BOOK - HISTORY OF STEELE & WASECA COUNTIES, MN., PUBLISHED IN 1887 WASECA COUNTY
Asa G. Sutlief was the first white man to come here with the intention of making a settlement. On a bright and beautiful day in August, 1854, slowly over the southern part of this county, then an uninhabited wilderness, the bright sun beaming down upon a vast sea of green, the air perfumed with the scent of many gorgeous flowers, came a little cavalcade. Foremost, a canvas-topped wagon, bearing the pioneer, tall, dark and slender, his raven hair and keen black eyes denoting his decent from Gallic ancestry. 'Neath the flapping sides of the wagon tent, could have been seen the form of his wife, and the laughing faces of his two children, Delancy and Rhoda. With them they had some sheep and about thirty head of cattle. Looking around him Mr. Sutlief, one of the best judges of land that ever came to this part of the county, determined to settle here. He was a native of the State of Ohio, and being of a naturally adventurous disposition, he had hardly attained the age of nineteen years, when he made a trip into the wilds of Michigan. After returning to his home, he removed to McHenry County, Ill., where he settled down for awhile. Becoming restless, however, he left there and became one of the hardy pioneers who, about that time, had commenced to plant the banner of progress in the wilds of what is now Dodge County, Wisconsin. Here he remained until June, 1854, when he fitted out three wagons for a trip into the then wilderness of Minnesota. Besides his wife and children he was accompanied by three hired men, who took care of about sixty sheep and thirty or more head of cattle. After crossing the river at LaCrosse, on the second day from that place they were overtaken by Judge Green and Messrs. Boomer, Bentley and Hollingsworth, the latter the father of Mrs. Sutlief; all were from Dodge County, also. This little company traveled across the prairie for fifteen days without meeting a single person. Arriving at Mankato on the 3rd of July, they rested there the Fourth, but soon pressed on west, and seven miles west of the Minnesota River, on the old Fort Ridgely road, Mr. Sutlief made a claim, the other parties returning home. In August, after having put up a claim shanty and breaking some land, he concluded to sell his claim and make a settlement on the rich lands on the LeSueur River. Therefore we see him returning in this direction. He selected some land on section 35, on the south bend of that river in the southern part of what is now Wilton Township. On this spot he erected a cabin, going to Mankato for boards to cover it. He then broke up the sod over a few acres, and cut enough grass to make hay with which to feed his stock through the coming winter. In the latter part of November, of the same year, he employed Luther Barrett, formerly of Horicon, Wis., but then of Mankato, to live in his shanty and tend his stock, and putting his wife and children into one of his wagons drawn by an ox team, started for his home in the Badger State, where he still owned a farm. They camped in the wagon at night until they reached LaCrescent. There they had to wait for the freezing of the river so that they might cross, and on the fourth day after their arrival there, although the ice was barely thick enough to bear up a man in his rash, impetuous way he started to cross. After a thorough examination of the way, obtaining help he case the oxen, and tying their feet together, drew them across on the slippery ice. The wagon was pulled over the same way, and then the family escorted over. In January, 1855, returning to Waseca County, Mr. Sutlief was accompanied by James E. Child, then a young man; his brother, Simeon P. Child, a stripling of nineteen, and a man by the name of Plummer, who had joined them at or near LaCrescent. A history of their journey is given by J. E. Child in a personal reminiscence in this work, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. Arriving here on the second day of January, 1855, they found the shanty of Mr. Sutlief in the charge of Barrett, and were glad of shelter from the winter's cold and freezing breath. They settled down in the Sutlief cabin, but in a few weeks Mr. Sutlief returned to Wisconsin to settle up his affairs. He returned once in June, 1855, but it was November when he came here to stay, at which time his family came with him. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Sutlief left here, going to Wisconsin, and from there to Texas, returning in about four years later with a drove of Texas cattle He died here October 13, 1871, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Few men were better calculated by nature and experience to overcome the obstacles and hardships incident to pioneer life than he. Fertile in resources, although his actions might have seemed rashness to a less dauntless man, he was, nevertheless, a cautious and safe guide on the frontier.
Child's History of Waseca
Mr. Asa G. Sutlief, the first white man to make a home in Waseca county, after a lingering illness of some weeks, died Oct. 13, 1871. At the time of his death, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the county.
