"A History of Western Murray County" by Robt. B. Forrest, Pages 58-71, Murray Co., MN Published 1947 ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Robert B. Forrest III ========================================================================= Note: Use your "Find and Replace" option under "Edit" to search this file. Where there is noted (Picture) there is a picture or darwing that you can view. The file name (ex: 004.jpg) can be found on the TOC in the description box next to the file you are viewing. Just click on the picture file name or you can view the book in HTML format at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/murray/history/home.htm where the pictures are placed within the book. Special thanks go to Robert B, Forrest for sharing his Grandfather's works. Be sure to read: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/murray/history/western/preface3.txt ================================================================================ Early W. Murray Co. MN Hist., pages 58-71 The Hadley Co-Operative Creamery No creamery in southwestern Minnesota has distributed more money to its patrons than the Hadley Co-op. Creamery, and no institution follows more closely the ideals of co-operation than this organization. Like most institutions that have grown steadily towards the top, it started in a humble way. Hadley farmers and business men, back in 1905, were fully aware that the small grain crop was steadily forcing them backwards instead of forward. They started looking for a money crop, a crop that would bring money the year round instead of once a year, and the only practical answer was a creamery. CREAMERY MEETING You are invited to attend a creamery meeting at the schoolhouse in Hadley, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 14, 1905. (Lake Wilson Pilot 1-13-1905). (Picture 058.jpg) The Hadley Co-operative Creamery Built in 1922 The creamery is thoroughly modern in every detail This is a view from the east —58— (Picture 059.jpg) This is a view of the creamery taken trom the south The promoters of this project desire to organize on a simple co-operative plan. No stock to be owned or controlled except by patrons. At a meeting on January 20, Axel Fresk, M. E. Blood, J. W. Olson and Joe Swanson were appointed a committee to solicit. They secured the necessary pledges for stock and 500 cows. On February 10, the stockholders selected the following officers: A. I. Olson, President; J. W. Olson, Vice President; George Vallance and F. R. Blake, directors; S. P. Satter, Secy. and Chas. E. Weld, treasurer. Sixty shares of stock were subscribed. Alex Lowe donated a lot for the creamery which was 24 x 42 x 12 with a 12 x 24 leanto. An ice house was completed, but there was no ice and a car load was shipped in from Slayton. The original stockholders up to March 1, 1905 were: F. H. Snare, F. Haase, W. Schroder, A. Fresk, Henry Kollowa, J. A. Johnson, Fred Zbornick, D. F. McCarvel, M. Schwartz, Louis Leguil, Thos. Brewster, Sande Bros., F. R. Blake, W. Benter, H. Snare, A. Rinehart, J. W. Olson, J. Severson, W. —59— Weber, P. Ellfson, C. Johnson, Wm. Fresk, L. C. Disch, S. P. Satter, C. Clark, A. Holman, John Voss, Ole Berson, Wm. Mooney, Chas. Swan, A. W. Legweg, Theo. Borg, George Vallance, Fred Ost, E. Buldhaupt, A. Kadolph, M. E. Blood, E. Larson, A. Martin, A. G. Johnson, B. H. Jacobson, N. B. Tyler, A. I. Olson, H. Benter, P. Doerhoefer, A. Olson, G. Paulson, A. L. Partridge, Thos. McCammon, J. Johnson, I. I. Moen, John Plambeck, C. E. Weld, Geo. Overbrockling, L. Resting, W. Forsaith, B. H. Larson, O. Heimness, W. Protextor, A. Pearson, Emil Depping, Lowe Bros., M. O. Holm, Engebretson Bros. Gus Block of Westbrook was the first buttermaker. First machinery was an eight horse power gasoline engine, churns, separator, etc. The new well was 128 feet deep. First Batch of Butter Churned on May 5, 1905 The first batch of butter churned in the new creamery amounted to 628 pounds. lt was called Hadley Gilt Edged Butter. On Wednesday, May 14, a ton of butter was shipped. On June 2 there were 98 patrons. On June 17 there were 115 patrons. Larger and more machinery was purchased. Five thousand pounds of butter were shipped July 9, and there were 140 patrons on the books. Steadily the business and the service of the creamery expanded and on December 15, 1922, a new modern brick creamery was erected, filled with the latest modern machinery. A buttermilk dryer was installed in 1 927 and on December 15, 1939, the stockholders voted to construct a locker plant. The plant was finished in April 1940, with 233 