Nicollet County MN Archives History - Books .....Nicollet County 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

NICOLLET COUNTY.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

DESCRIPTION-INDIAN TRADERS—FIRST SETTLERS-ORGANIZATION—COUNTY SEAT—WAR RECORD.

  Nicollet county, named in honor of Jean N. Nicollet the distinguished French
explorer, is, in shape, a slightly imperfect right-angled triangle. It contains
an area of about 500 square miles, about one-third of which is fine, high,
rolling prairie, one-third timber and the other third meadows and lakes. There
are several fine sheets of water, the largest of which are Swan, Middle and
Timber lakes. There are also extensive deposits of fine building stone.

  The first white settler in the county was Louis Provencalle, a Canadian
Frenchman, who was at Traverse des Sioux in 1829, as agent for the American Fur
Company.

  Traverse des Sioux, so called on account of its being the crossing place of
the Sioux or Dakotas, was a highly eligible point for successful prosecution of
the Indian trade, and so there Provencalle built a trading house. The Indians
called him Skadan, or "Little White."

  About 1834 Joseph La Framboise had a trading post at Little Rock, in the
western part of the county. In 1843 Rev. S. R. Riggs, in company with Revs.
Robert Hopkins and Thomas J. Longley, settled at Traverse des Sioux, and built a
mission house. Mr. A. G. Huggins settled there the same year, and was connected
with the mission. Subsequently Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Longley were both drowned
while bathing in the Minnesota river, the latter, July 15, following his
arrival, and the former in July, 1851.

  Mr. Riggs, in his book, "Mary and I," says: "The Indians said that their water
god, Oonktehe, was displeased with us for coming to build there —he had seized
the young man." When the second drowning took place they repeated the same
statement.

  Rev. Riggs in the work above referred to has the following account of his
arrival at the place:

  "The bottoms of the lower Minnesota were putting on their richest hues of
green, and the great wild rose gardens were coming into full perfection of
beauty, when in the month of June, our barge, laden with mission supplies was
making its way up to Traverse des Sioux. On what was known as "the Little
Rapids," was a village of Wapaton Dakotas, the old home of the people at Lac qui
Parle. There were certain reasons why we thought that might be the point for the
new station. We made a halt here of half a day and called the chief men. But
they were found to be too much under the influence of the treaty Indians below
to give us any encouragement. In fact, they did not want missionaries. We passed
by and landed our boats at the Traverse. *     *   *

 We had decided to make this our new station. We should consult the Indians, but
our staying would not depend upon their giving us an invitation to stay. *   * 
 *    * * Immediately I called the Indians and had a talk with them at Mr. Le
Bland's trading post. I told them we had come to live with them and to teach
them. Some said yes and some said no, but they all asked, what have you to give us?

   *  *    * We expected to meet with opposition, and so were not disappointed.
Thomas (Longley) and I pitched our tents under some scrub oaks, and on a little
elevation, in the lower river bottom a half a mile away from the traders.
Immediately we commenced to cut and haul logs for our cabin. *   *   *   * Mr.
Iaaac Pettijohn helped us much to forward the log cabin. Saturday came—the 15th
of July—and the roof was nearly finished."

   Besides the Mr. Pettijohn, referred to in the above, Martin McLeod, Rev. M.
N. Adams (in 1848) John F. Aiton and Joshua Porter, were at an early date
located at, or in the neighborhood of Traverse des Sioux.

   In July 1850 it consisted of an Indian village, a trading post, and three
neat plain white buildings occupied by the missionaries. In this connection it
might be stated that the first birth of a white child in the county occurred at
this place, and was that of Anna J. Riggs, daughter of Rev. Stephen R. Riggs.

   Here also was performed the first marriage ceremony, according to Christian
rites, which took place between Joseph La Framboise of Little Rock and Jane
Dickson.

   Among those who first settled, in the county were James Lamm and Louis
Hanson, in Lake Prairie; L. D. and S. D. Parsons and Frank Mason, in Belgrade;
Joshua Post and Jack Hamilton, in Nicollet; Martin Walser, Alexander Harkins,
John and James Robinson, in West Newton; Jacob Harmon, in Courtland; the first
settler in St. Peter was W. B. Dodd. D. B. Kennedy came to the county in 1849,
and Hiram Caywood in 1853.

