The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-01-26
PIONEER TELLS
OF EXPERIENCES
DIR. Joshua Smith Tells Of H~ardships
As Pioneer. Settled On Strut
Farm

early udy pioneers OI mana COUnJy
was brought to light recently, when
Mr.. J.. j.. Strut or this city received
a letter from a Watertown minister
asking information concerning a piece
of land in Howell township. The
farm, which is located in the southeast
quarter of 17-115-6S, and which is now
known as the "Struif Ranch" was set
tied on in 1888, by DR.. Joshua Smith.
now of Chicago. DIR. Smiths expert
ences were so rough that recently,
when he heard that his ~son-in-law had
been sent to a Watertown church, he
strongly advised him to stay away
from South Dakota, not realizing, per-
haps, the great changes that had taken
place in the state and particularly in
this county.
Accompanying the letter was DR..
Smiths W story Of his experiences,
taken from his diary. The difficulties
he encountered in getting from Chi
cago to his destination are of unusual
interest, as the trip took from January
29th, until February 10th. The diary
follows:
Monday, January 20, 1888.
Started for Dakota. Train left half
hour behind time, on account Of wreck
had to go by way OF Elgin. Arrived
at Harvard 81 miles from c. Two
hours behind time. Detained there 2
on acct. defective wheel. Arrived at
Winona 4 a. m.
Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Left Winona 1880 p. m. Showing.
About 10 miles west of Winona struck
the blizzardest blizzard that ever bliz-
"a rAQd Sfnnk in q cnnyy hanL half
mile from Eyota. Passengers had TO
be brought to town in sleds. A thor
oughbred.
Wednesday, January 81.
Cold and blowing. Started west at
6 o'clock. Arrived in Rochester in
due time. Met Mrs. Ireland, Mrs. KEEL
ley's daughter. Spent the evening
with them.
Thursday, February /.
Snow bound at Rochester all day.
30 degrees below zero. Wrote to Nina
and Linnie. Telegraphed Phil.
Friday, February 2.
Left Rochester about $3.50 a. m.
Stuck near Byron. Shoveled out and
divided train. Just past Byron saw
now plough strike 3 #. drift about
forty feet long. Arrived at Waseca
snow bound again.
Saturday, February 3.
Had good nights rest. Left Waseca
HIS a. m. Showing. Reacher st.
Peter about 2 D.. m. Train ordered to
stop till Monday. Stopped at Nicollett
House. Evening t~elegraphed Nina.
Sunshine all of noon.
Sunday, February 4.
Went to NJ. (. Church in morning.
Afternoon Tenn. Lecture. Sent lunch
to passengers. Morn. Their. "a degrees
below. Eve. Is degrees below. Wrote
home. Sunshine all day.
Monday. February 5.
Beautiful sunshine. About IL a. m.
had orders to go to depot. 12:45 p. m.
snow plough, four engines, 2 cars OF
shovels just arrived. Prospects en-
couraging. Left 1:25. Reached SLEEPY
Eye 2:35.
. Tuesday, February 6.
Left Sleepy Eye 1915 a. m. Reach
ed Springfield 1850. Afternoon went
with snow plough to see ii work. Re-
turned to Springfield $3.50 p. m Worst
town we struck.
Wednesday, February Z.
Forenoon went out to see plough
again. Came back to Springfield at
100 p. m. for dinner. Started west
1880. Reached Lamberton 1880 p. m.
Thursday, February s.
Left Lamberton. Snow plough was
with it until reached Tracy about 400
n. M. Remained Tracy over night.
Friday, February g..
Left Tracy on sleds for Tyler 7:40.
Reached Tyler 5 p. m. Left Tyler on
E0n Tol nzNN. n .lxa
$3.50. Left Benton Lake for Huron
6 p. M.
Saturday, February 10.
Reached Huron / a. m. Morning
beautiful. Thawing, spring weather.
Only about two inches or snow. Left
Huron Tor Rex $3.50. Arrived at Rex.
Sunday, February IL.
Cold but pleasant. Went out to the
boys.
Monday, February IL.
Ed. and / went on locating tour.
Made selection. S. 4. "A II, Township
lis. Range IS. Afternoon worked on
Shanty. Beautiful day.
Tuesday. February 13.
Fine day. Helped Phil haul lumber
for julius shanty. Boys chased wolf.
Wednesday. February IA.
Foggy. Rode to st. Lawrence with
Bunk Seeker on lumber wagon.
Thursday. February Is.
Foggy. About 4 o'clock began blow
ing and showing.
Friday, February 16.
Thoroughbred blizzard. Evening
some sunshine.
Saturday, February IL.
Beautiful morning. Thawing. Left
st. Lawrence about s p. m. Telegraph
ed Nina. Reached Huron about 1850
j.. m.
Sunday, February Is.
Beautiful morning. Left Huron.
Arrived Elkton $50 p. N. Took sleds
to Sioux Falls. Reached Sioux Falls
500 a.. m. Monday,
Monday. February 10
Beautiful morning. Left Sioux Falls
7:55. Reached Kasota. Took freight
train from Kasota to Waseca. Arrived
about $3.50.
Tuesday, February 20.
Left Waseca 1880 a. m.