lockers. The buying of eggs was started on March 1, 1945, on a graded business. Since its organization the Hadley creamery has paid producers over $8,250,000 including interest on stocks and dividends and has manufactured approximately 26,650,000 pounds of butter. This is a record of service to the community and has been of real benefit not only to the farmers but to everyone living within the territory. Heading this worthwhile organization arc E. L. Engebretson, Pres.; Nick Schneider, Vice Pres.; Goodwin Fresk, Sec'y-Treas. and directors Harry Jacobson, and C. I. Klassen. The patrons today number 525 and the —60— stockholders 450. The creamery was fortunate to secure the services of B. H. Crissinger. He has done a fine job in maintaining the standards of the creamery during the six years of his management. Working in the Hadley creamery at this time are: Lloyd Olson, Eddie Nett, Wm. Schneider and Lester Solem, haulers; Harold Larson, helper and cream hauler; Delbert Peterson, hauler; B. H. Crissinger, manager; M. H. Deden, buttermaker; Howard Engebretson, helper; L. A. Schuster, engineer and dryer operator; Jean Van Klei, Zelma Van Klei and Eleanor Johanson, egg candlers; Arden Solem, assistant in egg dept.; Dolores Pommier, office secretary and Arnold Knutson, butcher. Five of the employees saw service in World War II. We wish we had room to give complete records but lack of space prohibits it. Maynard H. Deden served with the 304th Ord. Reg't at Mississippi Ordnance plant at Jackson, Miss.—Arnold W. Knutson served in the 4th & 8th service commands, was instructor in meat cutting and cooking— Leonard A. Schuster had basic training at Santa Barbara, Cal. Served in Central Pacific with 124th Inf., was instructor in infantry weapons, came out a Staff Sgt. A. Howard Engebretson served in the engineers in European sector in the 3rd army, served in S. W. Pacific with 25 Div., saw service in Japan and Philippines, came out with Staff Sgt. rating. — Harold S. Larson, born February 22, 1922, entered service October 1, 1942, was attached to air transport service, 1333 base unit, AAF. Spent almost a year at Cairo, Egypt, and over a year in India at the Burma bases. ====================================================== Highest Pavement in State in Chanarambie Twp. According to the figures of the state highway engineer the stretch of pavement that crosses Buffalo Ridge is the highest in the state of Minnesota. The high point is on highway No. 47 at the intersection of sections 8-9-16 and 17 in Chanarambie township where it is 1851 feet above sea level. This is not the highest point on the ridge. About a mile south is still higher. —61— THE HADLEY Co-OPERATIVE ELEVATOR COMPANY Among the solid co-operative business institutions that have done their part in the development and in the improvement of this section is the Hadley Co-operative Elevator Company. Today no company stands on a more solid foundation or has paid more regular dividends to its patrons and stockholders. One reason for the fine showing of this company is due to the fact that every one of its present officers was an original shareholder when the company was organized over 32 vears ago. This organization did not have a very auspicious start at the first meeting which was held on March 21, 1914. There were only thirty stockholders present and the organization of the new elevator was postponed until March 28, 1914. The small crowd present on March 21 was due to a severe snow storm. At the postponed meeting on March 28 there were (Picture 062.jpg) The Hadley Co-Operative Elevators at Hadley Elevator No. 1 —62— (Picture 063.jpg) Elevator No. 2 over forty enthusiastic farmers and business men present and they elected the following officers for a year. The directors elected were Axel Fresk, B. H. Jacobson, John G. Johnson, C. E. Clark, and B. H. Larson. The off icers chosen were President, John G. Johnson; Vice President, B. H. Jacobson; Treasurer, Chas. F. Lowe, and B. H. Larson, Secretary. According to the records of the company there were fifty- five shares of stock sold in 1914. These stockholders were the only shareholders in the company until 1916. The first work of the new elevator board was the purchase of a building, and after investigation purchased the Hubbard & Palmer elevator for $3,125.00 which the company took over on JuIy 1, 1914. The elevator was in need of repairs and improvements and it was shut down for two weeks when the first manager, C. A. Chapman, arrived and took over his duties. The business increased at such a rapid rate for the company that it was forced to