CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 189I BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE 'Tr'^^- ^'M^jSJ^ii'/lr^i FROM JAMES E.GHILD WASECA. MINN. d^ S P Chid'sh story of Waseca County, Minnes m :m fi Cornell University Library 612W17 C53 olin m^ > W' + :+ , i ^t Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028913114 t2-^tJL^ &.-^2-^d/_^ 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 By JAMES E. CHILD. Copyright, 1905, BY JAMES E. CHILD. 'Let me speak to the yet unknowing world how these things came about." — Shakespeare. ^ ..Oi;|,, , , I'M I VI fif-ri V I IJIt/iUY /]. 7/^-^7^ From the Press of THE OWATONNA CHRONICLE Whiting & Luers, Publishers. PREFACE. "Why don't you write a history of Waseca county?" asked Rev. G. C. Tanner, one day in the year 1890. And as that question often came to me in leisure moments, for several weeks, I iinally concluded to invest a dime in cheap paper, and note down, in odd hours, such facts concerning the early set- tlement of this country as I could recall and as might be of interest to its residents, present and future ; and, in connection therewith, to gather together all the historic facts that I might be able to obtain both from persons and from official sources. In this undertaking I have made no attempt at rhetorical dis- play and effect, but in the plainest language possible, have de- scribed the events which make up the history of the county. It may not be possible for one who has been intimately connected with the public and political life of the county to be entirely im- partial an unbiased, as its historian, but I have spared no effort to be fair and accurate as regards persons, parties, interests, and localities. I have found many difficulties in this undertaking, for individual tastes and interests differ so widely that what might be of great interest to one would have no attractions for another. I therefore determined, at the commencement, to "spread out a whole bill of fare" and allow my readers to select for themselves. No doubt there are many facts and incidents of note omitted in this work, although I have made every possible effort to include everything of public interest. The fact is, dear ' ' Old Settler, ' ' you who are left out of the record have not always responded to the invitation to furnish facts within your own CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. recollection for this •work, and you should remember this in your criticisms. I cannot close this preface without expressing my sincere thanks to those who have so materially aided me in this work by furnishing facts and data within their own knowledge. One object of this work, to be frank about it, was to get enough money out of it to pay the printer^,, and paper dealers, and another object, of much greater importance, was to furnish to every person in the county a faithful record of township and county events from the earliest settlement by white men. How well I have succeeded I must leave others to judge. I can only hope that this record may be received by the public with the same liberal and charitable spirit in which it has been written. THE AUTHOR. CHAPTER I, 1854-5. PRIMITIVE CONDITION OP COUNTY. No longer ago than 1854, the present comity of Waseca was a portion of that extensive region of country known as Blue Earth county. Not a single white man then had a habitation within its borders. The solitude of nature was broken only occasionally by some hunter and trapper, and by wandering bands of Sioux Indians. The buffalo, the elk, and the deer had, for ages, roamed its wild prairies and woodlands; fishes had basked undisturbed in its lakes and rippling streams; the muskrat, the otter, and the mink had gamboled upon the ice in winter with no white man to molest them. Ducks, geese, and other aquatic fowls, in countless numbers, covered the lakes and streams in summer, and chattered and squawked and frolicked in all their native glory and happi- ness. The prairie wolf howled upon each little hillock, and, coward-like, was always ready to attack and destroy the weak and defenseless. Pocket gophers went on with their interminable underground operations, all unconscious of the inroads soon to be made upon their dominions by the husbandman. Grouse and prairie chickens cackled, crowed, and strutted in all their pride. Blizzards and cyclones swept unheeded across its vast domains. The autumnal prairie fires, in all their terrible grandeur and weird beauty, lighted the heavens by night and clouded the sun by day. Age after age had added alluvial richness to the soil and prepared it to be one of the most productive fields of the world for the abode of the husbandman and for the uses of civilized man. The enquiring and philosophical mind, at times, finds food for CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. reflection in the fact that an overruling Providence sent the Pilgrim Fathers first to the rock-bound coast of New England to clear the forests and to settle that country, but reserved the rich and productive prairie-lands of the West, ready prepared for the plow and the mower for descendants and followers. It is a pleasure to record the early settlement of a county which, for fifty consecutive years, has never suffered a total failure of crops or even a half failure, and where general thrift and pros- perity, for all that time, have attended and rewarded the hand of industry and the spirit of frugality : "Where the ghiduing sunlight iirstlcd. Where all Nature's beauty slept Unrevealed to cultured vision, Where the savage wail'd and wept, When his son or sire had given To the Spirit World his breath. Find we here a famous region, (Sunny side of 'Minne's' face) With lovely lakes and richest soil, Stately in its quiet grace,— A healthy home for sons of toil." CHAPTER II, 1854-5. FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT— MR. A. G. SUTLIEF AND FAMILY- JOURNEY FROM DODGE COUNTY, WIS.— JUDGE GREEN'S NAR- RATIVE—JUDGE LOST AND PREPARED FOR DEATH- SUTLIEF'S RETURN— BIG BOOT CREEK— CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI ON ICE. So far as practicable, the historical events in this volume are recorded in the order in which they came to pass, instead of being grouped under certain headings or classifications This may re- quire a little more space, but the author thinks it will afford an easier comprehension of the various facts presented. MR. AND MRS. ASA G. SUTLIEF and Mr. Sutlief's three oldest children, Delancy, Rhoda and Delaney, were the first white settlers in this county. Taking with them quite a drove of cattle and sheep, they started from the town of Herman, Dodge county, Wisconsin, in the month of June, 1854, with ox teams and covered wagons, to seek a new home in the land of "Laughing Waters." They passed over the ]\Iis- sissippi at La Crosse, traveled across the country in a westerly direction, struck the Minnesota river at Traverse, now St. Peter, and settled on a claim some five or six miles west of that place. To give an idea of the vicissitudes of such a journey at that time, the following from the pen of Hon. G. W. Green, well known to all the early settlers of this region, will be valuable and inter- esting. He wrote : "In the summer of 1854 I left Beaver Dam, Wis., in company with Messrs. Hollingsworth, Bradley and Boomer for the purpose of seeing some portion of Southern Minnesota with an idea of settling there. Arriving at La Crosse, we purchased material for camping and ferried, 10 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. across the Mississippi river. One log house, nearly finished, greeted us on the west side of the river opposite La Crosse. That was all there was then of La Crescent. The next house, twenty-four miles distant, was occupied hy a Thompsonlan physician, by name Bently, who had concluded to mix -daim-taking and rudimentary farming with his pro- fession. Some miles further on, whei* now is St. Charles, was one more log house kfept as a tavern by one Springer. 'There was a newly made wagon track extending about ten miles further on, where a young man and his wife, by the name of Potter, had taken a claim and were building a small house. One story of it was finished and the chamber floor laid of loose boards, but without any roof. They invited us to stay with them over night. We did so. During the night it rained hard, and we got thoroughly soaked. After breakfast the next morning we started on without any track and no guide but our pocket compass. "About noon of this day we came up with Mr. A. G. Sutllef, who was moving with his family from Dodge county, Wisconsin, to a point near Traverse des Sioux (a missionary post near where St. Peter now is), so named because it was at this place that the Sioux Indians forded the river. Mr. Sutllef was a noted pioneer of Wisconsin, but he knew little more than we did as to the most feasible route to his destination. Mr. Holllngsworth was Sutllef's father-in-law, and we very willingly accepted their kind invitation to keep them company to their new home. Mr. Sutlief had with him a large herd of cattle and sheep. We crossed the Ashland prairie near the head of the Straight and Zumbro rivers, and near the Oak Glen lakes. Within one mile of Straight river, we camped for dinner. LOST ON THE PRAIRIE. "After dinner Mr. Sutlief wanted me to go with him and look for a suitable place to cross the river. We went to the river, and, finding no desirable crossing, concluded to cross further up, near what seemed, by the appearance of the timber, to be a very considerable bend in the river, apparently some five or six miles away. It was. agreed that Sutlief should go back and guide the teams, while I should cross the river and travel up to the proposed crossing. "Without thinking much about the company, I went slowly on until I came to the place where Dr. Kenyon afterwards lived. I could see or hear nothing of Sutlief or the company, not even a cow-bell, several of which I knew were In use on the cattle and sheep. I tried as well as I could to find their whereabouts. Although but a short distance below the proposed crossing, I could not find any trace of them before It was dark. As fate would have it, I had neither coat nor blanket, jack-knife nor matches, ax nor hatchet. "Tired out and hungry, I laid myself under a tree to rest, and was very soon asleep. With no breakfast, I renewed my search for the com- pany, going on up the. river to a point where a Mr. Bennett afterwards settled, but found no signs. I then concluded to follow down the river CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 11 as long as my strength should last, unless I found something more desirable. Before proceeding, however, I pulled off a hoot and, with a pin, wrote upon a smooth part of the boot-leg my name, thus: 'G. W. Green, Beaver Dam, Wis.,' not knowing but that some one would find my bones and hoots, and thereby my friends might hear from me. I had a little matter of $700 in my pockets, which, in case I should be lost, this act might be the means of my family getting. I had no other way of writing." After this preparation for the worst that might befall me, I started down the river, traveling slowly until nearly sun-down, when I found the trail where the company had crossed the river, not over half a mile above where I had left Sutlief. With new courage and zeal I started on this trail. I followed it a short distance without any trouble, but, darkness coming on, the trail became invisible and I lost It. In hunting for it I stumbled and fell, and my weariness and exhaustion were such that I did not feel disposed to rise. I unconsciously fell asleep. "When I awoke the sun was high up and shining brightly. Reinvigor- ated by my sound and restful sleep, I soon found the trail, and, following it slowly a short time, I observed two men approaching me. They were of our company. Looking up towards the timber, about three miles from where they had crossed the river, I saw the wagons and the remainder of the company. They had camped there early in the after- noon of the day I was lost, expecting I would see and come to them. When night came and I did not appear, they built a large fire and kept it going all night, hoping thereby to attract my attention. The next day they spent on horseback looking for me without avail. "When I arrived in camp, they represented to me that my eyes were staring, and my lips and tongue swollen. Mrs. Sutlief prepared me something to eat, but I had no appetite and could eat nothing of it, instead thereof calling for a cup of sour milk which I drank with relish. I took but very little nourishment except sour milk the rest of that day. My appetite slowly returning, the next day I ate sparingly, but it was some three or four days before I could partake of an ordinary meal. "From that place we proceeded to Beaver lake, just east of New Rich- land, crossing its outlet where the road now runs. Here we saw an Indian and tried to get some idea from him what course to take to reach the Minnesota river, but failed to secure any correct information. Crossing some of the rivulets that unite to form the Le Sueur river and following along down that stream, we forded it near where the village of St. Mary was afterwards built. We wandered on, we knew not whither, until we struck Minnesota lake. Here we stayed two days and looked for signs. At last, about three miles west of the lake, we found a freshly-made Indian trail going southwest. We concluded that the Indians had gone on a hunting expedition and that they had congre- gated at the Minnesota river, starting en masse from there. JSTot know- ing anything better to do, we took this trail back ^nd struck Mankato July 4th, 1854. "Mankato then consisted of one family, who kept a log boarding house. 3 2 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. and one man, who presided over a saloon made of small poles. No other evidence of civilization (?) met our gaze. From this point we proceeded to Sutlief's claim which he made about six miles west of St. Peter, remaining with him one day. We then followed the trail down the Min- nesota river to St. Paul, which was at that time little more than an Indian trading post, not as large as St. Anthony then was, and Minneapolis had not yet been spoken of. Here we boarded a steamer for La Crosse, from which point we took our way homeward by our own conveyance. "At the time Of this trip, the prairies were covered with luxuriant grasses from three and a half to four feet high. Deer and elk roved at will, several large herds coming within our view. After leaving Potter's house, before mentioned, we saw no other house until our arrival in Mankato. "I made no definite location on this trip, but concluded to return to the vicinity of Straight or Le Sueur river, with my family, and then make my location. G. W. GREEN." The following August Judge Green returned with his family and settled at Owatonna, as will more fully appear in these annals. 'Mr. .Sutlief had been staying only a few days on his claim, near St. Peter, when he accepted an offer of $100 for his "right of possession." He then returned to ]Mankato, where he left his family and stock, and sought a new location "far from the haunts of busy men." After much traveling and a thorough inspection of a large extent of country, he selected a portion of sectii^i 32, town of Wilton, as his future home. The most of his family still reside there. He arrived at this claim with his family and st.ick early in August, and at once broke about two acres of in'airie. He then set about building a "shanty" for himself and family, and providing shelter for his cattle and sheep. It was a work of some magnitude to prepare for winter, but his energy and industry with the efficient aid of his worthy wife, ovei-came all obstacU's. and, in a few weeks, he was ready to return to Wisconsin with his wife and children to remain during the winter. But before start- ing for Wisconsin with his family, he planned to go to La Crosse to get a supply of provisions inv Luther Barrett, a hmitcr and trapper, who was to stay on the claim and feed and care foi- the sheep and cattle until Siitliefs return the following January. On his trip to La Crosse, he met .ludge (Ireen, on Ashland prai- rie, who, with his family, eleven men, seven ox teams and wagons. and eighty head of cattle, mostly cows and youuu' stock, left Beaver Dam, Wis., August 12th. Judge Green, havmo' more CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 13 supplies than he could easily haul, Mr. Sutlief concluded to return ■with him. Arriving at Straight river, where Owatonna is now located, they found that stream so swollen with recent copious rains that they could not cross it with their heavy loads. Here they found A. B. Cornell and family, the lirst settlers of Steele county, and here they pitched their tents and took counsel with each other. Judge Green in his reminiscences writes : "As we all desired to locate near together, it was decided to leave the women and children with a couple of men as guards and to watch the stock, while the rest of the company should go on to the Le Sueur river country. The next day we crossed Straight river with three wagons, four yoke of oxen and one cow. The men camped on the west side of the river that night, and I went back to the tent and stayed with my family. It rained a large portion of the night. In the morning we started, bearing southwest. It rained by spells and there was a well defined stream in every ravine. We went on to Beaver lake and struck our old trail made on the first trip. In crossing one of the head rivulets of Le Sueur river, then a roaring torrent, one of the men, with boots on as high as his knees, stood upon the back end-board of a wagon box, holding to the top of the wagon cover, and yet got wet; so this was called BIG BOOT CREEK. "We looked over the prairie and woodlands between Sutlief's claim and what was afterward Wilton. We liked the country and concluded to make claims there, which we did; but still it rained, rained! The men got wet and cold and finally homesick or sick of the country. They said the country would all overflow in a wet spell, and, should they settle there, no one else would venture so far from civilization for the next 100 years, and for the rest of their natural lives and those of their families they would be there without bridges or other improvements, except such as they should improvise am,ong themselves. So we went back to Straight river, reluctantly leaving Mr. S. and family alone on the Le Sueur. On the 20th of September I staked out my claim, at Owatonna, and my men went to work cutting hay. In two weeks our hay was cut and stacked, our log house laid up and covered with a "shake-roof," with no chinking, no floors, no doors, no windows. I could not persuade the men to stay another day. They said there would be no other person settling in there for the next fifty years, and that if I managed to live through the winter I would return to Wisconsin in the spring. So they started on their return trip, and there I was, left with an invalid wife and three small children, no stables for stock, no house suitable for cold weather, and apparently no help attainable. It seemed more than I could do to make things endurable through the winter, but the next day a wagon load of ten men arrived, and I got what help I needed form then on." 14 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Mr. Sutlief, having obtained from Judge Green a supply of flour for winter and having made other necessary arrangements, vi^as ready by the latter part of November to convey his wife and children to Wisconsin. They made their return trip in a covered ox-wagon. When they reached the Mississippi, opposite La Crosse, the first week in December, 1854, that stream was not yet frozen over, and they were compelled to wait until the ice King formed a bridge. On the fourth day after their arrival, although the ice was barely strong enough to bear up a man, ]\Ir. Sutlief, in his rash, dare-devil way, crossed the stream by casting the oxen, tying their feet together, and sliding them across on the slippery ice by hand. The wagon also was taken over by hand, and Mrs. Sutlief and the children passed over on foot The remainder of their journey was made without any incident worthy of note. CHAPTER III, 1855. WINTER TRIP TO MINNESOTA WITH OX TEAMS— VENTURESOME CROSSING OF THE MISSISSIPPI ON THE ICE— CLIMBING THE BLUFF— FIRST BLIZZARD AT ZUMBRO FALLS— THE LIQUOR PEDDLER AND HIS GROG— MANTORVILLE THE LAST HOUSE- CAMPING OUT IN MID-WINTER TWO NIGHTS— CATTLE WITH BLEEDING LEGS AND WITHOUT HAY— SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE SUTLIEF SHANTY. Mr. Sutlief was thoroughly enamored with Minnesota, as it then was, and lost no opportunity to proclaim her beauty and her merits. He was under agreement with Mr. Barrett, whom he had left upon his claim, to return in January; and on the 9th of that month, 1855, he started back to Minnesota with three pair of oxen, a wagon and a sleigh, some household goods, provisions, etc., and a few swine. He was accompanied and assisted by the writer whom he had employed for a year to take charge of his Minne- sota farming operations. At Fox Lake, Wis., they were joined by S. P. Child, of Waupun, Wis., then a boy of nineteen years. He was to assist in driving the teams and the swine. He owned a few hogs which he drove with Sutlief 's herd. Nothing of striking importance occurred on the journey until their arrival at La Crosse. At this point, they crossed the river after dark on thin ice that had formed after the January thaw. The act of crossing was a dangerous one and a less venturesome man than Mr. Sutlief would at least have chosen daylight for the undertaking. After crossing the river in safety, they proceed- ed about two miles, and, at nine o'clock in the evening, stopped at a small house occupied by a Mr. Plummer and his wife. Here 1« CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. two days were spent while Jlr. Plummer was getting ready to join the company. It took nearly all of one day to haul the loaded vehicles to the top of the river bluff, and the party returned to the Plummer house for the night. All hands turned out eaily next morning, and the first rays of the rising sun found them on the trail going westward. The day turned to be cloudy and stormy, but the drive was short, and just before dark they stopped at a little frame house, near the road, about five miles southeast of tli(- present village of St. Charles. The next morning, an early start was made so as to reach Rochester— then known as Zumbro Falls— that night, if possible. The weather that day was pleasant, but the snow was drifted deep in many places, and this made traveling very dif- ficult. In some places it was necessary to either shovel out or unhitch the teams from the vehicles and drive them back and forth through the snow drifts, before attempting to pass through with the loads; and, although the teams were urged forward as rapidly as shouting and whipping Avould avail, it was eleven o'clock that night before the travelers reached a stopping place. The weather had turned very cold in the afternoon. ]\Ir. Sutlief frosted his cheeks, ears, nose, and feet, and ]\Iessrs. Plummer, Griffin and S. P. Child frosted their toes slightly. The log hotel at which they arrived was already filled with travelers. The beds were all full, and the floors were nearly covered with sleeping men. There was no sleeping room for these last arrivals, except in a log shanty lean-to, with its Dutch fire- place. This shanty afforded about the poorest protection from cold that could well be imagined, even by a western pioneer. The roof was made of oak shakes. The crevices between the loo-s were not yet plastered or daubed. The prairie blizzard whistled through the holes and crevices with a liberality altosether unpleasant that night. The next morning the wind blew a gale and the thermometer indicated 20 degrees below zero, rendering traveling across the prairie simply impossible. All parties were compelled to remain over during the day. There were some forty travelers thus de- tained, this place being on the stage road from Dubuque to St Paul. Many a good story and some not so good were told that dav CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 17 and .lokes passed among- the hotel guests in a manner peculiar to the \\ est. One fellow, a liq^^or peddler, was quite chagrined at finding his liquor keg bottom end up and his whisky spread out in the snow. The erdwd insisted that he had been on a spree, and had left the keg in that condition himself; and, as no one pretended to know anything to the contrary, he was obliged to smother his pent-up wrath and make the best of the situation. His attempt at the retail business in the morning was, without doubt, the primaiy cause of his sad bereavement— at least some of the ladies intimated as much to his face. The Avind lulled dufiug the night, and the next morning Avas bright and pleasant, though still cold. Our first settlers tackled up early and stai'ted across the prairie for Mantorville. That village was then less than a year old and contained only three or four small cabins. It was the last settlement on the route of our "first settlers" until they should reach their destination on the Le Sueur. Think of the recklessness, not to say foolhardiness, of the trip. Imagine, if you will, good reader, five men and a woman with her babe about to start across a wind-howling prairie, in the midst of winter with the thermometer 10 degrees below zero, without any road, not even a track, and withoiit a tent, to spend three days and two nights, at the least, with no shelter save the starry heav- ens. The whole company might have perished in a blizzard! JSuch was the thoughtless untlertaking of those men on the morn- ing of the 31st of January, 1S55. After loading on what hay they could take along they left Slan- torville bearing south of west across the trackless prairie until they struclv the southern tier of sections in township 106. They then kept due west, guided by section po.sts, set the fall before by government surveyors. A little after noon they ran into one of those deep, narrow creeks which abound along the Zumbro river, and nearly lost one yoke of oxen. After considerable hard work and some delay, they rescued the "Nucky Steers," as the oxen wei-e called, and finally succeeded in crossing the stream with no serious damage. Without further mishap, they traveled until about sunset when they arrived at a small grove of bur oaks, near the source of one branch of the Zumbro river. Here they concluded to camp for the night. The oxen were soon unyoked 2 18 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. and fed, a large campfire was built, supper was prepared and consumed, stories were told, and songs were sung. The weather was reasonably pleasant, with a slight wind from the west. About nine o'clock, they spread their hay beds upon the snow under the wagons, and laid themselves down for the night, covering up head and ears with quilts and blankets. All slept soundly until three o'clock the next morning when all hands were aroused by the cry of "fire!" coming from Mr. Sutlief, who had been warmed out. The wind had changed to the south in the night and, blowing briskly, had thrown the fire on 'Mr. Sutlief 's bed. It took some time to extinguish the flames in the bed-clothing: and when that had been accomplished and the travelers had about' recovered from the excitement caused b.v the fire, they discovered that the cattle had all left, taking the back track toward the settlement. The Child brothers started in pursuit with furious feclin.us and at a frantic rate of foot- speed. The cattle were overtaken at the creek where the difficul- ty in crossing occurred the day before and were ordered back to camp in the forcible language peculiar to the ox-teamster of the AVest. The two men returned to camp half an hour before sun- rise, partook of a hearty breakfast with the rest of the company, and, just as the sun made its appearance, all hands started in a due westerly course. The day was intensely cold and much activity M'as required to keep warm. There was a hard crust on the snow, which impeded progress and cut the legs of the cattle to such an extent that blood was left in their tracks. Several deep snow drifts Avere encountered within the day. Thes.^ caused some delay and much labor. That night the emigrants encamped in a thicket of hazel brush and poplar trees, with some bur oaks intermingled. This was on the west side of Straight river and several miles south of Owa- tonna. It was an excellent place for a camp in winter, the brush and trees forming a thicket which was an admirable protection for both man and beast. The main difficultv of these pioneers was want of food for tlu> cattle. No hay was left for them ex cept what was in the beds, and only a .small allowance of -rain remamed. That night th.. cmpany took the precaution to secure the oxen with head ropes. The men clearing away the brush and snow, soon made a cheer\- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 19 campfire, and Mrs. Plummer prepared a warm supper, which was eaten with a relish. No one- complained of a lack of appetite. The members of the company were not so much given to song and stories and funny jokes as they had been on the previous evening. The romance of camping out in midwinter had lost to them, after their two days' experience, something of its imaginary charms. They piled high the campfire with fuel and retired early to their hay beds, which were spread upon the snow-covered ground. The wind came up from the northwest in the evening, and before morning the weather was intensely cold. Long before daylight, the next morning, they arose, fed the cattle what hay there was in the beds, and ate their own breakfast. As soon as there was light enough to enable them to keep their course, they renewed their journey. They crossed the LeSueur river, in the town of New Richland, with some difficulty, the banks of the stream being very steep. Soon after crossing the river, they reached the height of the prairie level. They could then see, and took it for their guide, a large bur-oak tree standing alone on section thirty-six, in Wilton about a mile from the Sutlief shanty. Never were weary mortals more pleased than were those first settlers when Mr. Sutlief announced that that tree was within a mile of his claim. They reached the Sutlief place at four o'clock p. m., rejoiced to find Mr. Barrett alive and well. To say that every member of the company was thankful for this safe resting place is a very mild way of expressing his feelings on that occasion. The condition and appearance of the country, at that time, however, were neither very pleasing nor inviting to the most of the pioneers, for they had come from a heavy timbered country. To the south and west, as far as the eye could reach, there was a vast expanse of bleak prairie, without either tree or shrub, swept by the howling blasts of winter and covered with snow, sleet and ice. The few trees along the river looked to them then to be short and scrubby; the weather was intensely cold; it was thirty-five miles to the nearest postoffice— Mankato ; they could get no newspapers and no letters, except at long intervals of time ; there were no houses, no barns, no fences, no roads, no bridges, no human beings to be seen in any direction. This shanty was then 20 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. the only human habitation l)etw(M-ii what was afterwards known as the Winnebago agency and (Jwatonna— the oidy one within the present limits of AA'aseca county. The writer mentally resolved, within a week after his arrival, to return to Wisconsin as soon as his term of service should ex- pire. But when the month of June came, what a ehanuv ! The irees had put forth their fresh, green foliaue; the prairies were decked with the most gorgeous flowers ; feathered songsters held grand jubilee concerts in every gi-ove, and prairie chickens in endless numbers made early morn melodious with their merry love-making. Xo more enchanting picture of a grand, rich coun- try ever met the eye of man than that presented in the valley of the L.'Siieiii- during the summer of 185.5. MRS. S. P. CHILD. HON. S. P. CHILD. CHAPTER IV, 1855. DRIVE CATTLE TO MANKATO— S. P. CHILD NEAR UNTO DEATH— CALLENS AND MANSFIELD SHANTY— CHILD CAUGHT ON PRAI- RIE AT NIGHT AND FEET BADLY FROZEN— TERRIBLE SUFFISR- ING AND NO PHYSICIAN NEAR— THE WINNEBAGO INDIANS AR- RIVE. Shortly after their arrival at !Sutlief'& place, JMessrs. Barrett, Sutlief and y. P. Child started for Mankato with a portion of Sutlief 's cattle in order to get them kept there until spring, as the hay was running short. Mr. Sutlief returned within a few da.vs, leaving S. P. Child at Van Brunt's sawmill to get in logs for lum- ber. j\Ir. Barrett had a claim of his own near South Bend and remained there. Van Brunt's mill was on the LeSueur river, about five miles east of Mankato. Owing to some misunderstand- ing, S. P. Child, after remaining at the mill a few days, started to return to Sutlief's claim, intending to stop on the way, over night, at the shanty of Mansfield and Callens, who then resided about four miles south of what was soon after known as Winne- bago Ager.e^-. Mr. Child found no one about the home and the door was locked; he therefore concluded to push through to Sutlief's that day. This was a most unwise decision, for he had nearly twenty-five miles to travel before he would reach the Sutlief place. There was no road, and half the forenoon was already spent. He should have forced open the door and re- mained over night. But he was young, strong, and impetuous, and, thinking he could get through in good time, he started on. The snow was deep, especially in low places and in ravines, often taking him in waist deep. It was also covered with crust, strong 22 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. enough to hold him up in some places, while in other places it would break through. During the middle of the day the weather was mild, and some of the snow that worked into his boots melted, making his socks and boots quite wet. Toward evening the weather became much colder and, despite all his efforts, his feet began to freeze soon after dark. There was no track he could follow, no land mark he could see, and he was enabled to keep his course only by a star which he selected as his guide. One can, perhaps, better imagine than describe the feelings and emotions of one so young thus toiling on with frozen feet, nerved by the hope of reaching shelter and by the prospect of perishing with cold and fatigue on an uninhabited prairie with only prairie wolves to gather at his deathbed. Hour after hour wore away, his feet to his ankles were frozen hard; drowsiness came over him ; the prairie' wolves howled in the distance ; yet no sign of the shanty could be discovered. Though much exhausted and discouraged, he struggled on. He had passed the shanty to the south. Death was certain if he went forward. Fortunately for him the inmates of the cabin were at work much later than usual that evening ; by mere chance he discov- ered the light, and to the great astonishment of all present came in about eleven o'clock more dead than alive. His boots and socks were frozen tight to his feet and ankles, and some time and much labor were required to remove them. The suffering he endured for many weeks can not be described. No medical aid could be obtained, and the flesh on his feet liter- ally rotted away, leaving the blackened bones of his toes ex- posed, ilany weeks of pain passed before he could step on his ±eet and it was months before he could wnlk without the aid of crutches. Most of the discolored bones of his toes were taken off by his brother who used a razor in the work of amputation. In the latter part of the following April, he was conveyed to Mankato where surgical aid was obtained and the other injured bones were removed. B>- July following he had so far recovered the use of his feet that he took the position of government cook at the Winnebago Agency, among the Winnebago Indians, These Indians had been brought to their reservation during the month of June of that year— Gen. Fletcher being the auent at that time. CHAPTER V, 1855. MORE SETTLERS IN MIDWINTER— CHRIS SCOTT AND FAMILY- BUILD A LOG HUT AND COVER IT WITH HAY— SCOTT MAKES TRIP TO LA CROSSE FOR FLOUR THE LAST OF FEBRUARY. About two weeks after the arrival of Mr. Sutlief and his com- pany, as detailed in chapter three, Mr. Christopher Scott and fam- ily, accompanied by a man called "Pat," came over from Straight i-iver, where they had been staying since the previous fall. They, too, i/^ere from Wisconsin, near Fox Lake. This family stayed, or "hung up," in the Sutlief cabin, which, on their arrival, was pretty we)] filled; at least, it contained twelve persons, although it was only 14xlC feet with no chamber room. But in those days the stranger was welcome so long as there was standing room in the abode of the pioneer. ]Mr. Scott immediately made a claim about a mile north of Sut- lief 's. This claim is now owned by Jlr. John Carmody, Sr. Mr. Scott commenced building a cabin, which was constructed of logs notched together at the corners; the building was "shin- gled" with basswood troughs; the crevices between the logs and troughs were chinked with prairie grass, cut in February, and then daubed, or plastered, with mud ; the floor was the frozen ground, and the "banking" around the cabin was made of snow. There was no lumber in the country nearer than Mankato, and such a cabin was all that could be constructed with the materials at hand. Mrs. Scott having two or three small children, the bot- tom of a wagon box was brought in and laid upon the ground for them to play on, and for Mrs. Scott to use as a sort of sitting room. Near the close of February Mr. -Sutlief started for Dodge coun- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ty, Wis., leaving Ms business in Minnesota in charge of J. E. Child. Mr. Scott, who was goin>i- to La Crosse for provisions, accompan- ied Mr. Sutlief. They went 1)\' way of Owatonna, having learned that several teams had been driven from Owatonna to La Crosse within the month of Feln-uary. Mr. Sutlief reached his destination in due time; and Mr. Scott, after a long and laborious struggle and much expense, returned with a small supply of flour and pork. CHAPTER VI, 1855. GREAT THAW IN MARCH FOLLOWED BY A SECOND WINTER- ALONE AND BLIND WITH CATTLE TO CARE FOR— MRS. SCOTT'S KINDNESS— TWO MEN FROM IOWA OUT IN ALL THAT STOR.M AND NEARLY STARVED. The first week in Rlarch brought a thaw and a freshet. The snow entirely disappeared and the weather M-as warm and pleas- ant. So, on a very fine Sunday morning I concluded to take a tour oi' inspection around Silver Lake. In passing around the lake, when crossing its outlet on what is now the Pat Mad- den farm, I broke through the ice and was thoroughly ilj-enched in ice water. Very soon after this baiitism, the wind sprang up from the northwest and before I reached the cabin that afternoon, a severe snow storm was raging. In returning from school section 36, that m'eniiig, where I was obliged to go to feed the cattle, I faced the storm for half a mile, and my eyes were injured by the hail and sleet. I also contracted a severe cold that day, and the next morning my eyes were so inflamed that I could not open them nor bear the light. I was in a "Fletcherian fix" being all alone, with fifty cattle and sheep to feed and water, and I as blind as a bat. I tried to raise the only neighbors— those at Scott's claim a mile away— by loading and firing a rifle that was in the cabin; but this availed nothing. However, as good luck would have it, the storm ceased about noon, and Mr. Plummer from Scott's claim, came over on an errand. He fed and watered the stock, brought in some wood and promised to return next morning. I could see no better that day than on the previous day ; so, when Rlr. Plummer had cared for 26 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. the cattle, he proposed that I should go with him to the Scott cabin where ilrs. Scott could poultice my eyes and care for them. The proposition was grati^fully accepted. "Sim" said that as soon as spring should arrive, he could fur- nish the eyes if "Pat" would the le^s, and they would "leg it" back to the scenes of their childhood, etc. After being kindly treated for a week, I so far recovered my sight that I was able to return to the Sutlief cabin and attend to my duties. The country was really having a second winter in Jlarch. The weather was cold, and ice had again formed on all the streams and ponds. A morning or two after I had returned to the Sutlief cabin, and while I was preparing my breakfast, I heard rapping at the door and said "come in." A stranger, looking haggard enough, Avalked in, and, grasping me by the hand, expressed his joy at finding a cabin and some one living in it. He snid that he and another man, during the warm spell of weather had left tlie northernmost settlement, on the Des ^loines river, in Iowa, with a horse and "jumper," bound for ]Mankato. Ou the third day of their journey they had met the heavy snowstorm which had swept over the Northwest, and partly lost their course, but struck the headwaters of the LeSueur on the east side, and, supposing it to be the Blue Earth river, had followed along down, expecting to find the Mankato settlement. For three days preceding their arrival here, they had been without anything to eat, except a few ears of corn that they had brought along for horsefeed. The horse had subsisted for s.'veral days on nothing save dead prairie grass, and the browse from the bushes in the small groves along their route. One of the men Vwis nearly blind from exi)osure to wind, sun, and storm, and both were very much reduced in strength for want of food and rest. The horse was nearly starved. They had come into the river bend opposite the Sutlief calun the evening before and had camped over night, almost discouraged and with little hope of ever reaching .Mankato or seeing their families again. Within the night they thought they could hear oeeasionally, the sound ol a cow hell, and at early dawn they surely heard the roosters eiow. Hope revived; and, as thiylight came on, the uuui who could yet see, following the sounds which they had heard, ci-ossed the river and found the shanty. They were ehullv wel- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 27 corned, and remained at the cabin several days before they and their horse were strong enough to pursue their journey to Man- kato. I never saw nor heard of them afterwards. CHAPTER VII, 1855. MORE SETTLERS IN MARCH— ROBBINS BROTHERS COME WITH CHRIS SCOTT— "BILL" ROBBINS LOST ON THE PRAIRIE, OUT TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS WITHOUT POOD— A SHOOTING AFFRAY. The latter part of ilai-eh, after enduring- all sorts of hardships. Chris Scott returned from his trip to La Crosse for provisions, AYith him came two brothei's, (Jeorge Kobl)ins and Wni. Bobbins. young- and single men from Canada. They made claims on the east side of the river, opposite -^vhat was afterwards the vil- lage of Wilton, and where once was located a paper town called Walerlyiiii. Wm. Robbins, about this time, had a little experi- ence in being lost on the prairie. He was eiiiplo>-ed to drive a team and take S. P. Child to ^lankato for suri;ical treatment. That was in April. AVlien they ai-i'ived at the .Mansfield and Callens' cabin, they learned lliat the water was so high in the Le Siieur river that they could not cross it to go on to ilankato. So it was ari-anged that Child and the team should remain wdii Mansfield and Callens imtil the waters should subside, and then u-o to I\Iankato, and Robbins should at once return to the Sutlief settlement on foot and report the condition of afit'airs. Tie left there early in the luorniiig, having with him a rille and a small supply of anununition. It seems that he went carelessly nlonir, shooting at birds, until well along in the afternoon, when it (n>- curred to him that he ought lo be near home. He looked in i>ver\- direction, but coidd see no object that look,>(l like anything:- he had ever seen before. But he was on a wagon trail and Uiought that tliai would lead him home. He had th(niuhllessly expended all his anununition, and night found him upon the open prairie CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 29 Avithout food, fuel, or even a blanket. He dared not move about much after dark for fear he would lose the wagon track. The next morning he was totally at a lo.ss as to which direction to Ko. He finally followed the trail in a southerly direction, and ad in Blooming (irove in 1855. The first death among th,> old settlers of the township was that of ll,..,ry Howell, m native of England. He was returning from Fiiribault with liis brother .lonathan, an.l, when about half a mile CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 41 east of Morristown, got out of the sleigh to walk and thus ^varm himself. His brother, unbekno^vn to him, stopped in Morristown, and he continued towards home on foot. Jonathan, after waiting awhile, supposing Henry had proceeded homeward, drove home, only to find that he had not arrived. The next day, after consid- erable search, his body was found near the Bassett farm, a mile south of Morristown, with life extinct. He no doubt became bewildered on the prairie, and, being rather thinly clad and the night a cold one, soon froze to death. He left surviving him three daughters. TOWNSHIP OF JANESVILLE. The records of this township for the first ten years of its ex- istence are missing; and the best that can be done is to give Avhat can be picked up here and there from other sources. It is among the early traditions that the first white settlers in Janes- ville were a man named John Douglas and another named Hughes. They did not become permanent settlers, but removed, shortly afti.Twards, further west. The next settlers were two dissolute characters, Alfred Holstein and John Davis. Davis claimed a portion of section 28, and Holstein a portion of section 27. Their principal business was trading with the Indians, and, by common reputation, they dealt mostly in whisky and tobacco— Davis, es- pecially, being a great drinker himself. Both of them were social, friendly, and kind hearted to all comers, but their ideas of moral- ity and decency were not of high grade. Davis finally went to one of the Carolinas. Holstein was sent to state prison by a United' States court for stealing horses from the Winnebago Indians. A man named John Rowley settled on section 9, the same summer and became a long-time resident. James, Thomas, John and Jerry Hogan, four brothers, came from tlie state of Kentucky in 1855, and settled in the timber on the west side of Lake Elysian. These were among the hardy pioneers that came here to make homes for themselves and their children, and they became permanent settlers. ]Mr. Patrick Moonan made a settlement in this township the same year. "Mr. Moonan was born in County Louth, Ireland, jMarch 17, 1825; came to America in 18H and settled in Janes- ville. Mrs. Moonan 's maiden name was Mary A. Delaney and they were married in 1853. Mr. Moonan was in business at Janes- 42 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ville for several years. He came to Waseca in 1882, and built the Sheridan House, now called the Waverly hotel, where he car- ried on the business until 1887, when he sold out and removed to Minneapolis with his family. He afterwards returned to Waseca, where he died November 22d, 1899. John Moonan, Esq., the well-known attorney of Waseca, is his son. John McCue, who became a wealthy farmer of the county, and his brothers, James and Patrick, also came that summer. James remained a bachelor and died in 1885, on the McCue estate. Patrick removed to Parker's Prairie, in this state, while ^Mr. John ilcCue removed to iiissouri, where he became more wealthy than he was here. He finally went to California, where he died about 1893. George ilorrill, now a resident of Alton, settled in Janesville, in 1855. Mr. ]\Iorrill is a modest, quiet farmer, and has a good home. John Cunningham was one of those first-class men who settled in Janesville in 1855. He made his claim on section 29, where he resided until his death, August 30, 1870. He was one of the first to respond to the call for men to fight the Indians in 1862, and enlisted October 4th, with ten other men from this county, in Company B, First Minnesota ^Mounted Rangers, and served until the close of the Indian war. He married Mrs. ]\Iary Craw- ford, widow of AV. H. Crawford, one of the early settlers of this county. At the breaking out of the war ^iv. Crawford was murdered by Texas rebels for the awful crime of being a northern republican. TOWNSHIP OF BYRON. Jeremy Davis and family were among the 1855 settlers and made the first claim in the toAvn of Byron, settling on the north- west quarter of section 34, where they lived imtil the death of Mr. Davis, which occurred September 13, 1868. Daniel C. Davis, son of Jeremy, came with his father in 1855. Having just reached his majority, he also took a claim and became a permanent resident of the township. He took a homestead on sections 28 and 33 after the homestead law took effect. He was married July 18, 1861, to ]Miss Frances Pavvin, daughter of Islv. B. Parvin, who settled in the coiinty in 1860. (I have thus given the names, as far as 1 have been able to CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 43 remember, or learn, of all those who settled in the county prior to the year 1856. That I have forgotten some names and inci- dents in fifty years is altogether possible and quite probable. There were, however, some experiences peculiar to that first year's settlement Avhich will never be forgotten by those who passed the winter of 1855-6 in this county. In writing this history, I shall endeavor to present the facts, as nearly as possible, in the order of their occurrence; and I knoAv nothing that can be more interesting to future generations of our children, or to the living, than a truthful record of the real dangers and hardships then encountered by the men and women that have made it possible for the present thousands of people in the county to live in the midst of plenty, and with all the advantages of advanced civilization about them. In my next chapter I shall give some sketches of life in Waseca county during the fall of 1855 and the winter of 1855-6.— The Author.) CHAPTER XII, 1855. THE FIRST ELECTION— FIRST CANDIDATES IN COUNTY— LIST OF VOTERS. THE FIRST ELECTION. The general election in those days was held on the second Tues- day in October, I think; at anj^ rate the election that year fell on the 9th of October. There were two voting preciucts. The northern half of the county was called "Swavesey,'' and the southern half "Le Sueur River." There were two polling places — one at the house of J. M. Bliven in Blooming Grove, the other at the farm of Chris Scott, now owned liy ilr. Carmody, in AYilton. I was not present at the "Swavesey" precinct, but was present at the "Le Sueur" precinct election. AVlien the voters came to- gether at Scott's house, there was no ballot box, and one had to be improvised. Finally ]\Irs. Scott loaned them a cake box. A hole was cut in the cover so as to admit the ballots, and the elec- tion proceeded. The local candidates were as follows : County commissioners — Samuel B. Smith, V\'m. Allen and Melmer P. Ide. Register of deeds — Charles Ellison. Sheriff— Wm. F. Pettlt. Treasurer — David Sanborn. Surveyor — John W. Park. Clerk of court — F. Wilbur Fisk. District attorney — J. M. Bliven. Judge of probate — Frank B. Davis. Assessors — David Lindesmith, Charles Thompson and Luke B. Osgood. Justices of the peace — John Jenkins, of what is now Wilton, and Simeon Smith, of what is now Blooming Grove. Of the county offlcers, Mr. Ide and Mr. Bliven resided in Blooming CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 45 Grove. All the other officers were residents of what is now Steele county, except Mr. Osgood, who lived in what Is now Iosco. It is proper to say here that what is now Waseca county was then a part of Steele county. The names of those who voted in the Le Sueur precinct, as I remember them, were as follows : Barney Gregory, Joseph Bird, Abraham Bird, John "White, ^Martin Krassin, Fred Krassin, Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., Fred Prechel, Gottlieb Prechel, Fred "Wobschall, David J. Jenkins, John Jenkins, John G. Greening-, Andrew Scott, C. D. Scott, Chris. Scott, James E. Child, Wm. Robbins, George Bobbins and H. F. Bierman.— t^wenty voters in all. The names of those who resided in the "Swavesey" precinct, as near as I can make out from the records, were as follows : A. C. Smith, L. B. Osgood, Daniel McDaniels, John H. Wheeler, David Wood, Aaron Hanes, J. W. Hosmer, Michael Johnson, Jonathan Howell, A. J. Bell, S. F. Wyman, Chris. Remund, W. :\I. Gray, J. M. Bliven, Ole Knutson, Curtis Hatch. M. P. Ide, Simeon Smith, James, John, Thomas and Jerry Hogan, James and Patrick McCue, Patrick Moonan, George IMorrill, John Cunning- ham and John Rowley. It is not known to the writer how many of these voted, but there was a "right smart" vote considering the number of people. The ticket was really non-partisan— Messrs. Pettit and Ellison being non-committal democrats— and all the others abolitionists or republicans. Among the voters in the Le Sueur precinct, there were only two democrats, Andrew and C. D. Scott. The whole ticket was voted straight, as there was no opposition. So you see we started out harmoniously. It was, in fact, the only election the writer ever attended that was entirely harmonious and uaanimous. While the fires of sectional and partisan strife were raging in the eastern states, our then territory was com- paratively free from such excitement. CHAPTER XIII, 1855. PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER— HAULING PROVISIONS FROM IOWA. TRIP MADE TO AUBURN, IOWA, BY THE AUTHOR— DECEMBER 19, 1855 ON THE PRAIRIE ALL NIGHT— ONE MAN FROZEN TO DEATH— A COLD CHRISTMAS. "While a few of the earliest settlers in 1855 had raised enough vegetables for their winter supply of food, not one of them had produced a supply of wheat, and every family was compelled to haul flour and other supplies from distant points, the nearest Hour mill being over one hundred miles distant. Most of the flour was obtained from Auburn, Iowa, a small town on Turkey river. Among those who were Avise enough to prepare for winter before winter commenced were the Krassins. Having completed their home preparations for winter, they started with several teams and wagons for Iowa. Justina, afterwards IMrs. Child, accompanied her brothers as cook. They went by way of Owa- tonna and Austin, and thence southeast to Auburn, where they found an abundant supply of flour and other articles. They re- turned after an absence of three weeks heavily loaded with pro- visions. As they made the trip in October— the golden month of the year— when Minnesota is clothed in the beauteous garments of Indian summer, they enjoyed a pleasant and profitable journey. Their return furnished the settlement with valuable information as to the road to take to reach Auburn, the prices to be paid for flour, pork, groceries, etc. But most of the settlers had stables to build, cabins to finish up and other fall Avork to do, so that it was Avinter before they could get started on the trip to "Egypt for corn." CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 47 A journey of one hundred or one thousand miles to-day, in railroad passenger coaches, is a very easy undertaking, but a journey of one hundred miles or more across a country where the streams are unbridged and the sloughs ungraded, where cabins are few and far between, through storms of rain or sleet or snow-blizzards, camping out on the bleak prairie at night, with nothing to charm either the ear or the eye save the howling blasts of winter or the more demoniac howling of prairie wolves as, coward-like, they reconnoiter your position and condition- such a journey may be somewhat romantic to read about, but it is not so very enchanting to those who have made a trial of it. The experiences of all those who made the journey that winter were very similar, no doubt, and the writer gives his own and those of the few others he has been able to get as samples. JAMES E. CHILD'S STORY. During the first days of December, 1855, having engaged two pair of oxen and a wagon of the brothers John and David J. Jenkins, I made preparations for a journey into Iowa. John Jen- kins furnished the money (about $150.00) ; I was to put in my labor and skill, get a load of provisions and groceries, bring them into the settlement and sell them ; each of us was to share equally in the profits, if any. I started from the settlement December 5th, and proceeded to Owatonna, where I remained two days to get the oxen shod. Uncle Jo. Wilson, the rough, kind-hearted blacksmith, of that place, did the job. On the 8th I took the wagon track leading to Austin. There were two or three cabins some five or six miles south of Owatonna, a quarter of a mile from the road, and, after passing them, there were no other habitations to be seen until the Vaughn settlement, near the place now called Lansing, was reached. Before reaching this settlement, night came on, and the darkness, if it could not be felt like that of Egypt in the days of Pharaoh, was near enough to it to prevent a prudent man from trying to travel in a strange country. Camping for the night was the next best thing and I put up in a thicket of red oaks. I built a rousing big fire, warmed up the baked pork and beans, toasted the frozen bread, thawed out the doughnuts, made a cup of tea, ate a hearty supper and smoked the pipe of peace with all the then visible world. I had oii the wagon about a quarter of 48 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. a ton of hay (it was necessary in those days to carry along food for both man and beast), so that the cattle had plenty to eat and the driver had plenty to sleep on under the wagon. In such a place, on such a night, under such circumstances, even a young man naturally becomes philosophical and looks upon his own life as one of the greatest mysteries of a mysterious and, as yet, in- comprehensible iiniverse, the beginning and ending of which is called God, the Father of all. Solitary and alone with the patient oxen, I threw myself upon a pile of hay, wrapped in an Indian blanket, and must have gone to sleep early in the evening. In the night I awoke to find that a drizzling rain storm had set in from the northeast. I put some more wood on the fire and again went to sleep. About an hour before daylight, I was aroused by a prairie wolf concert that was being held in the immediate vicinity and probably for my benefit. Appreciating the compliment of the serenade, I stirred the embers of the camp-fire, put on more wood and soon had a cheerful blaze, notwithstanding the dampness. Those wolves, like some people, seemed to prefer darkness to light, for they left at once. As soon as it was light enough to see the road, travel was again resumed. As the day advanced, the storm increased, and, by three o'clock p. m., rain and sleet were falling fast. I passed through the village of Austin about noon that day, where I took dinner. Austin then boasted one store, one tavern, one blacksmith shop and several pioneer cabins. After leaving Austin it was found very difficult to keep the right track, owing to the numerous wood roads leading in various directions. Unhappily for me, I selected the wrong track, and, about four o'clock in the after- noon, found myself a mile off the road, but at a comfortable log house, where I stayed over night. About the time I reached here, the rain changed to snow. The next morning the ground was covered with three or four inches of snow, and more was still falling. On the morning of the 10th, I was rather late in starting, as I had only twelve miles to make during the day. I had traveled a mile or so, when a large drove of elks crossed the road some twenty rods ahead of me, in single file. There must have been fifty or sixty of them. They were quite numerous that winter along the two Cedar rivers, but I never heard of any in this f'HlLD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 49 scclioti iil'liT thai wintcT. Twi'Ive miles brdiij^lit me to the wi-st- crn c(\'j;i: of a pfairie citihtcoi ijiilt'S across, and without a, resident [jerson iiiioi] it. ( )n tlie wesleni and soiitli western ed^'e of this exti-iisive praii-ie, tiiere was qiiile a setileinejit of Seaiidinavian Amecieans, who had hteated tliere in 1854-5. I stayed over night with a hospitable Xofwej^ian family. They were yoiini;!' people, with one child. The man (;ould sjieak only a few words of English, hut his comely wife could converse quite fluently in that lan- Knaj^e. The man, an.xious to learn English, made a school teacher of me dnrinj^- the ('venini^-, and refused pay the next morning for my enterlainment, except f(H' what corn 1 fed the cattle. Pearly on the 11th I st;tfted across that beautiful prairie which lies si)re;id out between the two (Jedars on tlie south line of our state. This was a, pjeasarit day, but the soft snow which had fal- len made ti-avelint^' slow and tiresome, and it was already dark when I ri'aelicd the Brink house, on the i^ast branch of the Cedar. < )i] th(! I2th the weathei- became' colder. I passed a tavern and store called I'df-iborje's, and traveled ovcf' a, prairie, some ten. oi- twelve miles across, whei-c there were no setthu-s. That night 1 put up with a Iloosier family that had (•ome from Indiana the sutiimer before, llcri- wei'c several other travelers, among them a man living near the lirink house that had been lost on the prairie most of the ())'evioiis u\'^\ii and had frozen his face, feet, and hands (juite severely. During that ni^ht the weathi_-r moderated and more snow fell. JJeceinber 13th, about 10 o'clock in the rorenooii, I ai'rived at (Jreen's creek-, a stream then about thirty I'ecit wide, with water three feet deep, which had to be forded. The ice was 7iot strong enou'^h to hold up a team, but yet thick enough to require cutting in pieces bfd'ore th(; ('altle could be driven thi'ou<4li. After much labor in cutting ice and driving the oxen through the stream, cverythill^!■ [)assed ovei' safely. All .dorig the I'oad that day there Avei-e numerous pionei^i- cabins to be seen, and, in several places, then; were indications of several years of settlement. I spent that nijilit with a )-cgnlar Yankeo. He had lived in Iowa for ten years— tliree years on the farm where 1 passed the night. I was then only seven miles from Aubui'n. On \.)u: 14th I di'ovc into Auburn and bought my load, consisting 50 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. of flour, pork, butler and groceries. I returned to the Yankee 's to stay over night and to buy some seed corn. The 15th was so stormy and cold that I delayed a daj-. On the 16th I again started. Everything went well enough until after- noon, when the forward bolster of the wagon broke and I was compelled to put up with a farmer, unload the wagon and make a new bolster. Fortunately I struck the right house— the home of a carpenter. Although the father was not at home, he had some grovsm up boys from whom I obtained the use of tools to make the necessary repairs. It took all the next day to get ready for another start, and most of the day it snowed. On the 18th I started quite early. The weather was clear but cold, and the road hard to travel. I got as fair as the Brink house that day, and as the snow Mas about a foot deep, and hauling a wagon and breakinji' the roads were laborious, I accepted a fair offer for a portion of the load that night. It was rather late on the morning of the 19th of December, my twenty-second birthday, when I started from the Brink house to cross that eighteen miles of uninhabited prairie. In climbing the hill on the west side of the Cedar, the wagon slid out of the track and the off hind wheel caught in a small tree, which . had to be cut down. The oxen had become discouraged and I was unable to get them to haul the load to the top of the hill. I was in for a tug. I had to unload and carry ten hundred pounds of that flour about two rods to the top of the hill on my shoulders. It was noon by the time I had reached the top of the hill and had reloaded, and it was eighteen miles to the house of my Norwegian friends on the west side of the prairie. Not a track had been made since the last fall of snow, across the prairie, and it was a question whether to proceed that day or wait till morning. I finally concluded to proceed. The snow was drifted in many places and progress Avas decidedly slow. To add to the discom- fort of the situation, a storm of wind and fine, hard snoAv set in from the northwest about the middle of the afternoon; when darkness settled down on the prairie, I was only a little more than half way across it, with little prospect of proceeding much further that night. Very soon after sundown, I could not distinguish the road- the oxen refused to face the storm and turned^ south ; it soon CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 51 became evident that driver and team must put up on the open prairie for that night. So the oxen vs^ere taken from the wagon tongue; one pair hitched to the wagon at the front end ; the other pair to the hind end; both on the leeward side. I was somewhat tired, having tugged the flour up the hill in the morning, and walked beside the cattle all day through the deep snow, and that, too, without dinner or supper, or even a drink of water. Of course, I could eat snow! The cattle had no hay, but there was some corn on the load and this I fed them, reserving and chewing and swallow- ing some of it myself. There was also some raw, fresh pork aboard, and I cut off a small piece with an ax and managed to eat a mouthful or two, after a fashion. The wind increased to a gale in the evening and the air was so filled with snow that no object could be seen fifty feet away. I drew off my boots— overshoes I had none— put on a dry pair of socks, and then put on my boots again. Having heard it said that a man might wind himself in a blanket and lie down in the snow and sleep without freezing, I concluded to try the experi- ment. Accordingly I put my body inside a blanket, and then wound myself with about thirty yards of new cotton cloth, and laid me down to slumber. Morpheus came not to my relief, but the Frost King pierced me at every pore of my body. I stuck to my position, however, until I was completely buried in snow, and yet the cold crept through and made such fierce attacks upon me that I was forced to dig out of the snow and protect myself in some other way as best I might. After gathering up the cotton cloth and putting it back in the wagon I took the ax which I carried along, cleared away the snow on a patch of ground, and went to pounding it with t'le ax the same as though I were chopping wood. In a short time I got comfortably warm by this exercise. I was very much fatigued by my exertions through the day, and began to feel the need of husbanding my strength for the morrow. I leaned againt one of the oxen, the animal heat of which helped to keep me warm. In this position I soon fell into a sleep, when my knees gave out. and I partly fell. That awoke me. I tried it again, and again I slept and fell. Then I began to feel chilly and again resorted to the ax for exercise. Then I leaned, against the patient old ox once more, 52 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. slept again, and then took a round with the ax. These perform- ances I continued, with a little variation during one of the cold- est nights of that cold winter, and until the dark shadows of night passed into the gray light of a eloiidy, stormy morning. Upon examination in the morning, I found that I had strayed nearly eighty rods from the road. The oxen were soon hitched to the wagon, and the load was finally started with that peculiar screeching noise always made by wagon wheels in snow on a cold morning. About 10 o'clock in the forenoon, I arrived at the house of my Norwegian friends with whom I had stayed on my way down. They comprehended at a glance what had been my expe- rience and proceeded to prepare breakfast. In a short time the good woman placed before me warm biscuits, hot coffee, potatoes, meat, etc., and it seems to me yet that no other person in the world ever furnished a better meal. I spent the rest of the day there and enjoyed a night of very refreshing sleep. That afternoon, I learned from my hostess of a sad affair of the night before— the night that I camped upon the prairie. She said that two of their neighbors had visited Austin on the 19th, and in coming home that night one of them had perished with cold arid was found dead, while the other had been found with his hands and feet very badly frozen. The body of the dead man was found within forty rods of his ovm door, where a patient, loving wife, with three children, watched all night for his coming. The other, who was so badly frozen, was found about eighty rods from the dead man, iinable either to walk or to talk when first found. Empty whisky bottles were found upon them, and there was no doubt as to the real cause of the death of the one and the maiming of the other. No wonder Shakespeare said, speaking of intoxicating liquors, "Let us call thee Devil." On the night of the 20th, more snow fell. On the 21st, I reached Austin. The snow had become so deep that I could not well proceed further on wheels, and so I purchased an ox-sled at that place. The 22d was spent in taking the wagon apart, loading it and its contents upon the sleigh and driving as far as Mr. Vaughn's. That was an intensely cold, stormy night. The Frost Fiend was abroad in all his howling majesty, and nmny were the expressions of hope that no one was out on the prairiethat uight CHILD'S HISTORY OE .WASECA COUNTY. 