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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on July 18, 1924:
 
Continued from last week:
 
ROCK COUNTY AS IT WAS FIFTY ODD YEARS AGO
 
During the Autumn of 1866, Nathan C Estey and James Johnson, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, visited the county for the purpose of selecting claims on the un-surveyed lands for themselves and for Mr. Estey’s younger brothers, also having a few goods to barter with the Indians. They proceeded up Rock river into Vienna township and there built a shanty in which they lived two months.
The first attempt to establish a permanent home in Rock county was made early in the month of June, 1867, by a Mr. Towers, and was unsuccessful. During the month of June, 1867, Philo Hawes, who was to take a more active part in early day affairs of Rock than any other man, accompanied by Joe Fields, passed through the county selecting a route for a government mail line from Blue Earth City to Yankton, Dakota Territory, and arrived at Rock river, a short distance above the present site of Luverne, on June 13th, where they camped for the night. Proceeding on their way westward they arrived on the present site of Sioux Falls on the morning of June 15, 1867, where they found a military post occupied by a part of a regiment of soldiers.
The honor of making the first permanent settlement in Rock county must be accorded to Amos E. and Orville C. Estey, brothers, who arrived in Rock county the third day of August 1867, the location being section 25, Clinton township, some two miles north of the Iowa state line. The pioneer house of Rock county erected by them was nine feet wide by sixteen feet in length, seven high at the front, and sloping down at the rear until the roof was only nine inches from the ground. The frame was constructed of poles cut along the river, which were placed upon upright crotched poles. After the poles had been placed in position long slough-grass was placed over the frame, taking the place of clapboards. The grass was woven about the poles as the old-fashioned willow baskets were woven. Over all were piled brush, coarse hay, sods and loose dirt.
This pioneer home was decidedly of the frontier, the nearest family being one by the name of Kordwell at the head of Spirit Lake. To the north there were no settlers for a greater distance, and Yankton was the nearest settlement on the west, excepting the soldiers, at the falls of the Big Sioux. Jackson was the postoffice of the Estey boys, and Spirit Lake, Iowa was the point from which they secured their provisions.
It is perhaps needless to add that they did not enjoy the privileges of the rural free delivery in that day. Philo Hawes, having secured the contract for carrying mail, came out to Rock county again on Sept. 18, 1867. On Sept. 19th he moved and camped near the present site of the Rock Island depot and at this time also selected the site for his future home. The section lines had not yet been run, but he did claim under squatters rights what, when surveyed, was the east half of the northwest quarter and the south half of the northeast quarter, section eleven, Luverne township, land upon which he later filed, and later still founded the town of Luverne.
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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on July 18, 1924:
 
ROCK COUNTY AS IT WAS FIFTY ODD YEARS AGO
 
Being a Paper on Pioneer Life as Read by Representative J.N. Jacobson at Hills Old Settler’s Re-Union
 
Permanent settlement began in the southwest corner of the county in 1876. A few years before that time, 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 the 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 county and was responsible for naming Elk Slough in Magnolia township.
James A. Rice, later sheriff of Rock county, in company with G. M. Scott, tramped along Rock river and traded with the Indians in the fall of 1866 and spent over a month within the county’s boundaries. During their stay on the river in 1866, Rice and Scott saw an occasional elk, deer and antelope and one day they saw two buffalo which had come back once more to their stamping grounds 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 fifty years.”
(This article will continue 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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 24, 1924:
 
COUNTY SCHOOLS RECEIVE STATE AID APPROPRIATION
County Auditor Olaf Skyberg this week received notice from State Auditor Chase as to the amount of state appropriation as school aid which Rock county will receive. This sum is $11,113.20 which makes $4 for each of the 2,640 pupils in Rock county schools.
In addition to this, the funds derived from fines and penalties makes the aid 20c more per pupil, or the combined amount, $4.20. This will be paid to the various school districts in connection with the regular November settlement.
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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 17, 1924:
 
