Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-04

The Alexandria (Minn) Post News
recently interviewed Sen. Knute Nell
son about his pioneering days, hr
Nelson said
MY first visit 30 Alexandria was in
June, 1871. Al that time ! was prac-
Using law In Wisconsin. My health
had not been good since my return
from the war. old DR. Fox, Senator
villas father-in-law frequently saw
me. one dag / told the doctor my
story and asked his advice. lie tot
me to come TO Minnesota As a boy J
had known Mr. Aaker. then living IA
Alexandria He had been chairman
Of supervisors la the township IN
which our farm lay and had super
intended the building Of the road past
our place
Il came to Alexandria and STAYED a
short time with Mr.. Aaker and family
/ had told Mir. Aaker that | should
like to take homestead near Alex
andria II possible. one day he came
into the office ana said that there
was 100 acres 81 rather rough lana
lust outside OF the town that WIS
available. This was claim which
l.. W Kllbourn had taken and which.
when final proof had been attempted,
had been cancelled, without any con-
test, for lack of Improvement
Il filed on the land Mr.. kilbcurn,
who was away. returned and contest
ed my right to the land. There was a
small ahaniy, about t4XlS feet In size
on the place. This shanty was sided
with inch Eastwood boards. tapped
ike siding II was boarded up on the
inside with the same kind % timber.
THIS lumber had been put on green
and mad seasoned. leaving wide
cracks. we move into THIS shanty in
october, after papefing the walls with
old newspapers Before moving 70
the shanty | had bought a big cook
stove OF Jake Austin, who was going
To move Go Fergus Falls.
THAT war severe winter AIR. Kill
bourn had cut off a good many save
logs near the shanty aud lelt the tops,
These were dry AMI not hard lie make
into firewood. As long as we could
keep plenty of wood we could keep
warm and" said the senator smiling,
many is the night / would sit up half
the night firing and my wife the
other half, In order 20 keep warns. IN
the spring | cleared a small piece
southwest OF the shanty and George
Gardner broke Il up with q big yoke
of oxen. planted a garden ana
raised some OF the best watermelons
ever aaw / also dug @ we'll on the
edge of small slough southeast OF
the house aud built a small log stable
for a COW. This stable was iust across
the road which ran near the corner
Of the house.
The following winter came early.
This was the winter of the great Jan
nary storm. ] had been elected coun-
ty attorney that fall and the day the
storm commenced the county com
missioners were In session 1t was
customary Ia those days for the coun-
tv attorney To sit with the county
commissioners, / brought a lunch
with me and did not get through 10
start for home until past 6 O'Clock.
The road past my shanty was only a
winter trail cut through the timber
and brush II was piled two feet deep
with snow and | was more than an
hour getting home. After resting
dug my way out TO the stable and
cared for the COW and then dug my
way To the wood pile, secured good
supply fer the night, then closed up
tho shanty. The next morning was
intensely cold. | again dug my way
To the stable, carrying IN an ahund-
anee of hay. on making my way &c
the we'll iohhu IL ufhteu lhl' nav
To carry in and melt snow for the cow
ana for the house | again cleared
way to the wood pile. ] did not set
to town that day. The next day was
very cold but the wind had gone down
and went TO town.
Il had planned 70 build on the
claim the next summer, but the con-
test was not settled. Mr. Kilbourn
took il before the land commission,
who refused 10 reopen the case lie
then carried II TO the secretary of the
interior who. upon investigation. also
refused to take the matter up. This
all took time and Il was three years
1874. before I built what Is now the
on 10 my present house. Magnrs
i.nngren of this city aud Otto Dahl
uf Carlos aid the carpenter work
There were some advantages TO living