EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES 93
Heavy snows in the winter of 1860-61 prevented the mail carrier
from making his regular trips. Lewis Paulson, one of the pioneers of
Emmet County, agreed that for nine dollars he would go to Algona, a
distance of some forty-five miles, and bring the mail. He started on
February 2, 1861, on snow shoes, and made twenty-two miles the first
day. That night he staid all night with an Irishman named Jackman. The
morning of the third was bright, the air was crisp, and he started out in
high spirits to finish the remainder of his journey. About noon he became
"snow blind" and lost his bearings, wandering around until nightfall.
He then camped on a mound not far from McKnight's Point. He
took off his snow shoes and began walking in a circle, thinking he would
have to walk all night to keep from freezing. While thus occupied, he
heard someone calling hogs. Moving in the direction of the sound, he
found the cabin of a settler, where he was hospitably received.
He remained with this settler all day of the fourth to let his eyes
rest and recover, but on the fifth he resumed his journey and reached
Algona. There he remained over night and on the morning of the next
day set out upon his return. That night he reached Emmetsburg and the
next day he arrived at Estherville late in the afternoon.
In these days of railroad mail routes, long distance telephones, telegraphs
and rural free delivery of mails, it can hardly be realized that the
people of Emmet County were ever in such straits for communcation with
the outside world that they would make up a purse of nine dollars to
employ one of their number to go forty-five miles in the dead of winter
for a few letters and newspapers, or that it would take that man five days
to go and return. But such were the conditions in the winter of 1860-61.
Nine dollars was a considerable sum of money in those days, but Mr. Paulson
certainly earned all that he received for his services as a volunteer
mail carrier.
On April 6, 1868, Gov. Samuel Merrill approved an act of the Iowa
Legislature entitled, "An act to encourage the planting and growing of
timber, fruit trees, shade trees and hedges." Under the provisions of this
act the board of supervisors of Emmet County, on January 5, 1869, ordered
the property of any citizen who would plant one or more acres in forest
trees, set not less than eight feet apart, should be exempt from taxation,
except for state purposes. Exemptions were also made for each acre of
orchard planted, each half mile of hedge, or each mile of shade trees
planted along a public highway. Such were the commendable efforts of the
county authorities of Emmit County to break the monotony of the treeless
prairie districts. The result is seen in the artificial groves around the
farm houses, groves in which the trees are now large enough to shelter
the house from the fierce winds of winter and furnish a supply of fuel for the family use.
94 EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
The summer of 1868 is still remembered by old residents as the year
of the "blackbird invasion." The birds came in swarms and destroyed so
much of the grain that not enough was harvested to supply the local
demand. Transportation facilities then were not what they are today, and
breadstuffs had to be hauled long distances by wagon. Flour sold in
Estherville in the winter of 1868-69 as high as $12 per 100 pounds. Not
every family could afford to pay such a price and bread was a luxury with
many of the inhabitants. In the fall of that year large numbers of the
buffalo fish were taken from the Des Moines River, salted and preserved
for food. Many lived on salt fish and potatoes during the greater part
of that severe winter, yet they did not lose heart, but toiled on, firm in
the faith of Emmet County's future. And the people of the present
generation owe a debt of gratitude to those hardy pioneers that can never
be fully repaid. Are they mindful of the debt?
