Chapter III Under Colony Rule - 1872 1908
Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County
CHAPTER III.
UNDER COLONY RULE-1872.
A new epoch begins.
We have seen Nobles county grow from an unpopulated and unknown country in the
early days of 1867 to a community of some little importance in the closing days
of 1871. Remarkable had been the changes wrought in less than five years. But
how much more remarkable is the story of advancement we have to record for the
year 1872. During that one year a revolution was accomplished. Where were found
a possible 300 or 400 men, women and children at the close of 1871, one year
later were living nearly that many thousands. Nobles county had advanced from
one of the least known and least settled counties in southwestern Minnesota to a
populous and the most talked of county in the state. Everybody was headed for
Nobles county. In hundreds of homes in New England, New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and ether eastern and central states people were
discussing the new county-its soil, its climate, its prospects-and planning to
cast their lot there.
In the office of the Toledo Blade, in Toledo, Ohio, was born the idea that
brought about this abnormal interest in the heretofore unknown county .of
Nobles. It was during the year 1871. There were present when the matter was
first discussed D. R. Locke (Petroleum V. Nasby), Prof. R. F. Humiston, of
Cleveland, Dr. A. P. Miller, editor of the Blade, and A. P. Miller, also
connected with that publication.[1] The idea was to organize a company for the
purpose of locating a colony of settlers in some western country. The name first
proposed was Blade colony, but before an organization was perfected the name
became National colony.
Miller, Humiston & Company was the name of the company which conducted the
colony enterprise. Prof. R. F. Humiston and Dr. A. P. Miller were the gentlemen
who owned the majority of the stock, and upon them devolved the management.
These gentlemen had no place selected in which to plant their proposed colony,
and they immediately set out to select one. They traveled over 20,000 miles,[2]
examining the country from Missouri to the Red River country, and from Iowa to
Utah.
In a happy moment they wandered into Nobles county, and were so struck with
the beauty of the location, the fertility of the soil and the prospect for an
immediate and convenient market for the products of the soil that negotiations
were at once opened with the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company, with a view
to securing the railroad lands in Nobles county for their colonization purposes.
An agreement resulted, by the terms of which Messrs. Miller and Humiston
secured, upon advantageous terms, control of the railroad lands [3] (odd
numbered sections) in twelve townships in Nobles county and three and one-half
townships adjoining, in Osceola county, Iowa. The contract was, closed in the
fall of 1871.
Almost immediately settlers began arriving, as has been stated in the
preceding chapter. Most of these secured claims on government land, and then
returned to their homes for the winter. The colony company laid its plans on an
elaborate scale. Almost as soon as the contract was signed the village of
Worthington was founded, as a base from which to operate. During the winter the
company carried on an advertising campaign, which for thoroughness has seldom
been equalled in the history of colonization projects. It was liberal, but
judicious. By this means the company came into correspondence with thousands of
persons who were interested in the scheme. [4] A few came on at once and
wintered in the new settlement; the many waited until spring. Then came the deluge.
In the spring of 1872 hundreds flocked to Worthington and took up adjoining
lands. The government lands within a radius of eight or ten miles of the town
were soon taken, and many had settled at other more remote points in the county.
Much of the railroad, or colony, land was also quickly disposed of and passed
into the hands of people who had come to make their homes here. Miller, Humiston
& Co. expended between $40,000 and $50,000 in locating the colonists and in
setting on foot enterprises designed to found a prosperous community. An idea of
the settlement of the year is gained when it is known that between 10,000 and
20,000 acres of raw prairie land were broken out. Between five hundred and seven
hundred families arrived during the year, and many others purchased shares, took
claims, and made preparations to come later. [5]
The settlers were a homogenous class, being nearly, or quite, all American
born, and with the current of their religious faith flowing calmly down between
the banks of an observably narrow, but strikingly orthodox, stream. The
evangelical denominations were all represented, with Methodist, Presbyterian,
Congregational and Baptist churches leading in point of numbers. The colony was
organized upon a temperance basis. The authorities determined that no alcoholic
or intoxicating beverages, of whatever kind or character, should, under any
circumstances, be sold within the limits of the purchase. This feature was made
a strong point in the advertising, and attracted a people who were strong in
their religious and temperance beliefs. The standard of morality was high
(particularly so for a new community), and the courage and pluck of the first
settlers is beyond question.
