Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-06-27

country and the lake on whose shores
we met that they had staked out town
and christened it ''Whitefield.' This
must be at the present time the most
western town in the Territory of Mime
sofa. It is on a high and nearly level
prairie within a mile of large groves
and commanding extensive and charm
ing views of Wacanga Lake and the sur
rounding country. This lake is from
five to seven miles long and about two
miles wide, has one island at least in it
nearly three miles. in length covered
with dense growth of fine timber. Its
shores are so far as we had the oppor-
tunity of examining them, very pleas
ant; the beach being composed of fine
of this town is an exceedingly desirable
one.
THE RETURN.
AS the afternoon was advancing, we
all started on our return, and the excite
ment having passed away and not hav-
ing partaken of any dinner, we naturally
felt rather weary, so that by the time
we reach our little camp "a little after
sunset), we felt very decidedly worn out
to eat good hearty supper, which we
had indeed fairly earned; but alas, no
such luck awaited us for our provisions
of all kinds were exhausted except some
potatoes, a few dried apples and three
or four ducks which we had shot How
ever we made out as we'll as could be
expected under such circumstances, and
after meeting in which we decided on
leaving for home the next day, we re-
tired to our coaches, thankful that we
had been so highly favored and that not
the slightest accident had occurred to
mar the joy of the occasion.
The next morning we were up before
daylight and after a very poor attempt
at breakfast, the committee appointed
for the purpose went off to lay out the
town of Kandiyohi, while the rest pack
ed up everything, and made ready to
start on the return of the others"
This extract from Mr.. Whitefield's
narrative may suffice at this time. Very
few of the early exploring parties in
this state possessed this advantage of
having member Of such idea1istic tenn
permanent to so fully record their exper-
fences.
ATTEMPTS AT DEVELOPMENT.
The townsite company made an at
tempt at development in the early spring
of 1857. A steam saw mill was brought
in but broke down when the first log was
placed on it to be sawed, and was then
abandoned and never repaired. In the
early summer a group Of settlers came
in the vicinity, viz: David Johnson, John
Johnson with family, Gustaf Johnson
and Swan Youngren, and were later join
ed by Others The late Gustaf johnson
stated to the writer that when this par
ty arrived, they found one lone inhabf-
tant holding down the TOWNSHIP, and sHv-
ing in shack in the grove near where
John Wicklund's house now stands. This
person left on the arrival Of the party
of settlers from Chisago Lake, and John
Johnson and family located in cabin
near where the wrecked saw mill stood.
They lived there during the winter of
1888 and Mrs. Johnson died in the
spring from hardships and privations to
which she had been exposed. Her death
was the first of white person within
the limits of our county as far as we
know Mr. Johnson and infant son re-
turned to Chisago Lake. Thus runs the
story very briefly stated OF the earliest
days of this city, which only existing on
paper but neverthAless brought much
publicity and Tsn0Wn TO our county.