegetables and some sod corn were raised during the year and the improvements made, consisted only of a few log cabins and some acres of breaking. The winter set in about the fourteenth day of December. The snows fell deep and the cold became severe and the year closed in a hard winter.

The monotony in the lives of the few lonely residents here during that winter, was broken occasionally by visits among themselves and the Indians favored them with a few calls, which, however, were never returned.

A. D. 1856.
The year 1856 was an eventful and ever memorable one in the history of this county. The record of its events reads like a romance.

While during the winter of 1855-6, the few settlers here were living quietly awaiting the events of the future, and not knowing what was in store for them, far away from the borders of the county, plans were being laid by men who had never been within its limits, which were greatly to affect its future and control the lives and shape the destinies of many people.

The first important matter of the year demanding our attention was the project of certain persons whom we shall name, the

TOWN-SITE PIONEERS.
On a cold stormy night in the last days of January 1856, James B. Wakefield, Henry P. Constans, Spier Spencer and Samuel V. Hibler, with several others, whose names are not important to this history, were assembled in a small store by a warm stove, in the town of Shakopee, in Scott county, Minnesota. All were poor in purse, but in youth, health and courage, were rich and hopeful.

This was a year ever memorable in Minnesota of inflated prices of land and of wild speculations. Immigrants had been coming into the territory in great numbers and for several years past great improvements had been made and fortunes acquired in a day, by speculators in lands, town-sites and corner lots. The prospects for the year just beginning were very flattering. The conversation of this small company turned upon these interesting subjects and the project was proposed of striking out somewhere and founding a city. Others were doing this very thing and were rapidly acquiring wealth and why should they not do the same? The company was "impecunious" it was true, but what of that— "where there is a will there is a way." So it was then and there agreed to go forth into the wilderness and find a suitable place for a town-site, survey and plat it and settle down as permanent citizens and build a town. Speculation was not the sole motive of this project. A desire to secure permanent locations, the establishment of business and to contribute their mite, toward the building up and development of the country, as well as the bettering of their financial condition, induced this determination.

The first intention was to go into Freeborn county, but on examining the map of southern Minnesota, the valley of the Blue Earth river, fixed the attention of the company. The buffalo and elk hunter, the trapper, the Indian and the explorer, had already told their stories, of the beauty and fertility of the Blue Earth valley. Thomas Holmes, heretofore mentioned, had talked in glowing language of the forks of the Blue Earth river, as an eligible location for a town and so to the head-waters of the Blue Earth river, our company decided to go.

The winter had been long and cold. It was now the beginning of February and the snow lay twenty inches deep on the level and great drifts were piled in every direction, but what are such difficulties to western energy, bent on great projects?

Our little company nothing daunted, hired one Huffman, with his team and sled, which might have been named the Argo, and gathered together a few provisions, consisting of flour, pork, beans, some culinary utensils and a ten gallon keg of a peculiar fluid extract of rye, which latter article had been recommended by solicitous friends, as a valuable medicine in cases of frost-bites, snake-bites, chills, or general prostration, and well armed with guns, pistols and plenty of ammunition, they started for the forks of the Blue Earth, across a trackless region, like the Argonauts in pursuit of the golden fleece, across unknown seas.

The cold was intense and the roads, where there were any, were blockaded. South of Mankato no roads existed then and after a tedious journey, on the 6th day of February, 1956, our company near evening crossed the lands where Blue Earth City now stands, and proceeded about a mile further south, to the cabin of Moses Sailor, the first settler, whose hospitality they claimed for the night.

Having traveled all day over trackless prairies, plunging through deep snow drifts, sometimes breaking the way for the team, our pioneers were well nigh exhausted and they enjoyed the hearty welcome, the warm fire, the corn bread and bacon of the first settler. Having fully explained their designs to Mr. Sailor, the next morning our pioneers, with Mr. Sailor in the lead, entered upon the lands where the future city was to be built and Mr. Sailor, knowing the ground well, pointed out to them in glowing language, the beauty and adaptability of the location for a town-site. But few words are necessary with men of business and it was forthwith decided, here on the north-half of section seventeen in township one hundred and two of range twenty-seven, to found the town. This decided they were shown the small log cabin spoken of in the preceding chapter in which they stored their goods and took up their abode for the present.

On the following day Wakefield and Spencer started out with the team, on their return to Shakopee, leaving Constans and Hibler to hold possession of the country.

The weather, as before intimated, was cold and the snows deep, but in all countries "business is business" and delays are said to be dangerous. Certain matters of great importance required immediate attention and hence the hurried return of Wakefield and Spencer. The Eden of Minnesota had been found, a town was to be built, a county organized, a county seat located. The territorial legislature was then in session at St Paul, the capital, and thither Mr. Wakefield proceeded.

Constans and Hibler were left alone and went to work to render themselves as comfortable as possible in their cabin. Their usual amusements were chopping wood and carrying it up the steep bank of the river, to their cabin, keeping fire and cooking their victuals. Frequently informal visits would be made to Mr. Sailor's, where they would get a.warm meal, which visits would be kindly returned by Mr. Sailor in a day or two, and these courtesies were usually, according to the strict etiquette of the times, rendered mellow and agreeable, by "a little something to take." All times have their follies and fashions and there are many things easily excusable, in the ways and manners of the pioneers of a new country.

