Kasson Mantorville High School - Komet Yearbook (Kasson, MN)

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the Indians were scourged with smallpox, an unknown number of them dying. By them it was communicated to the family of Eli Brandt, a German settler, in their near vicinity, but contrary to the general- ly-accepted story, but one white person died, and that a child. May. The first school in the county was taught in May and June at Concord by Miss Cornelia Grems. May. A.J. Edgerton opened a law office at Mantorville and commenced the practice of law. He was the first attorney in the county. May 15. Dr. J.R. Dartt, the first physician to settle in the county, arrived at Mantor- ville and commenced the practice of medicine. July. This year was characterized by a very forward spring and immigrants were early on their way to this much talked of region. The county was thor- oughly explored and settlements were made far and wide. So rapidly did the homeseekers pour in that county organi- zation was made possible. The first effort in this direction was made in July of this year. The census having been taken, and disclosing a total of more than fifty legal voters, Peter Mantor journeyed to St. Paul and laid the matter before Governor Gorman, who appointed county officers, as shown by the following entry upon the county records: “Mantorville, Minn., Aug. 4,1855. It appearing by a census taken in the year 1855 and returned to the office of the Secretary of Minnesota Territory, that the county of Dodge has more than fifty legal voters, the Governor hath appointed the following officers therefore: Notary Public, Peter Mantor; County Commissioners, James M. Sum- ner, William Downard, and George W. Slocum; Sheriff, JJB. Hubbell; Registrar of Deeds, JJHL Shober; Treasurer, J.R. Dartt; District Attorney, Samuel Burwell; County Surveyor, William Chadwell; As- sessor, JJE. Bancroft; Justices, GJP. Ban- croft, Alonzo Way, R. Herzog; Constables, S.G.Irish,E.Watrous,O.B. Kidder. There has always been a popular legend current in connection with the above appoint- ments, that they were made by the Gov- ernor with the understanding that Capt. Mantor would recommend only good Democrats-which he perhaps did to the “best of his knowledge and belief’-and if afterward many of them proved to be “Black Republicans,” he could hardly be held accountable. July 4. An expedition composed of fifteen white men, under the leadership of John Shober, marched from Mantor- ville to the camp of a band of 300 Indians, under Chief Waupaconta, in the big timber in Milton, and recovered wearing apparel and money stolen the previous day front the claim shanty of E.A. Bun- ker, a mile northeast of Mantorville village. August 4. The newly appointed Board of County Commissioners met at Mantor brothers’ store, James M. Sumner, chair- man. In their proceedings Dodge County was made one election district, and the place of election was fixed at Mantor- ville. The county was also designated as one assessment precinct, and William Fowler was appointed assessor in the place of J.E. Bancroft, resigned. August 18. A school district comprising twelve sections in the township of Wat- kins, now Milton, by the Board of County Commissioners. This was the first school district organized in the county. August 18. The County Commissioners fixed the date of the first election to be the second Tuesday of October following. September. To comply with the demands of a rapidly increasing population, Wil- liam Brown and Peter Mantor each built a sawmill at Mantorville. The latter added gristing apparatus the following spring. October (second Tuesday). The first election in this county was held on this date and resulted in the election of the following: County Commissioners, William Downard, one year; James M. Sumner, two years; W.T. Collum, three years. Representative, J.B. Hubbell; Sheriff, C.H. Moses; Treasurer, Enos Bunker; Registrar of Deeds, J.H. Shober; Surveyor, William E. Chadwell; Assessor, Enos Grems; Justices of the Peace, William Bowen, and E.P. Waterman; Constables, William Cunningham, David Howard, and Joel Watkins; District Attorney, D. Rounds;Coroner, A.N. Smith. October 1. D.H. Gilbert petitioned the County Board for a county road to ex- tend from Mantorville to Red Wing on the most direct line obtainable. The peti- tion was granted. October 1. The erection of the stone hotel at Mantorville, since known as Hubbell House, was commenced. October 3. The first marriage ceremony performed in the county occurred at Mantorville. The parties thereto were John Hart and Amanda Orcutt, of Con- cord. The knot was tied by G JP. Bancroft, a Justice of the Peace. November 18. Mrs. Sarah Epsey, opened the first school in Mantorville, in a log cabin fourteen feet square, situated just east of the Hubbell House. December. A Methodist Mission was es- tablished at Mantorville. The stone church was erected in 1860 and dedicated on February 2,1868; in 1875 it was sold to the First Congregational Church, the Methodists withdrawing to Kasson. Also in 1855, Dr. Josiah Dart was a leader of a vigilante group organized to protect the settlers from bandits and horse thieves. An early history records that E.G. Rice was president of the group when in council and Dr. Dartt the “leader when executing the order of the council.” 