Mower County Register Newspaper Articles(1863-1866), Mower Co., MN

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The following news items and articles are all transcribed from the 
Mower County Register newspaper, published in Mower County, Minnesota. 
The items included in this file were published between December 10, 
1863 to September 6, 1866.  

Note: when searching for names in this text, I recommend using various 
spellings of a surname. I noticed during the transcription that some 
names were not spelled the same throughout. Since many of the names 
were not familiar to me, I typed them exactly as they were published.  

Minnesota State Historical Microfilm
Transcribed January, 2002 by:  Mary Lindbo, mjlindbo@msn.com


December 10, 1863

Mower County Boys in Prison at Jefferson City, Missouri, For Doing 
Their Duty

The following letter is from the correspondent of the St. Paul Press, 
one of the incarcerated. It will be seen, Sergeant Frank Merchant lead 
the attacking party of 41. There seems to be no reason at all given for 
the arrest of these boys, and, further, from all the circumstances we 
have obtained of the affair, we do not see but they did perfectly 
right:  

In Prison at Jefferson City, Mo., November 28, 1863

I have this morning seen in a copy of your paper, bearing date the 21st 
inst., a piece written from Camp Brown, signed R. M. W., giving us 
commendation for the deed for which we are now in Prison at Jefferson 
City. We are highly pleased to see the paper of our own State so highly 
commend us to the citizens of our own beloved Minnesota, for doing an 
act we believed only our duty as soldiers in the service of our country 
and our God, to do.  

Of this deed I will proceed to give you a brief account. On the morning 
of the 12th at an early hour, a negro slave came to camp and reported 
that his wife and six children, and other slaves, amounting to eleven 
in all, belonging to a man in the rebel service, were taken on the 
night previous by the son of the owner, who attempted to put them on 
board the cars at Sedalia, a station twenty miles above us on the 
railroad, but the troops at that station being informed of it by our 
informant, would not allow them to be put on the cars at that place, 
and their master ascertaining this fact, escaped by going around 
Sedalia.  

He again made the railroad at a small town six miles below Sedalia, 
called Residence. Finding no resistance there, he boarded them, as we 
were informed, to ship them out of the State.  

The troops at Sedalia finding he had escaped the, sent our informant 
down to let us know that they would be down to our camp at nine o'clock 
a.m. Being thus informed in presence of all the boys, 41 immediately 
volunteered to proceed to release them as soon as the train should 
arrive. The boys soon fell into line, anxious to proceed to a deed we 
believed to be our responsible duty as soldiers to perform.  

Our band was 41, composed of Companies "C" and "K", 9th Regiment 
Minnesota Volunteers, was headed by our generous and brave Sergeant, 
Frank Merchant. We proceeded to Otterville, a mile above camp, where we 
knew the train would stop as usual to take on passengers, and to our 
satisfaction we had to wait but a few minutes when the train came up 
and stopped. Seeing the negroes on board, led by Sergeant Merchant, we 
boarded the cars and requested the negroes to step off the train. You 
may be sure they readily complied with our request.  

At this period of our story a couple of men stepped up and asked our 
authority for demanding the slaves. They informed us that they were 
officers, but seeing nothing that we should recognize as officers, we 
felt in no way under their commands. Their overcoats hid their 
shoulder-straps, if they had any. Our reply was, that we had authority.  

By this time the salves were off the cars. We stepped off after them 
and the train then went on. The master did not make his appearance, 
which I think was safest for him. We waited a moment to listen to the 
conversation between our informant and his family. From his wife, we 
learned that when boarding the slaves on the previous night her brother 
tried to make his escape. When his master shot him through the head 
three times. He was found that morning lying dead but a few paces 
distant.  

For this act of humanity we were arrested that evening and the next 
morning were brought to Jefferson City and put in prison. We have been 
here two weeks on part rations, and many have to buy a good share of 
their provisions, as enough is not given us to satisfy hunger.  

We cannot learn that any charges have been preferred against us, and I 
see nothing to cause me to believe that we are not as likely to be here 
for two months to come as we have been the two weeks past. C. E. M.  


December 24, 1863  

The Arrested Minnesota Soldiers

From all the facts we can get in reference to the arrest of portions of 
Companies C and K, of the 9th Regiment, we take it that if any blame is 
to be attached at all, it is to the superiors of these men. No army 
officer is allowed to have anything to do in the way of returning 
fugitives to slavery. The provost-marshal gave a pass to a slaveholder 
to take slaves to St. Louis. He was a party to kidnapping. The soldiers 
who rescued these blacks, simply put a stop to this wrong, and were 
arrested for the act. The soldiers resisted an unlawful act of the 
provost-marshall. This is the way the case stands. How long our boys 
are to remain prisoners, no one knows but the mean, contemptible pro-
slavery officers in Missouri.  

Our soldiers are not fighting to maintain slavery - they fight for the 
Union and freedom. Does not General Schofield understand this, or will 
he not? We hope the day is not far when the government will be 
administered in the interest of freedom in the unfortunate State where 
such a farce as General Schofield rules.  


Recent examinations of maps and treaties show that Minnesota has a big 
lump of valuable land which she did not know belonged to her, and that 
she has full command of the Lake of the Woods.  


June 30, 1864

Latest From Company C

A Correct List of the Killed, Wounded and Missing  

Memphis, Tenn., June 18, 1864

Editor Register: Below is a list of the missing from Company C, some of 
whom are known to be killed and the remainder are, without doubt, 
captured, as it is seven days since the fight, and stragglers have 
ceased coming in:  

Killed - Privates P. S. Conkey, E. Conklin, N. Swab and J. Augustus 
Whitney.  

Wounded - Private M. Woodbury.  

Missing - Capt. E. W. Ford, 1st Sergt. S. Avery, 3d Sergt. D. O. Pratt, 
4th Sergt. J. C. Clark, Corporals B. A. VanHouse, T. H. B. Vandergrift, 
Frank Rafferty, Privates A. H. Chapin, S. H. Ames, L. Beauregard, Wm. 
Breckon, I. Bisgrove, J. Barnett, S. N. Chandler, Z. Frisbie, C. A. 
Geer, J. T. Hammond, V. B. Leathers, Frank Lyons, G. H. Knapp, Wm. 
McCaskell, D. Philes, N. N. Palmeter, D. Perry, W. W. Rice, E. M. Rice, 
O. D. Rhodes, C. C. Stewart, C. Swanson, A. E. Wheeler and Frank 
Wilson.  

All marked killed, are known to have been killed, Conkey, Swab and 
Whitney were left upon the field. How many of those reported missing 
were killed while attempting to escape, is not known; but probably many 
of them, for Forrest had rather shoot down, than take prisoners. I 
shall gladly give all the information I can, respecting the killed, 
wounded and missing, to their friends, when desired.  O. L. Tanner  


From The Ninth Minnesota Regiment  

List of Killed, Wounded, and Missing in Company C  

Letter from Lieutenant L. A. Sherwood  

[We publish the following letter from Lieut. Sherwood, to his wife, 
being up to this date, the 25th, the latest news received from Company 
C. Later and fuller accounts of the killed and missing will probably be 
received before we go to press:]

Memphis, June 16th, 1864

I wrote you yesterday and gave you a mere outline of our battle and 
defeat at Guntown, Miss., and should have written you more but was not 
able too - today I am feeling much better, though my feet and legs are 
in a very bad condition.  

