Nobles County MN Archives History - Books .....Chapter III Under Colony Rule - 1872 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 30, 2006, 10:39 pm Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County CHAPTER III. UNDER COLONY RULE-1872. A new epoch begins. We have seen Nobles county grow from an unpopulated and unknown country in the early days of 1867 to a community of some little importance in the closing days of 1871. Remarkable had been the changes wrought in less than five years. But how much more remarkable is the story of advancement we have to record for the year 1872. During that one year a revolution was accomplished. Where were found a possible 300 or 400 men, women and children at the close of 1871, one year later were living nearly that many thousands. Nobles county had advanced from one of the least known and least settled counties in southwestern Minnesota to a populous and the most talked of county in the state. Everybody was headed for Nobles county. In hundreds of homes in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and ether eastern and central states people were discussing the new county-its soil, its climate, its prospects-and planning to cast their lot there. In the office of the Toledo Blade, in Toledo, Ohio, was born the idea that brought about this abnormal interest in the heretofore unknown county .of Nobles. It was during the year 1871. There were present when the matter was first discussed D. R. Locke (Petroleum V. Nasby), Prof. R. F. Humiston, of Cleveland, Dr. A. P. Miller, editor of the Blade, and A. P. Miller, also connected with that publication.[1] The idea was to organize a company for the purpose of locating a colony of settlers in some western country. The name first proposed was Blade colony, but before an organization was perfected the name became National colony. Miller, Humiston & Company was the name of the company which conducted the colony enterprise. Prof. R. F. Humiston and Dr. A. P. Miller were the gentlemen who owned the majority of the stock, and upon them devolved the management. These gentlemen had no place selected in which to plant their proposed colony, and they immediately set out to select one. They traveled over 20,000 miles,[2] examining the country from Missouri to the Red River country, and from Iowa to Utah. In a happy moment they wandered into Nobles county, and were so struck with the beauty of the location, the fertility of the soil and the prospect for an immediate and convenient market for the products of the soil that negotiations were at once opened with the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company, with a view to securing the railroad lands in Nobles county for their colonization purposes. An agreement resulted, by the terms of which Messrs. Miller and Humiston secured, upon advantageous terms, control of the railroad lands [3] (odd numbered sections) in twelve townships in Nobles county and three and one-half townships adjoining, in Osceola county, Iowa. The contract was, closed in the fall of 1871. Almost immediately settlers began arriving, as has been stated in the preceding chapter. Most of these secured claims on government land, and then returned to their homes for the winter. The colony company laid its plans on an elaborate scale. Almost as soon as the contract was signed the village of Worthington was founded, as a base from which to operate. During the winter the company carried on an advertising campaign, which for thoroughness has seldom been equalled in the history of colonization projects. It was liberal, but judicious. By this means the company came into correspondence with thousands of persons who were interested in the scheme. [4] A few came on at once and wintered in the new settlement; the many waited until spring. Then came the deluge. In the spring of 1872 hundreds flocked to Worthington and took up adjoining lands. The government lands within a radius of eight or ten miles of the town were soon taken, and many had settled at other more remote points in the county. Much of the railroad, or colony, land was also quickly disposed of and passed into the hands of people who had come to make their homes here. Miller, Humiston & Co. expended between $40,000 and $50,000 in locating the colonists and in setting on foot enterprises designed to found a prosperous community. An idea of the settlement of the year is gained when it is known that between 10,000 and 20,000 acres of raw