Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-01
IN PIONEER DAYS
"How 7 Came to Morrison
County,
By O. A. COE

AS my FeduefS VIII STE, l. udue d
little mistake. The Indian outbreak
was in 1862 instead of 1868. 1t
was in July, 1868, that the noted
Sioux chieftain, Little Crow, was
killed. 1t was in the summer OF
1868 that an intense drouth oc-
Cured and lasted until next summer
1t was in '63 that We had news Of
the gallant fighting OF our men in
the south. That fall the provost
marshals OF the state made an en-
rollment of all the male citizens,
preparatory to the draft. Resist
ance was made in some cases, but no
serions disturbances took place as in
other states.
In the winter OF '64 Tom Hayes,
William Pedley, Joseph and Frank
Houde and I freighted from Anoka
to Grand Rapids for The Carlson
and Whitehead Lumber company.
We hauled some -four, but mostly
feed for the horses, etc. We had to
go to Leech lake. VIII ere there was a
camp. When we got there one OF the
firm did not want to give us what
he had agreed to, but Tom Hayes
persuaded him to in the end. We
left some OF our freight there, then
went on to White Oak Point: camp
ing out one night on the road. At
White Oak Point there was black
smith, an Indian farmer, a fur trader
and a young Indian brave by the
name OF Beaulieu. There was an
other quarrel over the price OF our
goods, but at last everything was
settled satisfactorily. We then
started back for Leech lake and then
for home. VIM. Pedley and I came
on ahead. Mr.. Pedley was a very
fast driver and determined to keep
up with him. We averaged 50
miles day until Saturday night,
when 1 stopped at the trading post,
Twenty-four-mile Creek, and stayed
there over Sunday. Mr.. Pedley
came on home. reached home the
next Tuesday.
Early in 1864 the regiments which
had enlisted In 1851 and had re-
enlisted as "veteranss'' were allowed
to come home on a furlough. They
were received in their towns with the
most lively demonstrations of pride
and gratitude and were banqu9ted
and petted as the brave heroes de-
served, but were soon called back to
their field OF duty.
1t was in '64 that congress passed
the law that 10 sections instead OF 6
should be granted to the railroad
company. There were taken thus,
the odd numbered sections for ten
miles on each side of the line and
reserving the odd sections in the
next ten miles to make up the de-
fciencY where the odd sections of the
land on the first ten miles had been
sold. By this condition nearly all
the odd sections in Morrison county
we're held to fill the railroad grant.
The first district school house was
erected here in 1865.
In 1865 was the end of the re-
bellion. Nearly everyone was crazy
with Joy when word was received of
the surrender OF Gen. Lee. And yet
hardly was there a home but what
was mourning for some departed
one, who was destined never to re-
turn. Following this good news
came the terrible news of our glorious
Lincoln's death. This calamity was
duly observed in all towns. But
these gloomy feelings were soon dis
PEELED by the return OF our regiments
early in the summer and their
muster out at Fort Smelling. AS
each OF these bodies OF brave men
returned they were received with
such ovations and demonstrations
OF Joy as a grateful people could de-
wise. Quietly our soldiers hung up
their bruised arms and were soon
again absorbed into the body of the
people. Minnesota had furnished to
the armies Of the republic 25 ,O52|
men, or about one-seventh of it's en-
tire population at the beginning of
the war. OF these it is estimated
from the best data @obtainable that
$500 were killed in battle and died
Of disease during the war, while. |,
probably twice as many received
wounds from which they suffered