Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County
CHAPTER VI.
THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE (Continued)—1876-1879.
The year 1876 opened auspiciously. Despite the forebodings of disaster from
another grasshopper visitation, the people were in fine spirits. This was caused
by the prospects of another railroad building into the county. Everybody was
worked up over the matter, and the belief was almost unanimous that upon the
coming of another railroad depended the future welfare of the county.
The Southern Minnesota [1] was the name of the road that caused the flurry in
Nobles county. It had a road completed and in operation as far west as Winnebago
City and let it be known that the line would be extended to the west, provided
sufficient money was raised as a bonus. Nobles county was asked to vote bonds to
the amount of $40,000 as a subsidy to be paid subject to the condition that the
road be completed to Worthington and in operation on or before September 1,
1877. It was also made known that the road would later be extended. Mass
meetings and conventions were held to bring about the desired condition, and
very little opposition to voting the bonds developed. The Worthington Advance of
Jan. 13, 1876, said of the necessity of having the new road, and thereby voiced
the sentiment of the people of Worthington, at least:
The Southern Minnesota is Worthington's opportunity. If the road comes here,
Worthington becomes from that day a railroad center and an important inland
city. If it goes north of us, the railroad center for this section of country
will be at the point of crossing the Sioux City road. [2] Worthington can better
afford to pay the whole bonus herself than to let the road go north of us. About
one-half the tax will fall upon Worthington in any event, for about that per
cent of the realty on the tax list is in Worthington. . . . But of course
Worthington will not .be asked to do this. The surrounding country will, if
anything, be benefited more than the town, and will not hesitate to bear its
share of the small burden necessary to secure the road.
A petition was presented to the board of county commissioners on February 19,
asking that the Nobles county law makers call an election to vote on the
question of issuing bonds. [3] The same day the commissioners took favorable
action, and called a special election for the village of Worthington to be held
March 14. Provision was made for voting on the question in the townships on the
same day, that being the date of the regular township elections. By a vote of
353 to 199 the bond issue was authorized. Following is the result by precincts:
PRECINCTS For Bonds Against Bonds
Worthington Village 108 2
Worthington Twp. 40 1
Lorain 23
Dewald 23 5
Olney 16 3
Hersey 7 35
Elk... 30 5
Summit Lake 16 2
Graham Lakes 1 36
Seward 41
Indian Lake 33 6
Bigelow 25 18
Ransom 21 10
Little Rock 10 25
Total 353 199
That was the end of the matter for the time being. The road was not extended
until three years later, and then it barely touched Nobles county, passing
through the northeastern corner of Graham Lakes township. The bonds for the
subsidy voted were not issued.
But the Southern Minnesota was not the only railroad that showed activity in
1876. Simultaneous with the agitation for the extension of that line, the people
of Sioux Falls and vicinity were laying plans to have a road built into that
prosperous community. In the fall of 1875 several public meetings were held in
Sioux Falls, the object of which was to secure a road, either by building one
with local capital or by inducing the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company to
construct a branch from some point on its main line. The point favored was
Sibley or some station in Iowa.
The wants of the Dakota town were made known to the officials of the Sioux
City & St. Paul road. President E. F. Drake responded as follows:
St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 28, 1875.
Sir: Your favor of the 21st duly received. Absence has prevented an earlier
reply. It seems to me your proper line of road is from Worthington, or a point
on our road at the state line. The great product of your country is to be wheat,
and our route to Lake Superior is always to be the best route for it. Had the
west escaped grasshoppers we would have long since taken up this project, but
our stockholders have sunk in operating our road about as much as would be
required to build to Sioux Falls. Foreign aid cannot be had until the state of
Iowa, by some act of her legislature, can assure investors that they will be
free from unfriendly legislation. I think, as matters now stand, our preference
will be to build from some point in Minnesota. While we are not ready to begin
to build, and would desire (in case we do) the cooperation of Sioux Falls, still
we are not losing sight of the importance of the proposed route, and will give
it every encouragement in our power. I am of the opinion that the road can only
be built by local aid liberally voted. It will not be in my power to be with you
at your meeting, but whatever may be its result, and whatever route you may
determine on, I shall wish you success. Your people are entitled to a road out
in some direction, and when you develop your plans and determine what you wish
to do, I shall be glad to have further correspondence.
Yours,
E. F. DRAKE, Prest.
The information contained in the letter did not prove entirely satisfactory to
the progressive people of Sioux Falls; they wanted a road at once, and President
Drake had stated that the company was not in position to build at once. They
continued the agitation, determined to construct a road themselves if necessary,
and an association was formed, composed mostly of people of Minnehaha county,
Dakota territory. President Drake had given a hint as to the proper place from
which to build, and late in December, 1875, the Dakota boomers met and
designated Worthington as the eastern terminus of the proposed road.
