The Watonwan River is a tributary of the Blue Earth River , 113 miles (182 km) long, in southern Minnesota in the United States . Via the Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River , draining an area of 878 square miles (2,270 km) in an agricultural region. The Watonwan drains about a quarter of the Blue Earth River's watershed.
12-556: The river was the site of the capture of Bob , Cole and Jim Younger (members of the James–Younger Gang ) near Madelia in 1876. The Watonwan River rises in Amboy Township , approximately 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Jeffers in central Cottonwood County , and flows generally eastwardly across flat till plains through northern Watonwan and western Blue Earth counties, past the city of Madelia . It flows into
24-770: The Blue Earth River approximately 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Mankato and 16 miles (26 km) upstream of the Blue Earth's confluence with the Minnesota River. The river's largest tributaries are its north and south forks. The South Fork Watonwan River, 73 miles (117 km) long, rises in southeastern Cottonwood County and initially flows eastwardly into southern Watonwan County, briefly entering Martin County and passing Odin ; then northeastwardly through eastern Watonwan County to its confluence with
36-680: The First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota . The citizens included many Union army veterans who fought back effectively, and in the ensuing shootout all three of the Younger brothers were wounded, including Bob, who was wounded in the elbow and later in the chest. Two Northfield citizens were killed in the botched raid. Bob, Cole and Jim surrendered on September 21, after they were surrounded, while Jesse and Frank James escaped Minnesota. Bob Younger pleaded guilty to murder and
48-717: The Little Rock Express/Iron Mountain Line, as well as the $ 30,000 robbery of the Kansas Pacific Railroad in Muncie, Kansas , on December 8, 1874. Bob Younger was implicated along with two of his brothers by robber Hobbs Kerry, who was caught and convicted for his role in a robbery of the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Otterville, Missouri , on July 7, 1876. On September 7, 1876, the gang attempted to rob
60-606: The Watonwan River upstream of Madelia. The North Fork Watonwan River, 39 miles (63 km) long, rises in Cottonwood County and flows eastwardly into northern Watonwan County, joining the Watonwan River about a mile (2 km) southeast of La Salle . Approximately 84% of the larger watershed of the Blue Earth River, which includes that of the Watonwan River, is used for agricultural cultivation, primarily that of corn and soybeans . Small lakes and wetlands in
72-630: The Watonwan watershed provide significant habitat for Minnesota's waterfowl population, though many stretches of the river and its tributaries have been subject to ditching and channelization for agricultural production and localized flood reduction. At the United States Geological Survey 's stream gauge near the community of Garden City in Garden City Township , 7.3 miles (11.7 km) upstream from
84-585: The country home of Charles Dickens , it was established in 1872 by George W. Creath. The town's name was changed to Zeitonia in 1887, but reverted to Gads Hill in 1906. The town was a train station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway line and was the location of the Gads Hill Train Robbery , the first train robbery in Missouri, which took place on January 31, 1874. At 3:00 in
96-424: The river's mouth, the annual mean flow of the river between 1940 and 2005 was 391 cubic feet per second (11 m³/s ). The highest recorded flow during the period was 13,900 ft³/s (394 m³/s) on June 20, 1993. The lowest recorded flow, caused by an ice dam , was 1.8 ft³/s (0 m³/s) on December 24, 1989. Bob Younger Robert Ewing Younger (October 29, 1853 – September 16, 1889)
108-585: Was an American criminal and outlaw, the younger brother of Cole , Jim and John Younger . He was a member of the James–Younger Gang . He stood six feet, two inches tall and had deep blue eyes, muscular arms, and a thick neck. Born in Missouri on October 29, 1853, Robert was the thirteenth of fourteen children born to Henry Washington Younger and Bersheba Leighton Fristoe . During the Civil War his brothers Cole and Jim rode with Quantrill's Raiders . Bob
120-620: Was likely involved in the James-Younger Gang's first train robbery on July 21, 1873. The robbery of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad took place in Adair, Iowa , yielded about $ 3,000, and resulted in the death of an engineer during derailment of the train. Other robberies where Bob Younger is believed to have participated include the gang's first train robbery in the state of Missouri on January 31, 1874, at Gads Hill on
132-460: Was only 8 when the war broke out in 1861. He saw his father killed by Union soldiers and his home burned to the ground. After the war, his older brothers formed the James–Younger Gang with Frank and Jesse James . For ten years the gang robbed banks, trains, and stage coaches across Missouri, Kansas and other nearby states. Bob Younger is believed to have first joined the gang in 1873. He
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#1732780316811144-545: Was sentenced to life in prison. He died of tuberculosis in prison at Stillwater, Minnesota on September 16, 1889, at the age of 35. His body was shipped to Lee's Summit, Missouri where a funeral was held. He was buried in the Lee's Summit Cemetery . Gads Hill, Missouri Gads Hill is an unincorporated community in northwestern Wayne County , Missouri , United States. It is located on Missouri Route 49 , approximately midway between Des Arc and Piedmont . Named after
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