53 to face the merciless blasts that swept the country. The storm abated the nest morning about ten o'clock, and I made about seven miles on the 23d through the snow drifts, stopping with a kind hearted English family, the last residents on the road home between Vaughn's and Owatonna. The nest morning, I started before sunrise, the weather being clear and very cold. The roads had not been traveled since the snow storm and the going was heavy. Three times that day I had to shovel through drifts of snow and pry up the sled in order to get through. About two o'clock p. m. I met two teams of horses and three or four men going into Iowa for flour. After this, traveling was niuch easier for the oxen. In the afternoon the weather grew colder, and before night I began to think my feet would freeze in spite of my efforts to keep warm. I finally pulled off my frozen boots and traveled with nothing but socks on my feet. At first my feet got very warm, but finally the frost began to work through the socks and I thought I should surely freeze. Suddenly I came upon the remains of a campfire in a thicket of jack oaks, some ten or twelve miles south of Owa- tonna. I at once piled on some more wood and renewed the blaze. Here I fed the oxen some corn, overhauled my bundle of clothing and found some dry socks and a pair of new boots, which I put on; I also ate some doughnuts which my hostess of the night before had put into my overcoat pockets, and again started the weary oxen tOAvards Owatonna. Five miles south of Owatonna I struck a pretty fair road, several teams having passed over it since the snow storm. The night Avas bitterly cold and it was a difficult matter to keep from freezing. I finally arrived at Sanford's tavern in Owatonna, about two o'cl-ock Christmas morning. I remained in Owatonna over Christmas and sold a portion of my load at good prices. On the 26th I started for "Wilton. Here again the road was unbroken. The cattle were already Aveakened by their long journey, and, just as night came on, in pulling through a deep snow drift, the sled tongue Avas torn out. This made it necessary to leave the load there for the night. This accident happened a little north of what is knoAATi as the Vinton farm. There Avas no help for it; I was compelled to unhitch the teams and take my course homcAvard, guided only by the stars. I had along with me a large, white cat that I had 54 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. bought in Iowa, and that I carried confined in a grain sack on the load. It would not do to leave him there for he might perish if anything should happen to prevent my return for a day or two ; so I took him out of the sack and called him to follow me. He did so in the most approved manner, keeping close to me all the way. I arrived at the John Jenkins' cabin about 11 o'clock that night, where I found Uncle John sitting by his fireplace eating parched corn. He arose in a half dazed way and wondered how I got there such a night as that without any road. He said he had about given up all hopes of my return and thought I must have frozen to death on the prairie. The next morning Uncle John accompanied me and we brought in the load safe and sound. Very feM' of the settlers that made trips to Iowa or Wisconsin that winter for supplies fared as well as I. :Many were badly frosted ; some lost their teams ; others were obliged to sell their loads on the road at a sacrifice; all suffered more or less severely. We realized enouiih out of our load to pay expenses. The ex- perience and fifty cents a day was all that I sot out of the en- terprise. But then, I was pretty well satisfied— thankful that I was again at my own bachelor fireside, hale and heartv. CHAPTER XIV, 1855-6. TOWN SITE BOOMING— WILTON VILLAGE PLATTED BY CORNELL AND ABBOTT OP OWATONNA, AND JOHN AND D. J. JENKINS AND CHILD OP WASECA COUNTY— CLAIM-JUMPING— HOUSE BODY TORN DOWN— MANY SETTLERS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO OWATONNA— LAND SUITS AT WINONA— WAR ON THE LB SUEUR— BUILDINGS TORN DOWN IN WILTON. The first year's settlement did not pafss without a town-site boom in this county. Speculators were abroad then as now. In October, 1855, A. B. Cornell and John 11. Abbott, then of Owa- tonna, came to the settlement and prevailed upon D. J. and John Jenkins and the writer to join with them in platting a town site. Mr. Abbott was a surveyor and the parties proceeded to survey and plat the village of Wilton, the first-born city of the county. It soon became evident to John Jenkins and me that A. B. Cornell, the moving genius of the firm, intended to i^et persons to come on from various places and take possession of all the land in the vicinity, and that, too, without regard to the rights of others. D. J. Jenkins sided with Cornell and Abbott, and it was quite evident that they proposed to jump claims if they could not get what they wanted in any other way. John Jenkins and I with- drew shortly after the survey was made, and men from Owatonna took our places. D. J. Jenkins built, that fall, the first house on the new town plat, or, rather, adjoining it, and it was expected then that, like Jonah's gourd, it would grow to almost a city in a day. But, unfortunately, the prime movers of the enterprise so managed their affairs that the settlers of the surrounding country, even up 56 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. to the boundary line of the village plat, refused to countenance the building of the new city. As evidence of the feeling that existed at the time, a few facts will be given, which, though not very creditable, perhaps, will show the extent to which men will sometimes proceed when thrown together promiscuously bej'ond the controlling influences of courts and law. In the latter part of January, 1856, the Owatonna proprietors of the ^Yilton plat hired some fellows to jump the claims of four settlers — Robert and Hugh ]\IcDougall and George and Bill Robbins— who had settled along the river, just east of the village plat. The claim jumpers commenced the erection of houses on these lands, and set up counter claims to them on the ground, as they said, that those young men had claimed more than 160 acres each, that because they were foreign born and had not declared their inten- tions of becoming citizens prior to their settlement. The former of these charges was false, the latter true. The men had not declared their intentions to become citizens simply because there was no court nearer than Mankato, and also because they expected to do so as soon as they could get to the land office at AYinona. As soon as it was noised about that claim-jumping had com- menced, an impromptu meeting of the boys was held and they concluded to visit the claim-jumpers and inform them that claim- jumping would not l)e tolerated at all in the settlement. The agents of the "city speculators" were at the time putting up a log house on the claim since known as the (3'Brien land. It adjoined the village plat, on the east, and lay immediately on the road leading to Owatonna. Nearly every man in the settle- ment was present at the meeting. They all proceeded to the place where the claim-jum])ers were at work, and informed them what had been decided upon. The claim-jumpers were actino- under the legal advice of Jlr. Cornell and conducted themselves accordingly. They evinced none of that blunt, out-spoken honesty so common to western pioneers, but observed a studied purpose to overreach the boys in legal points and yet preserve themselves from physical harm, 'iliey showed no fight, but quietly stepped aside when told to do so, by the original claimants. The latter then proceeded to tear down the building forthwith. Corneirs gang quietly witlulivw from the premises after M'itnessing the tearing down process. As soon as possible thereafter M-an-ants CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 57 were sued out before an Owatonna justice (this was then a part of Steele county) for the arrest of five of the men; to-wit: John Jenkins, Hugh and Robert IMcDougall, and George and William Robbins— all but Jenkins having an interest in the claims jumped. The charge was that of maliciously tearing down a building. Nearly all the other settlers on the upper Le Sueur were sub- poenaed as witnesses. After a trial, Avhich lasted three or four days, three of the five were found guilty and the other two were discharged on motion of the prosecuting attorney. The whole trial was a good deal of a farce. If one of the party was guilty of a crime, all were guilty. We asked to be allowed to prove that the claim jumpers were committing willful and malicious trespass upon lands belonging to the arrested parties, and that only neces- sary force was used to expel the trespassers; the request was refused. Those found guilty appealed to the district court and were in due time discharged without costs on account of error in the proceedings before the justice. Immediateh^ after the justice trials, Cornell, through his satel- lites, commenced suit before the land officers at Winona, and the contesting parties and their witnesses were compelled to make several trips to Winona. After about a year of expensive litiga- tion, the matter was compromised and settled, the ISIcDougall brothers giving up one forty and taking another. During the troubles that grew out of that affair there was actual danger of bloodshed. Some of the men went armed. Cornell became so alai-med that he did not show himself in the settlement for a long time. In early spring (1856) several house bodies were erected on the Wilton town-site, but on the night of the 19th of April, 1856, they were all torn down, literally razed to the ground. I remember the date, for that was the night of my wedding day, and some of the boys remarked that "They couldn't lay that deviltry onto Pat." As to who did the evil deed, probably no one knows, or ever knew, except those en- gaged in it. This occurrence and the general hostility of all the surrounding settlers to the Wilton speculators, prevented any further growth during the summer following. CHAPTER XV, 1856. ATTEMPTED DIVISION OP COUNTY— CIRCULATION OF REMON- STRANCE—TRAMP ON FOOT THROUGH MEDFORD, CLINTON FALLS, BLOOMING GROVE AND WOODVILLE. The last chapter necessarily carried this history into the year 1856. There are other matters that took place that winter that belong to both years. It is intended to keep the history of each year by itself, as far as possible, but there are some matters that cannot be separated by months without destroying the thread of the narrative. Of such matters will this chapter relate. FIRST ELECTION. The first election in Steele county, of which the present Waseca county was then the larger part, territorially, was held October 9th, 1855. The LeSueur precinct, as it was called, included the south half of this county and the township of St. Mary ; the poll- ing place was at the residence of Chris Scott, the farm now belonging to Mr. Carmody in Wilton. Twenty votes were cast. The north half of the county, then called Swavesey, also held an election at the same time, but I have been unable to learn how many votes were polled there at that time. Only one hundred seventeen votes were cast at that election in the territory com- prising the counties of Steele and Waseca. The following officers were elected: County commissioners, S. B. Smith, Wm. Allen and M. P. Ide (Mr. Ide lived then in what is now Blooming Grove) ; register of deeds, Chas. Ellison; sheriff, Wm. F. Pettit; treasurer, David Sanborn; surveyor, John W. Park; clerk of the court, F. W. Fisk; county attorney, John :\I. Bliven (then a resi- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 59' dent of what is now Blooming Grove) ; judge of probate, F. B. Davis; assessors, David Lindesmith, Chas. Thompson, and Luke B. Osgood (Mr. Osgood lived on the line between Janesville and Iosco) ; justices of the peace, Simeon Smith and Curtis Hatch, of the north part of the county, and John Jenkins, of the south part. Originally the territory of Minnesota was divided into nine counties. By act of the territorial legislature, Wabasha county originally occupied all that portion of Southeastern Minnesota east of a line running due south from a point on the Mississippi river, known as ^Medicine Bottle village at Pine Bend. Dakota county embraced all the territory west of Wabasha county and south of a line beginning at the mouth of Crow river and running up said river and the north branch thereof to its source, and thence west to the Missouri river. In 1852, Hennepin county was carved out of Dakota county, and, in 1853, Goodhue, Fillmore, Scott, LeSueur, Rice, Sibley, Blue Earth and Nicollet counties were carved out of Dakota and Wabasha counties. Rice county, by that act, included all of what is now Steele county and town- ships 105, 106, 107 and 108, range 22, of what is now Waseca coun- ty. Blue Earth coimty, by the same act, included the townships in ranges 23 and 24, of what is now the larger portion of Waseca county. By legislative act of February 23, 1854, the counties of Houston, Fillmore, Wabasha and Goodhue were changed, and the county of Winona was organized. By act of Feb. 20, 1855, the counties of Olmsted, Dodge, Mower, Freeborn, Faribault, and Steele were created and the boundary lines of the old counties changed. By that act, Steele county then contained ranges 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, and townships 105, 106, 107, 108— a territory twenty-four miles north and south and thirty miles east and west. The geo- graphical center of the county, as then bounded, was near the western line of the township of Meriden. The county seat of Steele county was not designated, nor the county fully organized by statute until Feb. 29, 1856, although county officers had been elected in the fall of 1855. In the month of December, 1855, 1 made a trip to Aubui-n, Iowa, for supplies. In January, 1856, shortly after my return, the set- tlers in the western part of what was then Steele county learned 60 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. that Messrs. Cornell, Pettit, Abbott & Co., of Owatonna, were en- deavoring to get the territorial legislature, then in session, to divide Steele and Dodge counties so as to make three counties of the two— the same as we now have them. The county was then very sparsely settled. Probably there were not 1,000 families or voters in all the territory of the three counties. The people of Waseca county were nearly all young farmers, just commencing life, and poor in goods, waros, etc. They did not feel able to support a county government while there were so few to pay taxes. A meeting of the settlers was held and I was selected to visit the people in all parts of the then county to secure signatures to a remonstrance and forward the same to Hon. George A. ]\IeLeod, then of Siblej^ countj^ our rep- resentative in the house, th(2 Hon. Chas. B. Flandreau, then of St. Peter, our member in the council. We made duplicate remonstrances for the settlers along the LeSueur and had them signed at our meeting. The next day I started for Owatonna and the Straight river settlement. It was a pretty cold day as I learned when I reached Owatonna, the thermometer registering 22 degrees below zero, at 4 o'clock p. m. The next day was intensely cold— so cold that the ordinary ther- mometer failed in its efforts to keep a correct record and I re- mained in Owatonna all day. I soon learned that the people in Owatonna, with only two exceptions, were in favor of the division of the county. This I learned without divulging my mission, and the next day I started down Straight river, calling upon each settler as I proceeded and explaining oiir opposition to the division. Almost without ex- ception, each farmer signed the remonstrance. At Clinton Falls and Medford, I found active co-operation, and obtained the sig- natures of all I could see. In one day 's canvass I had good stronir lists which I forwarded to Siessrs. MeLeod and Flandreau, ac- companied by a private letter from myself and one from' Dr. Finch, of Clinton Falls, explaining to them the situation of affairs and the general condition of the people. I left with the postmaster at Bedford a copy of the remon- strance to be signed by those whom I had not seen and to be afterwards forwarded to Jlr. Flandreini. I then slruelc across the country on foot, withoiit road or track of any kind, in search CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 61 of the Remund and Ide settlement, in what is now Blooming Grove. I had no guide except the government section posts, many of which were covered with snow drifts. It was 12 miles from Clinton Falls to Blooming Grove, then called the Bliven settlement. The trip was a good deal more of a job than I had anticipated. :Much of the way I encountered small groves and brush land where the snow was very deep and the crust not strong enough to bear my weight. After a hard day's work, I reached the house of a pioneer German, named Reineke, about 4 o'clock p. m. Like most of his nationality he did not fall in love with me at first sight, and to my salutation: "It is a wintry day," he re- plied: " Ich verstehen sie nicht. " This was one of the occasions in my experience where the few words of German I could speak served me well, for neither he nor any of his family could, at that time, converse in English. As soon as he found that I could speak some German he shook hands with me and became very friendly. He invited me to remain over night, a proposition that I was only too glad to accept. He entertained me a portion of the evening with stories of the Fatherland, and then drifted into the difficulties he experienced in not understanding English. He seemed much pleased when I offered to write out the names of familiar objects about the house and farm in English, opposite the German names. After a good night's rest and a hearty breakfast, having ob- tained his name to the remonstrance, I bade him "lebewohl" and proceeded to visit the settlers in Blooming Grove, i\Ir. Reineke 's farm being in what is now Deerfield, in Steele county. I proceeded eastward until I struck the settlement known as Swavesey. The first residence I found was that of il. P. Ide, on what afterwards became known as the Patrick Healy farm. :Mel, as he was called, turned out to be a Cornell man and could not'be persuaded to sign the remonstrance. I put in the whole day going from house to house, and secured the signatures of all the other^men in the settlement that I could find. It was a labo- rious job to travel about in the deep snow, and night found me at the hospitable cabin of Wm. M. Gray, on section 33, in what is now Blooming Grove. There was a greeting, a charm, a hospitality, a feelmg of irater- 62 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. •nity among the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin and ]\Iinnesota— especially in the latter territory— entirely unknown at the present day. The stranger was always welcome to such accommodations and fare as the settlers possessed. All gathered around the same table and each served the other. Each told to the other his history, almost without reserve, and in one evening they generally knew more of each other and of each other 's affairs than men born and reared in the same to^vn know of each other these days. Not only did they become acquaintances but they took a friendly interest in each other's welfare. There was a sympathy among them which later additions to the population seem not to possess. I spent the night very comfortably and agreeably with ilr. Gray and his family, and the next morning called upon his neighbors, Messrs. Simeon Smith, Alfred C. Smith and E. K. Carl- ton, obtained their signatures to the remonstrance, and proceeded homewards, arriving at the McDougall cabin just as darkness covered the prairie and grove. My only compensation for the laborious tramp was the general satisfaction we all felt in the defeat, for the time being, of the proposition to divide the county. Alas! how little man knows of the future. CHAPTER XVI, 1855. THE PIEST WEDDING— McDOUGALL AND 'SQUIRE JENKINS LOST • ON PRAIRIE ALL NIGHT— CEREMONY POSTPONED— MARRIED THE NEXT EVENING. Perhaps it is just as well to start the record of the new year, 1856, with the story of the first wedding among white people in the county. It was appointed for New Year Eve. Mr. Ballard, of Mankato, and Miss Louise Gregory, whose fath- er resided near what has since been known as St. Mary, had made a contract, through love and affection, to be married on New Year's Eve. The friends had been invited from far and near. John Jenkins, Esq., the only justice of the peace in the precinct, was invited to perform the marriage ceremony. The 'squire, in order to go ship-shape, secured the services of Mr. Hugh McDougall, with his horse and new pung to take him to the place appointed for performing the important ceremony. About sundown, the 'squire and his companion left the Jenkins cabin and started for the residence of Mr. Gregory, some six or seven miles distant. The weather was intensely cold, the snow deep, and, in many places, badly drifted. The bride and bridegroom were not only ready, but anxious; the bridesmaid and groomsman patiently awaited the arrival of the 'squire ; the parents conned over the responsibilities of mai-- ried life; the evening wore away, and the 'squire came not. The younger members of the company peeped out through the frost-covered windows, the young men went out at the door and gazed in vain for the coming of the desired functionary of the law ; the night wore wearily on, and yet he came not. All night 64 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the company kept watch placing a lighted candle in the window— but where was the 'squire all this dark, cold night? Lost! Messrs. Jenkins and ^McDougall, after leaving the Jenkins cabin, got along very well until darkness set in. Then they_ lost their course and wandered about on the cold, bleak prairie during the whole night, vainly endeavoring to lincl ilr. Gregory's place. About four o'clock the next morning they returned to the cabin, whence they had started the evening before. The writer, who had fortunately stayed at home, served up a meal of hot buck- wheat cakes, fried pork, gravy and coffee to the chilled and unfor- tunate night wanderers. After breakfast they again started for the place appointed for the celebration of the marriage. When they reached ]\lr. Gregory's place, about 11 o'clock a. m., it was found that the young men of the company had sallied forth to search for the missing 'squire, and the ceremony must be de- ferred until their return. About dark, those who had been out to look for the 'squire re- turned on his trail, having followed it from his cabin. It was necessary to have supper before proceeding to tie the knot, and many were the jokes and laughs about the first marriage ceremony to be performed by our worthy bachelor justice of the peace. A considerable part of the pioneer settlers gathered in during the evening to witness the ceremony which had well nigh caused the freezing of Uncle John, as the 'squire was familiarly called. After all had partaken of a substantial supper, the tables had been cleared off, and the "slab chairs" had been properly ar- ranged, the 'squire stated that he was ready to proceed. The cer- emony was decidedly* short and to the purpose. It was even briefer than the shorter form in Booth's ^Manual. As near as memory serves me, it was as follows: "The parties will join hands. ]Mr. Ballard, do you take Miss Gregory tu be your wife ?" (Answer) "Yes, sir." ":Miss Gretiory, do you take ilr. Ballard as your husband?" (Answer— in a whisper) "Yes, sir." "All right," said Uncle John, "then you're man and wife." After this short, but characteristic ceremony, the company seemed to l)e relieved of much former constraint, and the night passed in song, "going to Rome," through the "cedar swamp," playing tlie "honest miller," etc.; for none of those living at a CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 65 distance could go home that night, and there were too many pres- ent to think of finding beds in a farm house. "When morning came, the guests cheered the newly-married couple, bade them a fond adieu, and wended their several ways to bachelor homes. CHAPTER XVII, 1856. MANY NEW SETTLERS IN 1856— THOSE WHO SETTLED IN VARI- OUS TOWNS THAT YEAR— ST. MARY NAMED. There Avas a perfect flood of immigrants into ilinnesota in 1856, and Waseca county received a fair share of new settlers. On the 1st day of January, 1856, Jack Turnacliff, Dr. Ambrose Kellogs', and William Young, from Iowa, arrived at the Sutlief plantation on Norwegian snow shoes. Mr. Young was a native of Scotland, and claimed one quarter of section 26 in Wilton. He was an original thinker, a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a persistent hater, a steadfast friend. He was a single man at that time, and divided his time for four or five years between Fillmore county and his farm in Wilton. He then married a lady in Fillmore county and after- wards removed to Iowa where, when last heard from, he dwelt with his family. Dr. Kellogg made a claim on section 35, in Wilton, which he sold in the spring. He prospected around for coal the next spring, but finally went back to Iowa where his brother Silas resided. At the last account of him, he was in Kansas. Jackson Turnaclifi: made his claim on section 7, town of Otisco, where he made his home until the time of his death. Jack was one of the young men who was known as being well-fixed— that is to say, his father could and did furnish him with a farm and an outfit. And Jack jn-oved himself worthy of it. A man named Wm. Wells, familiarly called Xucky Wells, came with his family in the spring and settled on section '2'i, in Wilton. His wifi', after remaining a year or so, ran off with a "handsomer CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 67 man" than he. Wells kept batch for five or six years afterwards, when he sold his claim and returned to Wisconsin. B. F. Weed came up from Iowa, accompanied by Silas Kellogg, and settled on section 23, in Wilton, with his young wife, daughter of Hon. Will. Brisbane. At this writing, he is a resident of Mon- tana. Hon. Jesse I. Stewart, from Indiana, took up his residence on section 7, in Otisco, in the summer of 1856, and became some- -what prominent as a politician. He served one term as county treasurer, being elected to that office in 1857, and to the legisla- ture in 1859. When last heard of by the writer he was in Oregon. ]\Ir. Jacob Brubaker and family, from Pennsylvania, came to the Le Sueur settlement in the fall of 1856, and settled on section 28, AVilton. The family then consisted of himself and wife, the sons Abram and Geo. E., and two daughters, the elder now Mrs. Whit- man, of Iowa, the other ]\Irs. Tom Eldridge, now of Nebraska. The old gentleman died at Waseca. The older son, Abram, went, into the army from Pennsylvania and was never after heard, from. Geo. E. Bri^baker is still a resident of the county, ^Michael O'Brien, in 1856, made a claim on section 12, Wilton, where he and his sister now reside. Among others who settled in the county in 1856, were Patrick Kenehan, Xoah Lincoln, H. P. Norton and C. F. Lincoln, of Wil- ton; Joseph ilanthe, Gottlieb Krassin, John Jordan, Anthony Gorman, Michael ilcGonagie, Sr., Geo. H. Reibling, and a lawyer, by name McCarthy, of St. ]\iary ; J. W. Hosmer, H. P. Chamber- lain, John F. Allen, Wm. Lee, John Minske, Fred Minske, August Minske, Gottlieb Kanne, Fred Kanne, August Kanne, Gottlieb Kanne, Wm. ^Mar/ahn, John Reed, David Hutchinson, Thos. Bishop, Thos. Gibson, Wm. Allen, John G. Ward, Silas Ward, John J. Fell, Richard Toner, H. W. Peck, Geo. Leonard, Daniel Tripp, Benj. W. Gifford. A. A. Cotton, M. S. Green, William Long, Seth W. Long, Geo. Long, A. Wilsey, Jim Chadwick, S. J. Willis, Henry Thwing, Nelson Thwing, Jacob Hagadorn and Peter Far- rell of Iosco ; Hon. Lewis McKune, Hon. J. L. Saufferer, E. R. Conner, Geo. Dean, John Walker, James Walker, Wm. Donaldson, Hon. Philo Woodruff, Patrick Healy, Cornelius Hand and his sons, Hon. J.N. Powers and his father, John Gibson, Daniel Riegle, Andrew Nelson, Patrick Murphy and sons, Jacob Oory, Henry, 68 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Josiali, Joshua Smith, Samuel Smith, ^Ym. H. Young, Joseph Churcliill, B. Sharp, Cyrus Ross, Andrew Oleson, Wm. J. ^Yheeler, Gottlieb Petrich, John Remund, Samuel Ri-niund, Rudolph Re- mund, Albert Remund, Keyes Swift, John Hackett and Guliek Knutsen, of Blooming Grove; H. A. Mosher, Asa Mosher, E. B. Stearns, Z. Holbrook, Hon. J. A. Canfield, Silas Grover and sons, Wm. Smith, ^Y. S. Baker, M. D. L. Flowers, Parselus Young, H. G. Mosher, Adam Bi&hman, Jacob Bishman, Ben G. Northrup, Ole Pe- terson, Charley Johnson, Omer H. Sutlief, F. L. Goetzenberger, "Wm. Schmidt and B. Bundshu, of Otiscn ; W. G. Allyn, Paul Wandrie, Charles Wandrie, J. W. Hosmer, AYm. Stanke, Martin Stanke, Michael Silkey, W. G. IMathews, Thomas McHugo, C. De Regan, \\-. H. Crawford, Alex Johnston, John Buckhout, "Uncle" Frank Johnson, Patrick Hackett, G. Grams, James Henning, Jas. Cooledge, David Cooledge, N. E. Strong, John Bradish, Esq., George Dreever and Richard Dreever, of Janesville; Obadiah Powell, Eri G. AYood, Loren C. Wood, Henry Watkins, E. K. Carl- ton, Jacob Myers, Wm. Dunn and Austin A'inton, of Woodville; Anthony Sampson, H. H. Sunde, K. 0. Rotegard, H. T. Handgrud, Ole K. Hagen, AY. Anderson, Chris Knudson, E. 0. Strenge, X. C. Koffstad, Martin Anderson, August IMiller, K. Christenson and Nels Christenson, of New Richland ; E. S. AYoodrufP, B. P. Haines, E. A. Clark and Air. Edgerton, of Alvian; Christie AIcGrath, AA^m. Bevans, David Bevans, Isaac Lyng and C. S. AA^eed, of Byron. CHAPTER XVIII, 1856. ASSAULT AND BATTERY— A LAWSUIT— ATTEMPTED CLAIM JUMP- ING—JOHN GREENING AS CONSTABLE— FIRST STORE AT WAT- ERLYNN. It is perhaps Avell enough to say here that the plan of this worli is to give the names of all the very early settlers, for a few years, and then, each year, give the events that are deemed of public interest as thej' transpired. One of those outrages that sometimes stir the indignation of a whole community, whether large or small, occurred early in the summer of 1856. About the first of that loveliest of months in Minnesota, June, two brothers, calling themselves John and Will- iam Jaques, came wandering through the county, evidently bent on mischief. They said the.y came from Iowa, and pretended to be in search of government land — something at that time every- where present in northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. Upon their first entrance into the county, they camped near A. G. Sutlief 's farm, in "Wilton. They were very inquisitive as to claims. They enquired who had pre-empted? Who claimed more land than the law allowed? Who had claims to sell? Who had lived up to the requirements of the law, and who had not ? They seemed anxioixs, too, to find out who had horses to sell, what kind of horses they were, what kind of men owned horses, etc. They lost no opportunity to ply their inquisitiveness as they passed along through the settlement. Going thus from house to house, they became acquainted more or less, with the affairs and condition of each settler, from Otisco and Byron to St. Mary. In St. Mary they found, what they supposed to be a fine opening 70 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. for a display of their innate meanness. As before stated in this history, several of the Krassins and U\o of the Prechels had set- tled in St. ]\lary, the previous year. Gottlieb Prechel had taken a claim on section thirty -two, adjoining- the reservation then occu- pied by the Winnebago Indians. In the latter part of the winter of 1855-6, Prechel and the Krassins had proved up and entered their lands, but this was not generally known in the settlement. This Prechel land was about three-fourths of a mile down the river from the old townsite of St. ilary. During the summer of 1855, Prechel had built a comfortable log house, with a thatched roof, and broken about ten acres of prairie. At the time he had crops growing iipon the plowed land and wa.s engaged in fencing it. Owing to the proximity of Indians, and the timidity of his family and himself, he moved into the house with ilartin Krassin, after having entei-ed his land, ilartin's house was on section thirty-four, neai-ly three miles further up the river, ilad- ara Rumor had iuformed these roving Jaques that Prechel was not living on his land and that his claim could be .jumped. "Only a Di^tchman" claimed it; he could be easily driven off; there was a comfortable house ready made; there were breaking and fenc- ing already done ; there were fine timber, pure water, rich prai- rie; there was a glorious chance to take the product of other people's labor without paying for it, and why not improve their opportunity 1 These men Jaques thought this a fine opening and so moved on to the premises and took possession. Prechel soon became aware of the fact, and proceeded at once to see about the matter. Accompanied by his brother-in-law, ilartin Kras- sm, he took his team, proceeded to the farm, and commenced cutting and hauling fencing. The two Jaques heard the chopping, soon came out where they were at work, and, with much as- sumed authority, ordered them off the premises. Krassin and Prechel could neither speak nor understand much of the English language, but tried to make the Jaques understand that^the land belonged to Prechel and that he had paid the government for it. But the :\ressrs. Ja(|ues would not listen, and Avere peremptory in demanding that the Germans sliould leave the claim. Prechel was sonu'what timid, said but little, and desired to retreat; but Jlarliu Krassin, being of a dift'erent make and mind, maintained that he had a better right there than tlie Jaques and ordered them CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 71 to leave. John Jaques at once commenced an assault upon Martin, and pounded him about the face and head in a most brutal man- ner. :Martin was badly bruised and, for the time, driven from the land. All the German settlers were aroused and justly indig- nant at this brutal outrage; they concluded to try what virtue there was in law. There was no lawyer at hand, but, after some study, an affidavit of the facts was made before John Jenkins, Esq., who issued a warrant that was placed in the hands of John G. Greening, then acting constable, for the apprehension of John Jaques. Constable Greening summoned a posse and proceeded to perform his official duty. They went to the premises and found Wm. Jaques, but John was not there. He had skipped out, no doubt thinking that "He who fights, then runs away, ]May live to fight another day." The posse then went to a neighbor 's and got sight of him, but he (lid not purpose to be caught. He ran; the constable and posse pursued; they chased him into the LeSueur river, in water shallow, constable on one side, posse on the other; the constable ordered him to surrender; he refused ; the constable drew a pistol, and Jaques a club ; Jaques threw his club at the constable ; the constable shut his eyes and dodged; Jaques jumped past him, got into the woods and es- caped. After an unavailing search for John Jaques, the con- stable arrested Wm. Jaques and brought him before the court. Of course he was not the man and was discharged. They had some property with them and a suit was commenced against them for willful and malicious trespass upon the premises. A lawyer, named McCarthy, who had recently come to St. Mary, was employed to prosecute the cause. "Wm. Jaques was arrested and required to plead to the charge of trespass. Jaques entered a plea of not guilty and plead his own cause. The prosecution made out a clear cause and judgment was rendered against the defendant for treble damages. John Jaques spent considerable time skulking about the country to avoid arrest ; "William was being troubled with lawsTiits ; fin- ally the twain made up their minds that the people of "Waseca county did not desire their company any longer. In a short time, they packed their personal eii'ects upon their wagons and traveled 72 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. westward. They settled on the Minnesota river in Brown county, Minnesota, and soon became the terror of that section of country. It was reported more than twenty years ago, that at one time, they were mobbed by the citizens of that section for horse-stealing, and one of them was forced to leave the county for a long time. John Jaques, many years ago, made an incursion into the town of Blooming Grove and stole a span of horses from Patrick J\IcCullough. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but he was never found. His brother, William, was arrested on the same charge and brought to Wilton, where he finally settled with McCuUough for the horses. What finally became of them is not known, but their exit from this county, after so brief a stay, was highly satisfactory to the whole settlement. Early in the spring of 1856, ilessrs. Waters and Chamberlain bought the claims made the year before by George and William Robbins, on the east side of the Le Sueur river over against Wilton. They put in a small country store, and made believe that they would start a village in opposition to Wilton, and even went so far as to name their place Waterlynn. They supplied the set- tlers with groceries and other goods during the summer, but for want of either money or enterprise, or both, they failed to ac- complish anything of importance. The village of Empire— a more extended notice of which is else- where given in this work— was started in the summer of 1856, and a number of its prominent citizens took an active part in the local polities of that year. St. Mary also received its name that summer, and preparations were made by Chamberlain, Bailey & Co. to start a city the next spring. These men had bought out Patrick McCarthy, the original claimant, who gave the locality its name. CHAPTER XIX, 1856. LOCAL POLITICS— COUNTY DIVISION CONTEST— CORNELL DE- FEATED—REV. THOMAS NO GOOD— THE COUNTY DIVIDED AND WASECA COUNTY ORGANIZED. In 1856 the animosity growing out of claim jumping, which was instigated by Mr. Cornell and other Wilton town-site proprietors, and the evident intention of what was then known as the Cor- nell ring to divide Steele county and make two small counties, to- gether with other rivalries, brought into existence what was known as the Cornell and anti-Cornell parties. It was well un- derstood that Mr. Cornell and his adherents wanted to elect a legislative ticket favorable to the division of Dodge and Steele counties and the organization of three counties, giving to each of the three twelve townships, as at present, and making Man- torville, Owatonna and "Wilton county seats of their respective counties. In order to forestall the opposition of the farming population, Mr. Cornell and friends called a people's convention in early au- tumn, at Owatonna, thereby giving the Cornell party a powerful local advantage. However, a large proportion of the then settlers of "Waseca county went to the convention to iind themselves out- voted by traveling immigrants who had been hired by the Cornell men, so some of them said, to camp in the vicinity for a few days and vote on that special occasion. To say that some of the old settlers were hot that day, expresses the condition of the public mind at that time in very feeble phrase. The fraud was so outrageous and so self-evident that it was Qot seriously denied, even by the Cornell men. The anti-Cornell men 7) CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ■withdrew in a body from the others and held a convention of their own, calling it a Republican convention, which it really was. Judge (Jeo. W. (ireen, Dr. Finch, Elder Towne and others, of Steele county, eloquently denounced the other convention for following the tactics of the ^Missouri border ruffians in Kansas. The Republicans nominated a county ticket of their own. and elected four delegates to attend the Republican legislative con- vention to be held at Traverse des yi()Tix,now St. Peter, to nominate "candidates for the territorial council and house. These di^l(\gates were Dr. "W. W. Finch and Judge ({eo. AV. Green, of what is now Steel(> county, and ilr. Simeon I. Ford and James E. Child, of what is now Waseca county. The Cornell party elected as dele- gates to the same legislative convention, H. ]M. Sheetz, A. B. Cor- nell,- and a man from Steele county, whose name is forgotten by the writer, and ]\1. S. Green, then of Empire, in "Waseca county. The legislative district then comprised all of that portion of ^Minnesota west and south of Steele and Nicollet counties and irj- eluded these two counties. Each of these tM'o sets of delegates claimed to represent the Simon-pure Republican party of the county. Judge (Jreen, a vei-y able man, was principal spokesman on one side, and H. I\I. Sheetz, a brilliant young etlitor, on the other. Both were cool, ■deliberate and able, and soon convinced the convention that our county possessed men of ability, at least, and that the contention was no trifling affair. The contest was referred to the committee on credentials, and two I'eports were made by the committee, one in favor of each. This brought the contest before the whole con- vention and the battle raged fiercely during the whole night. Finally, about daylight in the morning, it was agreed to nominate a candidate for councillor and two for representatives, leaving one candidate for representatiNc to be thereafter agreed upon by Steele county men. As soon as this understanding had been reached, both factions were admitted to participate in the convention. It was one of the hardest fought political battles in the history of our local politics, and the Coi'iieil faction was defeated. Both parties returned home with blood in their eyes, as the siiyinu' is, resolved to tight it out until the polls elosed and the ballots were counted on election nigjit. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 75 Immediately after the return of the delefj-ates from St. Peter I\Ir. Cornell was announeed as a candidate for the legislature, and those opposed to Cornell and a division of the county very soon afterwards nominated Rev. 0. A; Thomas, of Medford, Steele county, as the opposition candidate. Captain Lewis IMcKune, ilr. Chris. Remund and others, in the north part of what is now Wa- seca e(umty, and ^Messrs. Lincoln, Waters, Chamberlain, Ford, John Jenkins, and others, in the south part, toolj an active part in favor of Mr. Thomas. In what is now Steele county. Dr. Finch, Judge (Jreen, Elder Towne, and others were energetic in their efforts to defeat i\Ir. Cornell. Nearly the whole fight turned upon the candidates for the legislature and for registi>r of deeds. The canvass was very thorough throughout this section, every man having been talked with regarding the matter. It was the old story of private interests against the public welfare. ]Mr. Cor- nell represented the town-site si)eculators, who desired to make three counties out of two witli three county seats. On the other hand, the farming settlers, few in number, desired larger counties under the belief that a large county would have no more expense than a smaller one, and that the larger the numbr of taxpayers the less tax each would have to pay. The campaign was very exciting, considering how few in number were the voters at that time. Election day fell on the 14th of October, 1856, and a majority of twenty-five votes elected Tilr. Thomas and protested against a division of the county. The majority was not large, apparently, but it was, in reality, much larger than it appeared to be, for it was well known that a number of transient men cast illegal votes for i\Ir. Cornell at Owatonna. The people that opposed Mr. Cornell and his division scheme supposed they had won a ^'ictory, and that, for another year, at least, their interests would be safe in the hands of ]\Ir. Thomas whom they elected, but they afterwards found out to their sorrow — "How vain are all things here below. How false and yet how fair." No sooner was Mr. Cornell defeated at the polls than he took an entirely new tack and sailed in an unexpected direction. He sent his emissaries to those settlers in the Le Sueur (Wilton) 7G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. settlement whom he had been trying for a year to plunder, and managed in one way and another, to compromise and settle with them on liberal terms to himself. He became so very kind (?) and good that he threw nearly all his old opponents off their guard. He succeeded in securing the co-operation of Col. J. C. Ide, then of Rice county, a very agreeable, obliging and quite an able man, who came to AYilton that fall and built a saw-mill, the first erected in the county. This mill was of great value to all the people of the settlement, and furnished lumber for much needed buildings and improvements. So successful were Mr. Cornell and his associates that they secured a division of the county by the legislature to which the people had elected a man, and a gospel minister at that, especially pledged to prevent just that very legislation. It was the worst case of political treason that ever came to my knowledge. No wonder the people lose con- fidence in human nature when even a clergyman will forget his solemn promises and turn traitor to his political friends and his neighbors. The members of the legislature that winter, from this, the tenth, district, were P. P. Humphrey, in the coujicil, and Joseph R. Brown, Francis Baasen, and 0. A. Thomas, in the house. Just how the Rev. Thomas was handled never came to public light, but it Avas quite evident that the "comity seat combine" was too shrewd and too powerful for him to cope with. The legislation of those days, as at present, sometimes bore the sig- nificant and euphonious name of skul-duggery. The act organizing Waseca county became a law February 27, 1857. At that time there was not a postoffice in Waseca county and the most rapid method of communication was by means of a saddle horse. The fact that Steele county had been divided and Waseca county organized did not become generally known in the latter county until two or three weeks after the legislative enactment. At first the people of Waseca county could not be- lieve the report, and wlien the belief was forced upon them, language failed to describe the feelings of those who had con- tributed to the election of Rev. Thomas in the belief that he would protect their interests. The principal fight in the campaign of IS.'Hi was on ^Ir. Cornell for representative, and on Chnrles Ellison for register of deeds. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 77 Both of them were defeated. The Steele county people have pre- served a relic of the conflict of that day. Cornell had, at Owa- tonna, the only newspaper printed in the county, and his op- ponents had no way of publishing their side of the case, except the pinmitive one of writing and posting in public places. So they wrote out a jingle of verses and posted it on the side of the log house where the election was held. One of the verses is preserved in "An Album of History and Biography," published in 1887, by the Chicago Union Publishing Company, and runs as follows: "Mr. Ellison, Esquire. You ought to look higher Than to think of registering deeds; The people up here Peel desperate queer To know jouv political creeds." IMr. Ellison, like many another office seeking politician, was all things to all men— hence the verse. Of the officers of Steele county appointed by the governor in 1856, the following resided in what is now Waseca county : John :M. Bliven, district attorney ; Melmer P. Ide, county commissioner ; Luke B. Osgood, assessor ; John Jenkins, of the Le Sueur precinct (Wilton), Simeon Smith and Curtis Hatch, of Swavesey (Bloom- ing Grove), and J. A. Bassett and M. S. Green of Empire (Iosco), justices of the peace. CHAPTER XX, 1856. ANCIENT VILLAGES NOW DESERTED— WILTON BUILT UP— SOME CLAIM JUMPING— ST. MARY THRIVES— G. R. BUCKMAN'S SKETCH. As stated in the last chapter, the Cornell, or nld "Wilton eom- jjany, with head(iuarters at OwatDima, had eompi'onnsed and made financial peace with the men wlmse claims they had jumped, ijniiiediately after election, in the fall of IS-'mj. About that time, Judue Lowell, late an emigrant from New England to Faribault, liecame interested in Wilton town property, and active operations were commenced in October to build up the town. As before stateil. Col. Ide came on, started a steam saw mill, and built a house for his family. H. P. Norton, the pioneer blacksmith, ar- rived in "Wilton in October, IS.'jG, and erected the fiist permanent blacksmith shop in the county. He was not only the first, but one of the best blacksmiths that ever swung a hammer in the comity. No man could pound a breaking plow lay and make it do better work than he. His old sliop, at this writing, still stands there, but the i-ing of the anvil is no longer heard liy the passersby. Thomas J. Kerr, then a young, unmarried man, came to Minne- sota in April, IS.IG, and worked all summer for Col. Robinson, ^vh(> had taken a claim near Wilton. lie was a prominent actor in one of the stiri-iug incidents of that day. lie had staked out a claim, 1)ut had made no improvements upon it, neither had he filed (m it, when Col. John C. Ide came to Wilton and wanted that particular claim, lie olfered Mr. Kerr ^lOO.OO for his riulit, and the ofTei- was aeeepleil — Col. Lit- paying .+."). (Hi to bind the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 79 bargain. Col. Ide's family was still in Rice county, and thither Col. Ide went to settle up his matters and move his family. Scarcely was his back turned before along came our old and esteemed friends, E. B. Stearns and family, one Saturday after- noon, and camped very close to Ide 's claim. Tom had a suspicion that the newcomer proposed to take that claim, and he set himself to work to find out. So he strolled along out to the camp of Mr. Stearns, and while there learned that one of the Eobbins boys was getting IMr. Stearns on to that claim. The claim was entirely vacant. No improvements had been made and it had not been filed on. Just what to do Tom did not know, but he consulted Col. Robinson and together they concluded to get Uncle Fisk, who had settled on school section 36, in St. ]Mary, to go over and take the claim. So they went over to Pisk's a little late Sunday night and laid the matter before him. For- timately they had no timepiece that night, and when good Mrs. Fisk remonstrated with them for trespassing upon the Lord's day, they assured her that it was after midnight, and therefore Monday. Uncle Fisk entered heartily into the arrangement, and the three went that night and rolled up a shanty of logs, chinked the cracks with hay, made a roof of hay, and when Mr. Stearns came to run the lines ^londay morning, he found Uucle Fisk in full possession, with a fixed and steadfast purpose to keep and preserve the same from all intruders. Mr. Stearns, being pre- eminently a man of peace, hitched his team to his wagon and went south, making a claim in Otisco. But now our friend Kerr found himself in more of a dilemma than when ilr. Stearns camped there. Uncle Fisk made up his mind that, instead of holding that claim for Col. Ide, he would hold it for himself, and that nothing short of $1,000.00 would induce him to surrender his rights to it. However, Fisk continued to live on his school section, and Mr. Kerr was not long in finding a man to jump the old man's claim. Mr. Tarrant Putnam hap- pened along just at that time and Mr. Kerr laid before him the burden on his mind. Putnam soon agreed to take the claim and pre-empt it, and then let Col. Ide have it in exchange for another claim nearby, which the colonel was to pre-empt. Putnam com- menced improvements at once by building a shanty and doing a small amount of breaking. As soon as Uncle Fisk heard of Put- 80 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. nam's intrusion, he came over and ordered him off, but the latter was armed and equipped for claim holding, and the old gentleman never returned with his old shotgun, as he threatened to do. I\Ir. Putnam afterwards became prominent as register of deeds for several years, and is, at this writing, a resident of California, while Mr. T. J. Kerr and family reside in Waseca. A. J. "Woodbury and sons built the first hotel in "Wilton, the^ first in the county in fact,— during the winter of 1856-7. It stands* there at the present writing, a decaying monument of pioneer enterprise. During the same winter Messrs. Paige and Baker opened a small stock of general merchandise. Thomas L. Paige was the first clerk of court in this county. He returned East in 1858, as did his partner, Nathan Duane Baker. McLaurin, who afterwards became somewhat romantically the husband of Miss Ottie Ide, opened a grocery and liquor store the same winter. Hon. P. C. Bailey and H. P. West, co-partners as Bailey & West, opened the first hardware store in the county, at Wilton earlv in 1857. All through the winter of 1856-7, which was tediously cold, stores, shops, residences, and barns were erected, so that in early spring Wilton was a thriving village. It soon became the county seat and was the leading village of the county until the building of the Winona & St. Peter railroad and the location of the present city of Waseca. It then died out as rapidly as it well could ; and to-day a stranger would never mistrust, upon visiting the spot, that it was, for a long time, a busy, thriving center of trade for a large extent of country. It died on account of a railroad too near and yet too far away. ST. MARY. The next spring (1857) St. Mary began to expand. The plat was laid off in February by Chamberlain, Bailev & Co W H Chamberlain had settled there the season before and made ar- rangements for building and booming the toAvn. The followini-s were as plentiful as house tlies in the month of August. There was hurrying to and fro among the speculators in paper cities and coi'iier lots. Oray haii'od usurers and loafing young men played euchre on the prairie green, or lazily lounged upon the corners of imaginary business blocks in these would-be cities. Every artifice of the political party demagogue was resorted to by those interested in the several towns to secure population and win votes. It is said that man soAvetli, but (Jod giveth the increase. In this case there was a veiy sudden decrease in population imme- diately after the election. The Avhole number of votes cast was 6G5. It might have l)een larger: but was not that a fair-si/.ed election for a farming county of only tAvo years' settlement? At any rate, in 18(i(), at the presidential election, when :\lr. Lhicoln was elected, the coinily only cast 5l25 votes — a falling off of over 200 votes in a growing country in three and a half yearS. Swav(>sey cast 51 votes for AVilton, o3 for St. Alary, and 23 for Empire. Elysian ca.st 20 l)allots— 2:! for Wilton, 4 for St. ]\Iai\v and 2 for Empire. Empire cast 11 for Wilton, 49 tor St. Alary and 100 for Empire. AVilton cast 119 for St. Alary, 1S9 for AA^ilton, and one for Empire. The oldest settler has never yet found out who tliat oni^ lone Empire fellow was. He must have had the courage of Ethan Allen. (Atisco cast 58 vote's for Wilton and 2 For St. Mary. AVilton theref<.i-c rrceived 332 votes. St. Alary 207, and Empire 120, making Wilton thi> comity seat. This election, intensely exciting as it was, and pre'senting as it CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 87 did the woi-st phases of our popular form of government, simply showed hoAv deeply rooted in the American mind was the essential and all-important doctrine that the majority must rule and the minority must acquiesce. Within three months after that heated contest, the opposing' forces met in party convention, and a stranfjer would not have mistrusted that the men of >St. ]\lary, of Empire and of Wilton had ever disagreed on any subject. At that special election E. B. Stearns of Otiseo, L. C. Wood of Swavesey (now Woodville), and David Smith of Empire (now Iosco), Avere elected county commissioners. They held their first session July 6th, ISfyT. As near as I have been able to learn, the following were the other newly-elected officers to hold until the next general election: J. W. Crawford of Elysian, register of deeds; Nathaniel Garland, of Wilton, sheriff; H. W. Peck, of Empire, county surveyor; W. S. Baker, of Otiseo, treasurer; and ^\. S. Green, of Empire, county attorney. At this meeting of the commissioners, which was the fifth session, David Smith was elected chairman. The bonds of the officers- elect were filed and approved by the board. Road petitions were presented by Charles L. Lowell, Alonzo Heath, J. A. Canfield, and John S. ^McKune. The petitions wei'C signed by other citizens and were acted upon by the board. * * * Notwithstanding our Territorial condition, the great anti-slav- ei'y agitation of the day divided the people into distinct political parties. Every man was expected to stand to and vote his prin- ciples regardless of consequences. There was a conscientious courage in those days regarding public questions which amounted to heroism. And thus it was that, in the fall of 1857, local jeal- ousies were put to rest, and national politics divided the voters. Even at the very time of our county-seat election, the Republicans of the legislative district elected Hon. Amos Coggswell, of Steele county, Captain Lewis McKune, of this county, and B. Page Davis, of Nicollet county, members of the constitutional conven- tion that framed our present constitution, which was adopted October 13th, 1857. The contest for county officials that fall was based almost en- tirely upon national politics, for the voters of the county, at that time, were largely strangers to each other. Hon. Lewis JMcKune, for state senator, headed the local ticket and was elected. Of the 8S CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. county ticket, the Republicans elected E. B. .Stearns, L. C. Wood, and John Bailey, county commissioners ; N. Garland, sheriff ; A. E. Smith, surveyor; J. I. Stewart, treasurer; James E. Child, county attorney; Job A. Canfield, probate judge; and W. S. Baker, assessor. The Democrats elected E. A. Rice, register of deeds, and H. P. Norton, clerk of the court. The vote between the two parties' in this county, at that time, was nearly equal, and the personal popularity of the two successful Democrats carried them in. CHAPTER XXII, 1858. THE FIRST MURDER. This first general election, October 13, 1857, was the occasion of the first, as well as of the most unprovoked, murder ever commit- ted in this county. Jacob Hagadorn and family and Peter Farrell and family lived neighbors to one another in the town of Iosco, near the village of Empire, where the fall election was held. So far as known, at least, these men were not only neighbors, but friendly toward each other. They both attended the election at Empire, and the testimony showed that Hagadorn did not drink much, but that Far- rell was crazy drunk. The testimony taken before the grand jury the next day or two after the murder showed that there were two rival hotels, or public houses, in the village, and that each kept a bar well stocked with whisky. Whisky was cheap in those good old days, 25 cents a gallon— too cheap to be drugged— and yet men got drunk in those days the same as they do nowadays, and stabbed each other to the heart without any other cause than that they were intoxicated. It was at the time charged that one of the hotel men had plied Farrell and one or two others with liquor, during the afternoon, with the intention of getting up a drunken affray in the evening in which the other hotel man was to have been killed by accident. Whether there was any foundation for that theory or not, the fact was that a quarrel took place, and during the row Farrell killed Hagadorn with a large knife. Hon. Charles E. Flandreau, then associate justice of the Terri- torial supreme court, was then holding the first term of the district court for this county, and the grand jury, then in session, 90 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. found indictments against Peter Farrell, as principal, and John II. Wheeler and Richard Toner, as accessories. FarrcU was ar- rested and taken to Stillwater to be held for trial, but soon after made his escape and has never been brought to trial. It is said by some that he and his family are residents of Chicago, living under an assumed name. After the excitement was over and the facts and circum- stances were more coolly considered, it was generally admitted that there was no evidence upon which to convict Wheeler or Toner, and after some two years they were discharged. There can be no doubt that that sad and bloody tragedj' was the unpremeditated result of insane drunkenness on the part of Farrell and others that were equall.y drunk. Farrell, with great frankness, apparent sincerity, and unaffected sorrow declared that he had no cause for killing Hagadorn, that he never intended to injure him, and that he had not the faintest recollection of committing the crime with which he was charged and which he did actually commit in the presence of manj- eye- witnesses. This murder was a sad lesson for Waseca county in more ways than one. It kept the district court in session several days, piled up large bills for witnesses, jurors, and officers at a time when our people were poor and out of money and when there was not a cent in the county treasury. These bills had to be met with borrowed money bearing interest at a rate of from sixty to sev- enty-two per cent per annum. It was a long time before the tax- payers had paid off the last of the expenses of that drunk. CHAPTER XXIII. FIRST DISTRICT COURT. As hereinbefore intimated, the first term of the district eonrt for this county was held at Wilton, commencing October 12, 1857. On the day that court opened, Hon. Charles E. Flandreau, then a young lawyer of St. Peter, not long since deceased, presided. The grand jury was impaneled, sworn, and charged in the after- noon, and the court then ad.journed until Wednesday morning, the 14th, to give the jurors the privilege of voting on the 13th. When the court convened on the morning of the 14th, the sad news of the murder of Hagadorn at Empire on the 13th, had reached Wilton, and the grand jury at once commenced an in- vestigation of the matter which lasted several days. There was little or no other business to be transacted in court, and the judge adjourned from day to day until the grand jury finished its work. At this term of court, John Bradish, Esq., was duly ad- mitted to practice law in the courts of the Territory, he being the first resident lawyer of the county admitted to the bar. He is, at the present writing, a resident of Janesville, engaged in the real estate and insurance business. COUNTY FINANCES. The financial crash of 1857 had paralyzed the whole country. The state banking system (another name for robbery) had col- lapsed everywhere throughout the land, and the only persons that were in luck were those who had gold or silver coin. Such persons were very few in number. Not only were the masses of the people destitute of money, but all departments of government were with- out funds to pay ordinary expenses. Waseca county was especial- Q2 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ly unfortunate at that time. It had not only no money but no credit worth mentioning, as was shown by the records made at that time ; and yet it had on hand an expensive murder case grow- ing out of the liquor traffic. This case had to be carried forAvard at public expense. Hence we find the following entry in the records of the ninth meeting of the board of county commission- ers, which was held immediately after the adjournment of the first term of the district court : "At a special meeting, held October 20th, 1857, the board bor- rowed of Byron Claric the sum of $100 for which a joint note, signed by E. B. Stearns and L. C. AVood, was given, payable one year from date thereof, with interest at the rate of six per cent, per month." But that was only a drop in the bucket. The debts of the county already aggregated more than $1,200, and men were clamorous for their pay. When money was bringing from sixty to seventy- two per cent per annum, every man wanted his money to use ; and so another special meeting of the county board was held November 11th, 1857, to devise ways and means to meet the pressing demands of creditors. At this meeting George Snyder, living near our covmty line, in Freeborn county, condescended to loan $200 of his good, hard gold to the count}- upon a promis- sory note duly executed and signed by E. B. Stearns and L. C. Wood, who were county commissioners at the time. This note bore interest at the rate of Ave per cent per month— sixty per centum per annum— and was due and payable fifteen months after date. The record also shows the folloAving peculiar transaction: "The treasurer, being absent, the funds in the hands of the commis- sioners were appropriated by them to pay the most urgent bills against the county." The bills paid were as follows: L. C. Low- ell, $5; E. A. Rice, $51.85; N. Garland, $120.70; J. W. Craw- ford, $29. From the financial statement made at the close of the year 1S57. by Messrs. E. B. Stearns, L. C. Wood and John Bailey, county commissioners, we learn that the outstanding indebtedness of the county was $1,258.52, while the assets, if there were any, received no mention. CHAPTER XXIV. SEVERE HARDSHIPS— DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS— TOWNSHIPS OR- GANIZED—ADOPTION OF SUPERVISOR SYSTEM INSTEAD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS- COUNTY BONDS ISSUED— BRIDGE APPROPRIATIONS— JURY LISTS— OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS. The few that had opened farms so as to plant seeds in the spring of 1857 received bountiful crops in, return, with the exception of oats, which lodged, owing to heavj' growth of straw. Very little wheat was cultivated then, and most of that was of the "club" variety, which never succeeded well here. The year 1858 opened Avith a heavy cloud in the financial sky, and with a general feeling of depression everj'where. The new board of county commissioners, Messrs. B. B. Stearns, L. C. Wood, and John Bailey, met for the first timn January 4th, 1858, and organized by the election of Mr. B. B. Stearns as chair- man. It was indeed fortunate for the county that at that critical period in our history we had three so honest and capable men at the head of affairs. No one was allowed to rob the public, for every bill presented to the board was closely scrutinized and inves- tigated. At the meeting of the county commissioners April 5, 1858, the first separate township organizations were instituted. What is now Janesville was then named Okaman and given two polling places ; one at the house of A. Tuttle, near the ilorth end of Lake Elysian, and the other near the south end of the lake, at the house of Caesar De Regan. Alex Johnston, W. N. Buekout, an.d C. H. Bishop, all since deceased, were appointed judges of election. Iosco then received its name as an organized township, and H. 9 4 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. W. Peek, Geo. L. Leonard, and David Smith were appointed judges of th« election, wliich was to be held at the house of Daniel Tripp. Township 108, range 22, was s^t off and named Blooming Grove, with James Isaac, Patrick Healy, and J. M. Bli^on as judges of the next election, which was appointed at the residence of Pat- rick Healy. AVoodville was the name given to township 107, range 22, and Eri G. "Wood, J. K. ]\Ieyers, and William ]\I. Green Avere chosen judges of the first election, whicli was to be held at the house of E. G. AYood. St. ilary was the name applied to township 107, range 23, the tavern of J. AY. Clark was designated as polling place, and B. AI. ]\Iorrill, AYarren Smith, and II. AY. Chamberlain were named to serve as judges of election. Township 106, range 23, retained the name of AA'ilton, the elec- tion was appointed at the taveiii of A. J. AA'oodbury, and I. C. Pi'iee, L. Cuitis, and J. C. Ide were appointed as judges. Township 106, range 22, was designated as Otiseo, election at the house of ()wen Salisl)ury, and H. G. Alosher, S. S. Grigus, and ( >wen Salisbury were chosen to serve as judges. Township 10.5, range 24, was named A'ivian, and that township, together with the west half of what is now Byron, was made an election precinct. The first election was appointed at the resi- dence of J. B. Hill, and that ucntleman, with S. L. Daggett and E. AYoodruff, constituted the board of election judges. At the next meeting of the county board, Alay 17th, on pre- sentation of a petition therefor, the name of township IttS, range 21 was changed from Okaman to Janesville ; and now the name of that once busy and beautiful little hamlet of Okaman, at the head of Lake Elysian, remains only in history. The first state legislature after the adoption of our present constitution, substituted the supervisor system of county govern- ment for the connnissioner system, and the first meetino- of the new board was held at AYiltoii, Sejitember 14th, l.^.^iS. The mem- bers of the new board were E. B. Stearns, Col. AY. AY. Robinson X. E. Strong, C. AY. Johnstcm, J. AY. Davis, Philo AA^oodnift', Obadiah- Powell, and J. B. Hill. At this meeting E. B. Stearns was chosen to preside as chairman of the board for the ensuiu>T CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. year, and E. A. Rice was chosen as clerk of the board. xVt this session, the matter of ways and means agitated the minds of the local statesmen of the county in no small degree. The last legis- lature having authorized the borrowing of money by the county, it was ordered after much deliberation, "that the county issue its bonds for $3,000, to be made payable March 1, 1862, and to draw interest at the rate of fifteen per cent per annum, payable an- nually." The bonds were to be issued in denominations of $50 and $100, with a proviso that they should not be sold for less than ninety cents on the dollar. The bonds were to be printed and to be signed by the chairman of the board, and countersigned by the clerk of the board, with the seal of the county attached. W. W. Robinson, afterwards colonel, and E. A. Rice, afterwards major, were appointed a com- mittee to get the bonds printed and also to negotiate them. Af- terwards, at the same meeting, the amount of bonds was increased to $3,500. ]\Iessrs. Robinson and Rice were required to give a bond of .^;5,000 each for the proper performance of their duties in the negotiation of the bonds. At a meeting of the county board, December 20th, 1858, the order passed at the September meeting of the board, regarding the bonds, was so modified that they should be issued in five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollar denominations— that two thousand dollars be issued in $50 and $100 denominations, and that the remainder of said amount, $1,500, be issued in equal amounts of five, ten, and twenty dollar denominations. These bonds were made payable in 1862, with interest at 15 per cent per annum, paj'able annually. At the meeting of the board of supervisors, November 1st, 1858, township number 105, range 22, was organized into a town and named Norway. The name was shortly after changed to New Richland. Township number 105, range 23, was at this meeting organized and named Byron. There is some difference among old settlers as to how this township came by its name. J. B. Hill, Esq., one of the first settlers in Vivian, and at the time of that meeting a member of the county board, claims that the town was named in honer of Byron F. Clark, then a resident of Wilton ; Avhile it is claimed by Roscoe Philbrook that the town was named for his brother Byron, who now lives in California. It is of no 90 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. great importance at best, for even if it were named after Lord Byron or Lady Byron it would be just as poetical as it is now. It is getting to be a very beautiful township, and its name is ail right, even if Byron F. Clark did loan money at that time at six per cent a month — and to Waseca county at that. At the same meeting of the board there was considerable dis- cussion in regard to building a county jail. E. B. Stearns, W. W. Robinson, and Philo Woodruff were appointed to select a site for it and also to let the contract for its construction, provided the board could issue bonds to pay for the building. E. A. Eice, clerk of the board, was instructed to get the opinion of the attor- ney general as to whether the board could issue bonds to build a jail without first submitting the proposition to the people. It appears subsequently that there was no legal objection to issuing the bonds and building the jail, as will more fully appear here- after. Among the important official acts of this year were the following appropriations for bridges, namely: For the upper Wilton bridge, over the Le Sueur river, on the Owatonna road, .$400.00; for the construction of a bridge over the Le Sueur river, at the village of Otisco, $200.00 ; for materials and mechanical labor in constructing a bridge over the outlet to Lake Elysian, in the town of Janesville, on the ]\Iedford and ^Man- kato road, .$200.00; for the construction of three bridges in the town of Vivian, on the St. ]\Iary and Vivian road. $100.00; for the construction of a bridge over the inlet to Lake Elysian, town of Iosco, on the iledford and ]\Iankato road, $100.00. These ap- propriations were made upon condition that the toM-ns in which these bridges were to be built should see that the bridges were completed on or before January 1st, 1S.j9. At the same time one hundred dollars was appropriated toward the construction of a bridge over the Le Sueur river on the Wilton and St. ilary town line road, to be paid in county bonds. The county paid all its debts in bonds or orders in those days, for which the needy holder could get seventy-five cents on the dollar in store pay. HARD TIMES. The year 1858, in more ways than one, was the most disastrous that has ever been experienced since the settlement of the coun- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 97 ty. It will long be remembered by all who then inhabited this section. Nearly or quite one-half of the people of the county had settled upon the bottom lands along the Le Sueur river. Many of the farmers had no crops except upon these lands adjoining the river. During the early part of the season, the crops grew magnificently, and promised an abundant harvest; but in the latter part of July heavy and oft-repeated storms swept with fury over the whole country. During the first week in August, it seenu'd as though the windows of heaven were again opened as in the days of Noah. Storm succeeded storm until the whole country was inundated. The waters of the rivers and streams were increased to such an extent that all their banks were over- flowed. The bottom lands looked like great inland seas. Trees were washed out by the roots. Fences were torn down and carried away. Hay and oraiii stacks were raised bodily, torn in pieces by the raging, whirling floods and carried down stream. Wheat, oat, potato, corn and garden crops were destroyed in a day. "Whole families stood by in helpless astonishment, despair de- picted in every feature, and watched the relentless destruction of tlieir only means of subsistence for the coming year. It was in- deed a sad time with our people. Most of the settlers had spent their generally very limited means in purchasing their lands and improving them, and were entirely dependent upon their growing crops for a supply of food. All the crops on the bottom lands, nearly or quite one-half of the whole in the county, were almost a total loss, while those on the higher lands were also injured. Many settlers gave up in despair and, with what they had re- maining, pulled up and left the country for good. A general depression like a dark shadow rested upon the whole country, and the succeeding year was really a season of hard times. A whole chapter of incidents might be written of the losses sustained by that flood, and the only thing that could really be said in its favor was that it drovraed most of the striped, gray, and pocket gophers that it caught upon the bottom lands. For several years afterwards the bottom lands were free from these pests. This county has never since seen as much deprivation, according to the number of people, as that which our people suffered in con- sequence of the flood of 1858. Such experience as that tried the 98 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. souls of both men and women, and those who lived here at that time seldom complaia very much of more recent hard times. The real suffering consequent upon the loss of the crops of 1858 came in 1859, of which more anon. I have never been able to get a full list of the first grand and petit jurors for the fall term of court held in October, 1857, but the following were certainly present at that term, and drew pay, viz: W. W. Robinson, J. B. Jackson, James E. Child, Robert McFate, A. J. Woodbury, S. W. Long, H. G. :\Iosher, S. J. Willis, P. H. Thomas, John Bailey, Caleb Northup, James Chadwick, P. H. Young, Buel Welsh, Joseph Clayton, M. V. B. :\Iorse, E. G. Wood, John Forrest, H. P. Norton, Francis Green, John Jenkins, Philo Woodruff, Geo. H. Bishop, S. F. AVyman, E. K. Carlton, J. K. ilyers, Z. Holbrook, S. W. Franklin, Noah Lincoln, H. P. Chamberlain, and James Roberts. The first complete lists of jurors on record were made by the county board at the November session of ISoS. They were com- posed as follows : GRAND JURORS. H. G. ilosher, Geo. W. Watkins, AY. AY. Robinson, J. B. Hill, W. il. Green, G. AY. Turner, J. K. ^Myers, B. F. Haynes, :Montra- ville Sias, L. C. AYood, L. S. Daggett, AA\ H. Young, T. R. Chapman, J. S. Rice, J. D. Andrews, 0. Powell, James E. Child, B. G. Northup, B. il. ilorrill, 8. AY. Franklin, J. AA\ Clark, AA'. H. Wy- man, X. P. Fitzgerald, John C. Ide, Geo. P. Johnson, G. AY. Ayers, S. L. Haines, John Bailey, C. X. Hale, Lewis McLelland, George T. AYhite (afterwards Capt. AA^hite), J. J. Stewart, David Smith, Lewis :McKiine, N. E. Strong, Elias Conner, H. D. Baldwin, John Bradish, Elias Goodrich, James Isaacs, William Rockwell, Patrick Healy, John S. :\IeKune, M. 8. Green, J. C. York, A. V. Osdale, George L. Leonard, AY N. Buokhout, L. B. Osgood John R. Wood. PETIT JURORS. Isaac Hamlin, D. J. Jenkins, A. J. AVoodbury, David Whipple, Caleb Northup, A. Shaffer, E. S. AA'oodruff, Moses Camp, E. Q. AVood, Charles Graves, L. S. AA'ood, John Sias, John Forrest,' Geo. Clark, E. K. Carlton, A. S. Nelson, Jacob Corey, John West, Andrew Lynch, John Eldredge, Dow Locke, C. Morrill, Diiey CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 99 McKinstcr, I'clci' Lijidsjiy, 0. Salisbury, C. 0. Norton, B. P. Clark, .James Hurric, .1. Iv. West, Robert Lanning, Stephen Bailey, Could (Jrovcr, F. A. GIovit, T. J. Kerr, 0. K. Woodward, Francis Libln'y, ThoiiiJis NoHliup, Alvin Wilson, S. S. Goodrich, John Pratt, Williiiin i'.yion, liichard Ayjircs, L. P. Stowell, R. H. Lowell, .J. A. Whecilcr, S. S. Grif,'^?s, William Putnam, Samuel Gleason, (I. P. Cooper, C. E. Williamson, Richard Dreever, Michael McKcniicy, Si^iir Johnson, J. M. Bliven, J. V. TIallook, JiTcmiah Sulliv:in, John ( !unnint,Mi;im, S. T. ln;iiic,s, James Babcock, John Mc(;ui', Thoiniis Ciiliijl, -lohn Wheclor, Ole Knutson, John Doug- las, Sill n Siiiilli, A. J. Walton, Danel Ric^Hc^s, James Chiidwick, Joseph Cliurehill, II. J. Allen, I. 0. McArthur, J. W. La Paul. It is svif,'u'esl,e(l that I lie jiiry lists of to-day are not very much better thun this list of 1858. CHAPTER XXV, 1859. STARVATION PRICES IN 1859— SKETCH BY HON. WILLIAM BRIS- BANE—CASES OP POISONING. The year 1859 opened gloomy enough for the people of Waseca county, as a rule. Of course there were exceptions. A few men were fortunate enough to have saved a good crop of corn in 1858, and before the next spring good corn sold at $1 a bushel. A very few men had ;i little money, and those few gathered in cattle and horses at very low prices, or loaned their money at from forty to seventy-two per cent per annum. As is invariably the rule when financial disaster sweeps over the country, the rich became richer and the poor poorer. The losses of 1S5S made the winter of 1858-9 one of anxiety, and to many a winter of distress. Every family had to exercise the greatest economy. IMany farm- ers lived for weeks and months upon corn bread, milk, and but- ter. Some lived during the spring months on wild roots, fish, and wild fowls. All suffered more or less from deprivations of one kind or another. The haying season of 1858 had been so rainy that there was a scarcity of hay with many and durinj^- the early spring time some cattle died of starvation, while the entire lack of grain made both horses and horned cattle look like the lean kine in Joseph's vision. Hon. William Brisbane, who settled in this county in the spring of 1859, though in comfortable circumstances himself, saw the hardships of the earlier settlers, and contributed the folloM'iug to the "Album" history of the county in 1887 : CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 101 "Speaking of graham bread," said he, "I can assure you that twenty- eight years ago (1859) a loaf of graham bread or a corn dodger, with a very thin sprinkling of molasses, would have been thankfully received and no questions asked. Those were the days that tried men's stomachs as well as their souls, but we lived and hoped for better days, for we had faith in the natural resources of Waseca county. Thanks to those resources and the Industrious energies of the people, our expectations have been fully realized. As the good book says: 'The rain is over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds has come.' Yet I never saw nor knew of a tragedy acted but there was always some comical or ludicrous scenes interlarded with it. * * * The following is said to be a fact, although it smacks of the improbable: A family out in the 'Big Woods' beyond Janesville were sorely pressed, for gaunt Famine was wagging his bony finger in their faces. Almost in despair they went into the woods and tried to find some roots, whereby they might satisfy the cravings of hunger. They were successful in unearthing the sought- for roots, but were afraid that they might be poisonous. Something must be done; they would try an experiment. As luck would have it, there was a crazy sort of fellow in the family; so they thought they would try it on him. If he should die it would be no great loss, and if he lived why couldn't they? You see they were excellent logicians. Well, the crazy fellow lived, but you can bet that he never fared so well again as he did on the day the life or death experiment was tried on him." Several persons died that spring from eating poisonous herbs and roots. Mr. S. A. Farrington furnishes the following state- ment : "A sad affliction befell Mr. Quiggle's family in the spring of 1859. The children went out to gather cowslips. Two of the girls ate what they supposed to be that herb. Both were soon taken very sick. One of them, who ate more than the other, vom- ited and afterwards recovered. The other died in a short time in great agony. What they supposed to be cowslip, the doctors called vegetable dog button, a poisonous herb resembling the cowslip. The deceased, who was twelve years old, was buried in a homemade coffin, as there were no undertakers in this sec- tion of country at that time." CHAPTER XXVI, 1859. NEW BOARD OP SUPERVISORS— COUNTY BONDS ISSUED AT NINE- TY CENTS ON THE DOLLAR— HIGH RATES OF INTEREST— JES- SE I. STEWART AND GEO. T. WHITE REPRESENTATIVES — ABUNDANT CROPS— HAULING WHEAT TO HASTINGS. The last meeting of the county board of supervisors elected in 1858 was held at Wilton. E. B. Stearns and E. A. Rice were ap- pointed a committee to rent rooms for the use of the coimty officers for the ensuing year. The board of supervisors elected in the spring of 1859, met for the first time ^lay 24th. The following gentlemen constituted the board, viz: Philo Woodruff, of Blooming Grove; James Barrie, of St. Mary; Obadiah Powell, of Woodville; G. AY. Ayares, of Byron ; J. W. La Paul, of Janesville ; John Thompson, of New Richland; H. G. Jlosher, of Otisco; M. S. Gove, of Wilton; H. D. Baldwin, of Iosco ; Ichabod West, of Vivian. The Democrats being in the majority, elected Dr. M. S. Gove chairman for the ensuing year. He made an able and efficient officer. Messrs. H. G. Mosher, Philo Woodruff, and James Barrie were appointed a committee on accoiuits, to whom all bills were re- ferroil. The first al)atrment and refunding of taxes occurred at this meeting. William Cuddigan (Sir) licing unfortunate enough to have suffered from a double assessment, the state tax was ordered to lie refunded tn him in cash and the other tax in county orders. This session did a good deal of routine business, l)nt nothing of great importance was accomplished. The next, or annual, meeting of the board was held September CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 103 13th, 1859, at "Wilton. The first business transacted was the pas- sage of an order instructing the proper officers to turn over to George C. Snyder, at ninety cents on the dollar, enough county bonds, bearing fifteen per cent interest, to pay the two notes held by said Snyder, including the interest thereon at five per cent per month from date of notes until payment in said bonds. The bill of Culver, Page & Hoyne, amounting to $487, for books and stationery, was also ordered paid in county bonds at ninety cents on the dollar, with interest thereon at fifteen per cent per annum. Here are examples of the utter nonsense put forth by money loaners that where there is no law regulating interest, it will be regulated by the security offered. Here was a case where the security was most ample, and yet the money loaners wanted to obtain our coiuity bonds at ninety cents on the dollar, — the bonds bearing fifteen per cent interest on their full face. At the meeting of the board October 27, 1859, Dr. M. S. Gove, H. G. IMosher, and J. W. La Paul were appointed a committee to purchase the store building of Thomas L. Paige for a court house. The building was bought— Mr. Paige receiving therefor tax-sale certificates to the face value of $700. This structure served the county as a court house until it was destroyed by fire April 3, 1869, a period of nearly ten years. For the $700 in tax certificates, the county saved rent for ten years and then received $600 insurance money for the ashes. That $700 was well invested. At the fall election of 1859, the Republicans elected their entire ticket. Capt. Geo. T. White and J. I. Stewart were elected to the lower house of the legislature; S. J. Willis was elected auditor; J. I. Stewart, treasurer; David L. Whipple, sheriff; J. A. Canfleld, judge of probate ; Hon. H. D. Baldwin, county attorney. J. T. Stewart having been elected to the legislature, J. S. Rice, then of New Richland, was appointed to and accepted the office of county treasurer, which he held for two years. One of the amusing incidents placed on record is the report of Dr. M. S. Gove, who was appointed to "examine the treasurer's account of orders redeemed." His report is recorded as follows: "To the Honorable Board of Supervisors, Waseca county: Your committee, appointed to examine the treasurer's account of oi-ders redeemed, having performed said duty, beg leave to report: Treasurer's register of orders redeemed, to- wit: $3,672.52. 