secure more space for expansion so on August 15, 1916, just about two years after the start of the —63— organization the company purchased the Benson Grain Elevator company building for $2,700.00. The west elevator was destroyed by fire in 1936 but was rebuilt two years later. The west elevator is being used as a storage for grain and seed grains of all kinds. The elevator also handles an ample supply of coal; more than enough for its regular customers. Cleaning facilities for cleaning grain are available also at the west elevator. The elevator is a distinctly co-operative organization and has always paid satisfactory dividends. The officers are real veterans: Axel Fresk serving as President since 1921, O.C. Wornson serving as Vice President since 1924, Donie Knutson has held the office of treasurer and secretary since 1934. Carl Johnson has been a director since 1937 and Chas. Swan has been a director since 1938. Ole D. Olson is manager of the company's business assisted by Leon Olson. Ole D. Olson who has so ably managed the affairs of the company as manager for the last four years grew up in the business, serving seven years as assistant manager. Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Gilletta Paulson on Deccmber 24, 1944. The following is a list of the original stockholders: John G. Johnson, Joel Swanson, P. L. Swan, J. Iverson, H. Brecker, Johanson Bros., Aug. Markwardt, Chas. Olson, Chas. Swan, Holmen Bros., J. J. Mihin, Hans Pearson, A. P. Fresk, Wm. Fresk, Mrs. Ira Engebretson, J. D. Knutson, H. Yager, W. J. Clauson, L. R. Jones, J. W. Olson, C. F. Lowe, Harry Kadolph, E. B. Halverson, O. C. Wornson, A. A. Berg, W. P. Rice, John Voss, Mary Wornson, A. G. Johnson, C. Weigand, H. Deden, F. Ost, A. Johnson, B. H. Jacobson, C. F. Clark, A. Kadolph, J. M. Low, Mrs. P. Doerhofer, Dinehard & Weck Sec. Co., J. V. Bosch, A. S. Amundson, Theo. Michaelson, Ole Pearson, Otto Herman, Axel Fresk, Marie Nelson, Pete Pearson, B. H. Larson, Geo. Paulson, Carl G. Johnson, F. R. Blake, Ed Christenson, C. A. Paige, Albert Ost. ============================================== Murray County is thirty miles wide, that is from west to east, and twenty-four miles from north to south. —64— (Picture 065.jpg) The Gateway House built in 1867 Home of B. M. Low THE GATEWAY HOUSE The most historic house, "The Gateway House" of Western Murray County passed out of view last year when it was razed, but not out of the memories of many an early pioneer of the 70's and 80's. It was the log house, a commodious one, built by B. M. Low in the late sixties. There was only one settler in Murray County, Cap. Aldrich near Lake Shetek, when the Lows arrived in 1866. John Low built his house on the prairie on the west side of the north lake and Bart, on the west side of the south lake in the timber by a small clearing. For more than two decades this modest log house was the headquarters and gateway of not only Murray County but the boundless prairies to the west. (The first white settler came to Pipestone County in 1874.) To this modest home, which was presided over by Mrs. Low, a typical pioneer from Wisconsin and a famous cook, —65— came waves of pioneers. Here stopped the new settlers and their families, eagerly looking for new homes. They came here from Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, Iowa and Canada, and from over the Atlantic came bashful, curious and eager Norwegians, Swedes, Scotch, Irish and English, etc. They came in covered wagons, drawn by oxen and horses, in Democrat wagons, on horse back and on foot, all anxious to be located on a piece of Murray County soil. Most of them headed for the Bart Low place, one of the reasons being that there was shade, water, and wood in abundance, and the pioneers rested both their wearied bodies and the livestock. Bart with his clever wit, genial ways, and his knowledge of the country, was the main attraction and the hungry never left the place unfed. To the home came the prospectors, land locators, government officials, sheriffs and their deputies from other counties and states, looking for some young fellow who had forgotten to pay a formal adieu to the woman who loved him or the man who had driven towards the west and some of his neighbor's livestock happened to mix in with his. Then there was the itinerant preacher making his rounds on horseback, the lawyers looking up claim rights, etc., a motley array all playing their parts in laying the foundation and the making of Murray County, one of the best counties in Minnesota. When the county was organized in 1872 early county office seekers