The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-08-05

through from place to place, and fin
ally arrived at Belgrade. To his sore
disappointment, he found everything
ransacked, and his loghouse burned
by the Indians, but nothing could
down him. Immediately he started
to build his second loghouse, almost
at the same place, and in like man
the ground, and thus became settler
for the second time. When he had
things in working order a little, away
he went to the war. In 1852 the In
dams came in their fury upon the
white people and Nicollet County was
O. part of the country where they kill
ed the settlers and burned their
homes. Some managed 20 escape to
Mankato and st. Peter. Our govern
number of this murderous gang OF
Sioux Indians, and thirty eight Of
them were hung in Mankato, Decem-
Der 26th, 1862. The place of this aw-
full act of justice is marked with a
big stone on the North side OF the
bridge on Front Street in Mankato.
This year, 1862, the Hult family came
from Galesburg, Illinois, and bought
land In section %, which land today
is owned by the children Of the same
family. In the year-lS65. our leader
came from the war. His second
home was destroyed by fire by the
Indians. In 1866 he went to work for
the third time to build his home. He
could turn hands to anything and 1t
had to go. This time he discarded
the sod for roofing and made shingles
instead, which today are ample proof
of his workmanship Ind tenacity:
This third house Of his is today used
60 q
home again he took unto himself a
wife. From this on, Mr.. Torngren
was a settled farmer. Before this his
roaming and adventurous spirit had
prevailed. He got yoke of oxen,
o wagon, and regular farming imple
ments. After few years the future
looked brighter, good crops, and big
ger crops each year, was the fruits
of his labor. He was also successful
in influencing others to come to Bel.
grade.
In 1868 came Carl Swanson and his
family from Hennepin county, also
also John Solomon, and the colony
was now four families. During the
year 1869 we had the largest number
of increases in our Colonization eff.
forts. From Carver came John Pet
erson with family, parents and one
brother, Swan Peterson. From Swed-
en- came Mr.. and Mrs. John Kron, Mr.
John Quick with family, Mr.. c.. A.
OLSON with one son, Carl Otto, and
Carl Dahlberg with family. All
homestead land was now taken. All
who came after this time had either
to buy or rent. Now the land began TO
increase in value. The first renter in
our colony was in 1870.
While the colony was thus work
ing and fighting for their temporal
life, the essential was still wanting
the preaching of the Gospel. "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out Of
the mouth of God" The soul must
have the Bread of Life, the heavenly
mana, or else perish. Those that
lived farthest north went to church
at st. Peter and those farthest south
went to church at Mankato, where
Rev. M: Sandell preached for short
this place, lived at this time a man
by the name of J. Ljungberg, who
had been student at Paxton, Illin.
OILS, and had received license to
preach. He held services for the
Swedish people at Hebron. When he
heard about our colony he came here
and arranged for meetings at which
he preached. He was a sincere and
earnest christian and loved and re.
spected by all. During 1870 they met
sometimes in the homes and some.
times IN the schoolhouse. When he
saw how greatly people valued
these simple services he proposed 20
them to organize Swedish Evan
gelical Lutheran Church. Finally the
date wa agreed upon and an organi-