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

SIBLEY COUNTY.

CHAPTER LVIII.

DESCRIPTION-BOUNDARIES-SETTLEMENT-VALUATION.

   Looking back, over a period of twenty-nine years, Sibley county of to-day
occupies but a small area as compared to the territory then embraced within its
limits. While it was recognized by the territorial legislature of 1852, it was
not until March, 5, 1853, that it was officially created and the limits
established. The bill then passed by the legislature gave the following boundary
lines: Beginning at the northwest corner of Hennepin county; thence up the north
fork of Crow river to its second fork; thence in a direct line to the mouth of
Rush river; thence down the Minnesota river to Hennepin county; thence along the
line of said county to the place of beginning. The same act provided that it
should be attached to Hennepin county for judicial purposes. At each of the
subsequent sessions of the legislature, the boundary lines were diminished and
changed, and the present limits established in March, 1856, as follows: Bounded
on the north by Renville, McLeod and Carver counties, on the east by the
Minnesota river, south by Nicollet and west by Renville counties. It contains
fifteen complete and two fractional townships, named in the order of their
organization, Henderson, Kelso, Arlington, Jessenland, Faxon, Washington Lake,
Green Isle, New Auburn, Dryden, Sibley, Transit, Alfsborg, Severance, Cornish,
Grafton, Bismark and Moltke. The name "Sibley" was chosen in honor of that
worthy pioneer, General H. H. Sibley.

   Before introducing the early settler, building of towns, schools and
churches, which follow and depend one upon the other, like links to the chain, a
glance at the topography of the county will better explain the irregularity of
its development.

   With a gently undulating surface it enjoys the advantages of prairie and
woodland; a rich, deep, loamy soil, and a never failing water supply from
numerous deep clear water lakes, Island creek, Rush and the Minnesota rivers. Of
the numerous lakes so systematically distributed through the various townships,
as if designed for the especial benefit of the husbandman, New Auburn, in the
township of the same name, is the largest, and owing to the fact that a wooded
elevated island occupies its center, the most beautiful. It is nearly five miles
in length with irregular wooded shores, and covers over fifteen hundred acres.
The next in size is Swan lake, in the town of Severance, covering eleven hundred
acres, with a strong alkali water, marshy shores, and but few fish. Tit-low lake
in Dryden is next in size, covering one thousand acres; its shores are elevated
and covered with oak and butternut timber. Then follow Severance, in Green Isle,
covering a surface of eight hundred acres; Silver, in Jessenland, six hundred
acres; Lake Washington, in Washington Lake, six hundred acres; Bucks, in
Grafton, three hundred and fifty acres; Indian in Transit, two hundred and fifty
acres; Alkali, in Moltke; Cottonwood, in Cornish, and Cummings in Alfsborg, all
have a surface extent of about two hundred acres each. A majority of these lakes
are well stocked with all kinds of fish usual to Minnesota waters.

   Four townships, Jessenland, Faxon, Washington Lake and Green Isle are heavily
timbered, and Henderson, Arlington and New Auburn are two-thirds timberland, the
south-western portion of each being prairie.

   The balance of the county, with the exception of a few groves and scattering
trees about the lakes, is prairie, where there are many boggy marshes, which in
early days, before roads were graded and corduroys laid, baffled the efforts of
pioneers to open the country; we therefore find the first signs of civilization
in the eastern portion, near that natural roadway, the Minnesota river, where
attractions are not wanting to command the eye and attention of the adventurer.
High, irregular bluffs, broken by deep gorges, here reaching out into the valley
with rounded, grassy heads; there clothed in garments of ancient oak and elm;
again, gradually receding plateaus, following one upon another, all unite in one
harmonious effect. This, in brief, is a picture of the county thirty years ago,
only shorn of the privatians and perils of a wild country.

   The first settlers of Sibley county were two French Canadians from St. Paul
named Hyacinthe Camiraud and Esdras Beleveau, who came up from St. Paul, landing
May 12, 1852, at Henderson, on what some one has said was the only dry spot they
could find, as their coming was at the time of a great flood. Although these men
established a sort of shop and set up a turning lathe, this settlement was
insignificant, and only deserves notice from the fact that it was first. Claims
were made and trees blazed by prospectors who came up on the Black Oak, as did
Thomas Doheny, July 9, 1852. He made a claim for himself, and blazed trees for a
dozen more, and returned.

