The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-08-17
UNIQUE COMMUNITY
PROGRAM BROUGHT
CLAIM TO FAME

gently conducted progressive
and cooperative program OF
social, recreational and educa-
tional activities, is Paxton town.
ship adjoining the city OF Red
wood Falls.
Paxton has a lighted softball
field with team worthy OF the
plant. Paxton has Farmers club
which is regularly called upon
to arrange important events in
city and county celebrations.
Paxton men make mass trips TO
the Twin Cities for sports
events. Paxton women and chill
dren take vacations at Mime
sofa lakes, together.
Paxton has an annual banquet,
with after-dinner entertainment
by Minneapolis ard st. Paul
artists.
Many of their play-activities
are financed through the c. d.
Gilfillan memorial fund of 81 900
a year, furnished by c. 0. Gil
fillan who owns farms in the
township. The money is spent
for community recreation only.
Named For j. w. Paxton
These "happy farmers" live
in a section named for j. Wilson
Paxton who developed their ag-
ricultural territory.
O. B. Turrell, Redwood Falls
pioneer, told the story OF MIR.
Paxton's first visit here, his ex-
citing race to. claim the land
and his early activities in the
township:
"J. Wilson Paxton, then a re-
sident of ST. Paul, in April 1868
invited me to accompany him on
a trip to Redwood county to
examine large tract of land on
the Sioux reservation which he
proposed to enter.
cat that time there was no
part of Minnesota that offered
so many attractions for a trip.
The Sioux agency, the scene OF
the massacre of six years before,
New Ulm and Fort Ridgely
where the redskins were
brought to bay, the picturesque
valley of the Minnesota and the
beauty of Redwood Falls would
be visited.
"Our outfit consisted of a
team, a square box-sprlng
wagon with canvas cover, a
spade, frying pan and generous
supply of provisions.
awe sent the team to lie Sueur
where we went by train the next
day. From LIE Sueur we drove,
reached New Ulm in the evening
and stopped at the Dakota house.
Not Pea Green
cat breakfast the next NOR
ming, there was only ole person
at the table with us, lady with
whom Paxton made an effort to
get up a conversation.
Gin reply to some compliments
on New Ulm and its people, she
asked, What did you expect.
Did you suppose we were pea
green and carried our heads un-
der our wings?'
ssFrom New Ulm, we drove to
Golden Gate for dinner, having
passed w. L. Lines and two
other men, and arrived at Red
wood in the evening.
''We stopped at the hotel kept
by James Mcmillan.
Gas Mr.. Paxton had come to
make selection of large tract of
the Sioux lands, we spent most
of the time during the day in the
country.
..There were quite number
of Indian tepees across the river
where later William Crouley
built his residence and goodly
number of good Indians about
the town.
81 remember Mr.. Mcmillan
could not get enough ducks for
the table and that he gave out
to the Indians that he would pay
very high price for all they
would bring in. They brought
him So the next day and he was
obliged to modify the offer.
eve examined the unsold
lands south of town, had been
here some days and were ex-
pecting to remain longer when
we were told after dinner one
day that a party of four who
had been at the hotel two or
three days, left for the land
office at st. Peter at five o'clock
that morning.
C<ark Eynrxrc Iafa
ssThey proposed to enter
several tracts we had already
examined.
"It was then two o'clock and
the matter in hand was to get
to st. Peter ahead of the
a 4