The colony company operated in Nobles county until the spring of 1876, when it
withdrew. The terrible grasshopper scourge had practically bankrupted its
promoters. Litigation overwhelmed Prof. Humiston, and the earnings of a lifetime
were swept away. When disaster overtook the company its liberal policy toward
the settlers became a thing of the past, and there was dissatisfaction expressed
in some quarters because of the policy of the National colony's managers. The
conditions as they were during the active life of the company were summed up by
the Windom Reporter of May, 1876, from which the following is taken:
Local jealousy may have made some of us look upon the colony enterprise with
considerable prejudice, yet it is due to Prof. Humiston to say that he has
accomplished a great deal for his town and county, and in a great measure his
work and sacrifice are overlooked. He has spent probably not less than $50,000,
the earnings of his lifetime, and we infer has become seriously involved in his
attempts to develop Nobles county and build up a model community. To accomplish
this end he has spared nothing. He has been first in most of the enterprises
inaugurated in Worthington, giving of his resources freely, if not lavishly, to
make successful the numerous enterprises that have from time to time called for
assistance; the more public enterprises, the mill, the church, Miller hall, and
kindred projects* have in him met with the same generous and unselfish spirit.
No doubt that to him the three magnificent institutions are indebted for life
and success. He has induced hundreds, of dollars of capital to invest at
Worthington, and we guess that hardly a citizen but has derived more profit from
his expenditures than he himself. His time and money have gone to build up the
material prosperity of "Okabena," with a prospective view of profit in the
future, to be derived from the sale of railroad lands. Others have thrived and
prospered, while he has become somewhat involved in litigation as the result of
his personal enterprise and indomitable determination to either sink or swim
with his colony. The professor has made many investments, and large ones,
thought by many at the time to be injudicious and impracticable, but what would
have resulted if the grasshopper had not visited us no one can fell; probably he
would have met with better success, but having started, he was determined to go
through with the undertaking if it took the last dollar. He has not worked
without opposition, encountering it at home and in the neighboring towns, but he
has worked for his life's idol against it all with an energy and perseverance
that we certainly respect, and no doubt this is often overlooked by many who
have cause to remember his devotion to home prosperity. Professor Humiston has
done more to build up a barren and wild country than any one man in this part of
the state. He has been the direct means of drawing to Nobles county a great
amount of wealth, a refined and intelligent community. . . . Had it not been for
the three years of grasshopper visitation the growth of this part of the state
would have progressed, and prosperity would have abounded on every hand; then we
could have seen whether Prof. Humiston's schemes were practicable, but since
devastation has been our lot it is surprising that Mr. Humiston has come out as
lucky as he has. [6]
In giving the history of the National colony and its operations the
chronological order of events has been interrupted. To return to the early days
of 1872.
The winter was quite severe. A heavy fall of snow in the early part of the
season blockaded the railroads and it was very difficult to obtain provisions
for the settlers, many of whom were poorly provided therewith; in fact there
were times when money would not buy provisions, and the man with money was in no
better position than his less fortunate neighbor.[7] The exigencies of the times
were increased because of disasters to some of the settlers during the year 1871
from prairie fires and hail. Governor Austin, early in February, 1872, sent a
check for $100 to the county commissioners to be divided among the needy.[8]
There were several applications for portions of this state relief fund, and on
March 13 it was apportioned as follows: Nelson Coyour, $25.00; John H. Anscomb,
$21.50; Irwin S. Swan, $17.50; H. D. Bookstaver, $15.00. The remainder of the
money, $22.00, was given to R. L. Erskine on April 30.