prairie land were broken out. Between five hundred and seven hundred families arrived during the year, and many others purchased shares, took claims, and made preparations to come later. [5] The settlers were a homogenous class, being nearly, or quite, all American born, and with the current of their religious faith flowing calmly down between the banks of an observably narrow, but strikingly orthodox, stream. The evangelical denominations were all represented, with Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist churches leading in point of numbers. The colony was organized upon a temperance basis. The authorities determined that no alcoholic or intoxicating beverages, of whatever kind or character, should, under any circumstances, be sold within the limits of the purchase. This feature was made a strong point in the advertising, and attracted a people who were strong in their religious and temperance beliefs. The standard of morality was high (particularly so for a new community), and the courage and pluck of the first settlers is beyond question. The colony company operated in Nobles county until the spring of 1876, when it withdrew. The terrible grasshopper scourge had practically bankrupted its promoters. Litigation overwhelmed Prof. Humiston, and the earnings of a lifetime were swept away. When disaster overtook the company its liberal policy toward the settlers became a thing of the past, and there was dissatisfaction expressed in some quarters because of the policy of the National colony's managers. The conditions as they were during the active life of the company were summed up by the Windom Reporter of May, 1876, from which the following is taken: Local jealousy may have made some of us look upon the colony enterprise with considerable prejudice, yet it is due to Prof. Humiston to say that he has accomplished a great deal for his town and county, and in a great measure his work and sacrifice are overlooked. He has spent probably not less than $50,000, the earnings of his lifetime, and we infer has become seriously involved in his attempts to develop Nobles county and build up a model community. To accomplish this end he has spared nothing. He has been first in most of the enterprises inaugurated in Worthington, giving of his resources freely, if not lavishly, to make successful the numerous enterprises that have from time to time called for assistance; the more public enterprises, the mill, the church, Miller hall, and kindred projects* have in him met with the same generous and unselfish spirit. No doubt that to him the three magnificent institutions are indebted for life and success. He has induced hundreds, of dollars of capital to invest at Worthington, and we guess that hardly a citizen but has derived more profit from his expenditures than he himself. His time and money have gone to build up the material prosperity of "Okabena," with a prospective view of profit in the future, to be derived from the sale of railroad lands. Others have thrived and prospered, while he has become somewhat involved in litigation as the result of his personal enterprise and indomitable determination to either sink or swim with his colony. The professor has made many investments, and large ones, thought by many at the time to be injudicious and impracticable, but what would have resulted if the grasshopper had not visited us no one can fell; probably he would have met with better success, but having started, he was determined to go through with the undertaking if it took the last dollar. He has not worked without opposition, encountering it at home and in the neighboring towns, but he has worked for his life's idol against it all with an energy and perseverance that we certainly respect, and no doubt this is often overlooked by many who have cause to remember his devotion to home prosperity. Professor Humiston has done more to build up a barren and wild country than any one man in this part of the state. He has been the direct means of drawing to Nobles county a great amount of wealth, a refined and intelligent community. . . . Had it not been for the three years of grasshopper visitation the growth of this part of the state would have progressed, and prosperity would have abounded on every hand; then we could have seen whether Prof. Humiston's schemes were practicable, but since devastation has been our lot it is surprising that Mr. Humiston has come out as lucky as he has. [6] In giving the history of the National colony and its operations the chronological order of events has been interrupted. To return to the early days of 1872. The winter was quite severe. A heavy fall of snow in the early part of the season blockaded the railroads and it was very difficult to obtain provisions for the settlers, many of whom were poorly provided therewith; in fact there were times when money would not buy provisions, and the man with money was in no better position than his less fortunate neighbor.