Thus the time passed until about the seventh day of March, when Mr. Wakefield returned with a pocketful of official commissions and accompanied by another new settler, George B. Kingsley. Mr. Spencer did not return. During Mr. Wakefield's absence, he secured the passage of an act by the legislature, dated February 23rd, 1856, organizing the county of Faribault, of which the following is a copy:


ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
AN ACT TO ORGANIZE THE COUNTY OF FARIBAULT AND TO ESTABLISH THE COUNTY SEAT OF SAID COUNTY.
(Passed February 23, 1856.)

Section 1.—Be It enacted by the legislative assembly of the territory of Minnesota: That the county of Faribault be, and the same Is hereby declared to be, an organized county, and invested with all the rights, privileges and immunities to which all organized counties In this territory are entitled by law.

Sec 2—That "Blue Earth City," situated between the fork of the Blue Earth river, as laid out and named by James B. Wakefield and others, he and the same Is hereby declared to be the temporary county seat of said county and the county commissioners to be appointed, as hereafter provided, shall have full power to locate the county building thereon.

Sec. 3.—That the Governor shall appoint and commission three suitable persons, the same being qualified voters of said county, to be a board of county commissioners for said county, with full power and authority to perform all acts and discharge all duties devolving upon the board of county commissioners of any organized county in this territory. And that he shall also appoint and commission one sheriff, a register of deeds, and two justices of the peace for said county, who shall hold their offices respectively until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Sec 4.—The said county of Faribault shall be attached to the county of Blue Earth for judicial purposes.

Sec 5.—That at the next general election, the inhabitants of said county shall determine by vote, where the county seat of said county shall be located and all male inhabitants of said county, over the age of twenty-one years, who have acquired an actual residence in said county, shall have the right to vote on the location of said county seat.

Sec 6—This act shall take effect from and after Its passage.

OUR FIRST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
This county was first represented in the legislature, after it was named and its boundaries defined in 1855, by Charles E. Flandrau, of Traverse d' Sioux, a lawyer, in the council, and by Parsons K. Johnson, of Mankato, a tailor and Aurelius P. De La Vergne, of Le Sueur, a shoemaker, and Geo. A. McLeod, of Traverse d' Sioux, a merchant, in the house of representatives, they appearing as the representatives*of the tenth district (of which this county was a part) in the seventh territorial legislature which assembled January 2d, 1856.

THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS.
In pursuance of the act above mentioned, his excellency, W. A. Gorman, then territorial governor, appointed and commissioned the officers provided for in the act as follows:

For County Commissioners—James B. Wakefield, Chairman; Henry T. Stoddard, Moses Sailor.
For Register of Deeds—Samuel V. Hibler.
For Sheriff—Henry P. Constans.
For Justices of the Peace—George B. Kingsley and Newal Dewey.

The commissions of all these officers bear date Feb. 25th, 1856. They all qualified, except Mr. Dewey, and entered upon the discharge of their official duties, which, it should be remarked, were not specially burdensome, some were the emoluments great. The county was now organized, the county seat located and officers ready for business.

It is true that at the time of the organization of the county, there were not probably more than fifteen voters in the county, nor was Blue Earth City in existence when the county seat was located there, nor was there any county business to be done, but these were small matters to men of large and liberal views and comprehensive purposes. All these things were to come and these energetic pioneers looking into the future went ahead in these little formal matters to prepare the way.

It is a little remarkable, that no record now exists of any meeting of this board of county commissioners during the year 1856. It is well known, however, that the board took no action worthy of historic record.

But to resume the narrative: our pioneers, now four of them, Wakefield, Constans, Hibler and Kingsley, all living in the small cabin, decided that their quarters were too small and uncomfortable and determined at once to build a larger house. This they proceeded to do and, after a week or two of hard work and the assistance of the Sailor boys the result was, "The Elkhorn," erected on the proposed town-site of Blue Earth City. It was the first house on the town-site. The building was constructed of rough logs and was very roomy, being sixteen by twenty-two feet, one story high, large chimney, puncheon floor and one civilized window. As soon as completed they removed into this commodious tenement and it became the general rendezvous, and head-quarters of the county for some time.

Spring set in about the middle of March and the snow soon entirely disappeared, but it was still cold, and right about this time we reach in the history of these pioneers, one of those "times that try men's souls." Provisions had run very low and our Sailor friends had also exhausted their store. The weather continued cold—the ice in the streams was breaking up—the waters getting high and traveling was impossible. Day after day even weeks passed but no one came bringing provisions, nor could anyone go after a supply. Starvation stared the company in the face. They were at last reduced to buckwheat "slapjacks," the flour being stirred up with water, and as a rarity occasionally seasoned with ground cinnamon bark. This was the only article of food for some weeks, except that on several occasions some wild game—a squirrel or a rabbit— was shot by the nimrods of the party.

