The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02

The city of Mamkat" i most favor
ably situated in the midst of that great
tn" confluence of the Minnesota and
Blu" Earth rivers. lis location is upon
the south bend of The Minnesota. 81
miles southwest of -. Paul. 40 miles
west Of Winona and Isl miles north
east from Sioux City. and nearly mid
way between In" great water routes
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
lts commandin: position makes it
naturally the key to the whole south
western portion of the North Star State,
and directly tributary to vast section
lying in. around and beyond the Won
derful. fertile and far famed valley of
the Minnesota.
The Past.
The first settlement of Mlnkato was
made in the Spring of lS52-thirty
years ago-and at the first election held,
in October. 1853. there We're only Is
votes polled, the voting precinct COM
priSing nearly the whole of Blue Earth
County In lS56. a fresh impetus was
given il 10y the arrival of small pOr-
ton of the vast tide of immigration
which began flowing into Minnesota
and other western states. The dlsas-
triouS financial crisis which then en-
sued. materially retarded its growth
for few years. and in August, 1862,
when the citizens We're recovering from
the effects of that calamity, the ada
cent and tributary country becoming
thickly settled by an cmterprising class
of farmers. and the trade and popula-
ton of the town rapidly assuming
proportions which made it evident even
then that this was to become the future
Metropolis of Southern Minnesota, it
received its second check in the appall-
ing Sioux massacre, by which the
whole country west of Mankato was
depopmlat"d.
On Tia" 26th of December, 1862. thir-
ty-eight of these Indians were hung on
une gallowS. erected Oh the lcvee direct
ly opposite the buildings in which they
had been confined. The execution was
witnessed 10y great crowd of people,
comprising nearly Tia" whole population
Of Mamkato and tn" ncghhoring towns,
and "A large force of L. :. infantry and
cavalry.
An accurate scene of The execution
we furnish on our first page for the
ediiicaiion of the many who have ex-
pressed a desire To see reproduced the
only authentic picture of that remark
able event in our city's history. Apart
from The central figure of the picture
an opportunity is afforded for reflect
ing upon the many changes which have
occurred in our city'S growth since that
day. Til" old structures which are con-
spicuouSly displayed, have all, with but
two or three exceptions. been replaced
lay more substantial buildings Of brick,
and The entire length of Front Street
has been built up with fine business
blocks. hotels and stores, while back of
Front Street, which at the date of the
event was mostly vacant land, covered
with brush and timber, are several
broad avenues lined upon either side
with fine residences.
After the defeat and dispersion of
the Sioux, the onward progress OF
Mankato assumed new life. The incl
dents connected with its late history
had given il almost a Worldwide &C.
lebrity, and the acknowledged superb
ority of its position, and the certainty
which that position afforded that il
would soon become the centre of q
great and rapidly increasing trade
made il evident TO all that this was q
point where iudicious investments could
be made with a reasonable certainty Of
success.
Incorporation.
Manlato was incorporated as a city
In 1865, with a population of about
1890 From that time on il has grown
steadily, permanently and substantial,
until today we see its population has
5onbled. its business trebled and its nat
ural advantages recognized as a factor
of unexcelled pretensions.