We left Memphis on the first day of June in search of Forrest with 
about eight thousand troops - six thousand infantry and artillery and 
two thousand cavalry. On Wednesday last we overtook the enemy. The 
cavalry skirmished with them all day Wednesday and Thursday and 
steadily drove them. Friday morning all were aware that that day we had 
to fight. It was generally understood that the enemy were in force at 
Guntown, fourteen miles from there. We broke camp at six o'clock, and 
with light hearts proceeded in the direction of the enemy. About twelve 
o'clock M., we arrived within two miles of the enemy, and halted. One 
brigade that was ahead of us and two batteries were then in position 
and fighting. In a few minutes an order came to move forward at double-
quick time. They "double-quicked" us for over two miles. The day was 
intensely hot and the road from there to the battlefield was literally 
lined with men who had been sunstruck. It was estimated that our 
brigade lost before we reached the field some two hundred men from heat 
and exhaustion.  

We were formed in line on the right of a white house. There was a 
battery planted at the white house and supported by the 95th Ohio. We 
were placed at the right of them. The brush was so thick that we could 
not see two rods. We fought there for over an hour. We drove the rebels 
about sixty rods, and were ordered to halt, and within ten minutes an 
order cam to retreat. The rebels had taken the battery on our left and 
had flanked us. As we were falling back to get another position the 
reels turned our own batteries upon us and gave us h-ll and repeat. 
Several of the Regiment were wounded here and two or three killed.  

We took several different positions during the day, but in every case 
we were flanked. When the sun was about two hours high we were formed 
in a road on the left of a battery which was supported by two regiments 
of the second brigade. Gen. Sturgis rode up and asked Colonel Marsh how 
long he could hold that position; the Colonel replied as long as they 
could hold the battery on our right. The General said the day was lost, 
and he must hold the enemy in check until dark or the whole force would 
be captured. Colonel Marsh told him he could do it. Gen. Sturgis left 
for the rear, and that was the last we saw of him until we met him last 
night in a hotel in this city. In five minutes after he left, our right 
gave way, and a general stampede ensued. Our regiment fell back about a 
quarter of a mile and took position on a hill and kept the enemy in 
check until after dark. We were the only regiment that made any attempt 
at making a stand after leaving the road.  

The train was all captured, ambulances, medicine-wagon and everything 
in God's world we had, except what we had on our persons. I had nothing 
except a rubber blanket and blouse. They were lashed onto Colonel 
Marsh's saddle. My pocketbook was in my blouse. He thought he had too 
much on his horse, and he took his traps and mine and put them on the 
medicine-wagon, and they went to the "devil" with the rest. There we 
were a hundred and fifteen miles from our supplies without a morsel to 
eat in the whole command. The enemy followed us and annoyed our rear 
all the time. About half of the command stopped about two miles from 
the field at a bad place in the road, and tried to get some teams 
across that were stuck in the mud. The rest of the command went on. I 
was in the rear column. Ford was ahead. I haven't seen him since we 
left the slough. We marched all night, and in the morning about 7 
o'clock we got to Ripley. The rebels had been giving us "fits" in the 
rear all the time. At Ripley the rebels attacked us in force. We could 
not make a stand as we had over ninety miles to go and not a thing to 
eat. Men were exhausted, laying down by the roadside and being taken 
prisoners continually. Those that have arrived from the other column 
report that Ford got about five miles this side of Ripley and gave out 
and was probably taken prisoner. Our column came from Guntown to this 
place - a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles in two days and 
nights without a thing to eat, and the enemy harassing us continually. 
The country had been foraged over so much that nothing could be got to 
eat.  

Our regiment lost heavily. The killed, wounded and missing of our 
regiment will number about three hundred. The losses in our company as 
far as I am able to learn are as follows:  

Killed - Plin S. Conkey, Nicholas Swab, and Augustus Whitney

Wounded - Jas. M. Woodbury and Evan Watkins. Watkins succeeded in 
getting through and is here in the hospital doing well.  

I presume many more of them are wounded and probably killed. There are 
many rumors in relation to the affair. What I state in relation to the 
killed and wounded is from personal knowledge. I hadn't as good an 
opportunity as some of the company to know, as I was detached from the 
company as Assisting Adjutant of the regiment.  

The missing of our company are Capt. E. W. Ford, Alonzo Avery, David O. 
Pratt, Joseph P. Clark, Byron A. VanHouse, Thomas N. B. Vandergrift, 
Francis Rafferty, Azariah H. Chapin, S. Hartland Ames, Ludoviso 
Beauregard, Wm. Breckon, Isaac Bisgrove, John Barnett, Eleazer Conklin, 
Geo. H. Knapp. Wm. M. McCaskell, Duane Philes, Nathan Palmeter, Dudley 
Perry, Wm. W. Rice, Edson M. Rice, Orsamus D. Rhodes, Charles C. 
Stewart, Christopher Swanson, Albert E. Wheeler and Franklin C. Wilson.  

I presume some of those that are missing will succeed in getting 
through.  

There was eleven of our company in the column that I was in and I 
succeeded in getting them all in. Andrews was the hardest one I had to 
get along. The last day he gave up several times. Every time he would 
lay down I would put him on his feet and give him a damning and he 
would march on again. The enemy surrounded us the last day some five 
times. Twelve miles from here reinforcements met us. It was said that 
when Colonel Wilkins saw that we were reinforced he shed tears.  

The force that was following us was mounted infantry. The commander of 
our Division said to Colonel Wilkins this morning that the 9th 
Minnesota, by holding the hill and keeping the enemy in check until 
dark, was the only thing that saved the command from being captured. 
Not a single man in the regiment faltered. General Sturgis said in my 
presence that we were the only regiment that drove the enemy that day. 
Colonel Marsh behaved like a Briton. Ford done first-rate and managed 
his company well. Tomorrow I shall write to Snow or Smith and make a 
statement of our loss. I put it off till tomorrow hoping more will come 
in. I will write you again the day after tomorrow. Lyme


July 14, 1864

Increase Pay of Soldiers

The President has signed and approved the act to increase to pay of 
soldiers in the United States army. It provides that on and after the 
1st day of May last, and during the continuance of the present 
rebellion, the pay per month of non-commissioned officers and privates 
in the military service shall be as follows:  

Sergeant-major - $26; quartermaster and commissary sergeant of cavalry, 
artillery and infantry - $20; sergeants of ordinance, sappers and 
miners and pontoniers - $34; corporals of ordnance, sappers and miners 
and pontoniers - $24; privates of engineers and ordnance of the first 
class - $18; and of the second class - $16; corporals of cavalry, 
artillery and infantry - $18; chief buglers of cavalry - $23; buglers - 
$16; farriers and blacksmiths of cavalry, artillery and infantry - $16; 
principal musicians of artillery and infantry - $22; leaders of brigade 
and regimental bands - $75; musicians - $16; hospital stewards of the 
first class - $33; hospital stewards of the second class $25; hospital 
stewards of the third class - $23.  

All non-commissioned officers and privates, in the regular army, 
serving under enlistment made prior to July 22, 1861, shall have the 
privilege of re-enlisting, for a term of three years, in their 
respective organizations until the 1st of August next and all such non-
commissioned officers and privates so re-enlisting shall be entitled to 
the bounties mentioned in the joint resolution of Congress, approved 
January 13, 1864.  