And to add greatly to their miseries, their stock of tobacco became entirely exhausted—not a crumb left. Oh for one chew! just one smoke! was the repeated exclamation. Barks and roots were tried but gave no relief—pockets were worn out with the involuntary search for the weed and in the silent hours of the night weird dreams came to them of jolly "plugs'* of pure "Cavendish," great smoking Meerschaums and Royal Havanas, dancing in the air. How strange that people will subject themselves to such habits!

During this trying time, however, an event occurred which threw the company into great excitement—a fine fat coon was discovered in a tree top, at a short distance! Here now was something of real importance. It had of course to be taken by some means—"they were out of meat." It was one of those great emergencies, where presence of mind, steady nerves and skill alone triumph. So the mighty hunter Constans, by far the best marks-man in the party and a dead shot, was deputed to bring down the coon. He approached the game with that silence, stealth and cunning, known only to the skilled hunter. He took deadly aim with a rest, he fired—the coon did not stir. Quickly loading again with great care and circumspection, he shot again but strange to say there were no signs of trouble in that tree top. The coon did not say as Crockets did 'Til come down." And now, alas, it was found that the shot were all exhausted. What was to be done? Our nimrod wore a vest, on which were -some round buttons, out came his knife and off came the buttons—this thing was growing serious—no more fooling Mr. Coon. The gun was reloaded heavily. Mr. Constans concentrating his powers, took another deadly aim— fired and down came the coon and down also came the hunter. The gun killed, or nearly so, at both ends. It had kicked him fair on the nose, knocking him over, and that useful organ, being quite prominent, was badly smashed and dilapidated. But they got the coon and bad a fat time.

Life in Fairbault county during the times of which we write was not specially attractive and began to hang heavily upon our pioneers. No amusements—but few neighbors, no mails, nothing to do, except the cooking of their meals and carrying in their wood and water. Their stories had all been told a dozen times, invention even was exhausted, no reading matter but that which had been read and re-read until it had become disgustingly stale. A vocal band was organized and much time spent in singing. Quiet games of cards were played, with no other purpose than to kill time, or as was often the fact to determine definitely who should bring in the next bucket of water, or back in the next load of wood. The last days of the month arrived and with it the occurrence of a great and long hoped for event.

NEW SETTLERS APPEAR.
Wm. M. Scott, Levi Billings Jr., Albert Billings and Zimri Butler, arrived from Iowa at this time, with a load of stores and provisions. Daniel L. Harrington, Levi Billings Sr., with Mrs. Billings and Mrs. Scott, were several days behind, with another load of stores. This latter company, however, had got lost and wandered off to Walnut Lake, and not arriving as expected, a party consisting of J. M. Sailor, Constans, Scott, Albert Billings and Butler, went in search of them. They were found and brought in, except Mr. Billings Sr., after a number of days of terrible suffering from cold and hunger. Mr. Billings Sr., in feeble health and almost blind, when he found that they were lost, had hired an Indian whom they met, to bring him to the forks of the Blue Earth, to get assistance to bring in the others, but the Indian proved treacherous, or ignorant, and they wandered about some days and nights on the prairies, when at last he too arrived at Blue Earth City. A new order of things were now inaugurated. Mr. Billings and family took possession of the old cabin on the north bank of the river, until a new house could be built, while Mr. Scott and wife commenced housekeeping in the "Elkhorn," taking our four pioneers as boarders,'the Elkhorn thus becoming the first boarding house in the city.

We must here break the chain of this personal narrative, to relate, in the order of time, a tragical event.

THE FIRST HOMICIDE—A MYSTERY.
"Blood has been shed ere now i' the olden time,
Ere human statute purged the general weal;
Ay, and since too murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear."—Shakespeare.

During the month of April, 1856, three young men came to Blue Earth City, remained a short time at the Elkhorn, and then proceeded, by way of H. T. Stoddard's, in Verona, a settler of the preceding year, where they remained several days, to the vicinity of Mapleton.

Their names were J. C. Ackley, a young merchant from Connecticut, who had come west to Caledonia, in Houston county, in this state, and Frederick Fisher, who had been a clerk in a store at Caledonia for several years, and E. C. Young, a farmer and resident of Houston county for some years. They were looking for land, desiring to take claims. Ackley took a claim somewhere on the Maple river and went to work. Fisher and Young concluded to look further, and, finally, returned to the house of Mr. Stoddard. After prospecting several days. Young took up a claim about a mile south of Stoddard's, and Fisher found a tract to suit him, about two-and a half miles northwest of Stoddard's, in town one hundred and four, of Range twenty-eight (now Winnebago City township). They boarded with Stoddard, and worked on their claims together, until Young accidentally sprained his right knee, very seriously, and was confined to the house for a week or more. During this time Fisher worked on his claim alone.

On Friday, the day preceding the date of the death of Fisher, while Stoddard's family, including Young and Fisher, were at dinner, a number of Indians came to the house. The company comprised a few Sioux, several Winnebagos and a half-breed of bad repute. It appears that these Indians, with quite a number of others, had a large camp near Fisher's claim.