104 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. The orders redeemed amount to $3,672.80, leaving a default un- accounted for 18 cents. " (Signed) M. S. GOVE, Committee." Evidently the clerk of the board made a mistake in recording the report or else the good doctor made a default in his own figures amounting to ten cents. The writer has never been able to find any record showing that this default was ever made good by the defaulting treasurer. For some unexplained reason, no financial statement showing the exact financial standing of the county for the years 1858 and 1859 appears in the records of the county for those years. It was about 1859 that people clamored for a change in the court house officials on account of supposed irregularities. But if there were any such irregularities in fact, they were never brought to light, and probably did not exist. The most important of all the affairs of 1S59 was the abundant harvest of that year. It was really our first great wheat year in this county— that being the first general introduction of the Scotch Fife wheat in this section. The average yield that year was about twenty bushels per acre, although several fields yielded as high as tliirty bushels per acre of the very best quality of wheat. A lart;e proportion of that crop weighed sixty-two pounds to the bushel. What was true of wheat was true of almost every other crop, although corn was considered a little below the aver- age. There were such magnificent crops of all kinds that every resident took hold of the work before him with renewed enertry. Of course prices were prostrated. Just as the gold syndicate and the trusts and combines, aided hy the liquor traflfie, in 1892, captured both parties and made cowards of the third, just as the giant monopolies of to-day sway legislatures, influence courts and corrupt the ballot box, even so had the deluded voters in IS.'iO been hugging the vile harlot of slavery until the political atmosphere was filled with poisonous gases of political corruption. The bank- ing system of the politicians of the slaveocratic pai1y was but an- other name for phmdering and robbing the laboring and produc- ing masses. The prolonged policy of upholding the great wroim' of human bondage had brought upon ns, as a nation, the inevitable punishment which necessarily follows such wickedness and folly. Strong mechanics were glad to get work then at from seventv-tive CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 105 cents to a dollar a day. Any number of farm hands and common laborers could be hired for fifty cents a day. Many suffered for want of even the necessities of life. AVe have not since reached such universal hard times as then prevailed throughout the coun- try although we had fewer tramps then than now. That fall, for the first time, our farmers commenced hauling wheat to Hastings. There was no market here, and we were com- pelled to haul it either to Hastings or some other river town. It required a heavy, strong pair of oxen to take through to market forty bushels of wheat at a load, and make the trip from Wilton and return in six days. The price of wheat at Hastings averaged about sixty-two cents per bushel. Perhaps some of our young farmers can figure out the profits of raising wheat and spending six days on the road in marketing each load of forty bushels! Perhaps, too, some of the young wives of to-day can appreciate the situation of a young, married woman living on the prairie alone, for a week at a time, and being compelled to look after the farm chores, while roving Indians might call at any hour of the day or night ! How little do those who have never experienced the labors and vicissitudes of pioneer life know of real hardship ! But the grand crops of 1S59 had renewed our courage and in- spired our hopes for better times, and eveiy one commenced the year 1860 with the expectation and hope of a "happy new year." CHAPTER XXVII, 1860. MILD WINTER— BUILDING OF FIRST JAIL AT WILTON— LIQUOR LICENSES ISSUED— SUPERVISOR SYSTEM ABOLISHED— W. T. KITTREDGE, GEO. H. BISHOP AND JOHN N. POWERS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.SUCCEBDED BY HAMLIN, HEALY AND LOWELL. —THE OUTLOOK— REBELLION, INDIANS, ETC.— ELECTION OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN— LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF DR. WATSON, WM. F. PBTTIT, JAMES E. CHILD— GOOD CROPS— JOHN BROWlSr RAID— CENSUS BY C. O. NORTON— TOTAL POPULATION 2,598. This was not only the most eventful year in the history of this nation, but one of tlie most eventful in the history of this state. To begin with the winter of 1859-60 was something new in the his- tory of Minnesota. The four preceding winters had been of the snow-bound pattern, lined with iee, decorated with Pembina frosts and fanned by Ttlanitoba blizzards. The four preceding winters had l)een so uniformly and intensely cold that no one expected anything milder than a 2 :-10 lireeze from jManitoba with the mer- cury all the way from zero to forty degrees below, in Minnesota. The people of the state were therefore somewhat surprised to have a winter with only one week of sleighing and the thermom- eter running from zero up to 30 and 40 degrees above. I remem- ber the Avinter very well, for I was interested with my brother, S. P. Child in furnishing five hiuidred cords of wood to the St. Mary Mill company. We were compelled to haul nearly all of it on wagons. There seemed to be a general feeling that hard times had reached the ))otf()m nnig of the financial ladder, and that peo- ple nuist commence to build anew upon the bed-n^ek of indvistry CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 107 and economy. Most of the property of the country had been mortgaged at exorbitant rates of interest and sooner or later fell into the hands of the money loaners who were forced to sell it for what they could get on credit and at a much lower rate of interest. The money loaners had killed the geese that had laid the golden eggs, and they were compelled to await the growth of a new brood of goslings before they could again gather in their harvest. As stated in the preceding chapter, a change of county officials was made in the fall of 1859, and about the 1st of January, 1860, S. J. Willis became county auditor, J. S. Rice treasurer, and David L. Whipple, sheriff. On the 11th of January, 1860, the county board of supervisors commenced an important session, and among other matters, decided to build a county jail. As this was the first jail in the county, the proceedings of the board in relation there- to will be of interest. The following resolution was adopted by the board: "Resolved by the board of supervisors of the county of Wa- seca and State of Minnesota, that the sheriff of said county (D .L. Whipple), be and is hereby empowered, authorized and required to proceed immediately to erect a suitable building for the con- finement of criminals or other persons who may be committed or confined therein according to law, and that said building shall be erected immediately in the rear and adjoining to the county building now occupied by the register of deeds, to be built of timber, hewn at least on three sides, (and to be) sixteen by eight- een feet square, one story high, faced on the inside by sheet iron securely nailed to timber. That the (said) building shall be in all respects, not herein named, constructed under the immediate su- pervision and control of said sheriff, in such a manner as he shall think best, in order to accomplish the object sought by this res- olution. "And it is hereby ordered that the sum of three hundred dollars be and is hereby appropriated in tax certificates of lands sold and bid off by said county for the taxes for the year 1858, and that said sheriff is hereby authorized to give a receipt for and receive an assignment of said tax certificates equal to one-half the amount herein appropriated when he shall obtain from the commissioners (to be) hereafter elected for the county of AVaseea 108 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. a certificate that one-half of the above amount has been expend- ed by said sheriff in the construction of said building. He (the sheriff) is authorized to employ assistance or employ agents to perform the work herein named, in the same manner as he is by this resolution authorized to perform the same; said building to be built in an economical manner, and said sheriff shall not receive tax certificates to a greater amount than what the actual cost of said building amounts to." "And be it further ordered that the county commissioners here- after to be elected shall and are hereby appointed a building com- mittee to audit said sheriff's account and authorize the payment of the balance due said sheriff when said building shall have been finished. And said commissioners are authorized to accept said building when properly finished in behalf of the said county of Waseca, and make a full settlement with said sheriff for his ser- vices, said building not to cost a greater amount than hereinbefore named and as much less an amount as said sheriff can make the cost of the same. And said sheriff is hereby authorized to parti- tion off from the first story of the county building in the north end, and contiguous to the contemplated 'shutup," ten feet for his office. And it is further ordered that the sheriff', in acting as agent for the county in the erection of said .iail, shall keep a cor- rect account of all labor and mateidal expended, and shall be re- quired to make a certificate of all amounts expended as afore- said." At the same meeting, upon the request of B. S. Hall and George W. Johnson, known as Hall & Johnson, of Wilton, the said county board "being satisfied that they are of good moral character and of sufficient ability to keep a tavern and sell spirituous liiiuors," and upon receipt of $50 into the county treasury, issued a li- cense for the sale of spirituous and other intoxicating liquors to be drunk in the inn, or tavern, aforesaid. On the 26th of April following, Geo. H. AYoodbury, of the Wash- ington House in Wilton, was also licensed to sell intoxicating liquors for a fee of $50. These were the first legalized dram-shops in the county, although liquors had been sold the same as other merchandise ever since the first establishment of stores and groc- eries. At that time $50 was considered an enormouslv hiii'h CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 109 tax to pay for the glorious privilege of making a brother man drunk. By act of the legislature, approved February 28th, 1860, the supervisor system of county government was abolished and sub- stantially the present county commissioner system vsras adopt- ed. Under the provisions of that act, W. T. Kittredge, Geo. H. Bishop, and John N. Powers v^rere chosen commissioners. Their first meeting vsras held April 26th, 1860, and a large amount of business was done in a very orderly and systematic manner, showing clearly the lawyer-like hand of Maj. Kittredge, who was made chairman of the board. Among other orders made and adopted is this one which will make the eyes of modern office-holders green with envy, so magnificent was the salary ! It reads as follows : "Ordered, That, in pursuance of the statute, the sum of $330 is hereby fixed and declared to be the amount allowed to the coim- ty auditor as his salary for the eleven months beginning on the 1st day of April, 1860. * * * and the said auditor is hereby authorized to draw from the county treasury at the end of each and every month the sum of thirty dollars in payment of the amount of his said salary due him for that month, depositing a receipt therefor." This was the salary of Mr. "Willis, the first county auditor of the county, for his first year. The second year it was raised to $466.66 to be drawn monthly. At the September session of the board in 1860, John N. Powers resigned as commissioner, and M. S. Green resigned as county at- torney. This was at the meeting of Sept. 5, and the two remaining members adjourned till Sept. 11th. At this meeting, as the record shows, D. L. Whipple and S. W. Franklin acted with the board, but just how or by what authority does not appear. That was the closing session for the year, and much business was trans- acted. Among other matters, Seth W. Long was licensed to sell intoxicating liquors at his hotel in Okaman. At the fall election there was an entire change in the county board, the commissioners elected being Isaac Hamlin, Patrick Hea- ly, and B. A. Lowell. The other officers elected that fall were as follows : Member of the lower house of the legislature, James E. Child; county auditor, S. J. Willis; county attorney, H. D. 110 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Baldwin ; court commissioner, W. T. Kittredge. The highest vote polled was 508, and the Republicans carried the county by a ma- jority of one himdred and sixty-one for Abraham Lincoln. The campaign was quite exciting; Mr. Child, Republican, and P. Brink Enos, Democrat, held several joint discussions. Both were then rather young men for that kind of business. The year of 1860, like that of 1859, yielded abundant crops, but there was no improvement in market prices, nor had we any better facilities for getting our grain to market. There was universal prostration in all kinds of business on account of the general failure of the "wild-cat" banks which had been organized for sy.stematic robbery under state laws. First, interest had ranged for a few years at from fifteen to seventy-two per cent per annum— we had no usury law at that time. Unscrupulous men would start banks based on worthless stocks or bonds, and then over-issue for the sake of gathering in the interest on the worth- less money loaned. Seeond, this, like every other robbery that is permitted by law, soon drew from the farmers and laboring people of the "West their hard earnings, reduced all producers to poverty, and re- acted upon even the money lenders of small means— many of them beiiii!' compelled to take the mortgaged property which they could not use and which would not sell for enough to pay back the mon- ey loaned upon it. How strange it is that moneyed men never learn from history, Avhieli is constantly repeating itself, that they cannot rob and impoverish the people, who create all wealth, without finally being ruined themselves by the general crash which necessarily follows an exoi'bitant rate of interest! But stranger yet is the mental condition of the masses that willingly make serfs of themselves and their families by becoming the slaves of money loaners, thus toiling their lives away for the en- richment of others ! The year closed with dismal forebodings for the future Al- reaay the black form of treason had raised its murderous hand at the South and there was so much of partv sympathy in the North that brave and hopeful indeed were the men that had no misgivings regarding the immediate future, ftlinnesota oc- cupied a critical position. Her people were almost totally with- out money, both as a state and as individuals. The Chippewa In CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Ill dians occupied the northern portion of the state, the Sioux tribes held all the western border, while the Winnebago Indian reser- vation occupied the center of southern Minnesota, being located in Waseca and Blue Earth counties. It was foreseen by level- headed men that, in case of civil war, the people of this state would be in great danger of an Indian outbreak. The writer was ridiculed during the session of the legislature of 1861 for expressing the opinion that, in case the impending civil war could not be avoided, our people would be exposed to Indian outbreaks on the frontier. When outbreaks did come those who did the ridiculing were the first to hasten to a place of safety. At the November election in 1860, Abraham Lincobi received 304 votes and Stephen A. Douglas 143. For member of congress, William Windom and Cyrus Aldrich, Republicans, received 337 votes each; James George, Democrat, received 188 votes, and John M. Gilman, Democrat, 152 votes. The state then elected two congressmen at large. The legislative district of which Waseca county was a part comprised the counties of Freeborn, Steele and Waseca. Very little attention was paid to party politics in the choosing of legis- lators. Railroad interests and personal likes and dislikes entered largely into the choice of legislative candidates. The issue was known as Cornell and anti-Cornell. The candi- dates were : Dr. George Watson, of Freeborn county, for senator, and George W. Green, of Clinton Falls, Steele county, and James E. Child, of Waseca county, for representatives— these three were Republicans and anti-Cornell men; Henry Thornton, democrat, of Freeborn county, for senator, and Wm. F. Pettit, democrat, of Steele county, and A. E. Smith, republican of Waseca county, for representatives— these three were Cornell men. Watson and Child, republicans and Pettit democrat, were elected, each by a small majority. While the political contentions of the year had been earnest, even fierce, and the black clouds of treason were seen gathering in the Southland, the climatic conditions had been favorable during the year and our people had gathered bounteous crops. The winter of 1859-60 had been very mild, and the spring weather of 1860 was most delightful. Some farmers sowed wheat in the month of Febriiary, and he was a slow farmer, indeed, who 112 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. was not through with seeding small grain on the 15th of March, that year. The weather was fine during the entire season and the harvest all that could be asked for. It was also a year of intense political activity and discussion throughout the nation. The Kansas-Nebraska struggle which for years had kept alive and increased sectional hatred regarding the institution of human slavery had culminated in the invasion of Virginia, at Harper 's Ferry, by John Brown and his followers, Oct. 17th, 1859. Brown, with seventeen white men and five ne- groes took possession of Harper's Ferry and captured about 100,000 stand of arms in the arsenal. This place was guarded by only three watchmen, who were easily captured. This invasion was made with the avowed intention of freeing the negro slaves of the South. This fanatical and foolhardy enterprise resulted in a number of deaths, the capture, trial, and hanging of John Brown and some of his associates and most intense excitement and indignation throughout the slavcholding states. Brown was hanged on the 2d of December, 1859. While very few people in the North attempted to justify his treason, there were many that admired the courage of the brave old man, who fought, as he believed, for that most sacred of doctrines— the inalienable right of every human being to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happi- ness." Brown had been driven from Kansas by the proslavery men, and a prize amounting to $3,250 had been offered for his arrest by the governor of Missouri and the president of the United States. The greatest political struggle of the ages followed in 1S60. Lincoln was nominated by the anti-slavery or republican sen- timent of the North, Breekenridge by the pro-slavery men of the South and Douglas by the conservative or commercial democracy of the nation. It w-as a battle of intellect\ial and political giants, and resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln. The year 1860, so far as county matters were concerned, passed with no occurrence out of the ordinary, except, perhaps, the tak- ing of the United States census. This work was performed bv Cole 0. Norton, since deceased, a brother of Mr. H. P. Norton, of Waseca. According to his enumeration there were at that time 1,370 males and 1,228 females. There were of men over 20 and under 40 years of age 211, and of females 196'; males over 40 and CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 113 under 50, 118, females of the same ages, 73 ; males over 50 and under 60, 37 ; females of the same ages, 36 ; men over 60 and under 70, 40 ; females of the same ages, 22 ; males over 70 and under 80, 9 ; females of the same ages, 5. The total population of the county was only 2,598. CHAPTER XXVIII, 1861. THE STRUGGLE OP 1861— FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS— CAPT. McKUNE AND WASECA COUNTY VOLUNTEERS— BATTLE OF BULL RUN— ELECTION OF 1861, P. C. BAILEY REPRESENTATIVE —BIG COMET— MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER REGIMENTS— MEN "WHO ENLISTED— THE THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH REGIMENTS —LOW PRICES— FIRST NEWSPAPER, "HOME VIEWS" BY JOHN- STON AND WILLIS— TRIBUTE TO CAPT. McKUNE. The year 1861, the most momentous in the history of our nation, opened beneath the storm-clouds of treason which cast their som- ber and ominous shadows over all the land. From every point of view the southern rebellion was the most gigantic political crime of all the ages that had preceded it. The hope of liberty, of religious freedom, of manhood sovereignty, of the laboring and producing masses, not only of this country, but of all the world, depended upon the maintenance of the "Union of the States, one and inseparable." The Minnesota legislature of 1861 authorized an organization of the militia of the state, but the treasury was so destitute of available funds that the organization was nothing more than a make believe. The legislature closed its session the first week in March, and on the 12th of April, Ft. Sumter was fired upon by the rebel forces of the South. Then the first fierce blow was struck, and the states of the South, one after another, in rapid succession, formally seceded from the Union. The forts and arse- nals of the nation in the South, in contemplation of secession, had been turned over to southern sympathizers by Buchanan's admin- istration and were rapidly surrendered to the rebels. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 115 President Lincoln at once issued a call for seventy-five thou- sand volunteers to defend the life of the nation. Gov. Ramsey, who vras in Washington when Fort Sumter was fired upon, was the first governor to tender the president a regiment of volunteers. This he did on the morning of April 13, 1861. The governor immediately telegraphed Ignatius Donnelly, lieu- tenant governor, and on the 16th of April, Mr. Donnelly as gov- ernor ad interim, issued his call for one regiment of volunteer infantry of ten companies, to report at once to Adjutant General Sanborn at St. Paul. Within two weeks the regiment was full, and many that offered to enlist were turned away. Waseca county, considering its population, furnished its full quota. The following gallant young men enlisted with Capt. Lewis McKune, one of the early settlers in Blooming Grove, but then of Morristown, Rice county, viz.: Geo. R. Buckman, L. J. (Jim) Mosher, E. E. Verplank, John M. Churchill, Irvine W. Northrup, Michael Hausauer, Walter S. Reed, Luman S. Wood, Adam Areman, Omer H. Sutlief, Louis E. Hanneman, Martin Hea- ly, Neri Reed, C. C. Davis, George Kline, Philo Hall, John Mc- Kinster, Nathaniel Reed, Norman B. Barron, Amos Canfield, Jens T. Dahl. These men, without exception, served their country most faith- fully and heroically. The regiment was fully organized on April 29th and mustered into the service at Fort Snelling by Capt. A. D. Nelson, of the United States army. The men at once went into training and were drilled every day except Sundays. They remained at Fort Snelling until June 22nd when they embarked on steamboats and started for Wash- ington, taking railroad cars at La Crosse and Prairie du Chien. They arrived in Washington June 27th and remained near that city until July 16th when the regiment was ordered to the front. The regiment bore a prominent part in the ill-fated Bull Run battle of July 21st, 1861, during which Capt. Lewis McKune was killed, and E. E. Verplank, George Kline, and Walter S. and Neri Reed, two brothers, were slightly wounded. The brave, unselfish, Capt, Lewis McKune was among the numerous immigrants to Minnesota in 1856. He was born in Meri- den, Susquehanna county, Pa., on the 22d of July, 1821. He was 116 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. reared upon a farm and remained in his native state until his twenty-fifth year when he started West, settling in Illinois. At the breaking out of the California gold exeitimenet, in 1849, or very soon after, he went to that Eldorado of the West to seek his fortune. He was reasonably successful in his mining opera- tions, and returned to Illinois about 1855. He next purchased an emigrant outfit and came to Minnesota by the typical prairie schooner. He brought with him some very valuable horses, the breeding of which occupied considerable of his attention. He first settled in Blooming Grove and opened a large farm on section one. The writer's first acquaintance with him was during the politi- cal campaign of 1856. Both of them were very earnest, ardent re- publicans in those days— "Black Abolitionists." He was a born hero, ready to stand by, and fight for, what he believed to be right, regardless of personal ease, safety, or financial sacrifice. He Avas one of the many grand characters of the great army of American heroes and statesmen of that day. How grand it would be were this nation today as patriotic, as unselfish, as devoted to right- eousness as were the reimblican heroes of that day. Were it so, the greed and selflslmcss now concentrated in the hands of corpo- rations, syndicates and money combines, that plunder the masses, would find few defenders. He participated to quite an extent in the local campaign of 1856, and thus paved the \vay for his preferment in 1857. In the spring of 1857, the people of Steele and AVaseca coimties met in conven- tion at Owatonna and elected delegates to attend a district con- vention to be held at Mankato about the 1st of June, to nominate republican candidates to be elected as members of the constitu- tional convention. Hon. Amos Coggswell, an able lawyer, who had settled in Aurora township, Steele county, in 1856, was a can- didate and the choice of Steele county, while Waseca county had no aspirants. The writer was chosen as one of the delegates to the Mankato convention, and it was soon learned that a delegate would be awarded to Wasei'a county. Capt. IMcKune was nol at the convention, nor had he been consulted in regard to the matter- but upon the presentation of his name by the Avriter he was unani- mously nominated. Jlr. McKune had just opened a store in Mor- ristown, though living on his farm, and was unable to devote time CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 117 to the canvass; but he accepted the nomination and was duly elected. Although not a public speaker, he was a man of sound jiidgment and made a valuable member of that very able conven- tion. As a member of the constitutional convention he demonstrated, on more than one occasion, that his "Scotch blood was up" when- ever there was a fight on hand. As a result of the election of mem- bers to the convention, the political parties were so nearly evenly represented in numbers, that each sought to get party control of the organization. The republicans, fearing that the Kansas tricks of the pro-slavery men might' be repeated in j\Iinnesota, held several private caucuses to devise ways and means to prevent any advantage being taken of them. Upon Mr. ]\IeKune's suggestion the republican members, in a- body, quietly took possession of the hall where the convention was to meet, the night before the con- vention was to assemble and organize. They remained in the hall that night and until 12 o'clock noon, when they proceeded to or- ganize the convention in opposition to the democrat members who appeared at that time in a body and also pretended to organ- ize and then immediately adjourned, leaving the hall to the re- publicans. It will be remembered, l)y those familiar with the early history of the state, that our constitution was finally submitted by two conventions which l\v a committee of conference, agreed upon the constitution under which Minnesota was admitted as a state. It was during the session of the conference committee that a brutal assault was made upon Judge Thomas Wilson, then a republican member from Winona, by Gen. Willis A. Gorman, a democratic member from St. Paul. The assault caused great excitement at the time throughout the country. Gorman was a large, powerful man, while Wilson was not only a small man, but in poor health at the time. This so incensed Capt. ]\IcKune that he sought Gorman and gave him a severe tongue-lashing, giving him to understand that if he desired to whip some black republican, he (Mc) was ready to receive and return blows. Suffice it to say Gorman gave no blows. [Gen. Gorman afterwards became a strong Union man and was colonel of the First Minnesota at the time of Capt McKune's death.] 118 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Upon ]\Ir. McKune's return from the constitutional convention, the people were so well satisfied with him that he was chosen our first state senator. The session commenced in December, 1857, and continued until the close of March, when it adjourned till the next August. This legislature became notorious for its adop- tion of the five-million, railroad bond-issue. A lobby of railroad bond-swindlers, accompanied by a large number of trained and genteel prostitutes and bribe givers, debauched a majority of the legislature and secured the passage of the five-million loan amend- ment. Senator McKune honestly fought the proposition from the start, but was in the minority, and the bill passed. He then took the stump against the adoption of the proposition by the people ; but, alas! the fools were in the majority; the people were de- ceived, and they adopted the swindle as their own, repudiating the noble man who fought bravely to protect them from being robbed and plundered. It was another striking illustration of the fact that the American public delights in being cheated and humbugged by a set of genteel appearing rascals that make their money by first deceiving and then plundering the people. After this legislative experience Mr. ilcKune abandoned party politics and devoted himself to his own business matters— his farm in Blooming Grove, and his sales of merchandise in [Morristown. At the close of his senatorial work, he removed his family to 'Slor- ristown where he resided in 1861. Notwithstanding his retirement from active local politics, he took great interest in the affairs of his country and was among the first to foresee that all compro- mises would fail, and that the strusgie would end, either in the total abolition of African slavery or the destruction of the I^nion. The writer will never forget the solemnity and earnestness of this man the last time he ever conversed with him. I had spent the winter of 1860-1, in St. Paul, as a member of the legrislature, and was on my return home. There were no railroads here then, and on the old stage-coach Morristown was the nearest point to my home, then on a farm in Wilton, dipt. ]MeKune"s kind invi- tation to become his guest over night was aecepted. He was even then preparing to arm for the defense of the Union. He went on to explain that war was inevitable. The rebel leaders. he said, had so long found moneyed and commercial men of the North a set of poltroons and doimhfiices CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 119 that they were infatuated with the idea that all the Northern men were mercenary and cowardly, and would submit to dishonor and disunion rather than sacrifice their money and their lives to main- tain the government of their forefathers. We sat up late the night of that 9th day of March, 1861, as he told of the arrangements he had already made to enlist at the first call for vohmteers. He said he had a feeling, or premonition, that he should die in the struggle and had arranged matters according- ly. Upon retiring he called attention to his two boys and to two swoi'ds hanging upon the wall in their sleeping room. He said that he had been teaching the boys how to use them; and he expected that, should the struggle be a prolonged one, they would both be called to defend their country. It was wonderful how calmly he talked of coming events and possibilities. The next morning he accompanied me as far as Chris. Remund's farm, in Blooming Grove, on horseback. Upon separating he extended a most affectionate farewell, repeating his conviction that war was inevitable and that he expected to sacrifice his life for his country. Alas ! how true were his predictions. The people of all Minnesota watched the opening events of the great struggle with the greatest anxiety. Almost every neighbor- hood had furnished some brave man or boy for the conflict. The rebels, on account of the cowardice and imbecility of James Bu- chanan, had phmdered the nation of its money, arms, ammunition, forts and navy, and held the Union people by the throat. Delay followed delay, and the slaughter of the Union forces at Bull Run, on that fatal 21st day of July, 1861, cast a terrible gloom over the entire North, and especially over the people of Waseca county, when they learned of the death of Capt. Lewis McKune and the other brave men who fell on that occasion, almost at the first fire. When the sad news first reached Wilton there were few dry eyes among the men who heard it. All party and personal feeling disappeared for the time, and one universal sentiment of patriotism was aroused. Without disparagement of any other, it is safe to say that no grander sacrifice was ever made for country than that made by Capt. Lewis McKune. He sacrificed a good business, left a devoted and accomplished wife in poor health, and abandoned his children to all the uncertain vicissitudes of life, while giving his own body 120 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. as a living sacrifice upon the altar of his country. It is true that his life was spent among the toilers of earth and as one of them. He was of the masses — an honest, conscientious, unselfish patriot. Contrast his life and death with some of the so-called great men of to-day, and, if there be justice beyond this life, Lewis McKune will occupy a front seat at the right hand among the noblest souls of this or any other nation. The proceedings of the county board, consisting of B. A. Lowell, Patrick Healy and Isaac Hamline, were of the routine order and nothing of general interest transpired. The election in the fall of 1861 was almost as exciting as the presidential election of the year before. The war excitement was intense. Should President Lincoln be sustained and the Union be preserved? Alexander Eamsey, governor, and Ignatius Don- nelly, lieutenant governor, were re-elected by larjie majorities. The following legislative and county oificers were elected: Sen- ator, Hon. A. B. AVebber, of Albert Lea ; representative, Hon. P. C. Bailey, of Wilton; treasui-er, Hon. Geo. T. White, of St. Mary; register of deeds, Tarrant Putnam, of Wilton ; sheriff, D. L. Whip- ple ; clerk of court, H. P. AVest; judge of probate and county attorney, Hon. H. D. Baldwin; surveyor, Geo. P. Johnson, all of AA'ilton; court commissioner. Job A. Canfield, of Otiseo ; coroner, Nathaniel AVood, of AVoodville; county commissioners. John S. G. Honor of Iosco, B. A. Lowell of Otisco, and J. B. Jackson, of South AA^ilton. While there was little doing of local importance, there was much of a general character to interest the people. This was the year of the great comet which suddenly appeared on the 30th day of June and created a great sensation. To the naked eye, the head of the comet appeared to be larger than a star of the first magni- tude. The astronomers "estimated" that on the lU day of July the breadth of the head of the nucleus was about ir)0,000 miles, and its train of light fifteen million miles in length. It was thought by one astronomer that the earth would pass through the tail of this comet, but it sped onward through trackless space, soon disappeared from view and was forgott(ni by the multitude. THE FOURTH OF JULY, Independence Day was commemorated with more than usual sol- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 121 emnity that year. A large assembly of people gathered at Wilton, then the county seat, and celebrated the occasion by reading the Declaration of Independence, singing patriotic songs, and listening to short, patriotic speeches by leading citizens. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. The Union forces during the summer met with exasperating de- hiys and sonn; reverses. On the fifth of July, President Lincoln issued a call for 4(K),()()0 more men and .ij400,000,000 to carry on thi' war for the supjiression of the Rebellion. The Second Min- nesota regiment of infantry was complete as early as August 23. No men fi-oiii Waseca, county (>iilisted in this regiment. The Third regiment was mustered in at Ft. Snelling Nov. 15. Waseea. counl y furnished to this regiment, Hugh Donaldson, C. A. 1^'asley, -latnes Broderiek, W. 11. II. Jackson, Hugh B. Withrow, K. M. Jones, G. W. I'easley, ('. W. Preston, David Lilly, S. F. Wyma,n. Tile complelo ofK'ani/ation of the Fourth regiment followed and on the S\vd of December the rej^'inient was ready foi- service. Waseca, county was represented in this regiment by Maj. W. T. Kiiii'cdoc, ('a|)t. B. iM. Broujihton, (;a,|)t. S. T. Isaac, Capt. D. L. Welhnan, Aui;ustus Lintlcf, Warn Alexander, Orin Coats, James L. Connor, N. T. Foster, Silas Ilubbell, T. B. Jackson, Moses Nor- i-is, C. W. (juiKK'le, Jonas Whitcomb, John Teas, Charles Parvin, Myron Sln-ldon, Loi'cn C. Wood, Waldo Lyon, Aanm Bragg, Janu's S. Camp, Ei'aslus Fish, Jamies Ilanes, Jonathan Isaac, S. A. Norris, J. N. Powers, I). P. Stowell. THE FIFTH MINNESOTA. The Fifth I'CLjinM'nt was the last to oi-^'anize under the Presi- dent's July call for 400,000 iiien. The regiment was mustered in DeeemlxT 19, 1S61, but was not complete in numbers until March 20, 18(12. This county was represented in the Fifth by the followint;' men : Ca])t. E. A. Rice, M. P Ide, Alex Wentworth, Wm. Blaisdell, G. P. Rice, John Barden, iloses Camp, Edward Guise, Wm. Hard- ing, Wm. IIooviM-, John Jenkins, S. I\l. Merrill, Lieut. G. W. John- son, (;. R. Loveland, J. W. Pierce, G. II. Bishop, E. M. Atwood, Patrick Burns, S. W. Franklin, W. H. Gray, E. R. Horton, Harvey 122 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Lawrence, John Murphy, E. H. Stiles, B. F. "Weed, P. Davis, Peter Olson, James B. Crook, David Skinner, H. H. Wallace, Wm. Doug- las, Chris. Sampson, Jonathan Hardy. Of these Wm. Douglas enlisted as a recruit Jan. 4, 1864. While farm products were abundant, prices thereof v/ere not remunerative. The local prices were as follows : Wheat, forty to forty-five cents per bushel; corn, 1 wenty cents; beans, forty; oats, eighteen; potatoes, twenty; lard, ten cents per pound ; eggs, five cents a dozen ; dressed pork, from $3.50 to $4.00 per cwt. ; brown sugar, ten cents per pound ; coffee sugar, a shil- ling a pound ; plug tobacco, thirty to forty cents ; smoking tobac- co, fifteen cents; coffee, from twenty to twenty-five cents; s.yrup, and molasses, eighty cents per gallon; salt, per barrel, $4.75; tallow candles, eighteen cents per pound ; dried apples, ten cents ; calico, from seven to twelve and a half cents per yard; delaines, twenty to twenty -five cents ; sheeting, eight to twelve cents ; den- ims, twelve to twenty cents; Kentucky jeans, twenty -five to thirty-five cents ; cassimeres, from forty cents to two dollars ; cot- ton flannel, from twelve to eighteen cents; -wool flannel, from thirty -five to fifty cents per yard. In closing the history of the year, it is proper to refer to the first newspaper established in the county. While it is true that a paper, called "The Home Views," a six column folio, made its appearance in Wilton, then the county seat, :\Iarch 13, 1860, it was in fact an Owatonna publication, issued by IMr. A. B. Cornell, in the name of Mr. J. W. Crawford, of Wilton, as editor. Yet the first real newspaper printed, published and edited in the county was "THE WASECA HOME VIEWS." This paper made its appearance about the first of :\Iarch, 1861, and was owned, edited, printed and published by Alexander John- ston and Spencer J. Willis at the village of Wilton. It was con- ducted as a neutral in polities, Johnson being a democrat and Wil- lis a republican. It was a very good local paper largely devoted to the local interests of the town and county. They continued to publish the paper until the ensuing fall, when ^Ir. Johnston be- came sole proprietor and removed the plant to Faribault. From that town, Mr. Johnston continued the publication of the "Home CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 123 Views" at Wilton, under the local management of Buel AVelch, Esq., until the fall of 1863, as a "Union Democratic" paper. Mr. Johnston sold his interest in the plant in 1863, and went to St. Paul where he became a reporter for the "Pioneer," which after- wards consolidated with the "Press," both papers Vjeeoming one and adopting the name of Pioneer Press. He remained in the em- ploy of the daily press in St. Paul until the time of his death, about 1894. CHAPTER XXIX, 1862. NEW OFFICIALS— CANFIBLD, WARD AND BALDWIN SCHOOL LAND APPRAISERS— SCHOOL EXAMINERS, WOODRUFF, MOSHER, SMITH— HORSBTHIEVES, HORSES OF ORRIN PEASE STOLEN— HORSETHIEF DETECTIVES— INDIAN MASSACRE— COMPANY F, 10th REGIMENT, ROSTER THEREOF— THE OUTBREAK AUG. 18— TRIP TO MANKATO AND THE AGENCY— PEOPLE PANIC STRICK- EN-BRISBANE'S ACCOUNT OP TRIP— MOUNTED RAKGERS FROM WASECA COUNTY— INDIANS HANGED AT MANKATO, DEC. 2G. The new officers of the county, viz.: S. J. AYillis, auditor; Geo. T. Whit(% treasurer; Tarrant Putnam, re.u'ister of deeds; D. L. "Whipple, sheriff; H. D. Baldwin, ,iudi;e of probate and county attorney; Geo. P. Johnson, surveyor; J. A. Canfield, court com- missioner; H. P. AVe.st, elerk of court; Nathaniel Wood, coroner; and John S. il. Honor, of loseo, B. A. Lowell, of Otiseo, and J. B. Jackson, of W^ilton, county commissioners, met at the court house in Wilton, Jan. 7th 18tiL', filed the necessary official bonds and dvdy qualified for their rcs[)eetive duties. The coiinty eonimissionc'i's were in session but a short time. ^Iv. Lowell was elected chairman for the ciisuinii' year. The board of county commissioners ;it that time, under the statute, fixed the salaries of a number of the county ofHeers. It was ordered that the salary of the county att(u-ney. H. D. Baldwin, be (ixed at $180 per annum; the salary of the county auditor, S. J. Willis (no clerk hire) l)e fixed at $4-2:) per anniuu— salaries payable monthly in equal installments. Quite a chanu'C from that day to this. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 125 It was also ordered that $275 be allowed to S. J. Willis & Co., proprietors of the "Home Views," for doing the county printing for the year 1862, "said printing to include all printing of tax notices and delinquent tax sales, except only assessors' tax rolls, payment for same to be made quarterly." The county board met again February 28, but nothing of gen- eral interest was transacted. The next meeting of the board was held June 26th upon call of the county auditor. At this meeting of the board, John G. Ward, of Iosco; J. A. Canfield, of Otisco, and H. D. Baldwin, of Wilton, were appointed by the board as land commissioners to appraise the school lands of the county. At this session of the board the saloon keepers put in some work on the license question, and, "on motion, B. A. Lowell was appointed to receive and accept pro- posals for liquor licenses, the amount to be paid for the same, where liquors were to be sold by the glass, pint or quart, not to be less than $10 for each license granted. ' ' The next meeting of the county board was held Sept. 2d. Be- sides the usual routine of allowing bills, etc,, the following gentle- men were appointed to serve as school examiners (superinten- dents) in their respective commissioner districts, to-wit: Philo Woodruff, of Blooming Grove ; H. G. Mosher, of Otisco ; and Rev. E. S. Smith, of Wilton. The summer of 1862 revealed the fact that we had in our midst a gang of horsethieves. In the month of June, Orrin Pease, who had just settled in the town of St. Mary, had a fine pair of horses stolen. After considerable search by Sheriff Whipple and others, the horses were found in the possession of men named Eno, Beatty and Anderson, a colored person. All three of these were convicted of the larceny, but, pending an appeal to the supreme court, broke jail at Wilton and made good their escape. The stealing of these horses, the escape of the thieves, and the expense attending their arrest and trial created a strong feeling of indignation on the part of our people against thieves in general, and against horse thieves in particular, and were the primary cause of the organi- zation of the Waseca County Horsethief Detective Society, which still exists and the history of which appears elsewhere in this volume. The next meeting of the county board was held Oct. 4, 1862. 126 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. No business of importance was transacted except that Mr. Willis, having engaged in the drug business, tendered his resignation as county auditor. This was not accepted, at the time, but at a special meeting called Nov. 22nd, the resignation of Mr. Willis was accepted, and Col. J. C. Ide was appointed in his place. THE WAR AND THE INDIAN MASSACRE. On the first day of July President Lincoln called for six hundred thousand more men, volunteers, to more vigorously prosecute the war ; and on the 4tli of August a draft was ordered of three hun- dred thousand men to serve nine months. The draft order was never enforced in .Minnesota. But the stirring events of the war, the call of the president for volunteers, and the draft ordered created great activity in enlistments and militarj- organization throughout the whole state. Several public meetings were held at Wilton. They were largely attended, and much enthusiasm and real patriotism were mani- fest among all the penple. From August 12 to August IS, com- pany F of the Tentli .Minnesota infantry, Capt. George T. White's company, was laigely inereased by the following men from this county : ('apt. George T. White, IT. A ilosher, John A. Wheeler, Robert Beith, Nels Bergosen, James Glendenning, Geo. Dreever, Knute Hansen, August Krieger, M. jM. ^Morgan, John Pickett, Benjamin Swan, Barney Vosberg, Wm. R. Brisbane, Isaac Lyng, C. W. Rob- erts, S. A. GoodM'in, Wm. Bliven, Samuel Gleason, A. D. Gregory, Thos. Bldredge, Christian Haltesaul, John King, Jacob Newkirk, Samuel Preston, S. P. Satterlee, Lieut. Isaac Hamlin, David Mc- Daniels, J. R. Whitman, G. E. Brubaker, Clias. Grover, J. A. Can- field, Fred Emery, G. W. Ives, L. A. Lafayette, Chas. Olebaueh, J. S. Rice, iMartin Spankley, (1. H. Woodbury, Hans Hansen, J. B. Hill, M. A. Francis, Richard Ayres, Edward Brossard, S. jM. Grov- er, Chas. Chadwiek, James Gallagher, H. A. Jones, G. W. Lee, Hans Oleson, IM. V. B. Storer, W. W. Taylor, P. J. D. Wood, Henry Yarigan, Robert Quiggle, Nathan Satterlee, Ole Johnson, A. H. Coddington, Francis Lincoln, IM. A. Rol)bins. On the 18th day of August, ]S(VJ, the people on the western frontier of the state wei-e startled !iy the Sioux Indian massacre of white people at both of the Sioux agencies and in their imme- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 127 diate neighborhoods. These massacres were followed each succeed- ing day for a week by the indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children all along the frontier, from Glencoe and Hutchinson, on the north, to Spirit Lake, in Iowa, on the south. More than two thousand white settlers were murdered in cold blood, and some two hundred fifty women and children were carried away as captives. The trouble commenced at Acton, ileeker county, on August 17, 1862, when several settlers were murdered by a few roving Indians, said to have been partially intoxicated. Upon receipt of the news of the Acton murders by the Indians at the Upper Agency, on the 18th, the work of death was at once commenced. After the slaughter of the white people at both the Indian agencies, early on the morning of the 18th, a wounded settler with a team drove immediately to Fort Ridgely, thirteen miles be- low, and gave the alarm. Captain Marsh, with eighty-five men, oc- cupied the fort. With forty-five men he started for the Lower Agency, having with him a six mule team, hauling supplies and ammunition. Upon reaching the river at the agency his little com- pany was surprised and surrounded by Indians in great numbers, who opened a deadly fire. About half of his company were instant- ly killed, and then followed a desperate hand to hand fight, in which the white soldiers fought to the death. Only fifteen of the forty-five survived and returned to the fort— Captain Marsh him- self being drowned while crossing the river. Before leaving the fort on the 18th, Captain Marsh wisely sent a messenger to Lieutenant Tim J. Sheehan, who was on his way to Fort Ripley with fifty men, to return at once. 'This Sheehan did, arriving at Fort Ridgely on the 19th. Indian Agent Galbraith had raised a company of fifty men for the United States service and was on the way to Fort Snelling to be mustered in, having reached St. Peter on the evening of the 18th when news arrived of the massacre at the Upper and Lower Agencies. Taking the mus- kets of the militia company of St. Peter he immediately returned with his company to Fort Ridgely, where he arrived on the 19th. This increased the number of men at the fort to about one hundred fifty, under command of Lieutenant Sheehan. A desperate assault was made upon the fort by the Indians on the 20th, which continued from time to time until the 22d. The 128 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. fort was heroically and successfully defended by Lieutenant Shee- han and his command. Only four men were killed and fifteen wounded in the fort during the siege. At the time of the attack on the fort it contained $7l!,000 in gold and silver, which had been sent out by the government to make Indian payments. Then followed the assault apon New Ulm and its defense on the 23d, where the Indians were severely repulsed after burning a part of the town. In one of the battles at New Ulm ten white men were killed and fifty wounded. The news of tlie massacre did not reach the settlers of Waseca county until the '2'M. about noon, when the staj^e came into Wilton from the west. A larjie number of enlisted men of Company F, Tenth reuinient, uiuler command of Captain White, had left Wil- ton that morning to join their regiment at Fort Saelling. What was to be done :' was the burning question of the hour. Few of our citizens hail anything better than nnizzleloading shot- guns, in the way of firearms, and voiy little ammunition of any kind. As usual on such occasions there was great diversity of opinion as to the best course to pursue. While others were deliberating upon and discussing the subject, S. P. Child, Buel Welch, Esi|., .John Creening, and the writer each obtained a horse, a shotgun, a small amount of amnuinition and started for JMankato about '2 o'clock in the afternoon. The roads were slippery and slow ]n-ogress was made, but we reached the Win- nebago Agency about 7 o'clock in the evening. We there found Hon. St. A. 1). Baleombe, the agent, and a number of white men residing at the agency, all of them more or less excited in fear of an uprising among the Winnebago Indians. They desired us to remain over night in order to help defend the place should there be an uprising of the Winnebagoes; but S. P. Child, who had spent over a year as a resident among these Indians, concluded from what he could see and hear that there was no danger from the Winnebagoes, so long as they should renuiin sober. Hence we concluded to push on to jMaidce of paper pinned to a post on which CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 135 was written: "We suppose Everett and Wright have beim killed by Indians. We have gone home." As they had had nothing to eat since the day before, and were very much exhausted with traveling on foot, the outlook was discouraging. Just at night, however, they had the good fortune to shoot a duck, which they ate raw. They camped on the ground, in the shell cr of some large rocks, for the night. They were awakened just before midnight by the sound of voices. At first they supposed that Indians were coming upon them. They were gladly disappointed, however, to find that the voices proceeded from a squad of soldiers and the mail carrier. The soldiers had with them plenty of provisions. After a bountiful supper, all camped there during the remainder of the night. The next day they arrived at the lake just as the settlers were getting ready to send men to the Agency for soldiers to look them up. Ilurd and Jones were never heard from afterwards, but at the time of the iii;issaci-e, Mrs. Hiinl saw one of Ilurd 's horses, as she believed, ridden by one of the Indian savages. Prom that time to the time of the outbreak, nothing occurred at the settlement to arouse any suspicion of danger. That settle- ment was so isolated from others that they seldom heard from the larger towns. Evei'vthing was quiet and peaceful, and no one had a suspicion of the horribh; scenes of bloodshed that were soon to follow. About the 17th of August, 1862, "Pawn" and five or six other Indians, with squaws and children, came to the lake and camped not far from Mr. Everett's place. Nothing was thought of this, as roving bands often came that way, and especially as these were the Indians whom the settlers had fed the winter before, and who were supposed to be friendly. Notwithstanding the fact that here and there a slight suspicion existed that the Indians were preparing for war, yet, as a rule, few, if any, believed that there was any real danger. But on the 20th of August, 1862, the murderous assault com- menced all along the line. Men, women, and children, regardless of age or condition, were murdered, mangled, and outraged in the most cold-blooded and barbarous manner. The people of the little settlement, at Lake Shetek, were indus- triously pursuing their vocations on the fatal day, and were en- 130 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. tirely unprepared for the murderous attack, which commenced near the head of the lake at daybreak. The first outrage was at the farm of I\Ir. Meyers. On account of Mrs. Meyers' sickness, Meyers arose at an early hour. As he went out of the house, he discovered the Indians, who had torn down his fence and were riding through his corn breaking it down and destroying it. He called to them saying he would whip them if they did not leave, and asked them if he had not always treated them well. They admitted that he had and finally rode away. They proceeded at once to the farm of J\Irs. Hurd, whose husband, with Mr. Jones, had disappeared in the spring. A German named Voight was working on the farm. When the Indians arrived, Mrs. Hurd was milking cows, and on seeing them hastened into the house. The Indians followed her, and, with pretended friend- ship, asked for some tobacco. Voight gave them some, and they commenced to smoke. Mrs. Hurd's babe awoke and began to cry, when Voight took it up and walked out into the yard. Just as he was turning to go into the house again, one of the Indians stepped to the door, raised his gun and shot him through the breast, killing him almost instantly. They then plundered the house of all its contents, and told ]\Irs. Hurd that if she made any noise they would kill her also, but if she remained quiet they would permit her "to return to her mother." They destroyed nearly everything about the house and then ordered her to leave, telling her which way to go, and informing her that if she should attempt to go to one of the neighbors or make an outcry to warn them they would kill her. Mrs. Hurd was compelled to leave by an unfrequented path with her two children, the elder about three years old and the younger less than a year old. We must noM' return to the loM-er, or south, end of the settle- ment. Early that morning, Mr. Everett's brother-in-law, Charles Hatch, started on horseback to go to Kurd's place to get a yoke of oxen to put into a breaking team. It was about six miles be- tween the two places. When Mr. Hatch reached Mr. Cook's place, he hitched his horse and went across a marsh, impassable for a horse, to save the time and trouble of going aroimd the marsh, or slough. When he reached the Kurd house, a horrid sight presented itself. Voight lay stark dead upon tl\e ground, covered with blood; everything about the ho\ise was broken and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 137 destroyed, and Mrs. Hurd was nowhere to be seen. The tracks at once disclosed the fact that Indians had been there. Looking to the east, he saw the Indians making around the marsh. He started at once to retrace his steps and warn the settlers; but the Indians arrived at Mr. Cook's place ahead of him. They found Mrs. Cook in the cornfield with her husband's gun, keeping birds from the corn, and Mr. Cook at the house. They divided, part going to the cornfield and part to the house. Those who went to the cornfield asked to see her gun. Not suspecting mur- der, she let them take it. As soon as they got possession of the gun, they told her that she might "go to her mother," for they were going to kill all the white men in the country. Those that went to the house asked for a drink of water. As there was none in the house, Cook took the pail to go to the spring. He had proceeded but a few steps when one of those cowardly vil- lains, without the least warning shot him in the back, killing him at once. Hatch was in sight of the house when Cook was shot. He saw his horse break loose and run off. Hatch managed to get prist the place unperceived, while the Indians were plundering Cook's home, and went from house to house as fast as he could travel warning the settlers. When he reached Mr. Eastlick's house he was nearly exhausted. Mrs. Eastlick, in her account of the massacre, says: "My husband and Mr. Rhodes had just sat down to breakfast, when my oldest boy, Merton, came to the door saying, 'Charlie Hatch is coming, as fast as he can run.' Hatch was a young man living with his brother-in-law, Mr. Everett. Thinking that perhaps some one was sick or hurt, I went to the door. As soon as he came near enough to me I saw that he was very pale and out of breath. 'Charley, what is the matter?' I asked. He shouted— 'the Indians are upon us.' 'It cannot be pos- sible,' said I. 'It is so,' said Charlie, 'they have already shot Voight.' He then related the other facts he had witnessed, and asked for a horse that he might ride quickly to the lower end of the lake to warn the rest of the settlers. Mr. Rhodes let him have one of his horses. He asked us for a bridle several times, but we were all so horror-stricken and mute with fear and ap- prehension that we stood for some time like dumb persons. At last I seemed to awake as from a horrible dream and began to realize the necessity of immediate and rapid flight. I sprang into 138 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the house and got the bridle for him, urging him to hurry away with all speed. He started off, and bade us follow as fast as we could to Mr. Smith 's house. ' ' Returning to Mrs. Cook, we learn that she remained concealed about the premises until the Indians, tired of plundering the house, departed. She then went to the house to find her husband murdered and all her household goods destroyed. Notwithstand- ing the bereavement and the dangers surrounding her, she bravely resolved to warn the other settlers of what had transpired. After traveling on foot through brush and timber, and wading in wa- ter along the shore of the lake, she reached the lower settlement the same day a little in advance of the murderous savages. Jlr. Hatch had lost no time in notifying every settler of what had taken place. Every house was soon deserted. Cattle, horses, household goods, and everything were left to be plundered bj- the merciless savages. The settlers all assembled at the house of ilr. AVright. They were thirty-four in number— men, women and children. "Old Pawn" and his band, who had camped there the ^Monday before, were at Wright's place and pretended great friendship for the whites. They even went so far as to help bring in IMrs. Ire- land and Mrs. Duly and their children, who had been left behind in the flight. The men at once prepared Wright's house as well as they could for defensive operations. They opened crevices here and there between the logs, as port holes for their guns ; and not having entire confidence in "Pawn" and his Indians, told them they could take their stand in the stable. The women were armed with axes, hatchets, and butcher-knives, and sent iip stairs with the children. These hasty preparations were not fully complet- ed when the murderous savages whooping and yelling like fiends, made their appearance at Mr. Smith's house, in full view of ilr. Wright's place, where the settlers were assembled. At first thought one would suppose that the whites would have remained at the house and defended themselves to the last ; but when it is known that the only supply of water was some distnuee from the house, that they had no provisions for more than a dav or two, and that they were surrounded by some two hundred Indians, we can easily understand that any chance of escape, how- ever slim or dangerous, would be eagerly accepted. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 139 The murderous Indians had assembled at Smith's house and plundered it. From there they sallied forth in squads, mounted on ponies, firing guns and yelling like demons. Occasionally they would shoot a cow or an ox, and then ride back to Smith's house. After spending some time in this way, they advanced toward AA^right's house. Mr. Everett noticed about this time one of Pawn's band skulking around to the Indians that were advancing. He held a short consultation and sneaked back again. Old Pawn who pretended to be friendly, said he would go and see them and find out what they wanted. He started o\it to meet them and had only proceeded a short distance when several of the war party came riding towards him on a gallop. He soon halted. As soon as they noticed this, they also stopped and called to him. He then went to them and talked for some time; after which he eame running back, as though excited, and said there were two hundred warriors coming, and if the whites would quietly go away the "braves" would not harm them; but, if not, they would burn the house and kill them all. By this time Mr. Everett' and many of the others were satisfied that Pawn and his band, notwithstanding their pretended friend- ship, were a part of the conspiracy to murder the settlers. The men had a hurried consultation, and the majority decided to leave the building and take their chances. Rhodes and Hatch were sent to Everett's place, half a mile away, to get a wagon for the conveyance of the women- and children, and to get some flour, quilts, etc. Without waiting for the return of the team, the whole company started across the prairie on foot. Rhodes and Hatch overtook them with the wagon by the time they had proceeded half a mile, and the women and children, except Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Eastlick, got into the wagon. JMrs. Wright bravely shoul- dered her husband's rifle, he being absent from the settlement at the time of the outbreak. They had proceeded a little over a mile when they discovered the Indians following them as fast as they could come, yelling like so many fiends. Old Pawn and his band, who had pretended to be friendly, had joined the others in the work of murder and plunder. All was terror and con- sternation among the settlers. They attempted to urge the hor:;.-. to a run, but the poor creatures Avei-e so loaded down that they could not uo faster than a walk. On came the savages riding at 140 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. full speed. All the fugitives that could run got out of the wagon and hurried on as fast as possible ; but it was all to no purpose— the savages were soon upon them. The men marched at the head of the team, with their guns, in order to protect the women and children who were in advance. The men thought at first that perhaps all they wanted was the team, and for that reason sent the women and children ahead. As the Indians approached almost to within gunshot, they spread out in a long, single line, and came on yelling like demons. When at long range they fired a volley, bvit no one was hurt. Two of the men, Rhodes and Smith, deserted the company, coward-like, and ran for dear life, leaving the others to their fate. The two men escaped without a scratch. One went to Dutch Charley's and warned his family, and the other went to the Walnut Grove settlement. As soon as the Indians fired the first round, they rushed for the team. One of them seized the horses liy the bits and turned them around. At this juncture, some of the wliite men fired upon the Indians, and the one having hold of the team fell dead. It was now evident that there was to be a death conflict. The men directed the women and children to go to a slough near by and conceal themselves as well as they could in the tall grass, the men covering their retreat. All started for the slough amid a shower of shot from the Indian guns. ^Mrs. Eastlick received a ball in one heel; ]\Ir. Ireland's young- est child was shot through one leg: Emma Duly received a wound in the arm, and Willie Duly received a shot in the shoulder. They soon reached the slough, and although the tall grass con- cealed them from view, it aft'orded little protection. There were about two hundred Indians, and only six white men left. Fiu* two hours the cowardly savages, keeping out of sight as much as possible, poured volley after volley into the slough. They would skulk behind the hills, crawl to the top, i-ise and fire, and then drop out of sight. It was dangerous for one of the white men to firehis gun, for immediately there would be a volley fired into the grass where he was. Oni' after another of the whites was wounded or killed. Mr. Eastlielv, after doing brave work, was killed. :Mrs. Enstlick received a scalp wound and another in the side. :\lrs. Everett received a sUol in her neck. :\lr. Evi>relt received a bul- let in the thigh which struck \\\c bone, followed around and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 141 lodged x;nder the knee. Charles Hatch was wounded in the hand and arm, and Bentley in the arm. There was little chance for further resistance by the settlers. The firing ceased. Three of the skulking Indians, one of them old Pawn, then came forward and called upon the women to come out of the slough. "Sir. Ev- erett answered them. Pawn, who knew the voice commanded him to come out of the slough. !Mr. Everett told him he could not, for he was wounded. Pawn said : ' ' You lie ; you can walk if you want to." Two of the Indians then fired into the i;i'ass where Everett was, one of the bullets striking his arm near the elbow and shat- tering the bone and a buckshot entering his foot. ^frs. Everett, forgetting all fear, bravely arose, and in the most piteous manner told them that her husband was dead; they had killed him. Pawn then told her that he Avould not hurt the rest of them, but that they must come out of the slough, for he wanted her and ]\lrs. "Wright for his squaws. ;Mrs. Wright could speak the SioiTX language, to some extent, and under the advice of ]\Ir. Everett, who was now helpless, the two women concluded to go out and confer with the Indians. AVhile this hurried conference was going on between ]Mrs. AVriglit and Mr. Everett. Uncle Tom- my Ireland, a short distance from them, arose out of the grass and begged of the Indians to spare the women and children. Two of the murderous Indians, only a few rods distant, fired upon him, and he fell to the ground with a groan, saying, "Oh God! I am killed!" He received seven buckshot, two of which passed through his left lung, one through his left arm and others lodged in various parts of his body. ]\[rs. AVright and ]\[rs. Everett, having been advised by ]\Ir. Ev- erett that perhaps by going oiit to the Indians they might be able afterwards to make their escape, and that refusal would be certain death to all, ventured to go to the Indians. After a short talk Avith the villain, PaAvn, they returned and reported that he said he would spare all the women and children if they would come out of the slough. After a short consultation the women concluded to go forth with all the children. Ah the sad parting! 31rs. Eastlick's husband, was dead. 3Irs. Ireland bent over the prostrate form of her husband, whom she would never see again, to receive, as she supposed, his dying 142 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. words, and husbands and fathers felt deep anguish as -wives and children went forth to death or to a period of suffering worse than death. Many of the prisoner.s, as th(\v eaim.' forth, were wounded. Mrs. Smith, whose husband had Hed at the fii-st fire, was wound- ed in the hip. Next to the yuungi'st of ;\lrs. Ireland's children was shot tliroui;!! the bowels and died in a short time. Shortly after the surrender, the fiendish brutality and de\'il- ish cruelty of the Sioux were fully deiiKinstrated. jMrs. Eastlick's little five-year-old sdii while fdllowiim' his mother, who was being led away l)y an Indian, was attacked by a squaw, beaten over the head with a club, and finally ripped ii]]cn with a knife. Another of her children, Frank, was shot and murdered before her eyes. ^Irs. Duly 's hoy Willie was shot in her iiresenee. and left in a snft'ering, dyiue- condition on the prairie. Mrs. Ireland and ;\li-s. Smith Avere murdered in cold blood, and left near each other. And near by was the corpse of Mrs. Eastlick's third child, (iih'S. Shortly after the Indians left the slouu'h with their prisoners, one of the redskins shot Mrs. Everett's little boy, which so excit- ed hei- that she broke loose from her captor, and was running back to hei' boy, when sli(> was shot through the body and mortally woiuided, (lying during liie night. Mrs. Eastlick, in her account, says: "The Indians sent :\lrs. AV right back to the slough to gather np and brinu' out the guns. J found that I was quite lame and could hardly walk. * » * The sky soon liecaine overcast with heavy clouds, and a furious rain-storm, accompanied with thunder and lightning, Avas coming on. Soon the rain descended in torrents. The Imlians caught their ponies, antl mad(^ all preparations for starting away. We expected to be taken along as prisiuiei's, but we were disap- pointed; as it afterwards proved, some were taken while others were put to death, or left in a dying condition. Those of \is who afterwards escaped, M-crc, for a hmg lime, in such a plight that death sccukhI inevitably to stare us in the face." After giving an accimnt of the death of three of her children, she continues: "Old Pawn came along with Mrs. Wriuht and her children. He brought along a hoi-sc which belonged to Charley Hatch, and ordered her to put Iuh' children on it which she CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 143 did. He then gave her the halter strap and sent her along, tell- ing me t(j uo aldiig with her. * * * j asked him what he in- tended to do with me, and if he meant to kill me? He replied in the nej^ative, then stopped, leaned on his gun, and told me to hnrry on. * * * I limped along' at a rapid pace, but looking back I saw old Pawn standing where I had left him, loading his gun, and I instantly feared that, in spite of all his protestations, he was going to shoot me. I had a small slough to cross, and when about half way through it, some one, probably Pawn, shot me again, making four bullets which I had received that day, in all. The ball struck me in the small of the back, entering at the left side of the spine, and coming out at the right side, just above my hip— also passing through my right arm, between the elbow and the wrist. I fell to the ground upon my face, and lay there for some minutes, * * * expecting the Indians would ride over me, as I had fallen in the trail. Finding that I could move I crawled about a rod from the trail, and lay down again on my face. In a few moments more I heard the step of an Indian, and held my breath, thinking he might pass me, supposing me dead. But I was sadly mistaken. He came close beside me, stood a moment, then commenced beating me on the head with the butt of a gun. He struck me many times so hard that my head bound- ed up from the sod, and then gave me three severe blows across the right shoulder. I did not lose all presence of mind, although the blows fell heavy and fast. * * * i -^^as so nearly smoth- ered with my face beaten into the grass, that I caught my breath several times. He probably supposed me to be dying, and threw down his gun. I thought he was preparing to scalp me. I expect- ed every moment to feel his hand in my hair and the keen edge of the scalping-knife cutting around my head. But for once I was happily disappointed, for he went away, thinking, no doubt I was dead. I lay here some two or three hours, not daring to stir. * * * The rain had continued to fall all of this time ; my clothes were wet through, and I was very cold and chilly. About four o 'clock p. m., on trying to get up, I found that I was very weak, and that it required a great deal of painful effort to raise myself to a sit- ting posture. * * * I then found that the blood had run down from my head and coagulated among my fingers; hence 144 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. I knew my head had bled quite freely, or the rain would have washed it away. * * * l was insensible to pain, but by turn- ing my head back and forth, I could plainly hear and feel the bones grate together. I thought my skull must be broken, and this afterwards proved to be true. ]\Iy hair was very thick and long, and this, I think, saved my life by breaking somewhat the force of the blows. Here I sat, wet and cold, not daring to move from the spot. I had heard the cry of a child at intervals, during the afternoon, and thought it Johnny. (Her son.) I thought Merton (an elder son) must have taken him to the wounded men, (in the slough) to stay with them. So I determined to try to go to them, thinking we could, perhaps, keep warm better, for the rain was still falling fast, and the night was setting in, cold and stormy. I rose up on my feet, and found that I could walk, but with great difficulty. I soon heard Willy Duly, whom I svipposed dead long before this, cry out '^Mother! mother!' but a few steps from me. * * » Having to pass close by him, as I left the slough, I stopped and thought I would speak to him ; but, on re- fleetiiiK that I could not possibly help the poor boy, I passed him without speaking. He never moved again from the spot where I last saAv hini; for when the soldiers went there to bury the dead, they found him in the same position, lying on his face, at the edtze of the slou^^li." "I was guided to the place where my children and neighbors were murdered, by the crying of a cliild, whom I supposed to be Johnny; but on reaching the spot where he lay, lie proved to be Mrs. Everett's youngest child. Hei- eldest child, Lilly, aged six years, was leaning over him, to shield him from the eold storm. I called her by name; she knew my voice instantly, and said: 'Mrs. Eastlick, the Indians haven't killed us yet.' 'No Lilly,' said I, 'not quite, but there are very few of us left.' ^^aid she. ':Mrs. Eastlick, I wish you would take care of Charley.' I told her it was impossible, for my Johnny wiis somewhere on the prairie, and I feared he would die unless I could find him, and keep him warm. She then begged me to gi\-e her a drink of water, but it was out of my power to give her even that, or to assist her' in any way, and I told her so. She raised her eyes, and with a sad, thoughtful, hopeless hiok, asked, 'Is there any water in Heaven?' 'Lilly,' I replied, 'when you get lo Heaven you will never more CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 145 suffer from thirst or pain.' On hearing this, the poor, little, pa- tient sufferer, only six years old, laid herself down again by her baby brother and seemed reconciled to her fate." Mrs. Eastlick then continued her search for her missing child- ren far into the night. It appears that as soon as the women and children became prisoners they were taken by a portion of the Indians some two miles from the slough where the men were left, toward the Cot- tonwood river, where the Indians murdered a number of their captives. The other party of Indians returned to Lake Shetek to plunder the houses and gather up the horses and cattle. Of the men left in the slough only one was left unwounded, Mr. Duly; and he left as soon as the Indians disappeared, making his way to Manka- to, leaving the others to care for themselves. Of those left, there were ^Messrs. Everett, Hatch, Bentley and Ireland, and two children of Mrs. Eastlick— Merton, about eleven years old, and her youngest child, Johnny, about fifteen months old. Mr. Ireland was so badly wounded that he did not expect to live, and begged of some of them to kill him outright and end his misery. Being shot through the lungs, he breathed with great difficulty, and bloody froth issued from his mouth at every respiration. ]\Irs. Eastlick 's children were so young that there was little hope of their being able to go far, and the men left were wounded to such an extent that they could barely get away themselves. As soon as Messrs. Everett, Hatch, and Bentley became satis- fied that all the Indians had gone, they left the place as rap- idly as their wounds would permit, avoiding the course the In- dians had taken, and going ip the direction of "Dutch Charley's" —a German settler who lived east of them. They left the slough about the middle of the afternoon. Along toward night they saw a team and wagon across the prairie, going east, and, knowing that some settler must be making his escape, Mr. Everett told Bentley to go on and overtake the team. Bentley, who was only wounded in the arm, started in pursuit, but did not overtake the team till night set in. The team turned out to belong to Mr. Meyers, who, with his sick wife, was attempting to escape. They reached Dutch Charley 's house after dark, to find it vacated. The Meyers family and Bentley staid in the house over night. 