This week I want to share some of the accounts of Mahala Felton’s early years in the area and what her presence may have been like. To do that we return again to our primary source from the introduction – genealogytrails.com
So where did we leave off?
William and Mahala left Pennsylvania after raising their children, came on a vessel that was on its first voyage, stayed at a hotel where they met a trading post claim staker, and, finding the trading post area to be satisfactory, settled in to run the trading post as a hotel, the Buckhorn. Now, just in case this move west might conjure up images of boardwalks and saloons with swinging doors and someone in the corner playing piano while others played cards and took shots, let’s find out what type of hotel Mahala was running.
From http://genealogytrails.com/minn/dakota/bios_f1.html we find the following:
“Upon their arrival they rented a log house, the first house built in the town, and opened the first boarding-house in the county. This log house was only 12×16 feet in dimension, with a kitchen 10×12 feet; in these narrow quarters Mr. and Mrs. Felton showed a generous hospitality that will long be remembered and recounted. As many as forty-three persons have remained of a night in that little log cabin, which was long ago pulled down. As early as 1853 this house was used as a place of worship by the Catholics; services were also conducted there by Rev. T. B. Cressy, a Baptist clergyman. Mr. Felton wes the first elected justice of the peace, and since 1856 has been coroner. In 1854 he built the first wharf and established the first ferry, at Hastings, across the Mississippi. Since 1856 the Feltons have resided on their claim in Nininger township.
[History of the Minnesota Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, 1882, Submitted by Tina Easley]”
In another account, we see additional detail:
“In 1852 the Felton’s took a boat from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for Minnesota. The name of their craft was the Ben Campbell, and this was its first trip. Landing at Wabasha in June they remained there until September of 1852, when they came to Hastings. Mrs. Felton claims the honor of being the first white woman settler at this point. On arriving at Hastings Mr. Felton rented a log house, the first house built in the town, where he opened the first boarding-house in the county. Mrs. Felton did the cooking for the first three families in Hastings. This log house was only 12×16 feet in dimension, with a kitchen 10×12 feet. In these narrow and primitive quarters Mr. and Mrs. Felton showed a generous hospitality and kindness to new comers and to every one, that will long be remembered and recounted. As many as forty-three persons have remained of a night in that little cabin, which was long ago pulled down. This house was also granted to the Catholics, as early as 1853, as a house of the Lord, and its walls re-echoed the holy mass. In the autumn of the same year Rev. T. R. Cressy, a Baptist clergyman, began holding meetings also at Mr. Felton’s house. As Dido knew no difference between Trojan or Tyrian, so the Feltons in in the spirit of true liberality, made no discrimination in those early days between Catholic and Protestant. Mr. Felton was the first elected justice of the peace, and the little log house was in turn dedicated to the law as it had previously been to the church. Mr. Felton has also been coroner since 1856, and has held office longer than any other man in the county. In 1854 he built the first wharf and established the first ferry at Hastings across the Mississippi. He fixed the rate at ten cents and earned nothing at the commencement of his experiment, but the tide of immigration setting in strongly soon afterwards, he reports even so high as $15 as the receipts for a single day. In May of 1855, the Feltons made a claim in Nininger township, and have lived upon it since 1856, universally respected and esteemed.
[History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, by Edward D. Neill, North Star Publishing Co. Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1882]”
So let’s pick this apart. They were renting. They did not own the land or home. This was a log house, all alone, no town, just this log home, off the Mississippi, and of very modest dimensions. Into that tiny, rented, log home with a tiny add-on kitchen, William and Mahala welcomed sometimes dozens of people at a time, to eat and congregate for multiple purposes, and sleep, with graciousness. We see Mahala did not bring a cook, she was the cook. We also see that William was a very busy man. By 1854 he had built and begun to run a ferry across the Mississippi, the only one in the area, and for which he did not initially charge a fee. He was also the first elected Justice of the Peace, and by 1856 he began his very longstanding service as the coroner. William was as busy as Mahala, and she was often home alone in her work.
I think I would very much like to have met William and Mahala Felton. I also would have liked to see the log cabin. But that was not to be. We see mentioned above it was pulled down. There are various accounts of what happened to it, but we shall save that for another post.
Suffice to say, that log cabin was well used and was quickly becoming outgrown. Nevertheless, the early settlers were documented as living very happily and amicably.
Of the early settlers, it is noted,
“They were few in number, but happy and contented. There was very little society to be sure, but when mankind got “near to natures heart,” as they must do, when living in cabins and in the wilderness, it is remarkable, with what a little of any further companionship, they are satisfied. Still it is under those very circumstances, that they are the most free hearted, most generous and hospitable to the stranger.” http://genealogytrails.com/minn/dakota/towns_hastings.html
And what of hospitality to the native peoples?