[7] The exigencies of the times were increased because of disasters to some of the settlers during the year 1871 from prairie fires and hail. Governor Austin, early in February, 1872, sent a check for $100 to the county commissioners to be divided among the needy.[8] There were several applications for portions of this state relief fund, and on March 13 it was apportioned as follows: Nelson Coyour, $25.00; John H. Anscomb, $21.50; Irwin S. Swan, $17.50; H. D. Bookstaver, $15.00. The remainder of the money, $22.00, was given to R. L. Erskine on April 30. Nobles county was called upon for the first time, in 1872, to furnish jurors for the district court of Jackson county, to which it was attached for judicial purposes. The following were selected by the board of county commissioners on January 10: Grand Jurors-Orange H. Chapman, Isaac Horton, H. D. Bookstaver, Prank Tucker, B. W. Woolstencroft, A. A. Abbott, A. A. Allen, Warren Fish; Peter Swarwout, H. W. Kimball, J. W. Miller, H. Berreau. Petit Jurors-John Weston, Henry Brayton, H. C. Hallett, Albert Haggard, Byron Brain, E. W. Branch, H. L. Wallace, Henry P. Davis, Anton Nelson, William Rhinehart, W. H. Booth, John Hart. Although the railroad had been completed to Worthington in the fall of 1871, and it had been the intention of the company to begin the operation of trains at once, it was the spring of 1872 before regular service was established. The heavy snows kept the road covered nearly all winter. Occasionally during the winter a construction train would get through, but not often. The first passenger train arrived in Worthington April 16, and thereafter there was regular service. The road was opened to Sioux City in the fall. The coming of the railroad brought about a change in mail facilities. In the spring of 1872 the old mail route from Jackson to Sioux Falls, via Graham lakes, was discontinued, so far as that portion east of Worthington was concerned. The mail was now brought by rail to Worthington, and an overland route from that village to Sioux Falls was established. Philo Hawes, that pioneer mail contractor, was given the contract, and "Stormy Jack" Grier was employed to carry the mail. Along this route came into existence a number of country postoffices and stage stations. In Nobles county were three such. The first out of Worthington was Dewald postoffice, located on section 20, Dewald township, less than a mile from the present village of Rushmore. J. B. Churchill was the postmaster.[9] Hebbard postoffice was on section 20, Olney township, one mile east of the present village of Adrian. It was known as the Childs' place. The third postoffice was named Westside, and was on section 18, of what is now Westside township. [10] Renselear Simmons was postmaster. Because there was an enormous immigration to the county in 1872 and the whole order of things was changed, it must not be imagined that the country was changed in a day. Most of the settlers arrived too late to get a crop in the ground, and very little was raised the first season. Except for the fact that the prairies became dotted with the homes of settlers, it was largely the same virgin country it had always been. The game lover found himself in a paradise. Birds abounded. There were ducks, wild geese, brant, curlew, pelican and prairie chickens. The local poet wrote: "Fleets on fleets of ducks float 'round the lake." Occasionally glimpses were caught of some of the big game that formerly roamed the prairies in vast numbers. The summer was fine. The days and nights were frequently glorified by thunder storms of terrific and ineffable grandeur. At night the colonists often sat till midnight watching the frolic of sheet-lightning playing over miles of cloud banks, vividly suggesting the possible glories of another world. Vegetation grew rank. The farmer rode along the creek bottoms or on the edges of the lakes and sloughs through seas of wild bluejoint grass up to the horses' backs. It was the experience