THE JEFFERSON-GERMAN LAKES AREA

ABRIEF

HISTORYWITH

REMEMBRANCES

THE JEFFERSON-GERMAN LAKES AREA

History

Contents

Geological description and watershed 1

Map 2

Indians 3

Canal influence 4

Geldner Mill 5

Early settlers 5

Early resorts 6

Sportmen's Club influence 7

Present situation.. 8

This historical overview of the Lake Jefferson-German Lake chain presents a capsuleof the events that have made the lake area what it is today—a growing recreational andresidential community with a rich lake-life heritage. First is presented a geological historyand description of the lakes and their watershed. Next is a presentation of the activities ofthe Indians, early settlers, and early resort- and farm-owners around the lake. Then, morerecent activities of the Sportsmen's Club are detailed. This historical section concludes withan assessment of the current situation of the lake chain.*

Geological Description and Watershed

The irregular hills and the lakes of the Jefferson-German Lake area are not very old ingeological terms. When the last ice age came to an end, a part of a great glacier, the DesMoines lobe of the Late Wisconsin Glaciation, came to a heated halt, leaving as glacial till amixture of limestone, clay, and sand in LeSueur County. The mixture was landscaped by thepushing, grinding, and gouging of the huge ice pack 10,000 years ago. Bogs, marshes, andlakes formed in the lows. Swales and a surface drainage system still considered immature bygeologists were subsequently formed by postglacial erosion. Although the lakes aregeographically closest to the Minnesota River—West Jefferson is just five and one half mileseast of it—they spill their waters in the opposite direction, eastward, toward the CannonRiver, Lake Tetonka, and eventually the mighty Mississippi. They are oriented that way~30degrees north of west and south of east-as a result of the washing away of a river-bed thatformed before the last glacial advance; and in that deep river bed of what was called theRiver Warren the last glacier alternately left gravel/clay deposits and huge, gigantic ice cubesthat, when they finally melted, left the pockets that became, among others, the Jefferson-German chain of lakes.

These lakes are, and have been for the last ten thousand years, a part of what isconsidered the Cannon River watershed. The part of the Cannon River watershed thatpresently serves the Jefferson-German Lakes area encompasses 16,716 acres surrounding thelakes. It was at one time considerably larger. Cropland improvements were made in 1911by cutting a series of county ditches north and east of German Lake that diverted the effluentof Mud, Bossout, and Rice Lakes and Sander's Slough plus their watersheds directly to theCannon River via the 1869 ditch that first lowered German Lake. This reduced by 25% theGerman Lake watershed and brought its boundaries to within just a few hundred feet of thelake itself along its northeast shores. There are a number of additional ditches that serve tospeed the runoff on crop and pasture lands that eventually drain into the Jefferson-Germanchain of lakes; they have not materially affected the size of the watershed area. Because thelakes are at the head of the watershed, they depend solely on the quality and quantity of therunoff in the immediate area. It must rain in the area if there is to be water in these lakes.

* Information and data for this historical report were obtained from personal remembrances;from the Soil Survey of LeSueur County, Minn.. USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1986;and lake size and watershed size from Environmental Services, LeSueur County.

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WEST JEFFERSON LAKEGERMAN LAKE

OMB

JEFFERSON-GERMAN CHAIN OF LAKES WATERSHED

Presently the lakes are considered to have these surface areas: West Jefferson, 422acres; Middle Jefferson, 640 acres; East Jefferson, 661 acres; Swede's Bay, 495 acres;German, 857 acres; for a total of 3,075 acres. But it has not always been so. Before the firstchannels were dug in 1869-70 the lakes were about three feet higher than they are now. Andduring the drought years of the twenties and thirties the lake levels were as much as 27 feetbelow present levels. Before that, tree stumps found in the deepest part of West Jeffersonsuggest that other dry spells that lasted long enough for a forest to grow on the lake bottomhave been experienced. Because of the relatively small watershed-5.4 acres of watershed toone acre of lake area—the lakes are sensitive to diminished annual rainfalls, as demonstratedmost recently by low water levels from 1988 to 1991. A look at the lake/watershed mapindicates that German Lake has the highest ratio of watershed-to-lake surface area. It alsohas the secondary benefit of being at the bottom of the chain of lakes, and would be expectedto receive the effluent of each of the other lakes as they spill water from their outlets, each inturn. The conclusion to be drawn from that fact is that German is the least susceptible todiminished annual rainfall in its primary watershed because of its ability to sustain its waterlevels to some degree by the effluent from the other lakes in the chain. By the same token,West Jefferson is the most susceptible to diminished annual rainfall. Its susceptibility iscompounded by a much smaller watershed, as can be seen in the accompanying map. But atpresent lake levels and given the present channels between them, the lakes actually share thewatershed equally-until the level drops low enough to cut off the connections between them;then it's each lake for itself!