A preliminary survey of the country adjacent to Big Sioux river and Brown
creek from Sioux Falls to the Minnesota line near Valley Springs was made. The
surveyors reported a route favorable for construction as well as operating. The
people of Minnehaha county very strongly urged the people of Rock and Nobles
counties to unite with them in furthering the work. [4] But the people of Nobles
county were at the time too much absorbed in the Southern Minnesota to be
aroused in the interest of the Dakotans.
During the month of January, 1876, the Sioux City ft St. Paul Railroad company
decided to build the road. This action was taken because of the evident
intention of the Southern Minnesota to invade the territory. The decision was
reached, ostensibly, through the efforts of the Minnehaha county committee, who
visited the officers of the railroad company and secured from them the promise
to build the road. [5] The railroad company asked that the three counties
through which the road was to run pay a bonus.
The company was incorporated in March as the St. Paul & Dakota Railroad
company [6] by President E. F. Drake and his associates of the Sioux City & St.
Paul. The capital stock was $600,000, there being 6,000 shares of $100 each. As
told in the incorporation act, the company proposed to build a branch road "from
some point on the line of the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad, in Nobles county,
state of Minnesota, to the west line of the state of Minnesota, in Rock county."
The preliminary survey was started west from Worthington on March 31, the
original lines being run on .the north side of Okabena lake. Later this course
was abandoned in order to avoid the heavy grade that would have to be overcome
in building directly out of Worthington. It was decided to leave the main line
at a point about three miles southwest of Worthington known as the summit, later
known as Sioux Falls Junction.
Preparations were rushed, funds were secured, bonuses were voted in Minnehaha
and Rock counties, and in May grading was begun. [7] The work of construction on
the branch made business lively. Nearly every train brought workmen to
Worthington, and the hotels there were filled to overflowing. The lumber yards,
blacksmith shops and hardware stores also did a good business. It was the first
time in several years that ready money had circulated in the county. The track
was completed to the present site of Adrian in August, and October 2 the track
had been laid to the crossing of Rock river at Luverne, and the first regular
train was run over the line. [8]
The stage line between Worthington and Luverne was discontinued. The village
of Adrian was founded, and at once became an important trading point. [9] A
station named Miller, in honor of ex-Governor Stephen Miller, was established at
the point where Rushmore now stands. The postoffice of Hebbard was moved to
Adrian, and that at Dewald was discontinued. The road was extended from Luverne
to Sioux Falls in the summer of 1878.
The grasshoppers again brought destruction to the crops in 1876. The deposit
and hatch was confined mainly to those townships which had been invaded the year
before. The pests began to hatch, and late in May commenced their ravages. They
were quite thick in Graham Lakes, Hersey, Seward, Elk and Worthington townships,
and there were a few in Indian Lake, Dewald and Summit Lake. For a time they ate
quite ravenously; then during the first week in June they appeared to become
inactive. They scattered through the prairie grass, became apparently
demoralized, and appeared to have lost their appetites. As usual, the three
northeastern townships were the most severely hurt, and the other portions of
the county were not damaged to any great extent by the early operations of the
pests. About the middle of June the young hoppers recovered their appetites and
returned to the charge. The local hatch was not considered numerous enough to do
any extensive damage, and the great-east anxiety was the fear of another
invasion. The Advance of June 22 said:
In this county the damage is still slight. We hear from Seward that nearly all
the grain there is destroyed. Our Hersey correspondent writes that in that town
the injury is not great. Mr. Ames, of this township [Worthington], thinks his
crops are half taken. Mr. Fulweiler, of Bigelow, has lost a good portion of his
grain.
The invading hosts appeared July 8, dropped down upon the county, ate a few
days, and disappeared. Then on July 22 they came in countless numbers. The
country was invaded again! They extended as far east as Martin county, south to
Sibley, west to Yankton, and north an indefinite distance. They remained until
July 29, when they nearly all migrated. Oats, barley, corn, vegetables, and all
crops except wheat, were almost entirely destroyed in all parts of the county.
For some reason the wheat was not so seriously damaged, the loss in that crop
being no greater than it had been during the previous year. [10]
There was no disguising the fact that Nobles county had met another damaging
setback. The people were discouraged, and some left the country. The hoppers had
again deposited their eggs, and there seemed no prospects that the country would
ever be free from them. [11] The majority of the settlers remained, determined
to fight to a successful end or meet utter failure in the attempt. The result of
the invasion of 1876 was to change the tactics. Instead of staking all on grain
farming, many now turned to stockraising.
During the winter following the invasion, it was again necessary to extend
relief. Early in January the county commissioners began issuing supplies to
relieve actual suffering. Captain E. S. Mills distributed at Bigelow and
Worthington, A. C. Robinson at Worthington and A. O. Conde at Hersey. This
county aid was given only to bridge over the time until supplies could be
received from the state, after an appropriation had been made by the
legislature. The Minnesota law-making body appropriated $100,000 to be used in
bounties to pay for the destruction of grasshoppers and their eggs, $75,000 to
furnish seed grain, and another sum as a common relief fund. A rule was
established in Nobles county that parties desiring relief should apply to the
township supervisors and make their statement, no affidavit being required.