July 21, 1864

From the Boys of Company C, Ninth Minnesota Regiment  

Through the kindness of Mrs. Stephen Chandler, we have been shown a 
letter from her husband which enables us to secure some knowledge of 
the whereabouts of our liberty-defending patriots. Mr. Chandler is a 
prisoner in Meridan, Mississippi. Those of Company C, yet prisoners 
are: Captain E. W. Ford, A. Avery, J. Clark, William Breckon, Ludoviso 
Bourgard, A. Wheeler, Duane Philes, C. Steward, J. Woodbury, S. H. 
Ames, W. Lyons, Conrad W. McCaskell, I. Bisgrove, E. Rice, W. Rice, C. 
D. Rhodes, T. H. B. Vandergrift, John Barnett and Stephen N. Chandler.  

We are in hopes to be able to post our readers in regard to the welfare 
of Mower County soldiers often.  


July 28, 1864

Casualties in Minnesota Regiments in The Fight With Forest
LaGrange, Tenn., July 21, 1864, via Cairo, July 23

Gov. S. Miller, St. Paul, Minn.:  

Following casualties in Minnesota regiments:  

Killed - Col. A. Wilkin, Private Alex. Marto, C. L, Ninth Regiment; 
Private Thomas King, Co. G, Tenth. In Seventh - Surgeon L. B. Smith, 
Lieut. Lewis Hardy; Private Wm. Hendence, Co. F; Jacob Van Vulick, John 
Rollin, James Davis, Albert Fuller, Co. I; Oliver H. Essington, Lars 
Johnson, Co. E; Corp'l Conrad Warinet.  

Wounded - In Seventh, fifth-two; in Ninth, five; in Tenth, twenty-one, 
Major Cook wounded in arm.  

(signed) Wm. R. Marshall, Colonel Seventh Minn. Vol.  


From Sherman  

Severe Battles on Friday - McPherson Killed - The Enemy Defeated - 
Atlanta Partially in Our Possession.  

Washington, July 24  

The latest official dispatch from General Sherman, represent repeated 
fighting and give circumstances attending the death of Major General 
McPherson, who fell in battle in the severe contest of Friday.  

The Herald's Nashville dispatch, dated the 23d, says, we have nothing 
further from Atlanta, not even a confirmation of the occupation by 
General Thomas' army. No dispatches received at Sherman's headquarters 
direct from that city.  

Another dispatch says, that General Rosseau was at Poolesville, 
Alabama, 12 miles south of Decatur. On the 14th he had a slight 
engagement with a body of the enemy, dispersing them.  

Cincinnati, July 24

The Gazette's correspondent, under date of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22nd, 
gives full and interesting details of the movements of General 
Sherman's army since crossing the Chatahoochie River on the morning of 
the 18th. The whole line advanced, McPherson taking position on the 
extreme left - Scofield the left center, Howard the center, Hooker the 
right center, and Palmer the extreme right. On the morning of the 19th 
our advance reached Tree Creek stream, running 4 miles north of 
Atlanta. After considerable skirmishing, the rebels were dislodged; and 
portions of Howard's corps crossed - our left in the meantime swinging 
round to the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad near Decatur and tearing up 
several miles of track.  

On the evening of the 19th and morning of the 29th; Howard, Hooker and 
Palmer crossed, with the balance of their corps, forming a line all 
along the south bank of the creek. At 3 p.m., the rebels made a 
desperate and sudden assault  on Howard in great force, the attack soon 
extended to Hooker's corps, the rebels advancing three lines deep. A 
portion of our lines at first wavered before the terrible onset, but 
were quickly rallied and stood firm as a rock. Upon this portion of our 
line was massed over half the rebel army. Both parties fighting for the 
first time in the campaign in open field. Before dark the rebels were 
entirely defeated, having failed to break our lines in any point and 
retired in disorder, leaving most of their dead and wounded on the 
field.  

Our loss will reach 2,000, principally from Hooker's corps. The rebel 
loss in killed, wounded and missing, exceeds 6,000, including three 
brigades. On the extreme left, operations were equally successful, 
McPherson driving the enemy several miles, Blair's division advancing a 
mile and a half south of Augusta road.  

On the morning of the 21st, the enemy was driven with small loss to the 
works immediately around Atlanta.  

On the 22nd, they had withdrawn entirely from Hooker's and Palmer's 
front. At 2 o'clock, p.m., that day portions of our army entered the 
city.  

The correspondent adds "we may have some fighting for full possession, 
but the campaign is considered substantially closed".  

The report is believed to be reliable which announces the occupation of 
Montgomery, Ala., by Gen. Rosseau.  

New York, July 25  

The Tribune's special of the 24th says, the Government has received a 
dispatch from Sherman announcing that on Friday the rebels under Hood 
massed a heavy force against his left wing, consisting of McPherson's 
grand division, composed of Logan's and Blair's corps, and made a 
desperate attempt, gaining a temporary advantage.  

The enemy after terrific fighting in which a number of charges were 
made, were repulsed with much slaughter, and driven into their 
fortifications.  

Maj. Gen. McPherson during battle, became separated from his staff and 
was killed by sharpshooters.  

After McPherson's death, Logan assumed command of his division. A later 
dispatch says that our forces had obtained possession of elevated 
ground on the northeast end of the town and that siege guns have been 
mounted which command the place; also that the rebels were burning 
their stores, preparatory to a retrograde movement. Everybody feels 
confident of Atlanta by this time have fallen into our hands.  

New York, July 25  

A Herald special Nashville, of the 24th, says:  

Hood has received reinforcements from Charleston and elsewhere. 
Johnston was removed because he would not risk a general engagement. 
There is a strong belief that the rebels cannot get away from Atlanta.  


August 23, 1866

History of Mower County  

As we promised last week, we publish today the early history of Mower 
county, as hastily sketched by M. K. Armstrong, (who is now, we 
believe, in Dakota) some years since. Mower has changed considerably 
since then, and a very interesting account of its recent development 
and improvements could well be added to the history.  

It will be discovered that the writer made the same careless stretch of 
his vision as did a good many others or us, which he said "if she, 
(Mower county) keeps her onward progress five more years, we shall see 
her 400,000 acres of fertile lands converted into a region of pleasure 
and wealth, and traversed by car-trains freighted with the products of 
our soil, and destined for the lucrative market of Eastern cities." We 
have, it is true, had a great deal of "pleasure," and our fine country 
has increased greatly in "wealth," but our cars have not yet heard the 
welcome sound of the locomotive whistle; and yea, nearly seven years, 
instead of five, have passed since the writer penned the above. We were 
then over a hundred miles from railroad communication, now but thirty 
miles. We trust, with good reason too, that another autumn will bring 
to us the long desired completion of railroads through the county.  

The villages have improved rapidly, Austin will soon contain a 1000 
inhabitants, while she must now have, nearly 800. Lansing has met with 
a rapid growth, and every year a number of new and substantial edifices 
are erected. LeRoy is also continually advancing - but these three 
have, probably, grown faster than any of the other burgs, but the 
country has improved, and is improving quite evenly all around. A 
bright future certainly awaits us.  

We have worked quite a number of extra copies this week and we hope 
citizens of the county who feel interested in advancing her interests 
will send in their orders for copies to send away to their friends. 
Price 5 cents per copy.  
  