   In 1852 Traverse was laid out into town lots, and it was entered by the late
Judge A. G. Chatfield in 1855, at which time it contained some 300 inhabitants.
With the removal of the county seat from there to St. Peter its importance
gradually lessened; the buildings were removed to the latter place. Traverse des
Sioux is rendered memorable as the place at which was concluded the treaties
between the United States and the Dakotas which took place July 23, 1851, as
described on page 123. This was the opening of the region to white settlement,
which progressed to such an extent that on March 5, 1853, the legislature passed
an act for the purpose of organizing the county of Nicollet, the boundaries of
which were as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Bush river, thence up the
Minnesota river to the mouth of Little Bock river, thence due north to the north
fork of Orow river, thence down said river to the northwest corner of Sibley
county, thence along said county to the place of beginning." These boundaries
became subsequently reduced to their present size by an act passed February 20,
1855.

   Fort Ridgely was commenced in 1853 as a protection to settlers on the
frontier. B. H. Randall was located there as sutler. On the 7th of April, 1853,
the governor appointed the following officers: George H. Spencer, register of
deeds; Jonas Pettijohn, county treasurer; William Huey, sheriff; the board of
commissioners was composed of D. B. Kennedy, A. J. Myrick and Jonas Pettijohn.

   The first meeting of county commissioners was held June 27, 1853, at Traverse
des Sioux. The county was laid off into three assessment districts. James B.
Gault was appointed to the first, H. Caywood to the second, and number three was
placed in charge of Joseph A. Wheelock, now editor of the Pioneer Press.

   On July 10 it was ordered that there be only one election precinct, formed
for Nicollet county, and that the polls be located at Traverse des Sioux. Jonas
Pettyjohn, William Huey and John Labathe were then appointed judges of election.

   At the same time an election precinct was formed for the county of Pierce,
which was attached to Nicollet county for judicial purposes; the polls were
located at New Fort and Benjamin H. Randall was appointed judge for said precinct.

   On July 30 the assessor's reports were examined and corrected, and sixty-five
cents were ordered to be levied on eaoh one hundred dollars worth of property in
the county; there being, according the assessor's reports, $58,660 worth of
taxable property in the three districts.

   One road district was established for the entire county, and Bruce Pierce was
appointed supervisor.

   On October 3, 1853, the first grand and petit jurors were drawn. The first
United States district court was held the same October by Judge A.  G.
Chatfield, in the hall of Rev. Stephen Riggs' mission school.

   The first election, which was held October 11, resulted in the selection of
D. R. Kennedy, Bruce Pierce and Rev. M. N. Adams, county commissioners; Gilson
S. Patch, sheriff; Andrew J. Myrick, register of deeds;. Jonas Pettijohn, county
treasurer; Francis Labathe, coroner; William Huey and Hiram Caywood, justices of
the peace; Peter M. Teed and Stewart B. Garvie, constables; J. P. Holtsclaw, G.
Addison Brown and Joseph La Framboise, assessors; J. D. Hemingway, judge of
probate; J. D. Markland, district attorney; Israel Fuller, county surveyor;
Joseph Robinette, supervisor of roads. The terms of office all commenced on
January 1, 1854. On the second of January the first meeting of the new board of
county commissioners was held, and Rev. M. N. Adams was appointed chairman. Two
days later D. T. Rounseville, A. G. Huggins and Hiram Caywood were appointed
overseers of the poor, for the term of one year.

   The commissioners held their meetings in a room belonging to George H.
Spencer, for which privilege compensation was fixed at the rate of one dollar
per day.

   On January 5, it was determined that the county seat of Nicollet county
should be established at some point that may hereafter be determined more
definitely between the lower line of the town of Rock Bend, and the upper line
of Traverse des Sioux.

   After due consideration it was determined to accept the following proposition
of G. A. McLeod, George H. Spencer, D. R. Kennedy and A. D. Graham for the
purpose of locating the county buildings—that the said McLeod, Spencer, Kennedy
and Graham, agree to donate for the benefit of the county, the block of the town
of Traverse, designated on the recorded plat of said town as blocks numbers 20,
21, 24 and 25, provided that the court house be erected on blocks 20 or 21.

   The statement of finances, as reported by the board, for the year 1853, was
as follows: Amount of taxable property, $58,660; amount of taxes accruing at
.0065 per cent., $380.16; unpaid taxes, $150.98; amount uncollected, $229.18;
amount of orders issued and sheriff's fees for collecting, $176.62; leaving
amount available in treasury, $52.56.

