The following was printed in the Rock County Herald July 18, 1924:Rock County as it was 50 odd years agoBeing a paper on pioneer life as read by Rep. J.N. Jacobsen at Hills Old Settler’s Re-union"Permanent settlement began in the southwest corner of the county in 1867. A few years before that time, visiting trappers had operated in the county, visiting streams for the taking of pelts of the fur-bearing animals which were then to be found. We have data concerning the operations of only a few of these. Of those who later became residents of the county, one of the first white men who looked upon its soil was Robert Douglas, who passed through Rock County with the soldiers in pursuit of the Redskins, after the Indian uprising of the early ‘60s. He reported many elk and deer in the country and was responsible for naming Elk Slough in Magnolia Township. James A. Rice, later sheriff of Rock County, in company with G.M. Scott, trapped along Rock River and traded with the Indians in the fall of 1866 and spent more than a month within the county’s boundaries. During their stay on the river in 1866, deer and antelope, and one day they saw two buffalo which had come back before bidding adieu forever. The trappers liked the looks of the country, and Mr. Rice, in after years, told of his and his companions’ speculations as to the length of time before the country would be settled. "We knew it was as nice a country as ever laid outdoors," He said, "but we had no idea that it would be settled in 50 years."This article is a long one so it will be continued next week. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