Early History of Mower County, Minnesota  
By M. K. Armstrong  

Mower County belonged to the Dakotah or Sioux Indians until the year 
1851. In July of that year a treaty was formed at Traverse des Sioux, 
with the two lower bands of Dakotas, by which they ceded to the United 
States, all that tract of country lying between the Mississippi on the 
east, and the Sioux river, on the west; and extending from latitude 42° 
37, on the south, to 47° 40, on the north. In payment for this extent 
of Territory they receive from the Government, in annual installments, 
for fifty years, one million, six hundred and sixty-five thousand 
dollars, besides a tract of country for their homes and hunting 
grounds, on the head waters of the Minnesota river, which is 20 miles 
wide and 120 long.  

In March, 1851, by an Act of the Legislature the lands obtained through 
the Dakota Cession, were divided into nine counties, to wit: Itasca, 
Chisago, Benton, Cass, Pembina, Ramsey, Washington, Wabashaw and 
Dakotah. The two latter included Mower county - the boundary line 
running about one mile west of the present village of Austin. Wabashaw 
county was bounded as follows: Beginning at a point on the Mississippi 
river, known as Medicine Bottle's Village, now Pine Bend, thence due 
south to the north line of the State of Iowa; thence due east to the 
Mississippi river; thence up the river to the place of beginning. 
Dakota county was defined thus: Beginning at Medicine Bottle's Village, 
thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Crow river; thence up 
said river along its north fork to its source; thence due west to the 
Missouri river - including all lands south of this line and north of 
Iowa, lying between Wabashaw and the Missouri. No surveys having been 
made in this section of the country, the counties were necessarily 
defined, after the Indian method, by natural boundaries, such as 
streams, lakes, bluffs, &c., and imaginary north and south or east and 
west lines. And thus, in 1851, the boundary line running due south from 
Pine Bend, passed down about two miles east of the present boundary of 
Mower county, and intersected the State line near the place where now 
stands the house of Orlando Wilder. On the east of this line was 
Wabashaw county; on the west Dakota. Wabashaw was attached to 
Washington for Judicial purposes; Stillwater was the seat of justice. 
Dakota was attached to Ramsey, Washington and Wabashaw counties, 
together with the precincts of St. Paul and little Canada, constituted 
the fourth counsel District. Wabashaw was entitled to one 
Representative. Dakota formed the sixth council District and was 
entitled to two Council Members and one Representative.  

1852 - In 1852 there was not a resident white man within the present 
limits of Mower county. A few claims, however were selected in the 
autumn of that year, along the Cedar as far up as Austin, and also in 
the south east part of the county or the upper Iowa, by hunters and 
trappers from Iowa. At the approach of winter they went back into the 
State having the country an uninhabited wild. There are many early 
pioneers now living, within the county, who claim to have been its 
first settlers. But according to the report of those engaged in the 
Government surveys, the first log cabin built in the county, was on the 
north-east quarter of Section 34, town 103, range 18, by Hunter Clarke, 
three-quarters of a mile north of Austin.  

1853 - The spring of 1853 opened with more flourishing prospects for 
the future of Mower county, which had hitherto remained a port of 
Wabashaw and Dakota. By an Act of the Legislature, passed May 5th, 
these two counties were divided into twelve smaller ones. No surveys 
having yet been made, they were also defined by natural boundaries. 
Mower county was now embraced within the county of Rice which was 
attached to Dakota county, for Judicial purposes: Dakota, under the new 
Act, occupied nearly the same territory that it does at present, with 
Mendota as the seat of Justice. Rice county embraced the seat of 
Justice. Rice county embraced the present counties of Rice, Dodge, 
Steele, Waseca, Mower, Freeborn and the eastern part of Faribault and 
the western portion of Fillmore and Olmstead.  

During this year the county was townshipped and subdivided into 
sections and settlers began to follow up the fresh marked liens and 
select their claims. In the autumn, of the same year, settlements had 
been made at Austin and other points along the Cedar; also at Frankford 
and Deer creek, and at Hamilton, on Bear creek, and at Leroy, on the 
Iowa. Most of the settlements made that year, were too late for seed 
time; therefore, the settlers were obliged to subsist, thro the winter 
of 1853-4 chiefly on game, which at that time, was very abundant. Among 
the first permanent citizens at Austin, were Austin Nicholls, Chauncey 
Leverich and L(microfilm not legible) Waters. At Frankford, Lewis 
(microfilm not legible) Manoah Delling and Grife (microfilm not 
legible) Hamilton, M. McQuillin; at Leroy (microfilm not legible) 
Caswell, Aif. Frayer and others. At the close of 1853 there was not 
twenty families within the present limits of the county and there were 
not one hundred bushels of grain raised during the season. But the 
winter was mild and pleasant, so that the settlers did not suffer in 
their yet unfinished cabins. Those of them who had money, obtained 
their provisions from Iowa; while many who were poor, I knew to have 
lived the whole winter through, with nothing but wild game and hominy 
bread. Game, that winter, was so abundant and tame that the settlers 
could stand in the very threshhold of their cabin doors and shoot down 
the deer and elk as they capered fearlessly in the glens and thickets 
where now stand our pleasant village.  

1854 - In the spring of 1854, emigrants began to find their way into 
the southern part of this county, from Wisconsin and States east, by 
the way of La Crosse and Winona. Settlements were made at High Forest, 
Brownsdale and Lansing. The previous settlements, in the southern 
portions of the country, had been made principally, by families from 
Iowa. The first settler at High Forest was John Robinson; at 
Brownsdale, John L. Johnson; at Lansing, A. B. Vaughan. In February the 
tier of counties lying immediately west of the Mississippi, was 
organized, and thereafter, Rice county appears to have attached itself 
to Goodhue county for Judicial purposes and did its business at Red 
Wing. The first deed for the conveyance of real estate in the county, 
can now be found on record in the Register's office at Red Wing.  

In July, the Land Office was opened at Brownsville, thus rendering the 
land of the county subject to preemption. From this period, emigrants 
began to gather from all quarters to seek new homes. Many were the 
hardships and suffering which the early settlers were obliged to 
undergo during the year, particularly those who had located in the 
northern part of the county, and who were mostly from the eastern 
States, and did not therefore reach the Territory until late in the 
Spring. Four families came into High Forest about the same time, in 
June, and there was but one log house in the place, which was occupied 
by John Robinson. Therefore they all stowed themselves away, as best 
they could under his hospitable roof, until they could cut their logs, 
hew out their floors, and built their houses. An incident occurred, 
while they were here which carried dismay to the hearts of those noble 
pioneers. It was in the night in the month of July. The rain had been 
falling in torrents all day and night, until about three o'clock in the 
morning, when the river burst over its banks and the black floods went 
dashing and foaming into the doors and windows of the frail cabins, 
where the in-mates were sleeping. They leaped from their beds delirious 
with fright, amid the crash of thunder, the glare of lightning and the 
noise of floods; their bedding, clothing and furniture, were mostly 
swept away in the storm. The men were forced to wade through water 
waist deep several rods, to reach dry ground, carrying their wives and 
children on their backs.  

C. F. Johnson, now proprietor of the Johnson House, lost his last pair 
of breeches by the means; but the women, at daylight, soon stretched 
together a garment to cover his embarrassing nudity. They camped in a 
cellar, recently dug for one of their homes, until the water went down, 
when they repaired back into their old shanty again.  