146 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ]\rr. Everett was so badly wounded, and so weak from loss of blood that it was with difficulty that he could travel at all; but Charley Hatch staid nobly by him and ur^ed him on with the hope of finding relief at the German's house. Late in the night, Hatch and Everett arrived at Dutch Charley's place, but, fearing that there might be Indians in the house, they lay down near the stable. Just at daylight, J\Ir. ]\Ieyers looked out of the door, and seeing, as he supposed, an Indian peering from behind the stable drew his gun to fire. At the same moment, Charley Hatch looking from behind the stable, thought ileyers was an Indian and aimed his gun at him. Both pulled trigger about the same time. Fortunately both guns missed fire. By this time Bentley saw Hatch and both parties recognized each other. As soon as possible after the mutual recognition of the parties, the oxen were j^oked and hitched to the wagon for a new start. Each one felt that his only safety was in getting as far east as ilankato or Xew Ulm as soon as possible. They well knew by what they had seen that the Indians would murder them at sight. They all got into the wagon and soon started, keeping a sharp lookout for Indians. The cattle were so exhausted from travel- ing the day before that they made slow progress. The travelers made about fifteen miles that day and camped on Little Creek. They had nothing to eat except a little flour, wet with cold water and dried in the sun, for they dared not build a fire, lest the smoke should attract the notice of the savages. By this time ^Mr. Everett's broken arm and wounded leg had become terribly swollen and veiw painful. The jolting of the lumber wagon over the prairie kept up a constant irritation and ca,used the most intense pain. ilrs. Meyers, too, was a great sufferer, being very sick, without suitable food or any medicine. We will leave these here at Little Creek, for the present and return to "Uncle Tommy Ireland." As before stated, he was left at the slough, where the attack was made, with two of the Eastlick children. Soon after jMr. Everett and the others left, Merton Eastlick told Mr. Ireland that he should take Johnny on his back and go to Dutch Charley's. I\Ir. Ireland tried to per- suade him not to go, but finding the boy determined on going, he told him he would go with him as far as he could. "Uncle Tom- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 147 my," as the settlers called ilr. Ireland, followed ^lerton who car- ried his baby brother, Johnny, on his back. After walking about half a mile, Mr. Ireland could go no further and lay down in the grass entirely exhausted. ^lerton, still canying Johnny, pursued his course and soon found the trail leading to Dutch Charley 's. Notwithstanding the heavy rain storm he continued his course and reached Buffalo Lake, IMurray county, just before dark. The rain was still fall- ing, and the night was very dark. INIerton laid his little brother on the ground and bent over him to protect him from the rain. During the night the prairie wolves came howling around, but the brave boy shouted at them so lustily that they were frightened away. The next morning, at daylight, without food of any kind, he took his little brother and again started on his almost hopeless journey. After traveling until about 5 o'clock p. m., he over- took :Mrs. Hurd, with her two children, near Dutch Charley's house. They proceeded to the house to find it empty and desti- tute of provisions. They at last found an old cheese, full of skip- pers, but, having been without food for two days, they were glad to eat of it. After eating, they rested till about dark, and then went into the cornfield to remain over night, fearing that Indians might visit the house before morning. It will be remembered that the first man killed by the Indians, at Lake Shetek, was Mr. Voight, at Mrs. Kurd's house, and that they ordered her to leave with her children at once, telling her which way to go and threatening to kill her should she attempt to go to one of her neighbors. After traveling for some time with her children, she became bewildered and hardly knew which way to go. The elder child was only three years of age and the younger less than a year old. They were on the prairie when the storm came on, without food and no clothing except their every day garments. Mrs. Hurd spent the long dreary night watching over, and trying to protect her children from the storm and the mosquitoes. Next day, after wandering around and wading sloughs for some time, she struck the road leading to Dutch Char- ley's. By this time her older child was very sick and unable to walk further-vomiting frequently. The poor woman, weak, hungry, and exhausted, was now compelled to carry both chil- dren, or leave them to perish alone on the prairie. The true moth- 148 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. er would never leave her children, under such circumstances, even to save her own life. She was so weak that she could carry only one at a time ; so she would carry one a short distance and leave it by the roadside, then return for the other— thus travel- ing three miles to make one. In this way she toiled along until she reached Dutch Charley's on the second night, in company with the Eastlick children as herein stated. We now return to Lilly Everett whom we last mentioned as being with her baby brother on the prairie, during the stormy night following the day of the massacre, near where the women and children were murdered, after being taken prisoners. It ap- pears that Lilly remained there until the return of the Indians from Lake Shetek, the next day, when they again took her prisoner. It is not known what was the fate of the poor babe— M'hether murdered, taken prisoner, or left to perish on the prai- rie. The Indians, it appears, on the day following the first day of the massaer(>, collected a drove of cattle and horses from the Settlement, and took them and their prisoners into a camp on the Big- Cottonwood. At this camp were ]\Irs. Wright and her two children, IMrs. Duly and two of her remaining children— a boy and a girl— two of ilr. Irelend's girls, Lilly Everett, and oth- Ci Y^ii -ft" ^ T? :\Irs. Eastlick, after leaving Lilly Everett, as before stated, eontimied her search for her children. She came upon the lifeless forms of ilrs. Ireland and :\Irs. Smith, who had been outraged and murdered. She took from the lifeless form of :Mrs. Smith a heavy apron which she used to protect herself from the storm. She found the young l)abe of Mrs. Ireland sleeping upon the bos- om of its dead mother. The fate of the babe has never been known, except perhaps to the murderous savages. By groping around in the darkness :\Irs. Eastlick found, not far distant, the corpse of her little boy Giles who had been shot by the Indians and killed almost instantly. Not very far from him her atten- tion was called to the hard breathing of some one, and, upon investigation, she found it to proceed from her son Fred, who had ])een shot and left there. He M'as unconscious and in a dying condition. Who can picture the sorrow of a mother, alone among the dead beside her dying child, Avith yet other children upon the prairie exposed to the murdercnis assaults of savages ! CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 149 " ! that I had found him dead, ' ' exclaimed the poor mother, as she reluctantly left the dying to search for the living. The poor woman wandered over the prairie in the storm and darkness, thinking at times she heard the crying of her babe, and at inter- vals calling "]\Ierton," the name of her eldest boy. Thus the night wore on and the dawn appeared without bringing to her the children she sought. At daylight she was unable to know where she was, and could see nothing by which to guide her steps. Being afraid to travel by daylight, lest the Indians should dis- cover her, she hid in a patch of tall weeds. About ten o'clock she heard the report of several guns, and for many hours she could hear the cries and screams of children be- ing tortured. At last, about the middle of the afternoon, she heard the discharge of several guns in quick succession, and the wail of the children instantly ceased. It is supposed that the Indians, on their return from Lake Shetek, stopped at the scene of the massacre of the day before and tortured and murdered the living infants, taking with them, as prisoner, Lilly Everett. ]Mrs. Eastlick had now passed two days without food or drink. She was wounded in four places. She then believed that all her children were dead. She felt that she had little to live for, and yet the hope of escaping death at thei hands of the savages nerv- ed her to renewed efforts. During the afternoon she had looked in every direction, and could barely see, in the dim distance, the outline of what appeared to be timber. She thought this must be near Buffalo Lake, Murray county, on the road to Dutch Charley's place. We continue the narrative in her own language . "As soon as it was dark I started on my weary journey toward the timber. I walked some hours and then laid me down to rest on the damp ground. I tried to scoop the dew from the grass in my hand to quench my thirst, but it was in vain that I tried it. I then took up the bottom of my skirt, and sucked the moisture from it, until I had partially quenched my burning thirst. I thought it the sweetest water I had ever drunk. I then curled myself upon the ground for a nap, trying to get myself warm by drawing the apron over my head and face, and breathing on my be- numbed hands. I shook from head to foot. I was chilled through, and my teeth chattered. Soon sleep and weariness overcame me, and I slept for some time. When I awoke, I felt quite refreshed, and started once more on my toilsome journey. But by this time, my feet had become very sore, the flesh being worn to the bone, on the top of my toes, by the sharp, coarse prairie grass. Indeed, it was quite a hardship for me to 150 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ■walk at all. * * « i traveled on in the darkness through sloughs and high tangled grass, and finally came to a slough that was filled with water. Here I satisfied my burning thirst, but it was very difficult get- ting through the marsh, as the grass was as tall as my shoulders, and twisted and matted so that I had to part it before me to get along. The water was as much as two and a half feet deep. I got so fatigued in wading this wide slough that as soon as I set foot on dry land again, I lay down and rested a long time before starting again. It was now nearly twilight, and I could see timber at a short distance. I was so weak that I reeled as I walked ; but the sight of the woods revived my strength somewhat, and I dragged myself along, thinking that about five of the sixteen miles to Dutch Charley's were accomplished and vainly hoping that before night I might travel the remaining eleven miles. As I neared the timber I heard the crowing of fowls in several directions. It was now broad day and I discovered that this was not Buffalo Lake, but Lake Shetek! I cannot describe my grief and despair, at finding my- self back there after wandering two long nights, with feet bleeding and torn, and with nothing to eat for three nights and two days. My fear of Indians caused me to creep into the first bunch of weeds, where I covered my head and face with the apron to keep off mosquitoes. I began to feel sick, and a weak, faint feeling came over me at times. There was a house near by which I knew was that of my old neighbor, Thomas Ireland. Af- ter wavering for a lohg time between the fear of starvation and the fear of Indians, I chose to risk the danger of being discovered by them, knowing that to remain without food was certain death." (After giving a description of her difficulty in crossing a slough, M'ith hiu'h banks, she continues:) "By pulling myself up by the bushes, I at last reached the top, and found myself within a short distance of a corn field. I dragged myself to the field, and plucked the first ear I could reach. After many efforts I pulled off the husks, and ate two rows of the green corn. They made me very sick at the stomach; but after lying down for some time, I arose, feel- ing a great deal better and stronger, and soon reached the house. * * * I found nothing to eat, but took a cup to the spring, drank some water, and then crawled into a plum-thicket, where I remained until night." "When it was sufficiently dark, I went back to the house, where I caught and killed a chicken, tore off the skin, and, with my teeth, tore the flesh from the bones. This I rendered eatable by dipping it in some brine that was left in a pork barrel. I then wrapped the pieces in paper and put them in a tin pail that I found. This must be my provision for the next day, I also plucked three ears of corn and deposited them with the meat. * *. * I put on an old coat to keep me warm, and bound up my raw and painful feet, in old cloths, and started anew on my journey. "I knew the road to be about two miles due east of this place. This night I kept the right direction by the north star, but did not travel far. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 151 for I could go but a short distance before I was obliged to lie down and rest. Just at daybreak, I reached the road, having made the distance of two miles in the whole night! This I thought was slow traveling, but I was quite encouraged, now that I had found the road and was sure of go- ing right. I lay down and slept until after sunrise; then, after eating some green corn, I started again. Often did fatigue force me to sit down to rest, and each time after resting, I could scarcely put my foot to the ground. My heel, which had been shot through was badly swollen and very sore, but I still pressed onward till I reached Buffalo Lake, at about 11 o'clock a. m. Here I found that I must cross the outlet of the lake, on a pole. When I trusted my weight upon it, over the middle of the stream, it broke, and I fell into the water. After laborious and re- peated efforts I got out and passed on,- but I was soon obliged to stop and repair damages. I took off and wrung out some of my clothing and spread them in the sun to dry. I also laid the meat in the sun to dry, for it had become so slippery that I could not eat it. After this I lay down among the bushes that grew around the lake, and slept very soundly. I arose at length, put on my skirt, coat and apron, dressed my feet again, ate some corn and forced down some meat. Just as I finished my lonely meal, a flock of ducks flew off the lake and soon a crane fol- lowed them. This was proof that something had disturbed them, and fearing that Indians were upon my track and close at hand, I hid behind a tree, and watched the road in the direction I had just come. "Presently the head of a horse was seen to rise over the hill near by. Indians without doubt, thought I, and shrank down among the bushes, and watched to see a dozen or more savages file along before me!" "But, oh! what a change from fear to joy! It proved to be the mail- carrier from Sioux Falls to New Ulm. I crept out of the brush and ad- dressed him. He stopped his horse and staring at me in the utmost as- tonishment, asked, in the Indian tongue, if I were a squaw. I answered yes, not understanding him, and told him the Indians had killed all the white people at the lake. 'Why,' said he, 'you look too white to be a squaw.' " 'I am no squaw,' I replied, 'I am Mrs. Eastlick; you have seen me sev- eral times at Mrs. Everett's house; I am very badly wounded.' He then inquired as to the extent of my wounds, and I showed him my wounded arm and the place where my head was broken. He then helped me on to his sulky, and walked along, leading the horse. "About 4 p. m. we came in sight of Dutch Charley's when he drove the horse into a ravine away from the road, helped me to the ground, and told me to conceal myself in the grass. He said he would go to the house to see if there had been any Indians about. He returned presently, saying that there had been none there; that the family had deserted the premises ; but that there was an old man there that came from Lake Shetek. He helped me to mount the sulky again, and we were soon be- fore the door. As soon as I had got to the ground the man made his ap- pearance at the door, and, wonderful to tell, it was poor 'Uncle Tommy Ireland.' I hardly knew him, for he looked more like a corpse than a liv- 152 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ing being. His face was deatlily pale, his eyes deeply sunk, and his voice reduced to a whisper. I hurried to greet him, rejoiced to find, still living, my old friend and neighbor, who had witnessed the same heart-rending sights with myself. He clasped his arm around me and we both wept like children at the sight of each other. "He told me that Merton had left the scene of the massacre on the same day, carrying little Johnny, and he thought, perhaps they had reached the house before Dutch Charley's family had left and so gone along with them. I was filled with hope and joy to think that perhaps, two of my children were spared." As before stated, Mr. Ireland, after following- Mrs. Eastlick's sons half a mile from the scene of the first massacre, lay down en- tirely exhausted, expecting to die. He remained stretched upon the ground through all that rainy, stormy night, unable to turn over. All the next day and the next night he remained there with- out food or drink. The following morning, Friday, feeling a little better he made his way to Dutch ('barley's, where the mail-car- rier and ]\Irs. Eastlick found him on Saturday. So far he had been unable to get any food or drink. The mail-carrier furnished some water, and finally foiuid a cheese which he gave to the A'.'ounded man and woman. After feeding the horse and i-esting a short time, the mail-car- rier took Mrs. Eastlick on the sulky, put some turnips and cheese aboard, and started east again, Mr. Ireland accompanying them. At first, the wounded man made slow progress, but after awhile was able to walk as fast as the horse. After following the road about eight miles, they went about half a mile from it anil camped for the night, eating turnips and cheese for supper. The mail- carrier had a quilt and an oil cloth blanket, and, notwithstanding a heavy rainstorm, during the night, the travelers did not suffer severely. At early dawn, Stuiday morning, they again took the road and traveled eastward. About noon they espied some persons a long distance ahead of them, and, suspecting they were Indians, the mail-carrier went cautiously ahead to reeonnoiter, his two com- panions slowly following. After a while he discovered that the ob- jects they had seen were a woman nnd two children. Upon over- taking them, he found them to be ilrs. Ilurd and her two children. i\Irs. Hurd and children, and IMerlon and Johnny Enstlick had left Dutch Cliarley's phice on Friday nuu-ning. .Merton and John- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 153 ny were only a short distance ahead of Mrs. Hurd, and the mail- carrier and ilrs. Eastlick, as may be well imagined, lost no time in overtaking them. Merton had then carried his little brother about fifty miles, with very little food or sleep. He looked like a skeleton, while the babe was so sick that he did not know his mother. His face was a complete scab where the mosquitoes and flies had bitten him. The little company soon arrived at a Mr. Brown's place, found it deserted, and the door of the house fastened. The mail-carrier crawled through a window into the house, where he found some bread on the table. He brought it out and distributed it among the weary, hungry refugees. After feeding his horse, he started for New Ulm alone, advising the others to remain about the prem- ises, and telling them he would send a team and men to bring them to New Ulm. The sufferers being afraid to stay about the house, went to the bank of the Cottonwood, some eighty rods from the house, and secreted themselves in a thicket till night. About sunset they returned to the house and crawled in through the window. Here they found bedding and clothing, some forty pounds of pork and a crock of lard. Mrs. Hurd gathered some potatoes and on- ions from the garden and cooked a meal, which was the first warm meal they had eaten since the Tuesday before. Here they remained in constant fear of Indians until Wednesday night, when the mail-carrier returned with sad news of the situation. He reported that all the settlers on the Cottonwood river were driven away or killed by the Indians; that he had gone in sight of New Ulm, on foot, leaving his horse hidden some miles be- hind ; that he could see the ruins of many bu.rnt houses there, and people, of some kind, walking about the streets, but could not de- termine whether they were Indians or whites; that, as he was traveling along on foot, he suddenly came upon six Indians, two of whom fired upon and pursued him ; that he fled and concealed himself in a slough till his pursuers were tired of hunting for him and gave up the search. All felt that there was no safety in the house, and they again repaired to the thicket— taking with them bedding and clothing. The kind mail carrier then shook hands with them all, bidding them good bye, saying that he would return to Sioux Falls and 154 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. send soldiers to their rescue. When he reached Sioux Falls he found that the settlers had all been killed, and also all the soldier.^ but two, who managed to escape. After many hardships and dangers, he reached Port Clark in safety. ^Ir. Ireland, tl^e women and children, after great siid'ering for two days and nights, from mosquitoes and flics, returned to the house, preferring tlie risk of diseovei'v by Indians to their suffer- ings in the thicket. We now return to the camp at Little Creek, where we left Mr. Everett and his eompanions. The next morning, they stai't- ed as early as possible. Jlrs. Aleyers was no better, and ^Mr. Ev- erett, if possible, sult'ered more than the day before. They drove as far as Ijeavenworth, that day. On every hand there M-as evi- dence of the murderous footsteps of the savages. The houses were all deserted and the fields laid waste. After lookiiie- at several houses they finally went to one a quar- ter of a mile from the road, just at diisk, and took ]iossession. They assist<>d ^Mrs. Meyers and the children to alight and had just dragged ^Ii-. Everett into the house, for by this time he was al- most totally helpless— when they heard loud talk not far off. Bent- ley and Hatch crept out through the cornfield, and saw three Indi- ans going past toward a house not far oft' where the whites first thought of slopping. Bentley and Hatch then came back, took ]\lrs. ileyers and children, and hid in the brush some distance from the house. ]\\v. Everett eould not well be moved so far, so he crawled to a fence, and dragged himself through it and out into a buckwheat field. He had only just lain down in a hollow when the three Indians came to the house, looked around and finally sat down on the fence, not far from him, and in full view. They stayed around the house about thrce-quartei's of an hour, and finally departed without discovering any of the wliites. It M-as a very close call, however. All hands remained concealed during the night, :\rr. Everett staying in the buckwheat patch. In th(> morning thev started again, having nothing to eat (>xcept flour wet up with water and dried in the sun. They crossed the Cottonwood, and drove toward Mankato as rai.idly as p,>ssible. Dtu-ing the forenoon they conld heai- the bo(uning of eann(m at X(>w Tim. This M'as the day of the battle there. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 155 At n(Miii they st(ii)p(>,d in a ravine out of sight of the road. They were not very far south of New Ulm, but the firing in that direc- tion, and all tlie indications surrounding them, made them be- lieve that the Indians were in possession of all the country around New Ulm, at least. Mr. Meyers decided to leave them there and niak(» his way to New Ulm, if possible, hoping to bring a party to their relief. He told them that if he did not return or send relief, by the next day at noon, to drive on to ilankato. The situation was indeed critical. Bands of murderous Indians were prowling over the country in every direction. There was no safety anywhere. This little band of settlers was now entirely defenseless. The three men were all wounded, Mr. Everett so badly injured that he was almost entirely helpless. ]Mrs. Meyers was so very siek that there was little hope of her recovery. They had no food except a little raw corn and uncooked flour. They wei'e worn out with constant watching and anxiety. Tormented with an army of tlies by day luul myriads of mosquitoes by night, they found it almost impossible to sleep. A few gopher knolls on a distant hill-side looked like a band of Indians — every rustle of the tall grass brought a startled glance for the cause— every clump of wet'ds and each little grove might cover th(^ presence of a iiinrderous foe. The situation was enough to bring terror to the strongest heart in a robust man, and what must have been the feelings of persons half-starved, wounded, weak, and worn out with constant watching and excitement, as they were compelled to wait and watch for twenty-four hours, with no assurance of relief even then? After Mr. Meyers left for New Ulm, the hours wore slowly awaj', and at noon the next day he had not returned nor been heard from. There was no choice left, the wounded and sick must reach Mankato or perish on the prairie. The oxen wei'c put to the wagon; Mrs. jMeyers and Mr. Everett were lifted into it, and again they started eastward. They drove till night and camix'd near a deserted house. Messrs. Bentley and Hatch found some potatoes, which were eaten raw, as the refugees still feared to build a fire lest the Indians should discover them. At daylight the next morning, they again started east, driving as rapidly as possible. When within eight or ten miles of Crys- tal Lake, they discovered men in the distance, on horseback, 15C CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. whom they supposed to be Indians. The horsemen discovered them about the same time and came directly toward them. Bentley and Hatch at once drove to a slough of tall grass, near by, hid Mrs. ]\]eyers, her children, and j\Ir. Everett in different places ; drove the oxen and wagon some distance away ; and then secreted themselves in the tall grass. Their fear of Indians over- powered every other feeling. They had no doubt whatever that the horsemen were Indians, and that if the hidden ones were discovered they would be tortured and murdered. The horsemen came on rapidly and soon reached the place where the frightened, wounded and starved settlers were hiding. They searched the ground thoroughly and soon fovind one after another of the settlers until all were found except Charley Hatch. ]\Ir. Everett was so sick and weak that he could scarcely speak, but he urged Capt. Dane— for he it was with a squad of soldiers— to keep up the search for Hatch. They searched long and called often but could not find him, and were finally compelled to go on to Lake ('rystal without him. Poor Charley Hatch heard them plainly enough, but he be- lieved them to be Indians and half-breeds who were calling him, seeking to nuirder hijn, so he refused to answer or to stir from his hiding place. He remained hidden in the grass all night. The next morning :\lr. Everett prevailed upon the soldiers to renew their search for Hatch. They returned to the slough, and, after much time spent in looking and calling, finally rode on to his hiding place. His .ioy at finding them friends instead of mur- derous savages quite overcame him. The wounded and nearly famished settlers from Shetek were at once removed to the hospital, at ilankato. If we are correctly in- formed, Mi's. ;\leyers died the day after her arrival at :Mankato. Meyers finally reached Slankato in safety. Bentley and Hatch soon recovered from their wounds and sutVering, but i\lr. Everett's life hung in the baliuice for a long time. His wounded leg, by constant irritation, was very badly swollen and inteiis,.lv pahiful. His shattered arm was in an equally bad condition. Nothing short of an iron constitution could have br.night him from death's door ba(']\ to lite and sti-eiigtli. He remained in tlie hos|,it;il at Mankat,. until Ihe following February, when \w had so far recovered that he could hobble CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 157 around on crutches, with his arm in a slinK; and in that condi- tion he went to Arena, Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he remained for some time. We must now return to follow briefly the history of those made captives at the time of the massacre. These were Mrs. Wright, her little boy and girl ; Mrs. Duly and two children, Lilly Everett, two of Mr. Ireland's girls, and Mrs. Cook. The prisoners were first taken from the camp on Cottonwood river to Yellow Medi- cine, where they remained some time. At this place Mrs. Wright's son and other captives, including Mrs. Cook, were ransomed by Gen. Sibley. About that time Old Pawn took the other Shetek prisoners and started across the country for the Missouri river. The children, especially, were badly treated. An old hag of a squaw seemed to take particular delight in torturing them. On two or three occasions Lilly came near being killed by this old squaw, who pounded her with a club most brutally. The captives were finally taken into winter quarters, on the Missouri river, some four hundred miles above Ft. Randall. Their re]e;ise was somewhat remarkable. Early one morning, Mrs. Wright was down at the bank of the Missouri, getting a pail of water, when she discovered two white men in a boat, go- ing down the river. She hailed them and told them the story of her capture and of that of the others. She said there were two women and six children, and she implored them to rescue the caplives. They lu^sitated some time, but finally concluded that it would be impossible for them to do so. They told her, however, that they would make all haste to report the facts to the govern- ment officers. True to their word, they did so, and the result was published by the Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Times some years ago. We h>arn fi-oiii the report that an Indian chief, Ma-to To-pa (Four Beiir), who was friendly to the whites, was requested to go to the hostile camp and rescue the captives either by force or treaty. He called a council of his braves, and it was determined that they would make an effort to rescue the captives. He selected ten of his best braves, and with eight good horses started for the hostile camp. They took ther rifles, bows and arrows, as if going to war, starting in November, 1862, and traveling seven days- snow falling nearly every day. They at last reached the camp of the hostiles, near the mouth of Grand river. The next morning 158 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the hostile Indians invited them to a council. They tied their eight horses close to the tepee and went in. Both parties were armed. Four Bear was asked what urgent business had brought him and his braves so far from home at that time of year. He replied that he had heard that they had been on the war path and had taken some prisoners. He made quite a speech, and told them that he and his party had come for the captives and would not return without them. One of the hostiles said: "You are all Indians, and belon;.' to the same confederation that we do, and instead of being friendly to the accursed pale face you should unite with us and help slay them as long as there is a Sioux on the face of the earth." Four Bear replied that he and his braves were friendly to the whites, and always would be— that they would never lift a hand against the women and children of the whites, and that the hos- tiles must give up the captives. The council was a stormy one, lasting all day; but finally one of the liostilcs said they had the captives and they were worth money, and nothing less than $1,000 in ponies would get them. Near nif^lit tliey finally agreed that the hostiles should exchanue their eight prisoners for the eight horses and saddles. The ex- change was made that night, and then they smoked the pipe of peace. The hostile band on their retreat from ^Minnesota, were so afraid of being overtaken by the whites that they took no time to hunt, and in conse(]ucnce the prisoners were nearly starved to death. The first square meal for some time was indulged in that night, and it consisted of venison and coffee. Four Bear was of the opinion that the \vomen and children relished his cooking that night. The prisoners were so destitute of clothing, that their rescuers were compelled to divide their wardrobe with them. The weather was intensely cold, but the homeward march began. The six children had to be carried every step of the wav, and the two women the greater part of it. Some of the Indians M^ould go ahead and kill game, and get the camp readv at night when thev arrived. In consequence of the great dejith of snow it was a slow laborious tramp. At Swan Lake they met some of their people and traded some ammunition and blankets for sugar and coffee CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 159 for the captives, and in the morning they all contributed every- thing they could spare for the use of a big horse to get home with. They made a "travoy, " which is two long poles, one end of each fastened to the saddle, extending backward on each side of the horse with crosspieces lashed on. The six children were bun- dled on this vehicle and the party then made fine progress. They arrived at last at their camp, and the next day they took the captives across the river and turned them over to the officer in command, who gave Four Bear the following : Fort Pierre, D. T., Dec. 12, 1862. The bearer, Ma-to To-pa, Is one of the eleven Indians that recovered Mrs. Julia Wright, Mrs. Emma Duly and six children from the Ih-Sanu-Ta, near the Grand river, in November, 18C2. He desires to be kindly treated by all. (Signed) John Pattee, Major First Iowa Cavalry, Expedition in Search of Prisoners. In course of time, the captives were sent down the Missouri river, and across the country to Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Mr. Everett saw a report in the Chicago papers that the captives would soon be at Cedar Falls, Iowa, He left Arena, Wiscon- sin on crutches, his wounded arm still useless, to meet them at Cedar Falls. He was doomed to disappointment, for on his ar- rival there he learned they had not yet arrived, and that he must go to Ft. Dodge to meet them. He took the stage for that place, but on his arrival there could hear no news of them. There he was taken sick and confined to his bed for two weeks. In the mean time the captives arrived, and among them his daughter, Lilly. ]\Ir. Wright also met his wife and little daughter at that place. Mr. Everett, as soon as he was able to travel, returned again to Wisconsin Avith Lilly. He remained at Arena until 1867. He lost all his property at Lake Shetek, amounting to $5,000, and re- ceived from the government for his loss only $800. He was married to Miss Addison in the spring of 1866, and in the fall of 1867, came to Waseca and built the first store erected in Waseca. While this sxibstantially closes that portion of the Shetek mas- sacre relating to our townsman, there are other portions yet to be related in order to round out and make complete the history of that awful and tragic event. 160 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. It will be remembered by our readers that the mail carrier, after his failure to reach New Ulm, returned to Brown's house where he had left Mrs. Hurd and her two children, ]\Irs. Eastlick and two children, and Uncle Tommy Ireland. After the mail-car- rier left, this party remained at Brown's house for nine days, liv- ing upon the vegetables growing on the farm. ^Ir. Ireland gradually recovered from his wounds, while Mrs. Eastlick was as yet unable to walk. ]\Ir. Ireland proposed, at last, to make a trip to New Ulm and get assistance to remove the women and children. During their stay there two large dogs had come to them and remained there. On ilonday morning, the ninth day they had been there, ilr. Ireland, taking two cooked chickens as a supply of food, started for New Ulm, saying that he should try to reach New Ulm that night, and would send relief on Tnesday. ]\Irs. Eastlick says: "All the afternoon of Tuesday we looked long and eagerly for some one to come to our relief, until after dark, when I retired and slept some hours. About midnight we were awakened by the loud barking of the dogs. Mrs. Hurd arose and went to the window, but could see nothing. The dogs, however, barked more savagely than before, running out a short distance and then back to the door. This frightened us very much, as we thought it must be Indians, or the dogs would not act so. But, thought I, whether they are friends or enemies, I must arise and dress, though it may be the last time. So I began putting on my clothes, still asking Mrs. Hurd if she saw anything. When I was about dressed, she exclaimed, 'My God! Cook, is that you?' Then I realized that it was some one whom she knew. It proved to be a young man named Cook, who lived at Lake Shetek, and some time before the outbreak had gone to Crystal Lake, to work in harvest; and my neighbor, Mr. Wright, who was also gone at the time. They came into the house and greeted us with tears in their eyes, while Mrs. Hurd and I wept aloud for joy. They were accompanied by a squad of soldiers, who also came into the house. The soldiers stationed guards about the house, to prevent a sur- prise. We now learned that Uncle Tommy had succeeded in getting into New Ulm about noon, on Tuesday, and at once made known our con- dition to Capt. Dane, who ordered fourteen men under Lieut Roberts to prepare to start as soon as possible to our relief. It was almost sunset before they were ready to start, when, lo! Messrs. Wright and Cook came into town, and learning the facts, volunteered to attend them as gmdes. They reached our place at midnight, and, fearful that the sight of them all at once would frighten us, Wright and Cook came on alone to rouse us. The soldiers brought some tea and crackers, killed some chickens, gathered some vegetables, and prepared a good meal. At dav- hght they placed the feather bed, some quills and a buffalo robe in a CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 161 light, two-horse wagon. I was then helped in with Mrs. Hurd and our children. * * * When about five miles on the road, Lieut. Roberts rode back and ordered the driver to turn out of the road, pointing a little distance ahead of us. I looked In the direction he pointed, and beheld the body of a gray-haired man, lying in the road. This was the body of Mr. Brown, who owned the house where we had stopped. We soon crossed a run where stood his wagon with the goods thrown out and scattered upon the ground. There were two feather beds, which the soldiers took along. Near the wagon was the body of Mrs. Brown,' with her head split open. As we started out in the morning, one of the sol- diers, Mr. Gilfillan, tarried behind, and got lost from the company. His remains were found next day, some six miles from New trim, shot through the breast and his head severed from his body." All along the route, the houses had been plundered, and several dead bodies were found. These refugees remained for some time in New Ulm and were kindly nursed and cared for. About the 5th of September, they went to Mankato under escort. As soon as Mrs. Eastlick was able to travel, she went to friends in Wisconsin. Mrs. Cook has given an account of her captivity, from which we condense the following : She was taken with some of the other prisoners from the slough back to the settlement at Lake Shetek, to Mr. Ireland's house, where a large number of Indians were camped for the night. They held a big war-dance that night, notwithstanding the storm. The Indian who claimed her told her to stay in the tepee or the other Indians would kill her. They kept up the pow-wow nearly all night, and, their chief having been killed during the day, they chose Old Pawn to succeed him. Next morning some of the Indians brought in Lilly Everett, so chilled and wet that she could hardly speak. Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Duly wrapped her in a shawl and seated her close by the fire. This so enraged the savages that they fired at them, one bullet passing through the skirt of Mrs. Duly's dress, and another piercing the shawl worn by Mrs. Cook, just below her shoulders. Fortunately neither one of them was hurt. While returning to the lake, Mrs. Cook was leading little Belle Duly, five years old, when the murderous old squaw that killed Fred Eastlick, came along, snatched the child away, whipped her over the face with a raw-hide, raised her as high as she could and threw her upon the ground with all her force; then she tied the 3G2 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. child to a bush, stepped back a few paces, and threw knives at her, hitting her in various parts of the body until life was extinct, while the mother was forced to behold the sight with no power to shield her child. The Indians gathered together quite a drove of cattle, loaded several wagons with plunder, and compelled the women to drive the oxen that drew the wagons, and also the loose cattle. They went to the Cottonwood, and thence across the prairie to the Yel- low Medicine country. Mrs. Cook was with the savages seven weeks. For thtee or four weeks she had plenty to eat, but was finally sold to an old Indian who was very good to her sometimes, and at other times very cruel. One day he told her he was going to another band of Indians, at some distance, and some of the squaws told her that where they were going there was hardly anything to eat. He fin- ally started off, compelling her to go with him. She made no resistance, but, after going some five miles', she offered to carry his gun for him. He gave it to her. She soon managed to take the cap and throw it awa.y, then spit in the tube to make sure the gun Avould not go off. She then told him she should go no farther with him. He seized his gun from her hands and told her to go on or he would shoot her, at the same time raising the gun. She boldly told him to shoot, for she would not go with him, and bared her breast, as if to be instantly killed. He was amaze4, and dropped the butt of his gun in astonishment. He probably thought her the bravest squaw he ever saw. At least he concluded to return with her. That night she intended to escape with a captive squaw that had married a white man; but their plan was defeated by the sick- ness of the squaw's babe. The next morning the child was better and all the Indians left the camp except the one who claimed to own Mrs. Cook. This was an opportunity not to be lost. Mrs. Cook stole away to the river unperceived, and the squaw rode a pony in the same direction, pretending to be going to water him. She let him go at the river and started with ]\Irs. Cook. They traveled as rapidly as possible, crossed the IMinnesota river ten times that day in order to hide their trail if followed. They trav- eled, they thought, about thirty miles, when they came upon "Red Iron's" band of Indians whom they joined. After remain- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 163 ing three or four days with this band, they were surrendered, with a great many other captives, to Gen. Sibley's comniand by Red Iron. The year 1862 was a year of blood for America. We had not only the bloody Sioux Massacre, but many bloody battles oc- curred between the Union and the Rebel forces. And thus came to a close the darkest year in the history of the state of Minnesota. The frontier had been made desolate, and many familes had lost everything. But fortunately the crops had been of the very best, and there was food enough for all. The state generously extended aid to the people of the frontier and there was very little suffering. CHAPTER XXXI, 1863. EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION— COUNTY MILITARY DISTRICTS —WAR PRICES— SIBLEY EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SIOUX- BATTLES OF BIG MOUND, DEAD BUFFALO LAKE— DEATH OF LITTLE CROW— GETTYSBURG, SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG AND PORT HUDSON, THE NEW YORK RIOTS— WILTON WEEKLY NEWS— TERRIBLE BLIZZARD DEC. 31. In some respects the year 1863 was the most notable in the history of our nation and of the world. New Year's day is second only to Christmas as a day of enjoyment throusihout the civilized world, even in ordinary times, but this New Year's day was one long to be remembered and held in reverence. "Ring happy bells across the snow, "Ring in the nobler modes of life, "Ring out the old, ring in the new." From the issuing of the Declaration of ludependeuee to this "happy New Year" of 1863, the life of the nation had been a paradox — as some said, a living lie. On this day the paradox was wiped out, for President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proelamation forever freeing the black and yellow slaves in tlie rebel states from the chains of the most odious bondage that the civilized world had ever seen. This brave, generous, (Jod-like act— alroaily too long delayed, as many thought- set forever free over four millions of oppressed human beings. Not only will the intelligent American citizens of African blood, Ui the remotest generation, i-evere tlie name of Abraham Lincoln, but intelligent and Christian Auun-ican citizinis of Caucasian blood will link his name with the greatest of earth CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 165 for havinji', as far as possible, emancipated the laborers of the Avhite race from the competition of chattel slavery. There was no change in the board of Waseca county commis- sioners. Among the proceedings of the board for the year, the following are noted. It Avas "ordered that the treasurer of the county be directed not to receive soldiers' orders for bounty (taxes) of such persons as were rejected for disability at Fort Snelling, and not now in the service of the United States." At the same meeting the county was divided by the commissioners into seven military districts as follows : First district. Blooming Grove; Second district, Iosco ; Third district, Janesville ; Fourth district, St. Mary ; Fifth district, Yv il- ton and Woodville; Sixth district, Otisco and New Richland; Seventh , district, Vivian and Byron. Alton and Freedom then belonged to the Winnebago Indians. At a subsequent meeting, June 15th, the board appointed officers for some of the districts. In the St. Mary district Enoch Plummer was appointed captain, John Byron, now deceased, first lieutenant, and Thomas J. Kerr, second lieutenant. W. H. Wyman was appointed captain in the Sixth district, but the record does not show that he had any lieutenant, either first or second. In the Second district, Wm. E. Allen was appointed captain, J. S. G. Honnor, first lieutenant, and John G. Ward, second lieutenant. There is no record of appointments in other districts, nor does it appear that any military or^ianizations were ever perfected iindei- the law. It seems that there was at that time a suspicion that jiistices of the peace did not pay over promptly all fines' collected by them, for in the proceedings of Jan. 29, 1863, the following entry ap- pears : "Ordered that all justices of the peace in the County of Waseca be directed to bring their dockets to the district attorney to be compared with the treasurer's books; and it is further ordered that all fines due the county be paid immediately." Whether the order received any attention does not appear of record, but it is preserved as one of the many orders made by county commissioners. Such orders were without the authority of law, but serve to show the condition of affairs at the time. 166 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. There being at that time two newspapers purporting to be printed in the county, but really printed, one at Owatonna, the other at Faribault, it was "voted that the chairman be authorized to receive bids for the county printing and to contract for the same with the lowest bidder entitled to it." This was the first time our county printing was ever let to the lowest bidder. The printing was let to Col. J. C. Ide, editor of the Courier and also county auditor, for the sum of $130, not including the tax sale list of taxes. The tax levy for 1863 was as follows : State revenue, four and a half mills ; county expenses, three mills ; for liquidation of county bonds, four mills ; back indebtedness, three mills, one-half cash; school tax, two and one-half mills; — a total of seventeen mills on the dollar. This tax levy was made Oct. 6, 1863. At the same meeting the county auditor's salary was raised $-50, making his total salary $500 per year. And it cost more to live then than it does at this writing, 1904. The spring stocks of merchandise brought "war prices" in Waseca county. In consequence of the war, prices of goods, which had for some time been gradually advancing, reached pretty high figures as early as i\Iarcli. The first of April, common cotton sheeting was selling for fifty cents per yard; calico, at from thirty-five to forty; entton shirting, at from forty-five to sixty cents; coffee, at from forty to fifty cents per pound; the poorest, cheapest tea, at $1.50 per pound: common brown sugar- people do not eat such now-a-days,— from sixteen to twenty-five cents per pound. The prices of nearly all merchandise were in proportion. Very many of our people, the ma.iority, to say the least, made their table beverages, during the high prices, of barley, carrot, beet, corn, wheat, rye, or pea cott'ee, and pennyroyal or sage tea, and they drank these without much sugar. :Many people then learned for the first time, that hot water, with a little milk or ere;i]ii, at meal time, is more conducive to health than the best tea or coiTee. The weather was mild during the winter of lS6l!-3 and the spring months were very favoraitle to early seeding. The sowing of wheat was commeneetl as early as April 1st. and by the loth of May, spring crops were all planted. There was verv little CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 167 rainfall all through the season, and the hay crop was compara- tively light; but the wheat, oat, and barley crops yielded well and were of excellent quality. THE INDIANS AGAIN. A small band of Indians in the month of April, made a raid into the AVatonwan river settlement, killed five persons, stole several horses, and made their escape. 'Within the summer. Gen. Sibley, -with three thousand troops from Minnesota, and General Sully, with about an equal force from Iowa, advanced into the country then occupied by the Indians. The battle of Big Moimd was fought by the forces under Gen. Sibley, July 24th. At this battle, Rev. Dr. AYeiser was treacherously shot and killed by the Indians while they were pretending to want peace. One white man was killed by lightning during the battle. Lieut. Freeman, while hunting, was killed by the Indians the morning before the Indians had been discovered by the scouts. A large number of the red men were killed and wounded and some of them scalped by the hunters. On the 26th of July, at DEAD BUFFALO LAKE the Indians, mounted on ponies and led by Grey Eagle, made a dash for the hay cutters and mules, but were promptly met by the ^Mounted Rangers, who gave them battle. A number of the savages were killed in this engagement, among them their chief, Grey Eagle, who fought bravely but was soon killed. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow, the chief who had led in the massacre of 1862, v.-as shot and killed near Hutchinson by Nathan Lampson. Little Crow also shot Lampson, wounding him in the shoulder. The second shot from Lampson 's gun proved mortal. Little Crow's son, aged 16 years, was with his father at the time of his death, 'but made his escape. He was afterwards taken prisoner and finally sent to the reservation of his people on the ilissouri river, where he has since died. Little Crow died in disgrace, having been deposed by the war- riors of his nation shortly after the decisive battle of Wood Lake. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. June 18th, 100,000 rebels entered Pennsylvania, near Chambers- burg. On the 1st, 2d and 3d days of July occurred the great battle of Gettysburg, which was one of the greatest of the civil 168 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Avar, and really the turning point in the great struggle. It was in this great battle that the First Minnesota regiment conferred imperishable honor and fame upon our state. July 4th, Vicks- burg, iliss., surrendered to Grant with her 31,000 rebels, 220 guns and 70,000 small arms. July 8th, Port Hudson surrendered to the Union army. July 13th, the New York rioting commended, —the negro orphan asylum was burned, negroes were hanged in the streets, and houses robbed and burned by rebel sympa- thizers. The rioting lasted several days and was finalh' suppress- ed by Union troops. The last battles of the year occurred at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, Xov. 23d, in which our Union soldiers were victorious. THE FALL ELECTION. It was a close call for the Republicans in this coimty at the fall election of 1863. The draft, which had been ordered through- out the coimtry, had been very unpopular. The local Republicans that were appointed to conduct it— especially the writer, who was appointed to the very unpleasant position of deputy United States marshal— were accused of many wrongful acts: and al- though nearly all the accusations were false and unjust, as was afterwards admitted, they had their influence upon the voters. "Waseca county was then in the same legislative district with Freeborn and Steele coimties. The candidates for state senator were F. J. Stevens, Republican; Amos Coggswell, Democrat; and Jacob ]\Iail, independent. Stevens received 2S2 votes, Coggswell 58, and :Mail 51. Representatives:— Philo AYoodruff, Republican, 262 votes; AYm. Brisbane, Democrat, 251. ilajority, 11. County treasurer:— P. C. Bailey, Rep., 2S6 ; Enoch Plummer, Dem., 234.— Jlajority, 52. Register of deeds :— Tarrant Putnam, Rep., 241; H. P. Xorton, Dem., 267.— :Ma,iority, 26. Sheriff :-D. L. Yliipple, Rep,, 26S; X, McGrath, Dem., 24.').- Majority, 22. Judge of Probate :— II. D. BaldAvin, Rep.. 251 ; P. Brink Enos, Dem., 258.- ]\tajority, 7. County Attorney ;-.James E. Child, Rep., 255; P. Brink Enos, Dem., 252,— ^Majority, 3. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 1G9 Coroner:— W. S. Baker, Rep., 274; Peter Eckert, Dem., 23S.— Majority, 36. Court Commissioner:— James E. Child, Rep., 217; John Brad- ish, Dem., 166; P. Brink Enos, Dem., 20.— Majority over both, 31. Surveyor:— H. G. Mosher, Dem., (no opposition) 509 County Commissioner, one district :—"W. G. Kennedy, Rep., 76; "\Vm. Byron, Dem., 69.— Majority, 7. THE FIRST PERMANENT NEWSPAPER. As before mentioned, there were two newspapers, "The Waseca Home Views" and "The "Waseca Courier," purporting to be edited and published in Wilton, but they were really side editions of other papers. The Courier was printed at Owatonna, Col. Ide, Republican, being the Wilton editor. The Home Views was printed at Faribault, Buel Welch, a Democrat, being editor. The people of Wilton said thej- wanted a really home paper ; so Hon. H. D. Baldwin, who held a chattel mortgage on the press and material of the Home Views plant, at Faribault, arranged to take the plant in satisfaction of the mortgage. He employed a man named James ^lowatt, an Englishman by birth, to conduct the mechanical department, and arranged with the writer to edit and take charge of the biisiness management of the paper. After some delay in getting the plant in working order, the first num- ber of the WILTON WEEKLY NEWS made its appearance. It was a six-column folio — Republican in politics. It is said that no paper ever flourished in a country to^Yn where the editor and the publisher are separate, neither having entire control. And so at the end of the year the writer purchased the plant and took entire control. It was three years before the plant paid expenses and four years before the pro- prietor received any income for his own services ; but, then, he en- joyed the excitement of the business and the struggle for success, and has never regretted the hard work that finally brought rea- sonable success. Under the chapter relating to "Journalism," a full account of newspaper enterprises in the county will be given "without hatred or affection." 170 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. A TERRIBLE STORM. The last day of December, 1863, and the first two days of 1864 brought one of the most severe storms that have ever visited the county since its first settlement in August, 1854. The wind bl?w a gale. The air was filled with the tempest-driven snow, and the cold was intense. The temperature went as low as 34 degrees, in Wilton, and at St. Louis, Mo., and in Kentucky and Ohio, the thermometer registered as low as 24 degrees. On the last day of December the air was so filled with fine particles of frost and snow and driven with such force by the wind that objects a dozen feet distant could not be seen. It was almost impossible to face the wind for any distance Fortunately the storm arose in the night, and no one in this section was seriously injured. CHAPTER XXXII, 1864. INTENSE COLD— J. B. JACKSON, CHAIRMAN OF BOARD— REMOVAL OP THE WINNEBAGOES— SETTLEMENT OF FREEDOM AND ALTON— FINANCES OF COUNTY, ORDERS ISSUED AT NINETY CENTS ON THE DOLLAR— REMOVAL OF JUDGE ENOS— DRAFT FOR 500,000 MEN- BIG SOLDIER BOUNTIES— NEGROES AND THE WAR— EXTENSIVE MAIL ROBBERIES BETWEEN WILTON AND MANKATO— B. A. LOWELL STATE SENATOR. The year 1864 opened with a terrible storm and most intense cold. The remainder of the winter was cold and at times stormy. Winter continued until the latter part of March, and very little seeding was done prior to the middle of April. The season as a whole was a dry one, but the state was blessed with abundant crops. The harvest weather was all that could be desired, and notwithstanding a scarcity of harvest hands, the crops were all saved in good shape. COUNTY BOARD WORK. At the annual meeting of county commissioners, held Jan. 5th, 1864, the board was organized by the election of J. B. Jackson, chairman. No business beyond the ordinary was trans- acted at this session, except that the county auditor's salary was raised from $450 per year to $500. Each commissioner dis- trict, at that time, had a school examiner appointed by the coun- ty board. The examiners appointed for 1864 were as follows: M. S. Green, of Iosco ; B. A. Lowell of Otisco ; and Eugene A. Smith, of Wilton. The last refused to serve and Rev. E. S. Smith was appointed in his place, Jan. 27th, 1864. During the legisla- 172 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. tive session of 1864, the office of county superintendent of schools was created and made appointive by the county board; and on the 9th of March, 1864, Hex. E. S. Smith was appointed county superintendent of schools at the magnificent salary' of $100 per year. At this March session another $100 was added to the county auditor's salarj-, making it $600 a year. THE WINNEBAGO INDIAN RESERVATION. As a result of the Indian outbreak in 1862, the AVinnebago Indians were removed from their rcs(.'rvation in this state to a new reservation in Nebraska. In their reservation hin-e there were included the townships now known as Freedom and Alton, and the west tier of sections of the townships of Wilton and St. Mary— the larger portion of their reservation being in Blue Earth county adjoining. After the Indians were removed, the lands were sold to white men imder sealed bids, the minimum price per acre, as the writer remembers it, being $2.r)0. The lands were taken very rapidly, and many farms were settled upon and improved in 1864. At the meeting of the county board, ilarch 9, 1864, a petition was received to have the new territory organized as a township with township officers, etc. The county board passed an order organizing townships 106 and 107, range '2-i. which provided that "the first election should be held at the house of Stephen Robin- son, situated at the place (then) known as Peddler's (irove, on the same day (April 5) and hour, in this year 18(i4, Mdiieh the law provides for the town elections in organized towns; and that when so assembled for their town election, the electors shall elect a name by which both townships shall hereafter be knowm until such time as it shall be found that a sufficient number of inhabitants shall have settled in each or either to entitle them to a separate organization, and that when svich separate organiza- tion shall talce place, town Xo. 106 shall retain the name agreed upon at this, their first election." Thei'e was quite a struggle regarding the name, but "Freedom,' was finally adopted. According to the history issued by the Union Publi.shing Company in 1SS7, Air. F. D. Seaman had the casting vote, which s(4ect(Nl the name, he being one of the com- mittee of three to decide on a name. At a special meetinu' of the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 173 board in April, Ferdinand Turnacliff, of Wilton, and W. W. Cowles, of Janesville, were appointed appraisers of school lands for the county. At a later meeting, April 30, the county board ordered the county attorney to notify all persons who were selling spiritu- ous liquors to take out license or stop selling liquor. There was something of a temperance revival at the time, and the board in- creased the license fee from $25 to $50, except for hotels, which were permitted to deal in liquors by paying a license fee of $15. Fifty dollars was at that time considered a very high license fee. In the month of August, this year, two of the county commis- sioners resigned. John S. G. Honnor, of Iosco, removed to Red- wood Falls, and J. B. Jackson emigrated to McLeod county, in this state. On the 15th of August, the appointing board, con- sisting of John C. Ide, county auditor, P. Brink Bnos, judge of probate, and H. P. Norton, register of deeds, met and appointed Fred W. Kittredge, then of Okaman, and Hon. "Warren Smith, of Wilton, to fill the vacancies. The new board met on the 22d of the same month and elected Mr. Smith chairman of the board. The financial condition of the county can be judged by the fol- lowing which was adopted by the board, Sept. 23d : "Be it ordered thar the county auditor tie authorized to settle with the parties holding tax certificates against lands illegally or irregularly is- sued, or on which taxes may have been paid and the same having been returned delinquent and sold, and to pay such parties in county orders .at ninety cents on the dollar." Early in the fall Judge Enos moved to Nebraska, and at the meeting of the county board, Dec. 2, it was "ordered that James E. Child be appointed judge of probate to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of P. Brink Enos, Esq." THE WAR OP THE REBELLION. Notwithstanding the victories of the Union forces during the year 1863, the Confederates with great courage and energy main- tained their warlike attitude and aggressive movements. On the first day of February, the president ordered a draft of 500,000 men, each locality being permitted to furnish its quota of men by enlistment. On the 15th of March came an added call for 200,000 more— 700,000 in all. Every town became a 174 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. recruiting station. Town bounties for soldiers to fill town quotas ran high— from $100 to $500 in this county. All sections of the country were equally anxious to secure volunteers, and in some towns resort to the draft was unavoidable. Scarcely had the first two calls for troops been filled before another half million men were called out. This third call was issued July 18th, 1864. And near the close of the year, Dec. 19th, another draft was ordered for 300,000 men to fill the depleted ranks of the great Union ar- mies. As before noted, large bounties were oft'ered by the sev- eral townships and herculean efforts were put forth, especially after the fall election, to fill the ranks and crush the Kebellion, which everyone then realized would soon be accomplished. THE NEGROES AND THE WAR. There was one condition of the public mind or existing preju- dice at the time that the writer could never fully understand. "Up to the very close of the Rebellion, many people at the North protested against the enlistment of negroes in the Union armies. While the rebels were using them to build fortifications and roads, to serve as cooks and servants, to raise crops to support the rebels in the field; and while the negro slave was the in- nocent cause of the rebellion, and his personal liberty and rights depended wholly upon the success of the Union armies, never- theless many people in the North raised their hands in holy hor- ror at the mere suggestion that the negro should do some of the fighting in defense of those rights. "We did not hesitate to use h(jrse.s, mules, or asses in our military operations; we were will- ing to sacrifice our best blood, the flower of our youth and the strength of our noblest manhood, in defense of the nation, but the negro slave of the worst rebels that ever attempted the assas- sination of Liberty and Equal Eights in the world was too sacred to be enlisted to fight for his own personal liberty and those equal rights of all men, which Jefferson taught and the Revolu- tionary Fathers proclaimed to all nations and all men as the foundation principles upon which was builded our magnificent edifice. It was a fool prejudice that cost the nation rivers of blood and millions of treasure. THE ELECTION OF 1864. The presidential election was of absorbing interest. Union CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 175 men of both parties believed that the life of the nation hung in the balance. Over a million patriots were upon the battle fields far from their homes. They had made great sacrifices. Would they be sustained by the men at home at the ballot box? Should the nation live or perish? The struggle was a memorable one and Abraham Lincoln and the "boys in blue" were sus- tained. Waseca county was carried by the Union forces by a good working majority. Hon. B. A. Lowell was elected state senator — the representatives of the district going to Freeborn and Steele counties. W. G. Kennedy, of St. Mary, was re-elected county commissioner, John S. McKune, of Blooming Grove, and Rev. C. S. Luce, of Wilton township, being the other two mem- bers — all Union men. Col. J. C. Ide was again elected county auditor. The eventful year closed with high hopes among the people of the North that 1865 would bring the end of the Slave-holders' Rebellion, and that before another Christmas the nation would be all free. EXTENSIVE MAIL ROBBERIES. For several weeks of the late summer and the fall months of 1864, there were frequent complaints that letters along the stage route between Mankato and Owatonna never reached their destination. Little was thought of the matter, however, until by mere accident a large number of letters, stolen from the mail sacks, were discovered at the Globe hotel at Wilton by Mr. Seth W. Long, who kept the stage house. As soon as he made the discovery, he informed James E. Child, who was then deputy United States provost marshal, of the county. Sheriff Whipple was also called in consultation and the letters were hastily exam- ined and listed. Mr. Child at once proceeded to the Winnebago agency and, calling upon the Indian agent and the postmaster, instituted a search about the hotel and the stage barn. Nearly two bushels of letters were found in the barn hidden in a par- tition boarded up on each side, the letters having been dropped in from time to time between the studding. Mr. Child then went on to Mankato and notified the postmaster there. The abstracted letters were listed and examined as to their dates and postmarks, and it soon became apparent to the exam- 176 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. iners that the letters had all been stolen by one of the Burbank stage drivers. Every letter was evidently taken on alternating days by some one between Wilton and the Indian, or Winnebago, agency. Only two men drove stage between those points— a youngish man, called "Jimmie" Burns, and an older man known as "Pat". One or the other of these must have stolen the let- ters. Taking the last letters stolen and tracing the record backward, it was quite evident that Jimmie or an accomplice was the guilty person; but to make sure that "no guilty man escape," the au- thorities arrested both the men. There was really no evidence against Pat. Yet the popularity of Jimmie Burns was such that for a time suspicion rested heavily upon the other mail carrier. At the examination, however, Pat was exonerated, and Jimmie was held for trial. As is often the case, a very worthy and influential j'oung lady was in love with the thief, and all her influence and the efforts of her friends M'ere put forth to prevent his conviction. Able attorneys were employed and everything that a devoted yoimg woman could say or do was done to save her thief-lover from conviction. She succeeded. Bvit the stage company having ex- amined into the matter, had no further use for Jimmy. Then it was that the rascal left for parts unknown and desert- ed the devoted girl that had saved him. Prom worry and disap- pointment or from some other cause, the young woman soon after fell ill and died— the victim of misplaced affection and con- fidence. In all, over three bushels of the stolen letters were foimd, many of them having contained small amounts of money. It was esti- mated that nearly .+200 had been stolen from the letters, ilany drafts and checks were found and returned to the owners. It was a sad case of miscarriage of justice, and shows that it is sometimes an easy matter to instill into the minds of a jury a "reasonable doubt" of the guilt of the guiltiest rascal on earth. Jimmie Burns was a complete exemplification of Shakespeare's saying — "That one nuiy smile and smile, and be a villain." CAPTER XXXIII, 1865. COLLAPSE OP SOUTHERN REBELLION— ENO SHACKLES POUND —LATE SPRING— ASSASSINATION OP LINCOLN— THE INDIANS AGAIN, MURDER OP THE JEWBTT FAMILY— JACK CAMPBELL, HALF-BREED HANGED— RETURN OF SOLDIERS— ELECTION OP 1865. The year 1865 will go down the ages as the most noted in our history. It witnessed the collapse of the Southern Rebellion, the surrender of the Confederate armies, and the restoration of peace throughout the nation. And our citizen soldiery might well have said with the poet : "Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarms changed to merry meetings; Our dreadful marches to delightful measures." Our county commissioners met in annual session Jan. 11th, and organized by the election of W. G. Kennedy chairman. On the 12th it was "ordered that the license for retailing liquors in saloons or taverns, for the year 1865, in Waseca county, be $75 for each; and that N. B. Strong & Co. shall pay $10 for a license to retail liquors for medicinal purposes or as druggists." The county auditor's salary was increased to $700 per year at this meeting. At the session of the board, March 31st, five dollars was appro- priated to be tendered to Buel Welsh, Esq., who had found and returned the shackles worn by the horsethief, Eno, while in jail. Eno had broken jail in 1863 and made his escape by the assist- 178 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ance of outside parties. The shackles were found by Mr. Welsh while hunting one day in Otisco. Here is a peculiar entry made by Auditor Ide. It is especially so as every member of the board, as well as himself, was a total abstinence man. It reads as follows: "October 13th, 1865. Board met pursuant to adjournment. The board being full, proceeded to transact the following business." The spring of 1865 was much later than usual. A very few sowed wheat the last week in I\Iarch. Then the weather turned cold, and it was the middle of April before the majority could seed. In fact, it was a cold, backward spring. VICTORY AND PEACE AT LAST. The first week in April the whole country was made joyous by the glorious announcement that the Union armies had triumphed, and that peace wa.s at hand. No words at the command of the writer could give utterance to the unfeigned emotions of joy and hope and thankfulness which took possession of the loyal millions of the land. Even the Copperheads and the Secessionists were glad that brave men would no longer be called upon to sacrifice their lives in the camp and upon the battlefield. THE ASSASSINATION. But alas! What a sudden transition from the most heartfelt j patrol scouts under the command of ]Major Robert H. R(jse. This was a great year for AVaseca county. The return of our soldier boys, the large number of immigrants that took homes in the county, the rapid filling up of the towns of Freedom and Alton, all triided to make times prosperous and business good. ELECTION OP 18Go. There was no change of county commissioners. The following county offic('i-s were elected : Hiram A. ilosher register of deeds. Capt. E. J\I. Brouuhton sheriff, Gen. R. Buckman treasurer, James E. Child judge of prolnite, H. D. Baldwin county attorney, and 0. S. Canfield county survcynr. Broughton, Alosher and Buck- man were returned soldiers. CHAPTER XXXIV, 1866. BIBLA'S COMET— DEATH OF COL. IDE— APPOINTMENT OF C. C. COMEE— GREAT STORM, BILLY ADAMS FROZEN- BITTER COLD WEATHER- TERRIFIC STORMS AT HARVEST TIME— EARLY FROST AND EARLY WINTER — BRISBANE REPRESENTATIVE- TOWN OP ALTON ORGANIZED. The year 1866 was ushered in by the masses with the usual cheerful greetings, but the oft-repeated prediction that the world was about to come to an end was solemnly believed by the credu- lous, simply because some lop-sided Bible students pretended to have discovered in the prophecies that the world would be de- stroyed in 1866 ; while other predictions were based upon the supposed effects of the near approach of Biela's comet, supposed to be due in 1866. But the comet, though due, did not appear, and the world is still here doing business as usual. COUNTY GOVERNMENT. At the annual meeting of the board of county commissioners, Jan. 5th, H. D, Baldwin resigned the oiSce of county attorney, and his law partner, Major W. T. Kittredge was appointed in his stead. At the March session of the board, the salary of Rev. E. S. Smith, county superintendent of schools, was increased from $100 per year to $125, — a trifle less than $11 per month. And yet the ' ' Elder ' ' put in much of his time and all of his ability. On the 27th of April, 1866, the county board made an order organizing the town of Alton, and appointed the first election to be held at the house of M. L. Devereaux, May 15, 1866, for the 182 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. election of town officers. This was the last township organiza- tion in the county. At the September meeting of the board, James E. Child, en- tirely without solicitation on his part, was chosen county super- intendent of schools, for the year 1867, at a salary of $300. DEATH OF COLONEL IDE. Col. John C. Ide, who had held the ofHce of county auditor since January, 1863, was one of the best known and most popular men in the county and was widely known in the state. He was born of New England parents in the state of New York. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He was a fine singer and an excellent teacher of vocal music. For many years he spent his winters teaching music and giving public concerts. He was an out-and-out temperance advocate, a strenuous Abolitionist, and consequently, in those days, an ardent republican. He first came West in 1855, and located on East Prairie, Rice county, ]\Iinn. He was a representative from Rice county in the legislative ses- sion of 1856. He came to Wilton, in this county, in the summer of 1856, and built the first sawmill erected in the county. This mill was of great benefit to all the early settlers of the vicinity. In the fall of 1857 he was the candidate on the republican ticket, with Governor Ramsey, for lieutenant governor; but democracy then held sway in Minnesota, and the whole state ticket was de- feated. Socially, morally, and religiously he was a worthy and valuable citizen, a kind neighbor, a true friend. Few men in this county have died leaving more friends and fewer enemies than he. He had suffered from heart disease for a number of years, and died quite suddenly about Oct. 25, 1866. On the 30th of October, 1866, the county commissioners held a special session and appointed Capt. C. C. Comee, then of Vivian, to succeed Col. Ide. At the meeting of the county board, Nov. 14, the salary of the county attorney was increased from $180 to $250 per annum. WEATHER AND CROPS. The winter of 18G5-6 was bitterly cold and stormy, and several persons in this county that were exposed were frosted more or less. About February 13, 1866, a great snow storm and blizzard prevailed over the whole Northwest, lasting some twentv-four CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 183 hours. The wind blew a gale and the cold was intense. Several persons were frozen to death and others badly injured in the state. "Billy" Adams, who was driving stage from Wilton to Mankato, at the time, was caught out in the storm, between Wilton and Alma City, and remained out all night. He nearly perished of cold. Both hands, his feet, his nose, ears and face were badly frosted. Some of his fingers had to be amputated. He had no passengers and was alone with his four horses all that terrible night, suffering most intensely. Deep snow covered the ground during the winter, and the spring was late and cold. Seeding could not be done until late in April. The crops were comparatively poor, and the harvest discouraging. The month of August brought the most intense heat, accompanied by terrific storms of rain, thunder and light- ning. While the more strenuous, industrious, and lucky farmers saved most of their small grain, nevertheless there was consider- able loss in this line. To add to the losses already suffered, a heavy frost, followed by cold, prolonged rains, visited the state September 20. Corn, pumpkins, and squashes were badly in- jured. ]\Iany of the new settlers found hard times staring them in the face at the close of the season. Prices of everything ruled high for the ensuing year, and few there were who had much to sell. Winter set in early. "And now the -thickening sky, Like a dark ceiling stood; down came the snow impetuous." At the fall election the following officials were declared elect- ed : County commissioners, James Isaac, democrat, John S. McKune, and Eev. C. S. Luce; county auditor, Capt. C. C. Comee; county attorney, Maj. W. T. Kittredge; court commissioner, James E. Child; representative, Hon. Wm. Brisbane, who was elected over Hon. H. D. Baldwin, by five votes. A singular condition was developed by a canvass of the votes for commissioner in the district composed of Bloom- ing Grove, Iosco, St. Mary, and Woodville. The official canvass showed that Eri G. Wood received 75 votes, B. G. Wood 72 votes, Eri Wood 6 votes, and James Isaac 99 votes. The certificate of election was given to Isaac, although Mr. Wood received a fair miajority of 54 votes. The acceptance of Mr. Isaac, upon such a 184 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. vote, was a surprise to many; but ]\Ir. Wood, who never sought office, refused to contest for the position, and ilr. Isaac served out the term. Mr. Isaac and Representative Brisbane were the only democrats elected in the county. CHAPTER XXXV, 1867. MARKED A NEW ERA— HEAVY FALL OF SNOW, WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD— FIRST RAILROAD BUILT— COUNTY OUT OF DEBT —WEATHER AND CROPS— WASECA SURVEYED AND PLATTED— RAPID CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS— LIST OF STRUCTURES —SHIPPED GOODS VIA CRANE CREEK— LA DOW REPRESENTA- TIVE—WHEAT BROUGHT FROM $1.60 TO $2.25 PER BUSHEL. The year 1867 marked a new era in the history of Waseca county. Old villages took a decline and new ones sprang into existence. The winter of 1866-7 was remarkable for a very heavy fall of snow. Real winter commenced early in November of 1866, and there was plenty of sleighing until the middle of April, 1867. The down-pour of rain that spring was unprecedented in the history of the state. All the bottom lands along the Le Sueur river were covered with water, and, at Wilton, the stage coach could not cross the stream for days at a time. The early part of the season was remarkable for high prices of grain and pro- visions, heavy rains and bottomless mud-holes. This year brought the first railroad to the county of Waseca and the depot was established in the town of Woodville where the freight depot of the C. & N.