Abbie Gardner Cabin 

Abbie and her family arrived in Arnolds Park July 16, 1856. Abbie and her family found a beautiful spot on the south side of West Lake Okoboji to pitch their temporary tents prior to building their log home near by.

​

On March 8, a group of Native Americans from Inkpaduta’s Wahpekuti band came in to share breakfast — 14 in all, Abbie Gardner recalled. They requested food, ammunition and other provisions from the Gardners and then went on their way.

 

About 3 PM, Abbie heard gunshots from the neighboring cabin of James Mattock and his family. A long two hours later, the band of Native Americans returned to the Gardner cabin and demanded for flour, shooting Rowland Sr. as he went to get it. 

 

Abbie was sitting with her sister's baby, her nephew and  her little brother, who were all taken from her and killed outside with the rest of the family.

 

Abbie was taken captive and begged them to kill her.

 

Instead, she would endure 84 days of captivity, traveling hundreds of miles across the harsh winter prairie—a journey that would transform the traumatized young teen into one of Iowa's most important historical witnesses.