These statements were then sent to the state authorities, and supplies were sent
direct to the needy parties, thus dispensing with the need of a county
distributing committee.
During the days that the grasshoppers were feasting on Nobles county grain
came the last Indian scare. It seems hardly creditable that such an event could
take place so late as 1876, when the whole surrounding country had become quite
thickly settled, but such is the fact, and those who lived in the northern part
of the county at the time will never forget it. Needless to say, there were no
Indians within a long distance of Nobles county, and no hostiles within several
hundred miles. But it was only a short time after the fearful Custer massacre in
Montana, and the rumor that Indians were on the way to wipe out the settlements
of southwestern Minnesota came to credulous ears.
It was on the morning of July 12, 1876, before daylight, that some settlers
from the north hurriedly rode into Worthington and reported that the Indians
were coming. It was stated that a band of 500 was camped on one of the lakes of
Murray county. The scare spread through the southern part of Murray and the
northern part of Nobles counties, and the evil done to nervous woman and
children (and some men) was great.
Soon after the arrival of the first refugees people began to pour into
Worthington from the country to the north. They had been aroused from their
slumbers by the startling announcement that the Indians were coming, had driven
all night, and were in a high state of nervous excitement. The roads through Elk
and Seward townships were lined with wagons, the occupants of which were all
bound for the county seat. Arrived there, they camped on the public square. The
same evening some of the settlers returned to their homes when it became evident
there was no truth in the rumor. Others waited for more substantial proof than
had been obtained.
The scare had originated with a boy named Hemphill, in southern Murray county.
He had been sent out to rate hay, but not being of a very enterprising nature,
he conceived a plan, to escape the work. He rushed to the house, crying that the
Indians had attacked him. A man named Hamptqn, who was preparing to leave the
country, spread the alarm, and within a short time a full fledged Indian scare
was on.
A scouting party was at once organized at Worthington by Lieutenant R. B.
Plotts, made up of the following gentlemen: Geo. Brant, Prof. R. F. Humiston, A.
P. Miller, Will Bushnell, Chas. Covey, Captain Aiken Miner and Alex Dickey. [12]
They scoured the country to the north looking for Indians or Indian signs. They
found nothing but a lot of scared people. After the return Lieutenants Plotts
made the the following report of the expedition.
Gentlemen of the Council of the Village of Worthington:
Agreeable to instructions, I have the honor to report the following facts
gathered by our party while scouting the country on Wednesday, July 12, and
Thursday, 13th. After leaving Worthington we proceeded north of the lake Shetek
road, accompanied by a considerable party in wagons and on horseback. The whole
party proceeded as far as Jack creek, where we found the first occupied house,
but no news from occupants of Indians. We next stopped at the house of Mr.
Alexander, on the north edge of the county, where some men were gathered who had
just returned from a scout around the country a number of miles, and who had
been unable to find anything. They informed us that they thought the whole thing
had originated with a boy named Hemphill, of that neighborhood, and followed by
the reports of a man named Hampton a few miles further north and in Murray
county. The whole party then proceeded to the bank of Seven Mile lake,
unhitched, fed our teams and lunched, after which it was decided, in
consultation, that Prof. Humiston and his immediate party, with two of the
horsemen, should return with the news as gathered.
The remainder of the party then proceeded north till we came to the house of
Mr. King, town of Bondin, Murray county. Here is quite a large settlement, and
most of the men were at Mr. K.'s house, which contained the only woman in the
township. Here we found that it was unnecessary to proceed any further north, as
a man had just arrived from lake Shetek a short time before our arrival, and he
reported everything quiet north of this immediate neighborhood. Scouts also came
in from the surrounding country while we were there, and all reported that no
Indians or signs of Indians could be found anywhere. The report of Hampton,
following the report of the boy Hemphill has caused the whole of the trouble,
and no small amount of damage to us as a people.
Having thus traced the alarm to its fountain head, Messrs. Clark, Shirley and
Chase returned to town from this place, and our guide and interpreter, Mr.
Brant, accompanied by two men from Bondin on horses, and two of my own neighbors
from Elk, pushed out west to Lone Tree or Badger lake, where we spent the night
at the house of Mr. Anderson. This place is close to the Beaver Creek
settlement, which knew nothing of Indians, and were pursuing the even tenor of
their ways, unalarmed by Indian scares.
From Badger lake we pushed west across the country to Cora Belle lake, one of
the old camping grounds of the Indians, and here we found no trails fresh, or
new camps, neither of them having been used at least since last May or June.