-W. railway now stands. It was also notable as the birthday year of the present city of Waseca. And it is worthy of note here that goods were shipped by boat from Owatonna, via Straight river. Crane creek and Clear lake, and landed near where the brewery now stands. It was a standing joke at Wilton that "Waseca was at the head of navigation." It was the wet- test year ever experienced since the first settlement in 185i. 18G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. There was great scarcity of provisions, especially on the fron- tier, until after harvest. Wheat sold here as high as $2.25 per bushel. Oats and potatoes sold for $1 per bushel each. Flour sold for $7 per hundred pounds, and pork for 15 to 20 cents. Prices were still higher further west and southwest. Potatoes sold in Martin county for $2.50 per bushel, flour for $10 per cwt., and pork for twenty-five cents a pound. Such was the distress in some localities that the state was called upon to furnish seed grain and give other aid. Waseca county suffered less than counties to the south and southwest of it, on account of the building of the W. & St. P. railway, which furnished work to many of our people that were able to leave their farms for that purpose. COUNTY LEGISLATION. The annual meeting of the county commissioners this year commenced New Year's day. On the 3rd day of January, 1867, the board— "Ordered that drug stores be charged seventy-five dollars for license to sell spirituous liquors during the ensuing year." This was an " astonisher. " It broke all precedent. But it was short lived, for on the morrow the "order" was unanimously rescinded — a conversion almost as sudden as that of St. Paul, and certainly not more commendable. Prior to this time there had been held but one term of the dis- trict court each year; but the time had come, so the board thought, when two terms instead of one should be held each year. So the commissioners petitioned Hon. N. I\I. Donaldson, then judge of the district court, to hold "an adjourned term of court as near the middle of the current year as possible." Under the then new law of the legislative session of 1867, county commissioners were required to meet on the second Tues- day of March, each year, and, among other duties devolving upon the board, they were to make and publish a financial statement of receipts and expenditures, fully itemized. This law had be- come necessary on account of corrupt practices that had scan- dalized several counties in the state. The county commissioners complied with this law and from their report the following sum- mary is taken : Total amount of orders and certificates Issued $4,845.98 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 187 Orders redeemed 0,189.24 County bonds redeemed 289.38 Total $0,478.62 Total receipts $8,745.38 Balance In treasury $2,260.76 Amount due on tax duplicate $3,908.86 Estimated amount due on taxes of previous years $1,000.00 Total estimated assets $7,775.62 This was the first time in the history of the county that it had been able to show a balance on the credit side of the ledger. The publication of this report showed that the county was substan- tially out of debt, and everyone felt relieved after eleven years of extortionate interest and heavy discounts on county paper. At the meeting of the county commissioners, July 17, 1867, Wm. H. Young, of Woodville, was allowed $100 "for taking Bundt Anderson and returning him to jail." This Anderson was a thief that had escaped from the old wooden jail at Wilton. The county auditor's salary was increased one hundred dollars per year, to commence March 1, 1867. At the September meeting of the board, Mr. Jesse Poland was appointed to serve as county superintendent of public schools, and his salary was fixed at $250 a year— about $20.86 per month. At the October meeting of the board of county commissioners, Mr. Luce resigned, and ilr. Isaac was elected chairman of the board for the unexpired term. THE WEATHER AND CROPS. These two constitute a never-ending topic of conversation and speculation, and well they may. The climate, the soil, the farmer — they are the sources of all prosperity. Let these fail, then all business languishes, and misery takes the place of comfort. About the middle of July, 1867, the weather cleared and the harvest weather was as favorable as usual. From that time until the close of the year, with the exception of a light snowstorm in November, the weather was very favorable. Plowing and grad- ing upon the streets of Waseca were going on during the latter half of December. The most important local events of the year were the con- struction and completion of the W. & St. P. railway, now the C. 183 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. & N.-W. railway, to Waseca, and the platting and rapid building of what is now the city of Waseca. Early in the year 1867, Mr. I. C. Trowbridge, who had proba- bly received inside information of the location of the railroad depot at this point, bought out iMr. J. K. Meyers, and arranged to lay out a town. The road was definitely located by Engineers W. G. Ward and J. H. Jenkins, early in the summer, and ]\Ir. Trowbridge had the original village surveyed and platted by Surveyor Jenkins, July 22, 1867. In August, as soon as the wheat was harvested and removed, the work of erecting build- ings commenced. ;Mr. Wm. Everett, deceased, was the first man to commence the erection of a business house on the new plat. It was soon completed and occupied on the first floor by Lord, Ad- dison & Co., dealers in general merchandise. The front part, up stairs, was used hy ]\Ir. Everett's family as a temporary resi- dence, while the rear end of the building, up stairs, was occupied by the printinji- office of James E. Child, who came over with the News outfit from Wilton, about the last of October. In August, also, a Wilton company, in the name of Geo. W. Watkins, surveyed and platted a portion of section 18. and named it Clear Lake City. The survey was made by H. G. Mosher, Esq. The place was started as a rival to Waseca, but in a few years it liecame a part of this city, and is now embraced in the Third ward. In September of the same year, :Mrs. Judith Trowbridge, H. P. Norton and Baldwin & Kittredge laid out what is known as the First Addition to AVaseca, the same being surveyed and platted by H. G. .Mosher. Mrs. Justina Child Avas the first to construct a building on the First Addition. From the time of the survey and platting of the town iintil long into the winter, the Avork of building went rapidly forward. The first week in December, 18(i7, the "AYaseea News," published by the writei-, ecmtained tlie fdllowiiiK: "We have ascertained, as far as possible, the number of new buildings which have been erected at this point since August. On the north side of the W. & St. P. railroad track, there are eighty-two buildings, and on the south side twenty — in all one hundred and two— all built in the short space of three months. Of those north of the big elevator, there are some twenty-five two stories high; one two-and-a-half stories; five one- and-a-half stories high, and the others are smaller buildings. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 189 "There are eleven mercantile establishments, eight liquor stores (God save the mark), four hotels, two livery stables, two cabinet and furni- ture shops and stores, two harness shops, several carpenter and black- smith shops, two meat markets, and a printing office. "Among the hotels we mention the Trowbridge House, 60x80 feet, two stories high, cost $4,000, which is kept by Mr. I. C. Trowbridge, original proprietor of the village. The Vincent Hotel (now known as the Priest Block) is GO feet on Wood street and 5.5 on Second street, two_ stories high and cost $3,500. It is just completed, well furnished and now open to the public. * * "Among the blacksmith shops we can commend that of R. B. Wood, on Lake avenue, near the Devannah & Reynolds livery stable (which then occupied the present court-house grounds). "The store of Lord, Addison & Co. is 22 feet front by 60 feet deep, two stories high, and cost about $1,400. The lower story is filled with No. 1 goods of all kinds, while the second story is occupied by Mr. Everett's family in front, and our printing ofUce in the back end of the building. "Mills, Follett & Co., bankers, occupy Geo. L. Tarbell's building which is 22x45 feet, two stories high. Baldwin & Kittredge, bankers and real estate dealers, occupy a temporary building opposite Bailey's hardware store. Comee & Young have opened a furniture establishment, 16x20 feet, with a shop in the rear. H. P. Norton's building, wherein he keeps the express office, and where Mr. Mollin is prepared to clothe the needy, is 18x30 feet, two stories high, and cost $1,200. "Opposite the Vincent House is the well-known hardware store of Bailey & Watkins. It is 22x64 feet, two stories high, and cost $1,800. The next building is owned by Williams & Washburn. It is 22x50 feet, two stories high, and is occupied below by H. S. Swift & Co., dealers in dry goods and clothing. (It is now occupied by Preston & Stucky, and belongs to Hon. M. H. Helms.) "The Joe Gatzman building, 20x40 feet, two stories high, is occupied below as a grocery and liquor establishment. The next is McVeigh's store 18x40 feet, two stories high. Then comes "Uncle Tom Pierce's establishment — an eating saloon and auction store — 16x40 feet, two stories high, with a dwelling in the rear 13x20 feet. Then comes the Strong & Wilsey drug store, 22x40 feet, two stories high, and well fin- ished. Here are drugs, medicines, toys, etc., and here Dr. Young makes his headquarters. Next comes a restaurant 18x54 feet, and then A. R. Foster's grain warehouse, 10x40 feet. Moreau & Dulmage have a build- ing near by, 20x40, two stories high. "Near the depot, are the well-known lumber yards of W. W. Johnson, Williams & Washburn, and the lumber, coal and salt establishment of Mr. Chas. Bckenbeck. On the corner of Second and Elm streets is the meat and produce market of A. E. Dearborn. His building is 20x40 feet, two stories high, with a store room back, 16x40 feet, one story. (Mc- Loughlin Bros, now occupy the site with their large brick store.) 190 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. "Besides the 102 buildings mentioned to start with, there are others — the large railroad grain-elevator, the depot building, the brick water tank, the engine or round house, all built by the railroad company, and a warehouse built by Geo. L. Tarbell, Esq. "It is almost incredible that so much work could have been done in so short a time, and still there are many other structures in process of construction, and every man is at work early and late." In addition to this somewhat lengthy description of the then embryo city, the following appeared in the same paper: "High Wind. — A terrible wind storm is raging here to-day. Three building frames in Clear Lake City have been blown down. The News office is turned into a smokehouse ad interim — a stirring time this." It also contained accounts of the weddings of the following persons, viz : ilr. Wm. Harding and j\Irs. Eliza Reibling, Nov. 20, 1867, in St. ilary ; ilr. F. H. Harding, son of Hiram Harding, and Miss ;\iary Green, daughter of IM. S. Green, Esq., of Iosco, Nov. 26, 1867 ; ]\rr. AVm. Davidson and Miss ilary E. Yars, in the town of Medo, Dee. 1, 1867. All three of these were solemnized by Rev. W. W. Satterlee. The same paper noted that S. W. Franklin, of New Richland, and ]\Iiss ]\lelissa B. Freelove, of ilanchester, Iowa, were married Nov. 19, 1867, by Rev. Norton. The first store of general merchandise opened within the pres- ent city limits was that of Mr. Wm. McVeigh, near where the brewery now stands. Tradition says he opened his store in the fall of 1866. During the early part of the season of 1867 he ship- ped his goods in boats by way of Straight river, Crane creek and the lakes to the boat landing on this side of Clear lake. How was that for high water? THE PALL ELECTION. The election of local officers in 1867 resulted as follows : Repre- sentative, Geo. A. La Dow; clerk of court, S. J. Willis; sheriff, S. W. Long; judge of probate, H. D. Baldwin; county attorney, W. T. Kittredge; surveyor, C. E. Crane. Messrs. Long and La Dow were the only democrats elected. Mr. La Dow was elected by two votes only. The year 1867 will be remembered as the wettest in the history of the state. The crops were light, with the single exception of grass. The level lands could not be cultivated on account of the moisture, and even the high grounds did not produce an average CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 191 crop. But what grain there was brought high prices, and the large immigration made money plentiful and furnished employ- ment for everyone. The price of wheat during the early winter months ranged from $1.60 to $2.25 per bushel, and corn brought from sixty cents to one dollar per bushel. The fall weather was very fine, and all in all the year closed hopefully and with favor- able prospects. CHAPTER XXXVI, 1868. PERSONALS — CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SOCIETY — COUNTY SEAT— WASECA INCORPORATED — COUNTY MATTERS — GOOD TEMPLARS ORGANIZE— BOILER EXPLOSION — BUSINESS RE- PORT OF WASECA— G. A. R. ORGANIZED— DEATH OF TAR- BELL— EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH ORGANIZATION— GRANT CLUB —SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES IN WASECA— COUNTY SEAT REMOVAL TALK— FIRST BUSINESS FAILURE IN WASECA— AR- REST OF A FORGER— FIRST WORK OF WASECA CITY FATHERS — OTISCO SWEDE CHURCH— THE FIRST WASECA PICNIC- DEATH OF C. O. NORTON, OF THE FETTERLY CHILD— MC- INTOSH ATTEMPTS SUICIDE— WASECA A YEAR OLD— THE WHEAT YIELD— PRESBYTERIANS ORGANIZE— LESLIE AND JONES NARROWLY ESCAPE DEATH— FIRST BRASS BAND- RAILROAD DISCRIMINATIONS— FINANCIAL TROUBLES. The new year 1868 opened auspiciously. The weather was fine and the "Happy New Year" was generally observed. Wheat was quoted at $1.75 for No. 1, and $1.60 for No. 2 ; corn 80 cents, potatoes 75 cents and oats 55 cents. January 7th the county commissioners, two of the three, met at Wilton, and James Isaac was elected chairman, R. P. Stevens being the other one present. ]\lr. John S. ^McKune the other member was absent during the session. The saloon license fee for the year was fixed at $50. Everything else was pretty high, but the privilege of making drunkards was cheap enough. No other business of importance was transacted. We copy the following personals from the "News" of the first week in January : CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 193 "Mr. E. P. Latham, the genial station agent at this place was married at Norfolk, Conn., the 1st inst Messrs. Ward and Jenkins, with their fair partners, have returned from their wedding tour. They had a host or friends here glad to welcome them hack to the head of navigation." CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SOCIETY. On the 15th of Jan., 1868, the Congregational church society of Waseca was organized. We copy the following from the local paper : "In response to the call of a number of Christian disciples, through their committee. Brothers Stevens, Hummiston and E. H. Wood, a council con- vened at the parlor of the Trowbridge hotel for the organization of a Congregational church. Churches from Faribault, Owatonna, Rochester and St. Paul were represented by clergy and lay delegates. R. Hall served as moderator and L. S. Greggs as scribe. The articles of faith were read, adopted and signed by the following persons: Frederick Stevens, Lyman Hummiston, Wm. H. Vinton, Gordon Henshaw, Mrs. Lucy P. Stevens, Mrs. Lydia H. Vinton, Mrs. Eliza Hummiston, Mrs. Anna M. Alden, Miss Julia Hummiston, Samuel Hawkes and wife, Wilfred Vinton Edward Bennett and wife, Ezra H. Wood and wife. Dr. H. J. Young and wife, Dana McGoun, Miss Matilda Bullis. On the 18th of January, 1868, officers were elected as follows: Rev. E. H. Alden, pastor; E. H. Wood and F. J. Stevens, deacons; Lyman Hummiston, clerk and treas- urer; and Ed Bennett, Stevens and Hummiston, trustees." Jan. 21st, 1868, there was quite a large meeting of citizens at Wilton to consider the question of removal of the county seat. Mr. John C. Hunter called the meeting to order by the nomination of Hon. Wm. Brisbane as chairman. The subject of the removal of the county seat was discussed by Messrs. Brisbane, J. A. Can- field, A. J. Woodbury, J. C. Hunter, Judge Baldwin and others, and, at the close, J. C. Hitnter, Dr. M. S. Gove, and Judge J. A. Canfield were appointed a committee to draft and circulate re- monstrances against any legislation that might be asked for to authorize the removal of the county seat. THE VILLAGE OF WASECA. On the 25th of January, 1868, a large meeting of citizens was held, and it was unanimously decided that a formal application be made to the legislature for an act of incorporation. Maj. W. T. Kittredge and Messrs. Tarbell and Sam Williams were appointed to draft and forward to our representative a bill to incorporate the village. The act finally passed the legislature and was ap- proved March 2, 1868. 9 194 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. For the purpose of the first election, I. C. Trowbridge, H. P. Nor- ton and P. H. Swift were named in the act to serve as judges and inspectors of election. The first election was held on Tuesday, May 5, 1868— the number of votes cast being 125. S. B. Williams, J. Shaw and W. G. Ward were the first trustees— Williams and Shaw being elected for two years and Ward for one year. P. H. Swift was elected the first justice. These officers were chosen without opposition, the vote being a light one. On Monday, Jan. 27, 1868, the Clear Lake House, with most of its contents, was entirely destroyed by fire. The building took fire from a stove pipe, either in the upper ceiling or roof, and, be- fore it was discovered, the flames had so far advanced that the building could not be saved with the means at hand. The build- ing belonged to C. A. Barr & Co., and was situated on the south side of the C. & N.-W. R'y. tracks. There was no insurance. Preparations were immediately made to rebuild — the citizens aid- ing Mr. Barr in the matter. This was the first fire of any magni- tude in what now constitutes the city of Waseca. At the annual March meeting of the county board, the school district organized of the territory included in the village of Wase- ca was made an independent district, and recognized as district number seventy-two. The territory then embraced within the village limits was described as "all the north one-half of sections 17 and 18, and the south one-half of sections 7 and 8, in the township of Wood- ville. At the same meeting of the county board the financial statement was submitted by Auditor Comee, and the summary showed as follows, viz : Total amount received $7,854.17 Amount of orders and certificates paid 6,987.7C Balance in treasury Feb. 29th 866.41 Outstanding indebtedness 1,596.80 Assets, taxes due and uncollected 8,366.58 April 22nd, the board re-districted and divided the county into five commissioner districts. District No. 1 included Blooming Grove and Woodville; No. 2, Iosco and Janesville ; No. 3, Wilton and Otisco ; No. 4, St. Mary and Alton ; No. 5, Freedom, Vivian, Byron and New Richland. At the same meeting, ]\[r. Isaac re- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 195 signed as chairman of the board, and R. F. Stevens was elected his successor. It would appear that shortly afterwards— al- though the records are silent on the subject— when Mr. Isaac re- signed his position upon his removal from this county to Oregon, S. S. Phelps was appointed to fill the vacancy; for on the 23d of June, 1868, we find Mr. Phelps acting as one of the board. At a special meeting of the board held Dec. 18, 1868, the resig- nation of W. T. Kittredge, as county attorney, was accepted, and Lewis Brownell, Esq., was appointed to fill the vacancy. Going back from the commissioners ' proceedings and taking up matters in their order, we find that Mr. L. W. Wheeler, father of Whitney L. Wheeler, and one of the early settlers of St. Mary, died Feb. 2, 1868, at Wilton, after a short illness. He Avas well advanced in years, and highly respected. His descendants are residents of the county. The first Good Templar lodge organized in Waseca, had its be- ginning Feb. 2-i, 1868, and was instituted by Capt. John. The following were its first officers : Rev. W. W. Satterlee, W. C. T. ; Mrs. L. A. Hicks, W. V. T. ; A. E. Dearborn, W. S. ; Wm. McVeigh, W. F. S. ; John F. Murphy, W. M. ; Etta Taylor, D. M. ; Mary R. Douglass, I. G. ; Nathaniel W. Scott, 0. G. ; Mrs. Satterlee, R. H. S. ; Mrs. E. G. Wood, L. H. S. ; G. N. Taylor, Chap. ; E. G, Wood, P, W. C. T. This organization, so long as Mr. Satterlee remained here, exercised a beneficial influence upon the citizens of the place. From the Waseca News of Feb. 21, 1868, the following is taken : ' ' The steam boiler in ]\Ir. Austin 's saw mill, situated some five miles north of Alma City, exploded last Friday, doing much damage to the mill, and seriously wounding Oscar Hadley, the fireman. He received a severe cut on the head, had the fiesh of his face blown full of sand, his hands badly scalded, and was otherwise bruised and injured There being no insurance on the building, the loss falls heavily upon Mr. Austin, who will proba- bly not rebuild." Mr. Hadley afterwards recovered his general health, but his mind was permanently injured. FIRST BUSINESS REPORT OF WASECA. On March 13, 1868, a report of the amount of business that 19G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. had been done during the fall and winter, by merchants, was published, and the summary is here reproduced : Sales of — Dry goods and groceries $G6,000 Drugs and medicines 2,176 Seeders and drills 10,000 Lumber 30,000 Cattle and hogs, etc 3,750 Hardware (estimated) 5,000 Total sales $116,926 Waseca was the market town for much of Freeborn county, all of Faribault county, and much of Blue Earth county. Over half a million bushels of wheat were marketed in Waseca the first winter of its existence. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. The first organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the county, Avas perfected ilarch 16, 1S6S. The first officers were as follows: ]\[aj. AV. T. Kittredge, post commander; P. H. Swift, senior vice; H. A. Lfosher, junior vice; Capt. A. H. Wellman, post cptartermasfer; Dr. II. J. Young, post sttrgeon. The first death noted in the new village was that of [Mr. Geo. L. Tarl.)cll, who died of consumption, IMarch 13, ISliS. He was a prominent business man and held in high esteem. EPISCOPALIANS ORGANIZE. In the month of [March, 1S6S, the first Episcopal society was organized here. Meiiibers of the Episcopal faith met at the resi- dence of Sirs. Teall, jMarcli 7, and proceeded to the organization of a society by adopting by-laws and electing officers. The officers elected were: Mrs. H. S. Teall, president; Mrs. Knappen. vice- president; Mrs. E. P. Latham, s(H'retary; Mrs. li. D. Baldwin, treasurer; ]Mr. and ]\Irs. II. J. Wadsworth, 'Mr. Teft't, [Miss Hall, IMrs. P. C. Bailey, and Mr. P. P. Smith, committee on entertain- ment. The receipts of the lii'st meeting amounted to Jf3.8."). GEN. GRANT CLUB. On JMarcli '20, 1S(kS, A'oters who favored the nomination and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 197 election of Gen. Grant to the presidency, met and organized a Grant club. Its ofP.cei's were as follows: Judge H. D. Bakhvin. president; :\Iaj. Wm. C. Young, vice- president; Capt. P. H. Swift, secretary; A. E. Dearborn, treas- urer ; AVm. G. Ward, James E. Child, G. W. Comee, D. L. Whip- ple and Capt. P. H. Swift, executive committee. PRICES OP GRAIN. Inasmuch as the prices of grain— especially wheat— show the prosperity or advei-sity of the people of this section, the prices of A\-heat are given for the years 1867-8. December wheat, 1867, brought $1.52 for No. 1, and $1.42 for No. 2. January 17, 1868, No. 1 wheat in AVaseca, brought $1.70. The 15th of the next month No. 1 wheat was $1.65 per bushel. In March it brought $1.55. In Jlay wheat went to $1.85 per bushel; in June it fell to $1.65, and gradually fell during July and into August when the price reached $1.40. In Septemlier wheat tumbled to $1 and before the close of the year 1868 the price of wheat had fallen to 78 cents per bushel for No. 1. At the same time wheat was worth, in New York, $1.65 per bushel, showing that the railroad companies got more for transporting a bushel of grain to New York than the farmer received for producing it. Is it any won- der that farmers became dissatisfied with that state of affairs and soon after inaugurated what was known as the "Grange" movement ? SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES. ilareh 28, 1868, a large school-meeting — the first in Waseca — was held, and Hon. P. C. Bailey was elected director ; Hon. H. D. Baldwin, treasurer, and G. N. Taylor, Esq., clerk. No action was taken toward building a schoolhouse, although the subject was discussed to some extent. On the 25th of April, a special school meeting was held to take measures to purchase grounds and raise funds for the building of a schoolhouse. The meeting was largely attended and quite exciting, as there was strong opposition to the building of a schoolhouse at that time. The majority decided to erect a build- ing, and Eri G. Wood, H. P. Norton, and James E. Child were chosen a committee to examine, select and report upon a site for a schoolhouse ; D. L. Whipple, Sam B. Williams and J. Shaw 198 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. were chosen a committee to make drafts and estimates for cost of building, both committees to report at an adjourned meeting. This was the beginning- of a long struggle which finally culminat- ed in the selection of the site where the present high school building now stands, and in the erection of a frame building, one part of which is now owned by the Trowbridge estate and the other by Hon. P. C. Bailey, both being situated on the corners of Wood and Sixth streets across from the High School building. COUNTY SEAT TALK. Of course, at the outset of the life of Waseca, the county seat question was uppermost in the minds of the people. The imme- diate residents of Wilton and Waseca were more deeply interest- ed than others, but all felt an interest. As early as the first of the year 1868, discussions were frequent and sometimes ani- mated. As showing the condition of matters at that time, the following is quoted from the "News" of April 17, 186S: "We are informed that those who are opposed to the removal of the county seat to Waseca give as a reason that the people are not now able to build new county buildings. Upon this question of buildings there can be no issue, at present. The old jail at Wilton is now worth- less; and, in the opinion of most men, never was good for anything as a jail. The courthouse there, so-called, is a very shabby thing at best, and is entirely unfit and unsafe as a repository of the public rec- ords. Whether the county seat shall be removed or not, the county must, as soon as possible, erect new buildings. * * * "But all this talk about the value of the county buildings at Wilton will only call attention to the worthlessness of those buildings for county purposes and show the fallacy of the Wilton argument. It is quite evident to an unbiased mind that the business of the county must center at Waseca, and the majority of the voters of the county, we think, desire a removal of the county seat. We call attention to the matter thus early so that it may be thoroughly discussed and fairly decided." COUNTY SEAT FIGHT POSTPONED. A republican county convention was held at Wilton 'May 2 1868, to elect delegates to the state convention to he held at St. Paul on the 13th of Uu- same month. At this county convention the county seat question was treated as follows: On motion of Maj. W. C. Young, of Wasi-ea, the following were adopted : CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 199 ••Whereas, The removal of the county seat, from Wilton to Waseca, has been agitated more or less, therefore, '•Resolved, That the republicans of this county disclaim all inten- tion of making that question a political or party issue this fall." The delegates elected to attend the state convention were Hon. AYarren Smith, Hon. W. G. Ward and Capt. C. C. Comee. BEAUTIFUL TREES. Among other improvements, many shade trees were planted in the spring of 1868, and to this activity on the part of our early settlers, very much of the beauty and present comfort of our city may be attributed. While there are some matters of a sanitary character that might be much improved, the numer- oiis beautiful shade trees of the city are a credit to the town and are much admired by all people of good taste. FIRST BUSINESS FAILURE. The first business failure in Waseca, of much importance, was that of H. S. Swift & Co., who closed their store May 14. Their liabilities footed up to $5,000— assets $1,500. This was the skir- mish line of many failures to follow in many parts of the country— largely on account of the destruction of greenbacks and the issue of interest-bearing bonds in their stead, thus contracting the currency. NEW BRICK YARD. On May 15, the "News" announced that "Bricks will soon be in fashion in this town. M. S. Green, Esq., and others have dis- covered excellent clay northeast of Loon lake, adjoining the village, and have commenced to open a brick yard." This discovery of clay was where ]\Ir. Messerknecht now has his brick yard. Esquire Green burned one kiln of brick, but for want of capital to develop it and from other causes aban- doned the business. THE COLORADO BEETLE. Potato bugs were then new to the people of this country. Very few people had ever seen one prior to 1865. This year, (1868) the Mankato Record (now Review) remarked that "those striped bugs which, for the past three years have so seriously damaged the crop west of us, have already made their appear- 200 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ance in large numbers." Other papers noticed their appearance, and our paper remarlied that "we have not heard of any of these pests in this immediate vicinity, but doubt not tliey will soon visit this section." We remarked that they should be "attacked at first sight and exterminated if possible." As M'e soon after learned, this was more easily said tlian done. ARREST OP A FORGER. Quite a sensation was created, ]\Iay 22, 18()S, both at Wasi-ca and in AVilton, by the arrest of one "Prof. J. C. Lewis" who was quite generally known as a vei-y polite and aureeable siiiu'- ing master. He made his appearance in AVaseca early in the spring and appeared to be a very Christian-like and honorable man. He had nearly finished a term of singing sclmol in Wilton, and was soon to have cinnmeneed his labors in Waseca, when the arrest was made and the game was up. He was eharg(=:.l with having forged the name of AVni. E. Jones, of La Crosse. Wi^., to a receipt for $1,000.00 which he put in his own pocket. The money had been sent to him as agent of an insurance eompmy to pay off Air. Jones' claim for less of property insured. The forgery occurred the previous December, at which time he was ai'rested, but made his escape during his examination. He was ari'csted in Steele county l)y A. H. Hawes, general agent of the insui-ancc company, assisted l)y John Alartin, then sheriff of Wi- nona county, and Seth AV. Long, then slierift" of AVaseca county. He was one of those sleek rascals that wear the livery of heaven the more effectually to serve the devil, lie was afterwards con- victed and served time at AA'aupun prison, AVis. FIRST WORK OF CITY FATHERS. The first proceedings of the then AVaseca village board of trus- tees were published Alay 27, 18(i8. The following officers were appointed by the trustees; A. E. Dearborn, clerk; :\la,i. AV. T. Kittredge, treasurer; IL P. Xcn-ton. mar.shal; Charles Dunn, street coiiimissionei'; and P. Y. Ilotfstott, fire warden. Let it be remembered by future generations that H .P. Norton, who is still witli us, was the first city marshal to guard the lives and property of our citizens— and who could have done it bet- ter 1 The fir.st ordinance passed was signed by "W C. AVard, prt'si- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 201 dent," and "A. E. Dearborn, clerk," and appeared in the Wa- seca News on the 27th day of :\ray, 1868, and was entitled: "Ah Ordinance Regulating Shows, Theatricals, and Other Exhibi- tions." This ordinance prohibited all sorts of shows not prop- erly licensed, and fixed the license fee as follows: For a circus .$25; for theatricals $5 each; for jugglers, sleight-of-hand per- formers, vocal or instrumental concerts, and all othei' shows or entertainments charging an admission fee, $5. * * * j^ix ordinances in all were published on the same date. Maj. Young and D. L. Whipple, then contractors and builders, built the Swede church in the Charles Johnson neighborhood, in Otisco, this season. It was a model church in a model farming community. PIONEER CLERGYMEN. Among the early workers in the moral vineyard of Waseca, vcas Kev. W. W, Satterlee. He was a thorough, fearless. Chris- tian worker, not only mentally but physically. He did not hesitate to "\'\-ork with his hands six days in the week and preach on the seventh. He was one of the ablest ministers of the gospel that ever preached in Waseca. During the winter of 1868, he was instrumental in the organization of a Good Templar lodge. He was untiring in all good work. Rev. G. C. Tanner, of the Episcopal church, was an earnest worker in the moral and reli- gious field. During the winter of 1867-8 and following, six dif- ferent denominations of Christians held regular services in Wa- seca, namely: Congregationalists, Rev. E. H. Alden, pastor; Presbyterians, Rev. J. G. Patterson, pastor; Methodist Episco- pal, Rev. W. W. Satterlee, pastor; German Isl. E. church, Rev. Uhl, pastor; Baptist church. Rev. S. T. Catlin, pastor; Episco- pal church, Rev. G. C. Tanner, pastor. These were the pioneer clergymen of the town and county. HEAVY RAINS AND MUD. The last week in May and the first ten days of June, 1868, brought very heavy rains. The streets were then ungraded and without drainage, and were so many lines of almost bottomless mud. That M'as true not only of the village streets, but it was very nearly true of all the highways leading into the city. The poll tax, which was all that was available that season, amounted 202 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to four days' work or $6 for each man— the whole amounting to about $600.00. It was determined by the village board to ex- pend $200 on the roads leading north and northwest, $200 on the St. ]\Iaiy and Wilton roads, and $200 in the village. The town of Woodville, was liberal, and expended considerable money on the roads from the east. ;Mr. Trowbridge was especially liberal in helping- to grade Second street. Charles Dunn was street com- missioner that year, and put in a good deal of hard work, mak- ing the streets quite passable. Under date of June 17, we find this record: "Koad Commissioner Dunn has been doing good service on the roads during the past week. He has not only put the main street in good condition, but has made North street passable for the heaviest loads from the village to Clear Lake. "Wood street has been materially improved and other streets made passable." FOURTH OF JULY 1868. Although there was no formal celebration of the Fourth the first year of our village life, the records show that a large num- ber of people collected in the place from the surroimding eoim- try and held a sort of impromptu celebration. It appears that the great day was ushered in by the firing of a brass piece, brought over from Berlin, Steele county. Quite an excitement was created early in the day by two young Americans that cel- ebrated by engaging in a knock-down scrap in settlement of some old grudge. Then ^Marshal Norton put in a hot job and broke up that part of the celebration. Then came a horse race between 'Neil's sorrel, and Smith's brown— the bro^^Ti ap- pearing to be the better trotter. And next eame the most ex- citing of all— a foot race between Ceo. Dreever and "Dad" Sweet— the latter winning the race and the money by a close rub. Waseca then had a character known as "Uncle Tom." He was engaged that da>- in selling drinks of various kinds, and having an eye single to profits he hastily built a platform in front of his business place and secured two or three local speakers to make the eagle scream. Among the speakers that day we call to mind our departed friends, 'SI. S. Green, Es(|., and Hon. Wm. Brisbane. Then followed numerous wrestling matches, and the day closed with the firing of the brass piece and a fire-eracker fusilade which lasted long into the night. ''HILD'K HIK'I'OIIY OK WASKCA COlIN'J-y. 20:i THE VILLAUIO COW AND PIO. Th(' niniiint,' ;i1 lar^c ol' r;il1lc in "W;iscc:i vilhif^c was Uii' siib- ji-ct of i-;irly ;uicl irjiicli dchiilc jiinonj^' liu; piMipli; arid with our ••il.v nitlKTH. (Jri Uir '2::!i| of .July, ]8G8, Uic trnslrcH piiHsod ;in or- ilinaiicc lliiil ciitllc, hiirscs, uiiilrs, or- whccp found running- :it l:ii-Hd williin 1li<> vill,-iHc hclwiTh the timo of one lioni' ;rn,cf siin- si't, ;ind liid'orc sunrises should he liikcn up ;ind irnpourKhtd ; ;iiid the poiindniiislcr-, iiiiicsliiil, siri'cl, coiriinissicjrK'r', and consljihh; wi-n- (■S|)cciidly enjoined lo enl'or'ee Lhc hi.w. This Wiis beiiei- ihiin no law, hnl, it was poor j)i'otee1,ion I'or ^ar-dens and lawns. TIIK FIRST WASECA IMCNIC. The lir-sl, Wiisi'ea |iie,nie was a pienie, and rif) mistake. It e.aiiie off .July \i\, iHfJS. II, was a ^lor-ioiis harwest da,y, witli ;;()lden sunshine and a, ciml, r-elVeslMn;^' breeze^ i'l-oni the northwest. All nature was eril r'aneinfr in its siujshine and shadow as it smiled Ufion our lieauliFnl ('lear lake, with its suri-oundini^ timher-ed slopes and wooch'd hills. It was a i^atlier-injf of all tlie f'lr-st fami- lies of the lowir — which ineludeil almost (;very body— and the vil- lage was ainios), enlir'ely d<'sei'(i'(l tor- the time beinji-^ Sonii' of the pienie pai'ly wiMit ai'ound on the west side oi' the la.ki^ by e,a r- riati'e, as I'ar as Mr. Ooon's [rlace, and walki'd the j'emainder' of the way, while a, lar'ji(! number leathered at what was then kno\vn as the Kit ti'edffc! b(jat-laiidin;^ and took rowboats for' what was then ealled Ma[ile hill on the nor'th shore ol' (!lear lake. No oru' then lived ou the nor-tli shor-(; of th(i lake, the loeality bcin^' then elotlied with th(^ ina.jestie, IVtrest trees plardcd by Nature's own hand. The boat ride aei-oss the lak(^ oeeujried neai-ly t li ree-(|u:ir- ters of an hour, and ruradsheil the hij;hest enjoyment For all the eompauy. A few ste[)S up the slopi' br'ouf^ht US to the pienie ^;r'(uirids. The larj^c, prirnilive maples and elms, with their [;r-eat, spr-i'adin^' tops l'orme(l a, jrerfeet, shade. T'he land sb)ped each way, so that tlii^ k''"'>'ii"'^' seleeteil were dry and in (in<^ e.onditioii. There was ver-y little urHJerbrush, while the lak(^ with its sur'- roundine-s furaiished a, iiietur'e of natur-al beauty uiisur-passed auy- wlier-e. Here, amid the rnonar-cdlS of t,he [irimeval I'on^st,, the |»io- neers walked and talked, swunfi', ^;atliered llowei's, eha.tlcd, draidc lemonade, played "Miss .lohiuiyeake" and other- i^ames, arul enjoyed a, royal ^'ood time ncnci-jdly, Kvery one beloii^^cil to 204 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. the elite. ".Sets" and "pushes" and "classes" were then un- known, and pure, American equality and generosity were at the front. At the feast there were no regular toasts with impromptu responses written out in advance; but it was a jovial, joyful, happy occasion, where full justice m'rs done to the inner man. After lunch the tables were cleared and Judge Baldwin led off in a regular game of "pull-away," the ladies all joining in the game. Between 6 and 7 o'clock p. m. all hands embarked on board the row boats manned In- the jolliest crews that ever saih^d the lake, and, just as old Sol was disappearing beyond the west- ern hills, the happy company reached the village in condition to enjoj^ a nii;lit of refreshing rest. The local paper, in writing of the party said. "Such recreation is good for the health, pleas- ing to the senses, innocent in its nature, democratic in its ten- dencies, and calculated to make life worth the living. We trust that this excursion may prove an introduction to many more of the same sort. Nature has given AVaseea the amplest means of enjoyment, and it will be our own fault if we do not frequently use and enjoy them." DEATH OF AN EARLY SETTLER. The "News" of .Kugust 5, 1868, contained an obituary notice of the death of C. 0. Noi-ton, one of the pioneer blacksmiths of the county, who died of inflammation of the bladder at the age of 39 years. He was one of the most jovial and companionable men and his death was felt as a personal loss by a larue circle of acquaintances. He was buried with ^Masonic honors, and sleeps in the quiet graveyard known as the Wilton cemetery. FIRST FATAL ACCIDENT. The first fatal accident on the new railroad occurred August 3, 1868. The train coming in from the east, some three miles before reaching the village, ran over a young boy, cutting off one of his legs near the ankle, and the other near the body. Some of the child's fingers were cut off and a piece of the scalp was missing. The boy belonged to the family of IMr. Fetterly, a brother-in-law of Mr. A. Wei-t, of Waseca. He was about four years old, and, while at play, fell asleep on the track. He was not discovered by the engineer until too late. The little fellow died within two hours after the accident. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 205 ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. On the 31st of August, 1868, a great excitement was raised in "Waseca by an attempt or pretended attempt at suicide. About 10 o'clock a. m. of that day an old gentleman by the name of ilelntosh, living in an old hbuse near the present resi- dence of ex-]Mayor Moonan, attempted to shoot himself. The first intimation the public had of the matter was the loud re- port of a gun, followed by the screams of a woman. Many ran to the spot, and, upon arrival, found Mcintosh lying upon the ground, face downward, and Mrs. Mcintosh screaming wildly. It transpired that his son, in connection with another boy, named Douglass, had stolen some $40 from the grocery of Jo Gatzman, the Saturday evening before, and the old gentleman became very much excited upon hearing of it. Early that Monday morning- he drank very freely at the saloons; and, just before the shoot- ing, when the Douglass boy passed his house, he chased him with a fish spear and threw it at him. He threatened to kill himself —a matter not unusual with him, it was said, when he was ex- cited with liquor. After chasing the boy, he ran into the house, swearing that he would shoot himself. He seized his loaded gun and cocked it, but his wife interfered to prevent his designs. A scuffle ensued, during which the gun was discharged, making a ghastly wound in his left side, tearing the flesh from the lower ribs the size of a man's hand, and tearing away the end of one of the old lady's fingers. Drs. Young and Satterlee dressed the wounds, and the old man raved like a madman during the day. However, as soon as the whisky and beer worked off, he became quite meek, and, in due time, recovered from his self-inflicted injury. "A MONSTER YEARLING!" Under this heading the Waseca News of August 26th, 1868, published the following : "Waseca village is one year old this month. It contains over one hundred business and residence buildings, and a population of seven hundred souls. Clear Lake City— adjoining on the south, and virtual- ly a part of the town— contains some twenty buildings. By actual count, both places contain one hundred twenty-nine buildings. Nearly all of these belong to the class denominated "good structures." Several other buildings are now being constructed and will be completed before win- 206 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ter. Where there was only a wheat field or native prairie, one year ago, we now have a live town of nearly one thousand wide-awake peo- ple and a business center tor a wide extent of country. Wheat is quoted at $1.25 here, which is certainly 15 cents lower than its actual value. In Milwaukee and Chicago it is quoted at $1.88. Forty-eight cents for freight and margin is quite enough; and No. 1 wheat should bring to-day $1.40. At present there is but one buyer in the market; next week there will be several, probably, when we hope to see wheat kept up to the market value at this point." But the people were disappointed. The next issue of the pa- per had the following: "Our market report shows that wheat No. 1 is selling for $1.15. That is the price to-day. What it will bring to-morrow or next day, no one here can give any information. The men who own the means of trans- portation in this state have concluded to shave the producers out of all that a bountiful harvest has given them. Three or four men con- trol the markets of the state. Into every town along the railroads they send buyers that are by them instructed, from day to day, as to the price to be paid. This is all legitimate enough; but the joke comes in when we learn that outside buyers are charged ten cents more on a bushel for transportation than they were charged last year, thereby en- abling the men that own the roads and boats to bid higher than any other person. Thus all opposition is driven out and the combine Is secured a monopoly of the grain markets." RAILROAD EXTENSION. During the month of September, 1868, the contract for build- ing the Winona and St. Peter railroad, from "Waseca to Janes- ville, was let to Col. Degraff & Son, and work commenced upon the extension in October. The building of the road west gave great temporary prosperity to the business men of Waseca as well as to many other residents of the county. BIG SHIPMENTS OF WHEAT. The amount of wheat received from farmers, at the railroad elevator, in Waseca, the first week in Si'pteniber. 18(3S. was 11,- 0721/2 bushels; the amount shipped out was 10.560 bushels, and the price was ^1.2", per bushel. The total receipts of wheat at the railroad elevator, during the mouth of September, amounted to 5:i,32(i l)ushels— the receipts of the last week in that month were lS,5r)8 bushels. THE WHEAT YIELD IN WASECA COUNTY. This yt'ar, ]8(i8, was one of the great wheat seasons for ]Min- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 207 nesota. Mr. H. W. S. Hinkley, Avho was then a noted thresher- man of the county, reported yields as follows: John Byron, of St. Mary, threshed 440 biishels of wheat from 13 acres-a yield of 34 bushels per acre. Wm. Byron, same town, threshed 917 bushels from 34 acres— an average yield of 27 bushels per acre. Anthony Gorman, Esq., same neighborhood, got 578 bushels from 24 acres— a jdeld of 24 bushels to the acre. Wm. Priebe, of the same town, got 40 bushels to the acre. The average yield throughout the county that year was a trifle over 20 bushels to the acre ; and those who were fortunate enough to market their wheat in September got from $1.00 to $1.30 per bushel. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Then as now, people were married and given in marriage. The first marriages in "Waseca were reported as follows: ^Married, by Rev. W. W. Satterlee, Dec. 9, 1867, at the Trow- bridge House, Waseca, Minn., W. G. Ward, Esq., to Miss Ella C. Trowbridge ; Also at the same time and place, J. H. Jenkins, Esq., to Miss Augusta M. Trowbridge. On the 26th of the same month, Hon. P. C. Bailey and Miss Lurinda C. Dodge were mar- ried by Rev. E. H. Alden, at the residence of Mr. D. L. Whipple. A Presbyterian church organization was effected in this place on the evening of September 8, 1868— the trustees being Maj. W. T. Kittredge, I. C. Trowbridge, Wm. Everett, S. H. Drum. D. L. Whipple, Mr. Murfin and Mr. Sutliff. Preparations were soon after made for the building of a church edifice which resulted in the erection of what is now known as the Baptist church— the first church erected in the place. The contract for building this church was let to Messrs. Whipple & Young- both since deceased — and work was commenced thereon early in No- vember. The building was completed and dedicated December 20. Here is an item that appeared Nov. 25, 1868: "Venison is be- ginning to find its way into our market. Several deer have been shot in this section within the past few days. Some of our sports- men killed one in the timber bordering on Clear lake, a few days ago." No live wild deer have ever been seen in this section since. NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. On the 10th of December, 1868, Mr. Samuel Leslie, now of 208 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Otisco, and ilr. Jones, both then of Waseca, commenced hauling wood across Clear lake. It was a bitterly cold day. They tried the ice in several places, and believing it was strong enough to hold a team and load, drove across and got one Inad of wood, returning safe and sound. Upon coming back with the second load, when near the center of the lake, one horse broke throuuli the ice. ilr. Jones unhitched from the slei.uh and succeeded in getting the horse out upon the ice. He then concluded to leave the load and take the team home, as the one horse was wet and very cold, and Mr. Jones himself was already quite wet. He therefore mounted one of the horses and started for shore. They had gone but a short distance, however, when both hurses went through the ice at once. ]Mr. Jones succeeded in getting out of the water on to the ice but was thoroughly wet. After an in- effectual effort to get the horses out, ^Mr. Leslie came to "Wasi-ea for help, ilr. Jones remaining with the horses to keep their heads above Avater. It was an intensely cold day and an hour passed before help arrived to get the horses out. By that time, ]Mr. Jones' feet and hands were badly frosted. The horses were at last gotten out of the water on to the ice, but they were -so thoroughly benumbed and chilled that they would not stand upon their feet, and showed little signs of life. They were given i\p as lost and left upon the ice, the men returning to town. The next morning ;\Ir. Douglas found one of the horses alive and wandering around his dead mate, apparently loath to leave him. Had the weather not been so intensely cold, or if the liorst>s had been blanketed no doubt both could have been saved. It was a mys- tery to all why the horses broke throxigh the ice where they had three times before the same day passed safely over. It was a s:ul loss for ilr. Jones, who depended much on his team to earn his living, (^ur people, however, with their accustomed liberality and goodness of heart contributed somewhat to his relief. THE FIRST BRASS BAND. The new toAvii of Waseca was up with the times in many ways. Among the other enterprises, we recall the fact that a brass band was organized at Christmas time, and a concert and a festival were held to raise f\iiids to help the boys get started, Tlie receipts of the two evening entertainments, December ^2'^ and '2(i, amounted CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 209 to over $100. The entertainments were -well received and highly enjoyed. S. H. Preston and his sisters, ]Mrs. Young and :Mrs. :\lc- Intosh, took leading parts in the entertainments, and ilr. Preston became leader of the band, sacrificing both time and money for which he has never received proper consideration. ^Messrs. Pjes- ton, Willsey and Bennett were elected as financial committee, and H. D. Baldwin as treasurer. ROUND UP OF THE YEAR. The year 186S closed with what ought to have been one of the most prosperous epochs in the history of the nation. The crop yields had been much above the average. The returned soldiers, North and South, had added their productive labor to the great storehouses of national wealth. But, notwithstanding all these means of prosperity, hard times seemed to be settling down upon the nation. Wheat that readily commanded $1.25 per bushel in September, went down to 75 cents in October where the price substantially remained for many months. While the price of wheat in ^Milwaukee and Chicago was $1.88 per bushel, buyers at Waseca were paying only $1.25— a difference of sixty-three cents on a bushel. Allowing a margin of three cents a bushel for han- dling, there was sixty cents a bushel for railroad freight. The fall in the price of wheat held good also as to barley and other farm prodiicts. Very soon the business men of the country commenced to fail. The commercial failures which had numb.-r- ed but 485 in 1863, 520 in 1864, 530 in 1865, and 632 in 1866, sud- denly increased to 2,608 in 1868, and to 2,799 in 1869. In lS(i6, the average price of wheat, in New York was $2.19, while the price in 1869 had dropped to 94 cents. And what caused the dmp in the price of wheat? Let us reason ! Some said that the extortion of the transportation companies was the cause of the trouble, but the fact was that prices every- where and of everything in the United States came tumbling- down. The historian should present facts, and government reports show that in 1865, the amount of money in circulation, including greenbacks, was $1,180,197,147. In 1868, greenbacks had been called in and destroyed under the refunding acts of congress until the money in circulation had been reduced to $906,091,245— a 210 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. total destruction of greenbacks amounting to $274,105,902. Very few people then knew the cause of the hard times in the midst of abundant harvests, but most men of sense and intelligence have since learned that the supply of money has more to do with prices than the supply of any other one article in the commerce of the country. Hence the business failures and the hard times of 1868-9. The money kings were getting in their secret work. Is it any wonder that farmers rebelled and organized the Granger Movement ? CHAPTER XXXVII, 1869. THE WEATHER— FIRST BANK FAILURE— SEVERE WIND STORM- STAGE OVERTHROWN— VERY COLD MARCH— DEPOT BURNED- SCHOOL HOUSE CONTEST— JAIL AND COURT HOUSE BURNED AT WILTON— INCOME TAX— THE DARK DAY— SHOCKING DEATH OF MURPHY— RAILROAD TO JANESVILLE— WASECA CATHOLIC CHURCH. The year 1869 was ushered in by a heavy rainstorm, followed by a week of cold, unpleasant weather. The remaining three weeks of January brought mild, warm weather. There was quite a fall of snow in February and March, and early in April the snow disappeared with a heavy rainfall, causing very high water. The spring was backward, and seeding did not commence until about the middle of April. About harvest time, the country was visited by heavy storms of rain and high winds, making the harvest a long, tedious, and ex- pensive one. Grain also suffered somewhat from blight and rust, but the yield was large, much larger than the prices, for on the 15th of November, 1869, wheat, in Waseca, brought 57 cents for No. 1, and No. 2, which was the grade of this section, brought only 52 cents. FIRST BANK FAILURE. In accordance with the fashion at that time Waseca had a bank failure which proved to be a very great damage to the whole com- munity. It came to the surface January 29, 1869. Like a thunder clap on a clear, January morning, or a conflagration at midnight, or a mighty whirlwind on a cloudless summer day, or a sudden 212 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. and murderous Indian outbreak on a defenseless, frontier town, so came the first bank failure in this county as the report flew from ear to ear that Baldwin & Kittredge had failed. The failure was a bad one. The assets amounted to only $32,000, while the liabilities footed up to .i;31,()00. One-half of the assets consisted of I'eal estate, considerable of it village lots, and did not sell for the estimated value when sales were made. It was a terrible blow to our young village, leaving many of our citizens in very bad shape financially. The failure took with it the bank at Blue Earth City, eoiulueted l)y S. P. Child under the firm name of Baldwin & Child. That failure, in turn, caused financial distress to many people in Faril)ault county, although every creditor there was finally paid in full, dollar for dollar, while here the assets did not pay over sixty cents on the dollar. The late 'Sir. Wm. Everett was appointed assignee, in the bankruptcy proceed- ings, and managed the estate to tlie satisfaction of all concerned. A SECOND NEWSPAPER. W. D. Falmer and A. -I. Clark started a paper at "Wilton, called the "Conrant," which continued some six months and then failed. Palmin- remained only two weeks. Mr. Clark having charge of the paper the remainder of the lime. Clai-k recently died, in Texas, wo think. His last newspaper enterprise (and he started many") was at Roseau, in this state. He was a very congenial, compan- ionable man, but whisky was his bane and kept him in the slough of [)overty and despondency. SEVERE WIND STORM. There was a very severe wind storm on Friday, March ."i. lSti9. Al. Long, then one of Burbank & Co.'s stage drivei-s, between here and ]\Iankato, had his stage upset and rolled over and over down a hill as though it were a paper kite. The horses were thrown down and badly tangled up, and one of them was badly injured. There was but one passenger aboard, and, fortunately, he was not in- jui'ed, although he asserted in language strong that the stage I'oacli i-oUed over twenty times. DEATH OF A BRAVE SOLDIER. The death of William Bliven occ\n-i-etl on llie Sth of March. He was one of tlie l)oy setth'rs of Ibe countv. His marriau-c to the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 213 only dau-hter of W. H. Yonns, against the wishes of her parents, was somewhat romantic. IMr. Bliven enlisted at the miistering-in of the Tenth :Minnesota regiment and served with it until the close of the Rebellion as a brave and faithful soldier. While in the service, he eoiiti-acted that lingering and dreadful disease, consumption, which finally closed his earthly career. His was another name added to the long roll of those honored patriots who gave their lives that this nation might live as the home of free men. THE COLDEST MARCH DAY ON RECORD. Waseca News, March 17, 18G9. "We give it up! We stand corrected! We have always stood by Min- nesota and Minnesota weather, but now we feel shocked. Our potatoes and other small supplies of vegetables are frozen in the month of March! Can we stand that? Thermometer down to 20 degrees; can we call that blessed? We can't see the propriety of hot weather in January and such monstrous weather in March. If anybody wants to emigrate, we say, 'let 'em go.' Our feelings have been exceedingly outraged. Wonder If the torrid zone is 'froze up?' Is there no way of getting up a change?" DEPOT BURNED. < »n the 17th of ilarch, '69, the city saw its first very destructive fire. The following is the description given at the time: "About one o'clock in the morning our citizens were startled from their slumbers by the fearful cry of fire ! fire ! ! fire ! ! ! which rang out with dreadful clearness on the still, morning air. Flames were seen issuing from the W. & St. P. R. R. station-house, which, being of wood, was, with nearly all its contents, soon a mass of smould- ering ruins. It is impossible to learn the exact origin of the fire, but it is supposed to have originated from the explosion of a kerosene lamp which was left burning on the table in the office. A large amount of freight was stored in the building— much of ii" belonging to merchants in I\Iankato and other towns to the west and southwest of us. The books and papers of the office were all destroyed. Some 2,000 bushels of wheat belonging to Troost & White, millers of Minnesota City, were consumed. The estimated loss was from $12,000.00 to $15,000.00." * * * The railroad company rebuilt at once, constructing what is now (1904) the C. & N.-W. freight depot. It was completed Hay 10th following. 214 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE CONTEST IN WASECA. On the 27th of March, 1869, there was a lively annual school meeting — the question being to build or not to build a schoolhouse. Those in favor of building elected the following officers : James E. Child, director; Eri 6. Wood, treasurer; G. N. Taylor, clerk. After a lengthy and stormy debate the meeting adjourned to April 10th. On the evening of the 10th, after a long and heated struggle, the majority of the voters of the village selected lots one and two of block three. First addition, as the site for the school- house. Bonds bearing 12 per cent interest were issued, and a resolution was formally adopted directing the officers of the district to let the contract for building the schoolhouse, to the lowest responsible bidder at any price not to exceed $2,000. The present High School building now stands upon the site then chosen. The building of the first schoolhouse was a struggle from start to finish, but the first building was completed October 1st, ISfilJ, and school opened on the 4th of the same month. The total expense of the public school that year, including rent, blackboard, stoves and pipe, lightning rod, fuel and in- cidentals, with two teachers. Prof. Carman and JNliss Lizzie Smith, amounted to only $775.80. It is proper to note in this connection that March 26th, 1870, at the annual meeting, Child and Wood were re-elected, and Dr. L. D. Mcintosh was chosen clerk. The opposition finall.y carried a motion to adjourn for one week, hoping thereby to defeat a motion to levy a tax for eight months of school. At the adjourned meeting, however, the motion carried and the school board was fully sustained. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WILTON. On the 3d day of April, 1869, as if to aid the rapid decline of the doomed village of Wilton, then the county seat, a disastrous fire occurred. The fire originated, it was thought, either from the stove pipe, wliieh led from the jail stove to the chimney, or was set fire by a prisoner, named Shea. The fire was not discovered until about eiglit o'clock, when it had reached the roof and spread far and wide on the inside, between the roof and eeilini;- over the adjoining court room. Heroic work was dimo to save the building, while men, M'omen CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 215 and children, with much presence of mind, worked bravely in saving the books, papers, records and furniture of the county offices. The venerable old court house soon fell in, and Mr. Henry J. ]\Ieyer's building, which contained LaDow's Hall, J. H. Wight- man's stock of hardware, Powers & LaDow's library, and G. A. LaDow's household effects next fell a prey to the devouring flames. Hall's saloon next met its doom and in the space of an hour and a half the whole block was but a mass of smouldering ruins. Each building was insured for $200, which did not cover a tenth part of the loss. The people of Wilton cared for those made homeless and the county commissioners met April 12, to arrani;e for county offices — the county offices being temporarily located in the wagon shop of B. Bundsho. The prisoner Shea, who was serving time for robbing a drunken man in Waseca, Avas rescued without serious harm, although he was terribly scared. FIRST FINANCIAL REPORT. The first financial report of the village of Waseca was published April 21, 1869. This report showed no real or personal property taxes collected, but the total receipts amounted to $396, and were derived from the following sources, to wit : Jerome Madden, saloon license $50 00 Thos. White, same 50 00 T. E. Marshall, same 50 00 Jos. Gatzman, same 50 00 W. S. Libby, same 50 00 G. Liek, same 50 00 John Maloney, same 50 00 W. S. Libby, billiard license 15 00 T. E. Marshall, same • • 15 00 A. Wert, dray license 5 00 De Castro, show license 5 00 Fines Collected ^ ^^ Total : ' ?396 00 Then followed itemized expenses amounting to $391.69, leaving a balance on hand of $4.31. Saloon license fees and corporation expenses were light in those days compared with the present. THAT INCOME TAX. In those days, (1863-9)) before the gold-buggers had gotten 21G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. eiintrol of the Republican party, the supreme court, and the gov- ernment, there was an income tax— and a very just tax it was too, althoug'h there were some queer pranks about taxpayers then as HOW. Here is a little article which went forth from the sanctum of the "Waseca News, May 12, 1S69, viz: "Ward, Child— Child, Ward!" "INCOME TAX FOR WASECA COUNTY FOR THE PRESENT YEAR." Child, J. E. income $1,547, tax $17 35 "Ward, W. G., income $1,0G.5, tax 3 25 "One a civil engineer for the Winona & St. Peter Railroad company: the other a scrub of an editor on a country newspaper! "What a tremendous loss there must have been in business circles for less than a thousand dollars a year! Heavy men laboring for less than a thousand dollars a year!! "Where is Hunter with his bonds and farms and merchandise? and Bailey and Watkins with their hardware? and Libby with his United States bonds and liquor profits? and Addison & Everett with their tre- mendous sales? and Wadsworth with his salary and lands? and the Smiths, and Johnsons, and McCues, and Castors, and doctors and law- yers, and hosts of other equally worthy gentlemen in this couiity? Are they dying in poverty and obscurity? What have they been doing the past year? Have they been gnawing at their original capital? "It is a glorious thing. Brother Ward, to have an income; but it is excruciating to look upon the poverty (?) of our friends around us! Only two persons, in Waseca county pay Income taxes — poor, degraded, 'Black Republicans,' at that! "Brother Ward, let us call a meeting and get the Democrat Whang- doodle to deliver a speech of condolence." The man that has an income can and ought to pay his propor- tion of the taxes; the man that, on account of misfortune or otho-wise, in any year, has no income ought not to be called upon ti) pay taxes. The farmer that has a good crop can afford to pay taxes. The farmer whose crop is totally destroyed by a torimdo or drouth is not able to pay taxes and ought not to be called upon to pay any for that year. There is no other plan of luxation so fair and so equitable as taxation based upon income. BASE BALL OF YEARS AGONE. Perhaps it will interest soiiii> of the people of to-day and of the future to read and learn something of the first prominent base- ball organization of Waseca county. It was ebristiMied the "Clear Lake Base Ball Club," and was organized Wednesday evening. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 217 May 5: the following officers were elected: B. S. Lewis, president; "\V. ^I. ilurfin, vice president ; W. 0. Xanscawen, secretary ; Lewis Brownell, treasurer; J. W. Johnson, P. P. Smith and :\[. H. Helms, directors. It was organized with a membership of 18— afterwards increased to 27. The next Saturday evening, at a regular meet- ing, the following were chosen as the first nine, viz : ]ilike ilurphy, captain; M. H. Helm, pitcher; Wm. Wood, catcher; I. AV. John- son, short stop; ]M. ilurphy, first base; B. S. Lewis, second base; Dan. Haines, third base ; AV. il. Alurfin, center field ; Charles Yin- cent, right field; Koger AVood, left field. The members met every evening, Sundays excepted, upon the grounds now occupied by the court house and jail, for practice. It was little more than an amateur club until it absorbed the "Blooming Gi'ove nine," and made Alartin Healy captain and pitcher. It finally became the champion club of the state and won the silver bat. The base ball excitement about that time became almost universal throughout the country, and even aged men would leave their business to broil in the hot sun while they watched the ups and downs of the game. But, like every other fad, it had its day; and our AYaseca people, after one year of excitement, loss of time and cash outlay, concluded to give the game over to less practical men and bnys. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. On the 11th of ilay, 1869, members of the Congregational chiirch met in what is now the Baptist church building of Waseca, and adopted articles of incorporation in accordance with the laws of the state. The following gentlemen were chosen trustees: Ezra AVood, A. E. Dearborn, Austin Yinton, J. 11. Stevens, L. Hummiston, Ed. Bennett and G. A. Rowland. Ezra AVood was elected president and A. E. Dearborn secretary. At this meeting there was considerable discussion regarding the erection of a church edifice at an early day, but nothing decisive was accom- plished until the following September. About the 22d of that month the committee had secured $1,700.00 for the purpose, and about October 1, D. L. Whipple and Alaj. Young commenced work on the construction of the edifice. The building was com- pleted the next spring, and constitutes the main part of the pres- ent church. 218 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. TOTAL ECLIPSE— THE DARK DAY. There was a total eclipse of the sun on the seventh day of August, 1869, at 3.43 p. m. This eclipse of the sun was one of the most awe-inspiring sights ever beheld. Long prior to the ob- scuration, almost everyone had prepared his smoked glass and was watching intently for the phenomenon that astronomers had foretold years and years before. Exactly on time the moon was seen to intrude between the earth and the sun. Slowly and surely darkness covered the face of the sun, the obscuration growing more and more, and then was seen the approach of the moon's shadow in the air. The heavens were darkened. The stars and planets shone forth as in the night. The air grew sensibly cooler. Animals became strangely agitated. Birds seem- ed bewildered and fluttered in the treetops. A strange gloom covered the earth. Buildings, trees, animals, and all other ob- jects had a peculiar and unnatural appearance. The human face assumed a pallid, ghastly shade, and as the eclipse reached totality or near it, all grew silent and meditative ; and a feeling of pro- found awe, not to say dread, took possession of the beholder. COUNTY POLITICS. The Republican county convention was held at Wilton, Sep- tember 2, 1869. At this convention Waseca secured the nomina- tion of Waj. W. C. Young, who was well known to favor the re- moval of the county seat to Waseca. The nominees were as follows: Maj. W. C. Young for representative; J. B. Hill, sheriff; J. A. Canfield, judge of probate; Lewis Brownell, county attorney; C. E. t'rane, surveyor; P. C. Bailey, court commissioner; Dr. ]M. S. Gove, Coroner. The Democrat county convention was held September 18.' 1869, and put in nomination the following candidates: Kelscy Curtis for representative; B. S. Lewis, county attorney; H. A. ]\Iosher, register of deeds; Philo Hall, treasurer; S. W. Long, sheriff; Dr. R. 0. Craig, coroner; John Bradish, judge of probate. The result of the election gave certificates to W. V Young, S. 'S\. Long, J. A. Canfleld, B. S. Lewis, C. E. Crane, P. C. Bailey, H. A. :\Iosher and Dr. M. S. Cove. Hence, as will be seen in the result, honors Wfiv divided between the parties even at that day, when party feeling ran high. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 219 SHOCKING DEATH BY ACCIDENT. One of those shocking accidents that sometimes occur, happen- ed September 24, 1869. Mv. John Miirphy, an early settler of Byron, accompanied by one of the Messrs. Linnihan of the same town, in returning home from Waseca in the evening, and while crossing a bridge over a runway on the Geo. T. Dunn farm in AYilton, met with a fatal accident. While crossing the pole bridge, the off horse slipped one hind foot through the bridge. The horse commenced to struggle, and Mv. Murphy, as was supposed, took the near horse by the bridle and tried to quiet the team. The off horse, however, struggled and plunged about until yiv. ]\Iurphy and both horses were thrown from the bridge, on the east side, the man falling tinderneath and both horses on top of him. It was so dark at the time that nothing could be seen any distance. Linnihan, who was in the wagon, called to Murphy but got no answer. He then got out of the wagon and felt aroimd until he discovered Murphy beneath the horses. Linnihan cut the har- ness from the horses and the off one got out. Murphy was fast under the other horse and under water, and Linnihan found it im- possible to extricate him. He then mounted the live horse and aroused the neighbors, who came with lanterns. They drew oiit the body of the horse in the creek under which they found the lifeless form of ]\Ir. Murphy. It was a very sad affair. SHOOTING DEER AND CHICKENS ON THE RAILROAD TRACK. Among the railroad incidents of that day, we recall the story of Conductor Denny Keeler, and Engineer Nichols. It was the first week in December, 1869, when going east, that they had a novel experience. Just after pulling out of Dover Center, they discovered a fine deer upon the track some distance ahead Crowding on steam they gave chase. The road at this place was fenced on both sides of the track, so there was little chance of escape for the frightened animal but to outrun the fiery horse be- hind him. The train gained steadily and rapidly upon the deer, and, when within gunshot, both Keeler and Nichols fired, both shots taking effect and disabling the deer, but not killing it. The train was stopped and Denny, with knife in hand, cut the deer's throat, and took the carcass aboard without even a pass 22(1 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. or the payment of fare, and proudly landed it in Winona as in- disputable uvideiKM- of their prowess as hunters. It was not unusual in those days, when Waseca was the westi-rn terminus of the road, for the boys to stop a train l)etween Owa- tonna and Waseca long enough to bag a few chickens. RAILROAD EXTENDED TO JANESVILLE. The village of "East Janesville," ;is the present Janesville was then cal]('(l, was surv<'yi'(l and platted by S. H. ilott in August, 1st;!). The people of the "Old Village of Janesville," which was situated on the west side of the outlet at the south end of the beautiful Lake Elysian, had anticipated the building of the )-oad to that point and the new villa<:e was well under way before the first train reaehi^d that point. J. W. Sprauue, general manaaer of the W. & St. P. Ky. at that time, was proprietor of the new town and i'eai)ed a harvest of shekels. The first building was (■r(M/ti'd liy Judue Ijaldwiii. wh town. As soon as n^utdar trains made Janesville, the daily staees of Burbank & Co. (-eased to arrive at WasiH'a from the west, but made their head(|uarters at Janes\ille. For ten years the Bur- bank staec lines had been our sole dependence for mail facilities on the main thoi'oiighfares, and when these staees ceas(>d their daily visits it seejiied nuich like the death of an old friend in the comiinniity, MISC'ELLANEOUS NOTES, ]\li-s. E. Fisk, one of the very early si'ttlers of Wilton, and highly respeded, died June l2(t, ISlill. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 221 The first iMrs. Poter Lindsay, who had been ill of cancer of the breast for three years, had it removed about the first of February, lytiil. l)y Drs. Coe, Gove and Brubaker. She died not long- afterwards. The "Xews" of ^Mareh 31, 18H0, contained a four column legal notice of application for right of way through Waseca county by the W. & St. 1>. R. R. Co. It had to be published six weeks and was what printers call a "fat take." The Fourth of July was duly celebrated this year on July 5th at Waseca. Rev. E. II. Alden was the orator of the day. Capt. :\r. H. Helms acted as marshal, Hon. Sam. B. Williams served as presi- dent, and Lewis Brownell read the Declaration of Independence. The base-ball ground was the center of attraction during the aftei-noon. There was a big dance at McCue 's hall in the even- ing and a display of fireworks was made liy the village. The day was very pleasant and passed off without an accident. September 17, lSii9, AVm. W. Casey, of Elysian, stole a pair of oxen from Ericlc Larsen, of Iosco, traded them to a Mr. Wilson residing on the Des ^loines river, for a horse, and then sold the horse to one Seott, of IMorristown. Casey was soon after arrested and later convicted of the crime. The oxen were recovered through the efforts of Hans Hanson. September 2:2, 1869, Henrjr AYillyard shot a pelican which was sailing over AVaseca. It measured eight feet from tip to tip of its wings It was sent to a taxidermist at Winona and mounted, and for a long time stood in one of the drug stores of Waseca. For the year ending September 1, there had been received and shipped from AVaseca -18(1,000 bushels of wheat— almost a half- million bushels. The receipts of June amounted to 13,381 bushels, and for July, to 32,189 bushels. During the year, there was a large trade in agricultural implements. The sales for the year ending Sept. 1 amounted to !f!86,93r). The wheat crop of that year, although mostly Xo. 2, amounted to 300,882 bushels, as returned by the assessors. The crop was fair but prices ruled low. In the fall of 1869, J\lr, John Bierwalter, since deceased, was made night watchman of Waseca — the first ever employed in the place. C. A. Wright came to Waseea from Winona in December of CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. this yciir, Mild siicci'cdcd Ilciii-y Willyard as manaj^ci' (if tlic ;;i'ain ek-valor oL' the W. & S(. P. H. \i. Co. There was a, niccliiii;' ol' iii-oininent Catluilics at the Imuse of ^rhiiuias White, Oclolii'i' l!4, to di'vise ways aud means for ci-eeliiin' a eliiireli buildiiiji-. This was flie bpti'imiiii^' of efforts which culiuinafed in the ei-eetioii of tiie first Catholic clmrcli in Waseca. Tliis bnildiiif;' has since jiivcii way to tlu' pr<'sent inagni- fici'iit edifice, the ]ar'_;'est, and most costly in the comity. CHAPTER XXXVIII, 1870. COUNTY SIOAT CION'riCS'l' -ATTJOMPTED HANOINO BEE— M. & ST. I>. UY. NlOW CfJIIKT HOUSE IN WAHEf;A-W. U. MORRIS JJKOWN- 101) HANK lllIKCI.ARy COUNTY SEAT REMOVED— UNITED STATES CIONSUS- FIRH'I' CfjUNTY PAIR— GRANGE MOVEMENT— C. K. DAVIS l''OR (;(;VI0RNOH. Till' yc;ii' I87(J vv;is iiii exciting (iik; in Wii.si'fii, ('(xinty. 