The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-26

flag for whose preservation so many
OF the boys In blue laid down their
lives In that great conflict for princi-
pie and for freedom.
There were TribuIatlons.
Even before the war there were
fluctuations which tried mems souls.
One OF these was the panic of 1857,
which, TO say tho least. did not
encourage the settlers in new
country. In the east failures were
many and money was scarce In the
west, causing conditions here to
be very trying as well as discourag-
ing. Old timers have told of pay
ing interest as high as four per
cent per month, forty-eight per cent
per annum. and | have in my pos
session a ncte given by my father.
DUNG those hard times. that called for
five per cent per month. Think OF
that-sixty per cent per annum and
pioneer could advance. II Is a pecu-
liar thing that In every new country
the poor man has to pay not only
extortlonate rates Of interest but
practically all necessities of life are
sold ut figure that makes II hard
fer the settler to secure a foot.
ing. These conditions, however,
brought about a friendly feeling. a
brotherhood, that does not exist to-
day. The pioneers may not have
enjoyed many Injuries but they did
look out for each others interest
and were so firmly cemented to-
gether that they would share the
last crust of bread, even with a
stranger, when the -four for the
same was ground In coffee mill.
Poverty in many ways brings about
a kinship that is only equalled by
the story OF Jonathan and David.
The Present Generation.
We of the present generation have
no knowledge of hardships and tolls.
Some OF us may have slept on straw
ticks in our infancy but we know
nothing OF the log hut without win
dows and q piece of muslin cloth
doing duty for a window glass. Just
what such a dwelling meant was
brought home to us a few weeks
ago when one OF the early settlers
OF the county related his experiences
at a pioneer store at the Winnebago
agency. And as he related II, the
tears ran down his face for the
thought OF 1t brought back men,
cries that will never be removed
as long as the pioneer shall live.
He was a stranger in a strange
land, foreigner. He came west
TO Minnesota and erected a log home.
Winter was coming on. He had
family to care for and he had no
money. He was penniless but he
must have doors and windows for
his humble home to protect the
family from the wintery blasts which
we're SO soon TO penetrate every
nook and corner as they swept over
the prairies. With his oxen he made
his way to what is now st. Clair.
with a brave heart he approached
the leading storekeeper, told his
story and asked for credit. II was
refused and with broken heart
he stepped into the street AS Il
impelled by providence the OK team
had started up and moved down the
street stopping at the store OF a
man who had come In there with a
IF 1nI
consin. The settler followed after
his cattle and stepping into the
store sat down upon a nall keg.
The merchant approached and asked
II there was anything he could do
fer him. He again related his story
but not with any hope of securing
the necessities for he realized by
a glance at the stock, that the
merchant was In no position to ex-
tend credit. The merchant heard
his story through and moved by the
seriousness and manliness of the
settler said to him: You look like
an honest man: all have In the
world Is In this room. but you shall
have what you want That mer.
chant was Hon. /. +. Brown, now
OF Amboy. and the settler is one
of Medos most substantial citizens,
Barney Olson, a comrade In arms
of Hon. Knute Nelson, United States
senator from Minnesota.
This Is but one OF hundreds OF
similar instances which took place
In this new country and but indi-
Gates the hand of helpfulness which
existed among those early pioneers.
We younger people know nothing Of
these hardshps except as we have heard
them related. We have never worn
clothing made of Stark A. grain
sacks, or like the wondrous suit
which Rev. Thomas McClary wore
In his circuit work fifty years ago.
That suit made by Mother Shannon.
of blessed memory. was warm even
though II might have outclassed In
colors the garments OF the Queen
OF Sheba. Our experience goes no
further than wearing the clothes made
over from those worn by father and
cur elder brothers.
There was one thing about these
old days, when -four for many
meal WAS ground I'm the coffee mill