Nobles county was called upon for the first time, in 1872, to furnish jurors
for the district court of Jackson county, to which it was attached for judicial
purposes. The following were selected by the board of county commissioners on
January 10:
Grand Jurors-Orange H. Chapman, Isaac Horton, H. D. Bookstaver, Prank Tucker,
B. W. Woolstencroft, A. A. Abbott, A. A. Allen, Warren Fish; Peter Swarwout, H.
W. Kimball, J. W. Miller, H. Berreau.
Petit Jurors-John Weston, Henry Brayton, H. C. Hallett, Albert Haggard, Byron
Brain, E. W. Branch, H. L. Wallace, Henry P. Davis, Anton Nelson, William
Rhinehart, W. H. Booth, John Hart.
Although the railroad had been completed to Worthington in the fall of 1871,
and it had been the intention of the company to begin the operation of trains at
once, it was the spring of 1872 before regular service was established.
The heavy snows kept the road covered nearly all winter. Occasionally during
the winter a construction train would get through, but not often. The first
passenger train arrived in Worthington April 16, and thereafter there was
regular service. The road was opened to Sioux City in the fall.
The coming of the railroad brought about a change in mail facilities. In the
spring of 1872 the old mail route from Jackson to Sioux Falls, via Graham lakes,
was discontinued, so far as that portion east of Worthington was concerned. The
mail was now brought by rail to Worthington, and an overland route from that
village to Sioux Falls was established. Philo Hawes, that pioneer mail
contractor, was given the contract, and "Stormy Jack" Grier was employed to
carry the mail. Along this route came into existence a number of country
postoffices and stage stations. In Nobles county were three such. The first out
of Worthington was Dewald postoffice, located on section 20, Dewald township,
less than a mile from the present village of Rushmore. J. B. Churchill was the
postmaster.[9] Hebbard postoffice was on section 20, Olney township, one mile
east of the present village of Adrian. It was known as the Childs' place. The
third postoffice was named Westside, and was on section 18, of what is now
Westside township. [10] Renselear Simmons was postmaster.
Because there was an enormous immigration to the county in 1872 and the whole
order of things was changed, it must not be imagined that the country was
changed in a day. Most of the settlers arrived too late to get a crop in the
ground, and very little was raised the first season. Except for the fact that
the prairies became dotted with the homes of settlers, it was largely the same
virgin country it had always been.
The game lover found himself in a paradise. Birds abounded. There were ducks,
wild geese, brant, curlew, pelican and prairie chickens. The local poet wrote:
"Fleets on fleets of ducks float 'round the lake." Occasionally glimpses were
caught of some of the big game that formerly roamed the prairies in vast
numbers. The summer was fine. The days and nights were frequently glorified by
thunder storms of terrific and ineffable grandeur. At night the colonists often
sat till midnight watching the frolic of sheet-lightning playing over miles of
cloud banks, vividly suggesting the possible glories of another world.
Vegetation grew rank. The farmer rode along the creek bottoms or on the edges of
the lakes and sloughs through seas of wild bluejoint grass up to the horses' backs.
It was the experience of a lifetime, this breaking up the virgin lands and
building a community from the ground up, and many have been the probable and
improbable stories told of those days. Letters went back to the old homes in the
east telling of how the colonists planted corn with an ax and caught fish with a
pitchfork, and how the pianos were set up in the shanty and the library stacked
up under the bed.
Of the conditions and prospects, as viewed by those who were casting their lot
in the new country, the following extract from an article appearing in the
Western Advance of Aug. 31, 1872, will give an idea:
. . . But, railroad center or not, we are in the midst of one of the
finest agricultural regions on the globe. The vast prairie rolls out on every
side, covered with luxuriant grass, and we have only to put in the plow and reap
the crop, to tickle it with the hoe, and it will laugh with the harvest. No
clearing, ditching, grubbing or stone gathering to be done here, but simple,
beautiful farming, where the improved agricultural implements can be used, and
the farmer can sit aloft in the shade and direct his team to a competence or a
fortune. Of course hard work can and needs be done here as elsewhere, but the
farmer can acquire an independence here with one-fourth the labor and one-fourth
the time required in districts where clearing is to be done. The government
lands have been nearly all taken, but there will be for the first year or two
claims to be had at moderate figures. In some instances they have sold high,
according to the value of the location or the judgment of the purchaser. In^
some cases they are held as high for cash as the railroad lands are held on five
years time. The railroad lands around* the town are gradually selling off, and
by next year a large amount will undoubtedly be sold to men of means.