of a lifetime, this breaking up the virgin lands and building a community from the ground up, and many have been the probable and improbable stories told of those days. Letters went back to the old homes in the east telling of how the colonists planted corn with an ax and caught fish with a pitchfork, and how the pianos were set up in the shanty and the library stacked up under the bed. Of the conditions and prospects, as viewed by those who were casting their lot in the new country, the following extract from an article appearing in the Western Advance of Aug. 31, 1872, will give an idea: . . . But, railroad center or not, we are in the midst of one of the finest agricultural regions on the globe. The vast prairie rolls out on every side, covered with luxuriant grass, and we have only to put in the plow and reap the crop, to tickle it with the hoe, and it will laugh with the harvest. No clearing, ditching, grubbing or stone gathering to be done here, but simple, beautiful farming, where the improved agricultural implements can be used, and the farmer can sit aloft in the shade and direct his team to a competence or a fortune. Of course hard work can and needs be done here as elsewhere, but the farmer can acquire an independence here with one-fourth the labor and one-fourth the time required in districts where clearing is to be done. The government lands have been nearly all taken, but there will be for the first year or two claims to be had at moderate figures. In some instances they have sold high, according to the value of the location or the judgment of the purchaser. In^ some cases they are held as high for cash as the railroad lands are held on five years time. The railroad lands around* the town are gradually selling off, and by next year a large amount will undoubtedly be sold to men of means. The advertisements of the colony company throughout the eastern states are daily attracting the attention of substantial men who are writing for information or visiting the colony in person. To show the estimate that is put upon the value of certain lands about Worthington, we may state that one gentleman has refused one hundred dollars an acre for land fronting on the shore of lake Okabena, and lands have been sold, a mile west from town, and fronting on the lake, for thirty dollars an acre. Another tract of ten acres has been applied for, and the owner asks fifty dollars an acre and will not take a cent less. But abundance of good farming land can be had within from one and a half to three miles of town at from eight dollars to ten dollars an acre. In some instances government land may be had for less. The bulk of the settlement of 1872 was in the eastern and southern part of the county, in that portion most accessible to the railroad. In nine of the townships the population had reached a point where the residents desired township organization. Each of the townships of Worthington, Bigelow, Hersey, Grant (Ransom), Fairview (Lorain), Dewald, Little Rock, Elk and Seward, in the order named, asked for the privilege of organizing, and in each case the request was granted by the county commissioners. All held meetings, elected officers, and entered upon township government. The greatest settlement in the county was in and around the village of Worthington, and the people of that community were the first to circulate a petition asking for the organization of their township. The petition was filed March 30, 1872, and was signed by the following residents: William B. Moore, E. R. Humiston, J. B. Haines, Jr., J. C. Goodnow, J. A. Jones, W. B. Akins, J. M. Brown, J. N. Lemon, R. J. Cunding, B. P. Wickerstam, L. F. McLaurin, J. N. Fron, C. P. Hewitt, A. L. Perkins, W. S. Stockdale, E. D. Southy, V. J. South, H. W. Kimball, H. P. Davis, J. W. Stonaker, W. H. Willmarth, W. R. Lawrence, Levi Shell, Daniel Shell, Samuel Leslie, R. D. Barber, Erastus Church, C. C. Goodnow, H. G. Foster, C. H. Stewart. On April 30 the commissioners granted the petition and named the new township Worthington, after the village of the same name.[11] On the 20th day of May following the first town meeting was held, and from that time dates the official existence of the township of Worthington. The request for the organization of the township lying south of Worthington came on April 29, the petition being signed by James Maloney, Nels N. Langseth, Hans Nystrom, Charles John Wickstrom, Lars Elofson, P. A. Wickstrom, C. A. Tillander, Peter Larson, Ole Nystrom, Peter Nystrom, Erick Mahlberg, Lars Erickson, P. G. Swanson and L. P. Hardow. They asked that it be called Ocheeda township, but the following day, when the commissioners granted the petition, they named the township Bigelow, after the railroad station of that name in the township.