'I'he v\i\)iTy-Ui<'. aii(;rii|)l,i!(l hin\'/u\iio, bearing annual interest at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum. "That the denominations of said bonds, and the time or times when the same shall be payable, be such as the board of trustees may here- after direct, provided that no bond shall be issued running more than 10 years from the date thereof: and the faith and credit of the village are pledged to the punctual payment of the interest and principal of said bonds." The resolutions -were unanimously adopted, and, early in the season, a l)rick court house was erected. MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. During the early months of this year thi> question of the build- ing of the Western railroad, now known as the AI. i^ St. L. rail- )-oad, was very thoroughly discuss(>(l. At that time the writer in the Waseca News said: "To the people of this place this road is of the utmost importance, CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. and anything that they can do to assist in its early completion will be cheerfully done. The city of ilinneapolis by a vote of its people has decided to issue bonds to aid in the construction of the road to the amount of $300,000.00. The business men of that city have also sub- scribed $100,000.00, making a total of $400,000.00 from Minneapolis. The whole stretch of country through which this road will pass is unsur- passed In richness and fertility of soil, and is as densely populated by thrifty farmers as any. portion of the state. By means of this road, Minneapolis, with her large flouring mills and manufacturing establish- ments, may command a larger trade than any other city in the state, and we are glad that the people of that city so view it. Take, for in- stance, the matter of pine lumber, the villages along this road can get lumber transported from Minneapolis to Owatonna, for $16.00 per car load, but from there to Waseca, a distance of 15 miles, we must pay $20.00 a car load, virtually driving the Minneapolis lumber from our market, and, for that matter, driving our lumber dealers out of business. Besides, the wheat market is far behind what it would be if this north and south railroad were built. "We again urge the people of this place to take united action to pro- mote the interests of Waseca." In connection with this railroad matter, the citizens of Waseca met at Bennett's hall, :\Iarch 11, 1870. H. P. Norton was called to the chair and Esquire Bennett was chosen secretary. Hon. S. B. WiUiams stated the object of the meeting, and made some remarks upon the great importance of the road to this locality. Short speeches were also made by Messrs. Latham, Brownell, Lewis, Bennett and others. Messrs. Williams, Everett, and Trow- bridge were appointed a committee to confer with the officers of the railroad company in regard to the location and building of the road. :Mr. Latham then offered the following resolution which was unanimously adopted : "Resolved, that we, the citizens of the village of Waseca, consider that this railway, running from Minneapolis to Albert Lea, through this village will be of great benefit to us, and we are willing to do every- thing in our power to further the interests of said road." THE THEN NEW COURT HOUSE. The contract for building the court house was let to ]\Iarble & Dresser of Owatonna early in the spring, and the management of the business, at the election of :May 3rd, was somewhat in issue. Wm. Everett and S. B. Williams were elected trustees, who, with H. P. Norton, elected in 1869, constituted the board of trustees for the ensuing year. At the first meeting of the trustees, after 10 22G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. election, it was "Resolved, that the bonds of the village, (to be) issued for the building of county buildings, be issued so as to be payable, one thousand dollars in three years, and one thousand dollars in each year thereafter until the whole $5,000 shall be- come payable, and that they be issued in denominations of not more than $1,000, nor less than $100 each." The same day the board issued "Bond No. 1" due three years after date, for $1,000, bearing interest at 12 per cent. Bond No. 2, for $500, due four years from date, and bond No. 3 for $500, due in five years, with coupons attached, were issued to Marble & Dresser, of Owa- tonna, who had entered into contract to construct the court house for $5,000. But before the bonds were delivered. Bond No. 1 was surrendered or rescinded and bonds numbered i and 5, for $500 each, were issued in lieu thereof, ilay 10, 1870. At the same time, bonds numbered 6 and 7, for $500 each, were issued to the same persons. On July 1, the third installment of bonds was issued— the same being bonds numbered S and 9 for $500 each. On July 12, the court house being completed, the last two bonds were issued, the same being for $500 each, and due in seven years from the date thereof. DROWNING OF W. B. MORRIS. ilr. ilorris was one of the early settlers of Alton township and an energetic, enterprising citizen, highly respected by all who knew him. He was drowned 'Mny 25, 1870. It was a time of high water and he attempted to swim his horse across the Le Sueur river, near IMr. ilarkham's place. But when the horse reached the north bank and attempted to ascend it, he fell back into the boil- ing flood, throwing Mr. ilorris into the stream, where he soon drowned. He was an upright man, and his loss was deeply felt. His widow, a highly I'espected lady, still resides on the farm at this writing, 1904. ATTEMPTED HANGING BEE. There was great excitement in the cmmty about the first of June, 1870, in regard to horse-stealing. Two hoi-se thieves from ^Yinneshiek county, Iowa, had been traced through this county and "rounded up" at Waterville, where two of the horses were also found. Many of the people of the county suspected that "Date" Smith and Frank Waters were connected with the gang CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 227 of horse thieves which operated in Iowa and Minnesota. It was of frequent occurrence pinor to that time for men with stolen horses to congregate in Waterville where for many years these two men resided. But at the time we speak of, "Date" Smith and family had resided in Waseca for about a year. At the time of the arrest of the two thieves from Iowa, near Waterville, both these men fell under suspicion, and a large number of farmers from the northern and western portions of the county got together in a body and visited Waseca with the avowed intention of hang- ing Smith and Waters to the nearest tree or telegraph pole. Whether the crowd really intended to hang them, or only to give them a scare, has never been determined to this day. But certain it is the crowd caught both men and took them out on the rail- road track, near the old round house, east of the depot, and had rope enough to hang half a dozen men. James E. Child was at the time justice of the peace and knew nothing of the mobbing until a lady friend of Mrs. Smith went to him with much anxiety and implored that he do what he could to save the men— especially Smith. Mr. Child did not find it an easy matter to get citizens to face the mob and release the prisoners ; but he finally secured the volunteer assistance of H. A. :\Iosher, M. H. Helms, Asa Mosh- er, C. A. Wright and Henry Willyard, and proceeded to the place where the crowd had assembled. Without saying a word, these men elbowed their way through the excited crowd until they reached the accused men who were entirely surrounded. Mr. Child, as justice of the peace, then ordered the crowd, in the name of the state of Minnesota, to fall back and allow the men to pass out. The crowd at once fell into a hubbub, some being in favor of law and order, and others demanding that the men should be hanged. One farmer of giant frame, flashing black eyes, and a fog-horn voice, said: "We ought to hang the whole d d outfit." The rescuers, without parleying or awaiting the action of the excited masses, at once pushed through the crowd with the trembling men to Second street, thence down Second street to what was then the Vincent hotel, where Smith and Waters were rushed upstairs, and guards placed at every door and stair- way. Mr. Child, as justice of the peace, warned the excited 228 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. crowd that any man that should attempt to force an entrance or that should aid and assist in disturbing the peace, would be arrested and punished to the full extent of the law. He appealed to their love of law and good order and implored them to dis- perse and resort only to lawful means for the punishment of crime. Every man of the rescuers presented a bold front, and the excited crowd soon discovered that Smith and Waters would not be given up without a struggle in which some men M^ould get hurt. The cooler heads and more reasonable ones in the crowd soon prevailed upon their companions to disperse. It certainh^ was a time of much excitement, and had the men been armed with guns or revolvers, there might have been very seri- ous results. As it was, about a half-dozen determined men pre- vented what might have been a double murder. Smith and "Waters, although the latter indulged in some drunken bravado the next day when there was no danger, undoubtedly realized the seriousness of the situation. Smith sold his property here, and both he and Waters soon after left this portion of the state. This episode, too, served the purpose, no doubt, of frightening thieves from this section; for it was generally believed that there would be a hanging bee should any more horse thieves venture this way for some time to come. FOURTH OF JULY. Waseca celebrated the Fourth of July, 1870, in a formal and enthusiastic manner. It was then considered the great day of days in this republic. It was seldom that a Fourth of July passed without appropriate public exercises during which the great, underlying principles of the equal and inalienable rights of all men to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were rehearsed and emphasized. This year, Hon. Gordon E. Cole, of Faribault, delivered a very able address. THE FIRST BANK ROBBERY. After the Baldwin-Kittredge bank failure of Jan. 29. 1869, Kin- yon Bros., of Owatonna, opened a liank in Waseca. On the '24t\\ of August, 1870, some burglars broke into the bank, lilew open the safe by means of gunpowder, and stole the sum of $:l()00 in cash, besides valuable papers. They left, as mementos of their visit! CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 229 a linen coat, some whisky in a bottle obtained from a druggist, a piece of bologna sausage, and a variety of tools used in their burglarious operations. Sheriff Toher, of Steele county, with D. L. Whipple, who was sheriff of this county, orgMnized a detective force and soon found one of the burglars, tracking him to St. Peter, and back to Alankato, thence to Janesville, and back through Waseca, to Owa- tonna. The evidence upon the examination disclosed the follow- ing facts in connection with the arrest of John T. Howard, alias Thomas Gale, charged with the robbery of the bank : He first came to the Arnold House, at Owatonna, on Sunday evening, August 21, and remained over night. The next morning he left, and returned in the evening with a span of horses which he put into Hastings' livery stable. On the next Tuesday morn- ing, by depositing $200 with Mr. Hastings, he obtained a team and carriage and drove to Waseca, arriving here about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. He got a ten dollar bill changed at Kinyon's bank, reconnoitering the premises, and then drove on to Janesville, arriving at the Baldwin House about noon, where he took dinner. The same evening he arrived at ^lankato and put up at the Clifton House. He ordered his team to be ready the next morn- ing at four o'clock. In accordance with this order the team was i-i^-ady, but the acf'us(;d man was not there. After waiting half an hour, the team was again put into the stable and fed. About this time Howard came to the barn consideialily out of breath, with perspiration on his face, as though he had been exercising violently. He then remained until after the early breakfast, and finally started away at 5.30 alone. About 10 o'clock in the fore- noon of Wednesday he ajiain appeared in Janesville, in company with another man designated as the "gray -bearded man." The two drove to the ex[)ress office, and the latter took a valise into the office and expressed it to one Hubbard, of ()saf;e, Iowa. They then went to the Baldwin House and took dinner— the oijiy- bearded man paying the whole bill. They left Janesville about noon together, and were next seen and noticed by Mrs. Julius Ulrich and Mrs. Pat. Mc(.'arthy, of St. :\Iary, a few miles west of Waseca, with another stranger, there bein^ three in the car- riage when the women saw them. Dr. Brubaker saw them the 230 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. same afternoon near W. II. Gray's farm, about a mile west from "Waseca. A short time after this, ]\Ir. Ed. Bennett saw the team, with Howard alone, pass his slaughter house, west of town, coming towards Waseca. Howard was next seen hy ]Mr. Terwilliger near Clear Lake, gong towards (;)watonna with the Hastings team, which was well known to many of our people. Soon after passing Mr. Terwilliger, he was seen to stop near the Woodville cemetery, and a man came up to the Iniggy. Howard was next seen at Owatonna that evening, where he delivered the team and put up at the Arnold House. He went to bed about 8 o'clock, remarking that he was very tired. That night the bank at Waseca was robbed ; and the next morning about 5 o'clock, he was seen on the sidewalk near the Arnold House. About one o 'clock in the afternoon he was arrest- ed on suspicion and searched by Sheriff Toher. who found upon his person about $230.00, in cash, some pistol cartridges and some other minor articles. In his satchel was found a book descriptive of banks and safes, a revolver, and a jieculiar cap. Shortly after this arrest, Toher went to Dubuque in pursuit of the valise which had been expi'essed from Janesville to Osage, Iowa. On opening it, he found a kit of burglar tools, a very sti-ong and peculiar brace, two bits or drills for boring steel or iron, a steel pimch, two steel wedges of peculiar shajie, some powder, a coil of fuse, a cap similar to the one found in Howard's satchel, and a peculiar instrument for fastening to and turning a door key from the out- side when the door is locked and the key left inside in the lock. Some of the paper wrapped around the bits in the valise cor- responded in quality and color with pieces of paper found in the bank in Waseca the next morning after the robbery. The two steel wedges found in the valise corresponded exactly with the two wedges left in the Kinyon bank by the burglars. Experts testified that they must all have been made by the same man about the same time, aiul, probably, from the same bar of steel. He was examined before a justice of the peace, and held to await the action of the grand ,iury. Afterwards two other men wei'c arrested, and Howard, to save himself iVom stale prison, turned state's evidence and sent an old man and one other to the penitentiary, his only punishment being CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 231 about one year in the county jail awaiting trial. He was an accomplished scoundrel and liar, and ought to have been sent to prison for at least ten years. COUNTY SEAT CONTEST OF 1870. The year 1870 was one of the most exciting, in a political way, of any in the history of the county since 1857, when the county seat question was first voted upon. As heretofore stated, Waseca built a court house early in the season, at a cost of $5,000. The Wilton advocates, for some time, contended that the offer of the court house, by Waseca, was a fraud ; but this contention was not successful before the people, and the managers at Wilton themselves, at last, pretended to make an offer of $5,000 in- bonds for the building of a new court house, provided the people of the county should vote to retain the county seat at that place. But as there was no authority in law for the issue of such bonds, the people gave no heed to their offer. As the season advanced, the canvass for the removal of the county seat increased in interest and intensity. Waseca, as never since, stood solidly together, shoulder to shoulder, and worked most effectively. Every man in the county was "sounded" and for some time prior to election day, the work for tuat day was planned, and every man was alloted his position in the ranks of the workers. Two men were sent to every polling place in the county on election day, to work for Waseca, and especially to bring in, as soon as possible, on the night of election, the exact returns of the vote cast on that question. The writer well re- members the day. He, in company with Mr. John Grain, then a blacksmith of Waseca, was detailed to attend the polls in the town of Byron. Each man at Waseca voted early and started for the several stations assigned. A few days before election there had been several days of heavy rain storm which closed with a very light fall of snow and freezing weather. The day was co3d and the roads very rough. We could drive only on the walk, and much of the way a slow walk at that. The election that year, in Byron, was held in a small house, in the western part of the township, near the Christy McGrath place. The polls were held open until a late hour, and the canvassers seemed provokingly slow in counting the ballots ; but as soon as we had the figures we 232 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. started for Waseca, arriving about 11 o'clock that night. Only one town more was then to be heard from (Vivian) and every man in Waseca then knew that the county seat contest had been decided in favor of Waseca. Those who had faced the storm and cold of the day and been jolted over thirty miles of rough, frozen road, were excused from further service, but there was a select company of "secret ser- vice men" that had been chosen to carry out the will of the people by an actual removal of the property and of the offices of the county from Wilton to Waseca before daylight the next morn- ing. And sure enough at daybreak, the sound of music by the cornet band, the huzzas of the people, and the shouting of boys announced the arrival of the register of deeds and his office furniture, the clerk of the district court and his office records, and the county treasurer with the furniture and books of his office. The county auditor and others came over during the morning, and before noon, the day after election, the county seat was fully established and the officers all doing business at the new court house. The Waseca News announced the arrival of the offices the next day after the election and said : "The thing 'is did." That big lawsuit over the removal of the county seat will he held at Waseca — when it comes off. Any one having business at the county seat will find the 'machine' in full blast at the court house. The struggle is over. The billing and cooing, the coaxing and hiring, the drinking and treating, the threatening and flattering, the work and excitement on both sides are at an end. The question is set- tled — forever settled. The matter has been thoroughly discussed and fairly understood, and the result is the untrammeled voice of the people. Politics is over, too, for this year, and now let us bury the hatchet, renew personal friendships, and devote our energies and strength to the build- ing up of our material interests and to the cultivation of fraternal feel- ings and good fellowship." UNITED STATES CENSUS. The United States census was taken during the months of June and July this year. Tlie north half of the C(nuity was enumerated by James E. Child, and the south half liy S. J. Willis. The fol- lowing statement was published at that time. The increase in population was sliown by the following figures : June 1, 1855, number of people r-^ June 1, 18G0, number of people o gAi CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 233 June 1, 18G5, number of people 4,78G June 1, 1870, number of people 7,857 These figures show an annual increase from 1865 to 1870 of 614. Comparing the wealth of the county, the result was equally satisfaetoi-y. The amount of wheat produced in 1864 was 61,050 lin.shels; while the product of 1869 reached 393,811 bushels. In connection with this subject, we find that 28,000 bushels of wheat were marketed in "Waseca during the month of August, and 28,136 bushels in the month of September, for which the farmers receiv- ed $41,947.00. The number of horses in the county increased from 825, in 1865, to 2,055 in 1870. Horned cattle increased from 4,565, in 1865, to 6.263, in 1870. In 1865 there were 533 cultivated farms, and in 1870. there were 1,028. The census value of all the property of the county was estimated at $2,205,284, in 1870. THE FIRST COUNTY FAIR. The first county fair was held in Waseca, at the new court house, October 6 and 7. Among the exhibitors that drew pr(-- miums, the following names appear : J. W. Hosmer, of Janesville, finest honey; Islrs. B. F. Weed and ilrs. R. R. Howard, then of AA'ilton, fine dairy butter; Daniel Pierce, then of Freedom, ap- ples and vegetables; Hon. Joseph ilinges, of Otisco, and Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, best potatoes; R. R. Howard, of Wil- ton, fine Chester White swine . The display of horses was quite large while the number of cattle was small in comparison. The JMisses Gallagher, Riegel and Landers displayed much skill in horseback riding on the race course. In classes A and B, horses, Ole Everson, J. A. Wheeler, A. Dewing, W. H. Young, S. 8. Phelps, Wm. Byron, Jas. A. Root, W. L. Wheeler, H. Vincent, Henry Behne, Albert Remund and P. 0. Houg received pre- miums. In class C, cattle, ilartin Hackett, Patrick Healey, R. ]M. IVIiddaugh, S. H. Talbut, and C. W. Hensel were the premium takers. In class D, sheep, swine and fowls, the lucky ones were J. A. Claghorn, Peter Eckert, Patrick Healy, J. A. Root, J. G. Greening and R. R. Howard. In class E, there were twenty en- tries and those who won prizes were Daniel Semple, Daniel Pierce, E. Cr. Wood, and J. Erno. Class F, vegetables, ten en- tries, gave premiums to Patrick ]\IcDermott, Wm. Brisbane, 234 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Daniel Pierce, S. H. Talbut, J. W. Altenburg, and Jas. A. Root. In class G, B. F. Weed got the premium on sorghum syrup, and John Buckhout on flour. Among the other premium takers ap- pear the names of Valentine Butsch, G. A. Roland, A. Wert, jMrs. O. Powell, JMrs. M. S. Gove, Mrs. G. P. Johnson and 'Mva. Myrick. Hon. Wm Brisbane delivered an excellent address. He dwelt upon the wholesome and honorable calling of the farmer, and eloquently urged the importance of a more liberal education for farmers' sons and daughters, and especially in regard to their own calling. He said the trouble was that too many persons were farming who knew little or nothing of the business. Farms were poorly cultivated — machinery was allow- ed to rust and rot— cattle died for want of proper food and care, and in many ways farmers lost money and time, more becaiTse they did not understand the business than for any other cause. THE GRANGER MOVEMENT. It was during this year, 1870, that heavy railroad extortions had called forth a strong protest from the farmers of the coim- try as well as from every justice-loving citizen. The cost of shipping a bushel of wheat from Waseca to Chicago was then from 25 to 30 cents. Discriminations of the most outrageous character M-ere practiced throughout the West. The doctrine of government control was stoutly and strenuously denied by all the railroad corporations, their agents, attorneys and hireling editors, and especially by their dupes all over the country. On the other hand, intelligent and independent attorneys and editors, and intelligent and independent men of common sense in all callings claimed that the state, the government, had the right and the power to fix reasonable rates of transportation for pas- sengei's and commodities. This issue, for the time, overshadowed all others, notwithstanding the efforts of corporations, then as now, to prevent tlu' question from becoming a party issue. The daily papers of both parties, all over the country, were employ- ed 1o denounce the true friends of the masses as "demagogues," "iguorannises," "fanatics," "blatherskites," "socialists'" and "anarchists." The corporations even tried to enlist the efforts of priesthood to break up the grange organizations and, in some CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 235 localities, succeeded to some extent. Nevertheless, the work of education and organization went forward rapidly in this section, and the Grange became a great, non-partisan, political power that finally gave the country what was known as the "Grange laws," and forced into the courts the question of the right and the power of the government to control the railroads. The supreme courts of the states and the nation decided in favor of the people, and it was learned, among men capable of learn- ing, that the "demagogues," "ignoramuses," "socialists," "an- archists ' ' and ' ' fanatics ' ' knew more about law and fundamental rights of man and property than all the corporations with their paid attorneys, their agents, their boodlers and their hireling editors. And yet there are mullet heads to-day that will tell us that to regulate the transportation rates on railroads so that every person and every locality shall enjoy just and equal rates would destroy the railroads and bring anarchy to the whole country. What fools we mortals are in this world! It was in this year that a Grange was organized in almost every neighborhood in the county. There was one in Waseca. But, as it does in all great and popular organizations, the spirit of rivalry and jealousy crept in. Men of small calibre, little intelligence, and narrow jealousy sowed the seeds of discord by. insisting that none but actual farmers— men who tilled the soil with their own hands— should be members. This narrow view of the organization drove from it much of the intelligence necessary to direct any movement successfully. This, together with the fact that I. Donnelly managed to disrupt it for his own personal ends, soon destroyed one of the best and most useful educational agencies ever introduced into our farming communi- ties. The organization still lingers in some places, but its power for good is broken. Hon. G. K. Davis was nominated and elected by Granger senti- ment; a law to control rates was enacted the first year of his administration; the next year the railroads secured control of the legislature and repealed the law. And the singular part of it all was that the very men who would be the most benefited by the government control of roads were the mullet-heads in the community to vote with the corporations. No wonder that Gush Davis, when the law was repealed, exclaimed— "I am sick of 236 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the people. They desert their best friends. I am done with them. As soon as I am through with this governor business I shall go back to my office and my law books. As Vanderbilt said, 'the people be damned,' for they don't appreciate honest, self-sacriflcins' men who work to save them from the slavery of modern feudalism." FALL ELECTION OF 1870. Party lines were loosely drawn at that time. ^Nlajor AVm. C. Young, Republican candidate for senator, received a majority of 402 over James Jones, his opponent ; Hon. Wm. Brisbane, Democratic candidate for representative, received 233 majority over ilr. S. C. Dow, his opponent, who was a very good citizen and a Republican; E. Cronkhite, Democratic candidate for auditor, was elected over Fred. Kittredge, Republican, by a majority of 324. The democrats elected Wni. Lee, of Iosco, and H. G. Mosher, of Otisco, county commissioners. The major- ity in favor of the removal of the county seat to AVaseca was 215. SHORT NOTES OF 1870. January 19, 1870, No. 1' wheat brought only 4S cents per bushel. The creditors of the defunct bank of Baldwin & Kittredge realized only 25 cents on the dollar, Alay 2, the house of ]Mr. Chas. San Galli was consumed by fire. It was fully insured. On June 2, 1870, under the auspices of the Farmers' club of Blooming Grove, the first monthly fair was held in Waseca. The fairs were held on the first Thursday of each month, a few times, but were finally discontinued. On July 29, 1870, the village board of AYaseea made a deed of the then new court house to the county of Waseca, to liecome absolute upon the removal of the seat of jiistice from Wilton to Waseca. AVhitney L. Wheeler, about foi-ty-eiglit years of age and one of the very early settlers of the county, died November 4, 1870, after a somewhat s(>vere illness. He and his family settled first in St. iMary, afterwiirds moving into Wilton. He was a staunch, prominent republican, who was active in every campaign. He wa.s the owner of simie valualile horses and practiced as a veter- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 237 inary surgeon. At the time of his death he was treasurer and captain of riders of the Waseca County Horse-thief Detectives. The society at its next meeting passed resolutions to his mem- ory, commending him for his "zeal, efficiency, capability and honesty." CLOSE OF THE YEAR. The year 1870, on the whole, had been one of prosperous condi- tions for the county. The weather had been mild. There was a heavy snow storm on the 14th, 15th and 16th of March, the snow remaining until the last days of the month. Seeding commenc- ed about April 8. The last three days of Jime were excessively warm and closed with a cyclonic storm of not very heavy pro- portions. A similar storm of July 19, was much heavier and more severe, especially southwest of this county. In this county much of the grain was injured, and some light buildings were imroofed, but there was no wide-spread damage or fatalities. The season had been reasonably productive, and the fall Aveather was the finest in the history of the state, before or since. Our grand, salubrious, and charmingly beautiful Indian summer continued long into December, and gave the farming community ample time to clean up all the fall work. In the Waseca News of December 6, appeared the following : "Plowing and grading in DecemlDer! Was there ever before anything lilte the present weather in Minnesota? So warm, so mild, so pleasant! From our office window we notice several plows running on the farms adjoining this village. At this date, December 3, men are engaged in plowing and grading Lake Avenue, east from our office. Just think of it, away up here in Minnesota, men plowing with their coats off — ■ houses being built and plastered — house plants growing in the open air — all in the state of Minnesota, during the month of December. Is this the result of building the Pacific railroad, or of removing the county seat?" The first hard freezing of the ground was Dec. 18th, and the first heavy snow storm of the season was on Christmas day. The year closed with a "Merry Christmas," followed by a "Happy New Year." LAST SESSION OF OFFICIALS AT WILTON. The county commissioners of 1870, Wm. Byron, Eobt. Earl, 0. 238 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Powell, John Buckhout, and R. F. .Stevens, held their last ses- sion at Wilton Sept. 10, and their first session in Waseca Nov. 17, at the new court house. CHAPTER XXXIX, 1871. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY— STATE R. R. BONDS, $5,000,000 SWIN- DLE— LOREN G. WOOD SHOT— YEAR OF STORMS AND FIRES- CHICAGO CREMATED— WASECA COUNTY FIRES— FIRST LI- BRARY ASSOCIATION— ELECTION RETURNS— DEATH OF FIRST SETTLER, A. G. SUTLIEF. The SabhMth daj^, bright and still, with blue skies and a balmy atmosphere, iishered in the New year, 1871. It was one of the very few years in the history of civilization when the year began and ended on Sunday or the Sabbath day; for, whether properly or impropei'ly, both names are used interchangeably. Amidst the earthiness of life. Vexation, selfishness and strife; Sabbath! how sweet the holy calm, Comes o'er the soul like healing balm. We digress a little to remark that, aside from all religious views or creeds, Sunday should be observed as a day of rest; not, per- haps, for the sake of the Sabbath, but for the sake of man. For yenvH past, the nation has recognized the fact that laboring men engaged in public work and for great corporations have no Sab- bath — no day of rest that they can call their own. It is pretty well settled that the day of rest, prescribed by the law of Moses, was based upon the fact that such rest, as a rule, is essential to, and promotes health. The day ought to be kept quietly, rever- ently, studiously, and thoughtfully. Always remember that "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath." The year opened auspiciously so far as the weather bureau was concerned. The first heavy snow storm of the year came on 2-40 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the eleventh of January and continued two days. With the ex- ception of this rather severe storm, the winter was comparatively a mild one, and favorable to farm work and general business. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. At its annual session in January the Waseca County Agricul- tural society held an interesting meeting and elected the follow- ing officers: president, J. B. Smith; vice president, P. C. Bailey; treasurer, J. W. Johnson; secretary, B. S. Lewis; executive com- mittee, 0. Powell, Simon Smith, H. Vincent, James A. Claghorn and il. H. Helms. MARCH MEETING OF COUNTY BOARD. At the ]\Iarch meeting of the board, very little aside from rou- tine business was done. Seventy-five dollars was appropriated for the grading of the hill at ilcDougall Creek on the Wilton and Waseca road. The old court house lots in AVilton, belonging to the county, were deeded to the village of Wilton. The sum of $156 was appropriated to build a fence and a walk around the new court house gi'ounds. The annual I'eport made at this session showed the balance of cash on hand to have been $473,48, with uncollected- taxes amounting to $8,645.S7. THE $5,000,000 RAILROAD BOND SWINDLE. In territorial days, 1857-8, when the times were hard and peo- ple were very much depressed, the territorial legislature, with- out any lawful authority, submitted a so-called constitutional amendment to the constitution that had been submitted and adopted the fall before but that was then held up liy congress. The so-called amendment was submitted to the people April 15th and adopted, but Minnesota was not admitted as a state imtil ]May 11, 1858. As soon as the people realized what a flood of fraud and corruption and deception had deluged the young com- munity, they denounced and repudiated the M'hole thing. The legislature of 185!)-(30 submitted an amendment providing that no more bonds should be issued-.1i'2,50(»,000 having been already is.sued— and that no part of those issued should ever be paid without first submitting the ([ucstion of payment to the voters of the state. Thus matters stood until the winter of 1871, when CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 241 the legislature was prevailed upon to provide for paying the bonds and submitting a proposition to the people authorizing the same. As showing that bribery and corruption are not confined alone to the present day, an extract from the Waseca News of April 5, 1871, will be appropriate. On that date it said : "^Ye were aroused to a realizing sense of the iniquities of the scheme, last week, by a contemptible offer of the sum of $100, provided we would abandon our honest convictions regarding this bond measure and advo- cate its adoption by the people. And we were further awakened to a realizing sense of the danger of this proposition by the assurance, on the part of the tempter, that the proposition would surely carry, as nearly all the leading papers of the state had found it to their interest to advance the measure, either directly or indirectly. In a word, those interested in the scheme are prepared to spend a large amount of money to corrupt the people — or, rather, those who discuss public topics through the newspapers and on the stump. "As the bondholders have the temerity to send their agents about the country with offers of bribery to editors, publishers and lawyers, they certainly will not scruple to use all the appliances that brains and money can command to corrupt the governor, the commissioners, and the attorneys that are, under the proposed law, to present and pass upon their claims. "This offer of bribery is, of itself, sufficient evidence upon which to condemn the bill." After a hot fight the bill was defeated by a fair ma.jority. LOREN G. WOOD SHOT. April 13th Loren G. Wood, and Allen Scott, son and nephew respectively of the late Eri 6. AYood, started on a duck hunt across Clear lake. They secured a boat belonging to a ilr. Green and crossed the lake. Shortly afterward, 'Mr. Green desiring to use the boat, went and got it, leaving the boys to return afoot. While on their way home, traveling single file over a narrow path, on the east shore of the lake, with Scott in the rear carry- ing a loaded gun, Scott stumbled and fell, bringing the muzzle of his gun to the front, on a line with Wood's right foot. While in this position the gun was accidentally discharged, and Loren received the whole charge of the gun in the hollow of his foot. I\Ir. Green, who was within hailing distance on the lake, hasten- ed to the scene of the accident, and assisted in conveying the wounded boy home. Some of the shot passed entirely through 242 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the foot, but Dr. Young, who dressed the wound, took from it some shot and a quantity of wadding. Loren never fully re- covered the use of his foot. FOURTH OF JULY. The day was formally celebrated at Janesville, Hon. Amos Coggswell, of Owatonna, being the orator of the day. Waseca also had a celebration of all home talent. There was a baseball game between Waterville and Blooming Grove, and a boat race on Clear lake. DESTRUCTIVE STORMS. The "Waseca News of July contained the following: "The pleasures and festivities of the Fourth of July were not ended when, over a large portion of southwestern Minnesota, the Storm God wheeled his chariots into line and devastated a large extent of country along the rich valley of the Minnesota river. The storm swept across a large region of country between Madelia and New Ulm, crossing into Nicollet county, sweeping in great fury down the Minnesota valley, and thence through Mankato, Le Ray and Jamestown. "Last Friday afternoon, July 7, 1871, while the people were talking and lamenting over the news of the destructive storm of July 4th, in adjoin- ing counties, dark clouds appeared in the southwest and the north- west and apparently joined In battle array some miles west of here. The storm came on rapidly, the wind blew a gale, some hail fell, but no serious damage resulted in this village. • North and west of this place, however, in the towns of Janesville, Iosco, and Blooming Grove, the destruction of crops was total over a large extent of country. Mr. Mc- Dermott, of Blooming Grove, informs us that the crops in his neighbor- hood are almost totally destroyed — that the trees, even, are stripped of their foliage. From Mr. J. E. Jones, of Iosco, we learn that the crops are wholly destroyed for several miles north of his place, his own with the rest. The house of Mr. Larsen, in the Riley neighborhood, was blown down, and the fences generally were prostrated." Thousands of acres in this county were laid waste, and the people were left in very distressing circumstances. The course of the storm was from west to east and laid waste a strip of country from two to four miles wide across the northern tier of townships. Many of the hailstones were as large as lien's eggs. and, in many places, the ground was covered with them. The destruction to crops in the state, that year, by wind and hail, was so far-reaching, that the legislature, at its next session, made provision to furnish a loan of seed grain to the sufl'ering farm- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 243 ers the next spring. Some of our farmers of the stricken town- ships were aided in that way. At Janesville, on the 7th, lightning struck the barn of Darling Welsh, setting it on fire and killing one of his horses. RELIEF FOR THE STORM STRICKEN. Hon. Warren Smith was appointed by Gov. Austin as state commissioner to ascertain and report in regard to damages by storm or prairie fire to settlers of this county during the season, and about Dec. 20th, he received $425.00 from the state to be distributed equally among seventeen of the most destitute fam- ilies. In addition to this amount, the citizens of Waseca had con- tributed $100, and the county commissioners had received $200 in state funds, making in all $725.00, besides some clothing, which was distributed among the needy. YEAR OF TERRIBLE FIRES. The year 1871 was one of very destructive fires in several lo- calities in this country, the most noted being the great Chicago fire of October 8, 9 and 10. The fire originated in a cow-stable at 9.30 o'clock, Sunday evening. A strong west wind drove it rapidly through seventy-three miles of streets till it covered three and a half square miles of the doomed city, destroyed 200 lives, 17,450 buildings, and property valued at $200,000,000— the number rendered homeless being 98,500 people. At the same time a devastating sheet of fire, ten miles wide, swept over the country bordering Green Bay, Wis., causing the death of one thousand people and destroying property to the value of $3,000,000. In the same month many lives were lost and much property destroyed by fire in Michigan. The first week in October, a, great prairie fire originated near Breckenridge, Minn., and was driven eastward by strong winds a distance of about one hundred and sixty miles. It left in its track a scene of desolation unparalleled in the history of the state. Buildings, fencing, grain and hay stacks, and cornfields, were swept away by this roaring, crackling, consuming monster of the prairie. Fortunately no lives were lost though a number of people had narrow escapes. 244 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. October 4 and 5, a prairie fire swept the towns of Vivian, By- ron, 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. ilcGrath had his one hundred-acre crop all destroyed, but saved his house. Mr. Quinn lost his house and some other property. Tiranville 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 ilessrs. Poland, Banker, Kandall, Hadley, Merrill and Hanks. September and October were extremely dry months, and when once a fire was started it spread with great rapidity. FIRST LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. The first library nssoeiation was organized by adopting ar- ticles of incorporation Dec. 1, 1S71. The incorporators were (t. P. Johnson, Kcv. B. C. Starr, James E. Child, Fred Kittredu.^ J. P. :\rurphy, B. S. Lewis, H. A. :Mosher, Rev. P. A. Riggin, A. E. Di'Mrborn, Edgar Cronkhite, Y,. P. Latham, Hiram Lan- pher, AVarren Smith, D. E. Priest and Edward Bennett. The as- sociation started out with one hundred volumes of standard works, and soon after added about fifty volumes more, mostly by donation. The originators of the oriianization were largely ac- tuated by altruistic motives, hoping therein' to benefit the com- munity at lai-ge. The library from the start was only partially successful. The demand for history, biography and standard literature was slight comj)ared with the demand for trashy stuff of a romantic chnraetcr. In a few years the stockholders dissolv- ed the corporation and divided the books among themselves. THE ELECTION OF 1871. The local result of the election was a queer mixture— showing a preponderance of local and pei'sonal feeling superior to politi- cal considerations. AVhile the republicans carried the state tick- et by majorities ranging from two hundred to two hundred and sixty-three, many of the local candidates on the republican f:HII,l/H HfHTORY OF WASI-X.'A COCNTY 2)o 1,i''l;r't wi-i-i' "l<-ft, hy till; vvHysi'li-." 'I't/c local carididateH ri;(,-i-iv- '•'1 till- I'lillowi/ii.' votes: HKNATOIt. .J;iiiii'H J'i. (,'liili|, r<-[)iib]icau 856 Will, I'ristjHrif:, (lcino':r;j,t •'>]4 1 1 1: 1' RBSENTATI VE8. .lotiii Tliornjison, fpiildii'iin '^oO •loliii S. ,M'-Kiifi''. ri'iiuhjifjin 'i!^2 Ki'Isey (,'ur1,i«, '|ifnoiT;it 7:i9 I-;. I'. L;i1h;un, di-ino'TJit ')70 ((.lOfjIHTKR OK OKIO/jS. J I. A. .MoshiT, ri'piihlic;ifi T'^O <^;i'0. Ilol'i-M, <|c;iiocrjif ''O^i 'fUfOASI'ItKli. Cii-o. R. liiickfiinn, r'l-ftiihlicjin 61*4 Ji. O. Crjii-.', ili'inocr-Jit 6!)7 COtiOXKIt. jj. I J. Alelfilosli, ri-piililifjin 677 COUN'I'Y ATTOIINKY. !'' A. Xcwi'il, fi'iiiibliitiiri ''77 I'.. S. Li-wi:^, (|i-iiioi:r';it, ... 724 Jl.'lJf;!'; OK PitOJiATK. .). A, <';irifii'|r|, ri-|iiilili(;Hri 742 ^VtJl. JIuMe, ]1 S. W, IjOtlW, 'IcfllOCDlt, 'S78 SI'ItVKYOR. ( '. i'i. ('.nine, )-('(>ijblii-;ui 817 l''or till' (ilTicc. ol' coiiiil.y 1 ri-ii.siiriT, Mr. liiickrnari in.st it iiti-il a conti'.Kt tli;it, ri'siilt.i'd in Imk fjivor by ;i very Kriuill mnvi/\i\. Cl.OHK OK T)(K YIOAK. Tlic old yfrir, with its ('rimeH find its follicH, it,s virtues und its 240 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. happinesses, its successes and its disappointments, had passed into history and eternity. The terrible conflagrations that swept many places in the West, nearly destroying Chieauo and some other places, formed a heart-rending chapter in the his- tory of America. In Minnesota, many localities suffered from fire and storm, although the state at large enjoyed general pros- perity. The noble generosity of the American people, however, was displayed as never before. Throughout the length and breadth of the land, a noble impulse of generous charity furnish- ed the means to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and furnish homes for the homeless. The afflictions of the year stirred the noblest impulses of the American heart, and, for a time, at least, drove mean selfishness out of sight, and made us more charitable toward all mankind. NOTES OP THE YEAR 1871. Ozias Baker, one of the very early boy-settlers of the county, son of Wm. S. Baker, died of consumption, Feb. 10. 1871. aged twenty-seven years. He was one of the heroes of Company (t, First ^linnesota Regiment; he servetl three years therein and then enlisted and seiwed in the First ilinnesota Heavy Artillery until the close of the Rebellion. Mr. Asa (J. Stitlief, the first white man to make a home in Wa- seca county, after a linuering illness of some weeks, died Oct. 13, 1871. At the time of his death lie was considered one of the wealthiest men in the county. A bio'^rnphieal sketch of him apjieai's elsewhere in this work. The price of wheat dui'iiin- tlie year 1871 ranued from 95 cents to .$1.15 per bushel. CHAPTER XL, 1872. THE NEW YEAR— COUNTY AND STATE LEGISLATION— DON- NELLY'S TRIBUTE TO AUSTIN— RAILROADS AND SALOONS VICTORIOUS— COURT HOUSE FIRE— WESTERN HOUSE BURN- ED— "GREELEY WAVE" IN WASECA— THOROUGHBRED CATTLE —HANGING OP BASTON— STORM OF AUGUST 6— THE "DOLLY VARDEN"— DRAINING CLEAR LAKE— THE "EPIZOOT"— DECEM- BER COLD. The year 1872 opened on Monday with the usual happy greet- ings and family reunions. "Josh Billings" once commanded as follows : "Git out your brand new cutter, And git your gal's consent, Hitch up Dobbin or some other kritter, And let the animal went." The wheat market opened favorably the first of the year, the price ranging from $1 to $1.05. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The county board for this year was made up as follows : 0. Powell of Woodville, H. G. Mosher of Otisco, Wm. Byron of St. Mary, Wm. Lee of Iosco, and S. K. Odell of Vivian. Mr Powell was reelected chairman. The board fixed the bond of the incoming county treasurer at $20,000. Saloon license was fixed at $100 per year, the ap- plicant to pay pro rata for the number of months the license should run. Dr. R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, resigned the office of county superintendent of schools, and the board appointed in 248 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. his place Wr. H. G. Mosher, of Otiseo, to serve out the remain- der of the term. Dr. M. S. Gove was chosen by the board to be superintendent for the term commencing the first Tuesday in April. Nothing further of especial interest was done by the board at its January session. THE FOURTEENTH LEGISLATURE. The legislature opened its session on Tuesday, Jan. 2, and closed IMarch 1. Waseca county was represented in the senate by James E. Child, and in the hoiise by John Thompson, of New Kichland, and Kelsey Curtis, of Alma City. The governor of the state was Horace Austin. By the way, he was one of the best governors the state has ever had. Hon. I. Donnelly once said of him: "I do not desire to employ the language of adulation, but I feel justi- fied in saying that he has proved himself a great man — great In the language Tennyson applied to the Duke of Wellington: "'Great in saving common sense;' great in honesty; great in fidelity; great in persistent devotion to the public welfare; great in that firm faculty of the mind which is able to look beyond the pressure of in- dividuals and combinations and all personal hopes and aspirations, and see in the far background only the great people who have placed their destinies in his hands. * * * xhis is an age of vast, almost universal corruption. Gray-headed men tell us, with sad faces, that they doubt the perpetuity of our free and noble institutions. It some- times looks as if one universal sea of corruption would swallow up all we hold dear in government. "When, therefore, in the midst of such a state of things, the people find one honest, truthful, earnest, incorruptible man, who, at his own political peril, does his whole duty, they should stand by him to the last extremity." And yet, within a few short years, the people forgot their friend, and corporate greed destroyed him politically and injur- ed him financially. The legislative session was a laborious one, although but little of general importance was accomplished. The lobby, as usual, was filled with the "picked, paid and skilled retainers" of the corporations who are "summoned by the iness(>ngers of elec- tricity and appear upon tlie wings of steam," and all proposed measures looking to the control of railroad rates and the pro- hibition of discrimination in such ratios were defeated. The saloon license question occupi(> Aaron Goodrich, Samuel Alayall, John X. Davidson and Theodore Hcilscher, of St. Paul; Judge Thomas Wilson of Winona Dr. W. W. Alayo of Rochester, lion. Wm. G. Ward of Waseca, Hon. C. D. Sherwood of Fillmore eountv, ex- CHll.lVS HISTORY OF WASIOOA COUNTY. 251 I'liitod Stittos Sciuilor M. S. Wilkinson, iind J. ii. llnbbell, of ^liinkalo. 'riu' iuition;il omiYontion o\' this n(M\' pai'ly \vas held at I'ini'innati, ^Iny 4, ISTl!, and lloviu'i- Oroolcy was noniinalod on Iho sixth l);\lli>t nnd on Iho third da>' of the ('(Hivontion. R. (iratz Rrown, of Missouri, was nominated I'oi' viee pr(>sident. l^oth had been vepnhlicans, and Mr. (!reeh\v had been a life-loiii;' opponent of (>very prineiple of the denioeralie party frcnn Van Rnren to Buehaiian. lie was an nltra, hii>li-tarilT .adxoeate, and one of the stannehest opiioiients of tlu> sla\i> olii^arehy. Ne\-er- theless, the so-ealled denioei-atie party ol' th.al day nu't, at, Balti- more, duly Ihh, and endorsed the iionunation of both (freele>- and Bi'own. Tlie whole atVair was so politieall\- i^rotesipie and Indierons, net to say fareieal, that the I'artoonists and the people at larue outside the Liberal Ivepidilicans themselves, eii.joyed the eani- liaig'n more than any other politienl struggle in the history of the uation. But not so with Mr. (!reeh-y. It scmU him to the mad house where he died Nov. L'ilth— twenty-four days al'ter his defeat. It is the opiuiou of the writer that it was not his del'e.at at the polls Avhieh unhalaneeil his great uuud, but the treachery and uieanness of AVhitelaw KcMd. ^Ir. Greeley was so great a man tliat his defe.'it for the presidency was ol' small eonsequenee. Iiut he was the foiuuler, and for more than a gcMuu'ation, th<> editor of the ""Xew York Tribune. "" the greatest uiMvsp.-iper of its day iu the world. His paper Avas the politieal bible of huu- dreds of thousands of people. His name was a household word throughout the land. Mr. (ireeley had been for a life-tinu^ the king of .iournalisni, the great ad\'oeafe ami fearless defender of temperauee reform and demoeratie-repnbliean institiitions. He was an Anuu'ieau id' Anu^rie.ins, believing iu the Fatherhood of one (^od, aud tlu'" true Brotherhood of .VII ^iankind. AYhile sometimes mistaken in judgment, he was, nevertheless, one of the greatest and grandest men of this or of any other age or na- tion. He eould have survived his defeat with resignation, but the Xew Yoik Tribune was his idol, his heart aud soul, his ver\' life-blood, and when it eame to his knowledge that Whitelaw Keid had seetu'ed finaueial control of his paper, aiul eoidd ab- 252 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. solutely exclude Mr. Greeley's editorials and was doing so, his great heart broke, his magnificent mind gave way, and he died a maniac. It was a foul, cruel, moral murder of a great and good man. Friend and foe alike mourned his pitiful death, bow- ed their heads in the most profound sorrow, and forgave and forgot what many thought the mistake of his life— his candidacy for the presidency in opposition to the great party of which he was one of the founders and builders. THOROUGHBRED CATTLE. The gentlemen who first ijave the matter of thoroughbred cat- tle much attention in this county were Charles A. De Graff of Alton, near Janesville, and Hon. W. G. Ward, of Waseca, ^li-. "Ward's farm is situated just west of Waseea, a part of it in ■\Voodville and a part in St. jMai'y. The De Graf? farm was wholly in Alton. Their farms were both opened as early as 1S70. In April, 1S72, ;\Ir. Ed. Bennett, of AVaseea, visited Racine, Wiscon- sin, in the interest of these gentlemen, as M'ell as himself, and brought back six grade Shorthorn cows for ilr. Ward, and ten grade cows and three calves for ^Iv. De Graff. For himself, he brought back a full-blood. Shorthorn bull, eleven months old, Aveight 1,000 lbs. At that time Jlr. De Graff had a thoroughbred Shorthorn bull, two and a half years old, and five thoroughbred Shorthorn and Alderney eows, in addition to those brought on by ]\Ir. Bennett. ]Mr. AVai'd had a thoroughhi'ed Alderney bull and a tlioroughl)i'ed heifer of the same breed, l)esides the Shorthorns, These gentlemen did mneh in those days to help improve the cat- tle of this county. THE HANGING OP EASTON. A good deal of excitement was raised in and about Alma City the last week in June on aeeount of a hanging alVray which came off at the farm of John Itotrer, situated nc:\r Bulls Run, in Free- dom. John Iloffer missed $L'() in money and accused one Kaston, known as the "Old Ditcher," of stealing it. Easton, an old man, about seventy years of age, stoutly denied the accusation. Hoffer and wife and two hired men, named Brooks and Singer, seized the old man and threalened to hang him. The evidence on the examination showed that they put a rope around his neck and hanged him to a tree for a few seconds, and then let him CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. (Iijwii, \ii: still protoKtiiiji- his innocence. As soon an he could '^'■i Hway, ho (Jisappcurod entirely; very soon tlici'oafl.or it was (liscovcreil ihat ii nephew of lloffer had stolen the iijoney. An itiVfstij;atior] was instituted by the neighbors, but the old man, fdtlioni^li ti-a<'cd into Iowa, as two witnesses testified, was nevi-r fiMind. The Jloffers admitted that they tried to seare the old man, but did not intend to hang him. Mrs. lloffer, a youni<- and vij^oi'ons woman, also admitted thiit slut whipped liim with "a little wliip no bii^-^er than her finder." Many of the j^ood eitizeiis of the western [)ai-t of the county considered the aKsa,ult upon J'lasf.on and the i-esnlt of the examination an outrage upon justice and 11i(; public welfare. THE STORM OF AUGUST 6TH, 1872. ( )n "J'hursday evening, August (itii, a, vei-y heavy rain stoi'iri visitcMJ all Soutlicrn Miniu'sota. In the southern part of Wa- s(M'a. county, the wind blew a gale, (jlrain shocks were blown apai-t, and scattei'cd in cvei-y direction. F('nc(%s were blown down and a, nundier of buildings unroofed. Several substantial build- ings wer(^ moved from their foundations. The German Evangeli- cal I'liui-eli building, at, Wilton, was moved from its foundation, arid Sam I'l'cchel's blacksmith shop at the same place was un- roofed. Mr. Tlieodor-e I). M. Orcutt, then a farmer, of ti''rceilom, wrote of th(^ storm as follows. "II, commenced to rain aljout 9 o'cIocl< |). ni., with a strong wind from the north, when, suddenly, the wind shifted to the west and the storm ciiiiie with terrific violence. Houses, heretofore waterproof, afforded but lilllo iirolccllon to their occupants or contents. It took the strength of two inen to close a door or hold a window If unfastened. The roof and a portion of Mr. Helwick's house were carried away and badly torn to iii(^c(\s. The roof of Mr. Strauli's residence was taken off, and (he roof and iipiicr part of an unoccupied log house on the farm of Wm. B. in^uth wore carried about six rods and completely demolished. A chamlx^r window in the frame house occupied by Mr. Heath and his family was blown in and the house inside deluged with water, Mr. ll(v'U,h and family having taken refuge in the basement. The next morning was gloomy enough — cloudy, with a drizzling rain at Intervals, all the loriiiioon. Look in any direction you might, and fallen trees, un- roofed buildings, dilapidated hay stacks, great gaps in I'ences, battered and almost lea Hess cornfields, one or all would mar the landscuiie. But I lie worst feature was the total demolition of the grain shoclfs and the 254 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. uncut grain. The latter was flattened to the earth, involving a great amount of extra labor in cutting and a loss of at least twenty per cent of the grain." Damage by the storm was extensive throughout the county, but the southern half of it suffered more than the northern por- tion. THE ELECTION. The contest for local offices in this county attained fever heat. Hon. W. G. "Ward, "Liberal Republican," became the candidate of the democrats and railroad interests for state senator. On the ticket with him were Patrick Kenehan, of Wilton, and J. 0. Chandler, of Janesville, for representatives, and Edgar Cronk- hite for auditor. The republicans nominated A. AY. Jennison, of Janesville, for state senator, John Thompson, of New Richland, and J. L. Saufferer, of Blooming Grove, for representatives, and T. D. j\t. Orcutt, of Freedom, for auditor. The contest resulted in the election of AV. G. Ward by a vote of 802 for Ward to 77S for Jennison, and 835 for Cronkhite to 748 for Orcutt. Sauft'erer and John Thompson, republicans, were elected to the house. NOTES MISCELLANEOUS FOR THE YEAR. A number of deaths occurred this year. ilr. David L. AYhipple, an early settler and sheriff of the county from 1860 to 1866. died on the 4th of February of lung fever. He was well known throughout the county and highly respected by all conditions of men. His remains lie buried in the Wilton cemetery. His wife survived him, but he left no children. P. Brink Enos, a young lawyer of much native ability, but with ah unfortunate appetite for strong drink, was one of the early settlers in Wilton. He removed to North Platte in 1865, where he died of convulsions April 7tli. Augusta A. Fratzke, daughter of Mr. John Fratzke, of Free- dom, aged nine years, was instantly killed in her father's house on April 21st by the accidental discharge of a gim. Her head was blown off by the discharge and the walls of the room were literally covered with her brain and pieces of her skull. It ap- pears that on the day previous her father had been out himting and was unable to discharge one barrel of the gun. When he CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 255 came home in the evening he put the gun into an open closet, be- hind a lounge. At the time of the accident, Augusta, a brother a little older and a girl named Bade, together with a cat and a dog, were at play, when suddenly the gun was thrown over against the lounge and discharged with the terrible result noted. Mr. B. F. lianes, one of the very early settlers of Vivian, an edu- cated, bachelor recluse, died the last week in June, of fever. Mr. E. J. Hurd, of Janesville, while at work in his sawmill June 28th, was caught by one of the belts and thrown against a post with such violence as to cause almost instant death. DRAINING CLEAR LAKE. It was during the month of October, 1872, that certain persons in Rice county that owned mills along Straight river commenced ditching with the avowed intention of draining the lakes of Woodville into Crane Creek, hoping thus to supply water for their mills. This movement aroused a strong feeling of indig- nation and opposition in Waseca, and an injunction was issued to prevent the work. During the legislative session of the ensuing winter an act was passed prohibiting the draining of the lakes- more especially Clear lake. OTHER MATTERS. The first snowstorm in the fall was very severe. The Waseca News then remarked that the "oldest inhabitant" never before saw such a day, so early in the season. "Old Winter" howled and screamed and spit snow and made people uncomfortable gen< erally. About five inches of snow fell. The roads and railroads were blockaded, and business was almost suspended. Mr. Simeon Smith, of Blooming Grove, one of the settlers of 1855, died on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the advanced age of sev- enty-eight years. Frank McKune, son of Capt. Lewis McKune, who was shot and killed at the first battle of Bull Run, died at the residence of his sister, in Lake City, Dec. 16, at the age of twenty years, of hemorrhage of the lungs. The prices of wheat during the months of November and De- cember ranged from 80 to 98 cents. Sales of wheat at the elevator in Waseca during the last six weeks of the year ranged from 4,500 256 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. to 12,000 bushels. The crop was a good one throughout the county, although in some places there was considerable loss ou account of the August storm. THE "EPIZOOT." This peculiar horse disease made its appearance in this section in the month of November and soon became epidemic. The ill- ness commenced with a half-suppressed cough, which soon be- came more violent. A fever set in with intense heat of the mouth and a discharge from the nose of offensive mucus, in large quan- tities. The horses attacked refused all food, would not lie down, and, in a few days, became very weak. Many died. The best veterinary surgeons described the disease as acute catarrh and influenza. The distemper, or disease, originated in eastern Can- ada where thousands of horses died. It next appeared in the p]astern States and thence came West. The large cities seemed to suffer the most. In some cities the horses would all be taken in one day, as it were, and all business would be brought to a standstill. That was before the introduction of electric cars, and when horse cars were being used in all large cities. During the latter part of December nearly all business was brought to a stand-still in this county by the "epizooty." During the week ending December 28, only 358 bushels and 40 pounds of wheat were marketed in "Waseca, while during the first week in that month 11,580 1-2 bushels were received by the same elevator. Not very many horses died in this section, but nearly all were affected by the disease more or less. This December was one of the very coldest in the history of the county. In many places, the day before Christmas, the thermometers registered as low as "2'i and 30 degrees. Fortunately, during the coldest days, there was no wind and the atmosphere was dry and crisp. In Chicago the thermometer said 20 degrees below, and at Fort Scott, Kansas, IS degrees below. CHAPTER XLI, 1873. THE NEW YEAR— THE GREAT BLIZZARD— MANY PERISH— GREAT LOSSES— THE MURDER OF MRS. BUSER AND CHILD AND THE SUICIDE OP ANTON RUF— SIXTY-EIGHT DAYS IN A SNOW DRIFT —PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY— ACCIDENTALLY SHOT— CHAM- PION BASEBALL TEAM— BIG SNOW STORM OCT. 24— THE ELEC- TION—RAILROAD DISCRIMINATIONS— THE PANIC OF 1873 AND ITS CAUSES— DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS— HON. WM. BRISBANE VISITS SCOTLAND. The New Year's Day of 1873 was very fine indeed. After the terribly cold week about Christmas time the simny, pleasant ushering in of the new year was very acceptable. The Waseca News of that day contained the following: "The old year, with its hardships, wrongs, crimes, wickedness; with its joys, pleasures, successes, advancement, and plenteous harvests, passed into historical eternity last night. To-day we commence anew. "Has the experience of the past given us brighter hopes of the future? Life is what we make it. Each can help to make it a heaven or a hell. Each Individual must advance. No one can stand still. One's progress is either for better or worse. To-day many will degrade their manhood and disgrace their families. Many a father will set a bad example be- fore his sons. On the other hand, many sons and daughters will com- mence the new year in a manly, womanly, and sensible way. They will not get drunk themselves nor give drunkenness to their friends. The 'coming man and woman' will not drink wine nor any other intoxicating beverage. "How many of our readers will to-day resolve to inaugurate a new fashion, one which shall do away with the damning effects of the bar- barous, useless, and expensive custom of tippling? Let the wealthy and those high in office set an example worthy of imitation. Wishing our 11 258 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA, COUNTY. readers, one and all, a 'Happy New Year.' we close our 'forms' and say goodnight." COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The county commission(_'rs this year met on the 7th of January and organized by electing Sir. 0. Powell chairman for the third time. Little business outside of the ordinary routine was trans- acted. The county auditor was directed to procure field notes of sur- veys and meanders from the surveyor general. The auditor was also "authorized to record in the road calendar the plats, field notes, and road orders of all county and state roads in "Waseca eoimty legally laid out during the last five years, and to employ an assistant to do the work, if necessary.'' STORM ON THE 7TH AND 8TH. The 7th of Januai'y opened warm and pleasant. In the after- noon the wind cajiie strong from the northwest and before dark a blinding snow storm raged over the whole of ^ilinnesota. It continued through the night and during the followinti- two days and nights. The cold was rather severe and a number of people in the state lost their lives. Seventy persons were reported frozen to death in the entire state, and thirty-one badly injured by frost. The loss of live stock in the state Avas reported as fol- lows: horned cattle 2')0, horses 25, shee[) and hogs 10, mules 3. No doubt the loss of stock was larger than was i-eported. We copy the following from the Waseca News of Jan. 1."), 1S73: "A man named Avon Aleckson was chopping in the woods near Lake Watkins, in Woodville, Tuesday. When the storm came on he started for home, got lost, was out all night and all the next day, till near even- ing, before he found a house. His feet were so badly frozen that they are black, and it is feared they must be amputated. Otherwise he was not badly frozen. But the poor sufferer was so weakened by exposure that he died some three weeks later of hemorrhage of the lungs. "Mr. J. G. Greening, of Otisco, who came from Blue Earth City, last Friday, informs us that a Mrs, Suitz, living near Wisners Grove. Fari- bault county, was found dead after the storm, about half a mile from her house. It appears that her husband went to Delavan that morning, and that the woman let one of her children go to a neighbor's house. When the storm came on she went to her neighbor's place to get the child, leaving her other child in the house. The neighbor prevailed upon her to return, bring her other child and remain over night. The poor CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 259 woman started for her home, lost her way in the blinding storm and perished. The child left at home — about three years of age — was found in bed alive." Mr. James Ivers, of Byron, lost fifteen sheep out of twenty- three. J\Ir. Bevans of the same town lost an ox. Mr. Mayne, of AVilton, also lost an ox. Several head of cattle perished on H. J. AVadsworth's farm in "Wilton. Mr. Rodney Hanks, then a resident of Vivian, was returning home from Janesville on the afternoon of the 7th, with a span of mules. He had great confidence in his mules, and believing that they would take him home in due time, gave them their o^vn way. They finally got tired of tramping snow and stopped short on the prairie, refusing to go further in such a storm. Mr. Hanks had on a small load of wood which he piled up on the windward side as a protection, and turned his wagon box bot- tom side up as a protection. Here he sheltered himself as best he could from the howling, pitiless storm until Friday morning, when he made his way home. Although considerably frosted he was not permanently injured. But the wonder is that the man and the mules did not all perish. No weather can suppress some newspaper men. The next week after this storm the following appeared : "When the cold wind blows, take care of your nose, that it doesn't get froze, and wrap up your toes in warm woolen hose.' The above, we sup- pose, was written in prose by some one who knows the effect of cold snows, and the further this goes, the longer it grows, each telling what he knows about writing in prose, when it snows and it blows, as it so often does." — Ex. To which the "Winona Republican added: "Ere the ditty we close we must tell of our Mose, who indignantly rose, and proceeded to expose the substance of our woes, where the Mississip' flows. He positively knows that the river is froze, without regard to zero's from its head to its toes." And the "Waseca News continued: " 'Pat' don't propose to favor those who read this prose with what he knows of wind and snows, and frosted toes, and tattered clothes, and all the woes that follow those who won't repose at home and doze when it snows and blows." A BLOODY TRAGEDY. One of the most terrible crimes known in the history of the county came to light on the 17th day of February, 1873. On that 260 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. fatal Monday morning, Anton Ruf, residing in the eastern part of Woodville, deliberately murdered Mrs. Alexander Buser and her youngest child, evidently with Mrs. Buser 's connivance and con- sent. The evidence showed that he first cut the child's throat, then killed the woman and laid the lifeless form of the infant upon its mother's arm on the bed. Ruf then cut his own throat and lay down beside them, but, in his death agony, turned over and fell upon the floor face downward. A large butcher knife had evidently been sharpened for the occasion as such a knife was found near the bed. The history of this affair if fully written, would fill many pages and rival the awful stories of the romances of the last century. The facts are revolting enough and are given here as they were brought out at the time of the awful tragedy. Anton Ruf, a German by birth and a single man, several .vears before the tragedy, bought a piece of land in the eastern part of Woodville, and erected a house. IK- then wrote to an acquaint- ance in Wisconsin, ]Mr. Alexander Buser, a married man, and invited him to come with his family and live with him. ilr. Buser accepted the invitation, and came on from Wisconsin in April, 1869, bringing Avith him his wife and three children. Islr. Buser bought a half interest in the farm and moved into the house with Ruf. For a time matters went along smoothly, but after a few months, Mr. Buser suspected that ilrs. Buser was at least dividing affections with Mr. Ruf. Quarreling ensued, and mat- ters went from bad to worse until in October 1871, Buser attempt- ed to expel Ruf from the house. A fight ensued in which Buser came out second best and was driven away entirely. Ruf and ]\lrs. Buser remained on the premises, and, so far as known, lived agreeably together, the children remaining with them, until district court convened Feb. 11, 1873. At this term of court, information was placed l)efore the grand jury accusing the par- ties of criminal intimacy. The AYaseca News of February 19 and 26 contained substantially the following acooimt of the bloody tragedy : "The history of the affair, as near as we can learn is as follows; Mr. Alexander Buser, lawful husband of the woman, moved into the house with Anton Ruf, a single man, in April, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Buser had three children at that time, two boys and a girl; the eldest, n boy, being CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA- COUNTY. 261 about thirteen years of age at the time of the murder. A fourth child was born to the woman about two years before the tragedy. In October, 1871, as Mr. Buser claims, he was driven away by Ruf, and after this time the latter and Mrs. Buser lived together in undisputed possession of the premises, the children remaining with them. "On the morning of the fatal day, when the children started for school, the mother told them that she was going to Waseca. The chil- dren remained at school throughout the day, and when they returned home in the evening, found the door fastened. Supposing that their mother had not yet returned from Waseca, they went to the house of Mr. Michael Spillane, Sen., about a quarter of a mile away, and remained over night. The following morning, the elder boy and T. Tynen, another lad, went to the Ruf house, and, finding the door fastened, looked in at the window when they saw Ruf lying on the floor, covered with blood, dead. These boys, frightened at the awful sight, hurried back to Mr. Spillane's place and got Michael Spillane, Jr., to go over to the house with them. Messrs. Waldo and Whitman also visited the house but no one broke open the door or entered the house at the time. One of the Spillane boys then drove to Waseca and notified the coroner. Dr. Mc- intosh, who summoned a jury and proceeded to the house where they found the woman and her youngest child dead on the bed, with their throats cut square across, and Ruf dead, lying upon the floor with his throat also cut across almost from ear to ear. The bed and the room presented a horribly bloody appearance. "It appeared that the triple murder was committed with the utmost deliberation. Both Ruf and Mrs. Buser wrote letters which they left upon the table in the room. "These letters showed some sentimental affection between the two, and accused others of their troubles. Neither one seemed to realize the moral depravity of the two as exemplified in their lives. "The following are correct translations of the letters found In the house by Coroner Mcintosh: "Dear Mine: — Hear the last painful cry of your friend! By the time you receive this I shall be before the Heavenly Judge. He may judge me. I was hounded to death. I got one to ask Alexander (Buser) to save me. He did it not. I will not go to state prison. "I pray you to make it possible to get my poor, dear Mina to you. I beg you to do it. You know that I wept when she was born, and that I had a sad presentiment of something bad. O, my time is short. I suf- fer agonies for my children which are terrible. Judge not. You know that I love my children, that I would do so longer, but circumstances do not leave me in condition to do so. "Thine, Anna." The foregoing was folded and addressed to Salome Duerft, New Glarus, Green county, Wis. 262 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA, COUNTY. On another sheet of paper she wrote : "Farewell, poor children. Your father ought to have saved me, but he could not or would not do it. You, my dear, dear Mina, follow your mother as soon as you can. The world is a hard place. "My soul entreats you, even after death, not to curse your poor, un- fortunate mother. (Signed) "Anna." On the same page, in Ruf's handwriting was the following: "Dear Anna has fully determined to die rather than be dragged before a court, together with those horrible folks, and afterwards to be ridi- culed and despised." ilrs. Buser again wrote as follows, signing her maiden name : "No man should ascribe the cause of this deed to Ruf, but to and Alexander Buser. They wanted to hound Ruf to death. I follow him of my own free will that the world may see that our affection for each other was no misdemeanor (kein unfug.) All of you together shall not triumph. (Signed) "Anna Ritter." Then in her writing was added: "Here I write my last testimony." (then Ruf continues) "Alexander Buser and • — are the murderers of dear Anna. We are willing to die. I swore I would follow her. Only God, the Judge, or the Judg- ment day can make all things right. (Signed) "A. Ruf." The following on the inside of the door was evidently written by Ruf after having murdered the woman and child: "No one parts love save Death. I wanted to take Mina along too. A few words of sympathy would have saved the mother and her child from being murdered. I waited till 12 o'clock noon." To make the letters and writing m^re intelligible in some re- spects it is proper to state that Ruf and the woman had been in- formed that their past conduct was being investigated by the grand jury. This information no doubt alarmed them. On Sat- urday Ruf visited AVaseca and conferred with an attorney. It appears that his attorney made a written proposition to Buser, who was then in the neighborhood, asking him to consent to a divorce. Ruf and the woman probjibly expected that Buser, if willing to consent to a divorce, would write or call immediately and let them know his intention. i\.s they received no word from him, they no doubl believed that they would be arrested and sent to prison. The appearance of the victims at the coroner's inquest was CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 263 most shocking and horrible. The child's head was nearly sever- ed from the body at one stroke of the knife. The woman re- ceived a severe gash across both shoulders and the throat— prob- ably from one powerful blow. It was evident that Ruf drew the knife twice across his own throat. ]Mr. Buser soon after retux'ned to Wisconsin, taking the children with him. So far as known, Ruf had no relatives in this country. "SIXTY-EIGHT DAYS IN A SNOW DRIFT AND STILL ALIVE." An article with the above heading appeared in the Waseca News of ]\Iarch 19, 1873, and read as follows : "Two fat hogs belonging to Wm. Bevans, of Byron, that were lost dur- ing the snow storm of Jan. 7th, last, were found alive and healthy on the 14th inst., in a snow drift adjoining a straw stack. Sixty-eight days under a snow drift and yet alive is doing pretty well. Messrs. Garmody and Covell, of Wilton, who are responsible for this information, remark- ed that it was the 'cheapest way in the world to winter hogs.' " THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. This organization, which had been at work for several years among the farmers of the country, especially in the West, or- ganized a county grange in Waseca, May 3, 1873. It was run on the narrow-gauge plan, but it nevertheless accomplished a great deal of good. The call for the meeting was signed "Wm. A. Erwin, secretary," by order of committee. The temporary organization was effected by the election of I. D. Beaman, of Blooming Grove, temporary chairman; and W. D. Armstrong, temporary secretary. After the election of a committee on credentials and one on permanent organization, a recess was taken till afternoon. At the afternoon session, the committee on credentials reported the following gentlemen entitled to seats: J. S. Abell, Joseph ilinges, Adam Bishman, A. L. Warner, and Sam Leslie, of Po- mona grange ; C. E. Graham, S. Hydorn, D. D. Green, P. Vander- warka, and C. Bates, of, County Line grange ; A. Keyes, S. C. L. JMoore, and S. C. Dow, of Alma City grange ; Hugh Wilson, R. F. Stevens, J. Tumacliff, Noah Lincoln, and Geo. H. Woodbury, of Wilton grange; Philo Woodruff, David Wood, M. Dewald, and J. R.Davidson, of Hazel Dale grange; I. D. Beaman, S. F. Wyman, Albert Remund, Patrick Haley, and Wm. Habein, of 264 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Blooming Grove grange ; W. H. Gray, D. Eiegle, James Bowe, F. Brossard, P. McDermott, and W. A. Erwin, of Toboso grange; H. W. S. Hinkley, Wm. Runnels, W. D. Armstrong, ^Sl. F. Connor, and Nicholas Fox, of Connor grange ; il. Haley, Patrick Murray, H. Haley, John McWaide, and James Jones, of Hibernia grange. Waseca grange No. 49 elected three delegates to the council, who presented their credentials. The committee to whom they were referred disagreed as to the propriety of admitting any Waseca men. The matter was referred to the council and by a majority vote it was decided that Waseca grange was not en- titled to representation in the coiuicil on the groimd that some of the members of that grange were not practical farmers. The following permanent officers were elected: I. D. Beaman, master; il. F. Connor, overseer; W. D. Armstrong, secretary; S. C. L. Moore, gate keeper; John S. Abell, lecturer; A. Keyes, chaplain. A business committee of one from each grange was appointed, namely : Hugh Wilson, P. Woodruff, A. L. Warner, il. Haley, A. Keyes, P. McDermott, W. D. Armstrong, Patrick Haley, and S. Hydorn. This organization was kept i^p for about two years, when owing to dissension among the members, it gradually disappear- ed.' FOURTH OF JULY. The weather was grand, and there was a general observance of the day in Waseca. Hon. il. D. L. Collester was the orator of the day and delivered a very fine address. The baseball game between the Blooming Grove Champions and the ]\Iankato ckib, was the absorbing entertainment of the day. Blooming Grove won by a score of 62 to 13. A few slight accidents were reported. Some one drove into 'Sir. Thos. Bar- den's buggy and overturned it, throwing ;Mrs. Barden out and bruising her somewhat, though not seriously. :\Ir. Thomas Lynch, of Wilton, had a runaway in which he and his wife were thrown out of the buggy without suffering serious harm. ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. On August 29th, Mr. John Bowe, of Blooming Grove, was CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 265 accidentally woimdod by the discharge of a shot gun in the hands of one of the Bowe boys, the hammer of the lock acciden- tally slipping from his hand. The wound though painful, was liot dangerous. CHAMPION BASE-BALL TEAM. The NorthKeld base-ball club challenged the Blooming (irove Champions to a match game of ball at the fair grounds, in North- field, on the ISth of September. The Northfield club held the silver bat of the state, and this was offered as the prize for the winning side. The Blooming Grove boys won the prize by a score of forty-six to nineteen. The Northfield boys suffered three whitewashes, Blooming Grove none. IMartin Haley was the captain and pitcher; Jas. Johnson, catcher; Wm. Johnson, first base; Pi-ank Haley, second base; C. D. Todd, third base; E. W. Jacklin, short stop; G. Donaldson, right fielder; F. Col- lins, center fielder; John Blowers, left fielder. Some years after, the club, having lost some of its best players, lost the prize in a game with the Winnebago City club. The last heard of the sil- ver bat it was in the hands of the college boys of Winnebago City. FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON. There was a snow storm on the night of Oct. 24 that continued through the night and into the forenoon of the 25th. Snow fell to the depth of about ten inches, and the drifts, in places remain- ed luitil spring. The strong wind accompanying the snow swept it from most of the plowed fields, so that considerable fall plow- ing was done after the storm; but fall work was very much in- terfered with on the farms. THE ELECTION. This was the year when the anti-monopoly sentiment was very strong throughout the nation. The order of the Patrons of Husbandry had established a "Grange" in almost every farm- ing community, and its teachings had aroused a very strong op- position to the extortions and unjust discriminations practiced by the transportation corporations. The high rates of interest charged throughout the West also caused much hardship and 266 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. loss of property. The people were thoroughly aroused and, to a certain extent, joined hand in hand for self protection. The peo- ple of Waseca county were never more thoroughly aroused than during the campaign of 1873. Hon. C. K. Davis, republican, and Hon. Ara Barton, democrat, were the opposing candidates for governor. Mr. Davis carried the county by a majority of 166. The result of the votes for county representatives and officers was as follows: REPRESENTATIVES. Geo. McDermott, ind 24 L. D. Smith, rep 967 J. E. Child, rep 765 REGISTER OP DEEDS. Kelsey Curtis, dem 478 H. A. Mosher, rep 845 David Wood, dem 599 Louis Krassin, dem 562 TREASURER. SHERIFF. Warren Smith, rep 986 G. H. Woodbury, rep 512 M. Sheran, dem 381 C. Cunningham, dem 196 S. W. Long, ind 696 JUDGE OF PROBATE. J. A. Canfleld, rep 774 CORONER. Neri Reed, dem 617 l. d. Mcintosh, rep 1402 COUNTY ATTORNEY. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. F. A. Newell, rep 502 r. ,^ /-, • j ,oo „ „ „ ' „„„ R. O. Craig, dem 193 P. McGovern, dem 898 „ t> t, i j H. P. Packard, rep 112 COURT COMMISSIONER. H. K. Stearns, rep 217 J. B. Smith, rep 1403 Frank McLane, dem 69 Quite an effort was made throughout the state by the cor- porations to defeat Hon. C. K. Davis, but he received a majority of about 5,000. The issue that absorbed public attention more than any other was that of railroad discrimination. The "Grangers" of Waseca county, at their county council, held July 12, 1873, "resolved that the charge of $20 by the W. & St. P. R. R. Co. (now C. & N.-W. Ry. Co.) for simply hauling a loaded car of lumber or lime from Owatonna to Waseca, a dis- tance of fifteen miles, when the regular eharoe for hauling the same car load from Winona to Waseca, a distance of one hun- dred and five miles, is only $20, is an unjust discrimination and an outrageous extortion that calls loudly for a stringent legal remedy. ' ' In Rice county complaint was made that a carload of lumber shipped from Minneapolis to Faribault cost the Faribault dealer CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 267 $31.50 in freight, while the same carload of lumber shipped to Owatonna, fifteen miles further, over the same road, cost only $22 freight— a discrimination against Faribault of $9.50 on every carload. The same carload, shipped forty-eight miles further south to Austin, cost only $24 freight— discrimination of $7.50 per carload. In the matter of through rates from the east, the same wrong was manifest. The railway rates on goods from Chicago to Faribault were, per 100 pounds, for first class goods, $1.10; second class, $1.00; third class, 75 cents; fourth class 55 cents. The rates charged on the same classes, transported by the same road through Faribault to St. Paul, fifty-six miles fur- ther, were 80 cents for first class; 70 cents for second class, and 35 cents for third class. In view of these unjust discriminations, practiced everywhere in the state, the people in every farming community demanded the enactment of a law prohibiting the charging of a greater freight rate for a short distance than was at the same time charged for a longer distance over the same road and in the same di- rection. It was contended by the Grange men that, in view of these undisputed facts, the law ought to require the railroad corpora- tions to charge equal rates to' all men, and to carry freight a short distance over the same road at a fixed rate for a short haul which should not exceed the charge for a longer haul. They claimed that this demand was no more than fair and rea- sonable, and that no sane or reasonable person desired to injure the railroads nor require them to perform service at unfair or unreasonable rates. Notwithstanding this fair and just request, there was and is the very strongest opposition to any law which shall honestly and effectually carry out the principle of equal and reasonable rates. THE PANIC OP '73. The year 1873 was considered by many as one of the worst, financially, ever experienced by the country up to that time. Waseca county suffered much less than many other localities, owing, doubtless, to its very productive soil and convenient mar- kets. The spring time brought disappointment to farmers on account of the cold, wet weather. There was considerable 268 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. warm weather the first week in March, and most of the snow disappeared, but about the middle of that month there com- menced a series of rain and light snow storms with cold, freezing nights, which kept the fields in bad condition until the middle of April. Flat, wet lands could not well be seeded, and where seeded gave no crop. Some of the early sowed grain rotted. On the 17th of May a heavy rainstorm visited the country and con- tinued for several days off and on, making the roads of this county almost impassable and seriously delaying corn planting. Owing to the hard winter, the cold, wet spring or some other cause, many of the fruit trees, though putting forth their leaves in the spring, withered and died during the summer. Only those in the most favored locations and of the hardiest varieties survived the season. The summer season from the first of June until October, however, made up to a great extent for the dis- agreeable and discouraging spring. The crops were fairly good, especially the wheat and hay crops, and the favorable harvest weather enabled the husbandmen to save everything in good shape. Notwithstanding these fairly good conditions, agriculturally, times were close. Judge Kiester, in his history of Faribault county, asserts that "money was extremely scarce and rates of interest very high. Everybody was more or less in debt, and everyone to whom money was due was urgent, persistent for his pay. The county newspapers were filled with notices of mortgage foreclosures and sales of land under execution. Dur- ing this and several subsequent years, many homes and farms passed away forever from the hard-working pioneers for a very small proportion of their real value. In the fall there came upon the nation a great money panic— a tremendous financial crash. The great failure of Jay Cook (ic Co., led off in this dance of fi- nancial dishonor and death. Banks were suspended, thousands of individuals of supposed great wealth, and great moneyed cor- porations of all kinds went down to ruin and bankruptcy. (Ireat manufactories and mines were closed down, and gre;\t public en- terprises were brought to a sudden close. The number of de- faulters in both public office and private station was legion. The army of the unemployed swelled to hundreds of thousands, CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 2G9 and great privation and distress prevailed throughout the coun- try. This was the visible beginning of one of the greatest finan- cial disasters in the history of our country, and one vfhieh con- tinued its work of ruin and distress for several years." The causes of this wide-spread disaster, as claimed by one set of economists, were over-production, wild speculation, extrava- gant and wasteful living, contracting debts for what we did not need, borrowing money to build railroads where there was no- thing for them to do, and the building of villages and cities with no farming country to back them. Another set of economists urge upon our attention the fact that, notwithstanding our enormous national debt, then payable in greenbacks and silver dollars, congress, in the month of Feb- ruary, at the instigation, and through the corrupting influences of English and European capitalists, who were large holders of our bonds, bought for greenbacks and made payable in green- backs, silver or gold, passed an act, ostensibly relating only to the national mint and coinage, but which really and actually demonetized silver by destroying the silver dollar and providing that silver money should not be a legal tender for any greater sum than five dollars. The work of demonetization was accom- plished without the knowledge of the people at larRc, and a great majority of the members of congress afterwards declared that they did not know, when the law was passed, that it de- monetized silver. These economic writ(>i-s claim that the de- struction of our silver money doubled the debts of the debtor class, or poor people, while by the same act the bonds of the bondholder were doubled in value. In other words, that values of actual property and labor were, by the act, so depreciated that it would take, for instance, two hundred bushels of wheat tfi pay the debt which, when contracted, called for only one hun- dred bushels. Whatever the cause may have been, the depression was uni- versal and the suffering wide-spread, especially in the large cities. MINOR NOTES OF THE YEAR. There were several prominent deaths during the year. Robert Woodrow, one of the early settlers of Woodville, died February 270 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 3, 1873, after an illness of several months. He left a wife and two children. Mrs. Michael Kinney, one of the pioneer women of Iosco, died February 8 and was buried February 10. Her funeral was very largely attended, the large Catholic church being entirely filled. There was a very heavy snow storm February 26, so heavy that the roads and railroads were badly blockaded for two or three days. John Toole, section foreman at Janesville, aged 64 years, was killed March 7, 1873, by being thrown from a hand-car by a freight train. Nettie, four-year-old daughter of Mr. Alex. Brisbane, then of Wilton, was so badly scalded by falling upon a kettle contain- ing boiled potatoes that she died March 9, after twenty-four hours of great suffering. Henry Adolphus Trowbridge, highly respected son of Hon. I. C. Trowbridge, of Waseca, died April '20, 1873. A daughter of Mr. and Mr. John Forest, then of Wilton, died April 22. Mrs. Wm. Orcutt, of Freedom, after a severe illness, died April 23. On June 3, Wm. Bluhm, a lad about fifteen j^ears of age, son of Henry Bluhm, then of Merideii, accidentally shot himself while hunting in the woods. In drawing his gun over a log the gun was accidentally discharged, its contents striking him in the neck and throat. He died soon after. A young child, aged one year and eight months, of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ballard, of St. :Mary, fell into a pail of hot water on Saturday and was so badly scalded that it died on Sunday, July 5. Albert il. Smith, of Waseca, son of J. B. Smith, died July -i, at the age of twenty-seven years, of consumption. I A child of Mr. D. A. Erwiu, of St. Jlary, two years old, met with a sad accident Sept. 29, It upset a dish of hot starch, pre- pared for ironing purposes, and was severely burned upon its breast, abdomen and legs. It lingered until October S, wheu death came to its relief. Samuel, son of Anthony Sampson, of New Richland, a boy about nine years of age, fell from a wagon, Ov\. 10, 1873. and was so badly in.jured that lu' died within a few minutes after his fall. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA' COUNTY. 271 On the 17th of the same month, a son of John Byron, of St. Mary, about seventeen years of age, got caught on the tumbling rod of a threshing machine and was so badly injured that he died the following Monday, the 20th. Both of these families were among the very early settlers of the county. On the 15th of October, Mr. Henry J. Meyers, then of Freedom, had his left arm torn off in a threshing machine. His arm was amputated at the shoulder and although he was otherwise in- jured to some extent, he soon recovered. An elderly gentleman named Tosten Tostenson was found dead on the north shore of Clear Lake, Oct. 22. He was found with his face in the water and his body on the shore. It was thought that he knelt down on the shore to get a drink of water ; that he fell in with his face down, and had not suffteient strength to raise himself out of the water. The salary of the county superintendent of schools, for the first time in the history of the county, was made somewhat com- mensurate to the labor required of the oiScer. On the 21st of March the county board having theretofore appointed one of its members superintendent, raised the salary to $720 per annum. There was a heavy snow storm this year, April 9, when sis inches of snow fell. The tax list for the comity, this year, filled over ten columns of a seven-column paper, set in brevier type. The list was the smallest it had been for five years. The tax lists of the early days Avere the main support of local newspapers in each county. On May 8, this year, Hon. Wm. Brisbane started on his journey to visit the scenes of his childhood in his native Scotland. During the months of September and October, of this year, the Waseca railroad elevator received 86,898 bushels of wheat, of which 13,521 bushels graded No. 1—71,817 bushels graded No. 2, and 1,567 bushels went rejected. On the 27th of November, Mr. James Gearin, of Wilton, had the misfortune to lose his dwelling house and all its contents by fire. He carried only a small amount of insurance, but the members of the grange to which he belonged, known as Connor Grange, at once clubbed together and erected a new house for him. CHAPTER XLII, 1874. COUNTY AND STATE LEGISLATION— BIG RAILROAD CONTEST- GENERAL EDGERTON, SENATOR COGGSWELL— TAXING RAIL- ROAD LANDS— EXCITING LOCAL ELECTION- THE SALARY GRAB— GRASSHOPPER A BURDEN— DEATHS, ANDREW JACKSON, JERRY HOGAN, WM. BAKER, MRS. L. D. HOCANSON AND CHILD, MRS. ANDREW LYNCH, MRS. HICKS, ISAAC BIRD, DR. GOVE, WM. ACKERMAN, N. WOOD. The year 1873 closed with a pleasant day, and the new year 187-1 was introduced by the most beantifiil winter day ever seen in ilinnesota. The sky was cloudless. The sun shone in all its beauty during the whole day. There was almost a perfect calm, and the atmosphere was as warm and balmy as in spring time. The county conuuissioners assembled at the court house Jan- uary 6th, and organized by electing AYm. Byron, of St. ilary, chairman for the year.- License for the sale of liquors was fixed at one himdred dollars. The following road and bridge appropriations were made : .^150 to aid in building a bridge across the Le Sueur River, where the Freeborn and Owatonna road crosses said stream; .i^riO to help ilnish the bridge and grading at JIcDougall creek where the Wa- seca and Wilton road crosses the same; $100 to be used in re- paring the road known as the Wilton and Faribault higliAvay at the Chesterson and Bowe hills; >|^11,") to repair the road and bridge near Alma City, across the Le Sueur I^iver, on the Janesville road. H. G. Mosher was re-appointed county superintendent of schools at a salary of $720. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 273 THE LEGISLATURE OF 1874. This body assembled Jan. 6, and adjourned March 6. "Waseca county was represented in the senate by W. G. Ward, and in the house by L. D. Smith and James E. Child. It was dubbed by the corporation men "the Grange legislature," not an inappropriate designation. No legislature of this state has ever contained a greater proportion of true, tried, honest, and capable men, than that of 1874. The battle between the true representatives of the people and those influenced by the corporations was carried from the polls, at the fall election, to the halls of legislation. The choice of speaker of the house turned upon the issue— "Shall the state control the railroads in the matter of rates for the transpor- tation of freight and passengers?" As in all issues of his kind, it was found that the railroad lobby- ists were the loudest "reformers." The corporations induced such men as the late Hon. I. Donnelly to urge the election of Hon. John X. Davidson, of St. Paul, a "Liberal Republican," as against Hon. A. R. Hall, who represented a farming community in Hennepin county, and who had been speaker in 1872 and 1873. In the hope of dividing the real anti-monopoly forces in the legis- lature, the corporations attempted to work up a contest for S|)eaker among them and finally defeat both by electii'g a speaker of their own. The "Minneapolis Sunday ilirror" was chosen especial cham- pion of this move, and after the defeat of the scheme, published the following screed : "Last summer 'Pat' (James E.) Child, editor of the Waseca News, made an herculean effort to become a member of the Grange at that place, and by virtue of the fact that he owned a farm in that vicinity, succeeded. As a consequence he was elected to the legislature, where he was expected to labor, first, last and all the time in the interests of the Anti-Monopolist party. But what was the result? The Grangers, on gathering together on the eve of the session, counted noses and con- cluded their force was strong enough to elect the speaker, and they set their pins accordingly. 'Pat' was confidently counted as one of them, and they relied upon him to take a prominent post. A caucus was called, and to the unqualified astonishment of the clan, 'Pat' was found in the ranks of their opponents. He was in favor of the election of Hall as against a reform candidate. Wonder-struck, several of the Grange party interviewed him. 'What's the matter, 'Pat?' ' said they. 'Well," he 274 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA, COUNTY. evasively replied, 'I find myself so mixed up that I must support Mr. Hall for speaker.' " Then this organ of plutocracy went on to insinuate that Mr. Child had been bribed to support Hall, and urged as proof the fact that Child was appointed ' ' chairman of the most responsible committee of the house — that on railroads." The paper containing this article was not one of general circula- tion in the state, but very many copies of it were mailed to people of Waseca count.y before Mr. Child knew anything of it, and when it was called to his attention he dismissed it as unworthy of notice. But he soon after learned that innocent people had been im- posed upon by the story, and at the urgent request of friends, gave out the following statement : "It is not true that 'Pat' Child became a member of the Grange last summer, (1873) but it is true that he and a number of other persons started the first Grange in Waseca county. It was organized under a special charter, or dispensation, issued by Wm_ Saunders, Master of the National Grange, and duly certified to by O. W. Kelly, National Secretary and one of the organizers of the association, and Is dated May 14, 1870. Mr. Child Is still a member of the same Grange. Before the meeting of the legislature, Mr. Child had declined to be a candidate for speaker, and was one of the very first to advocate the election of Mr. A. R. Hall; and that too, without any communication with Mr. Hall whatever on the subject. When Mr. Child arrived at St. Paul, he found that the cor- porations, through their lobby, had induced many of the country mem- bers to urge him for the speakership, and soon after his arrival a so-call- ed committee waited upon him and urged him to become a candidate for speaker. Mr. Child promptly informed them that he did not desire the speakership, and that he had already decided to support Mr. Hall, believing him to be a man of ability and integrity and anxious to deal honorably and fairly with all the people and all the interests of the state. He also pointed out to the members that called upon him that the men back of the move were railroad lobbyists, as he believed, and that their object was to divide the anti-monopoly forces and then elect one of their own men— thus getting control of the machinery of the house. It is true that Mr. Child has been appointed chairman of the railroad committee. It is also true that one hundred, and six other gen- tlemen were appointed upon various committees by Speaker Hall, and the insinuation that there was bribery in the appointments made by the speaker, is characteristic of the lobbyists and corporation managers, who know of no higher incentive than a money or personal consideration.'' The author records this affair, not on account of its intrinsic CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 275 importance, biit that people may see how easy it is to smirch the character of any man in public life and to make many be- lieve that honesty and integrity do not exist among men. And these corruptionists make these assaults upon honest men, not be- cause they object to corruption in office — but to drive honest men from public life so that they, the monopolists, may have an op- portunity to plimder the people undisturbed. Whether the "Mirror" published the assault upon ]\Ir. Child because its editor was misinformed and misled, or for a money consideration, the author does not know; but sixty days thereaf- ter, the same paper, for reasons known only to its editor, publish- ed the following, sending Mr. Child a marked copy : "James B. Child, (better known as 'Pat' Child) sits in the 'no corner;' he cares for nobody and nobody cares for him. No man can approach him, no man could corrupt him, no man could convince him; he knows how it is himself. — He is generally right, and stands well among the members, notwithstanding his eccentricities, and has made an excellent member. — If every legislature had a 'Pat' Child there would be less foolish legislation." THE LEGISLATIVE BATTLE. The railroad battle opened in the senate the first week of the session, when Senator Coggswell, of Steele county, introduced "A bill for an Act to create a board of railroad comhiissioners and to provide rules for the management of all railroad corporations and railroads in the state of Minne- sota." The friends of the bill flid not feel sure of the senate, but had more confidence in the house; so a few of the trusty, hardworkers of the house, with the assistance of Senator Coggswell and of Gen. Edgerton, railroad commissioner, took the Coggswell bill, revised and amended it in some respects, and had it introduced in the house by Hon. C. S. Crandall, of Owa- tonna. The move was non-partisan so far as its friends could make it so— Senator Coggswell being a democrat. Representative Crandall a republican, and both from the same county of Steele. The bill, as introduced, was substantially a copy of the Illinois law enacted in 1871, and now (1904) in force in that state. It prohibited discriminations and made it the duty of the commis- sioners to fix all rates on all the roads. It gave the commis- sion entire control of the roads subject to the decision of the 276 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA, COUNTY. courts in certain cases. The bill was stubbornly fought at every stage of the proceedings both in the house and senate. The first test vote in the house resulted as follows : Ayes — Adley, Berry, Beals, Brown, L. Buell, Burlison, Child, Clark, Crandall, Daniels, Dickerson, Doesdall, Eppel, Gilmore, Gillick, Graling, Greer, Halvorson, Hanson, J. N. Hanson, A. R. Harrington, Healy, Hill, How, Hoyt, Hughes, Hyslop, James, Kenworthy, Lafond, Martin, J., Man- ning, Meyerding, Melrose, Metcalf, Morgan, Morse, Nelson, Norton, Olds, Ottun, Parmerlee, Passon, Pease, Pond, Pratt, Rice, Shellman, Sloan, Smith, L. D. Smith, Isaac, Stanton, Taylor, D., Taylor,. J., Tirrell, Trask, Truwe, Treadwell, Walker, West, Wells, White, Williston, Woodbury and Mr. Speaker. — C5. Nays — Adams, Auge, Babcock, Barns, Benz, Benson, Becker, Brown, L. M., Davidson, Delaney, Denny, Dilley, Drury, Eckdall, Fletcher, Groetsch, Hansing, Jordan, Lawrence, Langley, Lord, Loomis, Martin, J., McArthur, McCluskey, McDermid, Pettit, Rahilly and J. K. Smith.— 20. Those not voting were Messrs. Barron, Fiker, Foss, Fleming, Hechtman, Jones, Kletchka, Mason, McDonnell, Peck, Rieland and Swanstrom. This vote di'iiionstrated that the people had a working majority of twelve in the house, and yet so persistently was the bill opposed that it did not finally pass until next to the last day of the session for the passage of bills, when the senate learned that none of its bills would pass the house until the railroad bill should be aeted upon finally in the senate. On the final passage of the bill in the senate, only two votes were recorded against it — thiwe of I. Don- nelly, granger, and .Senator Drake, of St. Paul, president of the St. Paul, ^linneapolis & Omaha Railroad Company. This result was so comical that Senator Drake erossed over from his seat and shook hands with Senatiir Donnelly amidst the uproarious lauuh- ter of the Senate, ]Mr. Donnelly saying: "We elasp hands across the bloody chasm." This railroad legislation, although acquiesced in, apparently, aroused all the animosily of the corporations and of the favored shippers in the large cilies, and every prominent anti-monopolist in the legislatui'c of ly74 was retired at the next election. Enough men were colonized in e\cry county, by the railroads, ten days l}efore election, to defeat ob.iectionable men— the people, as a rule, being more partisan than sensible. Not only were the legislators retired, but Gov. Davis was driven out and kept out until he surrendered to the corpor.-itions ten years afterwards. From the ad.jonrinnent of the legislature of 1874 \uitil the en- CHILD'S HiaTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 277 suing election, no money or exertion was spared to secure the repeal of the law, and the repeal was accomplished in 1875. RAILROAD LANDS. Another matter which was of great importance to the people at the time was the taxation of railroad lands. A large amount of land granted by government to the Winona & St. Peter Rail- road Company had been clandestinely sold to the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Land Company, and under the terms of the grant the lands had been liable to taxation for a number of years; but by shrewd management the company had escaped taxation. In the session of 1874, Senator Ward introduced a bill taxing the lands and it became a law. Under its provisions, Waseca county was entitled to some $10,000 in back taxes. And this, like the railroad law prohibiting discriminations, was repealed at the ses- sion of 1875, and the people were cheated out of their just dues by the legislative action of the railroad combine. The total taxes due upon the lands in the state amounted to $61,500.00. INTENSE POLITICAL STRUGGLE. An extract from the Waseca News of that date will illustrate the methods resorted to during the campaign of 1874. This coun- ty was then republican by majorities ranging from 125 to 200. The News commenting upon the election returns said : "There never was a more barefaced and outrageous insult ever offered to the resident voters of any county than was perpetrated on last election day in this county. The week before election the superintendent of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad came to this place, and while here stated in substance that he should have votes enough here to defeat the re- publican candidate for state senator at any rate. "How well he kept his word, let the facts prove. The total vote last year, with a full state and county ticket, was 1,408. The highest Demo- cratic vote on any state officer (Dike) was 660. The highest Republican vote on any state officer was 787 — Republican majority 127. Now mark the vote this year! Republican candidate for senator 749; democratic candidate, 875 — the latter receiving 215 more votes than were cast the year before by the same party. "Then look at the vote of last year and this, outside of Waseca and Janesville. Last year the total vote of the county, outside of the two towns named, was 905, and this year only 952 — an increase of only 47 votes. Now take the two towns containing the villages of Waseca and Janesville: the increased vote in Waseca is 108, and the increased vote 2'i8 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASBCAi COUNTY. at Janesville is 61, a total increase of 169 votes. But this is not all. In St. Mary there were railroad men enough to increase the vote in that town ten over that of last year; making a total increase in the three towns of 179 votes. "Is there anybody who pretends that the men who were sent to this county to carry the election are bona fide residents of the county? No, they were simply colonized here for ten days to carry the election for the railroad company and the saloonlsts, and the next day they dis- appeared like a fog on a June morning. * * * "We admit that the majority against us in Janesville and Waseca, where the railroad concentrated its votes, where its money could pur- chase the riff-raff, where its power could terrify the weak was 192. We admit that among the farmers, outside of Janesville and Waseca, where money could not bribe, where threats could not intimidate, and where principles are not for sale to the highest bidder, our majority was 48. We admit these facts and admit them with the utmost satisfaction. The votes which we received were the free and untrammeled offering of freemen, without being bribed or intimidated. We sacrificed no princi- ples, we neither furnished nor guzzled whisky; nor did we cringe before the power, the money, nor the threats of the railroad kings. We admit that the political agents of the railroad, with the aid of their tools, and the saloons, defeated the whole county Republican ticket, with one exception. We admit that we were defeated because we would not endorse the salary-grab, and because we are unalterably opposed to railroad extortion and discriminations, and because we are in favor of protecting women, children, and society against the injuries resulting from the rum traflic. But defeat, under such circumstances, is not at all discouraging to one who would rather be right than to hold the highest office in the state. Others may cringe before the hands that smite them, if they choose, but we shall not. The principles which we have advocated we believe to be right and thus believing we shall con- tinue to act." Two weeks after the election, the same paper, under the title, "Railroad Misrepresentation," said: "It seems to be one of the strong points of those who are at work for the railroad interest to misrepresent those who believe that railroad corporations should not be above the laws of the country. One of our exchanges labors through a long article to show that the editor of this paper is an enemy of the railroads. Nothing could be further from the truth, as every sensible man must know who has been a reader of the paper. Railroads are essential and important aids to the develop- ment of the country, and any man who would intentionally destrov them would be an enemy to his country. This we have always main- tained, and any effort to destroy the just rights of railroad corporations would be opposed with all the zeal that we possess. But while we cheerfully accord to railroad corporations all their just CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 279 rights, we are not blind to the fact that these corporations have far ex- ceeded their rights in the past, and heaped numerous abuses upon the people who have generously aided them. We have denounced and op- posed the abuses of railroad corporations, and shall continue to do so while those abuses exist. What are and have been the issues between the people and railroad corporations? The corporations claim the right to charge such rates as they please. For instance, a company in this State, prior to the passage of the law last winter, charged for carrying wheat fifty miles, twelve cents per bushel; and for carrying the same commodity, over the same road, a distance of one hundred miles, only eight cents per bushel. In one county where there are two villages, only a few miles apart, and where there is no railroad competition, one town was charged for ship- ping wheat twelve cents per bushel, and the other still farther on, only eight cents per bushel. In the matter of lumber, the same kind of dis- criminations were practiced all over the country. As between individ- uals these discriminations were carried on to a great extent. Governors, state officials, senators, representatives, judges, ministers, editors, mer- chants, and leading lawyers were carried over the roads at half fare, and often times free of charge; while Jack, the hod-carrier; Sam, the carpenter; Kate, the kitchen maid; Molly, the washerwoman; Jones, the farmer, and Bill, the blacksmith, were charged five cents a mile. A merchant inside the ring could get his goods shipped below cost and on time, while an outsider had to pay high rates and await the pleasure of the company as to tirfie. These and many other abuses that might be enumerated, we have sought, both ?,s an editor and a leg- islator, to correct; but that we ever sought to injure the railroads is a mistake, to designate it by no stronger word. But the railroad rings are not satisfied with the great power which they naturally possess, they must go further. They must control the leg- islation of the state and nation in their interest. Having learned, during the past two years, that the courts will not sustain their theory that the legislature has no control over their rates and charges, they now go to the polls to control the election of legislators. To do this they resort to the most arbitrary means. Their workmen must vote as they dictate or leave their employ. Every man along the lines of their roads, at all dependent upon them, is made to feel their power unless he sub- mits to their political dictation. The liquor-traffic, always corrupt and wicked, is their ready accomplice in influencing and controlling elections. During the past two years the people have made considerable progress towards checking the abuses which had become almost unbearable; but now the companies, having failed in the courts, propose to undo the work which has been accomplished; and, unless we are much mis- taken in the signs of the times, they will succeed for a time. But their victory will be short-lived. No such power as they claim should ever be tolerated in this country any great length of time. So far as we are concerned, we propose to continue to battle for the 280 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. right, fully understanding the tremendous power of the companies and of their saloon allies to crush out all who oppose them. We shall do this, not as an enemy of railroads, but as an opponent of the abuses which the railroad magnates practice upon the masses of the people." "THE GRASSHOPPER SHALL BE A BURDEN." Verily the people of Western Minnesota, in 1873-4, probably for the first time, realized the magnificent description given by the prophet Joel of the grasshopper invasions of his day v^hen he said : "The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness. Yea, and nothing shall escape them. Before their face the people shall be much pained ; all faces shall gather blackness. * * * They shall march, every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks. Neither shall one thrust another. * # * They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall; they shall climb up upon the houses ; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. ' ' They first made their appearance about June 1873. Vast swarms of the insects appeared suddenly in northwestern Iowa and short- ly afterwards in southwestern Minnesota. They came with the west and northwest winds by the millions. They settled upon all kinds of crops, and destroyed whole fields in a day. The peo- ple were taken entirely by surprise. They knew not Avhat to do. In fact they were utterly powerless before this vast and innum- erable insect army of invasion. Gardens were destroyed and whole farms were devastated. While the grasshoppers left the wild grasses, they devoured the tame grasses and all kinds of grain. This year (1873), while they did not destroy all the fields they deposited their eggs by the million and then disappear- ed. Since the settlement of the state there have been five grass- hopper invasions— 1856, 1857, 1865, 187:?-t-5. The insects in 1873 sowed the land from the Blue Earth River west full of eggs. Many people fondly hoped that the frosts of winter had destroyed the eggs and that we should see no more of them. How vain were all these hopes ! About the 9th and 10th of May. 1874, the weather being warm, the little pests began to hatch and come out of the ground. They were about the size of fleas, but they had the appetite of a full grown hog, and they forthwith commenced CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 281 their work of devastation. They were ceaseless workers. Neither frosts, nor heat, nor wet weather, nor storms, nor tempests, seri- ously affected them. They ate almost everything in sight where they hatched out in 1874. Fortunately no eggs, to amount to anything, were deposited in Waseca county. But in Faribault and Blue Earth counties, adjoining, the destruction of crops was very great. The writer, in driving from Blue Earth to Jlankato, July 5, 1874, realized as never before, what is meant by the words, "the grasshopper shall be a burden," and that, as Joel said, "the land was as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; nothing did escape them." Gardens were totally destroyed. Vast fields of splendid grow- ing grain were eaten to the roots— not a vestige left. Various methods of fighting the pests were resorted to with lit- tle effect. The most effective instrument or method of destruction was called the "hopperdozer". It consisted of a common piece of sheet iron, six or eight feet long, with small strips of board ;iIong the two longer sides, to give it stiffness, and a string or wire to draw it, extending from the two front corners. The whole sheet was then covered with coal tar. By drawing this "hopperdozer" over the field or garden while the insects were wingless, they would hop on to the tar in great numbers where they would be held fast and soon die. Hopperdozers were used extensively during the last year of the invasion throughout the infested regions. Large quantities of tar were purchased at public expense by towns and coimties and almost every farmer had his hopperdozer. But it is generally believed that none of the appliances could avail against such an invasion as that was. The troublesome creatures disappeared as suddenly and myste- riously as they came. The exodus finally occurred on the 20th of July, 1877. The day was oppressively warm, the thermometer indicating 102 degrees in the shade with very little or no wind. About ten o'clock a. m. it was discovered that the air overhead was filled with flying grasshoppers. They were in swarms of mil- lions, flying high and going rapidly southeast. For more than an an hour they swarmed past while all over Southwestern Minnesota millions of the insects rose from the ground and joined the pass- ing hosts. Whither they went remains a mystery, but their de- 282 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. piirture was a great and lasting relief for which all men were devoutly thankful. It was estimated at the time that the following acreage was ravaged by the insects, to-wit: 150,000 acres, or 2,500,000 bush- els, of wheat; 40,000 acres of oats, equal to 1,320,000 bushels; 20,000 acres of corn, equal to 340,000 bushels, besides large quantities of rye, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, flax and other crops. Great numbers of worthy people were impoverished by this grasshopper raid. Many farmers were left without bread or seed in the western portion of the state. Without state aid or aid from some source they must leave their farms and seek employ- ment elsewhere, leaving the land desolate. Fortunately the state authorities, under Governor Davis' able advice, came to the rescue and most of the people courageously remained upon their farms and won a victory for themselves and the state. DEATHS NOTED DURING THE YEAR. Mr. Andrew Jackson, one of the early settlers of Woodville, died Feb. 5, from exposure. He left an estimable family to mourn his departure. Jerry Hogan, a single man, living alone, one of the early set- tlers of the county, was found dead in his cabin ilarch 11. Those Viho found him judged that he had been dead several days when the body was found, and that he died of disease. For some time prior to his death he had been considered partially insane. His team was found in the stable nearly starved. A sad and fatal accident caused the death of j\Ir. William Baker, of Freedom, IMarch 13. While in the flouring mill of Stokes & Kimball, at Janesville, his clothing caught on an up- right shaft and he Avas drawn on to it, breaking one arm in sev- eral places from the hand to the shoulder. While being whirled aroimd by the revolving shaft his legs came in contact with a post, one of them being entirely severed below the knee, and the other nearly torn oflf. The poor man lived some tliree hours af- ter this horrible mutilation of his body. A sad and fatal accident befell the family of Rev. L. D. Hocan- son, of Otisco, March 20, 1874, in the evening. Mr. :\Iose John- son and wife, his brother and brother's wife and two children CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 283 and Rev. Hoeanson, wife, and child had been to attend a funeral in New Richland. In returning home they had to cross the Le- Siieur river at the Michael Anderson bridge. The water was so high as to run over the bank at the south end of the bridge, and when the team reached the bridge, one of the horses became frightened and threw itself off the bridge, dragging the other horse and the sleigh with it into the swollen stream. All except Mr. Mose Johnson and wife and Mrs. Hoeanson and her two-year- old child, got out without difficulty. Mr. Johnson and wife clung to the wagon box until they were rescued by a man living near by. ]\Irs. Hoeanson and child were drowned and their bodies were not recovered until the day following. Mr. Hoeanson was pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church, in Otisco, and the sad accident caused deep sorrow in the whole community. jMrs. Lynch, wife of Andrew Lynch, died of pneumonia, April 17, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were among the early settlers of the county, having settled in St. Mary in 1856. She reared a large family of children and was an estimable woman. Mrs. Hicks, sister of Mr. E. G. Wood, and one of the very early settlers of this county, a widow lady, died April 24, 1874, of a com- plication of diseases, while under treatment at Minneapolis. She was a native of Vermont and married a man named Scott, who died a few years after the marriage. She came to Minnesota in 1858, a widow, with two children, a son and a daughter. She Avas married in 1859 to Rev. Mr. Hicks, who died soon afterwards. ilr. Isaac Bird, of Wilton, one of the early settlers, died July 29, of kidney trouble, from which he had suffered for years. He was a native of England, coming to this country when a boy. Dr. M. S. Gove, the pioneer physician of the county, passed to the Great Beyond on the 1st day of December, 1874. His sudden and unexpected death was a great shock to the community. While he himself realized from the first that death was near, none of his friends could believe it. He died of blood poisoning con- tracted in the line of professional duty. He was born in the town of Strafford, Orange county, Vermont. He studied medi- cine and surgery in his native state, and, after graduating in 1849 came West, settling in Indiana where he practiced until 1858, when he came to Minnesota and took up his residence in Wilton, then the county seat. He moved to Waseca about 1870. He was 284 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. a public-spirited man and took great interest in all public mat- ters. He was a member of the county board during the super- visor system in 1859-60, and was at one time superintendent of schools under the township system. He took an active part in the organization of the Waseca County Anti-Horse-Thief society, and was its president many years. A large concourse of people fol- lowed his remains to the grave, the members of the Anti-Horse- Thief association, mounted on horse-back, paying their last re- spects to their presiding officer by joining in the funeral proces- sion. At the next meeting of the association it resolved: "That we will ever cherish his memory with feelings of consideration and respect as a man of scholarship and ability in his chosen pro- fession, a kind neighbor and good citizen." A year or two after his settlement in Wilton he married iliss Sarah Dodge, then a teacher in the public schools of the county and a very estimable young woman. Shortly after the death of Dr. Gove, a shocking death occur- red at the crossing of the Le Sueur river near the St. ]\Iary farm of Thomas J. Kerr. A man named Wm. Ackerman, of ]\Iedo, Blue Earth county, came to Waseca with two other men and four teams, on December 9 for lumber. In the afternoon they started home, and when near the crossing of the Le Sueur river, at Mr. Kerr's place, the lumber on one of the wagons got shoved forward against the team, and the men stopped to fix it. Acker- man's team, which was ahead of the others, started forward while he was aiding the others. He ran to his wagon and made an attempt to catch the lines, but missed them, and fell in front of one of the wheels which passed over his body. By this time all the teams were on the run, and the team next to Ackerman s also ran over him. He was taken to ilr. Kerr's residence, where he expired within a few minutes. He left a widow and four children. The death roll of the year closed with the name of Nathaniel Wood. Father Wood, as he was generally called, died at the residence of Mr. G. R. Buckman, his son-in-law, in Waseca, Dec. 23, 1874, aged seventy-eight years. He had suffered for several years from a cancer on his under lip, and for many months had been confined to his bed. His death was not, there- fore, unexpected. He was one of the earliest settlers of Wood- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 285 ville, and was universally respected for his Christian devotion and uprightness of character. His Christianity was not of that India-rubber character which is sometimes used for selfish pur- poses, but the real article, which entered into his everyday life— his business and his politics. ELECTION FIGURES. The following figures show the result of the election in the county in 1874 : STATE SENATOR. COUNTY AUDITOR. P. McGovern, dem 875 Edgar Cronkhite, dem 955 J. E. Child, rep 720 H. J. Wadsworth, rep G98 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. REPRESENTATIVES. ,,,,,,., no Wm. Burke, dem 93 Jos. Minges, rep 968 Chris Melchior, rep 49 H. P. Packard, rep 748 Wm. Byron, dem 70 M. H. Lamb, dem 827 Geo. Hofeld, dem 104 John Thompson, dem G66 C. H. Newell, rep 110 SHORT NOTES FOR THE YEAR. Among the marriages of the year we record the following: I\lr. W. H. Taylor, one of the early boy-settlers of Blooming Grove, and IMiss Emma Barnes, one of the early girl-settlers of Wilton, were married March 5, 1874. They were very worthy, industrious, energetic and frugal young people. They now carry on a sheep ranch in Montana and are among the wealthy, well- to-do of that state. Mr. August Pream, of Alton, and Miss Augusta Hollander, of Wilton, were married June 10, 1874, and began married life in Alton where they have been engaged in successful farming. August 25, 1874, Mr. Rudolph Jacoby, then a recent arrival from Germany, a bright and well-informed young man, was joined in marriage with Miss Annie Schmidt, daughter of Mr. Edward Schmidt, one of the very early settlers of Otisco. She was the only child and inherits her father's fine estate. They own one of the finest farms in Otisco. On the 10th of January, 1874, the dwelling house of Anthony James, one of the early settlers of Woodville, together with near- ly its entire contents, was destroyed by fire. His eldest daugh- ter, while carrying a small child from the burning building, fell 28C CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA, COUNTY. and broke one of her legs near the knee. The fire was caused by the accidental breaking of a kerosene lamp. On Nov. 30, 1874, the house of Gottlieb Prechel, of St. ilary, on his old farm, was destroyed by fire. The old house was not worth much, but unfortunately for ilr. Peter Hund, who occu- pied it, his household goods, with considerable grain, were all de- stroyed. Under date of June 17, 1874, the Waseca News published the following: We are pained to learn that Wm. R. Brisbane, son of Hon. Wm. Bris- bane of Wilton, was dangerously injured last week. The cattle having broken into his field, he mounted a large horse and rode into the field to drive them out. While on the gallop, the horse ran against a cow with such force as to knock himself down, Mr. Brisbane falling under him. The horse, a very heavy one, made several attempts to rise, each time falling back upon the body of the unfortunate man. Mr. Bris- bane vomited for several hours afterwards, and suffered great pain, but finally got better." Mr. Brisbane has never fully recovered from the effects of the fall and the in.iiiries he then received. On the 17th of June, 1874, the county board passed a resolution appropriating $1,000 for the building of a vault to the coiirt house for the safe keeping of the records, books, and papers of tlie county, especially the records of the office of the register of deeds. It was to be 16x20 feet, one story high, and built of brick, with heavy iron doors. 0. Powell, S. K. Odell, and H. K. Stenrns constituted the building committee to oversee the work. The Waseca News of r)ctober 7, 1874, contained the following : "A sad accident happened on Thursday last, in the town of Otisco. John Peterson, commonly known as "Little" John Peterson, while at vork around a threshing machine was caught in the side gearing by the right arm near the elbow. His arm was drawn in up to his body and torn off, lacerating the flesh about his shoulder and side in a horri- ble manner." He slowly recovered and lived a number of years afterwards, dying a year ago of heart failure. The year 1874 was the last year of the second decade in the history of the county. Tho white population had increased from nothing to over eight thousand. A railroad had been built through the county-, wagon roads had been improved, sloughs and streams bridged, and the country cov.Mvd with improved farms owned by intelligent frremen. CHAPTER XLIII, 1875. THE RADICAL— COUNTY LEGISLATION— A HARD WINTER— SA- LOON TROUBLES— SPELLING SCHOOLS— NEW CHURCH BUILD- INGS—RAILROAD Bond propositions— grange warehouse —OLD settlers organize— deaths of the ybar^-man FROZEN to death- county POLITICS— BAD STORMS— BUILD- ING OP TURNER HALL— DIED, KITTRBDGE, MRS. FETTERLY, MRS. TAYLOR, MRS. H. J. CARLTON, JOHN L. WERDIN, MR. BRANDT, MRS. BOUCHER, MINNIE FARRINGTON. The first week of 1875 ushered in the "Minnesota Radical," edited and published by James E. Child. It succeeded the "Waseca Weekly News" which had been published by the same man since 1863. It published as its platform the following : We look upon the saloon traffic, in all its departments, as a crime against humanity, and a burning disgrace to our boasted civilization, as the one great cause of business failures, of crimes of every grade, and of the poverty and misery which go to make up so large a portion of the world's history. This traffic levies upon the tax-payers of the state seven-eighths of the expense of the state prison, over one-half the expense of the re- form school, and a large portion of the immense costs annually paid for criminal prosecutions. It habitually violates the laws of both God and man. It makes paupers and slaves of w^men and children. It murders our citizens, depraves the young, and destroys the weak. It corrupts voters and contaminates the ballot box. We believe that the producing, commercial, and industrial interests of the country should have the best and cheapest modes of transportation possible, and while capital invested in such means of transit, whether by railroad, or otherwise, should be permitted the right of reasonable and just compensation, all abuse in management, excessive rates of toll, and all unjust discriminations against localities, persons or interests, practiced by them, should be prohibited by law; and the people should' 288 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. be protected from the improper and arbitrary use of the vast powers pos- sessed by railroad and other transportation companies; and that it is the duty of the state and nation, each in its legitimate sphere, to enact laws which will limit to just and reasonable rates all tolls, freights and charges of transportation companies, and protect the people from ex- tortion and imposition. Let us unite as one man in an honest effort to suppress the liquor traffic, to prevent extortions and unjust discriminations by corporations, to drive corruption and bribery from high and low places." COUNTY LEGISLATION. The board of county commissioners met Jan. 5, 1875. The members present were Dr. R. 0. Craig, H. K. Stearns, Wm. Burke, Maj. Wm. C. Young, and C. H. Newell. Dr. Craig was elected chairman. M. D. L. Collester was appointed county at- torney in place of Mr. P. McGovern, who had resigned to accept the position of state senator. The board petitioned the legisla- ture to enact a law authorizing the commissioners of the county to issue county bonds not exceeding ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a county jail. A HARD WINTER. On the 8th of January, there was a Minnesota blizzard, lasting all of one day. On the '2d and 3d days of February there was an- other fierce snow storm; and on the 10th and 23d of the same month severe storms again deluged the countrj^ with snow. The first week in March a very heavy snow storm from the northeast covered all the northern portion of North America. It was a hard winter in Minnesota, but light compared with the visitation in Canada. That country was covered with such moimtains of snow as to make travel impossible. Large districts there were isolated for months and trade was paralyzed. The appearance of spring weather was welcomed by all the people of the North. DEATH OP PREDERICK W. KITTREDGE. Mr. Kittredge was born in the State of Ohio, in 1841. He was the son of Dr. Kittredge of that state, and a half brother of 'Slaj. W. T. Kittredge, one of the early settlers of Wilton. Frod came to this county in 1861 and taught school in Wilton one term. Soon after he went to Mankato whore he took an active part in defense of the town during the Indian outbreak. Shortlv after CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 2S9 the Indian outbreak he married Miss Elizabeth L. Baker, of Ohio, and they began wedded life on a farm near Okaman. His health failing, he moved with his family first to Wilton and then to Wa- seca where he engaged in the drug business in company with N. E. Strong. He was an honorable, upright, intelligent gentleman and highly esteemed. He was sick for nearly a year of heart disease, and died Jan. 4, 1875. He was an honored member of the ;\Iasonic fraternity, and his brethren were kind and atten- tive to him during his long illness. He left surviving him his widow and three daughters. His remains were taken to Ohio for burial. "WASECA COUNTY BANK ASSOCIATION." This banking association was formed the first of the year by twenty-four of the citizens of this county and eleven residents of Faribault. Eiee county. The officers of the association were the following: President, Geo. W. Newell; cashier, Frank A. New- ell; directors, P. C. Bailey, J. W. Johnson, R. M. Addison, S. S. Phelps, J. A. Claghorn, E. G. Wood, of Waseca; H. M. Matteson, AV. B. Brown, and L. Emmett, of Faribault, Eice county. SALOON TROUBLE. On March 4, 1875, an exciting affair took place. The "Radi- cal ' ' made a record of it, as follows : Some time within the day, Charlie Blank, Lansing Blank and Curtis Sucker, commenced to fill up on rot-gut whisky, in accordance with the statute in such cases made and provided — at least, we suppose so. About five o'clock p. m. they went into Roeder's and took a horn or two of legal tangle-leg, and were about to leave, when Roeder demanded prompt payment. Lansing, who, it appears, had called for the licensed fluid, told Roeder that he would pay him on Saturday. Whereupon Roe- der clinched Charlie's hat off his head, and said he would keep it until his bill was paid. This aroused the animal on the part of all hands, and a general clinch ensued. The old lady of the mansion gave a screech and a scream, and, like a catamount or some other animal, gently placed her fingers in Charlie's curls. Curt and Lansing embraced old Roeder, opened the door and gently deposited him in the street. Curt then stepped to the door, reached in and brought forth the presiding female of the house and. Charlie who were fondly or otherwise clasped in each other's embrace. As they struck the sidewalk, the embracing business ceased. The old lady stood on end, placed her gentle hands upon her heaving bosom and screamed a scream of angry defiance that would have done credit to a female panther. By this time there was hurrying 12 290 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to and fro, and eager enquiries as to the cause of all the commotion. In the mean time the boys had walked up town, making loud talk. Pres- ently Marshal Willyard appeared upon the scene and arrested Curt, whom he placed in charge of Constable Stevenson. He then made for Charlie, who took a run for home. The marshal met a team which he pressed into his service, and soon ran down his man. Lansing was not found until morning, when he, too, was arrested. On Friday morning the three young men were brought before Justice Baker, on a charge of drunkenness. They all plead guilty, and were fined $10 each and costs — the latter amounting to $4.75." This affair was followed by a number of arrests. Roeder was arrested for sellini;' liquors, and Justice Baker requested the comity attorney to appear and prosecute the case. This the coun- ty attorney refused to do, claiming it was a village and not a county affair. ]Mr. Brownell was then employed to prosecute the case, and Roeder was cdnvicted by a .iury — the case being a very plain one and the evidence clear and concltisive. The saloon attorney then went before an iynorant court commissioner, got out a writ of habeas corpus, and, upon the hearing, the court commissioner set aside the verdict and the judgment of the .justice and set the pris- oner free. That such a proceeding could take place among civ- ilized men shows the power of the liquor traffic at certain times and in certain places. But so indignant were the law-and-order people of the county that when the grand jury convened, the following ]\Iareh, indictments M-ere found against the following persons for the unlawful selling of intoxicants, viz : "\V. T. Cronk- right, of Alma City, John Deeth, II. AV. Zeller, Christian Hansen, Jule litige, Roger Hanberry, and David Carey, of AYaseca. The jury also presented an informal indictment or presentment against the county attorney for refusing to prosecitte Roeder for selling liquor before Justice Baker. The judge of the district court, upon his own motion, set aside the indictment against the county attorney on the ground of informality. SPELLING SCHOOL. During the winter of 187-1-5 spelling schools became very pop- ular in the county, and the contests were interesting and instruc- tive. The following record of one of the contests is from the "Minnesota Radical" of April 128, 1875: "The school was organized by the choice of Rev. Mr. Shedd, as presi- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 291 dent; Messrs. Latham and Brownell, as judges; Mrs. Latham and Mr. Jamison, as captains; and Major Young, as teacher. The winner oi: the sack ot salt, the foot prize, was Mr. G. Parks, who could not master "pigmies." Mrs. James Claghorn couldn't get along with "jockeys," and took the pepper box. "Noxious" was altogether too noxious for Mrs. Garland. Rev. Lorin was poor at "seizing," and Capt. Jamison went down on a "mattress." Mr. McCormick spelled "chimneys" with nies for the latter syllable. Esquire Bennett couldn't get along with a "prude," and Mr. S. T. Lewis experienced a slip of the tongue on "hen-hawk." "Cougar" took down Mr. S. O. Sherwin; Miss Abbie Kittredge could not manage a "canoe;" Mr. Spencer was no good on "rummage;" and the bird "albatross," was the wrong bird for J, P. Pres- ton. "Cochineal" brought the color to Mr. Dearborn's face, and Miss Hollister was disgusted with "cinnamon.'' S. N. Sherwin was taken from the field by a "hurricane;" J. L. Claghorn was caught "joking;" H. A. Mosher was slightly "embarrassed;" and Mrs. S. N. Sherwin couldn't reach the "eldorado" of her anticipations. At this point only three of the contestants remained upon the battle- field, viz: Mrs. Shedd, Mrs. Latham and Miss Annie Child. Mrs. Latham couldn't handle a "lariat" and Mrs. Shedd didn't know any more about "vaquero" than some others did. Miss Annie Child got caught in a "chaparral," but won the prize — Holland's Mistress of the Manse." It is a pity that the American people can not devise a system of orthography more in accord with common sense than the pres- ent barbarous one which occupies so much of the time of pupils to the detriment of other studies. THREE NEW CHURCH BUILDINGS. This was a year of new church buildings. The Episcopalians, the German ilethodists and the German Evangelical association, each erected a new house of worship. The German Methodist edi- fice then erected is still standing and received a new roof in 1904. The German Evangelical church then built gave way to a new and larger building erected in 190-1. The Episcopalian chapel still serves the people of that church and is in a good state of preservation. RAILROAD PROPOSITION. Preliminary to the building of the j\I. & St. L. railroad through this county, there was considerable strife between the people of the old village of "Wilton and the people of Waseca. About May 10, 1875, a gentleman by the name of Barnum, representing the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Iowa railway company, came through 292 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA. COUNTY. the county and called a meeting before which he had an offer to lay. The meeting was held May 15, at the old court house, in AYaseca. At a preliminary meeting, a committee had been ap- pointed to report upon the matter. A local paper reported as follows : "On motion of Hon. W. G. Ward, James E. Child was called to the chair and H. A. Mosher was chosen secretary. A motion was made by Mr. Ward that "It is inexpedient for the town of Woodville to vote bonds to aid in the construction of a railroad or for any other purpose." At the suggestion of Mr. G. P. Johnson, by consent of the mover, the chairman decided to wait a. reasonable time before submitting the motion, lor the report of a committee previously appointed. Within a few minutes the committee entered, and S. B. Williams, Esq., proceeded to call the meeting to order, but was himself called to order at once by Mr. Ward, who took evident pleasure in informing him that the meeting was fully organized and ready for business. Friend Wil- liams took in the situation and commenced to give his views on the sub- ject of railroad bonuses. Mr. Ward, again interrupted, and said the gentleman was out of order as he was not talking to the motion. Without insisting upon a ruling, Mr. V.'illiams took a seat. Mr. Barnum, of Iowa, who was then called for, remarked that he had nothing to say until the pending motion was disposed of — then he had a proposition to make. ilr. Ward then stated that he had no desire to take any advantage of the friends of the bonus proposition, and would withdraw his motion and allow the meeting to proceed de novo, simply retaining the chairman and secretary. No objection being made, Mr. Barnum proceeded to state his position on railroad matters in general, and made quite a speech, saying that, on general principles, he was opposed to subsidies to railroads, except where it could not be helped, but that the present ques- tion of granting aid was one of the cases where it could not very well be helped. We could have the road if we wanted it and would pay for it; and it not, we need not have it. He then made the following proposition: "That the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Iowa R. R. company propose to the citizens of Waseca county to locate, grade, iron and operate their rail- way from the south line of said county to the village of Waseca, and to have the cars running thereon at the earliest practical moment, provided that said county raise for said company in town bonds, reliable sub- scriptions, or money, a sum equal to $25,000, and place the same in pledge tor said company, subject to their order, as follows; one-half when the cars are running to the town of Wilton, one-fourth when the cars are running to the village of Waseca, and one-fourth when the cars are running to the north line of said county — bonds to draw 7 per cent CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 293 interest payable semi-annually; and that said county furnish right of way, free of cost to said company, of 50 feet on each side of the center line, as the same is or may be located, and depot grounds 300x2,000 feet, in the village of Waseca." Mr. Ward then addressed the meeting in opposition to the proposition. He argued that Waseca was the natural point of junction for the proposed road and that it would come here. He stated that the bonus would make no difference with the company, and cited the case of Mankato and St. Peter. The Winona & St. Peter company had decided to build a branch into Mankato, and after that decision, the officers of the road went to the citizens of Mankato and obtained a bonus which they put into their own pockets; but bonus or no bonus the branch would have been built. At St. Peter after the plans and specifications for the bridge had been made and approved and after the contract for building the bridge had been let, operations were suspended for ten days, by the of- ficers of the road, in order to get a tonus out of St. Peter; when, as a matter of fact, the bridge would have been built bonus or no bonus. Mr. Barnum said in reply that nearly all the roads in the West were land-grant roads, while this one was not. He had come here in good faith, and should be pleased to co-operate with the people here, but as there seemed to be strong opposition, and as there was no motion before the meeting, he would withdraw the proposition, and leave the people here to take such action as they might deem for their best interests. S. B. Williams, Esq., addressed the meeting in favor of voting a bonus. He thought that under the circumstances it would be money well in- vested. On motion of Hon. P. McGovern that a committee of ten be appointed to canvass the matter, the chair appointed as such committee, P. McGov- ern, W. G. Ward, Thos. Bendure. A. Vinton, B. S. Lewis, I. C. Trowbridge, W. C. Young, S. B. Williams, G. P. Johnson, and S. H. Poster. The meeting then adjourned to meet on Saturday, May 22 at 2 o'clock p. m. Excitement ran high during the week, so high indeed that tim- id souls did not attend the adjourned meeting. At the time of the ad.iourned meeting, the chair called the meeting to order, and the committee appointed at the previous meeting, through the chairman, Hon. P. McGovern. reported that they had no sugges- tions to make. ilr. Lewis then offered the following resolution, and moved its adoption: Resolved, by the citizens of Woodville township, Waseca county, that we will give to the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Iowa railroad company, or the railway company which shall first construct and build said line of road, to aid in the construction of said road, through said town, the sum of $25,000 in the bonds of said town, drawing seven per cent interest 294 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. payable semi-annually, payable In thirty years from their date; said bonds to be delivered when said company shall have constructed its road to a junction with the W. & St. P. R. R. in the village of Waseca, and shall have the same in running operation. On motion of B. S. Lewis, the meeting decided to vote upon the resolution by ballot. The chair appointed as tellers to receive the votes Messrs. W. G. Ward, W. C. Young, and Lewis Brownell. AV G. Ward took the floor and made a speech in opposition to the resolution. He was replied to l)y Mr. Brownell, who favored its adoption. Fifteen minutes was agreed upon to allow parties to prepare ballots, the polls to remain open one-half hour. One hundred eighty-five votes were cast— 95 for, and 90 against the resolution; and the resolution was declared adopted. Although the contest was very spirited, it really decided noth- ing as it was only an informal expression of opinion; but it aroused a discussion which, in 1876, resulted in the bonding of the township in the sum of $80,000. The town of Wilton had on the 17th of Alay. 1875, voted to issue bonds to the amount of $25,000. GRANGE ORGANIZATIONS. The first Grange in Waseca county was organized Alay l-t, 1870, iinder a dispensation issued by William Saunders, ^Master of the National Grange, and certified to 1)y ( ). W. Kelly, the first national secretary of the order. As early as Alay 3, 1873, there were ten granges in the county ready to co-operate with one an- other for the benefit of all, and a county organization was effect- ed at that time. This organization was more for discussion and mutual instruction than for business, and it was finally deemed advisable to create a company, or corporation, for the purchasing and handling of grain. This was accomplished Ort. ID, 1874, at Waseca. The records of the town of Woodville for the year 1874, contain the articles of incorjioratioii of the (ii-ange association. The following were its numagers: "H. W. S. Hinkley, W. D. Armstrong, R, R. Howard, L. D. Smith, Hugh Wilson, J. J. Wilkins, Robert Earl, Samuel Hodgkins, and J. Penfield. The capital stock was fixed at $2,000, and each share was |25. The name of the organization was Waseca County Grange association, and its jirincipal place of business was at Waseca. Its business was to erect or lease a grain warehouse, and to operate the same; to receive, handle. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 295 buy, ship, store, and sell grain and farm products. It commenced opera- tions that fall, and, for a time, appeared to be doing a good tu=iness. The price of wheat was at once raised by the combine buyers, and the farmers of the county, outside the men that formed the organization and were fighting the Chicago wheat ring, reaped a rich harvest. But the association after a time learned with considerable loss of money that the man they had entrusted with the management of the warehouse was one of the many unfortunates that can not be trusted. Although a man of many good qualities, he possessed the fault of drinking liquor, and the wheat men soon managed, indirectly, to keep him under the influence of the dram shops. The final outcome was a loss of the en- tire capital invested by the stockholders, leaving the wheat combine with a stronger hold than before. The experimeni revealed the fact that farmers, as a rule, are not yet ready to stand by one another in a fight against organized monopoly." OLD SETTLERS ORGANIZE. Xo attempt was made to create an old settlers' organization un- til November 10, 1875, when a number of the early settlers joined in the published call for a meeting to be held at the court room in AVaseca on the evening of Nov. 19, 1875. At that time twenty-five men came together and made a preliminary organization. The following officers were elected: James E. Child, president; H. A. ilosher, secretary; Geo. R. Buckman, treasurer; H. P. Norton, O. Powell, and George P. Johnson, executive committee. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and it was determined that a public meeting and a picnic supper should be held at Tur- ner Hall, Dec. 15, to which all persons who settled in the county prior to 1865 should be invited. Pursuant to this determination, the executive committee issued its call, and on the evening of that day two hundred persons assembled and participated in the festivities of the occasion. After adding a large number of new names to the member- .ship and calling the roll, some slight amendments were made to the by-laws. The entrance fee was 25 cents and the annual dues, 50 cents. The following was the published program: 1. Music b'y the band. 2. Calling of the roll, adding new names thereto, and the consideration of propositions tor the more nearly perfect organization of the associa- tion. Z. Music by the band. 4. Address by the president, giving a history of the first year's settle- ment of the county by white people. 