The advertisements of the colony company throughout the eastern states are
daily attracting the attention of substantial men who are writing for
information or visiting the colony in person. To show the estimate that is put
upon the value of certain lands about Worthington, we may state that one
gentleman has refused one hundred dollars an acre for land fronting on the shore
of lake Okabena, and lands have been sold, a mile west from town, and fronting
on the lake, for thirty dollars an acre. Another tract of ten acres has been
applied for, and the owner asks fifty dollars an acre and will not take a cent
less. But abundance of good farming land can be had within from one and a half
to three miles of town at from eight dollars to ten dollars an acre. In some
instances government land may be had for less.
The bulk of the settlement of 1872 was in the eastern and southern part of the
county, in that portion most accessible to the railroad. In nine of the
townships the population had reached a point where the residents desired
township organization. Each of the townships of Worthington, Bigelow, Hersey,
Grant (Ransom), Fairview (Lorain), Dewald, Little Rock, Elk and Seward, in the
order named, asked for the privilege of organizing, and in each case the request
was granted by the county commissioners. All held meetings, elected officers,
and entered upon township government.
The greatest settlement in the county was in and around the village of
Worthington, and the people of that community were the first to circulate a
petition asking for the organization of their township. The petition was filed
March 30, 1872, and was signed by the following residents: William B. Moore, E.
R. Humiston, J. B. Haines, Jr., J. C. Goodnow, J. A. Jones, W. B. Akins, J. M.
Brown, J. N. Lemon, R. J. Cunding, B. P. Wickerstam, L. F. McLaurin, J. N. Fron,
C. P. Hewitt, A. L. Perkins, W. S. Stockdale, E. D. Southy, V. J. South, H. W.
Kimball, H. P. Davis, J. W. Stonaker, W. H. Willmarth, W. R. Lawrence, Levi
Shell, Daniel Shell, Samuel Leslie, R. D. Barber, Erastus Church, C. C. Goodnow,
H. G. Foster, C. H. Stewart.
On April 30 the commissioners granted the petition and named the new township
Worthington, after the village of the same name.[11] On the 20th day of May
following the first town meeting was held, and from that time dates the official
existence of the township of Worthington.
The request for the organization of the township lying south of Worthington
came on April 29, the petition being signed by James Maloney, Nels N. Langseth,
Hans Nystrom, Charles John Wickstrom, Lars Elofson, P. A. Wickstrom, C. A.
Tillander, Peter Larson, Ole Nystrom, Peter Nystrom, Erick Mahlberg, Lars
Erickson, P. G. Swanson and L. P. Hardow. They asked that it be called Ocheeda
township, but the following day, when the commissioners granted the petition,
they named the township Bigelow, after the railroad station of that name in the
township.[12] The first town meeting was held May 20, the same day that
Worthington township was organized.
Hersey [13] was the next to begin township government. The petition was filed
May 14, the board created the township May 30, and the first town meeting was
held June 11. The signers to the petition were Geo. W. Pyne, William Grono, A.
A. Parsons, D. Haffey, W. R. Bennett, John Manley, Chas. Frisbie, A. O. Conde,
A. J. Timlin, Matthew Smith, Chas. Smith, Jos. S. Thurston, Wm. H. Berger, P.
Haffey, Neil McIhreavie and Matthew Smyth.
The townships of Grant, Fairview, Dewald and Little Rock. were all created by
the county commissioners on September 3, and the dates for the first town
meetings, as set by the commissioners, were September 20. The people of Grant
were the first to present the petition. It was filed June 14 and was signed by
the following settlers: John H. Scott, Joseph Hill, T. J. Belknap, R. H.
Belknap, H. Nelson, Richard Prideaux, Benjamin Midboe, A. C. Guernsey, Leroy
Cole, B. F. Condgon, D. K. Gordon, Geo. M. Smith, S. I.. W. Alen, M. S. Belknap.
The first settlers of the township were mostly veterans of the civil war, and at
their request the name Grant was given the township in honor of the great
commander. For nearly a year that was the name. Then it was found that there was
another township in the state with that name, and on July 10, 1873, the
commissioners re-named the township Ransom, in honor of Prof. Ransom F.