[12] The first town meeting was held May 20, the same day that Worthington township was organized. Hersey [13] was the next to begin township government. The petition was filed May 14, the board created the township May 30, and the first town meeting was held June 11. The signers to the petition were Geo. W. Pyne, William Grono, A. A. Parsons, D. Haffey, W. R. Bennett, John Manley, Chas. Frisbie, A. O. Conde, A. J. Timlin, Matthew Smith, Chas. Smith, Jos. S. Thurston, Wm. H. Berger, P. Haffey, Neil McIhreavie and Matthew Smyth. The townships of Grant, Fairview, Dewald and Little Rock. were all created by the county commissioners on September 3, and the dates for the first town meetings, as set by the commissioners, were September 20. The people of Grant were the first to present the petition. It was filed June 14 and was signed by the following settlers: John H. Scott, Joseph Hill, T. J. Belknap, R. H. Belknap, H. Nelson, Richard Prideaux, Benjamin Midboe, A. C. Guernsey, Leroy Cole, B. F. Condgon, D. K. Gordon, Geo. M. Smith, S. I.. W. Alen, M. S. Belknap. The first settlers of the township were mostly veterans of the civil war, and at their request the name Grant was given the township in honor of the great commander. For nearly a year that was the name. Then it was found that there was another township in the state with that name, and on July 10, 1873, the commissioners re-named the township Ransom, in honor of Prof. Ransom F. Humiston, one of the founders of the National colony. This was done by the commissioners without consulting the wishes of the people of the township. [14] The petition for the organization of Fairview township was circulated July 5, and was signed by Richard D. Bagley, Albert Haggard, Lafayette Strever, A. A. Burton, Win. F. Hamilton, Alfred Small, William Madison, James Hazard, Jeremiah Lynch, William Dedgon, P. Ulveling, Stephen Horake, Joseph Horake, H. McCollum. The topographical features furnished the name Fairview, which it bore until June 15, 1874. Then the name was changed to Lorain, after the town of Loraine, Adams county, Ill., the superfluous "e" being dropped. [15] The Dewald township petition was filed July 15 with the following signers: Amos Dewald, Jos. S. Randall, Edmund Bedford, Nathaniel Childs, Benjamin T. Ross, C. D. Snow, A. B. McChord, Jonas Bedford, R. W. Miller, N. O. Miller, Robert J. Daugherty, C. T. Shattuc, Thos. Wilson, Samuel F. Pepple, G. Grover Stoddard, P. A. Stoddard, J. B. Churchill, Hiram Dewald, Solon Haughton, Wm. R. Lawrence. The name was given in honor of Amos and Hiram Dewald, pioneer settlers.[16] The petition for the formation of Little Rock township was presented August 24 and was signed by the following settlers: Ole C. Peterson, C. C. Peterson, Knute T. Thompson, Hans Paulson, P. Harrison, Hans Solberg, Hans Jensen, Edward E. Field, Christian Solberg, Hans N. Dahl, Gunder D. Tinnes, Willam R. Queine, Gullick, Knute Thompson, J. D. Roberts, Henry Faragher, W. H. Bostic, E. S. Wickerre, D. M. Sweet, W. R. Faragher, Wm. Colvin, Wm. W. Jenkins, T. A. Bunker, Sylvester Jenkins, and G. Gullickson. The creek which flows through the township and its physical features furnished the name. Elk township was created September 16, the same day the petition was filed, and a short time afterward .the government was begun. Those who asked for its formation were W. B. Akins, T. L. Taylor, R. B. Plotts, John P. Warner, Henry Baldwin, Chas. Wilkinson, Isaac Allerton, M. L. Miller, T. D. Fowble, Gamaliel Scutt, Allen McLean, R. E. Covey and S. P. Bon. The noble animal which once roamed the prairies of the future Elk township prompted the name. The creek which flows through the township had been named Elk by the early day trappers, and it was partly because of the name the creek bore and partly because of another event that caused the first settlers there to ask that the new town be called Elk. On the morning of September 6, 1872, a lone elk came across the prairie and close to the house of T. L. Taylor, sniffed at the unexpected sight, and bounded away. Ten days later when the petition was presented to the board of county commissioners Mr. Taylor suggested