   August 23, 1852, a man landed in the county destined to become an important
factor in its organization and growth. This man was Joseph R. Brown, the pioneer
town-builder of Minnesota. He was a prodigy rarely met with. We find him first
as a drummer boy with the troops that came up the river in 1819 to build Fort
Snelling. Thrown upon the world after his honorable discharge from the army, he
looked about him and at once took in the situation, exhibiting a shrewdness of
insight into affairs unequalled by any of his compeers. At Gray Cloud Island, at
Stillwater, or Dakota, as he called the town site which he caused to become the
county seat of St. Croix county, he was the important man. His political career
began in this county by his election to the council of the Fifth territorial
legislature from the sixth precinct, of which this county formed a part. It will
not be possible here to review his checkered career as trader, legislator and
journalist. Here he was a speculator. Disappointed in obtaining a contract for
the government road from St. Anthony Falls to the western boundaries of Sibley
county, he determined to build a road more useful for transportation from St.
Paul to the agency which was to be located on the Indian reservation, and to
Fort Ridgely, about to be erected on the reservation. Brown had been up and down
the river many times before in the capacity of Indian trader, and was therefore
familiar with the topography of the country, and had selected this point as
favorable to such a plan as he now had in view. He had a little steamboat
engaged for transportation of men and supplies. Among his crew was Jesse Ayer, a
brother of Judge E. J. Ayer, John Clark, who was made the first sheriff of the
county, and Charles Blair, who erected the first house ou the bank of the river
in November of the same year, witness the following:

   "I came to Henderson, November 1, 1852, and assisted Charles Blair to put up
the first house by the bank of the river on the 6th day of November. The house
was covered with hay, for the want of other material, and not one single nail
was to be found in the whole house.

        (Signed)               Ed. Winkelman."

   At the point selected a road to the prairie was easily cut through the
timber. The work consumed only about two weeks, and J. R. Brown got the
transportation between St. Paul and the fort by reason of his superior judgment
and prompt action.

   As Sibley county is largely German, it will be interesting to note that the
first German settler was Edward Winkelman, mentioned above, who took a claim
south of what is now called Winkelman lake, in the fall of 1852, and spent the
winter following in Charles Blair's house, which he assisted in building. Other
Germans came about the same date. With the spring of 1853 came many more
settlers, under the patronage of Joseph R. Brown, who was the organizer and
leader in everything. He furnished the brains and laid the plans to which other
men worked. For one Scotchman, John Watt, came quite a delegation of Germans in
1853, among them Matti, Fuchs, Tysens Conrad, Fremont and others. Charles Blair
was retained by Brown to superintend his work, and Fuchs was the cook. Thomas
Doheny, the Irishman who came up on the Black Oak in July, 1852, and located his
own and other claims, returned in the spring of 1853, bringing with him several
others, who formed the nucleus of the Irish settlement. Doheny planted a few
potatoes and returned to St. Paul, while Michael Grimes, Sr., remained and built
a house, and became the first Irish settler. The house built by the Scotchman,
John Watt, under the direction of Charles Blair, antedates that of Grimes about
a month. This house still stands on the bluff behind Henderson, the oldest
landmark in Sibley county.

   During the summer of 1853 many other settlers came in. Among the Irish,
McCormick and Bray. Grover, an Englishman, who it is said was elected to the
legislature at a subsequent time but did not attend because the territory was
too poor to pay the expenses of its representatives, who consequently were not
called to the capitol. Zephir Gendson, Antone Le Ferrier and Michael Baudoin,
who came in 1853, were Canadian Frenchmen, as their names indicate. The bill
passed by the legislature creating this county, also made provisions that an
election should be held October 3; if fifty voters cast ballots, the majority
could then lawfully elect officers and determine the permanent location of the
county seat. Following is a list of the officers elected: John Miller, A.
Waiker, and Conrad Fremont, county commissioners; Charles Blair, auditor; Joseph
B. Brown, recorder: Edward Winkelman, justice of the peace; Carter C. Drew,
county surveyor; John Clark, sheriff; Henry Poehler, treasurer; all being
unanimously elected by sixty-two votes, and the county became organized. Here it
is pertinent to say that much relative to official matters of the county, from
its organization to 1864 is obtained through the memory of old settlers; the
buildings occupied by the county officers and containing the record, having been
destroyed by fire on the 18th of October, 1863. Nothing positive can be learned
as to where the very first meetings were held, one old settler, Judge E. J.
Ayer, expressing the opinion that it was in the open air. In 1856 Joseph B.
Brown erected several small offices for the use of the various town officials,
which were used until 1858, when Henry Poehler erected a two-story frame
building 25x45 feet, at the corner of Main and Third streets, the county using
the second story for their offices; removing to the Welch building two blocks
further back in 1862, where they were burned out the following season. Then
followed various removals, the first after the fire being to a room rented of
Jacob Frankenfield, for six months at $12 per month. In 1866 a house on lot 10,
block 50, occupied one year; then to a building on lot 10, block 58, owned by
August Biasing. In 1870 removed to building owned by William Carroll.