MANY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PUBLIC CHEST CLINIC
 
Total of Thirty-Nine Persons Undergo Examination by Drs. Slater and Britt
 
A total of thirty-nine people took advantage of the opportunity for examination at the chest clinic held Wednesday at the Armory under the direction of Drs. Slater and Britt, of the Southwestern Minnesota sanitorium.
Fully ninety per cent of those who underwent examination were adults. This is said to be the largest number that have ever taken advantage of a similar clinic and the result of Wednesday’s event is considered most gratifying in the results disclosed and the number of patients who were really in need of such examination.
While the clinic was primarily for adults, children who live in homes occupied by persons who are or have been affected with tuberculosis infections, were also urged to attend the clinic. In a number of instances, the result of the observations were such that the patients were instructed to closely watch their own condition and to report to the county nurse for observation every few weeks.
Public Health Nurse Florence L. Green and the Misses Helen Houg, Marietta Johnson and Myrtle Collins assisted the physicians in conducting the clinic.
It is announced that another chest clinic will be held here by Dr. Slater within the next three months.
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.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 3, 1924:
 
POPULAR ENTERTAINERS TO BE HERE FOR ONE WEEK
 
Clint and Bessie Robbins and company Coming to Palace Theatre Monday Evening With New Repertoire
 
Clint and Bessie Robbins and their company, longtime favorites of Rock county theatre goers, will open a week’s engagement at the Palace Theatre next Monday, October 6th. The opening attraction will be a George M. Cohen comedy, “So This is London.”
These popular entertainers come to Luverne this year with a complete new repertoire of plays, costumes and settings and orchestra of soloists. They carry a carload of scenery and baggage. Among the other comedies which they are presenting this season are ”New Toys,” “The Old Soak,” “Blue Beard’s 8th Wife,” “Mike Angelo,” “Remnants,” and “The End of a Perfect Day.”
The prices of admission will be 75 cents for the entire first floor and the first two rows of the balcony and the rest of the seats in the balcony will be 50 cents. Tickets for the children under twelve years will be 25 cents. Reserved seats will be on sale at the Palace Song Shop tomorrow morning at 10:00 a. m.
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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on September 12, 1924:
 
LUVERNE PLANS FOR DEFENSE TEST DAY
 
Local Committee Completes Arrangements for Fitting Observance of Day This Afternoon
 
CO. H TO BE RECRUITED TO FULL WAR STRENGTH
 
Parade at 3 0’Clock will be Followed by Speech, Music and Exhibition Drill at Fair Grounds
 
Today is Defense Day, and it will be observed in Luverne this afternoon with appropriate exercises, conforming to the proclamations issued by President Coolidge and Governor Preus.
Company H, of the 205th infantry, M. N. G., will, under the order of the war department be mobilized to full war strength for the day only, such mobilization to be through volunteer recruiting. The war strength of Company H is 141 men and 5 officers.
The program for the day, as arranged by the committee appointed by Mayor C. S. Brewer, calls for the observance of the day to begin at 3 o’clock this afternoon. At that hour all citizens who wish to enlist in Company H for the exercises, are requested to assemble at the armory for enrollment.
At the meeting of the Luverne Kiwanis club last week, it was unanimously voted that all members of the club enlist in the company for the day. This number will not bring the company up to full war strength. Moreover, the company is not restricted to number above given, but can enroll as many as volunteer. Therefore, all citizens of military age are invited to enlist.
At 3 o’clock, or after the mobilization of the company, the company will form in line and march from the Armory to the corner of Main and Freeman; thence east to the corner of Main and McKenzie streets; thence back to the corner of Main and Freeman, and thence to the fair grounds. The regular members of the company will appear in uniform, while the recruits will be given distinctive badges. In the formation for the parade, the regular members and the recruits will intermingle.
At 2:45 the company bugler will sound the assembly to call attention to the hour of enlistment.
When the company reaches the fair grounds they will form in front of the speakers’ stand, where Major A. A. Anderson will read the Governor’s proclamation. Following this a short address, explaining the purpose of defense test day, will be given by E. H. Canfield, Esq. These exercises will be interspersed with selections by the Luverne band. One of the selections will be “America,” and all present will be asked to join in singing the anthem.
At the close of these exercises the recruits will be dismissed and the regular members of Company H will then give an exhibition drill. Following the drill the company will march to the Armory for dismissal.
At meetings held during the past week by the Luverne Commercial club and Dell-Hogan Post, American Legion, approval of defense day was voted by these organizations, with the understanding that hearty co-operation should be given.
The local committee in charge of the observance is Frank Ferguson, H. C. Engan, Henry Koehn and James Horne.
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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on August 29, 1924:
 