the name. Elk for the new township, and upon a vote it was adopted. Several other names, including McLean, were proposed. Seward was the last township organized in 1872. The petition was filed September 28, and had the following signers: Wm. W. Cosper, M. Hill, Hiram Jankee, Jonas Parshall, Wm. Sowles, Geo. Parshall, Philo Snyder, James Parshall, Julius Westinghouse, John P. Vail, J. E. Walling, John Weston, R. B. Linderman, C. Charles Johnson, Horace Will, William H. Booth, H. N. Booth, Edward B. Cook and Phineas Gager. The commissioners acted favorably in the matter, and the first town meeting was set for October 30. The township was named in honor of William H. Seward, the noted statesman and secretary of state under President Lincoln during the civil war. The first Nobles county assessment was made in 1872, the officials having neglected to make a levy the year before. A tax of fifteen mills was levied for the use of the county, of which ten mills was "for the general use of the county," and five mills "for the payment of the floating debt and interest of the county."[17] The assessment as equalized by the county board showed a valuation of over $150,000, of which $63,815.13 was real estate. The real estate assessment was as follows: No. Acres Average Aggregate Value Value City Total Value TOWNSHIPS except Value Real Property Lots and of Real Town Lots per Acre Land Buildings Buildings Estate Graham Lakes 1379+ $5.94+ $8,197.00 $8,197.00 Indian Lake 629+ 4.38+ 2,763.20 2,763.20 Worthington 1772 7.88+ 13,979.29 $35,200.00 49,179.29 Bigelow 166+ 4.00 665.24 665.24 Hersey 318+ 5.50+ 1,750.40 $300 2,050.40 1st Assessment Dist 2nd Assessment Dist 160 6.00 960.00 960.00 Totals 4425+ $6.39+ $28,315.13 $300 $35,200.00 $63,815.13 At the time the assessment was made only five townships had been organized. was divided into two assessment districts. The personal property valuations were divided among the several townships as follows: TOWNSHIPS Total Valuation Amount Exempted Taxable Property Graham Lakes $14,218 $10,180 $4,038 Indian Lake 10,123 6,478 3,645 Worthington 29,166 23,742 5,424 Bigelow 6,659 3,914 2,745 Hersey 10,384 6,144 4,240 1st Assessment Dist 753 453 700 2nd Assessment Dist 19,357 11,249 8,108 Totals $90,660 $62,160 $28,500 The number and value of livestock by townships is shown in the following table: HORSES CATTLE MULES SHEEP HOGS TOWNSHIPS No. Value No. Value No. Value No. Value No. Value Graham Lakes 39 $2,940 173 $3,574 4 $400 2 $4 28 $82 Indian Lake 39 2,403 147 2,662 4 310 1 3 17 71 Worthington 42 2,785 63 1,413 9 24 Bigelow 12 733 81 1,337 2 100 7 19 Hersey 21 1,380 91 2,334 1 2 1st Assessment Dist 2 200 12 236 2nd Assessment Dist 79 3,685 245 5,530 10 210 27 37 15 39 Totals 234 $14,126 812 $17,086 20 $1,020 30 $44 77 $237 The other items of personal property assessed, and their value, were as follows: Sixteen carriages $595 Sixty-nine watches 957 Three pianos 466 All personal property not included in foregoing 17,690 Appertaining to merchandise 13,010 Appertaining to manufacturing 711 Moneys, book accounts, credits, etc. 2,506 Moneys invested in bonds and joint stock companies 500 Gold and silver coin and bank notes in possession or on deposit 4,494 Value of improvements on and interest of the claimant in lands entered under homestead act 16,328 Under the provisions of a state law, townships were given the privilege of deciding whether or not license for the sale of intoxicating liquors should be granted, and at the general election on Nov. 5, 1872, several of the Nobles county townships voted on the question. The class of people who came as members of the colony were such that it is not surprising that nearly all the voters registered against the licensing of saloons, and that all townshps voting decided the question in the negative. Following is the vote: Dewald, 17 to 0; Little Rock, 15 to 4; Bigelow, 23 to 1; Hersey, 8 to 0; Indian Lake, 10 to 2. Another question decided at that election related to a proposed change in the county's boundaries. The legislature on February 29 passed two bills-one providing that range 38 (four townships on the western edge) should be taken from Jackson county and attached to Nobles; the other that range 43 (the present townships of Leota, Lismore, Westside and Grand Prairie) should be taken from Nobles and added to Rock county. Neither act was to be put in force until both counties interested in each case should, by a majority vote, ratify the acts. The