1856 January 7. A meeting of the County Commissioners was held and J.M. Sum- ner was elected chairman. County order No. 1 was issued to William Fowler for services as assessor. School Districts Nos. 2 and 3 were organized in Concord and Milton Townships. February 29. A law was passed entitled, “An act to provide for locating the county seat of the County of Steele, etc.,” and by one provision of this law, all of townships 105,106,107, and 108 in range 19 were detached from the County of Dodge and attached to the County of Steele. The main objective of this bill was probably to fix forever the county seat of Steele County, at Owatonna. At the same time, to offset the loss of the above four townships, and as a part of the same scheme, the legislators of Dodge County sought to secure the setting off from Olmsted County of the tier of town- ships lying next to Dodge, thus giving to Mantorville a more central location in the county removing all question in this regard as to its retaining the county seat. February, 1856. The present boundaries of Dodge County were established. March 26. Mantorville village was platted by Peter Mantor, H.A. Pratt, A.D. LaDue, H.B. Whallon, A. Lancaster, and Joseph Wilbur. April. Among the new and better build- ings erected in Mantorville this spring were a general store building on Main Street by Adams and McNamara, a hardware stare building by Henry Meyers, and a general store building by Page and Garrison. April. A black bear was chased and killed by the settlers in Concord Township-the only bear killed in the county after its settlement. He weighed 462 pounds. April 8. The first school district in Canisteo, No. 23, was organized by the County Commissioners and Emma Webb taught the first school there that sum- mer. June 30. The first tax levy was at the rate of one and one-tenth per cent for the county purposes and one-tenth of one per cent for territorial purposes. October 6. It was ordered by the County Board that each election precinct be one road district. The total amount of taxes collected to this date was $430.00 in cash and $148.00 in county orders. November. The new Hubbell House, at Mantorville, opened for business Thanks- giving Day. A large gathering of pioneers participated in the pleasures of this house warming. In the winter of 1856 Indians in the large number camped in the grove on Section 12 of Vernon Township. During this winter several of the Indians died and were buried in the snow until spring, when the survivors, taking the dead bodies on their ponies, turned their faces toward the setting sun and the sound of their footsteps died away in the untrod- den west, whence they were heard of no more until 1862, when they joined Little Crow’s forces and attempted to kill off all the white population. They got a 6

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1854 April 14. Peter Mantor, E.P. Waterman, J.M. Sumner, H.O. Parmeter, Joel Wat- kins, M.B. Dolson,S.G. Irish. William Fowler, William Cunningham, and James Wilson arrived at the present site of Man- tor ville. April 19. The party built a house for E.P. Waterman and commenced one for Peter Mantor and William Fowler, all in Man- torville. May 12. An emigrant train from Iowa arrived composed of seven wagons and ten yoke of oxen, bringing the first wo- men and children-Mrs. J.M. Sumner and four daughters; Mrs. M.B. Dolson and two daughters; Mrs. Joel Watkins and son; Mrs. Sam Rowen and children; Mrs. E.P. Waterman; Mrs. John Leader and two daughters. There were also thirteen men. May 14. Morris Dolson was born, being the first white child born in the county. May 23. The “Town of Mantorville” was incorporated by an act of the Territorial Legislature of this date, and the follow- ing constituted the first officials of the village: President,Peter Mantor; Recorder, William Adams;Trustees, J.B. Hubbcll, H.P. Whalton and H.A. Pratt. July. John Shober opened the first gen- eral store of the county in a log building on the south side of the Zumbro River at Mantorville. This building was a mere shack, 14 x 14 feet in size, and shingled with bark. It was stocked with staples, including whiskey and gunpowder. July 4. The First anniversary of the Na- tional birthday after the settlement of the county was duly remembered by the