While the Indians were staring in at the door and window, during the dinner. Fisher jokingly made a remark to one of the Indians, which greatly insulted him, but he did not, at the time, seem to specially resent the insult. Fisher went to work on his claim after dinner. About noon of the same day, three white men, named respectively Benson, Humphrey and Sinclair, also came to Stoddard's, looking for land. They went away in the evening, going as they alleged to their boarding place, Tobias Miller's, just over the line in Blue Earth County, but returned the next Wednesday to Stoddard's, when Stoddard hired Benson and Humphrey, and Young hired Sinclair to work. During the afternoon the Indians returned to their camp.

Fisher returned home in the evening as usual. The next morning, Saturday, May 10th, Fisher, accompanied by one Brace, a boarder at Stoddard's and a claim holder, who was going in the same direction, some distance, started for his claim to split rails, taking his dinner, axe and wedges with him. Fisher did not return in the evening as usual, and after waiting until quite late, Stoddard and H. R. Walker on foot, and Young on horseback, went to Fisher's claim, in search of him, but found no traces of him.

On Sunday morning, they with several others, went out again but found nothing of him, except the beetle and wedges. No rails had been split. It was then evident that Fisher had given up his intention of splitting rails, or that something had happened to him on Saturday morning. It was suggested that he might have gone to Ackley's, for clean clothes, where he and Young had left their clothing. But Fisher not returning on Monday, Young sent his hired man, Sinclair, to Ackley's place, to see if Fisher had been, or was then there. It appeared that he had not been at Ackley's and Ackley returned with the messenger to Stoddard's, when another search was made for Fisher, but no further trace of him was found.

The disappearance was unaccountable and foul play began to be suspected. The question arose, naturally, did he have any money with him ? It was known that he had a gold watch. Some persons alleged that he had considerable money, as much as three thousand dollars in gold.

It was even said by some, that he had as much gold as would fill a shot bag. But others, who had the best opportunity of knowing, said he did not have more than five dollars, if so much, and that Ackley had loaned him some money, at Austin, on their way coming west. Some days passed, but no tidings came of the missing man. The man Benson then took Fisher's claim, on condition, that if Fisher appeared, the claim would be given up to him.

Ten days residence on the land was required by law, at that time, and certain improvements, before title could be perfected. Benson completed the improvements and Fisher still not being heard from, Benson, Ackley and Young proceeded to the United States Land Office, then located at Brownsville, Houston County, in this state, and "proved up" on their several claims. Young advanced the means to pay the Government for Benson's claim. Ben-son, after proving up, sold the land to Young for fifty dollars advance on the cost.

Young remained in Houston county until the last of August, when he returned to Stoddard's' and he became a permanent resident of the county. In the meantime, and about the 10th day of June, or perhaps a little later, Fisher's body was found in a small ravine, on his claim, by Patrick H. Allen. Fisher had been murdered. It was plainly evident how it had been done. He had been stabbed twice in the neck—once in the side and once behind— and was thrown into the ravine and covered with dirt and leaves, lightly, and several small willow withes, sharpened at the ends, were bent over him, in the form of a bow, the ends being stuck into the ground.

Mr. Allen immediately reported the finding of the body, when a small burial party, consisting of Mr. Allen, A. D. Mason, H. H. Bigelow, J. Roberts, T. Maxson, N. Dewey, H. T. Stoddard, H. R. Walker, J. M. Stow, the Rev. J. G- Whitford, most of whom were new settlers in the vicinity, repaired to the locality of the body, and buried the remains near by.

It may be stated as a singular fact, that the gold watch, which Fisher owned, was still on his person, but his boots and hat were gone. Col. Samuel McPhail, of Caledonia, was subsequently appointed administrator of the estate of Fisher, and the watch which had been placed in Stoddard's care, was, by order of the administrator, delivered to Young and was sent to Fisher's brother, residing in Rochester, N. Y.

Suspicion attached to several persons, as the perpetrators of this foul murder, but the most careful and impartial investigation but proved that the suspicions could not be correct, and were but the suggestions of mistake, or malice. Within four months after the homicide, a committee of citizens carefully investigated the affair, and some four years afterwards, the grand jury of the county formally inquired into the case, through all the obtainable witnesses to the facts known, but neither the committee nor the grand jury could learn anything as to the murderer, or any accessory to, or instigator of the crime.

Many circumstances connected with this sad affair, indicated that an Indian did the deed, probably the one offended by Fisher. Nearly a score of years have passed away, but notwithstanding the old adage that, "murder will out," yet no further light has ever been thrown upon the horrible crime and the perpetrator will probably never be known, until the great books shall be opened in the last day. The details of this case, have been given, as they were learned from those who knew most about it.

In the spring of 1874, being some years after the above article was written, a statement appeared in the Mankato Review, which was copied into the Blue Earth City Post, that a rumor was current to the effect that a short time before that date, a man had died, in Colorado, who, just before his death, confessed that he and another person had committed the murder of Fisher, at the instigation of a person whom he did not name. Several weeks after the above statement was made, the Review said that it had learned that the person who was alleged to have made the confession and died—Tobias Miller—was alive and well and that "the whole thing proves to be only a sensational story."

In justice to Mr. Miller, it must be said, that there were never any suspicions, in the early days, that he had anything whatever to do with the crime, and no evidence that he was implicated in it has ever appeared since that time.