Humiston, one of the founders of the National colony. This was done by the
commissioners without consulting the wishes of the people of the township. [14]
The petition for the organization of Fairview township was circulated July 5,
and was signed by Richard D. Bagley, Albert Haggard, Lafayette Strever, A. A.
Burton, Win. F. Hamilton, Alfred Small, William Madison, James Hazard, Jeremiah
Lynch, William Dedgon, P. Ulveling, Stephen Horake, Joseph Horake, H. McCollum.
The topographical features furnished the name Fairview, which it bore until June
15, 1874. Then the name was changed to Lorain, after the town of Loraine, Adams
county, Ill., the superfluous "e" being dropped. [15]
The Dewald township petition was filed July 15 with the following signers:
Amos Dewald, Jos. S. Randall, Edmund Bedford, Nathaniel Childs, Benjamin T.
Ross, C. D. Snow, A. B. McChord, Jonas Bedford, R. W. Miller, N. O. Miller,
Robert J. Daugherty, C. T. Shattuc, Thos. Wilson, Samuel F. Pepple, G. Grover
Stoddard, P. A. Stoddard, J. B. Churchill, Hiram Dewald, Solon Haughton, Wm. R.
Lawrence. The name was given in honor of Amos and Hiram Dewald, pioneer
settlers.[16]
The petition for the formation of Little Rock township was presented August 24
and was signed by the following settlers: Ole C. Peterson, C. C. Peterson, Knute
T. Thompson, Hans Paulson, P. Harrison, Hans Solberg, Hans Jensen, Edward E.
Field, Christian Solberg, Hans N. Dahl, Gunder D. Tinnes, Willam R. Queine,
Gullick, Knute Thompson, J. D. Roberts, Henry Faragher, W. H. Bostic, E. S.
Wickerre, D. M. Sweet, W. R. Faragher, Wm. Colvin, Wm. W. Jenkins, T. A. Bunker,
Sylvester Jenkins, and G. Gullickson. The creek which flows through the township
and its physical features furnished the name.
Elk township was created September 16, the same day the petition was filed,
and a short time afterward .the government was begun. Those who asked for its
formation were W. B. Akins, T. L. Taylor, R. B. Plotts, John P. Warner, Henry
Baldwin, Chas. Wilkinson, Isaac Allerton, M. L. Miller, T. D. Fowble, Gamaliel
Scutt, Allen McLean, R. E. Covey and S. P. Bon. The noble animal which once
roamed the prairies of the future Elk township prompted the name. The creek
which flows through the township had been named Elk by the early day trappers,
and it was partly because of the name the creek bore and partly because of
another event that caused the first settlers there to ask that the new town be
called Elk. On the morning of September 6, 1872, a lone elk came across the
prairie and close to the house of T. L. Taylor, sniffed at the unexpected sight,
and bounded away. Ten days later when the petition was presented to the board of
county commissioners Mr. Taylor suggested the name. Elk for the new township,
and upon a vote it was adopted. Several other names, including McLean, were
proposed.
Seward was the last township organized in 1872. The petition was filed
September 28, and had the following signers: Wm. W. Cosper, M. Hill, Hiram
Jankee, Jonas Parshall, Wm. Sowles, Geo. Parshall, Philo Snyder, James Parshall,
Julius Westinghouse, John P. Vail, J. E. Walling, John Weston, R. B. Linderman,
C. Charles Johnson, Horace Will, William H. Booth, H. N. Booth, Edward B. Cook
and Phineas Gager. The commissioners acted favorably in the matter, and the
first town meeting was set for October 30. The township was named in honor of
William H. Seward, the noted statesman and secretary of state under President
Lincoln during the civil war.
The first Nobles county assessment was made in 1872, the officials having
neglected to make a levy the year before. A tax of fifteen mills was levied for
the use of the county, of which ten mills was "for the general use of the
county," and five mills "for the payment of the floating debt and interest of
the county."[17]
The assessment as equalized by the county board showed a valuation of over
$150,000, of which $63,815.13 was real estate.
