Captain Josiah Elam West, known as an ardent patriot and supporter of the Old Settlers Association, gave this unique lecture, “Where the Pioneers Slept,” at the 1906 annual meeting of the association. West had arrived in Minnesota in 1855 while in his early 20s, and soon settled in St. Cloud where he lived the rest of his life, playing a considerable role in its growth and progress. He was in his 70s as he looked back on the early years of settlement for this address. For your enjoyment we are including this slightly rearranged version of his remarks, shortened to fit the limitations of our column. The speech in its original form is recorded in William Mitchell’s History of Stearns County, (1915). ********** In our reminiscences as to where we slept, it is easier to remember the delightful sleeping-places of the pioneer days than it is to recollect the nights we spent in misery and grief. We slept in or under our “prairie schooners” on our long tiresome trip over new roads and through the woodland while seeking a new home on the frontier. Some of us remember the delightful trip on one of the great floating palaces that steamed up the river from Galena to St. Paul. After the pleasant evening of a glorious October day spent on deck, drinking in the pure fresh air and enjoying the grand scenery and gorgeous foliage that covered the bluffs, how delightfully we slept in the large and comfortable staterooms. When we landed at the wharf at the village of St. Paul, we were sorry to leave our delightful sleeping places. Then we slept in small, untidy rooms at the old Merchant, the American House and the St. Charles. During the winter of 1854 we slept on bed-ticks filled with prairie grass, in cold houses in the village of St. Anthony, and on claims in the new country. In the early spring of 1855 some of us slept one fearful stormy night where we were awakened by the terrific crash as the beautiful suspension bridge was blown from its cables and fell, a complete wreck, on the ice below. Then we slept on the wild and beautiful banks of Lakes Calhoun, Harriet and Minnetonka before the artisan had attempted to improve on God’s glorious work. We slept within hearing of the waterfall as it rushed with all its grandeur over the precipice forming the Bridal Veil at the then beautiful Minnehaha, and before we had learned by our sad experiences with the red men that Longfellow’s poem was nothing but a hoax. Then we slept under the beautiful trees on what is now University campus, and in the shadow of Cheever’s Tower, where we could read the sign, “Pay your dime and climb.” Then after climbing the long stairs, sleep was driven from our eyes as we looked out and saw in the distance the grand and glorious cataract, where the great volume of water rushed in its mad splashing career over the original Falls of St. Anthony, and on every side we could see God’s glorious and beautiful world. When we reached the ground we leaned against the tower and slept, and dreamed of the beautiful new world we had found. During that fearful long, cold winter of 1855 we slept in board shanties with only one inch of lumber to protect us from the cold of 50 degrees below zero. We cooked, lived, ate and slept in these shanties and log cabins, with our bed in the center of the room between two stoves. When we retired the stove would be red hot and water boiling, and in the morning it would be frozen solid. We slept in kind-hearted squatters’ cabins, having two or three children for bed-fellows, sleeping between two great feather-beds. Then we slept in other cabins with scant covering, and we slept on the floor of these cabins, wrapped in our buffalo robes. We slept in rooms where frost gathered on the windows three inches thick. We slept in lofts and garrets where we would be covered with snow as it drifted through the roof, and we slept where our breath froze our whiskers and hair to the bedding. Then we slept on the track of the wounded deer or bear that we had followed until dark, so that at early daylight we could start, hoping to catch up with our game before it had left its resting-place. Then we slept in the woods, with our blankets and buffalo-robes stretched on poles for a tent, with great log fires in front of us while the mercury was frozen out of sight. Our young vigor and enthusiasm kept us warm and comfortable while we slept. After a night and day lost in the woods, we slept before other great fires that served with double purpose of keeping us warm and holding at bay the howling pack of timber wolves. During the summer after a day’s tramping on the boundless prairie sea, the sun hid under a cloud, we were most fearfully lost. We made beds from the marsh grass and in the midst of thousands and thousands of beautiful flowers, such as grow only in God’s great flower garden, we had refreshing sleep and were awakened by the bright and glorious sun as it appeared in the east, bringing us the greetings of another day and pointing out the road to our homes. Never was the sun more beautiful; we gave it a warm welcome and accepted its greeting with joyful hearts. Next time brings the conclusion of Captain West’s lecture. ********** One hundred and forty-five years after the Civil War, a “living history” comes alive Tuesday, Feb. 27. Together, Bruce and Anita Nelson’s goals are to educate the public and themselves about a specific time in history. See and hear them re-enacting the Civil War period of the 1860s as you’ve never seen in Kimball before. By traveling to battlefields and going to schools speaking to students, they attempt to accurately represent military and civilians of that period. Mark your calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Kimball City Hall. A very special evening is planned for you. All you need to do is be there. Refreshments and reminiscing to follow. Free and open to the public. ********** Thank you for your partnership through members. Is your’s current? Your support is making a difference for Kimball area history preservation. ********** Before long, March 24 will be here – the remarkable Kimball Community Expo, where Kimball’s Historical Society invites you to our storytelling display. Watch this column and the Tri-County News for more announcements. Free. Open to the public. ********** All those extraordinary keepsake souvenirs of Maine Prairie and Kimball will continue to be available at the State Bank of Kimball at reasonable prices for yourselves or gift-giving. For general information or family research help, for tax deductible donations to the Kimball City Hall restoration, any questions you have about us, please write or call The Kimball Area Historical Society, Box 100, Kimball, Minn. 55353, (320) 398-5743 or (320) 398-5250, or (800) 252-2521, if out of area. ********** See you Feb. 27. “Bridging the past with the present.”
