The Mankato free press., 1902-06-27
EARLY SETTLERS
Annual Meeting Held at Garden
City.
A Basket Picnic Dinner, Followed by
Speeches, Musical Numbers
and a Ball Game.

ber gathered during the forenoon for
the picnic dinner, and by the after
noon session nearly 800 of the old set
tiers and their friends were at the fair
grounds to listen to the program OF
music and addresses. This was follow
ed by a ball game between the Gar
den City and Vernon Center teams.
The Garden City band was on the
grounds and furnished number OF
selections to the enjoyment of all pres
ent A quartes composed of Richard
Juliar, Miss Maude Barney, Miss
Helen Grannis and Lee Chapman
favored the meeting with several
selections.
Floral hall was not nearly large
enough to accommodate all who wish
ed to hear the addresses, the first OF
which was delivered by James Brown,
editor of the Amboy Herald.
Mr.. Brown opened with some humor-
GUS remarks. He announced himself
a candidate for sheriff next fall, re-
minding his audience of this fact sew
eral times in his address. He said he
noticed that many references were
made by speakers at these meetings to
the hardships and privations endured
in the early days. These were not
exaggerated in the least, but certain
amount of genuine satisfaction is gained
that outweighs the disagreeable part.
All are on the same level here-no
cliques nor pretty jealousies interfere
with old settlers. There was truer
friendship when farms were miles
apart than can be formed between
closer residents. The neighboring
dances, when the man with the largest
house opened his doors for the crowd
and the man with the fiddle grew IN
popularity, were recalled with great
pleasure. They did not compare with
the formal affairs of today. Then,
too Fourth of July when all came in
lumber wagons for royal good time,
the first meeting on Sunday in the
new school house-the visiting done
before and after the sermon. Many
other features also helped smooth the
rough places. The day of sod shanties,
hand grist mills, rattlesnakes and
Indians passed before 1863, when Mr..
Brown came to Minnesota, and all was
Progress has been Glow in all lines,
| inventions as we'll as settlement. We
have not reached the ideal yet, and
still have many poor school houses,
Door farm houses and, except in dry
weather poor roads with us. The
! tide of immigration is to cheaper
lands north and west, but will change
later, when the large farms will be
subdivided and closely settled and cul'
tivated. Mankato will celebrate hel
hftieth anniversary provided nc
Injunction is served. But the growth
has been slow until the past two
weeks, when an asphalt paved street
and palm garden have been acquired
The prospect for future progress
is bright. Geo w. Peck of Wis
consin advises farmers to raise wolves
instead of sheep, as the bounty of $1(
per scalp is worth more than the WOO
from the sheep, and, while sheer
rarely raise more than one lamb in {
year, pair of wolves is liable t.
raise 20 young ones in that time. Hat
we followed his advice forty year
ago, all might now ride in our owl
automobiles.
The band rendered pleasing
selection, after which Fl. G. Howard
of Lake Crystal was introduced.
Mr.. Howard said he had been re
quested to speak on some of the ad
ventures of early days. All the oil
settlers vividly recall the India
massacre, when 1, 500 people were kill
ed, thousands driven from their home
, and their stock stolen or turned loose
, All happened in few days. Tn
, Indians were driven west by a fore
under Gen. Sibley and in Octobe
l 1900 prisoners were brought bach
t Of this number 400 were condemne
Q to be hung, but President Lincoln ws
] prevailed upon by strong eastern sent
: ment and $50 were saved to witne
Q the hanging of thirty eight, Dec. q
t 1859 in Mankato. The bowls of thol
o confined in the log prison struck no
ror to the hearts of the settlers. M
Howard witnessed the hanging, ant
though a Christian, said he enjoye
g it, 1t is strong language, but Il
deed merited it. The $50 Indians sa
ed from hanging were taken to Roc
Island, where they ate governmel
I beefsteak and played cards, while OF
n boys in blue suffered great privatio
on southern battle6elds and in camp
is The following spring they were turn
loose and fed all summer. In the fl
of '63 they raided the settlements, o
a band reaching the Blue Earth riv
in May, 1854. On May 2 occurred t
{, numbering of the Jewett family, W
- - known to all old settlers. The ne
~ of this massacre struck horror to t
hearts of every one. Joseph Dilley