made the "Gateway House" their western headquarters. One could get a bed there in the attic; in most homes the only available beds were on the floor. The Low house was built on the site of an old, old Indian village, a village far older than these United States. Thirteen known tribes had used the little clearing as a home for over four hundred years before the Lows arrived. Some tribes used it only during the fishing, hunting and trapping season, other tribes lived there the year round, The house was constructed of the finest logs in the timber that surrounded it. The building was 14 x 20, a big house in those days. Most of the logs were twenty feet long and many of them were hewn square. The corners of the building were dovetailed so that the building could not spread in any direction. Wooden pins of oak held the door and windows in position. —66— They were just as firm and hard in 1946 as they were seventy-five years before. The windows were hauled from Mankato but the lime for plastering came from a kiln in Lake Sarah Township, and the sand from the shores of Bear Lake. The mortar was just as solid and firm as if it had been built of the most modern products. No tract of land in western Minnesota is as rich in history as section 10 in Lowville township. At one time, it came into possession of a widow of John Keating, a private in Captain Payson's company of the Maine militia in the war of 1812. The British flag flew on this section before the days of the coming of the American Fur company, that in 1833 erected a stockade and trading post on the same section. Joe LaFramboise, in charge of the post being part French changed the name of Bear Lakes to La Grande Lisiere du Bois. "The Great Skirt of Woods." The lordly elm trees which surrounded the little clearing echoed the dying cries of many an Indian brave. Tradition has it that many a battle was fought over the site of the village, but there is one authentic account of a battle which took place there ten years after the American Fur Co. had abandoned its trading post. These so-called battles were nothing but massacres, following the regular pattern of Indian warfare. In 1849 Wa-wandi-a-akapi, Chief of the Wapekuta band, and his followers were encamped in the clearing and little expected an attack. One night when the village slept the notorious Inkpa-duta and his renegade band slipped into the timber and pounced upon the sleeping Wapekutas. Before an alarm aroused the village, Wa-wandi-a-akapi and seventeen of his braves had been stabbed to death. Inkpa-duta withdrew without the loss of a man. The father of Inkpa-duta had been a co-chief of the Wapekutas. Those murdered in the Bear Lake clearing were Inkpa-duta's tribal brothers. No explanation can be given for the massacre, except that it is an example of the cruel cunning that characterized lnkpa- duta's career. Murders of whites at Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Jackson, Minnesota, by the same band of renegades, and other raids did much to spread distrust and hatred against all Indians in the minds of the settlers. The distrust tended to —67— widen the already wide breach between the whites and the Indians. Yet Inkpa-duta's renegades were as heartily hated by the Sioux as they were by the white people. The Pipestone Quarries were the magnet that drew many travelers, scientists, and explorers to this section; most of them coming from the east, owing to the waterway routes. George Catlin, the famous painter of the American Indian, visited this section in 1836. Mr. Catlin was also an entomologist and scientist and was so entranced with the beauty of the lakes and surrounding timber, and the myriads of wild fowl that he named the timber "The Great Oasis." In 1838 Joseph Nicollet headed a government exploring expedition through this section. He was born in France and had made many explorations in the Mississippi valley. Second in command of this expedition was Second Lieut. John C. Fremont of the topographical corps of the United States army. Fremont was only twenty-five years old at that time and was destined to be one of the truly great Americans the leader of that strong, hardy colorful group who laid the foundation for the West. He re-visited this section several years later being in charge of a surveying group. The surveying of Murray County started in 1857 hut was not finished until 1866. The lapse was due to the Civil War. No American has a more brilliant and striking career than Fremont—a major general in the Civil War and the first Catholic to be nominated for the presidency. He was defeated by Buchanan. In