The real estate assessment was as follows:
No. Acres Average Aggregate Value Value City Total Value
TOWNSHIPS except Value Real Property Lots and of Real
Town Lots per Acre Land Buildings Buildings Estate
Graham Lakes 1379+ $5.94+ $8,197.00 $8,197.00
Indian Lake 629+ 4.38+ 2,763.20 2,763.20
Worthington 1772 7.88+ 13,979.29 $35,200.00 49,179.29
Bigelow 166+ 4.00 665.24 665.24
Hersey 318+ 5.50+ 1,750.40 $300 2,050.40
1st Assessment Dist
2nd Assessment Dist 160 6.00 960.00 960.00
Totals 4425+ $6.39+ $28,315.13 $300 $35,200.00 $63,815.13
At the time the assessment was made only five townships had been organized.
was divided into two assessment districts.
The personal property valuations were divided among the several townships as
follows:
TOWNSHIPS Total Valuation Amount Exempted Taxable Property
Graham Lakes $14,218 $10,180 $4,038
Indian Lake 10,123 6,478 3,645
Worthington 29,166 23,742 5,424
Bigelow 6,659 3,914 2,745
Hersey 10,384 6,144 4,240
1st Assessment Dist 753 453 700
2nd Assessment Dist 19,357 11,249 8,108
Totals $90,660 $62,160 $28,500
The number and value of livestock by townships is shown in the following table:
HORSES CATTLE MULES SHEEP HOGS
TOWNSHIPS No. Value No. Value No. Value No. Value No. Value
Graham Lakes 39 $2,940 173 $3,574 4 $400 2 $4 28 $82
Indian Lake 39 2,403 147 2,662 4 310 1 3 17 71
Worthington 42 2,785 63 1,413 9 24
Bigelow 12 733 81 1,337 2 100 7 19
Hersey 21 1,380 91 2,334 1 2
1st Assessment Dist 2 200 12 236
2nd Assessment Dist 79 3,685 245 5,530 10 210 27 37 15 39
Totals 234 $14,126 812 $17,086 20 $1,020 30 $44 77 $237
The other items of personal property assessed, and their value, were as follows:
Sixteen carriages $595
Sixty-nine watches 957
Three pianos 466
All personal property not included in foregoing 17,690
Appertaining to merchandise 13,010
Appertaining to manufacturing 711
Moneys, book accounts, credits, etc. 2,506
Moneys invested in bonds and joint stock companies 500
Gold and silver coin and bank notes in possession or on deposit 4,494
Value of improvements on and interest of the claimant in
lands entered under homestead act 16,328
Under the provisions of a state law, townships were given the privilege of
deciding whether or not license for the sale of intoxicating liquors should be
granted, and at the general election on Nov. 5, 1872, several of the Nobles
county townships voted on the question. The class of people who came as members
of the colony were such that it is not surprising that nearly all the voters
registered against the licensing of saloons, and that all townshps voting
decided the question in the negative. Following is the vote: Dewald, 17 to 0;
Little Rock, 15 to 4; Bigelow, 23 to 1; Hersey, 8 to 0; Indian Lake, 10 to 2.
Another question decided at that election related to a proposed change in the
county's boundaries. The legislature on February 29 passed two bills-one
providing that range 38 (four townships on the western edge) should be taken
from Jackson county and attached to Nobles; the other that range 43 (the present
townships of Leota, Lismore, Westside and Grand Prairie) should be taken from
Nobles and added to Rock county. Neither act was to be put in force until both
counties interested in each case should, by a majority vote, ratify the acts.
The proposition was almost a farce. In order to add the Jackson county
townships to Nobles county both the counties must vote in the affirmative.