proposition was almost a farce. In order to add the Jackson county townships to Nobles county both the counties must vote in the affirmative. Nobles county naturally favored the bill, but just as naturally Jackson county voted not to give away any of its territory. In order to give to Rock county the western tier of Nobles county townships, both these counties must so vote. Of course Rock county voted almost unanimosly to make the change, but in Nobles only eleven electors were found who favored the surrender of territory. The vote of Nobles county by precincts on these propositions: Taking Range 38 Giving Range 43 TOWNSHIPS For Against For Against Dewald 17 1 16 Little Rock 5 14 20 Grant* Seward 13 13 Graham Lakes 29 1 3 25 Fairview 19 20 Bigelow 9 16 25 Hersey 10 6 2 23 Elk 13 1 12 Indian Lake 24 29 Worthington 25 29 4 68 Totals 121 109 11 251 * Vote not recorded ENDNOTES [1] There were two men who took a prominent part in the early history of Nobles county who bore the name A. P. Miller, but who were not related. The one who asisted in establishing the colony is referred to as Dr. A. P. Miller in all places in this volume. The other A. P.Miller. who was for many years publisher of the Worthington Advance, is referred to without any title. [2] Worthington Advance, Sept. 26, 1874. [3] Which had been acquired from the government under the land grant. [4] In making the personal interviews for the preparation of this work I invariably asked each pioneer settler how it happened that he came to Nobles county. In nine cases out of ten the answer has been that it was because of the National colony advertising. The advertisements and "readers" had been seen in the Toledo Blade or other papers patronized, or the settler had had his attention called to the project by some friend who had read the advertisements. [5] Minneapolis Tribune, Aug. 25, 1872. [6] For sketch of the life of Prof. Humiston see the biographical section. [7] "It was no uncommon thing," a gentleman of the early days has written, "to see children of all ages running barefoot during the coldest days of winter. A gentleman who lived in Graham lakes informed me that he had seen a boy skating on the ice barefoot, and he seemed to enjoy the sport." [8] Treasurer Board of Commissioners, Noble County. "Sir: Please find check for $100, a donation from the relief fund to sufferers by fire or hail in the county of Noble. I recommend the investment of this sum and an equal amount donated by the county in such supplies as will afford to destitute settlers the most relief. And that the county board distribute the supplies at once. Trusting that every effort will be made to do good, and prevent abuses, I place the matter in their hands., Please acknowledge receipt on behalf of the county. "HORACE AUSTIN, "Per Wallace." [9] Mr. Churchill located there in March, 1872. Early in 1873 he established a small store and stopping place, which was known as the 10-Mile house. [10] Mr. Hawes retired Jan. 1, 1874, when Daniel Shell secured the contract, and for five years thereafter he conducted the mail, express and passenger business over the line. During the first two years he had only two rigs, and made the trip three times a week. Thereafter trips were made daily, the 68 miles being made on a ten hour schedule. By the time the contract expired Mr. Shell had fifty horses on the route, and the rigs were drawn by four horse teams. He had barns at Child's place, at Luverne, and at Valley Springs, S. D., where changes were made. James McRobert, now of Ellsworth, and Leonard McClintock, now an engineer on the Omaha road, were drivers on this route during all the time Mr. Shell was the contractor. After trains were put in operation between Worthington and Luverne, the contract for carrying the mail between those two places was sublet to the railroad company. There was a big rush to Rock county and the Sioux Falls country after the railroad building was begun, and during the time Mr. Shell operated his coaches only from the end of the railroad at Luverne to Sioux Falls, he did an immense business. His passenger list sometimes ran as high as 75 or 100 per day. [11] For the history of the adoption of the name Worthington for the village see chapter 12. [12] The station had been named in honor of C. H. Bigelow, of St. Paul. [13] The township took its name from the station of Hersey (now Brewster), which had been named in honor of General S. F. Hersey. [14] Mr. Robert Shore