   J. D. Markland, the district attorney, elected at the last charter election,
not having qualified, on April 3 Charles E. Flandrau was appointed for the
unexpired term. His salary was fixed at the rate of $150 for the first year, and
$200 for the second year.

   During the summer of 1855 a petition from the citizens of St. Peter and
vicinity for the establishment of an election precinct and a request to have a
school district established, embracing St. Peter and vicinity, was sent in to
the board of commissioners signed by thirty-six persons. The board, however,
determined that the convenience of the inhabitants did not require, in their
judgment, the establishment of the precinct as prayed by the petitioners; and
they did not feel themselves empowered to grant their second request.

   On July 9, 1856, the county was divided into five road districts, as the most
effective method of establishing and opening roads; Peter Brady, Daniel M.
Church, W. H. McNutt and Jacob Harmon were appointed to the first four
districts, in the order in which they stand recorded.

   Five election precincts were created the next month, the polls of No. 1 being
at Traverse des Sioux; No. 2, at Eureka; No. 3, St. Peter; No. 4, at the house
of Anton La Chappelle, near the Cottonwood ferry; No. 5, at the house of N. Ryents.

   During the fall of this year an unknown man, a pauper, committed suicide, at
St. Peter, and under date of November 10, the following entry appears on the
minutes of the commissioners books, F. Feldman, for furnishing coffin, $8.00;
John Johnson, for services at funeral, $6.00; James Smith, services and taking
care of the body, $18.00; jurors and witnesses at the inquest, $12.00; Israel
Fuller, services as coroner, $10.00; J. R. Gardener, for shroud, $1.00; all of
which items were allowed.

   In November, 1857 the total amount of taxable property in the county, as
reported by the assessors, was $1,018,225.

   While the board was in session, on February 17, 1858, George Hezlep, justice
of the peace at St. Peter, appeared, and represented that a certain Michael
Keough had been imprisoned, in default of payment of a fine imposed in an
assault and battery case, and that the prisoner's father was present, and would
pay the fine by giving his note with endorsement, to the county commissioners,
payable in August, 1858, with interest at five per cent, per month. The board
accepted the note and the sheriff was instructed to release the prisoner.

   In accordance with the provisions of the act of legislature, providing for
township organization, a special session of the board of county commissioners
was held on the 27th of April, 1858, and proceedings commenced for the division
of the county into townships. Places for the holding of elections, and judges
were appointed at the same meeting.

   After the election, on September 14, a meeting was held for the purpose of
organization, in which the following named persons participated: A. F. Howes and
Spencer Sutherland represented Oshawa, William Huey, Traverse; C. H.
Huddlestone, Granby; Charles Newman, Lafayette; George Briggs, Lake Prairie;
Samuel Coffin, Courtland; T. M. Richardson, Nicollet; James Ryan, West Newton;
J. N. Wollingford, South Bend; Alfred F. Howes was elected chairman of the body
and John Henderson clerk. After some discussion Jacob Schmahl was admitted to a
seat as a second member from the town of Traverse.

   It should be stated that the town of South Bend, on account of there already
being one of the same name in Blue Earth county, had to be changed, which was
accordingly done and the name of Belgrade conferred upon it. One of the first
and most important measures that came before this new body was in relation to
the removal of the county seat.

   On September 16, 1856, the board had to take under consideration a petition,
numerously signed, and which had been filed with John Henderson, as clerk of the
board, September 11th, asking the board of county supervisors to order a vote to
be taken for the purpose of removing the county seat from Traverse des Sioux to
St. Peter. After some discussion a motion was made to indefinitely postpone
action on the petition, which motion the chair ruled to be out of order. On Mr.
Huey appealing from the decision of the chair, the latter requested the clerk to
count the signatures to the petition, for the purpose of justifying him in his
course of ruling Mr. Huey's motion out of order. The count revealed the fact
that there were 830 signatures, whereupon Mr. Huey withdrew his appeal. After
more discussion it was decided that the clerk count the number of votes on the
poll list of the previous general election, which showed that the total number
was 806. No agreement in the matter of the petition being arrived at, a
committee was appointed, the next day, consisting of William Huey, Spencer
Sutherland and Charles Huddleston, to examine and report on the petition.