pioneers. The families at Concord went with their ox wagons to Mantorville, and the people of the latter settlement had duly prepared to receive and entertain them. A bee tree had been found a mile or so above town, and near it was made the place of rendezvous. G.W. Slocum read the Declaration of Independence on the occasion (thus being the first to herald abroad in this far inland region the foundation principles upon which the great Republic of the West was reared). They had a picnic dinner. Strawberries were plenty, and these, with the honey from the bee tree (the cutting of which formed one interesting item on the pro- gram), were the special delicacies, with such other “good things” as the pioneer mothers so well knew how to prepare. Some of the party went fishing, and all stayed till nearly sundown. August 6. The first death of a white per- son in the county was the infant of Mr. and Mrs. John Livengood, of Milton. A dry goods box was used for its coffin. September. John B. Hubbcll came from southern Illinois and settled at Mantor- villc, where he at once commenced the erection of a log hotel, the first hotel in Dodge County. November. The first religious services held in Dodge County were conducted by a traveling colporteur, or salesman of Bibles and religious tracts, at the resi- dence of William Fowler in Mantorville. November. Born to Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Moreland, of Milton Township, twin boys -the first double-header in the county. November. Gates Irish, of Milton Town- ship, and Mrs. Brown, of Rochester, Minnesota, declared themselves to be man and wife by the simple process of living togethcr-a common law marriage. November 8. The Hubbell House opened for business. December 24. The social event of the win- ter was a dance held at the home of Wil- liam Fowler, in Mantorville. During the winter several cases of smallpox broke out among the settlers at Mantorville, but no deaths occurred. May 16. The first ground broken and crop planted in the county was by M.B. Dolson at Concord, on Section 15. During the year a man named Maston settled just east of what is now Kasson, giving his name to the nearby stream, Maston’s Branch. His wife died in March, 1855. This was the first death of a white person in Mantorville Township. i 1855 MJjt It would be interesting could we know somewhat of the aboriginal history of places so peculiarly favored of nature as is the spot now known as Mantorville. We can but believe that it’s sheltered valued, with its many never-failing springs, and its outlying groves, hills, ravines and prairies, was the favorite camping place of the Indian hunter, perhaps often the transient home of me wandering bands; and deep-worn trails along the high banks of the Zumbro, both above and below the present village, worn by the mocca- sined feet of untold generations, attest that such must have been the fact. A vil- lage, of skeleton tepees was found here by the first comers, and large bands of Indians camped here every winter after- wards, so long as they remained in the country. As a rule, they were very much given to begging and petty thieving, but beyond this they were not troublesome. If allowed to, they would make free to enter the settlers’ houses at any and all times, and if they took a fancy to want anything, they wanted it persistently, if there were no men about. It is related of Mrs. Hiram Bardwell that on one occasion an Indian stole her water dipper and was detected by her in the act. Seizing that always-handy weapon of the housewife, the broom, she soon compelled him to drop his plunder and leave the place. Geo. H. Slocum has avert sensitive recol- lection of one or two incidents during his own boyhood, in which the red visi- tors were prominent actors. We let him tell them in his own inimitable way: In the spring of 1855, “Lo, the poor Indian” was quite numerous in the vicinity of Mantorville, and made frequent calls at the settlers’ cabins, One of these to our own I shall always remember. It was a raw, cold day in March. Mother was doing the family washing, and had got as far as the rinsing process, when ten or fifteen Indians of both sexes made their appearance, and all came crowding into our little room and up to the large fire- place to warm themselves. One rather sickly-looking young squaw seated her- self on the edge of the wash tub that was standing on the floor nearly full of hot water, and presently one of her male companions noticed her precarious rest- ing place. Apparently the thought came to him that a warm bath would be “good medicine” for a sick squaw, and seeming to be an Indian of an active no less than a sympathetic nature, he proceeded to put his theory into practice. A sly, quick move with one of his feet under hers, and she was sitting in the tub of hot