The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-10
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! EARLY GERMAN SETTLERS
; Paper Read by John HOdapp Before
the Old Settlers neeting, Thurs
day. June 10. 1908.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Al

of Mankato. This topic had been as
signed to another who unfortunately was
hindered from being present by distant
engagement. Not being accustomed to
this kind of work, beg pardon for the
brief and crude production. just a half
century has passed since the news of a
! great and promising country in the
north, especially of recently laid out
town named Mankato in Minnesota,
reached St. Charles, small town in
Missouri, located on the north branch of
! the Missouri river This started the
blood of few young German farmers
and they talked of going to investigate
this much praised land. Older heads
Joined the project until a dozen or so
were interested, but with the caution and
deliberation peculiar to Germans, sent a
forerunner to investigate the country
first, in the person OF a very intelligent
young man named Ilg. He started north
in May, 1854 On his trip he fell in with
several others, Mr.. Henry Sontag, Anton
Jacoby, his wife and child (now Mrs. Zeb.
Zimmerman) who were also headed the
same way. Journeying on boat up the
Mississippi, via st. Paul, stopping at
several places along the route, gaining
knowledge and some hard experience,
they finally reached Mankato, which had
been founded just two years previous.
Located in a wilderness, surrounded by
swamps and hills, and already grown to
the extent of five block houses. Mr..
Sontag located at once, purchasing one
of these houses. Mr.. Jacoby took a
with the very first tide in 1852 were Phil
Krummel, Peter Frenzel, Jacob Guenther,
and NJ. n. Bergholz and in '53 there were
Fronert, Eisenreich, Bruggeman, Bruels,
Jabst, Kron, Kotthoff, Kaufman, Freun-
heuser, who had already located and took
claims, and who were anxious to encour-
age new corners.
Mr.. Ilg, after about six months, re-
turned to st. Charles and reported to his
constituents, some of whom had already
repented and were not willing to go
north. The report gave glowing de-
scription of the country, especially Man
kato. Preparations were now begun and
ir due time others joined the band.
After about three months the colony,
numbering about two dozen men, women
and children, several young married
couples and few single men, started
for the promised land. Everything hal
to be provided for from household uten-
sils to farm tools, and a seasons supply
for man and beast. Mr.. Zig was sud
denly summoned by some important
business back to Germany and so failed
to accompany the colony.
After the work and worry of packing
all their effects on a steamboat, came
the sad parting with friends and rela-
tives, which only those who have had a
like experience can imagine. All went
well for several days, as the boat moved
slowly up stream and all was bright
with change of scenery and expectations;
but as the distance grew greater and the
hearts began to feel heavier, and by and
by several of the single young men be-
gan to feel homesick, and when they met
a down-going boat, they would slip away
and abandon the colony. From now on
our people began to experience some un-
forseen trouble The cholera broke out
among them and several had to be placed
on shore to await developments, and fol-
lew later if they recovered At this
time one mother of three small children
died. Thus it happened that the party
arrived in st. Paul at different dates.
When all were together again, they re-
sumed the balance of their Journey,
which had to be made in wagons, as the
Minnesota river was too small for boats
Such trip cannot be justly described
by mere hearsay. One must have act
ually experienced it to tell of it's hard
ships and privations; where there were
no. roads over hills, across marshes and
creeks, through woods, where not even
Ia path had been cut. But our band of
prospectors las the Israelites of old) had
the promised land in view and expected
Iall sorts of things which helped tighten
their burdens. Finally after eight days
OF such travelling Gust forty eight days
from the beginning of their Journey on
the 18th day of October, 1854, the pio-
neers from Missouri reached their desti-
nation-Mankato. How different every
thing appeared from what they had pict-
ured it in their fancy. A few block
houses las told before) with the addition
OF two frames Zone store, the other the
old Mankato house) since the visit of
Mr.. Ilg. All around nothing but brush
and swamp. The first impression was
very discouraging and many wished
themselves back in their old home Some
/, or the young men did return at once.
Those that remained with their families
are the following: David Heidwinkle,
Peter Schultz, Frank Borgmeier, Michael
Humid, Phillip Hodapp, Henry Vohl and