Asa G. Sutlief was the first white man to come here with the intention of making a settlement. On a bright and beautiful day in August, 1854, slowly over the southern part of this county, then an uninhabited wilderness, the bright sun beaming down upon a vast sea of green, the air perfumed with the scent of many gorgeous flowers, came a little cavalcade. Foremost, a canvas-topped wagon, bearing the pioneer, tall, dark and slender, his raven hair and keen black eyes denoting his decent from Gallic ancestry. 'Neath the flapping sides of the wagon tent, could have been seen the form of his wife, and the laughing faces of his two children, Delancy and Rhoda. With them they had some sheep and about thirty head of cattle. Looking around him Mr. Sutlief, one of the best judges of land that ever came to this part of the county, determined to settle here. He was a native of the State of Ohio, and being of a naturally adventurous disposition, he had hardly attained the age of nineteen years, when he made a trip into the wilds of Michigan. After returning to his home, he removed to McHenry County, Ill., where he settled down for awhile. Becoming restless, however, he left there and became one of the hardy pioneers who, about that time, had commenced to plant the banner of progress in the wilds of what is now Dodge County, Wisconsin. Here he remained until June, 1854, when he fitted out three wagons for a trip into the then wilderness of Minnesota. Besides his wife and children he was accompanied by three hired men, who took care of about sixty sheep and thirty or more head of cattle. After crossing the river at LaCrosse, on the second day from that place they were overtaken by Judge Green and Messrs. Boomer, Bentley and Hollingsworth, the latter the father of Mrs. Sutlief; all were from Dodge County, also. This little company traveled across the prairie for fifteen days without meeting a single person. Arriving at Mankato on the 3rd of July, they rested there the Fourth, but soon pressed on west, and seven miles west of the Minnesota River, on the old Fort Ridgely road, Mr. Sutlief made a claim, the other parties returning home. In August, after having put up a claim shanty and breaking some land, he concluded to sell his claim and make a settlement on the rich lands on the LeSueur River. Therefore we see him returning in this direction. He selected some land on section 35, on the south bend of that river in the southern part of what is now Wilton Township. On this spot he erected a cabin, going to Mankato for boards to cover it. He then broke up the sod over a few acres, and cut enough grass to make hay with which to feed his stock through the coming winter. In the latter part of November, of the same year, he employed Luther Barrett, formerly of Horicon, Wis., but then of Mankato, to live in his shanty and tend his stock, and putting his wife and children into one of his wagons drawn by an ox team, started for his home in the Badger State, where he still owned a farm. They camped in the wagon at night until they reached LaCrescent. There they had to wait for the freezing of the river so that they might cross, and on the fourth day after their arrival there, although the ice was barely thick enough to bear up a man in his rash, impetuous way he started to cross. After a thorough examination of the way, obtaining help he case the oxen, and tying their feet together, drew them across on the slippery ice. The wagon was pulled over the same way, and then the family escorted over. In January, 1855, returning to Waseca County, Mr. Sutlief was accompanied by James E. Child, then a young man; his brother, Simeon P. Child, a stripling of nineteen, and a man by the name of Plummer, who had joined them at or near LaCrescent. A history of their journey is given by J. E. Child in a personal reminiscence in this work, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. Arriving here on the second day of January, 1855, they found the shanty of Mr. Sutlief in the charge of Barrett, and were glad of shelter from the winter's cold and freezing breath. They settled down in the Sutlief cabin, but in a few weeks Mr. Sutlief returned to Wisconsin to settle up his affairs. He returned once in June, 1855, but it was November when he came here to stay, at which time his family came with him. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Sutlief left here, going to Wisconsin, and from there to Texas, returning in about four years later with a drove of Texas cattle He died here October 13, 1871, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Few men were better calculated by nature and experience to overcome the obstacles and hardships incident to pioneer life than he. Fertile in resources, although his actions might have seemed rashness to a less dauntless man, he was, nevertheless, a cautious and safe guide on the frontier.
Child's History of Waseca
Mr. Asa G. Sutlief, the first white man to make a home in Waseca county, after a lingering illness of some weeks, died Oct. 13, 1871. At the time of his death, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the county.