   This resulted in the disagreement of the committee and the presentation of
two reports. The majority report set forth that "the act of assembly authorizing
such petitions, requires that the same should be presented to the board thirty
days before any general election. This requirement is one of vital importance,
and its entire fulfillment is essential to the validity of any action which
should be taken by the board on the petition. That the board cannot obtain
jurisdiction of the subject matter of the petition without a full compliance
with this pre-requisite," which the committee claimed had not been complied with
and gave their reasons therefor. "The next view that your committee takes is
that it bears unmistakable evidence of having been fraudulently concocted.
First, many of the names were written in the same hand, evidently, at the same
time and place, and many of them are proved to be non-residents of the county,
some under legal age, and others were unqualified voters; which facts are shown
by the affidavits of creditable persons, and are submitted with this report, and
are part thereof.

   "There is another view which your committee deem fatal to the success of the
petition. It prays for the removal of the county seat from Traverse des Sioux to
St. Peter, when it is a well known fact that the county seat never was at
Traverse des Sioux, but was originally established at Traverse, and remains so
until to-day. Had the petition prayed for the removal of the county seat from
Nicollet to St. Peter, or from St. Peter to Traverse des Sioux, the board would,
of course, have rejected it, as calling upon them to present to the electors a
question which their decision could not affect, in any particular." The
following accompanied the report: "Resolved, That the petition, now in the
possession of the board of supervisors of the county of Nicollet, praying for a
removal of the county seat from Traverse des Sioux to St. Peter, is defective,
not having been presented to the board in time, according to law; for asking the
removal of the county seat from a place where it is not located, and is
therefore rejected by the board and no election is called under it." This report
and resolution was signed by William Huey and C. H. Huddleston.

   The minority report, submitted and signed by Spencer Sutherland, was as
follows: "After due diligence and inquiry I am satisfied that the petition
contains the signatures of a greater number of legal voters in said county,
after striking out all names upon it which are not such legal voters, than half
of the highest number of votes polled at the last preceding general election in
said county.

   "That it was filed on the 11th of September, and is conclusive evidence that
such petition was made at least thirty days previous to the next ensuing general
election to be held in said county.

   "That the fact that the county seat is located in a town with two names is
immaterial, so long as the intent of your petitioners is understood and the
place designated to where it should be removed is sufficiently known; that, in
all respects, I believe the petitioners have complied with the law, under which
they claim the action of this board, and that there is no discretion in the case
which will warrant us in refusing to order the election. I would also call
attention to the liberal offer made by the St. Peter company, and the citizens
of St. Peter, by which, in time of great financial pressure, the county will be
relieved from the heavy taxation unavoidable in providing the necessary buildings."

   But the board was evidently of the opinion that the petition should be
disregarded, for, after much discussion, the vote resulted in favor of the
adoption of the majority report; there being eight in favor of, and three
against its rejection. In consequence, therefore, no election was ordered. Those
who voted in the affirmative were Briggs, Richardson, Huddleston, Schmahl, Huey,
Newman, Wollingford and Ryan; those voting in the negative, Howes, Coffin and
Sutherland.

   But the end was not yet attained, for, on September 28, Mr. Howes, the
chairman, read at a meeting of the board an order that had been served on him,
as chairman, from Judge Branson, judge of the Sixth district, requiring the
board to issue a notice for a vote to be taken on the removal of the county seat
to a point named in said petition, to-wit: St. Peter, forthwith.

   Mr. Sutherland then offered a resolution to have inserted in the notice that
the people vote on the removal. This was negatived, and subsequently Messrs.
Huey, Huddleston and Richardson, were appointed a committee to attend to the
matter and employ an attorney to appeal to the supreme court.

   But a piece of Napoleonic strategy rendered futile all opposition; for, at a
special meeting held October 14, the chairman of the board, A. T. Howes, who was
in favor of the contemplated removal, stated that he wished to read to the board
the following notice: "In the matter of Mr. Sutherland's motion, whereby it was
resolved that the board obey the order of the court and order an election for
the removal of the county seat, as prayed in the petition referred to, in said
resolution, the chairman of this board hereby declares said resolution adopted,
and will order such election, on the following grounds; said resolution was
approved, and an election ordered, by four members of this board, which number
is a majority of a quorum, and capable of doing business, and the votes in the
negative cannot be counted, and must be disregarded, having been given contrary
to the order of the court, and hence are null and void." This notice or
decision, the chairman requested should be placed on file by the clerk of the
board. Immediately after this, the chairman declared the board adjourned, sine
die by limitation.