In the course of a month they had finished their house, and those of 
the men who had left their wives in the east, while they were making 
for them homes in the west, now sent for them to come on to the 
Mississippi river, where their husbands were to meet them. And many 
were the hardships experienced by these pioneering women before they 
reached their western hamlet. A Mrs. Covell and Mrs. Johnson who are 
now living in their pleasant and convenient dwellings at High Forest, 
reached the Mississippi in October at Winona then a town of about a 
dozen houses. Here they were disappointed and discouraged, at not 
finding their husbands, who had not been able to reach the river. Their 
journey to High Forest lay through sixty miles of an almost untraveled 
and unsettled wilderness. They employed a man with his team to bring 
them to their destination, with all their household goods. When about 
half-way on their journey they broke down and swamped in a slough. Mrs. 
Covell started on foot to seek assistance, per chance, to meet her 
husband coming after them. When she had traveled about nine miles, 
through slough and over ridge, she saw the two long looked for teams. 
They met with overflowing hearts of gratitude, and having heard her 
story, they went on and loaded up their goods and set out for High 
Forest, a distance of thirty miles, with not a house on the journey.  

At night they all rested their tired limbs under the sides of a hay 
stack, with the blue veil of heaven as their covering. The next day 
they came on to their wild home in the woods. The weather of autumn and 
winter was delightful, and the settlers throughout the county began to 
value their new home and to make improvements for permanent residents.  

During the year, six townships lying near the middle of the county, 
were granted to the North-Western Railroad company, who afterwards 
failed to meet the conditions of the grant, and the land reverted to 
the government, and was rendered subject to private sale and bought up 
by non-residents. As late as 1856, the only residents on the whole 
134,000 acres was A. D. Frayer, in town 101, range 15 west.  

1855 - In the spring of 1855, emigrants began to pour into the county 
with their long trains of covered wagons, followed by their droves of 
cattle. They all found their desired homes and farms, in the valuable 
woodlands and prairies stretching along the waters of the Cedar, Iowa 
and Root rivers. In February of that year, Mower county, for the first 
time, began to assume a determinate existence. By an act of the 
Legislature the county was defined by its present boundaries, and named 
from John E. Mower, a member from Washington county.  

Immediately the "Town Site Disorder" began to rage; and Austin, High 
Forest and Frankford were laid off into town lots, which were 
extensively brought and sold until 1856, before a plat of either town 
was put on record; notwithstanding the grantors were liable to twenty-
five dollars fine for each lot thus sold. Leverich, Vaughan and Mason 
were proprietors of Austin; and J. Robinson and William Russel of High 
Forest.  

At that time there was about 500 inhabitants in the county, which with 
Fillmore and Houston, formed one Council District. Many of the old 
settlers supposed that the three counties also formed a Judicial 
District, and accordingly, had their deeds recorded in Houston, the 
senior county; whereas they should have been put on record at Red Wing, 
in Goodhue county. Mower was entitled to one member of the Legislature. 
At that time there was not half a dozen log cabins in Austin. During 
the autumn, Leverich completed, at this place, the first saw mill, in 
the county, with which he cut out a quantity of lumber and built the 
little frame building, lately occupied by the Willard brothers. It was 
the first frame built in the county. Yates & Lewis also built their 
store, on the opposite corner, about the same time; and G. H. Bemis 
erected a shoe-shop on the north side of the street, opposite the hotel 
of Snow and Wilbur, which, at that time, was not built. There were now 
eleven houses at Austin, five at High Forest, and three at Frankford.  

The first election in the county, took place in October of that year, 
for a member of the Legislature only. William B. Covell, of Frankford, 
and A. B. Vaughn, of Austin, were the two candidates - the former a 
Democrat, the latter a Republican. Ninety-seven votes were polled; 
Vaughan receiving the majority. The voting at High Forest took place 
under a bur oak tree on a board laid across the ends of two barrels. 
Vaughan took a certificate from the judges of election showing, the 
number of votes polled for each and carried it before the Legislature, 
to obtain his seat. But, in the meantime, Covell had made his returns 
in Houston county, as required by law and accordingly, received a 
certificate of election from the Register of deeds of that county, 
which he took before the Legislature and obtained his seat in the 
House, in place of Vaughan.  

1856 - On the first day of March through the exertions of Mr. Covell in 
the Legislature, the county was organized; it had hitherto remained a 
portion of Rice county. From this period commenced the permanent 
history of Mower county by the organization act Phillip Howell, George 
White and William Russel were appointed County Commissioners. The two 
former resided at Frankford, the latter at High Forest. They were to 
meet on the first Monday in April at such place as they deemed most 
expedient, for the purpose of locating the county seat, and to appoint 
county officers. Accordingly, at the appointed time, the met at the old 
log store of David Frazer, in Frankford. T. H. Armstrong officiated in 
place of William Russel, who was unable to attend. They located the 
county Seat at Frankford and appointed Timothy B. Chapman as Register 
of Deeds; G. D. Sherman, Sheriff; S. Patchin, Treasurer; M. K. 
Armstrong, County Surveyor; O. J. Felch, Judge of Probate and Sylvester 
Smith, T. H. Armstrong and D. Frazer, Justices of the Peace. They also 
divided the county into three precincts: Austin, Frankford and High 
Forest; and appointed three Assessors, to wit: Mason, Hunt and 
Robinson. Austin precinct comprised range 17 & 18 of town 101, 2, 3, 
and 4. High Forest included ranges 14, 15 and 16, of town 104. 
Frankford precinct embraced the rest of the county. One Constable was 
also appointed in each precinct. All the officers thus appointed were 
to hold their offices until January 1857; their successors were to be 
elected at the approaching general election in October. Until the 
election, Mr. Armstrong was the only qualified Justice in the county. 
He had filed his oath of office and bond with the Clerk of the County 
of Fillmore county to which we were attached for Judicial purposes, by 
an Act of Legislature, passed February 27th of that year. The Act never 
appeared in printed Session Laws but was published by authority in the 
Northwestern Democrat, of Minneapolis; hence the cause of its not 
having been more generally known. In June the Assessors made their 
returns, showing an aggregate of $538,000 of taxable property in the 
county. Mr. Sherman, the Sheriff, immediately entered upon his duty of 
collecting the taxes, which amounted to $4,032. But it was never known 
by the collector himself how much of the tax was gathered. He returned 
over half the taxes as delinquent; besides, there were from $400 to 
$600 which he had collected but could not account for. Therefore, at 
the end of the year, the county was found to be sorrowfully in debt and 
utterly unable to meet her liabilities. The new Board of County 
Commissioners - Bemis, Blodget and Spencer - therefore resolved to undo 
and cancel from record. all steps taken both in the assessment and 
collection of taxes for 1856 and to levy a tax for the coming year 
sufficient to meet the forthcoming demand of 1857, and also to pay up 
the liabilities of the past year, and thus bring the county out of her 
deplorable financial condition.  