From Cora Belle we pushed across to that trail leading across Sunken Timber, as
that is the only place anyone can cross without going way north or coming in
south by Luverne. Before getting there we met a man just from it, who had not
been more than one hour's time away, and he informed us that he had seen nothing
of any Indians, nor had heard of any until seeing us.
In conclusion, I would add that should I ever be so unfortunate as to have
another such duty as this to perform, I should certainly like to have in my
party such men as accompanied me through, and especially such a one as our
interpreter, Mr. Brant. And now, trusting this report may allay the fears of all
our people throughout this country, I beg to remain,
Very truly your servant,
R. B. PLOTTS,
Late in Charge of Scouting Party.
Had it not been for the terrible grasshopper scourge there can be no doubt
that the whole of Nobles county would have been rapidly settled during the first
half of -the seventies. A big settlement had been made in the eastern half of
the county because of the proximity to the railroad and because of the
activities of the National colony, and a few had pushed out to the fertile lands
in the western portion. If the hard times had not come there is no reason to
doubt that a railroad would have been built through the west end and that that
portion of the county would have been as thickly settled as the east. . But
immigration had ceased when the scourge came, with the result that the extreme
western and the whole of the northwestern part of the county was left with a
very small population.
From 1873 to 1877 no new townships were organized. At the close of the former
year 14 of Nobles county's minor divisions had been granted local government;
the other six were unorganized, and had but small population. When the branch
road was built during the summer and fall of 1876, resulting in the founding of
Adrian village, the lands along the new road were settled to a considerable
extent. In township 102-43 was located part of the new village, and there also
was the greatest farming settlement in any of the unorganized townships.
A petition praying for the organization of that township was presented to the
board of county commissioners Jan. 24, 1877. It was signed by Thos. H. Childs,
G. E. Otis, J. C. Ludlow, O. Klock, R. Washburn, Horace Westbrook, H. M.
Moffatt, David W. Hovey, Isaac Emerson, Matthew Emerson, Nils Elias, Thron
Gunderen, Henry Myices, Ira E. Crosby, J. V. Bartow, Wm, Wigham, John Ellsworth,
Geo. L. Ellsworth, John Nesh, A. R. Calkins, M. J. Klock, Peter Doltsmark, S. K.
Hovey, L. C. Long, J. W. Yost, John Misemas, F. W. Ellsworth. The board took
favorable action February 6, and named the township Westside, the name being
given because of its geographical location. The organization was perfected Feb.
24, when the first town meeting was held at the Childs' hotel in Adrian.
Twenty-three votes were cast at this initial election of Westside township.
Thomas Childs and J. A. Ellsworth were judges of election, and Ira Crosby was
clerk. The following officers were elected: Chairman, J. A. Ellsworth;
supervisors, John Wiseman and Isaac Emerson; clerk, L. C. Long; treasurer, Ira
E. Crosby; assessor, J. V. Bartow; justices of the peace, T. H. Childs and R.
Simmons; constables, Geo. L. Ellsworth and Thomas Baltuff. Another election for
the selection of township officers was held March 13, 1877, when eighteen votes
were cast and the following officers were elected: Chairman, Ira E. Crosby;
supervisors, John Wiseman and A. R. Harris; clerk, L. C. Long; treasurer, P.
Voigtlaender; assessor, J. V. Bartow; justices of the peace, J. A. Ellsworth and
T. H. Childs; constables, Geo. L. Ellsworth and Geo. Slade.
Nobles county's first court house was erected in 1877. It was put up at that
time in order to secure title to the block of land which had been donated by the
railroad company with the provision that a county building should be erected
thereon within a certain time. The building put up was intended to serve as a
temporary affair, but the building was destined to be used as a court house—with
some modifications — for eighteen years.
The question of its construction was first officially discussed by the board
of county commissioners on Feb. 6, 1877, when Commissioner A. C. Robinson was
instructed to prepare plans.18 The plans submitted were accepted March 20, and
the auditor was authorized to advertise for sealed proposals to furnish material
and erect the building, which should be completed by June 28. Several bids were
submitted, and the contract was let to Thurber & Chandler (B. F. Thurber and S.
E. Chandler) on a bid of $1124. [14] The building was completed and accepted by
the commissioners June 20, and on June 27 the county officers took up their
quarters in the court house.
The annual dread of grasshopper visitation was again felt in the spring and
summer of 1877—and this time the settlers were agreeably disappointed. The
season was admirably adapted to two ends: the best possible development of small
grain, and the worst possible development of the locusts. The cool, rainy
weather of the spring and early summer seemed to have been sent on purpose to
give wheat and other small grain a rapid and healthy growth, and at the same
time give the grasshoppers a slow and feeble development. After the young
grasshoppers hatched, here and there a field was somewhat damaged by them, but
the people knew that unless raided again by the invading hordes there could not
be universal destruction. And the invaders did not come. July 26 the Worthington
Advance said: "The deeper we get into the magnificent harvest of 1877, the more
we realize that this is our year of Jubilee."