Let’s take a look at that.
http://genealogytrails.com/minn/dakota/towns_hastings.html states,
“Although, “O-wo-bop-te” was not so far as is known, a favorite resort with the Sioux, (or at least, that part of it nearest the Mississippi), they came and went constantly to and from the earlier Hastings. Wabashaw, and his spokesman, Red Owl, “Oukeesi,” Red Wing’s successor, and the chief of the Kaposia band, Little Crow, were all early Indian celebrities that honored the first inhabitants of Hastings with their occasional presence; while lesser members of their bands, came often and in numbers.”
“The first white lady settler of the town, on one occasion, in 1853, and while her husband was away from home, was entreated for a night’s lodging by a band of fifteen of these vagrant “children of the twilight.” As the wisest, though not the most agreeable course, she acceded to their request, and the whole company reposed for the night, on the floor of her comfortable log house. In the morning they showed a genuine Indian appreciation of the courage and hospitality of this unprotected, yet fearless lady, by leaving seasonably and in silence.
“Nevertheless, to the ordinary woman, alone in a house, and almost without a neighbor, such an incident would be fearfully shocking. No ordinary woman would endure at all, it might justly be suggested, the hardships and perils of frontier life, requiring as they do, an extraordinary supply of fortitude, capability and good sense. But the entertainment of the savage, though always, in his best estate, exceedingly annoying, was often fraught with a genuine danger, apart from any evil motive that might find lodgment in his breast.
“On another occasion, the lady above mentioned, together with her husband, sheltered another wandering party of red men, from an intensely bitter, wintry night, and retiring left the dusky savages, stretched peacefully about the fire. In the night, hearing some little confusion among them, the gentleman arose and found the Indians in great glee, at the gorgeous appearance of the stove and pipe, which they had brought to a red and white heat by an unsparing use of the dry fuel which had been left ready at their hands. The walls and ceiling were smoking, and in a few moments more the result must have been the entire destruction of the house. A generous use of water, alone, was sufficient to save it, even then, and for the remainder of the night the owner of the dwelling preferred to act as fireman in person.”
Was this during the time of treaty negotiations. Yes. In fact it is mentioned that the negotiations changed little for the settlers in those early years, adding,
“An Indian squaw pitched her lodge near the Feltons, and with her little Indian girls was Mrs. Felton’s most frequent caller, and principal lady visitant. Whether the calls were as brief as those of to-day, or not, they were certainly far more taciturn.”
OK, that is a lot. And I am sure you will understand the verbiage is not mine and is a historical account. As shocking as the language is by today’s standard, I think we can safely say the native people knew William and Mahala, and what they were up to, and lived peaceably with them, even staying in the log cabin when William was not home, with no incidents. Mahala was strong and brave, but she must have also had quite a peaceful and welcoming presence.
So how long did the Feltons stay at the Buckhorn? I cannot tell for certain. I suspect around one year. http://genealogytrails.com/minn/dakota/towns_hastings.html states,
“Mr. Bailly was more anxious than ever that the Feltons should make their home at Olive Grove, and engaged to keep them in supplies at the trading house, in return for their making a home out of it for his son Henry.“The Felton’s came, accordingly, by boat, and reached their destination September 6th, 1852. The first white woman settler on the original town site was Mrs. Mahala D. Felton. The family continued the above arrangement with the Baillys until the following spring. On their arrival at Olive Grove they found the trading house deserted, except that Van Rensalaer was stolidly sitting in the sun outside. Mrs. Felton, after much hunting and difficulty, prepared a supper, and soon introduced such civilized comforts into Olive Grove, as only a genuine woman can bring to any community. She made butter from the cows, cooked for the men, and later on for all new comers, by whom her hospitality was thankfully acknowledged and long remembered.”
Of 1853 the same source states,
“Although these settlers had come in, it must be remembered, that no houses were built this year, except shanties on claims, mostly outside of the town. The site of Hastings was covered with burr oaks, and in the low places, hazel, alder and Kinnikinick bushes. There were no streets, and everything centered about the Buckhorn, which, with its live stock, presented much the appearance of a primitive New England farm, except that such a farm would be adorned with better buildings.”
We see William and Mahala stayed at the Buckhorn at least into spring of 1853, but if I remember correctly, their children stayed there when they came, as well. By 1855 their family claims show on the map, in the farmland area.
But that is another post, and where we will pick up next time.
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