Millerville History
Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
ALEXANDRIA'S FIRST PIANO.
The First Bear Killed In Douglas County With "Biting Betty."
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Mrs. Barnes Writes From California.
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In Regard to That "Foolhardy" Episode. --
She Objects to the Term.
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This is Old Settlers' Column.
from
"Alexandria Post News"
© Thursday, August 19, 1897
Page 1
Editor Post News -- Our old settlers will remember the first
piano brought into Douglas county. It was the property of Mrs.
Myron Colony and was brought from Chicago in 1860. It was a
source of delight to the young Alexandrians of those days, as
was also Mr. Colony's fine library. Both piano and library
went up in smoke on the shore of lake Ida while the family
was absent in Chicago. J. F. Dicken was "batching it" (that
was before he found a Darling) and looking after the place.
One morning on going out to the hay field he took the trouble
to change his best boots for a pair decidedly the worse for
wear, and coming back toward evening found that a timber fire
had run in and burned up house, boots and all. We believe Jim
mourns for those boots yet.
The first bear killed in the county, we believe, was killed in
the fall of 1859 near Point Delight. A. M. Darling, while on his
way for the cows one evening without his rifle, came upon three
cubs which his dog had treed. Knowing that the mother most be
near, he got a heavy club and climbing the tree set a cub to
squealing, which brought the mother pell mell. Telling his dog
to "take her," Mr. Darling essayed to hustle down and take a
hand in the scrimmage when he slipped and came down right into
it (wonder if that was foolhardy, too.) He managed to give the
bear one blow which he afterward found only just missed the
backbone for which be aimed. She kept away after that and Mr.
Darling began to Halloo for a neighbor, James Bedman, who lived
about half a mile away. Mr. B soon came with his hired man, Jake
Bristol, but without a gun. The men kept the dog and stayed until
Mr. Darling went home for his rifle. They all kept watch until
daylight when a cun was again made to cry, and when the old bear
came up a bullet from "Biting Betty" settled the business. Mr.
Bedman took one of the cubs which got away into the brush again,
Jake's cub hanged itself a little later. Mr. Darling kept the other
and he was quite an attraction in the neighborhood for a while.
He finally sold him for $10 and he was kept at the Stearns house
in St. Cloud a long time and when last heard from was on a
Mississippi steamer. We have often wondered what was the final
fate of "Ned."
Well, "Joe" sticks to it, doesn't he.? we are of the opinion,
however, that if he had been the one to stay with his brother
that he would have "had another name for it."
X - XL & Ryan.
Mrs. Barnes in Defense.
Santa Rosa, Cal., July 25, 1897. Editor Post News - I am quite
sure that your correspondent, "Joe," has made a few mistakes
about the "Indian out-break" near Alexandria. I will not enlarge
upon them, however, but will simply say that as the wife of one
of those "foolhardy men" I utterly deny that it was foolhardy to
stay and protect their crops and their homes. They urged it upon
the others to stay with them and meet the Indians, but they all
fled, and Mr. Darling and Mr. Barnes were the only ones who did
not put in a claim for damages.
Mary Z. L. Barnes.
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
December 17, 2003