Nobles county naturally favored the bill, but just as naturally Jackson county
voted not to give away any of its territory. In order to give to Rock county the
western tier of Nobles county townships, both these counties must so vote. Of
course Rock county voted almost unanimosly to make the change, but in Nobles
only eleven electors were found who favored the surrender of territory. The vote
of Nobles county by precincts on these propositions:
Taking Range 38 Giving Range 43
TOWNSHIPS For Against For Against
Dewald 17 1 16
Little Rock 5 14 20
Grant*
Seward 13 13
Graham Lakes 29 1 3 25
Fairview 19 20
Bigelow 9 16 25
Hersey 10 6 2 23
Elk 13 1 12
Indian Lake 24 29
Worthington 25 29 4 68
Totals 121 109 11 251
* Vote not recorded
ENDNOTES
[1] There were two men who took a prominent part in the early history of
Nobles county who bore the name A. P. Miller, but who were not related. The one
who asisted in establishing the colony is referred to as Dr. A. P. Miller in all
places in this volume. The other A. P.Miller. who was for many years publisher
of the Worthington Advance, is referred to without any title.
[2] Worthington Advance, Sept. 26, 1874.
[3] Which had been acquired from the government under the land grant.
[4] In making the personal interviews for the preparation of this work I
invariably asked each pioneer settler how it happened that he came to Nobles
county. In nine cases out of ten the answer has been that it was because of the
National colony advertising. The advertisements and "readers" had been seen in
the Toledo Blade or other papers patronized, or the settler had had his
attention called to the project by some friend who had read the advertisements.
[5] Minneapolis Tribune, Aug. 25, 1872.
[6] For sketch of the life of Prof. Humiston see the biographical section.
[7] "It was no uncommon thing," a gentleman of the early days has written,
"to see children of all ages running barefoot during the coldest days of winter.
A gentleman who lived in Graham lakes informed me that he had seen a boy skating
on the ice barefoot, and he seemed to enjoy the sport."
[8] Treasurer Board of Commissioners, Noble County.
"Sir: Please find check for $100, a donation from the relief fund to
sufferers by fire or hail in the county of Noble. I recommend the investment of
this sum and an equal amount donated by the county in such supplies as will
afford to destitute settlers the most relief. And that the county board
distribute the supplies at once. Trusting that every effort will be made to do
good, and prevent abuses, I place the matter in their hands., Please acknowledge
receipt on behalf of the county.
"HORACE AUSTIN,
"Per Wallace."
[9] Mr. Churchill located there in March, 1872. Early in 1873 he established
a small store and stopping place, which was known as the 10-Mile house.
[10] Mr. Hawes retired Jan. 1, 1874, when Daniel Shell secured the contract,
and for five years thereafter he conducted the mail, express and passenger
business over the line. During the first two years he had only two rigs, and
made the trip three times a week. Thereafter trips were made daily, the 68 miles
being made on a ten hour schedule. By the time the contract expired Mr. Shell
had fifty horses on the route, and the rigs were drawn by four horse teams. He
had barns at Child's place, at Luverne, and at Valley Springs, S. D., where
changes were made. James McRobert, now of Ellsworth, and Leonard McClintock, now
an engineer on the Omaha road, were drivers on this route during all the time
Mr. Shell was the contractor. After trains were put in operation between
Worthington and Luverne, the contract for carrying the mail between those two
places was sublet to the railroad company. There was a big rush to Rock county
and the Sioux Falls country after the railroad building was begun, and during
the time Mr. Shell operated his coaches only from the end of the railroad at
Luverne to Sioux Falls, he did an immense business. His passenger list sometimes
ran as high as 75 or 100 per day.
[11] For the history of the adoption of the name Worthington for the village
see chapter 12.
[12] The station had been named in honor of C. H. Bigelow, of St. Paul.
[13] The township took its name from the station of Hersey (now Brewster),
which had been named in honor of General S. F. Hersey.
[14] Mr. Robert Shore furnishes a number of items concerning the early days in
Ransom township:
"The first settlers in the town of Ransom were John H. Scott, D. K. Gordon and
Joe Hill, who came together from Tama county, Iowa, in September, 1871, and took
adjoining claims on section 24. At that time there was not a settler within
miles of them. Mr. Scott and Mr. Gordon, with their wives, spent the winter of
1871-72 in the same house; and during that dreary winter, in that lone shanty on
the prairie, far from neighbors and friends, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon
their first born, a boy (Edward),-the first birth in what is now Ransom
township. As this was before the town was organized, there is no mention of it
in the town records. The first birth on record is that of Mary Scott, daughter
of John H. and Sarah A. Scott, born September 27, 1872.