water. But her stay in the tub, or for that matter in the house, was very, very brief. With a howl of pain, and sawing the air with both hands, that guileless Indian maiden flew out of the door and made a bee line for camp amid the jeers of her com- panions. Mr. Slocum adds: Another inci- dent I remember, that for sublime cheek and monumental imprudence could not be surpassed by the most impecunious tramp of today. Our family was seated at dinner one day, enjoying among other things a cut of very nice pork tenderloin, when in walked an Indian chief known to the Indians as “Layfayette.” Mr. Indian stoically surveyed the group around the table, and apparently seeing that I was the smallest and least able to resist of any- one there, lifted me off my high stool and cooly seating himself therein, pro- ceeded to fill his capacious stomach with tenderloin. To my anger and disgust, no one else seemed to care or dare to offer any objection. But I did not have to wait long to have my revenge. A few days after, my enemy called again, and this time in an intoxicated condition. Mother had a parcel of newspapers she had brought with her from Pennsylvania, and which she highly prized, inasmuch as in those days a newspaper was a scarce article on the frontier. The greedy eye of the chief saw them where they lay on a shelf over- head, and he was about to help himself. Mother forbade his touching them, but finally he grabbed them, when, on the impulse of the moment, she seized the only weapon at hand, a heavy hickory stick used as a fireplace poker, and dealt him a blow that staggered, at the same time that it seemed to sober him. He glared at her a moment, drew his blanket around him, and left the house, never troubling us afterward. When she fully realized what she had done, mother nearly fainted from fright. A note resort of the Indians was in the valley of the Zumbro, in the northeast corner of what is now Milton Township. It was to this camp that the pursuing party from Mantorville chased the chief Waupaconta, July 4, 1855, as detailed in another'place. Here too, that same season, 5

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portion of their just desserts when Gen. Sibley met up with them near the Missouri River. E.P. Waterman, territori- al justice, removed from Mantorville to Wasioja. As he built the first house in Mantorville, so his was the first roof in its rival four miles west. 1857 January 5. The total amount of expen- ditures for Dodge County to this date as shown by the records in the County Auditor’s office, was $1,178.92. January 5. Dodge County contained fourteen school districts with a total en- rollment of 414 pupils of sufficient age to draw public money and an apportion- ment of 80 cents was made for each pupil. March. The District Court granted a decree of divorce to Mrs. Eastman, whose husband had deserted her and gone to California. This was the first divorce case in the county. May 1. John Hirschi, a native of Switzer- land, built a brewery at Mantorville on the south side of Fifth Street which he operated for one year. May 2. This was the date of the first election of township officers held under the act of the Territorial Legislature by which each town chairman was made a member of the Board of County Com- missioners. June 1. A special census taken of the county disclosed a population of 4,130. July. The Dodge County Agricultural Society was organized at Mantorville, with H.A. Pratt, president; J.E. Bancroft, secretary; H.P. Whallon, treasurer. July 16. The first issue of the Mantor- ville Express appeared on this date. This was the first newspaper in Dodge County, and J.E. Bancroft was editor and publisher. July 16. The first probate notice pub- lished in the county was the petition of William Rowen, representing that Pru- dence Rowen had died in December, 1856, and asking that administration of her estate be granted to himself and A.D. LaDue; H.W. Pratt, Probate Judge. July 23. At this time mails arrived and departed from the Mantorville post office as follows: Arrived from Winona, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9 o’clock, a.m.; departed for Winona, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; arrived from West Union, la., en route to Cannon Falls and St. Paul, Wednesday at 5 p.m., leaving Fridays at 8 a.m. Arrived from Red Wing en route to Aus- tin, Mondays and Tuesdays at 6 p.m., leaving Thursdays and Fridays; arrived from Elliota, la., Tuesdays at 5 p.m., leaving Wednesdays at 7 a.m. July 23. The price current of staple commodities at Mantorville was: Flour, per cwt., $5.00; com meal, per cwt., $4.00; dried apples, per lb., 20 cts.; pork, per lb., 18 cts.; hams, per lb., 20 cts.; butter, per lb., 25 cts.; eggs, per doz., 25 cts.; lumber, per M, oak $25.00, bass