This was done much to the dissatisfaction of many of tax payers of the 
county, for many of the wealthiest of them had not paid their taxes for 
1856; and now they were compelled to do so; while others who had paid 
theirs, were now assessed still higher in order to meet the debt of the 
county, occasioned by the non-payment of the neighbor's taxes, and the 
negligence of the collector. Among the expenses of the county for 1856 
was that of establishing 127 miles of county roads. The first road in 
the county was the old State Line and Cannon Falls Territorial Road, by 
the way of Hamilton and pleasant Valley, northward to St. Paul. The 
first district school opened in the county; was kept by a Miss Bemis, 
in a board shanty at Austin. The first law suite in the county was at 
High Forest, between M. McCarthy and William Tubbs, before justice 
Armstrong, concerning a claim difficulty. The first marriage was that 
of Mr. E. J. Earl and Margaret L. Reeze, before the same Justice. The 
first death was that of Mary Robinson in 1855, aged two years. The 
first murder was committed on the body of C. Leverich, by a Mr. 
Silvers, at Austin in 1856. He had just opened a saloon, and was 
entertaining his friends one evening, when Silvers and others became 
intoxicated and troublesome, whereupon Leverich ordered them out of the 
room. They went out and challenged him to come into the street. He 
stepped out the door and was instantly struck down by a steel wagon 
spring in the hands of Silvers and died next day. Silvers escaped 
unpunished. The first suicide in the county was committed by a German 
Blacksmith, of Leroy, in the winter of 1856. He was disappointed in 
love by a young lady in Iowa. She had courted his attentions until a 
more attractive suitor was found, and thus deserted him. From this time 
he became careless and indifferent as to himself and the world around 
him, and was often heard to say "I do not want to live any longer". And 
one morning he went into his shop, took his rifle and loaded it, set it 
carefully up behind the anvil, placed the muzzle under his chin, 
touched the trigger with his toe and discharged the contents into his 
brains and fell dead on his face.  

The winter of 1856-7 was long, cold and terrible, filled in with 
frequent heavy storms of snow. Two men were frozen stone dead, while 
crossing the great high prairies in the middle of the county. Mr. 
Taylor of Brownsdale, started for his home, one-half mile away, one 
evening before sun-down; but the blowing snow blinded his vision and 
drove him fifteen miles out on to the great desert of snows, where he 
was found next day, froze, standing stiff in the deep drifts, with his 
cane still in his hand.  

The other man was a poor claim seeker, from Indiana, and was on his 
return home. I met him on the stormy prairies about three o'clock of 
the same day that he met his death. I urged him to go back with me, and 
assured him that he could not cross the plain alive that night, as it 
was over fifteen miles to the nearest house. But he went on his way, 
and was found next day frozen dead, with his satchel on his arm, and 
about five miles from where we parted. Both of the unfortunate men were 
found by A. E. Howard of Brownsdale.  

During the year 1856, the county made greater progress in settlements, 
improvements and wealth, than it has done any year since its 
organization, Brownsdale, Leroy and Hamilton were laid off, making six 
established towns in the county. The first town plat recorded was 
Austin; commonly known as "Yates & Lewis' Austin". The ground now 
occupied by the village had been surveyed off the year previous but was 
not yet recorded. Therefore, Mr. Yates called on me at High Forest, on 
the 14th of April, and wished me to proceed with him speedily and 
secretly, next day to Austin; and by arriving in the night thus lay out 
his grounds in order to enable him to get his plat on record first, as 
the only village of Austin. We started next morning, on horse back; the 
distance with thirty miles; untraveled and uninhabited. The rain had 
been falling almost incessantly for the last week and it continued to 
storm heavily throughout the day; but we reached the Cedar river at 
night-fall, as wet and hungry as wolves. Here we stopped, and I packed 
my papers and instruments in my carpet bag to prevent them from being 
seen and to give me the appearance of a traveler; while Yates secreted 
the tripod in an old hollow tree to avoid carrying it into town. We 
swam the river and went into the village. That night, I examined the 
ground in order to make a plat for them to take for record in case of 
emergency. Yates re-crossed the river and brought the tripod into town 
unseen. The next morning, when we were seen staking out lots nearly 
half a mile from town, the old proprietors "smelt a rat". Vaughan and 
Mason started on foot with their plat for the county seat, 27 miles 
distant. They had been gone two hours before Yates and Lewis saw the 
mischief; whereupon they immediately started on horseback with their 
plat, and arrived in Frankford twenty minutes in advance of their 
fellow racers. Judge Feich was sent for three miles distant, to come 
and take their acknowledgement of the plats. When he got in town, 
Vaughan and Mason had arrived and they slipped their plat into his 
hands first. He, however, considered himself employed by the other 
party first and accordingly did so. Hence their map was filed for 
record as Austin First, at 7 o'clock p.m., and the other as Austin 
Second at 7 o'clock and thirty minutes.  

All this time Austin comprised thirteen houses.  

The first general election in Mower County, occurred on the 14th day of 
October, at Austin, High Forest, Frankford, Leroy, Red Rock and Six 
Mile Grove precincts; the three latter having been established at a 
special session of the County Commissioners. Much dissatisfaction had 
arisen (and not without reason) on the west side of the county, because 
the Commissioners, in their appointments, had given to Austin but three 
inferior offices, that of justice of the peace, assessor and constable. 
Therefore, two local tickets, regardless of politics, were brought into 
the field for the October election. The following, called the "Peoples 
Ticket", was run on the West side of the county: Representative, John 
M. Berry; Register, R. L. Kimball; Sheriff, J. B. Yates; Treasurer, S. 
P. Bacon; Surveyor, N. P. Todd; Co. Commissioners, Wm. B. Spencer, of 
Leroy, G. H. Bemis and H. C. Blodgett; Judge of Probate, A. B. Vaughan; 
Coroner; Dr. O. Allen. The following, called the "Union Ticket", was 
brought out on the east side of the county: Representative, Thos. H. 
Armstrong; Register, Wm. B. Covel; Sheriff, J. S. Pierson; Treasurer, 
G. L. Covel; Surveyor, M. K. Armstrong; Co. Commissioners, Wm. Spencer 
of Leroy, C. F. Hardy and N. Goodsell; Judge of Probate, C. J. Felch; 
Coroner, J. Pierce. Three hundred and seventy-four votes were polled in 
the county. The entire "Peoples Ticket" was elected by 46 majority with 
the exception of N. P. Todd, who was defeated by 71 votes. All the 
officers but two, were now on the west side of the county.  

1857 - The new officials all met on the 1st Monday in January 1857, to 
settle with the old officers and to receive the records. After the new 
officers had duly qualified and the county records had been delivered 
into their possession, the commissioners elect closed doors and held a 
private council with Vaughan, Yates, Kimball and others, to take into 
consideration the propriety of taking the County Seat along with them 
to Austin. Spencer opposed the proposition. The rest of them were very 
forcible struck with the belief, that it were easier to move the County 
Seat at once, to Austin, than to move themselves to Frankford at every 
session of the commissioners. They, therefore, passed an order locating 
the County Seat at Austin, and resolved to pack up the records in a tin 
trunk and taken them along with them in their sleigh, regardless of law 
and the consequences. (It should here be bourne in mind that the old 
commissioners had located the County Seat at Frankford, to be removed 
only by the voice of the people.) While the citizens and commissioners 
were all socially seated at dinner, Yates and Vaughan passed out of 
town with the County Seat concealed under the hay in their sled. The 
rest of the officers, after dinner, followed on to High Forest, where 
they stopped for the night at the Tattersall House. Here the County 
Seat was secreted under the landlord's bed. In a short time, Sherman, 
the former sheriff, arrived with a gang of men from Frankford, and a 
writ to take Vaughan, Yates and Bemis for Grand Larceny. With a search 
warrant they also scoured the hotel in search of the County Seat, 
which, in the meantime, was slyly taken from under the bed and carried 
out and buried in a snow drift behind the barn. The next day they were 
taken back to Frankford for examination before Justice Howell; the 
County Seat in the meantime, had been conveyed to Austin, by night, and 
deposited in Kimball's hardware store. A warrant was issued to three 
men to search the store, and while they were in the very at of 
searching the building, the County Seat was covered with a shawl and 
carried out through the crowd, unseen by the searching officers, and 
hid away in a dark hole that would defy the scrutiny of the devil. All 
this time the trial was proceeding at Frankford. Armstrong, Morse and 
Willis were counsel in behalf of the county; Jones and Ripley were for 
the defendants.  

