The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-05-19


ry, so incensed at the treatment of
the whites by the Indians, themselves
played Indian" and took thirty-o ne
of the red mems scalps.
Built ''The Stockade'
Following the mastering out of the
Minnesota cavalry that year COL Nc
Phail went on duty in the Army of
the Potomac, and continued until the
spring of 1864. When he returned
to Minnesota it was to go to what
is now Redwood Falls, where he
built the stockade fort on the site
now occupied by the Granite Block,
and completing this he laid out the
town of Redwood Falls. Here he con-
tinued until 1875. He engaged in
selling lands and other lines of bust
ness. He practiced law, and was al
ways one of the real wits of the
court room. Years before, his voice
had drifted into one of peculiar ex-
tremely low to a prompt high pitch,
from low bass to high tenor, and
his conversation and repartee were
delightful to friends and strangers.
Was County Attorney
He was county attorney for many
years, and participated in the pro-
ceedings that led up to the indict-
ment of Joseph Gut and an accom-
plice for the murder of two half breeds
on a Christmas day, down at New
Ulm. He built residence on the
site now occupied by J. H. Melges
residence, and in and around those
premises there were always interest
ing events. Upon the street, in his
office, or in the refreshment dispen-
saries, the Mexican war veteran, the
colonel of the mounted rangers, al
ways found his hearers, and when
the town was dull, when it seemed
as if it would return to naught. Col.
McPhail was optimistic beyond all
dreams
answers Inc SdIl
But too long had he spent in the
saddle, or on the frontier. The call
of the wild returned to his restless
bosom. Settlers came in and citi-
zens increased The colonel passed
out of the idol status, and new fields
for idolatry were yearning for him.
One week in the spring or summer
1875, on a vacant lot now occupied
by the building standing between The
Gazette office and the Lichtwarck
residence, there grew up by the hands
of the carpenter, a house on wheels,
the threshing cook house
of to-day, and on bright morning,
with only a few of his old friends
and we kids of the town, gathered
to say and witness farewell the
Colonel passed out of the permanent
denizens of Redwood Falls forever.
Settles in Lincoln
He went to Alta Vista, Lincoln
county, settling on a tree claim. He
afterwards contended that it was not
taken because of any desire to make
a home. but that it was at the re-
quest of government officials, who
desired him to make an experimental
tree claim. He commenced his oper-
atoms with the understanding that
in case the tree experiment failed
he was to have the land as home
stead However, he made a great
success in the growth of trees, and
as to the kinds best adapted to the
Minnesota climate. He was given his
patent to the land in the spring of
1887.
The government land office was To-
Gated at Redwood Falls for many
years after the founding of the town,
and homesteaders of the western
prairies were obliged to come hither
to make final proof or defend con-
tests, or "claim jumping as it was
frequently called. Realizing that the
Colonel knew the homestead laws SO
well, and that he further "stood well
at court" he was frequently employed
as counsel at the land office, and he
would drive from his Lincoln county
retreat to Redwood Falls, the jour-
ney occupying most of two days.
On the south side of the Redwood
river, more than mile southeast of
where Vesta now stands was the
farm home Of Uncle Harvey Win
gett. Here was my summer home
for two seasons, when acted as
cowboy to the immense herd of
steers, which George w. Braley, a
Redwood Falls banker, always had
on the grazing plains of that un-
settled district. Col. McPhail and
Mr.. Wingett were great friends. The
latter once ran drug store at Red
wood Falls, and there the caprices
Il