| KingsUpdate
Home A
Century of Pioneering Pioneers Forward
Table of
Contents Previous
Page Next
Page Referring to an 1870 composite map of United States Land Surveyors’ original plats and field notes, we find that right above where the site of Aitkin is now located are the outlines of an Indian trail. Coming from the west following the Mississippi and continuing northeast, also along the Mississippi, the trail is somewhat the same as the River Road, but more as the crow flies. On the north this trail went to where White Elk Brook enters the Mississippi. Here on, for about five miles, it follows White Elk Brook, then cuts west a half mile or so to the south side of Waukenabo Lake, where there was an Indian Village. Just a short distance northeast on the lake shore was what they called Indian J. Tuttle’s Farm. For some reason it seems the trail skirted around the west side and continued north along the side of the lake, where Indians had winter quarters, across the bog, and on up almost directly north, crossing the Moose River very near where Highway 169 crosses it now. It also shows it was a gathering place or camp for 150 Indians during rice season. The trail then went on to where it crossed the Big Willow and must have been just alongside of where Joshua Tibbetts, a year or so later, built his stopping place. The trail continued on along the banks of the Willow and then across to the east side of Hill Lake, crossing to the west at its narrowest point, somehow going up the west side. It notes here that, “Hill Lake was much used by the Indians.” This trail has been referred to on another page as the one used by Jim Boyd when he carried mail to Grand Rapids from Aitkin. Ira McAninch also carried mail from Aitkin to the Hay Point Post Office, but, no doubt, by that time there were tote roads to follow. It has been interesting to note that the dates of the original surveys are: Aitkin Township, 1870; Morrison, 1865; Waukenabo, 1867; White Elk, 1868; MacVille, 1868; Hill Lake, 1869; LeMay Township, 1868; and Bain, 1870. What a job it must have been for these people who made the surveys. Everything they did or used had to be carried on their backs. Their very existence depended on their being able to live off the land. They had to work under conditions, very trying at best, and to be cut off from civilization for months at a time. To be as accurate as they were, is surely amazing. Their attention to detail and the records they made were fantastic. These were the forerunners that set the stage for Joshua Tibbetts, and it may have been a reference to one of these early maps that prompted Joshua to pick the piece of land he chose to file a claim on his homestead. It was thought Joshua Tibbetts first made his trip up north to pick out his homestead on foot. It really was a land grant, known as the Lincoln Land Grant, given to Civil War veterans with two years of service. He must have come up by way of the Indian Trail from Aitkin to Grand Rapids, until he came to the place where he later filed his claim, which is just south of the Swatara Road, where 169 is the east line. This was on the trail used as a main route. The Willow River swung down into his claim south of his north line. This river was one of the main streams where logs were floated on their way to Sauk Rapids, Brainerd, and the Twin City mills. In 1872, Joshua Tibbetts moved there with his wife and family. They could have moved up by way of the Mississippi and then, taking the Willow River, using rafts to get there. This way of travel was over a hundred miles, but at that time tote roads hadn’t been laid out yet, and in summer water travel was about the only means available. According to descendants, there were six children who grew up there, but we have no record of how many there were when they first came. The children were as follows: Guy, Lenora, Vesta, Sherman, Laura and Rosette. Very early Joshua put up several buildings. His bunkhouses were used as a stopping place for lumberjacks, drivers, and other travelers. He was known to have had a herd of cattle that supplied meat and dairy products for his crew and travelers. Hay was plentiful from meadows nearby, even if it had to be cut by hand. Tibbetts carried on some logging operations, landing logs on the river. The Tibbetts Ranch was used as a stopping place for drivers coming from Shovel Lake, Remer and points northwest. It was here they tied up their wannigans for the night and where they replenished their supplies. Mrs. R. F. Mackaman, a granddaughter of Joshua Tibbetts, has this to say: In the winter they used horses and sleds to come to Aitkin, and crossed rivers, open bogs and whatever was the easiest way. The trip was too long to make without resting. Stopping places between the Tibbetts Ranch and Aitkin were the Lou Seavey and John Allen Ranches. Later on there was the “Sutton Ranch.” The mail was sometimes carried on foot between Aitkin and Grand Rapids. After dark, the only source of light was candles made from beef tallow. There were no modern conveniences, such as telephones or electric lights as you see in the community today. Deer and other game were plentiful in the woods and were a convenient source of meat. There were great quantities of wild berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and cranberries. Wild rice also grew along the rivers. Several Indian families frequented this locality because it suited their way of life. They hunted and also picked berries and rice and sold them for use at the ranch, or exchanged them for such merchandise as these logging ranches kept for their own crews and to furnish lumbermen on their logging journeys between towns. There was an Indian cemetery nearby. My mother, Mrs. J. L. Simpson has told of going there with some of the Indian families on their way to the “Happy Hunting Ground.” There were gifts of tobacco, combs, beads, and various trinkets. Joshua was quite a horseman and generally had a snappy light driving team, which was used for his trips to and from Aitkin. Sometime before 1900, Mrs. Tibbetts lived in Aitkin. Joshua Tibbetts still lived at the Ranch and had a housekeeper and her son at the place to do chores. Part of the time one son worked with Joshua. (They were grown by this time.) By 1899 the McAninches had moved and settled north of the Ranch, as had others that had been moving in, enough of them so that they wanted to have postal service. After circulating a petition, O.O. McAninch was made the Postmaster and was given the job of carrier on a six-month trial basis. It was quite an event when, on September 16, 1900, Ira McAninch was going to make his first trip. Most everybody had letters to send with him to the Post Office at the Waldeck Ranch. As Ira took off, Joshua Tibbetts was among those who had letters to send. That evening Joshua visited at the O.O. McAninch home for a short period. On his return to the Ranch, he remarked that he was retiring, as he wasn’t feeling just right. At two o’clock, he knocked on the housekeeper’s door, and announced, “I think I’m dying.” Those were his last words as he fell. The son of the housekeeper ran to where a wannigan was tied up with a crew and asked for help. They in turn roused the McAninches, and all they could say was that Joshua Tibbetts had passed away. The next morning Perry McAninch was sent to Aitkin on foot for the undertaker. He met Ira coming back with the mail. It was three days before they got there with a team and box to bring the body to Aitkin. Shortly after Joshua Tibbett’s death, George Skinner bought the Ranch. George Skinner built a new house on the place and in 1902 sold the Ranch to Rash Pilgrim. Mrs. Alice Biskey tells about when the Badys came to Hay Point along with the Pilgrim family. They stayed at the Ranch in 1902. The Pilgrims must have had the place for a number of years. Later the father of Frank Hutze bought the property and Frank and Jenny lived there for a time. So ended the life of Joshua Tibbetts, born at Browerville, Maine, October 7, 1829, and died at Tibbetts Ranch, September 17, 1900, at the age of 71. A real pioneer. Hannah Elizabeth Tibbetts lived in Aitkin until she died in 1915; surely, also a real pioneer. |
|
|
KingsUpdate
Home A
Century of Pioneering Pioneers Forward
Table of
Contents Previous
Page Next
Page To contact me email at   .comor visit the forum. |