The incidents attending this great crime are given so fully here, because it was the first known homicide occurring in the county and has always been a great mystery and, lastly, because at least two lives, besides that of poor Fisher, have been wrecked by aspersions growing out of the event.

And now to resume the story of our pioneers: Good weather had fairly set in, in May. Our company began to prospect the country and make their arrangements for laying off the town and building certain houses, or preemption shanties, which were necessary under the pre-emption laws, to hold the town-site lands.

THE FIRST MAIL SERVICE.
The want of communication with the outside world was severely felt and it was determined to have, among the first things, regular weekly mail service between Blue Earth City and Mankato. The government was applied to and Mr. Kingsley was appointed post master—the first one in the county—and an arrangement was made with one Simon Dow, who had first come into the county, to carry the mail weekly, for a stipulated sum per trip, to be paid out of the receipts of the offices on the route and such additional sum as the settlers might be induced from time to time to contribute. This plan continued in force until late the next year, when the government assumed the entire business of carrying the mails. The mail was carried on horseback most of the time and this means of communication proved a great convenience, as the first mail carrier was a man of a trafficking turn of mind and always returned from Mankato loaded with coffee, tea, pork, cordials, tobacco and many other small articles of prime necessity. Passengers by this line "footed" it. but had the company of the mail carrier, who occasionally gave the passenger an opportunity to ride. The writer came into the county by this conveyance.

SURVEYING THE TOWN SITE.
Settlers now began to come into various parts of the county rapidly and locate. A number of claims were taken and cabins erected, and as the pleasant month of June arrived, the ground became settled and the great work of surveying the town-site was begun.

Thomas Hood, of Shakopee, a first-class surveyor, was employed and a surveying corps was organized, consisting of Mr. Hood as chief, with Messrs, Kingsley, Constans, Hibler, and one Osgood, a new settler, as assistants, and Wakefield as a general advisory member. The surveying and staking out of the city required about a month's labor, and was completed in the first days of July.

THE FIRST STORE.
In the mean time and in the month of June, one Cornelius Garretson arrived with an assorted stock of merchandise, and proceeded . to erect a hewed log house. This important building was erected on the southeast quarter of section seventeen (17), adjoining the town site; and was some twenty feet square and one and one-half stories high. It had, also, actually two floors, two windows, a counter and shelves. Here now was a house as was a house, and the style and finish were the subject of remarks throughout the whole settlement. Here Mr. Garretson displayed his goods—an excellent assortment too—and this was the first store in the county.

THE METROPOLITAN.
And now our pioneers had established their town and had built various houses—log cabins. They had a store and a boarding house— the Elkhorn—and a weekly mail, and each of them had secured a "claim" to a quarter section of land and the prospects were glowing. But there was one thing lacking to give character to the place—there was no regular hotel. Immigrants were coming in, land hunters were traversing the country, visitors were calling to see what a country this was, but there was no hotel. A consultation was had. The enterprise was important and expensive. Money was scarce and town lots were not selling yet Who would undertake this great work ? Here our friend Constans, with the indomitable energy and active industry which have always characterized him, came to the rescue. "Boys," said he, "I'll build and keep the hotel," But it was remarked that he was not married and to keep a hotel required the supervision of a landlady as well as that of a landlord. "I'll manage that matter," said he blushing profusely at the suggestion, as his mind doubtless reverted to a dark eyed Swiss girl, modest and neat, "The girl he left behind him."

In the month of August the hotel was built. The main building was twenty by forty feet, with a wing in the rear, sixteen by twenty-two feet, and the whole building was one and one-half stories high. The house was built of hewn logs and about three thousand feet of hardwood boards were used in the flooring and for other purposes, at a cost of one hundred dollars per thousand feet. The building was completed in the fall and named the Metropolitan. New York had its St. Nicholas, Washington its National, St. Paul its International, why should not Blue Earth City have its Metropolitan ? In the fall Mr. Constans was married and fitted up and opened the hotel for the reception of guests.

This house—the first hotel in the county—disappeared several years ago, but it long stood as a land mark of the early days. Within its walls were born all the children of Mr. Constans, now all grown to manhood's years.

It was the first home in this new land of the writer, and of many b others, and many were the days, in the long ago, spent by him beneath its hospitable roof, when the winter winds were fierce and cold and in those darker times of Indian troubles, when the ruthless savage went prowling along the frontiers, murdering and burning, this rough old log house was the last and best refuge in all the land.

And here we shall leave these pioneers to be named hereafter as others, only incidentally as they may be connected with this history. The thought may be stated here that little does the citizen of to-day, surrounded by all the comforts and blessings of civilized life, know of the hardships, dangers and privations of those early years, and little too of the fortitude and courage with which they were borne by the first settlers, ever hopeful and confident in the rose-colored future.

THE FIRST PUBLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
We now proceed to relate a pleasant and memorable event—the preaching of the first sermon at Blue Earth City, and probably the first in the county. The morning of July 13, 1856, broke bright and clear over this new land. It was the Sabbath—the day of rest and worship.