BOOK - HISTORY OF STEELE & WASECA COUNTIES, MN., PUBLISHED IN 1887 WASECA COUNTY
Asa G. Sutlief was the first white man to come here with the intention of making a settlement. On a bright and beautiful day in August, 1854, slowly over the southern part of this county, then an uninhabited wilderness, the bright sun beaming down upon a vast sea of green, the air perfumed with the scent of many gorgeous flowers, came a little cavalcade. Foremost, a canvas-topped wagon, bearing the pioneer, tall, dark and slender, his raven hair and keen black eyes denoting his decent from Gallic ancestry. 'Neath the flapping sides of the wagon tent, could have been seen the form of his wife, and the laughing faces of his two children, Delancy and Rhoda. With them they had some sheep and about thirty head of cattle. Looking around him Mr. Sutlief, one of the best judges of land that ever came to this part of the county, determined to settle here. He was a native of the State of Ohio, and being of a naturally adventurous disposition, he had hardly attained the age of nineteen years, when he made a trip into the wilds of Michigan. After returning to his home, he removed to McHenry County, Ill., where he settled down for awhile. Becoming restless, however, he left there and became one of the hardy pioneers who, about that time, had commenced to plant the banner of progress in the wilds of what is now Dodge County, Wisconsin. Here he remained until June, 1854, when he fitted out three wagons for a trip into the then wilderness of Minnesota. Besides his wife and children he was accompanied by three hired men, who took care of about sixty sheep and thirty or more head of cattle. After crossing the river at LaCrosse, on the second day from that place they were overtaken by Judge Green and Messrs. Boomer, Bentley and Hollingsworth, the latter the father of Mrs. Sutlief; all were from Dodge County, also. This little company traveled across the prairie for fifteen days without meeting a single person. Arriving at Mankato on the 3rd of July, they rested there the Fourth, but soon pressed on west, and seven miles west of the Minnesota River, on the old Fort Ridgely road, Mr. Sutlief made a claim, the other parties returning home. In August, after having put up a claim shanty and breaking some land, he concluded to sell his claim and make a settlement on the rich lands on the LeSueur River. Therefore we see him returning in this direction. He selected some land on section 35, on the south bend of that river in the southern part of what is now Wilton Township. On this spot he erected a cabin, going to Mankato for boards to cover it. He then broke up the sod over a few acres, and cut enough grass to make hay with which to feed his stock through the coming winter. In the latter part of November, of the same year, he employed Luther Barrett, formerly of Horicon, Wis., but then of Mankato, to live in his shanty and tend his stock, and putting his wife and children into one of his wagons drawn by an ox team, started for his home in the Badger State, where he still owned a farm. They camped in the wagon at night until they reached LaCrescent. There they had to wait for the freezing of the river so that they might cross, and on the fourth day after their arrival there, although the ice was barely thick enough to bear up a man in his rash, impetuous way he started to cross. After a thorough examination of the way, obtaining help he case the oxen, and tying their feet together, drew them across on the slippery ice. The wagon was pulled over the same way, and then the family escorted over. In January, 1855, returning to Waseca County, Mr. Sutlief was accompanied by James E. Child, then a young man; his brother, Simeon P. Child, a stripling of nineteen, and a man by the name of Plummer, who had joined them at or near LaCrescent. A history of their journey is given by J. E. Child in a personal reminiscence in this work, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. Arriving here on the second day of January, 1855, they found the shanty of Mr. Sutlief in the charge of Barrett, and were glad of shelter from the winter's cold and freezing breath. They settled down in the Sutlief cabin, but in a few weeks Mr. Sutlief returned to Wisconsin to settle up his affairs. He returned once in June, 1855, but it was November when he came here to stay, at which time his family came with him. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Sutlief left here, going to Wisconsin, and from there to Texas, returning in about four years later with a drove of Texas cattle He died here October 13, 1871, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Few men were better calculated by nature and experience to overcome the obstacles and hardships incident to pioneer life than he. Fertile in resources, although his actions might have seemed rashness to a less dauntless man, he was, nevertheless, a cautious and safe guide on the frontier.
Child's History of Waseca
Mr. Asa G. Sutlief, the first white man to make a home in Waseca county, after a lingering illness of some weeks, died Oct. 13, 1871. At the time of his death, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the county.
