In November 1867, Mr. Hawes brought with him John Lietze and family who were to maintain a stopping place, or half-way place, as it was called on the mail route. Although both the Estey and Lietze families spent the winter of 1867-68 on the Rock river within ten miles of each other, neither knew of the presence of the other, each family believing itself to be the only one in Rock county. At Jackson, Mr. Hawes had been told that a family had been spending the winter on the route, below his station, and on January 31, 1868, while on a trip over the line he went down to see if it were true. He found that the Esteys had lost a day in the reckoning of time, and for over two months had been rigidly keeping Monday for the Sabbath day.
When once the trail has been blazed to the frontier country and actual settlement has been established, it is not long until others follow. This was the case in Rock county, and we find that during 1868, quite a number of settlers pushed to the Rock river country and builded themselves a home. Among the settlers of 1968 was Edwin Gillman who later became sheriff of Rock county.
Despite the fact that only a few had arrived in the county during the first half of the year, those were patriotic and duly celebrated the nation’s birthday. Every man, woman and child in the county excepting Charlie Hawes, who was on a trip to Yankton with the mail, was present. They were Philo Hawes and family, Mrs. Deborah Estey and family, Miss Miranda J. Skinner, Edward McKenzie, Daniel Wilmout and family, S. Teal, J. C. Phelps and family, and Charles Hillman.
The year 1829 saw considerable increase in new settlers, but lack of space forbids going into detail.
The first birth of Rock county occurred in the month of March 1869. It was a daughter, Effie Ferguson, born to Mr. And Mrs. John H. Ferguson. The second birth was also a daughter, Lorenda Bradford. The third birth also occurred the same year, a daughter, Carrie Hawes, having been born to Mr. and Mrs. Philo Hawes on August 9th.
This article will be continued next week.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.