Yet conditions were not so rosy as one might imagine. The several years of
grasshopper invasion had discouraged the farmers of Nobles county to such an
extent that each year saw less and less grain sown. The spring of 1877 witnessed
the planting of a very limited acreage, and the big yield per acre did not
result in the bountiful times that would have come had the farmers sown as in
former years.
The state of affairs in Nobles county is described by a gentleman who visited
it that fall. In November he wrote:
"The country around Worthington, as well as for a long distance before
reaching there along the line of the St. Paul & Sioux City road, gives evidence
of the sad effects of the grasshopper plague in the thousands of acres of land
that have once been broken and perhaps a crop or two taken from it, and the
owners have left it to grow up to weeds, not daring to risk the chances of
harvesting their crops. Nothing so forcibly brings to the mind of the visitor
the reality of the grasshopper scourge as the sight of these desolate,
weed-grown-fields, with occasionally a-deserted home standing cheerless and lone
in the midst of the broad prairie."
The legislature of 1878 passed another appropriation bill (approved February
13) providing for furnishing seed grain. The Nobles county officials' received
$1,686.50 of this appropriation in cash, purchased the grain, and made the
distribution. There were 91 farmers who made application for grain. They had
prepared 3,344 acres of land and desired 2,274 bushels of wheat and 1,169
bushels of oats. [15]
The population of the county in 1877 according to an estimate made by the
Minnesota commissioner of statistics was 1,596. This was undoubtedly an
underestimate. The population was nearer 3,000.
By far the most important event of the year 1877, and one of the greatest
moment in the county's history, was the founding of the Adrian Catholic colony
and its beginning of operations in the western part of the county. It was to the
west end what the temperance National colony had been to the east end five or
six years earlier. The saving of the 1877 crop was largely responsible for
several leading Catholics selecting western Nobles county as the place in which
to plant a colony.
It was in the first few days of September, 1877, that Bishop John Ireland, of
St. Paul; Father C. J. Knauf, of Jordan; and Father A. Plut, of Shakopee,
arrived in Nobles county to look over the country with a possible view to
selecting it as the place to establish their followers. These gentlemen were
pleased with, the location, and immediately decided that they had found the
place which they sought. Bishop Ireland and the railroad company entered into a
contract, whereby the former was given the exclusive sale of the railroad lands
in Grand Prairie, Little Rock, Westside, Olney, Lismore and Larkin townships,
[16] under the following plan: When a member of the colony selected his land a
permit was to be isued [sic] by Father Knauf, who at once took up his residence
at Adrian and became local manager of the company and the resident priest. The
settler was then to take his permit to the railroad company, which was to issue
a contract for the sale of the land.
The people who composed the colony were principally German and Irish Catholics
from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and other central states. Before the close
of September several of the colonists arrived and contracted for land, and by
October 5 Father Knauf had issued permits for the purchase of 1,780 acres of
land. Before the year was over this had been largely increased. The Worthington
Advance of Oct. 4, said: "The influx of people into this section of country
reminds us of the first year of our settlement here. The hotels are full nearly
every night." Only a few of these arrivals located permanently that winter. They
came, secured their permits, and then returned to their former homes to make
preparations for moving on in the early spring.
To the Adrian colony, to northwestern Nobles county, to eastern Nobles county,
to the Sioux Falls country, to all parts of Minnesota, the settlers flocked in
the spring of 1878. It was believed that the grasshopper days were past, and
once more the new country was the goal for thousands of immigrants. They came by
railroad and in the primitive prairie schooner. During one day in April 32
heavily loaded covered wagons reached Worthington. The new settlers thus
arriving had their families with them and were ready to commence operations on
their farms. Of the rush to the once more promised land Mr. T. McCleary in March
wrote to the Mankato Review:
I came to Luverne on Friday, March 1. All the way from Mankato the cars were
crowded with people bound for the west. Many of them were young men seeking land
at Worthington. The hotel was full, four of us sleeping in one room. The great
cry seems to be for land, land, and the crowds are pushing to Sioux Falls and
vicinity. One cannot have much idea of the magnitude of this prairie country
without a trip over it. What a population it can support, and how it invites the
starving multitude that hang about the cities, to come and make themselves
independent.
The grasshopper days were not yet over. Late in the season they appeared in
small numbers and did some little damage in parts of the county, but the
destruction they wrought was as nothing compared with that of the early days. A
partial crop failure also resulted from natural causes, and after harvest, times
were not so prosperous as they had promised to be in the spring.
One more township was organized that year. In the fall a majority of the legal
voters of that township which later became Willmont signed a petition asking for
organization and suggesting a name for the same. The name suggested was. not
satisfactory to some of the settlers, and a petition of remonstrance, signed by
18 voters, was presented, asking that the county commissioners do not name the
town as suggested, but that they select the name. One faction wanted the
township named Willumet, the other Lamont. When the commissioners, on November
22, provided for the organization, they named the township Willmont, [17] a
combination of parts of the names suggested by the two factions. The first town
meeting was held at the residence of William Moody Dec. 12, 1878.
