Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/325

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 265 built of poplar Logs aboul 8 and 1<> inches in diameter, roughly hewn on the inside and outside. The interstices between the logs were filled with clay, according to the mo'sl primitive archi- tecture. The floor for the upper story was about eight feet from the lower floor, and both doors were rough boards. The upper story was u^<<| exclusively as a sleeping room. There was a small window in the east gable. In this attic there were as many beds as could be placed, some on rude bedsteads and some on the floor. These beds were made of prairie hay, and the bed clothes were mainly cheap blankets. There wen 1 also two beds in the lower room, standing end to end. During the autumn the cooking and much of the housework was done in a lean-to shed at one end of the cabin. Soon after the location of the company, new arrivals were frequent, until Smith's hotel was filled to overflowing. The table fare was abundant, if not always palat- able. But in those days appetites were good and the food was eagerly disposed of. The fare consisted mainly of bread made from wheat flour, mixed with the "fry of pork and baked in large iron pans; salt pork, occasionally boiled; fresh beef or venison, which sometimes was allowed to remain out in the sun until it became slippery before it was cooked. Vegetables were rare; butter likewise, and when furnished was. in strength, about five horse power. Molasses was a staple article. Coffee, or a decoc- tion which went by that name, was an ever-present beverage. Those who lodged at Dr. Perry's shanty over the river had com- fortable beds and pure air. at least. All was activity and stir. Everyone was eager to secure a claim and get his shanty up before winter. Soon all the travel from Red AYiug to the south- ward passed through the new settlement. The amount of team- ing increased daily, and in a few weeks the new road became a busy thoroughfare. Trouble about this time arose over the claims which settlers had selected for friends, as they pretended. One of the settlers saved a claim near his own ostensibly for a friend, and then sold it for $350. This caused all kinds of trouble. Smith was indignant, as, in his interest for the settlers, he had given up the chance of making many a fat fee for locating casual settlers. The matter was finally adjusted to the satisfaction of Smith and of the company; but soon outside parties learned of these claims, held for so-called but largely imaginary friends, and began to settle on them, as was their legal right to do, and soon no claims were held except such as had been filed on ac- cording to law. "The question of naming the new town was the cause of no little discussion. Zumbrota was finally decided upon. The orig- inal members of the company were not men of practical ex-