[3] Later, when people began to homestead on area lands, they settled along the banks of the Cottonwood River.

[4][3] A rescue party dispatched to Leavenworth from New Ulm to check on friends and family reported found the corpses of murdered settlers and wounded children.

[7] The Joseph Brown family, among others were killed in Leavenworth Township on the Shetek Trail in August 1862 by the Dakota people.

[3][5] The settlement, established on the land owned by Rose and George and Windschitl, was located along the Big Cottonwood River.

[3] The settlers established businesses, including a general store, blacksmith shop, school, flour mill, sawmill, druggist, and physician.