Two new railroads touched Nobles county in 1879, both passing through the
extreme northeastern corner. One of these was the Southern Minnesota (now the
Milwaukee), the proposed extension of which caused so much stir in 1876. The
line of the road was definitely located in the spring, and contracts for its
construction were immediately let. The Sioux City & St. Paul road again resented
the proposed encroachment on what it considered its own territory. To head off
the Southern Minnesota that road hurridly made a survey for a branch line from
Heron Lake to Pipestone, paralleling the survey of the other road.
Then began a lively race in construction. Side by side the construction crews
of the two roads worked. At •times violence was narrowly averted between the
workmen, so bitter had become the strife between the two companies. It was
admitted that it was a cut-throat policy to continue the work of building the
parallel roads, but neither would give in. Late in May a conference was held at
St. Paul between representatives of the Milwaukee and Sioux City & St. Paul
interests, when an attempt was made to come to an understanding and to reconcile
differences. The conference served only to make matters worse, and the work of
construction on both roads was rushed to completion.
Not only did they run their roads side by side; they laid out their towns
almost within a stone's throw of each other. Two of these were in Nobles county,
about a mile apart, Airlie (Kinbrae) was laid out on the Southern Minnesota;
Warren (Dundee) was built on the Pipestone branch of the Sioux City & St. Paul.
The grasshoppers reappeared in the summer of 1879 and ate their last Nobles
county grain. They were not present in great numbers, but they remained several
weeks. A few farmers lost whole fields, but the destruction was not general. The
only crop damaged to any considerable extent was wheat, and the hoppers were
generous enough to divide that with the farmers. About the middle of July they
departed, never to appear again. The great grasshopper scourge was a thing of
the past.
The townships of Afton (Bloom) and Leota were organized in the spring of this
last grasshopper year, both coming into existence at the same time.
An abortive attempt had been made to organize township 104-41 (Bloom) during
the summer of 1878. The measure was defeated that year largely because of the
inability of the settlers to agree upon a name. From the spring of 1878 until
the township was organized the following year, petitions and remonstrances were
poured in upon tne county commissioners, urging the selection of one name or
protesting against the bestowal of some other. A meeting was held at the
residence of Peter Bloom, May 31, 1878, when a petition was drawn up and signed;
asking the county commissioners to grant township government and name it North
Center. This at once brought forth a protest from those residents who were not
in favor of the name, and on June 3 they presented a remonstrance to the county
board. [18] The commissioners, evidently concluding that they would wait until
harmony should be restored, took no actions on the petitions.
The contest for the choosing of the name resulted in the formation of two
factions, one favorable to the name North Center, the other to Hamberg. Early in
the year 1879 the "Hambergers" became active and circulated a petition. This was
followed on January 30 by a remonstrance from the "North Centers." [19] The
opposition came to the front with another petition March 15, demanding the
selection of Hamberg. [20] Three days later a compromise was reached, all
joining in a petition asking that the township be named Afton. This was signed
by Geo. W. Cale, Geo. B. Fellows, Peter Krier, John Krier, Sr., Valentine Krier,
S. C. Christenson, John Krier, Casper Bloom, John Bloom, Peter Bloom, Lemuel
Eby, Geo. Gage, Stephen Naylor, John H. Hall and G. C. Fellows. The
commissioners took favorable action the same day, named the township Afton, and
selected April 5 as the date, and the home of Caspar Bloom as the place, for
holding the first town meeting.
The new township was destined to have trouble in the matter of a name. March
31 State Auditor O. P. Whitcomb wrote to the Nobles county officials, stating
that Afton was inadmissable because of the fact that a township in Washington
county had been so named several years before. This put the selection of the
name up to the commissioners, who on April 8 named the township Bloom, in honor
of Peter Bloom and family. [21] The commissioners had troubles of their own in
making the selection. As the Blooms were the first settlers it was decided that
the township should be named in their honor, and the names Bloomberg,
Bloomville, etc. were suggested. County Auditor James Walker advocated the
dropping of the "bergs," "villes," etc., and suggested the name Bloom. The
commissioners accepted the hint. Fred Bloom, who was a relative of the Blooms of
the new township, but who was himself a resident of Seward, was a member of the
county board at the time.
The petition for the organization of Leota township, was filed February 11 and
was signed by F. A. Stevens, H. N. Holbrook, Edward Gray, J. L. Bellows, Hiram
W. Fordney, John Lay, C. P. Vargason, Warren Clark, August Joseph Knips, James
Hackett, G. Knips, N. L. Bellows, T. H. Pay, A. J. Rice, H. J. Barber. The
township was created March 18, and the commissioners named April 5 as the date
for holding the first town meeting. It was held at the home of Gerhard Knips.
