Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-18
HoRMER GOVERNOR TELLS OF
!. HIS TRIP INTO WtLoS OF
MINNESOTA.
rRAMPEp 600 MILES
AND ALMOST Persisted
ovsrtaksn BY Storm Whom Far From
Human Habitation-Filed on Section
Of Land in Southern Minnesota After
Walking From lowa-Experience in
1s56-Othsr Iowa News

been associated with the best interests
of the state fifty years, is passing an
honored old age In the seclusion Of his
beautiful home at Clermont. He was
one of the earliest settlers of the state.
In the years since he came as young
man from Connecticut, he has not only
attained distinction as a political lead
er, but become several times a Million
aire. He obtained his first quarter sec
ton of land in Minnesota and the story
is told In the Historical Annals Of Iowa.
The winter of 1861 was unusu-
ally severe in the northwest" says the
report. Snow fell to an enormous
depth, and the mercury not infrequent-
ly ranged from 20 to 40 degrees below
zero for several days in succession. y
series Of great storms swept the
prairies Nearly all the deer in nor
thern Iowa were destroyed, some freez-
ing, others starving TO death, still 9TH
ers getting fast in the deep, crust
covered snow and being killed while IL.
this condition
Few Of the frontier people were
prepared for such a winter. Thousands
suffered for want Of clothing and fuel
and many a man, overtaken by blind
ing storm, or tired out wading thru
the deep snow. froze to death, perhaps
only stones throw from home.
Starts on Memorable Trip.
TN December, 1866, with my years
earnings in my pocket. l Journeyed
thru with view to selecting good
quarter section Of government land.
I finally made my choice. and then, to
enter the land, set out for WiEora,
where the land office was located. On
the morning of Dec %, left Mantoc-
Vile and walked to Rochester, a dis
lance Of about seventeen miles. 1t had
commenced showing before / reached
that town, but, anxious to make few
more miles before dark, and hoping to
find an inn on the road. I took lunch
at Rochester and again pursued my
journey.
"As night approached a fierce wind
arose. The road followed ridge be-
tween the Zumbro and Root rivers
There was no house, no fence or other
landmark in sight. AT first we'll
beaten track served as my guide, but
this was soon obliterated by drifting
snow. found that l had lost the roao
and was forced 10 rely upon the wind
to indicate my course. The snow was
from one and half to two feet deep
and covered with an Icy crust.
81 had probably travelled eight or
nine hours and was from ten to twelve
miles out of Rochester before / real
lied the desperateness of my situation.
had strayed from the high road: l had
walked mile after mile without discov-
ering the least trace of a settlement.
Toward midnight, with tempera-
ture of from twenty to forty degrees
below zero, the wind blew at a rate OF
from thirty to fifty miles an hour.
Overpowered by the conviction that l
could not hold out much longer, l hal
loed as loud as my strength would per-
nit. But the maddened winds only
seemed to mock my efforts.
Lodge In the Wilderness.
With death staring me in the face.
] came to partially constructed cab
in. 1t had neither roof nor door and
the logs were not chinked.
THE discovery of this symbol of
civiliza ton encouraged me, and 1 at
once resolved to make it my head
quarters for further explorations. Re
membering that there is a Well
marked disposition among pioneers TO
settle in clusters, l determined to
walk in a wide circle around this cab
in in the hope of finding some habita-
ton.
Taking radius Of about sixty or
eighty rods I proceeded to carry out
my plan. I had passed not much more
than half around the circle when after
surmounting a swell in the prairie l
discovered a small grove in the dis
lance. at once abandoned my form
er base and quickened my steps, fully
assured that if there was a house any
where it would be found in the shelter
of the grove. 1 had not advanced very
far before I espied a faint glimmer Of
ligh. proceeding as it seemed to me
from snowbank across a small ra :
vine. Going in the direction of the
ligst as fast as my benumbed feet
would carry me. presently found my
self before small log cabin which
was half buried in a snow drift.
Finds Shelter Just in Time.
II raped loudly on the door and
when it was opened I did not wait for
an invitation to enter, but stepped in
The house was occupied by a Mrs
F'oote with her three sons. After they
had listened to my brief story the
then brought in a pail of water tc
thaw out my frozen feet. They gave
me a warm supper and a bed on the
floor Of the small attic. Never shall
forget the hospitality which received
mt the hands Of these kind hearted
people. From them I learned thai
1heirs was the only house within one
mile Of the main road for distance Of
twenty miles and that several person:
had frozen to death on that road the
previous winter.
THE next day walked fifteen milei
TO St. Charles, and on Christmas morn
ing proceeded from there to Winona
went to the land office and after pay
ing premium Of per cent for ex
change OF my wild cat money for goi,
entered my quarter section of land
and then turned my face toward m.
Iowa home. which reached a day o
Two before the close Of the old yea
SY 1ftEr having walked more than oU
miles in the midst Of the severe wealth
e Of that extraordinary winter"
Former Decision Woman Dead.