The Austin citizens, in the meantime, having heard that their fellow 
townsmen were taken prisoners at Frankford, were now ready for a 
pitched battle and the next day a long train of fast driven teams came 
pouring into Frankford, loaded with men, literally bristling with 
frosty dirk knives and revolvers, sticking from every pocket. By this 
time, almost every man on the east side of the county, had arrived in 
town, with some kind of weapons or fire arms concealed about his 
person. Sentinels were kept on the watch at night, who were to give the 
alarm, by the report of a gun, if an attempt was made to wrest the 
prisoners from the Sheriff by force, and convey them back to Austin. 
Nothing serious occurred, however, with the exceptions of a few barked 
shins occasioned by a false alarm given in the night, which caused a 
regular stampede among some fifteen of us, who were sleeping in the 
chamber of the old log tavern of Levi Patchin. In the hurry and bustle, 
I noticed some of the more excited, running their bare legs through the 
big, rough cracks in the floor, while others went tumbling headlong 
down the pole ladder, into the kitchen fire place. However the trial 
proceeded and ended without bloodshed, and Yates and Bemis were bound 
over in the sum of $3000 to appear at the next term of the Fillmore 
county Court. The County Seat was to remain in the hands of the 
commissioners at Austin, until it was decided by the Court., whether 
they were guilty of theft or not. The plea of the defense was, that the 
order of the old commissioners in locating the County Seat at 
Frankford, was not recorded at the time, in the Commissioner's Book. 
However, during the trial, the defendants agreed to return the county 
records and pay all costs, if their prosecutors would release them. But 
the Frankford citizens wished to inflict a severer punishment, and did 
not accept the proposition, and, thereby lost the County Seat entirely. 
Before the next term of Court, (to which the defendants were to appear) 
an election was held, and the County Seat permanently located at Austin 
by the voice of the people; hence any further prosecution of the 
defendants "went by the board". Through the exertions of Mr. Berry, in 
the Legislature the voters of Mower county were authorized to vote for 
the permanent location of the County Seat, at the time of election in 
June for members of the State constitutional convention. Two local 
tickets were again brought into the field, irrespective of party lines. 
The county was again divided and the east arrayed against the west. 
There is a large strip of uninhabited prairie some fifteen miles wide, 
running north and south through the center of the county, which was the 
cause of all the local strifes. The western ticket stood thus: for 
County Seat, Austin; For members of the Constitutional Convention, A. 
B. Vaughan and Robert Lyle. The eastern ticket was, Brownsdale for 
County Seat and T. H. Armstrong and J. M. Wykoff for members of the 
Convention.  

Through the intrigue of Mr. Berry, High Forest was detached from Mower 
and attached to Olmstead on the 22nd of May, nine days before election. 
They were therefore deprived of the right to vote, since it required 
ten days in the county to constitute a legal voter; and in this case, 
election day was the tenth from the passage of the act. There were 794 
votes pulled, aside from High Forest, where no election was held, but 
the returns were not accepted by the board of canvassers. Austin 
received thirty-six majority over Brownsdale; Vaughan received 420 
votes, Lyle 401. Phelps as Council member 418, Armstrong 370, Wykoff 
363. Suspicions having arisen that illegal voting took place at Austin, 
Armstrong went into Freeborn county with a verified copy of the Austin 
pollbooks and found 39 actual residents of that county, who voted in 
Mower county. Having obtained affidavits as to their residence, he 
proceeded to St. Paul and laid the facts before the Convention and 
obtained his seat as a member. The County Seat question was never 
contested, as the road to justice in a Territorial Court, was 
considered long and doubtful.  

In June the assessors made their returns, showing over one million of 
dollars in taxable property in the county. The commissioners levied a 
tax of one cent on the dollar, making an amount of about $11,000. Over 
two-thirds of the whole amount was collected and every dollar of the 
resident tax was paid in before the collector made his returns. About 
270 miles of roads were established during the season, three excellent 
bridges were built across the Cedar and Turtle rivers, at a cost of 
near $2,000. The county was in a flourishing financial condition. The 
season was favorable for the farmers, and their crops yielded a 
bountiful harvest. By the provisions of the State Constitution, framed 
in July, Mower and Dodge Counties formed the 13th senatorial district, 
and was entitled to 2 senators and 3 representatives; and in October an 
election was held, when, for the first time in Mower county, party 
lines were drawn. The Republicans put in nomination the following 
ticket: For Senator, Boyd Phelps; for Representatives, Robert Lyle and 
S. P. (microfilm not legible), for Treasurer, A. S. Everest; for Clerk 
of District Court, J. H. Fleming; for Commissioner, C. F. Hardy. The 
Democratic ticket stood thus: for Senator, N. P. Todd; for 
Representatives, V. P. Lewis and A. D. Brown; for Treasurer, M. 
Sprague; for Clerk of the Court, J. E. Willard; for Commissioner, A. 
Beach. The entire Republican ticket was elected by about 150 majority, 
except J. H. Fleming, who was delegated by Willard. The Legislature met 
on the 1st of December and commenced business, although Congress had 
not yet admitted us as a State.  

1858 - On the 11th day of May, 1858, Minnesota was admitted into the 
Union, and on the 12th of the following October was the first general 
election, under the State organization, in the county. The republican 
ticket run thus: for Senator, H. C. Rogers; for Representative, S. 
Bostwick; for Register, D. Blakely; for Sheriff, G. W. Bishop; for 
Surveyor, C. E. Carter; for Auditor, C. B. Johnson; for Coroner, Dr. O. 
Allen; for Judge of Probate (no candidate). The Democrats run the 
following ticket: for senator, W. B. Covel; for Representative, O. B. 
Morse; for Register, E. W. Ford; for Sheriff, J. B. Yates; for 
Surveyor, J. P. Jones; for Auditor, Isaac Smith; for Coroner, Joseph 
Richards; for Judge of Probate, G. M. Cameron. D. Blakely had just 
started the Mower County Mirror at Austin, in time to advertise the 
first tax said in the county and render aid in the coming election. Six 
hundred and seventy votes were polled and the entire republican ticket 
was elected by about 123 majority and the candidates are our present 
county officers. There ends the past history of Mower county.  

1859 - The present population of the county is 3,700, of which 400 are 
Norwegians, 200 Irish and 50 Germans. The assessed value of taxable 
property is near $3,000,000. Three-fifths of the tax payers are 
farmers. Only one thirty-fourth part of the county, or 13,000 acres, is 
under cultivation, and yet upwards of 19,000 bushels of grain was 
raised in the year 1857. There are a number of farmers in the county 
who have over 100 acres of land under cultivation and from 200 to 300 
enclosed. One-fifth of the county or 140 square miles is covered with 
timber and oak openings. The rest of the county consist of high rolling 
fertile prairies, abounding in springs and streams of living water.  