Indians

The shores of Lake Jefferson, namely the area between Lake Henry and upper LakeJefferson as well as Cape Horn, provided the Indians with a resource of fish, deer, elk, andsmall game to hunt, shelter from the wind, and a wood supply to heat their lodges. Therewere four tribes of Sioux in Minnesota: the Wapaton, the Wapakoota, the Mdewakanton, andthe Sisseton. These four tribes together were called the Sante. This area was home to theWapakoota Sioux. Due to the huge deciduous forests in the area, they were named "Peopleof the Green Leaves."

An area woman, Marcella Hobson, whose maternal grandparents were of theSchickling family, tells how her ancestors made friends with the Sioux. The Schicklingslived at Swede's Bay on East Lake Jefferson. They gave the Indians food and clothing andalso traded with them. Indians would look through the windows of the cabin and watch Mrs.Schickling doing her daily chores. As a result of their interaction, the Indians began to learnto understand and speak English. The family was forewarned of the Sioux Uprising of 1862and told to stay where they were because the Indians were going to protest against the whitepeople in the area. Other Sioux moved toward New Ulm and killed many white settlersalong the way. There was great carnage on both sides and of those that died, many wereburied at Fort Ridgley Cemetery. The Schickling family fared well throughout the uprising,thanks in part to the Indians they had befriended. The Indians were removed from the area

after the uprising.

The following newspaper account describes a battle that took place in LeSueurCounty:

It was reported that Indians had been seen in the western part of DakotaCounty and that horses had been stolen in Rice County. On July fifteenth twocutting hay near Waterville saw three Indians riding westward and carriedthe news to that village. An armed party started in pursuit and in the nightdiscovered the campfire of the unsuspecting Indians. The next morning theyovertook the Indians on the banks of Scotch Lake in Cleveland. They firedon the savages and fell back to reload. The Indians returned the fire and killed ahorse and then disappeared. After a search a wounded Indian was discoveredlying behind a log. Six bullets relieved him of his pain. On the shore of the lakewas found a complete outfit of clothing, ornaments and arms for one Indian andit was presumed that the owner had taken to the water; but neither he nor thethird of the party was found. The three stolen horses, however, were recaptured.(St. Paul Press, 1863)

Evidence of Indian inhabitance still exists. Area families from around the lake havefound Indian artifacts on their farmland. Mrs. Jean Seely has found many arrowheads andtomahawks on the Wendelschafer family farm. Mary Alice Koppleman has found what isthought to be an axe-like tool used by the Indians on her farm. Robert Kluntz has also foundarrowheads on his family farm on Cape Horn.

Canal Influence

During the time the territory was being settled, a charter was granted by theMinnesota Territorial Legislature to the Minnesota Valley Improvement Association. Theintention was to build a canal system between the Mississippi River at Winona and the bendof the Minnesota River at Mankato. The charter allowed the company to vary the waterlevels from the lakes and natural waters along the way in order to keep enough water in theproposed canal.

As it came about, the canal was never built because the railroad, which was moreeconomical to build and less expensive to operate, came through the area. The charter stillallowed the Association to control the water levels.

Mills were being built at frequent intervals along the waterways in this lake region,some along the Cannon River, into which the Jefferson-German Lakes flowed. When dryyears came, the milling operations were hampered due to low water levels. The Associationexercised its rights under the charter to secure additional water along the waterways.

In 1869 the Association bought an easement on German Lake and dug an outlet at the

Washington, Madison, Elysian and many others. The low lakes left lots of mud—many cowsand horses tried to get to the water and got stuck in the mud. Tom Rollings (who lived onthe Schickling farm with his wife Amelia Schickling Rollings) used a stoneboat to get tothem, then with a rope tied to a horse on shore, tried to pull them out. Some lived and somedied after the rescue. The weeds filled the dry shores and created good pheasant hunting andtrapping, but many fires almost claimed the buildings and cottages. With back-burning andkeeping a constant watch, the residents were able to keep the fires in check. In the springafter the Armistice Day blizzard of November 1940, with the large snow melt, the lakesbegan to fill up again.

The Lakes area was settled by a rich mixture of European nationalities in the mid-nineteenth century. Reckoning the attractiveness of the recreational possibilities that the areapresented, some of the families eventually developed resorts on the lakes.

Early Resorts

Early resort developers included the Wendelschafers (first of the settlers to have achild bora in the area), Kluntz, Geldners and Hardeggers. They were followed by Hobson's(Hall's), Beaver Dam, Friday's (Wise Stop), and more recently Mass (Summer Breeze).People would come from Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, and all over Minnesota to enjoy thecamping, swimming, picnicking, and fishing that the lakes had to offer. About 1899 JohnHardegger, who ran a hotel in St. Peter, investigated the beautiful lakes area and decided tobuy a piece of land. This was the beginning of Beaver Dam Resort (originally on EastJefferson) and later Point Pleasant. People often came by train and John and his daughters,either Mame or Kathryn, would be at the station to meet them in their red Winton. Theresort had both a hotel and cabins. Guests generally ate their meals at the hotel dining room,prepared by the owner's wife, Elizabeth Hardegger and her daughters. Back then Elizabethalso presided over a local post office that served the lakes and surrounding area. There werea sandy beach with life guards, picnic grounds where school picnics were annual events,tennis courts, croquet courts, and baseball fields. Later, Hardegger's had a screened-in dancehall, where many famous bands played: Al Menke, Guy Lombardo, Whoopie John. Therewere lots of free wedding dances; all went, young and old. The lake was very nice and clearat that time.