   At a meeting of the commissioners held January 2, 1867, a resolution was
passed asking the legislature to pass an act enabling the county to issue bonds
to the amount of $20,000 for county building purposes, provided it should be
submitted to the people before becoming a law. Permission was granted at the
next session, and on March 11, 1870, notice was posted, submitting the matter to
a popular vote, and was carried. On January 4, a tract of about four acres was
purchased at the corner of Main and Sixth streets, and on the 3d of the
following May the contract was let to Herman Mather for building a two story
brick jail and sheriff's residence combined for $2,987; the building to be, and
was, completed the following September. The jail contains three cells and
corridor. At a meeting held March 29, 1879 arrangements were made for the
erection of the present county buildings, in which Henderson was to pay $5,000
of the cost of buildings and in case of removal, the privilege to buy them at
$3,000. The court house was immediately built. It is of brick, two and one-half
stories and basement; is 48x80 feet, and contains large, well ventilated offices
for the various departments; fire-proof safes for the preservation of county
documents. The entire building is heated by two hot-air furnaces.

   Return again to those earlier days, when society matters received their
birth. The first religious services were held in a new log house built by John
Fodin, just previous to his occupancy. Between twenty-five and thirty settlers
attended and listened to a sermon by a Methodist Episcopal missionary and bible
agent. Congregational services were held during the same summer, 1854, in a log
school-house. Episcopalian services were held in a house rented for the purpose
in 1858, and for some time thereafter. The first church edifice was a house
purchased, remodeled and fitted np by the Methodist Episcopal society, presided
over by Elder Rich, in 1857 or '8.

   Germans being in the majority throughout the county, took the lead in
religious matters, and were generally ahead in establishing societies and
erecting buildings.

   Quite a number of Americans had formed a settlement on Rush river, between
Henderson and Kelso; also at New Auburn, where Rev. Mr. McNight held occasional
meetings: Nearly every township now has from one to three church societies and
buildings, more fully detailed in town articles.

   The first school of which there is any authentic account was taught by J. J.
Peck, in a log house at Henderson, in the winter of 1854-'5, and had an average
attendance of six to ten scholars. The following year a frame school-house was
built by F. Weigan, which answered all purposes until supplanted in 1862 by a
large and more convenient house.

   In 1881 fifty-eight districts had been created, and all except number 53,
which had been discontinued, had one and some two comfortable school buildings.
District number 1, at Henderson, is independent, having a graded school. Aside
from the public schools the Catholic church at Henderson has a parochial school.

   There are in the county four secret societies, three of them located at
Henderson. Henderson Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M.; Knights of Pythias, and Sons
of Herman. The latter also has an organization at New Rome.

   While several efforts were made in former years to establish newspapers there
is but one publication in the county, the "Sibley County Independent," a nine
column quarto sheet printed by Daniel Pickit at Henderson. It was established in
1872, but much smaller than at present. It is the official paper of the county.

   Previous to 1881 the county had no railroad and the bulk of business was
transacted through the St. Paul & Sioux City road, to reach which it was
necessary to cross the Minnesota river. Up to 1877 it was accomplished by
ferries which proved inadequate for the demands of business, and a new iron
bridge was built by Henderson at a cost of $17,000, spanning the river at the
foot of Main street. It consists of one draw, two hundred and ninety feet in
length, and wooden approaches.

   The first death in the county was undoubtedly that of Mrs. E., wife of Paul
Jarvis, in the spring of 1856. She was buried on Fort Hill, where the cemetery
was afterward located. Some old settlers, however, claim that a Bohemian
stranger died a short time previous, and was buried in the same locality.

