October 4 and 5 [1871], a prairie fire swept the towns of Vivian, Byron, and Wilton. In Byron, Wm. Smith’s house, stable, reaper, wagon, and household goods were consumed. His two dogs were so frightened that they fled to the cellar where both were burned to death. Alex. Brisbane’s stable, seeder, and much of his fencing were destroyed. One of the Messrs. McGrath had his one hundred-acre crop all destroyed, but saved his house. Mr. Quinn lost his house and some other property. Granville Barnes, John C. Hunter, and others lost considerable property. Almost every farmer in the line of the fire lost more or less fencing.

The losers in Vivian were Messrs. Poland, Banker, Randall, Hadley, Merrill and Hanks.

Child's history of Waseca County, Minnesota : from its first settlement in 1854 to the close of the year 1904 ; a record of fifty years : the story of the pioneers, Owatonna, Minn.: Press of the Owatonna Chronicle, 1905, page 244
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