The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-03-20

cry boot of the owl was an Indian call.
We were twenty miles from any set
tlement-no mail, no news from the
civilized world.
On August 9Th our colony was in
creased by the arrival of Jacob Tippen
and George Spangler, and few days
later by David Watson. About this
time a camp of scouts was established
at Camp Pope. This camp restored
confidence, and all hands commenced
haying and preparing for winter.
On September 81, just at daybreak,
one of the guards called out, The In
dams are upon u.s. every horse was
Immediately brought inside the stock
ade and every man armed took his
post. The writer armed himself, mount
ed his horse and soon discovered in
the gray dawn from Is to 20 Indians
approaching. When within 800 yards
of the stockade, the Indians were call
ed to halt and one of them to come
forward unarmed, which was done,
when olthey were all friendly squaws,
going down to Grow village. They
were brought in, given something to
eat and hidden to go in peace.
Soon after this, number of friend
ly Indians established at trapping
camps Crow village. They were Civ
en- permit to trap on condition they
would report all signs of hostile Indi-
ans to the stockade. This, however,
was not generally known among the
whites, consequently few days later
our old friend David Watson, in pros
pecting around, wandered off to where
the Camp Pope road crosses the Red
wood river, when all at once two big
Indians came up, both well armed.
Uncle Watson said there was no show
to run; he drew up his musket and
motioncd the Indians to lay down their
guns. They did so, and came up to
shake hands and show their passes
but no, Watson picked up their guns
and carrying three guns marched Mr..
Indians into camp. When they showed
their passes, shook hands, and every
body laughed but Watson. They were
two Indians who had served as scouts
in the Sibley expedition.
A voting precinct was established in
the fall of ga, comprising all that part
of the State of Minnesota, west of
range 81 and south of the Minnesota
river This now includes the counties
of Redwood, Lyon, Lincoln Yellow
Medicine and Lac qui Parle. The
place of holding the election was Red
wood Falls, and o. G. Martin, T. w.
Caster and Ed Mccormack comprised
the election board. At the presidential
election we cast IS votes, all straight
Republican no intimidation, no bull
doing.
| Prior to tbs time our colony had
been considerably increased. Among
the number was J. w. Jeffries, of Bal
timore, Md, and Birney Flynn, Of
Wisconsin. Lewis Roberts, of St.
Paul, in December "a, established a
store or trading post inside the stock
ade, presided over by Chas. Trumley
December I'd, 1864, the first garden
was ploughed, on the lots where the
Philbrick block now stands. Deem
Der 10th, twelve ex-Rebs were sent uI
to do guard duty and given quarters
in the block house.
A Miss Julia Williams, of Waseca
was employed to teach three months
school. A post Office having been es
tablished with John R. Thompson
PM, and a goodly supply of rations
laid in, all 60 into winter quarters
all happy and gay.
During the last of the summer anc
fall great monsters, in the shape O.
buffalo, roamed in plain view of oul
, little fort unmolested. In December
however, with a few halfbreeds we gave
them little chase, and near the ole
T. w. Caster place succeeded in kill
ing eleven in one run. We brought il
a part of the meat, the rest the wolves
and foxes got In this month one O.
, John More's sons was shot and killed
by Alexie LIE Frombois, by mistake
Thep were keeping guard at theil
camp near Swedes Forest. Whe1
More, in the night, went into the tepet
to call LeFrombois, the latter mistool
him for hostile, gathered his gun anc
shot him dead. This was the first fun
eral at Redwood Falls.
. Nothing more TRANSFERRED during thu
7 year 1864. Our ex-Rebs, who have
become reconciled, go to New Uln
) with team, to lay in some things t.
| give feast on New Years day. Ant
to begin the year of 1866 happy-o
which, more anon: OLD SETTLER.
In writing of farm mortgages in tn
March Forum, Prof. James Wilt
l Gleed has the following: "What ha