furnishes a number of items concerning the early days in Ransom township: "The first settlers in the town of Ransom were John H. Scott, D. K. Gordon and Joe Hill, who came together from Tama county, Iowa, in September, 1871, and took adjoining claims on section 24. At that time there was not a settler within miles of them. Mr. Scott and Mr. Gordon, with their wives, spent the winter of 1871-72 in the same house; and during that dreary winter, in that lone shanty on the prairie, far from neighbors and friends, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon their first born, a boy (Edward),-the first birth in what is now Ransom township. As this was before the town was organized, there is no mention of it in the town records. The first birth on record is that of Mary Scott, daughter of John H. and Sarah A. Scott, born September 27, 1872. "The first town meeting was held at the house of M. S. Belknap on section 14, Saturday, September 21, 1872. Dr. Geo. O. Moore, justice of the peace, of Worthington. was present and swore in as judges of election F. W. Burdette, M. S. Belknap and H. R. Gray, and Leroy Cole as clerk. At the election which followed seventeen votes were cast by the following named persons: A. C. Guernsey. D. K. Gordon, M. S. Belknap, John H. Scott, L. S. Roberts, F. W. Burdette, Anthony Mutter. Leroy Cole. R. Prideaux, Cole Guernsey. J. R. Dewey, James H. Hill, Geo. M. Smith. H. R. Gray, Hiram Norton, B. F. Congdon, S. I. W. Alen. "When the votes were counted it was found that the following persons had been chosen as first town officers of the town of Ransom: H. R. Gray, chairman of the board of supervisors; M. S. Belknap and A. C. Guernsey, supervisors: Leroy Cole, clerk; D. K. Gordon, treasurer; John H. Scott, assessor; F. F. Burdette and B. F. Congdon, constables; F. W. Burdette and Geo. M. Smith, justices of the peace. Of the men who were elected town officers at the first election, but one remains with us in Nobles county today, John H. Scott, who may also be said to be the first settler in the township. Of the seventeen who voted at the first town meeting four only are in Nobles county today: John H. Scott, Cole Guernsey, R. Prideaux and J. R. Dewey. What memories are called up by the mention of some of these names! Of the seventeen who voted at the first election in Ransom, four remain; where are the rest? Some have gone to their long home, and the rest are scattered to the four winds. Many left us on account of the struggle and poverty of those early days. In those times of grasshoppers, of blight and of blizzards, no wonder that men's hearts failed them. "I have endeavored to make a list of those who were neighbors in Ransom during the very early days. The list I have no doubt is far from perfect, but it is the best I could make at present: Settlers of 1871-John H. Scott. D. K. Gordon, Joe Hill. Settlers of 1872 -Leroy Cole, A. C. Guernsey, Cole Guernsey, M. S. Belknap, R. H. Belknap, H. R. Gray, F. W. Burdette. F. F. Burdette, R. Prideaux, C. W. W. Dow. S. I. W. Alen, L. S. Roberts, Hiram Norton, Anthony Mutter, J. R. Dewey, Geo. M. Smith, B. F. Congdon, Robert Shore, Thomas Jay, Geo. Jay, Frank Lane, John Lane, D. Davis, Jerry Twomey, D. C. Holmes, Dan Twitchell. David Twitchell, Waters, C. Chamberlain, H. Toms, Hoff, G. Rhone, Farnham, Lewis Larson, Hans Nelson, Gould, Bowers. Settlers of 1873-Geo. W. Dow, Geo. W. Miner. Settlers of 1874-I. N. Wilson, Wm. Clark. Other years-E. W. Goff. James Goff, P. McCann." [15] A communication from the state auditor was presented, stating that older towns in the state bore the names of New Haven, Wilson and Fairview, and requesting that the names of said towns be changed in conformity to law. The following names, by request of residents of towns, were changed by the commissioners: New Haven to Olney; Wilson to Akin [later Summit Lake]; and Fairview to Lorain."-Commissioners' Journal, June 15, 1874. [16] The Dewalds and John Churchill came to the township together in April. 1872, and were the first permanent settlers. They were followed almost immediately by Messrs. Robert Daugherty, S. F. Pepple, Aaron Lambert, Solon Houghton. Sherlie, Joe Mason, Joe Poots, W. R. D. McChord, A. B. McChord, Richard Berggraf, Tom Childs, Sam Childs and Chas. A. Sundberg. [17] Commissioners' Journal, Sept. 16, 1872. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/history/1908/anillust/chapteri8gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 38.2 Kb