   On the 16th of September, 1855, the first marriage in the county was
celebrated at a school-house on section 17, in Jessenland township, Michael D.
Bray and Miss May Hayes, being united by tire Rev. Father Somereisen.

   During the spring of 1856 the second nuptial knot was tied, the contracting
parties being Nicholas Hillger and Miss Susan Mairsh, who were married by
Justice James C. Pratt, at the residence of a Mrs. Blair. In 1865 the couple
moved to Montana.

   In the fall of 1853 the first child was born, it being a daughter, Clara, to
John and Sarah Clark. She now resides in McLeod county. Joseph Brown, son of
Fletcher and H. Brown, born in 1855, was the first boy.

   In speaking of early incidents Judge E. J. Ayer remarked: "Indian corm,
ground according to the best facilities possessed by settlers, was considered
fair living." "Why," said the old judge, with a twinkle in his eye, "One winter
in those early days, our hotel was glad to get muskrat meat, which had been shot
with shingle nails."

   On August 11, 1862 the county voted a bounty of $25 to volunteers and an
additional premium of $5 per month, both of which were settled in 1868 by the
payment of $140 to each claimant. December 9, 1873 the county began an action
against their treasurer on a charge of embezzling bonds. On the 23d of the same
month he was removed from office. A like charge was preferred against the
register of deeds on December 11, and on the 16th of the following February he
also was removed from office.

   In 1876 the county suffered most from the grasshopper scourge, many farmers
being eaten out of everything in the shape of crops and were driven from their
homes by want of clothing, food and fuel; some never returned.

   Sibley county suffered to some extent from the Indian massacre of 1862,
inasmuch as one of her leading citizens, James W. Lynde was the first to fall at
the lower agency, a few miles from Fort Ridgely. While the county suffered to no
great extent from depredations from the Indians, she lost several brave men who
went to the rescue of others.

   The grasshopper plague left its mark in the western portion of the county
where many poor farmers had just planted their first crops. The damage was not
so great as in some counties since there were not so many fields to destroy. In
the wooded portions settlers suffered less. The productions of the county are
largely agricultural, wheat being the staple article. The acreage of corn and
amber cane increases yearly. But a small amount of stock is shipped. Before the
timber had been so extensively cut the wood business was one of the leading
enterprises, thousands of cords being sent to the southwestern prairies. The
market price averaged four dollars per cord.

   There is but one incorporated village, Henderson, and two that hold their
original plat, and are taxed other than farm land, New Auburn and Faxon. The
number platted and surveyed is numerous, many never having a single lot sold.
Since the advent of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad in 1881, which runs
diagonally through the center of the county, a new life has been given the towns
along its line. In October, 1881, the track had been laid to the proposed new
town of Gaylord, in Dryden near the southern shores of Lake Titlow.

   There are four stage routes in the county. The first runs from the borough of
Henderson to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha station, East Henderson,
distant one mile, making connections with all passenger trains. The second line
runs between Henderson and Glencoe via Arlington, Dryden and New Auburn. It
leaves Henderson at 7 A. M. Tuesdays and Saturdays, and arrives at 5 P. M.
Mondays and Fridays. The line makes one extra trip each week between New Auburn
and Glencoe. The third line is from Henderson to Hector, leaving the former
place at 7 A. M. Mondays and Thursdays, running via. New Home, Bismarck and
Moltke. The third is from New Ulm to Brownton, crossing the county via Cornish
and Transit; two trips each way are made weekly.

   Previous to 1881 the roads of the county had been in good condition for many
years, but the high water in the spring did great damage, more especially in the
valley, where the Minnesota overflowed her banks to a depth of seventeen feet
above low water mark, and three above any high water mark within the memory of
the oldest pioneers. This flood washed away a large portion of the roadway
between Henderson and the railroad station, and spoiled portions of the valley
road. It came too early to inflict damage to crops, but caused considerable loss
to residents living in the lower portions of Henderson, and a few along the
valley. In the following October a second flood ten feet above low water mark
caused a total loss of all bottom land hay and a portion of the corn and potato
crop.

   At the fall election of 1880 the county polled 2,017 votes, giving 431
republican plurality. The county contains 320,634 acres of land, at an average
value of $7.79 per acre, or $2,499,151 real estate valuation; $738,719
represents the value of personal property. The total tax for 1880 was 10 79-100
mills, amounting to $44,585.81, most of which was promptly paid. The census for
the same year returned 10,731 as the population of the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

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


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