Choice, MN
Fillmore County

Snakebite Remedy

1912 Fillmore County History, pages 118-120

The "Moonshines." In the year 1856 a promising young man of the western part of the "Keystone" state and who had just recently married the lady of his choice, decided to emigrate to the then "far west" and seek their fortune. After a time of reconnoitering in the east part of this county, looking for their anticipated prize, which they no doubt thought was lying around loose somewhere on the prairie, they established themselves among the hills on the south branch of Root river on section 9 in Preble township (where Choice post office was afterward located), there to begin the foundation for their anticipated colossal fortune. The young man was a genius and of an inventive turn of mind, who at once set his wits at work with the expectations of a great and prosperous future. In a short period of time he found that the country in that locality was infested with a species of serpents called rattlesnakes. Being on the alert to discover some way to accumulate wealth without any extra manual exertions, he soon believed that he had struck the "keynote" for his success, which was to erect a plant to manufacture and dispense a liquid that could be used as an antidote for the bite of the most venomous reptiles known to mankind. The plant was a success, and the proprietor believed he had a "bonanza" and was soon dispensing the antidote to the people that were bitten by the dreaded serpents, but more freely to those that were bitten only in their imagination. All went well for a time. The business was rapidly increasing and the news spread far and wide of the remedy for the bite of a rattlesnake that was manufactured in town 102, range 8. When the news reached Preston, a United States officer and two other persons who constituted his "posse" started out to learn something in regard to this new and rare enterprise. On their arrival at the new manufacturing plant, which was situated under a ledge of rocks, they proceeded to make an investigation and found to their entire satisfaction that the antidote manufactured was the same kind of liquid that was sold in Elliota and Greenfield as "moonshine," and had the same effect, but had to be used in the summer time, as it would congeal at zero temperature. The officers stated to the proprietor that he was violating the law of the land by manufacturing this so-called antidote. The proprietor for a time was as "mum as a Potomac oyster," after which his blood boiled, and conceiving them as obnoxious characters, he remonstrated in very strong language, and told them that their contemplated action would, if carried out, prostrate his trade, ruin his business and blight his future prospects. Contrary to the wish of the proprietor, the officer seized the plant and took possession of the manufactured article, as the proprietor was violating the law. The raiders were now in a dilemma as to what disposition they should make of the manufactured article they had in their possession. One tall and lank fellow (who hailed from the "Buckeye" state, and was known by every old settler of Fillmoro county), who was a member of the official company and who had given the subject considerable thought, said: "The law does not order us to waste it," and proposed that each member of their official company lubricate well the inside of their anatomy before starting home, as there were many rattlesnakes on their way returning to Preston, and by thus using this antidote he thought they would be immune from the effects of a bite. After these officers of the law thought they were sufficiently "pickled" they put the proprietor under arrest and took all the manufactured antidote and as much of the plant equipments as they could and "hiked out" for Preston, and after traveling about seventeen long and weary miles over rough and hilly roads arrived there safe and sound, except that they seemed to have wheels in their heads, and they were unable to explain why they forded Root river and Camp creek on going, and on returning over the same road did not ford the same streams. The proprietor had a hearing for the offense he had committed, no doubt made a very plausible plea, made good promises and was given his freedom by the officers, who bade him a fond adieu, and he returned to his home in. town 102, range 8, perhaps a wiser man and one who had an experience. The officer and his '' posse'' stored what antidote that was left from their confiscation in a cellar under a house on lot 3, block 8, in Barbara Kaercher's addition to Preston, and said that as the quantity of the needful which they had obtained in town 102, range 8, was limited, they therefore could not divide with their Preston friends, but expected some time in the near future to visit another similar plant which was situated in town 102, range 12, on the middle branch of Root river, and if they failed there to secure enough of the antidote for their friends, they would visit a location where the rattlesnakes were larger, which was in town 101, range 11, on the Upper Iowa river, where it was reported that a $20,000 plant had been erected to manufacture the antidote more extensively, where they would be able to obtain a greater quantity, and if so, would then remember their friends. This statement made by the officers, who acted as though they were the "whole cheese," did not satisfy the Preston citizens and they quietly surveyed the walls of the cellar that was frequented by the officers of the law, and soon found an entrance that they could use as an ingress and egress that would be unperceived by the officers. After this discovery the cellar was frequented by many Prestonians, who pronounced it a fine medicine which they believed was good for their stomachs and their ailments. On one occasion when the officer and his "posse" felt as they needed "something" for their recuperation from their imaginary ailments they quietly entered the storage room, but to their utter astonishment found that the vessels that contained the. indispensable antidote were empty.