The name was suggested by W. G. Barnard, one of the township's earliest
settlers. It is the only township, village or physical feature in Nobles county
named in honor of an Indian. Leota was an Indian maiden who figured in a story
of Indian adventure.
There was a general feeling of dullness in the eastern part of the county
during 1879, caused by the partial crop failure. In the central and western
portions events were taking place that bode well for the future, and quiet but
steady progress was made in those portions during the season. A basis was laid
for a large influx of sturdy settlers.
In the central part of the county Messrs. I. N. Seney and S. M. Rushmore had
the year before founded the village of Rushmore at Miller station. In the summer
of 1879 they broke out several thousand acres of prairie land and induced quite
a number of settlers from New York and other eastern states to locate in the
vicinity. They cut up the railroad lands there into small farms and sold them to
settlers of limited means.
In the vicinity of Adrian the progress was more marked. Bishop Ireland, the
head of the Adrian colony, visited the east and was successful in forming a
stock company, the object of which was to purchase the railroad lands in the
west end. The company purchased outright all the lands still owned by the
railroad in Grand Prairie, little Rock, Leota and the still unorganized Lismore
townships. Instead of inviting settlers to come onto these land in their raw
state the colony managers decided to improve them. On each of fifty quarter
sections thirty acres of breaking was done and preparations were made for
erecting fifty farm houses on the lands. This was not done until the following
spring, however. This activity made times lively in the Adrian country. The fact
that at least fifty families were expected to arrive in the spring tended to
create an optimistic feeling regarding the future.
ENDNOTES
[1] A company formed by Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul interests. The road is
now a branch of that system.
[2] In the light of present conditions, this prediction is amusing. The
Southern Minnesota did build north of Worthington; the point of crossing with
the Sioux City road is at Prairie Junction, or Miloma; and anyone who has spent
his time there waiting for trains will corroborate the statement that it is not
a metropolis.
[3] The petition was signed by Daniel Shell, H. W. Kimball. H. J. Grant, L.
E. Kimball, Otis Bigelow, C. P. Hewitt, R. F. Baker, Geo. O. Moore, H. Davis, S.
A. Davis, E. C. Hill, A. M. Smith, Elihu Smith, C. B. Loveless, C. T. Pope, B.
N. Carrier, T. C. Bell, A. P. Miller, M. B. Soule, J. P. Moulton, W. S.
Stockdale, R. D. Barber, H J. Ludlow, C. Z. Sutton, M. Grinager, L. B. Bennett,
Daniel Rohrer, J. A. Town, C. Johnson and I. N. Sater.
[4] "Valley Springs, Dec. 27, 1875.
"A. P. Miller. Dear Sir: ... Of course it is idle for this county to attempt
the enterprise unless the Nobles and Rock county people will unite with them. By
solicitation of the committee appointed to forward the project, I write to
ascertain if we may expect prompt action on the part of your people. . . . I am
confident that if Nobles and Rock counties will act with as much effect as our
own people, and as promptly, we can before the next harvest show a line
three-fourths of the entire distance graded and ready for the ties. Of course
this can only be done by the most active work in organization and in subsequent
prosecution of the work.
"I hope and trust that you will, with such others of your people as should
enlist in the work, extend to us the hand of greeting in the most liberal
manner, and aid in binding our little commmunities [sic] together with bands of
iron at the earliest day practicable. I very much wish a personal interview with
you and your people, and will, if you desire, undertake to come to Worthington
with some two or three of our Sioux Falls friends if by so doing we may
reasonably hope to secure active cooperation. . .
"Very truly yours,
"M. S. WOOD,
"Chairman Com. Sioux Falls R. R. Co."
[5] Editor Advance: Permit me through the medium of your very excellent paper
to state to your people that as a result of a visit of the Minnehaha railroad
committee we have the pleasure to state that our interview with the president,
and several of the directors of the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad was of a
highly satisfactory character.
"Briefly, let me say that as a result we bring with us a written proposition
bearing the signature of President Drake, which we regard as highly reasonable,
and we may say, liberal, which, by prompt acceptance and action on the part of
Nobles, Rock and Minnehaha counties, promises to give us a railroad to Luverne
in time to move the crops of this year, and final completion to Sioux Falls
before the close of the year 1877. . . . M. S. Wood, Chairman."
[6] The name was changed to Worthington & Sioux Falls Railroad company in
July, 1876.
[7] "LeMars, April 3, 1876.
"A. P. Miller, Esq. Dear Sir: Upon condition that we secure the stipulated
bonus in Rock county we have secured every dollar of the sum required to
complete our branch road from your place to Luverne by or before the first day
of October next, and if the bonus be voted it will be so completed. Col. Drake,
Col. Merriam and Horace Thompson, Esq., telegraph from New York that the money
is ready so soon as the bonus is voted; and General Bishop writes that if the
vote be favorable, he will immediately thereafter finally locate the road, and
will commence its construction so soon as the frost is out of the ground, and
will cheerfully furnish employment for all the men and their teams in your
county and Rock that are desirous to labor. . . . —S. Miller, Agent."
