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Roads and bridges

Roads and bridges are an area of county government that receive a lot of attention from county commissioners. Requests from the public are always on the agenda for repair, rebuilding and improving of these links to all economic and social arenas. Who determined where these roads and bridges should be built in the first place?

Native Americans had their own well-established routes that were well-traveled on foot or by horseback – trails that led to the most prolific fishing spots, the grazing areas of the bison, the cleanest water sources and the far and near neighboring tribes.

In 1856 and 1857 the United States government constructed a wagon trail across the southern part of what is now Lyon County. According to an article written by A.P. Rose (first and official author and historian of southwest Minnesota) the purpose of the road was to accommodate immigrants from the east to the southern Minnesota Territory. It extended from Fort Ridgely to the Missouri River. Construction was under the supervision of Albert Campbell, but Co. William H. Nobles was in charge of the field work. Nobles County was later named in his honor.

The road entered Lyon County close to the line that separates Monroe and Amiret townships and crossed the Cottonwood River on Section 31, Amiret Township, and Section 36, Sodus Township. Then it continued westward crossing the Redwood River near Russell and passed close to Lake Benton extending all the way to the Missouri River. The road was intended as a highway for immigrant trains to the Pacific coast, but the eastern end of the route was never used for that.

Present Lyon County Planning and Zoning personnel believe that this trail is presently County Road 62, which crosses the Cottonwood River and ends at Section 31, making it only about 3 miles long. When settlers in the late 1850s pushed out to the Lake Shetek area they traveled along the Nobles road to near Walnut Grove and then switched off and proceeded to the lake by way of Lake Sigel. This route provided better access to water. In 1861 another road was constructed between New Ulm and Sioux Falls, which provided a shorter route between the two settlements than over the Nobles trail by way of Saratoga. This trail crossed the lower end of Lake Shetek and did not touch Lyon County.

The following account of the building of the Nobles road is taken from Col. William H. Nobles’ report dated Jan. 18, 1858:

“I have to report that I have located and built a good wagon road from Fort Ridgely to the Missouri River between Bijou hill and Fort ‘Lookout.’ The road has been selected and made with a view to accommodate the emigrant, by having it pass through a good country and in the vicinity of wood and water…

On the Cottonwood River I have constructed a rough bridge adapted to the present travel, but it is important that this river should be well bridged at both of the crossings. The rapid flow of emigration to this section of country also demands that the bridges be immediately constructed.”

Due to the anticipation of a general Indian war, Nobles returned to his former camp on the Cottonwood River where he writes, “I have erected on the Cottonwood River a substantial log house, with store-room, etc. and have placed the stock and property in charge of a small number of men. I have also erected good stables for the protection of the animals, cut and secured hay sufficient, I think, to keep them through an ordinary winter.”

So, in these humble but desperate times roads and bridges were constructed that would forever change the landscape of southwestern Minnesota to accommodate the flood of civilization that was destined to follow these trails down the path of history.

Sources: Unnamed/undated article by A.P. Rose; Report by Col. William H. Nobles, Jan. 18, 1858.

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