ROCK COUNTY USED 1,223,002 GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN 1923
 
Report of State Oil Inspection Department Shows Rock County Generous Buyer of Gas
Rock county used 1,223,002 gallons of gasoline during 1923, according to the annual report of the division of oil inspection of the Dairy and Ford Department. In addition to this quantity of gasoline, a total of 247,197 gallons of kerosene was used in the county in the same period. The report shows that the total number of gallons of gasoline used in the state in 1923 to be 185,785,042.
While Rock is one of the smallest counties in the state, in only forty-four of the eighty-seven counties was more gasoline used than in Rock county. Thirty-two of the eighty-seven counties used less than a million gallons. Hennepin heads the list with 34,034,833 gallons, while Ramsey comes next with 22,957,407, and St. Louis next with 13,954,546. Stearns takes fourth place with 4,936,887, and Blue Earth fifth with 3,480,472. No other county in the state reaches the three million mark.
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.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on August 22, 1924:
 
(Continued from last week)
 
OLE-TIMER RECALLS THE DAYS OF THE EARLY ’70s
 
Collin Estey had the first pre-emption along the Rock river valley in Rock  county. Mrs. Deborah Estey, her six sons, Amos, Collin, Orville, Al and Byron and two daughters.  Ruth Estey Ferguson and Hulda, came here from time to time during the years 1867 to 1870. Mrs. Estey’s homestead was located where Ashcreek now stands, east of the Ashcreek post office.
Mr. DeForce clearly recalls the first Fourth of July celebration, held in 1873 in Amos Estey’s grove, one mile below Ashcreek. At that time Mr. DeForce was only ten years old and the settlers called on him to sing. He responded with the song, “Alcohol.” Between fifty and sixty people, almost all of the settlers then in the county, were present.
Luverne could boast of only a few business houses in 1873. These were Wold and McKay’s store, the only store in town, Hoffman’s blacksmith shop, Estey’s drug store and the office of George and P. J. Kniss and Martin Webber, bankers and real estate men in Luverne.
Wold’s store was located in the building at present occupied as a home by Carl Pederson, at the corner of Main and Oakley streets; Estey’s drug store in the present Skoland residence and the Kniss Bros. and Mr. Webber had their offices in the two buildings immediately west of the Skoland place, now occupied as homes.
The Luverne House, this section’s most pretentious hotel, occupied a site where the Weick feed yards were located, and Mr. DeForce recalls that while a heavy, fleshy man, whose name he is unable to recall, was engaged in painting this building, the scaffold gave way and he fell a considerable distance to the ground, badly fracturing one of his ankles.
The weather was warm, and following a consultation, Dr. Crawford and another physician who did not remain here very long afterwards, decided that the injured man might develop infection from the fracture, and decided to forestall this possibility by amputating the injured foot, instead of taking chances by attempting to reset the broken bones.
The result was that the physicians brought their patient to the drug store, and after borrowing an ordinary meat saw from the meat market across the street, laid their patient out on a table in the drug store, and proceeded to cut the injured part of the limb off. With each stroke of the saw the patient gave voice to additional anguish, but the doctors kept at work until they had completed the disagreeable task. The patient survived the operation.
Mr. DeForce takes pride in the fact that he joined the Baptist congregation of this city in the summer of 1876, and has always retained membership in this denomination. He was formally baptized one Sunday morning in Rock River, about one hundred feet north of the present Main street bridge.
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.