the next election Fremont was put forth as a candidate of the Progressive republican party but withdrew in favor of Abe Lincoln. During his life he conducted five separate adventurous expeditions which explored passes in the Rockies and opened up the Far West. He was the first governor of California, first Senator from the same state, was the first Governor of Arizona and held many other important offices. Bold, brave, but not always too ethical, he was the type of the soldier of fortune, who too often did away with red tape. His political and military enemies were many and they finally brought sorrow and disgrace to this soldier, who had done so much for his country. —68— Few people know that he named Lake Fremont, just off Lake Shetek, after himself. He could have given his name to a larger lake, but he was not that type of a man. Over in Lincoln county he gave the name of his father-in-law, Senator Benton of Missouri to the lake, just across the northwest border of Murray County. Many, many happy days were spent in the shadow of the "Gateway House." There is where we had our picnics, our Fourth of July celebrations, where the neighbors gathered, where we hunted and fished, where the women folks went for chokecherries, plums, gooseberries and currants. Events of the days when life was a stern reality but the memories they left were fragrant and wholesome and the old timers carry them on their way to the setting sun. ========================================== Law Makers from Western Murray County Western Murray County had its share of law makers in the lower house. They represented every shade of political opinion. B. M. Low 1887-1889 Lowville Pat Gildea 1891 Cameron Ole Holmen 1893-1895-1897 Leeds Herman Nelson 1909-1911 Leeds Fred Norwood 1917 Skandia John G. Johnson 1923-1925 Leeds Alex Lowe 1933-1935-1937 Leeds Erwin Eichorn 1939-1941 Cameron Roy York 1943-1945 Leeds Trig Knutson 1947 Leeds While Nelson, Knutson and Holmen were not residents of Leeds township when elected, they were raised in Leeds township and grew to manhood there so are considered products of Leeds. —69— (Picture 070.jpg) Monument, erected by the State of Minnesota, which commemorates the massacre of 14 white settlers during the Indian uprising of 1862. The monument, which overlooks Lake Shetek and Smith Lake, is located two miles from Slaughter Slough where the fighting took place. —70— THE LAKE SHETEK MASSACRE OF AUGUST 20th, 1862 The first actual settlement of Murray County took place in the year 1859, when a body of hardy pioneers settled on the north and east shores of Lake Shetek. Three families came in the first year and by 1862, the settlement contained twelve families and six young men who were busy making new homes and attending to the farm work. On the 29th of August, 1862, the Indian outbreak burst with terrific fury in western Minnesota and Lean Bear and White Lodge with their bands, numbering about a hundred Indians and squaws, started raiding the Lake Shetek settlement. The first place visited that morning was the A. Meyers home at the head of the lake. They rode into the yard and ordered the Meyers family to leave at once. The Meyers left with what clothes they had on. The second place to be visited that morning was the P. Hurd home. Mr. Hurd was not at home. They ordered Mrs. Hurd to leave. The Indians then shot John Voight, the hired man. The third place visited was the Andrew Koch (Cook) home. Mr. Koch was killed. Mrs. Koch escaped and, frantic with fear, started wading down the edge of the lake to warn the other settlers. One of the young men, Charley Hatch, heard or saw the trouble, so he got on a horse and started down the lake shore and warned every settler of the impending danger. The first family warned was the Eastlick family, who hurried to the Smith cabin. They saw the Smiths running from their home to the Wright cabin. The Eastlicks and the Smiths reached the Wright cabin at the same time. The settlers were gathering here. Wright was not at home, but Mrs. Wright, a true pioneer woman, was busy arming the men and women, punching holes in the clay between the logs for loopholes, bringing in water and preparing for a siege. A team of horses was also brought into the cabin. Mrs. Koch then arrived, followed shortly by Tommy Ireland and William Duley, almost exhausted. They said their wives and children had become so tired that they were forced to hide in the woods. In the Wright yard was the wily, treacherous Sioux chief, Pawn, a "friend" of the whites. He went back with Duly and Ireland and helped bring in their families. —71—