"But the sound of the church-going bell
These valleys and rocks never heard—
Never sighed at the sound of a knell,
Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared !"
—Cowper.

It was a day of peculiar loveliness. The wide, silent prairies were blooming with innumerable flowers, the neighboring forests and groves seemed more green than usual, and the summer air more balmy. Silence and peace rested like a blessing upon all nature, while the sun in a blue and cloudless sky, shone forth as the central glory and beneficence of the universe, the scenes reminding the beholder of that far gone golden age, sung by the poets, when men led a quiet, pastoral life on the plains of the East—when peace and good will reigned supreme on the earth—when heaven and earth were nearer together and the Sons of Light came down to walk and hold converse with the sons of men.

At such a time and amid such scenes, were the first religious services in Blue Earth City held. A small company, comprising a large majority of the settlers of the county, assembled about ten o'clock in the forenoon, in a shady grove on the plot of the young city. The preacher was the Rev. James G. Whitford, of the Methodist Episcopal Church—a plain unlettered man—sporting no high sounding titles, but possessing a heart full of zeal for the salvation of men—one of those good self-sacrificing men, who, ignoring a life of ease—the allurements of wealth and fame, go forth into the byways and hedges, and into the wilderness and amid toils and privations, preach the blessed gospel of the Redeemer and—

"Spend their sweat and blood and tears To cultivate Emmanuel's land."

With reverend and uncovered heads the services commenced, and all joined in the simple but pathetic hymn of praise announced by the preacher, and then all bowed low as the humble prayer of thanks and invocation went up to the great white throne. The text, a part of the 16th verse of the first chapter of Second Peter—"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables"—was read. And then the preacher, in simple and earnest language, told the story of the Cross and pointed out the way of salvation and showed how these were not fables, cunningly devised, but the most blessed and important truths, which had in the course of all the ages, been proclaimed to man. The sermon ended, they all again united in a hymn of praise, and kneeling once more, the preacher poured forth an impassioned prayer to the God of nature and revelation, for the blessing and final salvation of all this little company, and then the benediction was pronounced and the first public services were ended.

The reader may have stood beneath the mighty dome of St. Peters—he may have heard ten thousand voices unite in the praises of the Most High in that grandest Cathedral of all the earth, made by human hands, and may there have witnessed the most awe inspiring ceremonies of religious worship known among men, but here was a grander Cathedral—nature's temple of the ever living God—a temple bounded only by the distant horizon and whose dome was the clear, blue summer skies—whose floor was not made of the polished mosaics of art, but was the solid earth, clothed and garnished by nature. And here too, was a worship grand in its simplicity, affecting in its pathos and acceptable in its humility and sincerity.

THE PIONEERS OF THE MINISTRY.
But regular religious services were not yet established in the county. That work was left for the Rev. J. W. Powell and Rev. R. A. Judd, of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a little later the Rev. J. E. Conrad, of the Presbyterian Church, who soon after preached regularly in the county, and were the pioneers of the ministry in this county.

Mr. Judd died many years ago, having given his life to his country during the great rebellion. The others are yet living. And they still, as the years go by, continue to call men to repentance and a preparation for the life to come, and will doubtless labor on in this highest and holiest of all callings, whatever may betide, until the great Master shall say to each of them, it is enough,
"Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
"The path of the just is as the shining light,
"That shineth, more and more, until the perfect day."

CROPS.
There was no harvest in this county in 1856. It is said that no wheat or oats were sown, or if any, so little that no account was taken of it. The principal crops raised during this year, were some seed corn and small patches of potatoes and a few garden vegetables. The great bulk of the provisions, flour, pork, beef, beans, corn meal and other articles were imported, mainly from Iowa.

WINNEBAGO CITY.
In September, of this year, five energetic young men, then in St. Paul, moved by the spirit of the times and impelled much by the same motives which had actuated the founders of Blue Earth City, also conceived the idea of establishing a town somewhere in the great Territory of Minnesota. Their names were Andrew C. Dunn, Warren N. Dunham, Elijah H. Barritt, James Sherlock and Charles H. Parker. Having determined on this project, they at once purchased a team and outfit, and all except Mr. Parker, started out to find an eligible location. They laid their course for Lake Albert Lea, in Freeborn county, adjoining this county on the east, and arrived there about the first of October. But on reaching that point they found that the only suitable location for a town had already been taken up by George Ruble and others. They endeavored to get an interest in this location, but failed. The question then arose to what point should they now direct their course? Mr. Dunn remembered having met, during the summer of this year, at Mankato, Grover C. Burt and Hiram L. Young, who were at the time living on the Blue Earth river, in this county, and who had given him very glowing descriptions of the Blue Earth Valley and strongly invited him to visit this region. So they started for the Blue Earth, where they safely arrived and made inquiry for Mr. Young, whom they found living in a tent on the lands of Capt. H. H. Bigelow, adjoining what is now the site of Winnebago City. Mr. Young and one B. K. Burt were then * 'claiming'' the two quarter sections on which the village of Winnebago City was afterwards located, but on learning that our company were desirous of founding a city, they surrendered their claims and took others. Our company camped with Mr. Young about six weeks, while making the claim and locating the town. The town was located upon the south-east quarter of section thirty-four and the south-west quarter of section thirty-five in town one hundred and four of Range twenty-eight west.

