The Redwood gazette., 1915-10-06
Jul. A. Schmakt Talks on
Redwood County's History
States Interesting Facts of Early
Settlement; Growth and So
cial Development
COUNTY'S VALUATION
IN 1914 WAS SIS, ,O46, 500
Secretary Is introduced by A. D.
Stewart as Man Who May
Head States Government
.R4lHEN

OF State, spoke to large audi
ence at the Redwood County fair
grounds last Friday afternoon.
A. D. Stewart in introducing
Sec. Schmahl to the audience,
spoke Of his having been all his
life a citizen of Redwood Coun-
ty, from his cattle-herding days
to the present when he holds the
second office in the state. Mr..
Stewart then expressed his be-
lief and hope that in the near
future Mr.. Schmahl would be in
troduced as the first of the
states officers. <TA
Thanks Friends -,
Mr.. Schmahl, in response to
the introduction, acknowledged
his Indebtedness to his friends
in Redwood County who had
helped him in his efforts and ex-
pressed his sincerest gratitude
for this friendly assistance. He
then gave an interesting talk on
the early history of Redwood
County, it's social growth and
financial achievement.
Going back to the days of the
Louisiana Purchase which made
this country free of France, Mr..
Schmahl traced the history of
the County's growth from the
days when it was part of Blue
Earth to 1866 when it was part
of Brown, to 1857 when six coun-
ties were set off, to 1865 when
Redwood was set off from Brown
and later divided into Lyon, Lac
qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and
Lincoln.
Values Increase
= Figures, given by Mr.. Schmahl
regarding land values and prop
erty valuations, were most in
teresting. In the early days
land office was opened at st.
Peter and an appraisement made
Of lands which were sold at pub
lie sale December Z, 1867, at
from $1.25 to $3.50 per acre.
In 1880 the valuation of Red
wood County was ST, 1892, SGT and
in 1914 it was S15, ,046,509.
Settled in 1864
Among the reminiscent state
ments Of early days Mr.. Schmahl
recalled many first happenings
that were essential in the MAX
ing of the County history.
The first work of settling
was begun, according to Mr..
Schmahl's statement, in 1864 in
Redwood Falls, Sherman and
Swedes Forest townships.
! February 9, 1865, Louis Ro-
bert opened the first store and
the first sale made was ten yards
of calico to Miss Julia Williams,
who paid sixty cents per yard
for it. Miss Williams was also
the first teacher in the first
schoolhouse which was built Of
logs in 1865.
First Big Events
The first marriage was that
of George Coffee and Amanda
Cole, who were married under
the picturesque Ramsey Falls,
April TO-, 1866, O. G. Martin
reading the marriage service.
The first birth was that of
Harry Thompson born in Feb
ruary, 1866, while the first death
was Willie Homer, who died
April II, 1865. The first tragic
death was that Of son of John
Moore, then living at Rice Creek
near Delhi. The young man was
shot by a friend who mistook
him for an unfriendly Indian.
The first religious services
were held at the John Homer
home in August 1865.
Praises Association
Mr.. Schmahl closed his talk
with a few words Of commenda-
tion and encouragement to the
Redwood County Agricultural
Society and the work it is doing
4 for the County. stating that
since it's organization in 1873
the association had weathered
many hardships and storms, but
was rapidly approaching the pin
acle of success under the direc-
tion Of it's present capable board
of diroof0y.c