wood, $20.00; tea, coffee, sugar, etc., not quoted. August 2. The first baptism by immer- sion in Dodge County occurred at Wasi- oja on this date. No record is obtainable as to the identity of the baptisor or baptiscc. September 29. The County Commis- sioners let the first job of public printing to the Mantorville Express and the Wasioja Gazette. September 30. By a vote of nine to one the County Commissioners refused to grant a petition to sell liquor in the county. October 7. The first term of District Court for Dodge County was ordered by Chief Justice of the territory, Hon. W.H. Welch, to be held at Mantorville, the said Hon. W.H. Welch presiding. October 8. The first County Fair of Dodge County was held on this date at Mantorville. Premiums paid amounted to $ 115.00. This was also the first County Fair in the Territory of Minne- sota. Gold is said to be found in small quanti- ties in parts of the Zumbro Valley, and such is claimed to have been the case at Sacramento. Sacramento was platted in about 1857 between Wasioja and Man- torville on the Zumbro River, by a calcu- lating fellow who apparently contrived to turn news of the ‘gold strike at Oronoco in 1856 to his own advantage. He was said to have buried gold nuggets along the Zumbro River near his town- site to attract those whose imaginations had been inflamed by reports of deposits of gold along the same stream near Oronoco in Olmsted County. 1858 April 5. The Board of County Commis- sioners divided the county into twelve townships named as at present. Some of these townships were as yet unorgan- ized. April 10. The commissioners made the first list of men eligible to be drawn on a jury. May 11. Minnesota Territory was ad- mitted into the Union of States by an Act of Congress passed this date. May 11. Mantorville Township was or- ganized. July 30. The most notable event in the annals of the pioneer history of Dodge County was the great hail storm of 1858. This storm seems to have confined itself almost entirely to Dodge County, and to the townships of Mantorville, Wasio- ja, Milton, Concord, and Ellington. In the Mantorville Express of August 7 of that year this remarkable storm is described by the editor, who says: “The storm occurred at this place about 4 o’clock p.m. For some time dense black clouds had been gathering from all the quarters of the heavens, centering toward a point in the northwestern horizon. When these clouds had finally met, their appearance was indescribably grand and terrific. It was evident that an awful conflict of the elements was taking place, and most vivid and frequent lightning was observed for a long time at that point in the heavens. Here the storm was born, and here developed the monster hail so soon to cause astonish- ment and destruction in its onward course. From reports we would judge that the average width of the storm was at least four or five miles and varied much in severity at different points. As the dense black clouds approached this place, large hail stones began to descend and a moment later the great violent storm was upon us-a storm such as is rarely witnessed. After the first dash it was hail no longer, but monstrous cakes of ice of great density, hundreds of which measured ten inches in circumfer- ence and weighed from one-half pound to two pounds each. This deluge of ice continued fully fifteen minutes, the effect of which cannot be fully de- scribed. “At its approach men, women, and children sought safety under the nearest shelter, and horses and cattle ran wildly through the streets, seeking protection from the downfall. The wind drove violently from the northwest, dashing the hailstones through the win- dows exposed to its course. Nearly all the glass on the north side of all the houses in the village were broken out- one hundred and forty-five panes of glass were broken in the Hubbell House alone. Not only glass and sash were thus mercilessly shattered, but in many places, the roofs of the houses were pierced by the falling hail. Large numbers of swine and poultry were killed; cattle were most unmercifully bruised, and crops, ungathered, suffered complete destruc- tion. Passing, as it did, over the best settled and improved portion of the county, the damage was very great. Many farmers have lost their entire crop. We hear it stated that hail stones meas- uring twelve inches in circumference fell during the storm, and we have no reason to doubt it. July 31. The Baptist Church was raised in Wasioja. This was the first church building in the county. The total valuation of taxable property in the county in 1858 was $913,400., and the total amount of taxes collected was $10,275.31. The county’s assets exceeded its liabilities by $32.39. 1859 March 21. The First Congregational Church, of Mantorville organized by Rev. Chas. Shedd, with seven charter 7