The final surveys were made in January, 1857, by Messrs. Wellman and Johnson, civil engineers, of St. Paul, and the plats were filed soon after, in the office of the register of deeds of the county. Mr. Young having the logs hewed for a small house (12x14) was induced by the company to erect the house on the town-site, which was done in November and was occupied by an agent of Mr. Parker, with a small stock of goods during the winter of 1856-7. This was the first house in the town and the first store in the city.

A hotel building next demanded attention. One Dr. W. N. Towndrow, assisted by the town proprietors, undertook this important work. This structure was twenty by thirty-six feet and one and one-half stories high. The boards for the floor and roof—green basswood and elm—were purchased at Mankato, at an expense of about seventy-five dollars per thousand feet. The building, however, was not finished until the next year, but served a good purpose as a fort, during the Indian excitement, in the spring of 1857. A steam saw mill was also purchased in Chicago, by the company during the year, but did not arrive until the following spring. The further history of this young city will be found in the historical sketch of Winnebago City township.

Here now was another village, between which and Blue Earth City there sprang up in after years, contests and rivalries like "The "Wars of the Roses," and lasted a long time. No blood was shed, indeed, but in political figuring, bitter denunciations, heated contests and prodigious blustering, resembled somewhat, on a small scale, the old wars of the houses of York and Lancaster. But the old feuds have now happily passed away.

THE FIRST ELECTION.
On the second Tuesday, the 14th day of October, the first election in the county for civil officers occurred. It was held at Blue Earth City, the county seat. The whole county was then one election district. The question also of the permanent location of the county seat was voted upon as required by law, and resulted in the unanimous choice of Blue Earth City. The judges of election were Moses Sailor, J. B. Wakefield and H. T. Stoddard. The whole number of votes cast was eighty-two. It seems that no votes were cast for members of the legislative council and house of representatives,in this county at this election. County officers only were elected as follows:—

For County Commissioners—Moses Sailor, Crawford W. Wilson and William M. Scott.
For Register of Deeds—James B. Wakefield.
For Surveyor—Orville Kimball.

It cannot now be determined whether any other county officers were elected at this election, or not, as no record of the election can now be found. This was the year of the eighteenth presidential election, but as Minnesota was then but a territory, no vote was cast here for presidential electors.

The presidential candidates were James Buchanan, democrat, John C. Fremont, republican and Millard Filmore "know-nothing." Mr. Buchanan was elected, but had only what is called a plurality popular vote. This was the first great contest of the new republican party and the election was an exciting one. The main issue between the republicans and democrats was that of the further extension of slavery. The great plank in the platform of the know-nothing, or American party, was that none but native Americans should be put in office. The real contest, however, was between the two former parties and various causes rendered it a lively one. A great principal was involved, in which the troubles in Kansas heretofore referred to, intensified the interest. An event had also occurred in Washington of such significance as to add fuel to the fires. In May of this year, on the floor of the U. S. senate chamber, Charles Sumner, senator from the state of Massachusetts—a noble and honored statesman, one of the foremost men of the age and a great champion of human rights, while sitting at his desk, was, because of some words spoken in debate, brutally assaulted and beaten over his bare head until he fell to the floor insensible, gashed, bleeding and powerless, by a detestable coward named Brooks—a representative from South Carolina. It was a most infamous deed and without a parallel anywhere in history. But to return to our local election. It was as above stated the first in the county and we are happy to say it was a model election. Those were the days here of republican (or if you choose democratic) simplicity and purity of the ballot box. There were no parties, nor partisan politics involved at this election. It was not preceded by "packed" caucuses in the townships. There were no county conventions managed by party wire pullers, or political demagogues, dictating for whom the people should vote by setting up candidates. There were no country school house meetings and no riding up and down the county, canvassing the electors and extolling the vast abilities and immaculate virtues of one set of candidates and the prodigious villainy and utter incompetency of the other set. Office hunters and office hunting were unknown and the candidates were the free choice of the electors. The honors of office were unsought and were borne by the recipients with modesty and diffidence. Blessed days were those, but never to return again. Alas! alas! how the times have degenerated! But we must now turn from these subjects to deeds of violence and death nearer home and recount the

SECOND HOMICIDE.
Samuel V. Hibler, the register of deeds of the county and one of the original town proprietors, was holding the southwest quarter of section seventeen in township one hundred and two, range twenty-seven, adjoining the town-site of Blue Earth City, as a claim under the preemption laws. He had erected a small log cabin and made some other improvements on the land. Not probably living up to the strict letter of the law as to residence upon the land and the land then being deemed quite valuable, one Theophilus Bowen "jumped the claim," as it was called in those days and determined to contest Hibler's right and ordered trial at the local land office, than located at Chatfleld, Minnesota. In Hibler's absence Bowen had gone upon the land and taken possession of the building. The jumping of claims was in those days, very unpopular and was viewed as a gross infringement of private rights, which warranted extreme measures. Many persons in those early days lost their lives in this territory because of claim jumping. In many places on the frontiers law and order in the first settlement of the country is not well established, and but little respected and persons considering themselves trespassed upon, often seek to right their wrongs "by the strong and bloody hand."