Asa G. Sutlief was the first white man to come here with the intention of making a settlement. On a bright and beautiful day in August, 1854, slowly over the southern part of this county, then an uninhabited wilderness, the bright sun beaming down upon a vast sea of green, the air perfumed with the scent of many gorgeous flowers, came a little cavalcade. Foremost, a canvas-topped wagon, bearing the pioneer, tall, dark and slender, his raven hair and keen black eyes denoting his decent from Gallic ancestry. 'Neath the flapping sides of the wagon tent, could have been seen the form of his wife, and the laughing faces of his two children, Delancy and Rhoda. With them they had some sheep and about thirty head of cattle. Looking around him Mr. Sutlief, one of the best judges of land that ever came to this part of the county, determined to settle here. He was a native of the State of Ohio, and being of a naturally adventurous disposition, he had hardly attained the age of nineteen years, when he made a trip into the wilds of Michigan. After returning to his home, he removed to McHenry County, Ill., where he settled down for awhile. Becoming restless, however, he left there and became one of the hardy pioneers who, about that time, had commenced to plant the banner of progress in the wilds of what is now Dodge County, Wisconsin. Here he remained until June, 1854, when he fitted out three wagons for a trip into the then wilderness of Minnesota. Besides his wife and children he was accompanied by three hired men, who took care of about sixty sheep and thirty or more head of cattle. After crossing the river at LaCrosse, on the second day from that place they were overtaken by Judge Green and Messrs. Boomer, Bentley and Hollingsworth, the latter the father of Mrs. Sutlief; all were from Dodge County, also. This little company traveled across the prairie for fifteen days without meeting a single person. Arriving at Mankato on the 3rd of July, they rested there the Fourth, but soon pressed on west, and seven miles west of the Minnesota River, on the old Fort Ridgely road, Mr. Sutlief made a claim, the other parties returning home. In August, after having put up a claim shanty and breaking some land, he concluded to sell his claim and make a settlement on the rich lands on the LeSueur River. Therefore we see him returning in this direction. He selected some land on section 35, on the south bend of that river in the southern part of what is now Wilton Township. On this spot he erected a cabin, going to Mankato for boards to cover it. He then broke up the sod over a few acres, and cut enough grass to make hay with which to feed his stock through the coming winter. In the latter part of November, of the same year, he employed Luther Barrett, formerly of Horicon, Wis., but then of Mankato, to live in his shanty and tend his stock, and putting his wife and children into one of his wagons drawn by an ox team, started for his home in the Badger State, where he still owned a farm. They camped in the wagon at night until they reached LaCrescent. There they had to wait for the freezing of the river so that they might cross, and on the fourth day after their arrival there, although the ice was barely thick enough to bear up a man in his rash, impetuous way he started to cross. After a thorough examination of the way, obtaining help he case the oxen, and tying their feet together, drew them across on the slippery ice. The wagon was pulled over the same way, and then the family escorted over. In January, 1855, returning to Waseca County, Mr. Sutlief was accompanied by James E. Child, then a young man; his brother, Simeon P. Child, a stripling of nineteen, and a man by the name of Plummer, who had joined them at or near LaCrescent. A history of their journey is given by J. E. Child in a personal reminiscence in this work, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. Arriving here on the second day of January, 1855, they found the shanty of Mr. Sutlief in the charge of Barrett, and were glad of shelter from the winter's cold and freezing breath. They settled down in the Sutlief cabin, but in a few weeks Mr. Sutlief returned to Wisconsin to settle up his affairs. He returned once in June, 1855, but it was November when he came here to stay, at which time his family came with him. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Sutlief left here, going to Wisconsin, and from there to Texas, returning in about four years later with a drove of Texas cattle He died here October 13, 1871, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Few men were better calculated by nature and experience to overcome the obstacles and hardships incident to pioneer life than he. Fertile in resources, although his actions might have seemed rashness to a less dauntless man, he was, nevertheless, a cautious and safe guide on the frontier.
Child's History of Waseca
Mr. Asa G. Sutlief, the first white man to make a home in Waseca county, after a lingering illness of some weeks, died Oct. 13, 1871. At the time of his death, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the county.
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