The most valuable township, in a state of nature, for its timber, water 
power &c., is Austin, 2d Leroy, 3d Lyle. The most extensively 
cultivated townships are 1st Lansing, 2nd Lyle, 3d Nevada. There is not 
at present a grist mill in the county; the nearest being at High 
Forest; there are however, four steam and five water saw mills in 
operation. The surveyed routes of two land Grant Rail Roads run through 
the county, viz: the Root River and Cedar Valley Roads. On the latter 
the grading is nearly finished and will soon be ready for the 
superstructure. Mower is the wealthiest county, in proportion to her 
inhabitants in Southern Minnesota - the equalized divided of property 
to each man, woman and child is over $500. The assets of the county 
exceed her liabilities by $4,386.03. She has a bright future before 
her, and if she keeps her onward progress five more years, we shall see 
her 400,000 acres of fertile lands converted into a region of pleasure 
and wealth and traversed by car-trains freighted with the products of 
our soil and destined for the lucrative market of Eastern cities.  


Full Particulars of the Recent Terrible Calamity on Weisel Creek - 
Sixteen Lives Lost!  

The following highly interesting letter, giving full particulars of the 
recent terrible flood on Weisel Creek, is published in the Chatfield 
Democrat:  

Holt Township, August 9, 1866  

Editors Chatfield Democrat: Below I give you an account of a most 
terribly destructive flood accompanied by a fearful loss of life. On 
Monday night, the 6th inst., the stream known here as Weisel Creek or 
South branch of Root River, running through the Township of Preble, 
suddenly became so much swollen as to sweep everything away in its 
course. We have no account of any disasters above Weisel's Mill but at 
Weisel's its power was terrific, the dwelling of David Weisel, Esq., 
was swept from its foundation and, crushed to atoms in an instant; the 
occupants of the house at the time were Mr. David Weisel, his wife and 
his mother, a lady over eighty years of age, named Jonathan Weisel and 
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Brace, who resided near Burr Oak, Iowa, visiting at 
Mr. Weisel's, all of whom were drowned, except Mrs. David Weisel. Mr. 
Weisel and his aged mother were injured by the breaking up of the house 
and were not heard to speak by the others who were all clinging to a 
bedstead and floating rapidly down the stream. Mrs. Weisel remembers 
speaking to the boy and hearing his reply once while holding on to the 
bedstead - then he was gone, old Mr. Brace soon followed, leaving Mrs. 
Weisel and Mrs. Brace still holding on to the bedstead; it was after 
midnight and nothing could be seen but a light in a neighboring house. 
Mrs. W's voice was heard as she passed this light, but no assistance 
could be rendered and onward they were swept by the foaming, seething 
torrent, for neatly four miles, when Mrs. Brace with a cry of pain let 
go her hold and was gone forever. Mrs. W. soon found her feet resting 
on the ground and the bedstead stationary, here she remained until 
daylight and what the feelings of that poor broken hearted woman were 
during the intervening hours, can better be imagined than described. 
With the dawn of day she climbed in an exhausted state to the high 
ground and was safe. Saved herself, but bereft of everything that 
renders life desirable, childless by the death of an only son near the 
close of the war, she is called to part with husband, relatives, house 
and household treasures so dear to the heart of every mother. May God 
cheer this lone widow's heart.  

One half mile below the Weisel mill stood the residence of Mr. Jonas 
Wellington, neat framed dwelling, situated almost directly upon the 
bank of the stream, here everything showed industry and neatness - the 
smooth lawn - the beautiful garden of flowers and vegetables, all 
showed that a tasty hand and a loving heart presided there - all was 
beautiful without and love and happiness reigned within the cottage. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wellington were alone, save their little grandson, Charley 
C. Gage, four years of age. The family appear to have retired, not 
dreaming that the floods were coming like a thief in the night to hurl 
destruction on themselves and their lovely possessions. Mr. Wellington 
seems to have been aroused from his bed as his body was found, partly 
dressed, some miles below, but Mrs. Willington and little Charley do 
not appear to have been awakened by the water, as they were found still 
upon their bed clasped in each others arms, the bed clothing in perfect 
order, with their heads resting upon their pillows, lodged against some 
trees a short distance below where their dwelling stood. The cottage 
has disappeared - its inmates are dead - all are gone and the stillness 
of death reigns o'er this once lovely spot.  

About one half mile farther down the stream is situated the farm of Ole 
Doland, his crops were destroyed, his stock partly swept away and some 
thirty acres of bottom land completely ruined - no lives lost. Mr. D. 
thinks the water raised from 8 to 10 feet in an hour.  

Some two or three miles below Dunlap's place at the saw-mill, formerly 
owned by Mr. Thomas G. Hall of Lenora, another dwelling containing one 
man, two women, and five children was carried away and all the inmates 
drowned. Making sixteen lives lost within a distance of four miles. How 
sad.  

The bodies of three that were drowned at the saw-mill and the boy 
Jonathan Weisel had not been found when last heard from.  

Yours, with a sad heart.  
N. A. Graves  


NOTICE
General Headq'rs State of Minnesota,  
Adjutant General's Office
St. Paul, Minn., July 7th, 1866

The following extract from the instructions of the Commissioner of 
Pensions, under the Pension Act of June 6, 1866, is published for the 
information of all whom it may concern.  

Increased rates of pensions will be allowed as follows:   

1. Twenty-five dollars per month to all those Invalids entitled under 
act of July 14, 1862, to a lower rate of pension on account of service 
rendered since March 4, 1861, "who shall have lost the sight of both 
eyes, or who shall have lost both hands, or been permanently and 
totally disabled in the same, or otherwise so permanently and totally 
disabled as to render them utterly helpless, or so nearly so as to 
require the constant personal aid and attendance of another person.."  

2.  Twenty dollars per month to those invalids who,, being entitled 
under like conditions to a lower rate of pensions, "shall have lost 
both feet, or one hand and one foot, or been totally and permanently 
disabled in the same, or otherwise so disabled as to be incapacitated 
for performing any manual labor, but not so much so as to require 
constant personal aid and attention.  

3.  Fifteen dollars per month to those invalids who, under like 
conditions, "shall have lost one hand or one foot, or been totally and 
permanently disabled in the same, or otherwise so disabled as to render 
their inability to perform manual labor equivalent to the loss of a 
hand or foot.  

Pensions are also granted under this act to dependent fathers and 
orphan brothers.  

Applications for Pensions, Bounties and Back Pay are procured by this 
office free of charge to claimants.  

Claimants will apply by letter of in person to the undersigned.  

H. P. Van Cleve, Adjutant General and State Agent


September 6, 1866

Minnesota Claim Agency

Extra Bounties - Increased Pensions  

General Headq'rs State of Minnesota,  
Adjutant General's Office
St. Paul, Minn., July 28th, 1866

Under act of July 28th, 1866, $100 additional Bounty will be paid to 
three years men, who served their term of enlistment, or who were 
sooner discharged, by reason of wounds received in the line of duty.  

Also to widows, minor children or parents of 3 years' men, who died 
while in the United States service or of wounds or disease contracted 
in such service.  

$50 Bounty will be paid under like conditions to two years' men.  

Soldiers entitled to the Bounty under the above act will send their 
discharge papers to this office and if discharged by reason of wounds, 
will state when and where they were wounded.  

Widows of deceased soldiers or sailors, who have minor children under 
the age of sixteen years, will be entitled to $2 additional pension for 
every such child; and orphan children of deceased soldiers and sailors 
are entitled to the same increase.  

Widows and guardians of minor children applying for the increase of 
pension must prove the birth of such children and that they are the 
legitimate children of the deceased soldier.  

All applications for pensions or back pay of soldiers or their heirs 
will receive prompt attention from this office free of charge to 
claimants, by applying to the undersigned. Letters addressed to me, 
relating to any class of soldiers or sailors claims will receive a 
prompt reply.  

H. P. Van Cleve, Adjutant General and State Agent