Hibler returned and on the fifteenth day of October, taking several friends with him, proceeded to the house on his claim and ordered Bowen off of the premises. A young man named Alfonso Brooks, was in the house at the time with Bowen. High words followed between Hibler and Bowen, and they got into a scuffle, when Brooks interfered and Hibler, who had a stout cane in his hand, struck Brooks over the head. Brooks stooped down to pick up a piece of brick from a small pile in the corner and as he arose, Hibler struck him again on the head several times. Brooks fell and died in about an hour. His skull was broken. Mr. Brooks was buried in the graveyard at Blue Earth City, the Rev. J. G. Whitford preaching his funeral sermon. It was indeed a sad affair. A young man of good habits, intelligent, of inoffensive character and not one of the principal parties to the quarrel, stricken down in the prime of life.

Bowen immediately went to Mankato, in Blue Earth county, to which this county had been attached for judicial purposes, and made complaint against Hibler and some others, whom he considered implicated. The complaint was made before a justice of the peace, who forthwith issued a warrant for the arrest of Hibler and the others. They were arrested and taken before the justice for examination. Thomas J. Galbraith, an able lawyer of Shakopee, and James Dow, an attorney residing at Red Wing, were retained as counsel by Hibler and his friends, and Lewis Branson, of Mankato, who afterwards became judge of the sixth district, appeared as prosecuting attorney. When the case was called, Mr. Galbraith moved the court to discharge the prisoners on the ground that the justice had no jurisdiction over the territory (in the county) where the offense had been committed, the statute of the time enacting that the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace should be "Co-extensive with the limits of his county and no other or greater." They were discharged. Mr. Hibler never returned to this county. He went to Shakopee where he remained a short time, and then returned to Pennsylvania, his native state. The others, being no more than mere spectators of the homicide, came home. Bowen subsequently pre-empted the land in dispute, the larger part of which, in after years, was laid out in additions to Blue Earth City. The current opinion of the time was, that the killing of Brooks was mainly an accident and that Hibler was not seriously to blame under the circumstances.

THE WEATHER.
The weather, during the summer and fall of this year, was very pleasant until the winter set in, on the twenty-second day of November, coming down suddenly in the shape of a foot of snow, and became very severe. The winter of 1856-7 will long be remembered over the whole north, as one of the longest, coldest and stormiest ever known in the northwest.

FROZEN TO DEATH.
But the tragedies of the year are not all told. About the first of December, Daniel Schneider, a resident of the county, and a man named Porter, started for Twin Lakes in the state of Iowa, to bring in a load of provisions, which Porter had succeeded in getting that far, but being unable alone to get further with his load, he had come to the residence of Schneider to get assistance. It was very cold and the snows deep, but they safely reached Twin Lakes and got ready for starting, but were delayed one day as a great, snow storm was raging. There was then no one living at Twin Lakes, and they had to camp out.

While at this place there came there a man named Jones, and another man quite advanced in years, whose name is now forgotten, who were on their way to this county. They soon found that they could not move with their load, owing to the great additional depth of snow and the drifts, and the cold becoming very severe, they were compelled to leave everything and seek some human habitation or perish. They turned their oxen loose to shirk for themselves and all started for the residence of one Adams, in the Big Brush, near Forest City, about fourteen miles distant over the open prairies. All were frozen to death on the way, except Jones, who, almost exhausted and with feet and hands badly frozen, reached the cabin of Adams. It appears that Schneider was the first to fail on that terrible journey, as he gave out and laid down to die about six miles from Twin Lakes. Porter kept along some miles further and wandered off the road in the direction of Coon Grove, where he sank down in the sleep of death. The old man whose name is unknown, next succumbed, not far from their destination. A party went out from Forest City in a few days after and brought in the body of Porter, but the others were not found at the time. It was said that Porter had about one thousand dollars in gold with him, but no money was found on his body. Schneider's remains were found the next April, by his father. He was lying on his back, his limbs quietly composed, as though he had gone to sleep. His face and hands had been eaten away by wolves. His pockets had been turned inside out and his wallet lay upon his breast, empty. Whether the remains of the old man were ever found and what became of the oxen and load of provisions, the writer has never been able to learn.

IMMIGRATION.
Many permanent residents came into the county during the year, and great improvements were made, but there is now no means of knowing what the population of the county was at the close of the year.

The first settlements were made during the year in the towns afterwards known as Minnesota Lake, Lura, Delavan, Walnut Lake, Foster, Emerald, Jo Daviess and Seely, as will be seen by reference to the historical sketches of the several towns. The times were prosperous, the future promising and the people active and hopeful.

Source: "The history of Faribault County, Minnesota : from its first settlement to the close of the year 1879 : in three parts : first part, the annals of the county : part second, historical sketches of the several townships : part third, historical sketch of the government of the county, and of the several county offices : the story of the pioneers" 1896, by J.A. Kiester, Minneapolis, Minn.: Harrison & Smith, printers - BZ - Sub by FoFG

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