[8] The train consisted of one coach and a caboose, and carried a party of
visiting railroad officials. Peter Becker was conductor; Frank Swandollar,
engineer; Matt Dulan fireman. John McMillan was roadmaster in charge of the
branch line when it began operations.
[9] For the early history of Adrian see chapter 17.
[10] "They [the grasshoppers] will of course harvest the wheat next unless
farmers can get in ahead of them and cut their wheat. There is a bare
possibility that the wheat crop, in the main, will escape, and we are sure of
our cattle and other live stock. Really we shall be grateful if they do not eat
the shirts off our backs. Our hope is that a friendly tornado or a three days'
blizzard will come and blow them away. How long!— "Worthington Advance, July 27,
1876.
[11] There was really very little that the settlers could do to destroy or
check the pests, although many schemes were tried. Nothing availed against the
invpding hordes, but in the case of the young hoppers' the farmers waged a more
or less successful war by the use of tar. A sort of drag, made of sheet iron and
wood, would have tar spread over it and would then be dragged over the ground..
The young hoppers would be caught in the tar and destroyed, but if there was an
invasion all the work would be for naught.
[12] Some of the scouts were mounted, others went in buggies, and a few of
them were prepared to meet Indians. Those with Prof. Humiston were armed with
parasols, high collars and kid gloves.
[13] A. O. Conde moved that A. C. Robinson be and is hereby instructed to
prepare a plan and estimate the cost of a temporary building for county offices
and report the same at the next meeting of the board."—Commissioners' Journal,
Feb. 6, 1877.
[14] The bids submitted were as follows: Thurber & Chandler, $1124; Edwin
Humiston, $1330; G. Anderson, $1100. C. B. Langdon offered to sell the Farmers
hotel or as much as might be needed and move it to county grounds for $800. J.
H. Johnson offered to sell the building then in use for county purposes for $1,000.
[15] Report of County Commissioners to State Auditor, March 5, 1878.
[16] The two last named had not then been named or organized.
[17] For the naming of the village of Wilmont and the change in the spelling
of the original word see chapter 19.
[18] To the Honorable County Commissioners of Nobles County:
"We, the undersigned, do offer a remonstrance against the action of a certain
meeting held at the residence of Peter Bloom, on the southwest quarter of
section 22 in this town, on the 31st day of May, said meeting being called for
the purpose of naming said town and signing petition, to your honorable body for
permission to organize.
"Charge 1st. That there were no notices posted in the town giving due notice
of the meeting.
"Charge 2nd. That deceptive language was used at said meeting to induce
certain persons to sign petition who had already signed one.
"And as there is the town of Center in Murray county we are opposed to the
name of North Center as a name for the town.
"[Signed] G. Larchinger, Daniel Larchinger, Thos. J. Lynch, William Sanger,
Paul Sanger, Jacob Sanger, Ernest Sanger, Stephen Naylor, Lemuel Eby, Aaron Eby."
[19] To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the County of Nobles and
State of Minnesota:
"We, the undersigned, citizens of the township 104, range 41, in the county
and state above named, would respectfully remonstrate with your honorable body
to a certain petition that is said to be presented to you, requesting that you
name the said town Hamberg, and for the purpose of convincing you of the wishes
of the people, we, a majority of the actual residents of said township, do
respectfully pray that you will name said township North Center.
"Dated January 30, 1879.
"Signed: Geo. B. Fellows, Guy C. Fellows, S. C. Chrestenson, Charles
Chrestenson, Levi H. Baxter, Byron Gage, V. Krier, John Krier, Sr., Nicholas
Bertrand, John Krier, Jr., J. O. Bathen, Thomas Murrey, Peter Krier."
[20] To the Honorable County Commissioners of Nobles County, in the State of
Minnesota:
"We, the undersigned legal voters, being desirous of organizing said town,
petition your honorable body for permission to do so, and that it be known as
the town of Hamberg, being bounded as follows: . . .
"Signed Caspar Bloom, Thomas J. Lynch, Horace G. Norman, Aaron S. Eby, Geo.
W. Cale, William E. Norman, Peter Bloom, Lemuel Eby, Peter Krier, Casper Bloom,
carpenter; J. O. Bathen, John Krier, Jr., John Bloom, Stephen Naylor.
"Petition filed March 15, 1879."
[21] Peter Bloom and three sons, Casper, Peter, Jr., and John, located on
section 22 in 1874, and were the first settlers in the township.
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY
MINNESOTA
BY
ARTHUR P. ROSE
NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA
PUBLISHERS
1908