   The notice was duly issued, and on October 12, 1858, the elections were held,
the result being 457 in favor of, and 301 against, the removal. The edifice
erected by the St. Peter company, at a cost of $5,000, known as the Convention
building, 40x60 feet, two stories, in size, was given as a bonus for securing
the removal.

   John Henderson, the register of deeds, lived then at Traverse des Sioux; A.
K. Skaro, the treasurer, and L. M. Boardman, the sheriff, both lived at St. Peter.

   To prevent any opposition to the actual removal, a number of persons went to
Traverse with a lumber wagon and quietly removed the books in the register's
possession and brought them to St. Peter. Subsequently to this, several houses
were moved bodily from the same place to the new county seat.

   The building used as a jail at Traverse des Sioux consisted of a stone
basement, which part was used for the detention of prisoners, over which was a
wooden house which George H. Raught used as a dwelling. In 1859, in settlement
of a claim of Raught's against the county, this structure, in its entirety, was
given him. Soon after the county seat was removed to St. Peter a jail was
constructed, at a cost of $2,000, of sawed lumber. From this two Indians
confined therein burned their way out, and about the only white person ever in
it, at a later date, effected his liberation by the same means. On January 8,
1870, a committee, consisting of William G. Hayden and Benjamin Rogers, was
appointed to select a site for a new jail, and to procure plans and specifications.

   On March 12, following, Charles Wetherell, H. C. Hanson and William G. Hayden
were appointed a committee to adopt plans and specifications, and were
authorized to contract for the erection of a jail, the expense of which was not
to exceed $5,000. A contract was entered into and a building erected, in every
way fitted for its special purpose, the cost of which largely exceeded the
limits first assigned. On June 15, 1874, iron cells were put in, at an expense
of $5,000.

   March 10, 1867, the county purchased 260 acres of land, occupied as a farm by
Christian Roos, in Granby, for a poor farm, and erected thereon buildings at a
cost of $1,800. The present poor house was built in June, 1870.

   The following articles of agreement entered into in 1869, between the
supervisors and Josiah Horner, appear to be the first public need of any
measures being taken for the care of paupers. In these articles Josiah Homer
agreed with the supervisors to take and furnish "Napoleon Brisbo, a lunatic and
pauper, with wholesome food, clothing and lodging for the space of one year, for
the sum of $300, to be paid monthly, at the rate of $25 per month." He also
agreed to take and keep all paupers, other than the one above mentioned, and all
those who may become paupers in Nicollet county during the space of one year
from date of agreement, and furnish them all necessary food, clothing and
lodging for the sum of $12.50 per month.

   The first official action taken with regard to the erection of the present
handsome court house, was at the January session of 1880. Work was commenced in
the spring of the same year, and the building was completed and first occupied
in July, 1881. It is a well built structure, of large size, with commodious and
convenient offices, constructed of brick with stone basement, the cost of which
was nearly $27,000.

   July 30, 1853, a license was granted to William B. Dodd, to establish and
maintain a ferry for the term of two years, extending one-half mile above and
below the town of Rock Bend, on the payment of $10 per annum for the privilege.

   October 3, 1850, a license to establish and maintain a ferry at Traverse des
Sioux was granted to G. A. McLeod, the right extending only as far as his
premises extended. Subsequent licenses for ferries were- granted to B. Marrion
and Martin McLeod, as agents for G. A. McLeod, opposite McLeod's warehouse; to
A. J. Myrick, at the mouth of the Cottonwood river; J. W. Babcock, opposite his
claim; John Donnelly, at a point between section lines 33 and 28, in town 111,
range 26; Ambrose Kennedy, across the Minnesota river at Traverse des Sioux;
Frank A. Dapolter, at the point known as Engineer's Landing.

   The first railroad communication with Nicollet county was afforded by the St.
Paul & Sioux City, which was extended to East St. Peter in 1868. The Winona &
St. Peter railroad bridge and track was completed in the spring of 1871. The
bridge is 2,400 feet in length and cost $130,000. The first train crossed May 5,
1871.

   Among the first things attended to by the first board of county commissioners
was to provide educational facilities for the children of the settlers.

   The first school district comprised the entire county, but such progress was
made in settlement that by the spring of 1859, there were fifteen school
districts, in which the total number of scholars was 732. School apportionment
made in October, 1881, which allowed Nicollet county $3,195.50, at the rate of
$1.10 for every scholar enrolled, the number of scholars would be 2,905. These
figures represent those actually deserving education. There are now fifty-two
school districts in the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of the Minnesota Valley
Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Co. (1882)


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