In the winter of 1920, John Hardegger was killed by an ice saw. While cutting theyear's supply of ice with some of his neighbors, John was cut in the left thigh of his leg.Because the telephone operators were on lunch break, his daughter, Mame, couldn't get adoctor. When one was finally reached, he had died from loss of blood. He was 57 yearsold, leaving his wife Elizabeth; daughters, Mame, Kathryn, and Lucy; and his son Joe. Joecontinued to operate the resort even after the hotel burned down until his death in the 1940's.Much of the lake frontage was sold off after his death and eventually, in the 1950's, thedance hall was also consumed by fire. The "hay days" of the old resorts were from the turnof the century until the 1950's. There were other cabins for rent on the south shore by

Schicklings, and there were cabins and boats at George White's farm on Swede's Bay.

In 1946, Ernest and Marcella Rollings Hobson started Hobson Resort, havingpurchased the Puff-Paff Resort. Their initial effort was directed toward providing boats, thenthey added a small tavern, serving food as well. As business grew, they eventually added tencabins. The business thrived, with visitors from Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Local people,as well, came to enjoy the prolific catch of bullheads, crappies, sun fish, and northerns. In1964 the main building on Hobson's Resort burned and was rebuilt to what it is today.Earlier the road had been moved from the top of the hill to the bottom and a new landingwas built. It is now called Hall's Resort.

In the early 1950's some cabins were built as summer rental units on East Jefferson.Adolph Swindal built cabins which later became the Wise Stop along the north shore of EastJefferson Lake, close to Beaver Dam. Frank Shultes built several cabins near Hardegger'son the northeast shore. Since then, they have been incorporated into the Summer BreezeResort. John Geldner also built three cabins in Geldner's Addition that he rented for twelveyears before selling them to individuals.

Over the years, a group of German-Jefferson resort owners, farmers, and interestedcity people began to meet, originally at resorts. Prior to 1950, this group established acharter, calling themselves the "German Jefferson Sportsmen's Club." Their interests were inbuilding and maintaining the landings and docks, and supporting fishing in the area lakes.They were the forerunners of the present Sportsmen's Club.

Sportsmen's Club Influence

The German-Jefferson Sportsmen's Club was organized in 1949 for the purpose ofbeing involved with land issues, lake projects, and lake activities. Early issues involved lakeseining, lake levels, culvert levels, and ditch clean-outs. They voted to make Scotch Lake agame refuge and to close the German-Jefferson Lakes to darkhouse spearing.

Projects have been an important part of the Club's history. Some of these includecauseway improvements at Beaver Dam, rearing ponds and approaches at Scotch Lake,stocking and feeding pheasants, planting wild rice, sponsoring gun safety training, developingan aeration system for West Jefferson (one of the first in the state), the Hunt-Wendelschaferrearing pond, improving public accesses to Lake Jefferson and to German Lake and turningthem over to the state, maintaining lights and docks on the public accesses, purchasing thirty-eight acres for a wildlife preserve at French's, building and placing wood duck houses,holding snowmobile safety classes, developing wildlife food plots and nesting cover, plantingtrees, and maintaining the West Jefferson culvert, parking, and fishing areas.

Club activities and fund-raisers have included a bullhead feed and membership drive,smoked carp and chili feeds, coon feeds and crow hunts, outstanding farmer-sportsman

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recognitions, conservation essay contests, and the annual fishing contest as a major fundraiser. The German-Jefferson Sportsmen's Club has served wildlife and sportspersons forover 45 years, and if present activities are an indication, will continue to serve for manyyears into the future.

Present Situation of the Lake Chain

On July 30th of 1994, the lake level measured approximately 3.1 feet at the channelbetween East Jefferson and German Lakes, a measurement that is considered a "high" lakelevel by the County Planning and Zoning Office standards. This level, slightly lower thanthat of the previous year, has brought with it increased recreational activity, the major use ofthe lake in recent years. This means heavier boat traffic around the lakes in general andincreased camping and fishing activity at the chain's resorts. However, variability betweenwet and dry years, and consequent high and low lake levels, results in variability in thisweekend recreational activity.

While the increased recreational activity brings more people to the lake area duringthe summer, there has also been an increase in residential development, with the constructionof several year-round housing additions. Consequently, the permanent population of the lakearea is growing.

Another feature of the present situation of the Lake Jefferson-German chain is theongoing nature of commercial fishing operations. Fish from this chain are enjoyed as faraway as the East Coast, with one recent year's harvest totalling 500,000 pounds.

And finally, and perhaps most indicative of the sentiment toward preserving thecharacter, heritage, and vitality of the lake chain, is the increased cooperation between thefarmers and lake property owners in addressing lake-area concerns. Through such efforts asthe newsletter, lake-dwellers, resorters, and area farmers are kept informed about issuesrelating to their lake property and pastimes.