The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-05-19

groves, furnished the wood and lum.
Der supplies for the pioneers, the bal
ance of the land being a gently undu-
lating prairie, with deep soil of black
loan underlaid by clay, and may for
general farming purposes be classed
as equal to any in the State. There
we're at the first great many sloughs
and a number of what were considered
permanent lakes, but cultivation of the
adjoining lands and changes of the
seasons has made meadows of the
greater number of the sloughs and it
can now be seen that within few
years not permanent lake of any size
will remain. The first requirement of
the new settler was timber and water
and SO we find that the Minnesota riv-
or formed a natural base for the set
Element of the valley, for though the
open prairie lands were more easily
brought under cultivation, the first SET
tiers, practically helpless for want of
transportation, kept near to timber,
which was necessary both for fuel and
building purposes.
The first settlers in Redwood coun-
ty were Col. Samuel McPhail, o. @.
Martin, John R. Thompson, T. W.
Caster, Orrin Fletcher and John w.
Dunlap, who arrived at the falls of the
Redwood on May 2, 1864 It is to be
noted that Notwithstanding the pun
ishment and forcible expulsion of the
hostile Indians, enough remained
skulking in the woods and about the
county to keep the whites in con-
slant state of alarm, and we find these
first settlers at once on their arrival
began the erection of temporary Sleep
ing quarters built of logs and banked
up with sod; and this was followed by
a block house 1924 feet, high enough
to give sleeping quarters upstairs;
following this stockade, 15Ox25O feet,
was built, inside of which three or four
other houses we're built from time to
time, to accommodate the new corners,
as all had the feeling that it was un-
safe to risk living on the claims, which
they took up in the vicinity little
later.
Col. McPhail says, IN letter: "May
10th our post was reinforced by the
arrival of Capt. Ed. Post and Frank
Kennedy. They took claims on the
west side, known as the Cook place.
They planted potatoes, corn and mel
ons. This was the only planting done
that season in the colony. Messrs.
Post and Kennedy assisted in build.
ing the stockade but did not remain
permanently"
The record shows the name of John
S. G.. Homer as the next arrival, and
soon David Watson came in and built
a small house inside the stockade.
Jacob Tippery and George Spangler
also arrived about this time.
There is evidence in Mr.. McPhail's
letters that the few Indians still re-
naming in the vicinity kept the little
colony constatly on the alert during
the whole of this first summer. On
May oath, to Col. Pfaender in COM
mand at Fort Ridgley, he says There
is in this vicinity six or eight stray
Cling Indians. If you could send up
ten or twelve cavalry for few days
with our aid l feel confident we could
capture them" On June Sd to Gen.
Sibley, ave are and have been great
ly annoyed by small bands of prowl-
ing Indians. We would respectfully
ask, if not inconsistent with the public
service, that you grant us small de-
tachment of troops" and again under
date of June 18th, to Oscar Malmrose,
adjutant general, he says "Send to
Fort Ridglev twenty Springfield rifles;
also 1000 round bail cartridges.
Should we use these cartridges we will
pay for them with scalps, that is if the
bounty of $500 still holds good; if not,
then charge them as expended for the
good of the service" The authorities
responded to the appeals by sending
guns and ammunitions on July 18th,
and on Dec. 18th squad of twelve
ex-Rebs to do guard duty. In the
early fall the settlers were reinforced
by the arrival of A. w. Webster, j.
w. Hardness and Birney Flynn.