"The first town meeting was held at the house of M. S. Belknap on section 14,
Saturday, September 21, 1872. Dr. Geo. O. Moore, justice of the peace, of
Worthington. was present and swore in as judges of election F. W. Burdette, M.
S. Belknap and H. R. Gray, and Leroy Cole as clerk. At the election which
followed seventeen votes were cast by the following named persons: A. C.
Guernsey. D. K. Gordon, M. S. Belknap, John H. Scott, L. S. Roberts, F. W.
Burdette, Anthony Mutter. Leroy Cole. R. Prideaux, Cole Guernsey. J. R. Dewey,
James H. Hill, Geo. M. Smith. H. R. Gray, Hiram Norton, B. F. Congdon, S. I. W.
Alen.
"When the votes were counted it was found that the following persons had been
chosen as first town officers of the town of Ransom: H. R. Gray, chairman of the
board of supervisors; M. S. Belknap and A. C. Guernsey, supervisors: Leroy Cole,
clerk; D. K. Gordon, treasurer; John H. Scott, assessor; F. F. Burdette and B.
F. Congdon, constables; F. W. Burdette and Geo. M. Smith, justices of the peace.
Of the men who were elected town officers at the first election, but one remains
with us in Nobles county today, John H. Scott, who may also be said to be the
first settler in the township. Of the seventeen who voted at the first town
meeting four only are in Nobles county today: John H. Scott, Cole Guernsey, R.
Prideaux and J. R. Dewey. What memories are called up by the mention of some of
these names! Of the seventeen who voted at the first election in Ransom, four
remain; where are the rest? Some have gone to their long home, and the rest are
scattered to the four winds. Many left us on account of the struggle and poverty
of those early days. In those times of grasshoppers, of blight and of blizzards,
no wonder that men's hearts failed them.
"I have endeavored to make a list of those who were neighbors in Ransom during
the very early days. The list I have no doubt is far from perfect, but it is the
best I could make at present: Settlers of 1871-John H. Scott. D. K. Gordon, Joe
Hill. Settlers of 1872 -Leroy Cole, A. C. Guernsey, Cole Guernsey, M. S.
Belknap, R. H. Belknap, H. R. Gray, F. W. Burdette. F. F. Burdette, R. Prideaux,
C. W. W. Dow. S. I. W. Alen, L. S. Roberts, Hiram Norton, Anthony Mutter, J. R.
Dewey, Geo. M. Smith, B. F. Congdon, Robert Shore, Thomas Jay, Geo. Jay, Frank
Lane, John Lane, D. Davis, Jerry Twomey, D. C. Holmes, Dan Twitchell. David
Twitchell, Waters, C. Chamberlain, H. Toms, Hoff, G. Rhone, Farnham, Lewis
Larson, Hans Nelson, Gould, Bowers. Settlers of 1873-Geo. W. Dow, Geo. W. Miner.
Settlers of 1874-I. N. Wilson, Wm. Clark. Other years-E. W. Goff. James Goff, P.
McCann."
[15] A communication from the state auditor was presented, stating that older
towns in the state bore the names of New Haven, Wilson and Fairview, and
requesting that the names of said towns be changed in conformity to law. The
following names, by request of residents of towns, were changed by the
commissioners: New Haven to Olney; Wilson to Akin [later Summit Lake]; and
Fairview to Lorain."-Commissioners' Journal, June 15, 1874.
[16] The Dewalds and John Churchill came to the township together in April.
1872, and were the first permanent settlers. They were followed almost
immediately by Messrs. Robert Daugherty, S. F. Pepple, Aaron Lambert, Solon
Houghton. Sherlie, Joe Mason, Joe Poots, W. R. D. McChord, A. B. McChord,
Richard Berggraf, Tom Childs, Sam Childs and Chas. A. Sundberg.
[17] Commissioners' Journal, Sept. 16, 1872.
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY
MINNESOTA
BY
ARTHUR P. ROSE
NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA
PUBLISHERS
1908
