The Mankato free press., 1923-02-16

ed alone and later man volunteer
ed to go with him.
( II had some very lively times when
j was sheriff for about twenty years
or more" said Mr.. Pay. II was
either sheriff, assistant or deputy
and there were many thrills in those
days. ] was in the livery business,
always had a swift team, well ac-
Quainted with the country and be.
Cause of this | was honored with
election to the sheriff's office.
carried messages at night all over
this part of the country. l went sing
ly and with double team. | carried
messages and kilograms to soldiers
and TO the governor in st. Paul.
often went in relays taking a fresh
pony several times during the night.
Scared? never" said Mr.. Pay. i
was a small man, but ! knew 1t had
to be done and l always believed in
doing my duty.
One of the narroweSt escapes |
ever had" said Mr.. Pay. was when
my horse was shot under me. 1t was
at the time Of the Jewett family
murder near Rapidan and | was sent
out to direct the men who were try
ing TO assist in the capture of the
Indians. A boy was riding at my
side. AS we came from out of ra-
vine, the boy was shot and caught
him, placed him on my horse mean
time the bullets flew under and
about my horse. The boy died on
the door step as | entered a farm
house. When the Indians were 60
ing to be removed from Lake Eli
sian, where they were camped
shortly after the massacre, the chief
did not want to come to Mankato
when sent for. Mr.. Pay knew him
and pleaded with him to accept
the terms OF the government Chief
Winasheak remarked ME come.
but stay with us till we are ready"
Alone Mr.. Pay come with the chief
to Mankato. Then again Mr.: Pay
figured in the Younger James
Northfrid bank raid and assisted in
the capture of the Youngers near
Madelia. He sat up alone in the
room with Cole Younger in the ho
tel the night he was wounded and
cared for his wound. "He talked to
me about everything but the rob-
berry" said Mr.. Pay. "and could
not get a word out OF him. Mr.. Pay
also went with them on the train to
the state prison at Saltwater.
/ was born in Dover. England.
and came to America eighty six
years ago. When was fourteen years
old ! became a cracker peddler with
horse and wagon travelling over
the country for my father who op-
Grated the factory. | found it tire
some. I,decided to accept Horace
Greeley's advice and ''go west
Then l married Mary Amelia Roper
at Juneau, Wis, and started with
team and wagon to seek a home of
our own in the wilds of Minnesota.
We arrived at Garden City in 1856.
There were only three houses there.
This was the beginning of the hard
est winter Minnesota ever eXper
len Led. We were twenty five miles
from the postoffice and from where
we could get medical aid. Then
came the Indian scares. We wrap
ped our children in blankets and the
family left home. Returning home
we lived principally on cornbread
for the next several years. For
three years all was peace and quiet.
Then came the Indian scares
again and we hid our two children
in a corn field near by the house
while we worked in the wheat fields
to save what we could before the
Indians came. We could plainly
see the smoke or the burning OF the
log cabins in New Ulm. We packed
up and came to Mankato in 1862,
where have lived eyer since" Four
children were born to them. W. H.
Pay, B. F. Pay, Miss Nellie Pay
and Miss Mary Louise Pay. The
funeral services will be held on
Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
at the house
Since the death of his wife seven
teen years ago. Mr.. Pay has made
his home with his two daughters
living in the old home place which
he built in 1880. Mr. Pay was a
member of the A. o. w. W. and the
Odd Fellows lodge.
The funeral services will be con-
Quoted at the home by Rev. J. Wat
son. Tuesday afternoon at 2:30
o'clock The Odd Fellow lodge of
which he was charter member will
conduct the services at the grave.