296 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 5. Music by the band. 6. Refreshments. 7. Volunteer addresses and historical sketches of frontier life. EXTRACTS PROM THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. "We have met here to-night for a twofold purpose — that of pleasure and that of perpetuating the early history of the county. Ancient history is more or less shrouded in mystery; and in all the accounts of the origin of the older nations, cities, and empires, fiction is so interwoven with facts that it is difficult to separate truth from fable. Even the his- tory of one of the greatest nations and empires of the world commences with a statement more fictitious and romantic than truthful or sensible. It relates that a daughter of a certain king who had been appointed by that king priestess of Vesta, in which capacity she was to lead a life of single blessedness devoted exclusively to religious services, final- ly became the mother of twins — two bouncing boys. The king, fearing that these little fellows might some day dethrone him or his, ordered one of his servants to murder them. Pursuant to this order, the servant put the little fellows into a sap-trough and went down towards the river with a design to cast them in; but seeing that it was very rough and running with a strong current, he was too much of a coward to approach it. He therefore deposited the two boy babies near the bank of the river and hurried away. The flood increasing continually set the trough afloat and carried the children gently (of course they went gently, the historian says they did) down to a pleasant place where they were landed safe and sound. Under the guidance and influence of the goddess Rumina, who presid- ed over the nurseries of the ancients, and whose rites were celebrated without wine or whisky but only with libations of sweet milk, the infants, as the story goes, were suckled by a she-wolf and fed and taken cave of by a woodpecker. These animals were sacred to Mars; and the wood- pecker was always held in high honor and veneration by that nation of great warriors, orators, and statesmen. Such wonderful events, say the historians, contributed not a little to give credit to the mother's report that Mars, the god of war, was the father of the children. I shall not follow the history of these boys, real or fictitious, this even- ing. Suffice it to say, that they were the founders of one of the great- est empires of the earth. Rome and the Roman empire owe their name and origin to Romulus and Remus, and these were the ^win brothers whose early lives were so shrouded in darkness that the historian could only give this ridiculous legend of their early lives. The early history of Waseca county of course, will not be embellished with the story of any such fabulous or miraculous event; yet the record of lis early settlement and the experience of those who came here at an early day to make homes in the prairie wilderness will not be entirtiv destitute of interest nor wholly without a touch of the romantic. I shall CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 297 this evening confine my remarks to the first settlement made within the limits ot the county. It was made during the summer of 1854." [Then followed an account of the settlement of Mr. Sutlief and family as detailed in chapter two of this history. — Author.] lion. Wm. Brisbane was called out and gave a graphic de- scription of the company that went from Wilton to the Winne- liati'o ao-ency, in 1- whom you are employed, but to the people at large it sounds very much like the hissing of a slimy serpent pierced with a sharp instrument. AYhy should a little truth concerning your real chai'acter make you hi.ss out such vileness? Keep cool,, dear one, and be a little more truthful. Quit forever those base practices which have brought son-ow upon the gray hairs of .^our i)a rents, have pierced with grief the heart of her whom you swore to chei-ish, and have brought to_ shame tho.se M-hom you have begotten, "While the lamp holds out to bum. The vilest sinner may return," AVe know very well that it is not of your own free will and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 303 accord that you make these false and brutal assaults upon our character, but simply because you are the hired tool of a little gang of unprincipled and unscrupulous politicians. Now, why do you not break away from these men and paddle your own canoe? AVhy do you not purchase the material with which you print your paper, and become a free man once more? How much better you would feel then, and how much easier it would be for you to be a decent man. The county was thoroughly canvassed by local speakers and the Republicans brought in a number of,, prominent speakers from abroad in order to counteract the reform movement. The reform leaders were handicapped to some extent for the reason that the Republicans had nominated — with one exception — a most excellent ticket, and the Democats had nominated two of the reform candidates. However, the battle was fought to a finish with the following result : Governor, Reform vote 334, Republican 547, Democrat 546 ; rep- resentatives— Kelsey Curtis 820, Robert Earl 587, GuUick Knut- sen 562, William Brisbane 541, Samuel Hawkes 266; treasurer- Warren Smith 886, Thomas White 523 ; register of deeds— H. A. Mosher 821, Geo. Hofeld 453, E. G. Pierce 145 ; clerk of court— J. B. Hayden 646, B. A. Lowell 374, James Vandermade 302; sher- iff_S. W. Long (Ind.) 466, J. D. Andrews 429, Daniel Murphy 399, il. F. Connor 127 ; judge of probate— J. A. Canfield 649, Ca- leb Halleck 626 ; county attorney— M. D. L. CoUester 712, Lewis Brownell 680; surveyor— C. E. Crane 937, Frank Hoffstott, 489; coroner— Dr. J. C. McMahon 1,098, Dr. L. D. Mcintosh 321 ; coun- ty commissioner— H. Vincent 281, Patrick Healy 214. The straight Reform or prohibition vote was 334, the number received by Prof. Humiston. JOSEPH A. WHBELOCK. In the contest of 1875 the following was quoted as from the pen of IMr. Wheelock, then editor of the St. Paul Press : "We consider tippling houses, saloons, or retail groggeries wliere rot- gut whisky; or whisky of any sort, is sold by the glass or dram as public nuisances, schools of intemperance, and fruitful sources of vice. We are inclined to believe that, upon grounds of public order and decency, the lawmaking authority has the right to prohibit the exposure and sale of 304 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. spirituous liquors in this most seductive and dangerous of forms, and to abolish this nuisance and snare of tippling houses and groggeries. "If it be not criminal, it is, to say the least, infernally mean business, and a full grown man who cannot find a better avocation than to stand behind a bar and pander to a vicious custom of idle tippling, that soon grows by what it feeds on, into a scorching curse — is a nuisance to so- ciety, and the sooner his avocation is abolished the better. There is however, a case in which liquor selling is, upon every principle of ethics or of law, unquestionably a crime — and that is when the seller commits the twin crimes of fraud and slow murder upon his customer, by selling various forms of poison under the names of whisky, brandy, &c." MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The winter of 1874-5 was more than usually stormy. On Jan- uary 8, there was a blizzard and on Feb. 2 and 3, and again on the 16th and the 23d days of the month occurred severe snow storms. On the 16th railroads and wagon roads were badly block- aded. The weather during harvest was especially bad for har- vest work. There were heavy rainstorms August 3, S, 14 and 31, and much of the grain \vas injured in both shock and stack. One of the local jiapers of September 8, said: "The recent rain storms in this section have been enormously destruc- tive. What was once the best wheat crop ever produced in this section is now so badly damaged that very little of it will go number one. Along the LeSueur river bottoms the crops are nearly all under water, and much damage has been done to crops and fences. It is simply impossible at present to estimate the amount of damage that has occurred. We learn that much of the wheat in stack is badly damaged." The weather cleared the first Aveek in September and the fall months were pleasant, enabling the farmers to do their fall work in good shape. Turner Hall, lw^^- AVard's opera house, was built in 1875, and dedicated the 2d and 3d of December. Dr. Schmidt of Jordan, if. D. L. Collester of "Waseca and Col. Pfaender of Xew Ulm, delivered addresses; Mrs. Wm. Alclntosh and :\Iiss Gerlicher pre- sented a flag, the latter making the pr<'sentation speech. The hall was built by subscription, but owing to poor management, it was not a financial success and finally became the property of the late Hon. W. G. Ward. " • At the October term of the district court, Prank Conway, of Blysian, having stolen horses from H. A. "Waggoner, was con- victed of horse-stealing and sentenced to five years imprison- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 305 ment in the Stillwater prison. Frank was a peculiar man. He was possessed of many good qualities. When sober he was a good neighbor, a kind husband, an affectionate father. He was a man of fair intelligence, and, for a number of years, was one of the county commissioners of LeSueur count}-. But he had a craving for liquor, and was, no doubt, afflicted with both dipso- mania and kleptomania. And now the year draws to a close. Old Boreas has come down from his frozen home in the unknown North. The birds have flown. The trees are stripped of their foliage. The grass and the flowers of the prairie are dead. The white mantle of the Snow King covers the land and the year has passed into eternity. "All ends are hid in God." CHAPTER XLIV, 1876. CENTENNIAL YEAR— DEATHS OF JOHN HOFFER, MRS. WM. ROD- DLE, MRS. S. W. LONG, ELDER SMITH, CHRISTIAN KRASSIN, ROBERT MURPHY, MRS. ECKENBECK, MRS. JANE SOULE, MISS MURRAY OF RATTLESNAKE BITE, JOHN DUNN, MINNIE YOUNG — B. H. TAYLOR DROWNED— SHOOTING OF YOUNG FULLER- HOT CITY ELECTION FOLLOWED BY LIBEL SUIT— GOPHERS IN BLOOMING GROVE— BRISBANE'S CENTENNIAL ADDRESS— NORTHFIELD BANK ROBBERY— CAPTURE OF THE YOUNGER BROTHERS— RAILROAD BONUS OF $30,000. Hail! All hail!! the great Centennial year Of the great Republic — A year of jubilee. The -iveatlier in ^Minnesota was magnificent. At twelve o'clock midnight, all over the land, the Centennial year was welcomed by the ringing of bells, the firing of guns, music of all kinds, especially of the brass band sort. In every village and hamlet there was great public rejoicing. To signalize the great event, preparations had been made ou an extensive scale during several preceding years for a AYorld's Exposition, at the historic city of Peinisylvania. The great fair opened on the 10th of iMay, and closed on the 10th of November. On the Fourth of July there was held, in that city, the most magnificent and extensive celebration ever held in the Union. The story of the Exposition is as entrancing as a splendid ro- mance, and it was in all respects a fitting imd worthy comraem- cration of the one himdredth anniversary of the adoption of the great Declaration of Independence. Should one ask, what meant the midnight ringinu' of bells. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 307 the shrill notes of the fife, the thunder of the big bass drums, the shrill notes of Young America, the sunrise salute of thundering cannon and the grand display of flags and bunting, the answer is, it is the great anniversary of the birth of the American na- tion — the most memorable event, save that of the birth of Christianitj% in all the history of mankind. In their influences upon the future destinies of mankind, the doctrines of the Declaration of Independence, enunciated by the Fathers, in 1776, stand forth in true statesmanship mountain- high beside the selfish doctrines of plutocrac.v and kingcraft. The Fourth of July, 1776, was the birthday of a great nation and of grand doctrines. The old doctrines of the divine right of kingcraft, bolstered up and defended by a hireling priestcraft, received a rude shock that day. The great truth that all men are created with equal rights — that by the great God of the universe, they are endowed with cer- tain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness— that to secure these rights, governments are established among men — that government derives all of its just powers from the consent of the governed — that whenever any government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the governed, all the people, to alter or abolish it and institute such government as will secure these rights and the safety and happiness of all the people — this great truth should be imperish- able. No such doctrine, in its entirety, was ever before enimciated. Never before 1776 did men dare to make it and stand for it. ]\len before had preached the doctrine of civil and religious lib- erty in isolated instances, and had suffered martyrdom; but this was the first great uprising for equal rights and privileges. And our young men and women should study these doctrines and get clear ideas of the nature and the character of this sublime event in the history of our country and in the history of the worlds for America is a great world power. The doctrine upon which this government is founded should cover the whole earth. Everywhere it should be established that all government should of right be by the people and for the people, and not the people for the government. This is the grand idea of our nation— liberty regulated by laws enacted by 308 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. citizen sovereignty — equal rights and privileges for each guar- anteed by all. Let us hope that this nation of American freemen shall exist while time shall last, and that the hallowed principles of the Dec- laration of Independence may spread abroad throughout all the world and prove a blessing to all mankind. Let every American remember that it is "righteousness that exalteth a nation" and that "injustice will destroy any people." "Columbia! Columbia! to glory arise, The queen of the world, the child of the skies." THE WINTER OF 1875-6. As a rule, the winter of 1875-6 was pleasant in ;\Iinnesota. There was quite a severe snow storm Jan. 28, 1876, followed by pleasant weather until Februai-y 29, when there came a heavy fall of snow followed by cold weather until the last of ilarch. The snow did not melt away until the last days of ]March, when it went suddenl}-, causing floods and washouts in many parts of the country. April was a favorable month and seeding was done at the usual time. DEATH OF JOHN HOFFER. Saturday, Jan. 6, 1876, ilr. John Hoffer, residing near Alma City, met with a fatal accident near Capt. Dickerson's mill on the Agency road, not far from Maukato. He was returning home from ]\lankato with a load of lumlter and was driving a pair of spirited young horses. They became frightened by an attempt of other men and teams to pass them on the road and ran a short distance, Mr. Hoffer falling off, and the horses continuing on with the forward part of the wagon. They were finally caught without being much in.jured. Mr. Hoffer was fouud luieonscious and was cafried into Mr. Marble's house. He was apparently in a dying condition, with blood running from his mouth, nose and ears. Doctors were called, but the unfortunate nuui remained unconscious until his death about thirty-six hours after the accident. The physicians said that he had sustained a fracture of the skull at the base. It ^\'as claimed that the racing was the result of too much whisky. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 309 DEATH OF MRS. WM. RODDLE. jMts. Wm. Roddl'?, one of the pioneer women of our county and mother of Hon. "VV. H. Roddle, late secretary of state of South Dakota, died Jan. 21, 1876, of congestion of the lungs. She was sick only a short time. She was the mother of Mrs. G. W. Wat- kins, Mrs. Buel Welch, Mrs. Stephen R. Child, Hon. Wra. H. and Benjamin Roddle, and Mrs. C. E. Root, who died some years ago. She was a good neighbor and an exemplary woman. MISCELLANEOUS HAPPENINGS OF THE YEAR. :\Ir. Alvah Kinney, of Woodville, Feb. 20, 1876, met with a sad accident near Elysian. He was thrown from his wagon by a sud- den jolt, and in his fall -broke both bones of his right leg between the knee and the ankle. One of the bones protruded through the flesh when he was brought hom,e. The residence of B. S. Lewis, Esq., now occupied by Cashier J. B. Sullivan, was built during the Centennial year by Mr. Silas Barnard, since deceased. The Sons of Temperance, one of the oldest total abstinence societies in the United States, organized a division in Waseca, March 3, 1876. It is claimed that this is the oldest temperance society of this country, the first Division having been organized as early as Sept. 29, 1842, in the city of New York. That it has accomplished a grand work in the uplifting of humanity, is ad- mitted by all. Several Divisions were organized in this county by Dr. M. T. Anderson, a very earnest advocate of total absti- nence. DEATH OP MRS. SBTH W. LONG. The following is from the Waseca Radical of March 15, 1876 : "The citizens of this place were surprised and shocked last Wednesday to hear of the death of Mrs. Sarah Long, wife of Sheriff Long, of this city, who died in Janesville, on Wednesday morning, March 8,"187G, of conges- tion of the lungs, after a few days of illness. The funeral services were held at the Episcopal chapel, in Waseca, last Friday; Rev. Mr. Young, of Mankato, officiating, and the remains were buried In the family lot at Wilton. She was fifty-four years of age last June. She came to Okaman with her husband in 1856, and had an extensive acquaintance in this county. Deceased was a member of the Episcopal church, and was held in high esteem by all her acquaintances. She leaves a large family aiO CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. to mourn her death. At the time of her sickness and death, she was visiting her daughter, Mrs. D. J. Dodge, of Janesville." SHOOTING OF YOUNG FULLER. The following account is from a Waseca paper of ^March 29, 1876: "A sad and lamentable affair occurred in the town of Janesville, last Friday evening, March 24. Mr. James Ash, an old resident of that town, highly respected, was married last Thursday. The married cou- ple went to St. Peter that evening where they s,-,ent the night. The next day they returned to his farm in Janesville. Just after the couple retired for the night, some of the boys and young men of the neighbor- hood opened the charivari by firing guns, drumining on tin pans, jingling bells, &c. He took down his shot gun and fired into the crowd. The shot struck a boy about fourteen or fifteen years of age, a son of Or- lando Fuller, some of the shot striking him in the breast and penetrating into the lungs, and others striking him in the abdomen." Fortunately the wounds did not prove to be mortal and the lad soon after recovered. The evils of the barbarous charivari were made prominent in this ease, as several protracted law suits grew out of the ait'air. DEATH OF REV. ELIJAH STORRS SMITH. Elder Smith, as he was familiarly called, was a pioneer eleruy- man of Wilton. Pie was a native of Rutland county, Vermont, and was born June 18, 1805. He was licensed to preach the gospel at the age of twenty-eight . lie married Eoxana Laws in 1829. For twenty years he was pastor of the Baptist church at Elba, Genesee counly, N. Y. He then removed to Indiana where he spent nearly three years, thence to Illinois, where he preached until 185!), when he came west to Wilton as a home missionary. He was a very faithful and patient clergyman. He and his good wife participated in all the hardships and deprivations of frontier life with Christian cheerfulness. They had no children born to them, but had two adopted daughters. One of them, :Mary, be- came the wife of Dr. York, of Kansas, who was murdered by the notorious Bender family of Uiat state. .Mr. Smith died of par- alysis, April 7, 187(i, in his seventy-first year, and his remains lie buried in the, Wilton cemetery of which he took especial '■are for several .years prior to his death. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 311 DROWNING OF BURT H. TAYLOR. One of the truly sad events in the history of "Waseca was the drowning of Burt H. Taylor, April 15, 1876. On that date, at the northwest shore of Loon Lake, within the city limits of Waseca, a son of Mr. Glidden, a lad ten or twelve years of age, took a small skiff and ventured out into an open space of water between two fields of ice. While he was paddling around, all unconscious of the dangers awaiting him, the wiad from the west drove down some floating ice, which closed in between the boat and the shore. The ice rapidly accumulated and the boy found it impossible to make his way out. He became frightened and hollooed for assist- ance. To add to his alarm the boat leaked some, and he had nothing but his cap with which to throw out the water. Mrs. Glidden soon discovered the perilous condition that her boy was in, and sup- posing the boat would be crushed by the ice and her son would be drowned, became very much alarmed and excited and cried piteously for help to rescue her boy. Young Taylor, with the generosity and courage for which he was noted, stripped off all but his underclothing, plunged into the ice-cold water of the lake and swam to the rescue of the boy. A number of persons intently watched him as, with strong arms and noble spirit, he reached the floating ice and commenced the perilous effort of breaking through it and gaining the boat. He successfully broke through the first barrier of ice, and it seemed for a time that he would really accomplish his object. He then struggled heroically through the ice and slush which was tossed madly about him by the fierce wind until within thirty feet of the boat. What a grand effort! Could he succeed? It seemed so, but no.' He was chilled to the vitals, or injured by the floating ice cakes, or taken with cramp ! He sank to a watery grave. The citizens were soon aroused, and the utmost excitement pre- vailed. Morris Landers, with his team and wagon, took Daniel Murphy, Will Blowers, and others and went around on the south side of the lake, taking with them a boat. As soon as they reach- ed the west side of the lake, where it was clear of ice, they launch- ed the boat and went to the rescue of the boy who was still fast in the ice. In the mean time, Emil Sandretzky and Dr. Mcintosh 312 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. came around on the north side of the lake with another boat, and and made their way through the ice, both boats reaching the boy about the same time. The ice, driven by the strong wind, imme- diately closed in about the boats, and it required the united strength of all on board to break their way out of the ice-gorge against the wind. Having set the seared and chilled boy on shore, the boats then returned, with poles and grappling irons, to search for the body of young Taylor. The search was kept up until a late hour Sat- urday night, but owing to the high wind and the weeds and grass which cover the bottom of the lake in that vicinity, the body was not found. The search was continued all day Sunday, but with- out avail. There was more or less search for several days, but the body was not discovered until May 7, following, when ]\Ir. A. G. Bush, brother-in-law, of young Taylor, found the remains near the west shore of the lake, southwesterly from the place of the accident. ]\Ir. Taylor was a Master ]\lason and his remains were interred with Masonic honors. A LIST OF DEATHS. ]Mrs. Charles Bckenbeck, one of the earliest settlers of "^"aseca, died on the 19th of April, 1876, at the age of forty-five years, of cancer of the bowels. She was a native of Germany, but had re- sided in America for many years. She was mother of ~Sh\ S. C. Eckenbeek, well known to all the early settlers and now in the milling business at Appleton, Minn. ;\rr. Christian Krassin, of St. ilary, aged sixty years, died on the 23d day of April, 1876. He was born in Prussia and came to America about the year 185'J. He settled first in AVisoonsin, but came to this county in 1856 and opened a farm in St. IMary township. Some four years prior to his death, he was injured severely by a ferocious bull. After this accident he never saw a well day. He was a whole-souled, industrious and prosperous farmer, a quiet citizen, a kind husband and father, and a true friend. :\lr. Robert :\Inrphy, of Alton, was accidentally killed at Janes- ville, by a runaway team of horses, ]\Iay '2i\ 1876. Airs. Christensen, wife of Nels Christensen, residinji' in the easlcrn ])ai't of New Kieliland township, met with a fatal acei- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 313 dent on Saturday, May 13, 1876. She had been. down to Le Sueur river washing some clothing, and while passing a colt, on her way to the house, was kicked by the brute in the stomach and abdomen so severely that, after lingering for several days in in- tense pain, she died on the 25th of the same month. She left a large family of children. July 11, 1876, ilrs. Jane Soule died at the residence of her son, William, in ilorristown. Mrs. Soule, a widow with eight chil- dren, came to Minnesota in 1855 and settled in ^Morristown near our county line. She was the mother of J\[r. George Soule, for a long time a resident of this county. She was one of God's nobie mothers in Israel. A sad and heart-rending death occurred at the home of George Murray, of Iosco, July 20, 1876. A daughter of Mr. Mur- ray, five or six years old, was bitten by a rattlesnake on one of her feet, Sunday evening, July 16, near the house of Richard Dreever. The snake was killed and had six or seven rattles. The child lingered until the 20th, suffering great pain, when death came to her relief. John Dunn, of Woodville, brother of J. M. Dunn and one of the early settlers, died July 21, 1876 of inflammation of the mem- branous lining of the skull near its base. His suffering was in- tense. He was about twenty-four years of age, and highly re- spected. Hon. Henry Goodspeed died of consumption October 19, 1876. aged forty -five years. (See biographical department.) SOME MARRIAGES. There was a double wedding July 3, 1876, at the residence of Mr. and ilrs. Noah Lincoln, of Wilton, the ceremony being per- formed by Judge Canfield. The high contracting parties were Mr. A. D. Scullin and ]\Iiss Elva Lincoln and ilr. I. F. ScuUin and Miss Louise Lincoln. Both gentlemen were then residents of Oakland, Freeborn county. ilr. S. C. Eekenbeck and ^liss H. E. Parmelee were married July 8, 1876, by Rev. Alfred Cressy. The last marriage of note of the year was that of Mr. Clarence T. Ward, since deceased, to ]\liss Annie E. Baldwin, then of Red- wood Falls, ;\Iinn. The bride was the well-known daughter of 314 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. -Judge H. D. BaldAvin, one of the prominent and early settlers of the county ; the groom was the eldest son of Hon. W. (}. Ward, late of this city. Clarence died some years ago, but his widow still resides at Redwood Falls. A HOT ELECTION. The Waseca village election of 1876 occurred ]\Iay 2, and was one of the most exciting ever held in the place. A strife had arisen between Hon. W. G. Ward on one side and B. S. Lewis, Esq., on the other. Each had his friends and each had pluck, ilr. Lewis had control of a paper then published in Waseca, call- ed the "Leader." To offset the Leader's influence or supposed influence, Senator Ward empolyed the "ilinnesota Radical" to publish a large edition of extras which he sent to every voter in the village. The language used on both sides was more em- phatic than elegant, and out of that contest grew a strenuously conducted libel suit by Mr. Lewis against ]\lr. Ward. It result- ed in a judgment of one dollar damages and costs of suit. It Avas some yeai's before harmonious relations were re-established between the contending factions. GOPHER DAY IN BLOOMING GROVE. For a number of years, the voters of Blooming Grove, at their annual town meeting voted to appropriate $25 a year for the killing of gophers. June 26, 1876, was gopher day, and >t;23.84 was distributed among the "gopher boys" that day. Samuel Remund received the highest awai-d, $-1.75, and Charles Wolf the lowest, 30 cents. The boys produced satisfactory evidence of having killed 1,548 striped gophers and 171 pocket gophers. THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH OP JULY. The fourth of July, 187(i, was celebrated in almost every vil- lage and hamlet in the United Slates, and many of the citizens of this coimty met at Waseca 1o observe the day. Rev. Loring ofl'ei'ed prayer, Mrs. Willsey read the Declaration of Indepen- dence, Hon. i'etci' ]\lc(iovern delivered the oration, and Hon. AVin. Brisbane was county historian of the day. After referring to the general hi.story of the country, Mr. Brisbane spoke as fol- lows of the CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 315 COUNTY OP WASECA. "On the second day of February, 1855, about 3 o'clock p. m., a weary, halfstarved party reached the recently erected shanty of Mr. Sutlief, about ten miles south of the now thriving young city of Waseca. Need I tell you how grateful they felt for the cheering warmth of that humble shanty? Hitherto, for several nights, they had spread their straw beds up- on the snow, and you could have followed their trail by the blood in the cattle tracks, for there was a hard crust on the snow at that time which cut the cattle's legs. How strangely inconsistent is the human mind! That night in the himi- ble shanty the hearts of the little party swelled with gratitude, and they thought they were happy. But, on the morrow, the country presented such a forlorn and desolute appearance that a sort of despondency began to creep over them. The country was covered with snow, and even the trees looked short and stunted. The weather was intensely cold. Nei- ther houses nor barns nor sheds nor fences could be seen anywhere. Like Robinson Crusoe, they were monarchs of all they surveyed. They re- ceived no letters to tell them of absent friends at home, nor newspapers to instruct or while away an hour, for the nearest postofflce was at Mankato. There was no neighbor to drop in and tender a word of com- fort, for their nearest neighbors were at Owatonna, twenty miles away. Such were the surroundings of the oldest settlers in Waseca county, twenty-one years ago last February. The scripture says that we ought not to take our flight in the winter or on the Sabbath day; yet the oldest settler of the county took his flight in the winter. Perhaps he was not well versed in scripture or else he disregarded its teachings. Be that as it may, he has learned wisdom from experience, and has now become a teacher of. men by publishing a paper of commanding influence in this village. And as everything con- nected with the history of that individual must be interesting, it may not be out of place to mention the difficulties he had to overcome even in getting married. In those early days when the oldest settler made up his mind to take unto himself a wife, he went to consult with the man who could make two into one, viz.. Esquire Jenkins, a man of rather ec- centric character. In talking the matter over grave doubts arose whether John Jenkins was really a bona fide justice or not. Here was a rather unlooked-for dilemma. To solve the problem, John started and actually did walk on foot all the way to St. Paul to get Governor Gorman to con- firm him as a legal justice of the peace, and thus empower him to bind in the holy bonds of matrimony the oldest settler of Waseca county." [The statement that there was doubt about Mr. Jenkins , being a qual- ified justice and that he walked to St. Paul is romance. — The Author.] "But now all is changed. Instead of traveling thirty-five miles on foot to reach a postofRce, we have plenty of them near at hand. Instead of being compelled to send East for a paper and wait four or five weeks af- ter its publication before receiving it, we have three published in the 31G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. county, and the telegraph to inform us instantly of all matters of im- portance. Society here, too, will bear favorable comparison with that of any other part of the country. It is seventeen years last month since I came to Waseca county, and I have sometimes thought I was as great a fool to start in summer as the oldest settler was to start in winter. There was a track, to be sure, but nothing that could be called a road. Bridges, like angels' visits, were few and far between. I thought the clouds that floated over Min- nesota were rotten and couldn't hold water, for the rain fell in torrents. I was just a month to a day coming three hundred miles. In those days we had to go seventy miles to market — often wallowing through the mud, often through the snow — compelled at times to camp out when the thermometer ranged ten degrees below zero. I have often thought that it is a blessing that there is to be no resurrection of the brute creation, for if there were, all eternity would be spent in law- suits for assaults and batteries upon the poor, dumb animals that hauled our wheat to Hastings. Then we had little or no time for fall plowing. The year before the railroad was built to Waseca I was nine weeks on the road to market with two teams. And what did we get a bushel for our wheat at Hastings? From forty to fifty cents. If we hired the wheat hauled, we had to pay from twenty-five to thirty cents a bushel, which left us the magnificent sum of twenty to twenty-five cents at home. This is no wild and imaginary statement. I recollect selling to ilv. Hunter four hundred bushels of wheat at thirty cents a bushel, taking it all in "store pay." I have seen the time when a pound of pork would buy only a pound of salt, in Wilton, and when butter brought only six cents a pound, and — will you believe it — the wagons still screamed for grease. We couldn't afford to grease our wagons for it took much grease to bring a little money, and yet it is just as far to New York now as then. Still we grumble, although we get from three to four times as much now for wheat as we got then. It may be asked, "How do we get so much mor? for our wheat now than then?" The question is easily answered. The power of capital and the skill of the engineer and of the mechanic have annihilated distance and brought New York to our doors. In plain lan- guage, cheap transportation has doubled and trebled the value of our wheat. * " * I think I have alluded to the struggles and contests of rival villages and localities for the location of county seats. Waseca county has had her share of these contests. When the county was set off from Steele, some four or five places contended for the honor of having the county seat, but Wilton finally won the prize — at least every one thought so. But establishing county seats is something like nominating candidateci for the presidency. One or two prominent candidates feel quite sure that they will be nominated, but the various factions can not harmonize, and the consequence is some obscure individual steps 1o the front and wins the prize. It was just so with Wilton. She thought it was all "hunka- adora" with her, so far as I ho county seat was concerned: but one dav CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 317 an engineer came along with his staff and said he wanted to locate a railroad through Waseca county. He did; and he left Wilton out in the cold. A station was established about five miles north of her, and then it began to be whispered that It would be better to have the county seat v/here the county market was. This generated a terrible local storm. The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, and the elements jarred so that the Second Adventists declared the crack of doom had come. "When the firing ceased and the smoke of battle cleared away, they began to look around for the dead and wounded, but not a soul was to be found. While the Wiltonians slept, the garrison fled, carrying the archives and munitions of war with them. They threw up fortifications and entrenched themselves at a place called Waseca, and then swore by the 'Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress' that they had come to stay, and stay they will. Now there is not a man in the county but is proud of the county seat. And as this is the centennial birthday of our nation, we can not do better than to banish the recollection of past feelings of animosity from our hearts, should any still linger there. Let us throw the mantle of forgiveness over all men and stand erect before God and the world, thus proving our title to true manhood. Let us for- give those who have wronged us. It is not worth while to hate when so few years are given us in which to love. Let our affections and good in- tentions be strengthened, that our hearts may be lighter and our hands stronger for the life work before us." HORSES STOLEN AND BARN BURNED. On August 14, 1876, Mr. Fred Schultz, residing in Freedom, had a span of voung horses stolen from his stable, and the stable, together with another horse and some grain, was consumed by fire. Several haystacks were also burned. A fellow named George Buck was caught with the stolen horses at Minnesota Lake the next day and arrested. He was afterwards sent to prison. THE NORTHPIBLD BANK ROBBERY. On the 7th of September, in our Centennial year, the James and Younger gang of cutthroats, from Missouri, invaded North- field, IMinn. About 2.30 p. m. of that day, three armed men entered the bank in Northfield, where Heywood, cashier. Bunker, assistant cashier, and Wilcox, clerk, were present. They immediately jumped over the counter, through a space of about two feet left for the use of the teller, and cried out, "Hold up your hands! We are going to rob the bank." One of the robbers starting to go into the vault, Heywood followed him and partially closed the vault door. The 318 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. robber pushed Heywood back, and one of the other robbers came to his assistance and struck Heywood on the head with his revol- ver. The two then dragged Heywood again towards the vault, cursing him and telling him to open the safe, the inner door only of which was closed. At this time they drew their knives, and one of them drawing his knife across the cashier's neck, making a scratch, again ordered him to open the safe. Just at this moment Bunker attracted their attention by starting for the back door. One of them immediately fired at him, striking him in the fleshy part of the shoulder. He however, did not stop, but ran out, giving the alarm. Failing to make the brave Heywood open the safe, and hearing firing out of doors tlie robbers started out. The last one .jumping over the counter, turned, and placing the muzzle of the revolver within a foot of He>w()od's head, shot him in the right temple, killing him instantly. About the time the three robbers entered the bank, six others, three of whom advanced from opposite ends of ^lain street , com- menced firing revolvers promiscuously right and left, and yelling furiously and i)i'ofanely ''(Jet out you s — of a b — !"' The first two shots they fired into Lee & Hitchcock's front windows, cut- ting smooth holes through the glass and tearing great holes in the shelving inside. !Most of the windows for five hundred feet on both sides of the street bore evidence of the reckless shooting. In a few moments quite a number of citizens opened fire on the robbers. A. R. Manning and Henry AVheeler shot two of the robbers dead and wounded one or two othei-s. The pe .+2(10 on the house. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA- COUNTY. 323 On the 9th of the same month George Kline, one of the "boys" of the First ilinnesota, residing in St. Mary, lost his home by fire. He awoke about midnight and found his house all on fire. His children had a narrow escape from, being burned with the house. All the household goods, clothing, and everything else in the house were totally consumed. He carried insurance to the amount of $500. John Habein, of Blooming Grove, son of Wm. Habein, while blasting rock, April 2-1, 1877, met with a serious accident. He was charging a rock, and while driving in brick to confine the powder, it exploded, inflicting a deep woiind in the flesh between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, and a severe one on the cheek, just below the ej-e, carrying away the flesh from the outside corner of the eye nearly to the top of the nose, and blowing his face and hands full of powder and small pieces of brick. Fortunately his eyes were not injured. He soon recovered. MOTHER OP SIXTEEN CHILDREN. ]\lrs. Esther Bennett, mother of Ed. Bennett, Esq., of Waseca. died at Tivoli, Blue Earth county, on the 14th of May, 1877. De- ceased was the mother of sixteen children, fourteen of whom at- tained their majority — ten males and four females. The Bennett family located in Blue Earth county in 1S56, and maintained a prominent position in its early history. The deceased was a most estimable ladj-, highlj^ esteemed by a large acquaintance. BUILDING OF THE M. & ST. L. RAILWAY. The ^Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad was constructed through Waseca diiring the year 1877. Thomas White, of Wa- seca, had the contract for building four miles of the road on each side of Waseca. The road was completed to Albert Lea Nov. 7. MARTIN KRASSIN, OF ST. MARY, Who first visited Waseca county in 1854, and who located hevi' with his family in 1855, died June 1, 1877. IMartin Krassin was the son of Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., and was born in Prussia in the year 1821. He came to America with his aged parents and young wife in July, 1854. He stopped for a month or two with rela- tives, near Princeton, Wis., and then made a trip of exploration 324 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. through Minnesota in company with Mr. John Greening, as noted in the "First Settlement of St. Mary." OTHER DEATHS. j\Irs. Eleanor M. Helms, wife of Hon. il. H. Helms, passed to rest June 30, 1877. She was one of the daughters of Samuel Dodge, who settled near Wilton in 1857. Her age at the time of death was 25 years, nine months. She left surviving her hus- band and two daughters. COMPLETION OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS RAILROAD. This important line of road, for which the people of Woodville had voted $30,000, was completed in the fall of 1877, and on the 11th day of December of that year, the managers of the road, in connection with the business men of Minneapolis, gave a free ride and a free banquet to five hundred invited guests along the line of the road. Addresses of welcome and responses were deliver- ed, each village and city being represented on the program. To the toast "Waseca," the response was reported by the ]\Iiuneapo- lis Ti'ibune as follows: "Sir. Child said : "Mr. President: Waseca rejoices at the completion of the connecting link of road which unites Lake Superior with the lower Mississippi. This is a happy day for Waseca county. Her humblest citizen may well feel proud of this grand festal occasion. Waseca county, with her streams of pure water, her numerous silvery lake-gems, scattered here and there in every township; her thriving villages, her school houses, her mills, her mercantile enterprises, her banks, her forests and groves of timber, her herds of cattle, her thirteen hundred farms, her granaries crowded with a million bushels of wheat ready for your mammoth mills, her twelve thousand happy and prosperous souls, reaches out her hand to-day across the intervening prairie and woodland, and warmly clasps that of Minne- apolis, who, with her palaces of brick and granite, with her merchant princes, with her inexhaustible water power, with her mills of world-wide reputation, with her men of indomitable pluck, with her warm hearted hospitality, has become noted throughout the nation — aye, throughout the civilized world. "Twenty-three years ago today, the oldest male inhabitant in Waseca county, now living within its borders, belonging to the 'red shirted brig- ade,' and was engaged in 'swamping' at a lumbering camp on the north branch of the Oconto, in northern Wisconsin. He was a wild, fanatical fellow. One evening by the camp-flre, after reading a friend's letter de- scriptive of Southern Minnesota, he made up his mind to pack his 'turkey' and make a winter trip to the land of promise. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA- COUNTY. 325 "On the 6th of January, 1855, he and two other venturesome men, one of whom now sleeps in the Wilton cemetery, and the other of whom, poor fellow, is engaged as assistant postmaster in the United States senate, started for Minnesota with ox teams. On the 2d day of February, 1855, they arrived in what is now Waseca county, having camped two nights in the open air, on Minnesota snow hanks. One lone shanty was all there was of civilization to break the native solitude of the prairie and wood- land, from Straight river to the frontier town of Mankato. What a change in these twenty-four years! This occasion will not permit even a glance at the hardships, the privations, the struggles, the heroic labors of those who first broke the prairie sod and started civilization in a new country. But the people of Freeborn, Waseca, LeSueur, Rice, and Scott counties, who a few years ago were seen carting their wheat to Hastings, camping at night by the roadside, in fair weather and in storm, need not to be reminded of these scenes, for they have been written upon the tab- lets of memory by the hand of experience; and that experience prompts every heart to rejoice that to-day we may visit the metropolis of the state, in palatial railroad cars — going in the morning and returning to our own firesides in the evening. The day of slow coaches, foundered horses, and brave (sometimes tyrannical) stage drivers has passed, and in place thereof we have the iron horse with his train of rolling palaces — the grandest production of American capital, skill and ingenuity. Waseca joins with Albert Lea, Hartland, Richland, Waterville, Kilkenny, Mont- gomery, New Prague, and Jordan in accepting the hospitality of this city, on the 'Minneapolis plan,' and will contribute her full share toward the upbuilding of the dual city at the head of navigation, on the grandest river of North America. "But this is a digression. Waseca is the theme. Well, Waseca is noted for many things. She is noted for a variety of statesmen. She has more 'honorables' to the square mile than any other county in the state. Some are as wisely silent as Gen. Grant, while others are as noisy — if not as wise — as 'Sunset' Cox or Wendell Phillips. She boasts of six hundred men who, with clear heads and untainted breath, at the last election, cast their ballots in favor of 'destroying the destroyer of millions' and freeing our land of a slavery more intolerable than that which drenched South- ern soil with the blood of our fathers and brothers. "She is noted for her rich and productive soil; for her industrious and well-to-do farmers; for her No. 1 wheat; for her pleasant and com- fortable homes; for her four newspaper ofllces; for her numerous churches and numerous saloons, almost equaling Minneapolis, and for her enterprising business men in every branch of trade. "In 1876 she produced from 47,877 acres 475,177 bushels of wheat. That was the lightest crop ever raised in the county. This year from fifty thousand acres, she has produced one million bushels of wheat. She boasts of over three thousand work horses, thirteen hundred beef and working cattle, four thousand milch cows, thirteen hundred farmers' 326 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. families, sixty-nine thousand acres of plowed land, and numerous culti- vated groves containing 205,000 forest trees. "The sheep of Waseca county in 1876 produced 9,089 pounds of wool; the cows produced 283,250 pounds of butter, and 4,288 pounds of cheese; the bees, 136 hives, produced 1,629 pounds of honey; the apple trees in bearing, numbering 5,629, produced 2,325 bushels of apples. The total amount of hay saved was 27,384 tons. "It is a glorious, good county, a near relation to the garden of Eden, and, as its Indian name implies, is a 'land of plenty,' 'abundant in food' and contains as much solid mud to the square mile, on a rainy day, as any county in the state. "But on this occasion we may all look beyond the limits of our several localities and join in congratulating one another upon the nation- al importance of the completion of the thoroughfare that now unites the great 'unsalted seas' of the North with the never freezing waters of the Sunny South. And we do not and should not forget that the success ot this important enterprise is due to the energy and labors of President Washburn and his Minneapolis co-workers. To the ability and courage of such men the people of the state owe a large debt of gratitude. Without doubt all will join in expressing the hope that the fraternal relations now existing between the North and the South, the East and the West, may grow with our growth and strengthen with our advancing years, and that ere the close ot another decade the people will have cast aside all local prejudices, so that our great natural highway by way of New Orleans may be utilized to the fullest extent by the millions that are to possess the great valley of the Mississippi. "Waseca is proud to be represented here to-day by so many of her citi- zens, and rejoices in the fact that Minneapolis and St. Paul are now with- in a few hours ride of our happy hunting grounds. We cordially invite our friends of these cities to visit our goodly land that flows with the milk of human kindness and the honey of Christian charity — except about election time — and to learn how good and how p.leasaut it is to dwell in the land of plenty where every one sits by his own fireside and calls no man master." CHAPTER XLVI, 1878. MILD WINTER— SOCIAL AND MORAL WORK— MRS FOSTER'S TEM- PERANCE REVIVAL— MRS. STEVENSON FOUND DEAD— LINES ON THE DEATH OF MRS. STEVENSON BY MARY DAYTON— BUILDING OF THE COUNTY JAIL— COURT SCENE, LAUGHABLE AND DIS- GRACEFUI^RICHARD TONER AND ANNIE McCANN BURNED TO DEATH— NEW JAIL BROKEN— JIM JOHNSON SHOT— D. C. FREE- LAND— FIRE COMPANY ORGANIZED. The winter of 1877-8 was one of the mildest in the history of the state. Frost came out of the ground in January so that plowing was done in some localities during that month. There was very little snow all winter and no sleighing. For several weeks the roads were dry and dusty. Some farmers sowed wheat in Feb- ruary. The ^Mississippi River from St. Paul to New Orleans was free from ice as early as March 8. SOCIAL AND MORAL. Owing to the mild weather, no doubt, there was considerable doing in the way of lectures and social gatherings during the season. The month of January, in Waseca, brought a great tem- perance revival. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, then a noted lecturer and attorney, of Iowa, delivered a series of powerful lectures, or ad- dresses, in Waseca. THE LECTURES. The local paper, speaking of Mrs. Foster's work, said: "ilrs. Foster has taken the town by storm. She has started a good work. The "Blue Ribbon" is a success. Mrs. Foster's lectures, 328 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. delivered in this place since last Thursday, together with the terrible death of Mrs. Stevenson, whose body was found last Sunday morning, have created an emotional temperance senti- ment in this place which we hope may settle down to something sound, substantial and practical.' The death of Mrs. Stevenson was detailed in the local paper of Jon. 9, 1878, as follows: TERRIBLE DEATH OF MRS. STEVENSON. "It is with a sad heart that we record the fearful death of Mrs. S. J. Stevenson, wife of the late deputy sheriff of this county, who was found within thirty feet of the Catholic church of this village and only a few rods from her own home, last Sunday morning, frozen to death, with an empty bottle in which there had been whisky. There is no reason to doubt that she came to her death while in a drunken condition, as for years she had been more or less addicted to the use of liquor — was, in fact, a slave to its power. "She was found by Mr, Breen's son and James B. Hayden, clerk of the court. When first discovered the body was in a kneeling posture, the face, knees, and toes resting upon the ground and the body bent as though she had fallen while on her knees; thus her spirit passed beyond the vale. "She leaves four children — two daughters, who have reached woman- hood, and two little hoys. "When sober, she was one of the kindest and best of women, especial- ly in sickness, and with the exception of this fault was a respectable, kind-hearted woman. She was about fifty years of age." The death of Mrs. Stevenson brought forth the following lines from Miss Mary B. Dayton, then a young school teacher, after- wards Mrs. Shepard, now deceased. The lines were so sincere and true that the author offers no apology for reproducing the following extracts from the poem : LINES ON THE DEATH OP MRS. STEVENSON. "Gone to the earth, returned to dust! Gone to her maker, too, we trust. Her life is done, her work is o'er; Now she will rest forever more. She knew no happiness in life, But much she knew of toil and strife. She once was young and very fair — Alas! she knew not then the snare That would enfold her in its grasp, Till human power and help were past. She fell into the tempter's power; CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 329 He met her in an evil hour; Stie sinned and fell, 'tis plain to all, She lost her pride, her hope, her all. She yielded to the demon rum, Not thinking of the harm to come, Until too late, his grasp she felt. Ah, Where's the heart that would not melt Before a scene so sad, yet true? Picture the agony she knew! Not ours the right to judge, but learn From sin and evil now to turn, Oh! man. Oh! youth, beware, beware. We're all beset by many a snare; When tempted oft to turn astray. Remember God, the living way. Think well before one glass you take. Before His holy law you break, Think of that creature once so pure. Think of the woe that came to her! Think of her lying stiff and cold. Think of her poor immortal soul! 'Tis true she sinned, but who is he Who sinneth not? If such there be. His is the right to judge of one Who sitteth now before God's throne." DEATH OF MRS. NATHANIEL WOOD. jMrs. Amelia Wood, wife of Mr. Nathaniel "Wood, who settled in "Woodville in 1855, died Feb. 6, 1878, at the advanced age of seventy-six. She was a native of Vermont, and was the mother of :\Iessrs. Eri G., Loren C. and Luman Wood, and Mrs. J. K. Meyers, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. G. R. Buckman, and Mrs. R. M. Addison. COUNTY JAIL BUILDING. For several years the county commissioners, under the wise counsel of Auditor Cronkhite, had been creating a fund for the building of a jail, and on the 20th of March, 1878, the contract for building the same was let to W. B. Craig & Co., their bid be- ing $9,333. Conrad, Bohn & Co. bid $9,445. The contract requir- ed the completion of the building on or before the first of the following October. 330 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. WHOLESALE INDICTING. The temperance people of the county were very active in 1878. At the March term of court, thirteen indictments were found by the grand jury against as many different persons in New Rich- land for selling liquor unlawfully. Nearly all of them plead guilty and were fined $50 and costs of prosecution. THE FOURTH OF JULY. this year was celebrated by our people quite generally. Public meetings were held in Blooming Grove, Otisco, Janesville, New Richland, and Waseca. Rev. R. Forbes and James E. Child deliv- ered addresses in Blooming Grove; Hon. Wni. Brisbane delivered the oration at New Richland; Rev. Gilbert Shaw addressed the people of Otisco; there was a circus at Janesville; a picnic at Wa- seca; and a church celebration and dinner at St. ^Mary. LAUGHABLE AND DISGRACEFUL. As far back as 1878 it was not unheard of for attorneys, while under the influence of liquor, to try cases. The following actually occurred in Waseca— names alone being fictitious. The affair is given as reported at the time : "A laughable and at the same time a disgraceful scene occurred in Hon. B. Smyth's court, last Wednesday. The plaintiff was a man named Taylor, a lithe, supple, plucky chap; and the defendant, a Mr. Gove. Lawyer Cole appeared for plaintiff and Lawyer Jones for defendant. The plaintiff was put upon the stand and all went as usual until the cross- examination, when some sharp words ensued. Jones called the witness a d n gambler, whereupon the witness told Jones he was a d n liar. "That was too much for Jones; he seized a chair and raised it, threat- ening to knock the witness' brains out. Taylor, not to be outdone in politeness, as quick as a flash also presented a chair. Cole rushed to a corner and called for a revolver, the jurors ducked their heads, one be- hind another expecting every moment the crash of arms, the justice com- menced gathering up his papers, men from the street rushed wildly to the scene of conflict, everything was in suspense until two seconds rushed in and prevented the flow of gore by parting the combatants. Lawyer Jones, being disarmed, paced up and down like a caged lion, asserting that he was a respectable citizen of Waseca, and that he would not take such an Insult from a tramp. Whereupon Taylor informed him that he (Tay- lor) was not a tramp, and moreover that Lawyer Jones was not even ■ a respectable citizen. And then the valorous Jones again approached Taylor with clenched flsts and flashing eyes threatening a terrible les- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 331 son In pugilism. Taylor again assumed a fighting posture, and no one can tell how much blood might have flowed had not Constables Roddle and Stevenson rushed between them. Disgusted at his failure to cross- examine the witness over the head with a chair, Jones left the court in contempt. After his departure the court held the scales of jus- tice in equal poise and finished the trial — peace and harmony prevailing," RICHARD TONER AND ANNIE McCANN BURNED TO DEATH. One of the saddest occurrences in the history of the eonnty transpired August 27, 1878. The following account was given at the time by John J. Toner, son of Richard Toner : "The inmates of the house were Mr. and Mrs. Toner, the parents, who slept below; John J. Toner, their son, a young man, and two hired men; two daughters, young women, and the girl, Annie McCann, all of whom slept in rooms upstairs. Mary Toner, the older daughter, first discov- ered the fire about fifteen minutes after one o'clock, Tuesday morning, in the southeast corner of the building, upstairs, next to the kitchen. She at once gave the alarm. John, as soon as awakened, went below and called to his parents, and then went out with one of the hired men, thinking to extinguish the Are. He soon found that the fire was beyond control and went back to the front door of the main building. His sister then told him that the McCann girl was still upstairs. He sent for a ladder whereby they might reach the chamber window. Just then one of the daughters said 'father is still in the house.' John then went to the open bed-room window and reached into the bed but could not find his father. He then called him. At this time the smoke and heat were stifling and he turned his head to get a fresh breath. When he turned again he found his father prostrate with his head in the window. By this time, the fire was over head and all around them. One of the men came to assist, but both were unable to succeed in removing the old gentleman and were driven back by the fire. The other man also made an attempt to reach the window, but was driven back by the fire. Nothing more could be done, and, Mr. Toner and the girl perished in the flames. Nearly everything in the house was consumed. Mr. Richard Toner was one of the oldest settlers of the county, having settled in Iosco in 1856. He was about 65 years of age. He leaves a large family and an extensive circle of friends to mourn his sad death. Of late years he has been a sober, exemplary citizen, and universally liked and respected on account of his generosity and neighborly de- portment. "The origin of the fire is unknown. One of the men, desiring to use some warm water, as late as eleven o'clock the evening before was in the kitchen, but saw no fire. "It is a sad aitair, and casts a gloom over the whole community." 332 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. THE ELECTION OF 1878, The campaign of this year was one of intense feeling and ex- citement. There were four tickets in the field — Temperance, (Greenback, Democrat, Republican. The vote on state senator was as follows : >S. B. Williams, temperance, 729 ; P. C. Baile.v, re- publican, 464; Fenton Keenan, democrat, 443; AV. D. Armstrong, ,L;reeul)ack, 274. John S. Abell, temperance, received 570 votes and was elected representative, while John Thompson, republican, was elected by a vote of 5.').3 over Ira D. Beaman, temperance, who re- ceived 505 votes. ]\[r. E. Cronkhite, candidate on both the tem- perance and democi'atie tickets, was re-elected by a vote of 745. The total vote of the county this year was 1,922. NEW JAIL BROKEN. Scarcely had the new jail been completed when the four inmates came very near making their escape. They cut off one of the bars with a common, steel table-knife, unlocked the scuttle door lead- ing into the attic with an old ke.v, went into the attic and knocked a hole through the brick wall, on the north side, close to the cor- nice. Sheriff Keeley's attention was attracted by the noise, and he and Jailor Long proceeded to drive the culprits back into their cells. Evidentl.v the jail was not burglar proof. MARRIAGES, DEATHS, AND MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS. The marriage of Mr. Martin Haley and I\Iiss Ellen Collins, at "Waseca, by Father Christie, Feb. 25, 1878, was quite a society event. Mr. Haley had been captain of the champion baseball club of the state, and was son of Mr. Patrick Haley, one of the well- to-do and early settlers of Blooming Grove. Aliss Collins was a sister of Sheriff Collins, of Waseca. j\Ir. John Kahnke and Miss ]\Iary Matz, of St. Mary, were married the next day— Feb. 26. ]Mr. Kahnke is one of the yiuing old settlers of the county. All-. H. X. Carlton, one of the earlie'st boysettlers of Woodville, married Miss Lovica Smith, daiighter of A. C. Smith, October 1878. The bride was the first white child born in the town of Woodville. Mr. A. B. Crumb, of Byron, an early settler, died .Ian. 30, 1878, of lingering consumption, aged fifty years. He had resided in th(> county aboiit foui-t(>en years. .Mrs. Louise A. Ballard, the first woman married within the CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 333 limits of Waseca county (then Bhie Earth county), died Augu-;t 15, 1878, aged forty-one years, at Decoria, Blue Earth county. She left a family of ten children. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Gregory, now deceased, who settled in St. Mary in 1855. James Johnson, son of Isaac Johnson, both early settlers in this county, was accidentally shot near Mapleton, Nov. 10, 1878. It appears that he had been hunting, in company with his brother AVilliam and two others, and was returning home in a buggy. He had the butt end of his gun on the bottom of the buggy, and lean- ed forward to let one of the company have some tobacco. When he straightened back, the gun slipped, striking the hammer on the bottom of the buggy, and discharging the contents into his thigh, severing the femoral artery. He only lived a few seconds, and spoke but a few words. "Jim," as he was familiarly called, was one of the famous players of the ' ' Champion Base Ball Club of this county and had many warm friends. Mr. D. C. Freeland, one of the early settlers of Vivian and a man of high character, died of ulceration of the liver, Nov. 26, 1878. He was son-in-law of Mr. Wm. Hoover. He left surviving him a widow and three sons. His widow is noAV Mrs. A. T. Wolcott, and his sons are prosperous residents of the Pacific coast at Portland, Oregon. THE FIRST FIRE COMPANY. The following appeared in the local paper June 26, 1878 : "We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, propose to start an inde- pendent fire company for the protection of all property in the corporate limits of the village of Waseca. We respectfully ask the assistance of all property holders: M. V. Hunt, M. O. Forbes, James Wert, C. M. Oster, F. M. Smith, Thos. Breen, J. M. Robertson, W. H. Roddle, C. McKenna, Jos. Smith, Edward Castor, B. F. Forbes, Wm. Blowers, F. B. Johnson, L. C. Clug, Gust Schill- knecht, C. M. Baker, Gust Thom, Ed. Fisk, Eugene Fisk, H. E. Strong, Henry Herbst, John F. White, E. W. Cummings, Walter Child, J. Niebels. The following officers were elected: foreman. Dr. M. V. Hunt; 1st assis - ant, E. W. Fisk; 2d assistant, John White; treasurer, Frank Forbes: secretary, C. M. Baker; executive committee. Dr. Hunt, W. H. Roddle, L. C. Klug." CHAPTER XLVII, 1879. FINANCIAL DEPRESSION— ROADS AND BRIDGES— DIED, O. F. WAG- GONER, MRS. LUCINA GRAY, MR. WARNER, OF OTISCO, MICHAEL BOHEN, REV. GILBERT SHAW— REUNION OF THE FIRST MINNE- SOTA AT WASECA— ADDRESS OP WELCOME BY PRESIDENT MC- CORMICK— JUDGE LOCHREN'S ADDRESS— "THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG"— COPY OF THE "FIRST MINNESOTA"— HEAVY STORMS OP THE YEAR- HORSE THIEF AND HIS REVOLVER— THE FALL ELECTION. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring happy bells across the snow: The year is going, let him go: Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind For those that here we see no more? Ring out the feud of rich and poor. Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out the want, the care, the sin. The faithless coldness of the times; Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old. Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free. The larger heart the kindlier hand, Ring out the darkness of the land. Ring in the Christ that is to be. — Tennyson. The financial depression which set in abont 1868, as a result of the i-etiring of greenbacks and the refimdint;- of the national bonds, had forced upon the people the utmost economv, and ecou- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. omy in livino; always brings prosperity. And thus it was that as a rule the people found themselves in the enjoyment of gen- eral prosperity in 1879. ROADS AND BRIDGES. The board of county commissioners for 1879 consisted of Hon. li. 0. Craig, John Brady, Thomas K. Bowe, Wm. Burke, and H. K. Stearns— all Democrats except Mr. Stearns. Hon. R. 0. Craig was elected chairman. The jail having been built the year be- fore, and being nearly or quite all paid for, the board became fairly liberal in appropriating money for roads and bridges. At the January session $43.21 additional was appropriated for re- planking the bridge across Bull Run in Freedom. At the March session, appropriations were made as follows : $150 to build bridge across Le Sueur river in New Richland; $80 for build- ing road on line of sections 24 and 25, in New Richland, and $70 for building road through section 8 of same town ; $249.49 for a bridge across the Le Sueur river near Markham's town of Alton ; $53 for planking Alma City bridge ; $50 for grading hill on road between the towns of Iosco and Blooming Grove, near McWaide's; $50 for grading hills on Faribault road in Blooming Grove; $50 for repairing road near Alfred Smith's in Blooming Grove ; $25 for making road across slough, on section 14, town of Iosco ; $40 for improvement of road between W. Timlin's place and Iosco creek; $35 for building road near Martin Dewald's place in Iosco ; $200 for constructing road on line between sections 22 and 27, 23 and 26, and 24 and 25, in town of St. Mary, and be- tween sections 19 and 20 in Woodville. The county surveyor was ordered to make plans and specifications for building a bridge across McDougall creek, in the town of Otisco. At the session of the board jMay 20, 1879 ,the following additional ap- propriations were made : $314 to J. J. Headley for building the McDougall creek bridge; $14.81 additional for replanking the Alma City bridge ; $200 for building road in the town of Byron on the line of the Vivian and New Richland county road; $25 for road near John Keeley's farm in St. Mary; $75 for repair- ing Waseca and Morristown road near Rice Lake ; $300 to assist in building road across the outlet of Lake Elysian on town line between Janesville and Alton, provided $300 be first expended 33G CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. on said road by the towns of Alton and Janesville or by citizens thereof; $25 to aid the construction of a road on line between sections 23 and 25, in town of New Richland. THE DEATH LIST OF 1879. Jlr. 0. F. Waggoner, who came to this state at a very early day with the Winnebago tribe of Indians, died of convulsions, Jan. 6, 1879, at the age of about sixty years. He settled on the Winne- bago Indian reservation in 1855, and when the Winnebagoes moved west, he located near Alma City. His son, Mr. John Waggoner, at this writing, 1905, resides in Alton near Alma City. Mrs. Lucina Gray, widow of Wm. il. Gray, deceased, of Bloom- ing Grove, died March 25, 1879. She was one of the earliest settlers of the count.y, having come here in the early summer of 1855. She was about seventy years of age and left a large family of children and grandchildren to mourn her departure. ]\Ir. ilichael Bohen, one of the early settlers of St. Mary, died of hemorrhage of the lungs, August 16, 1879. He arose in the morning feeling as well as usual, went to the barn to do his chores and while there commenced coughing and spitting blood. Soon blood flowed in a stream from his mouth and he died in about ten minutes. He left a wife and five children. Rev. Gilbert Shaw, then postmaster at Wilton, died October 25, 1879, of hemorrhage of the lungs. :Mr. Shaw was an ac- tive, earnest Christian minister. THE FIRST MINNESOTA REUNION. The veterans of the "Old First Minnesota Regiment of Volun- teers" held their twelfth annual reunion at Waseca, Jime IS. 1879. It occurred on one of those beautiful .Minnesota days when it is just warm enough to be comfortable and just cool enough to be agreeable. The morning opened with the firing of artillery and a general display of flags on most of the buildings. A larce flag, with "Welcome, First ilinnesota," inscribed upon it, was suspended over the street between the :MeCue and Trowbridge blocks, and wi-eaths of oak leaves decorated with flags were stretched across the streets at various points. Turner Hall was decked with flags, flowers, and wreaths of green leaves, the whole presenting a pleasing and attractive scene. At 2:30 p. m. a procession was formed at the union depot. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 337 under the direction of Maj. Young, and marched in the following order : 1. Waseca Hose Company. 2. Band and Drum Corps. 3. Mayor and City Council. 4. Committee of Reception. 5. Veterans of the First Minnesota Infantry. 6. Artillery. 7. Carriages and Citizens. The line of march was through the principal streets to Oak Grove, just northeast of Turner Hall. The veterans bore the tattered remnants of their old colors, followed by one piece of artillery captured by the First jMinnesota battery at Cheraw, South Carolina, and another gun presented by the United States minister to Belgium to the First Minnesota regiment for gallant- ry in the first Bull Run fight. Arriving at the grounds, the people were seated, and R. L. j\Ic- Cormick, Esq., president of the village board, delivered, in an eloquent manner, a well considered address of welcome to the First Minnesota, in which he tendered to the boys the hospitali- ties of the city. The following extracts from his welcome are worthy of perma- nent record : The War of the Rebellion is over. Its history is dally receiving ac- cessions. Its incidents are still fresh in our minds, and its battles are as familiar as the names of the cities of our own state. Upon this field, to which others can do much more complete and ample justice, I will not trespass further than to say that Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, West Point, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Glendale, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Charlestown, Fredericksburg, Hay- market, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, and Mine Run, carry with them their story of the struggle and of the honorable part taken in it by the First Minnesota. Before our posterity we would compare Gettysburg with the equally decisive battle of Waterloo. Vicksburg with Salamis, Lookout Mountain with Thermopylae, and Sherman's famous march to the sea with the retreat of Xenophon's immortal ten thousand; and high in the annals of military achievements, side by side with the names of the most illustrious commanders of ancient or modern times, Caesar, Alex- ander, Napoleon, Frederick of Prussia, or a Wellington, we would point with pride after the immortal Washington, to the record of our Grant, our Sherman, and our Sheridan, who attained their proud eminence and fame by the unflinching courage of regiments like the First Minnesota, whose cheeks did not blanch and whose hearts did not quail when they CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. met the shock of battle. When the Congress was set on fire hy the Merrimac, in the mouth of James Rivei of the 434 men of her command, only one-half responded to their names the next morning at Newport News. The dead were buried at that place and their remains lie among those of scores of Union soldiers. On a board in the form of a cross at the head of the grave of one of these latter, whose name and history were unknown, was placed the most touching, beautiful, and poetical epi- taph. "A soldier of the Union mustered out." Soldiers of the First Minnesota, your term of active service is completed. You have been honorably discharged, but at each year's annual reunion you find some of your number have been again and finally mustered out. This year, with oth- ers of the First, whose names are familiar to me, the gallant Sully has gone to join the brave who lost their lives when he led your regiment at Savage Station and Malvern Hill. On the roll of Company K, of your regiment, is the name of a cousin of mine, through whose corres- pondence I received my most vivid and practical ideas of army ex- perience in camps, on the march, and in the heat of battle. From him I learned the story of the two days' fight at Gettysburg; the thrilling nar- ration of the crisis in the second day's battle, when Hancock, pushed to extremity to gain five minutes time, ordered the First Minnesota alone and unaided to charge a whole division of the rebel army. To-day history points with pride and admiration to the unquestioning and unflinching courage of the four hundred men of the Minnesota First, marching to cer- tain death against and into the fire of 6,000 of the Rebel army. Against such overwhelming numbers that, as you met them in your invincible strength you could only hold their center, while to the right and left of you they swept around your flanks, enfilading your ranks with terri- ble death. To th« surprise and rage of your enemies, as well as the admiration of unborn generations, you held your advance until the sup- porting columns of Hancock's Corps wheeled into position and relieved and rescued you "Out of the jaws of death. Out of the mouth of hell, All that were left of you. Left of four hundred." The day was saved, and the few survivors of that terrible sacrifice were enrolled among the immortal heroes of the ages. * * * Homer was unknown and unhonored by the age he lived in; he was a stranger to the men he walked with and talked with as if his very nearness in outward presence diverted their gaze from his rare genius, but in after times he moved in upon the world like a great orb of light through the open portals of reflection and communion, and those who sat under the magic of his far-shining beams were the first to know and honor his title to the laurel wreath of fame. The scholar of to-day with a long reach of centuries coming in to fill the space between him and old Rome, knows CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 339 Rome more minutely and more broadly than Rome knew herself; com- prehends more fully Roman law, Roman literature and Roman life, and understands more clearly the direction and scope of Roman influence. And when that day comes when honor will be fully done to whom honor is due, the soldiers of the First Minnesota will be found among the im- mortal throng of those to whose fame poets will vie in singing praises and to whose memory, affection and admiration will erect in the hearts of the citizens of this broad commonwealth monuments even more enduring than towering shafts of polished marble. Soldiers! welcome to Waseca." Hon. Alexander Ramsey, who was governor of ]\Iinnesota at the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, was present and gave a short history of the mustering in of the regiment and of its glori- ous record. The following answered to roll call : Stephen Lyons, Wayzata. E. J. Palmer, Jordan. COMPANY A. W. Matthels, St. Paul. John Halstead, St. Paul. COMPANY B. Myrun Shepard, Stillwater. James Cleary, Stillwater. A. A. Capron, Stillwater. Adam Marty, Stillwater. John P.Dunsmore, Stillwater. John Cooper, Bloomington. William Darich, Stillwater. Chas. Valentine, Minneapolis. C. A. Bromley, Stillwater. Ed. A. Stevens, Minneapolis. M. Sherman, St. Paul. A. A. Laflin, Maple Grove. Wm. Lochren, Minneapolis. M. Taylor, Dayton. J. B. Ellison, Minneapolis. W. H. Hoyt, St. Paul. S. G. Flanders, Faribault. Geo. F. Johnston, Janesville. John Rohrer, Morristown. Benj. Buck, Morristown. E. Phillips, Owatonna. COMPANY C. COMPANY D. Wm. Garvey, Kasson. COMPANY E. E. B. Lowell, Minneapolis. G. S. Lewis, Lake Crystal. COMPANY F. COMPANY G. C. B. Jackson, Morristown. Geo. Thom, Brownton. .E. Hollister, Warsaw. B. B. Verplank, New Richland. I. DuEois, Owatonna. 340 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. E. Z. Needham, Farmington. J. S. Bemis, Waterville. J. H. Johnston, Minneapolis. W. W. Brown, Killienny. G. R. Buckman, Waseca. L. J. Mosher, New Sliaron, la. Philo Hall, Waseca. E. D. Haskins, Faribault. C. M. Benson, Morrlstown. H. C. Whitney, Faribault. Samuel Reynolds, Waterville. George Magee, Faribault. COMPANY H. Chas. Mansfield, Mankato. Chas. Shatts, Minneapolis. John C. Shaffer, Chicago, 111. COMPANY I. Richard L. Gorman, St. Paul. Omer H. Sutlief, New Richland. A. E. Rider, Oak Centre. Theodore Golden, St. Paul. James Cannon, Mankato. Milo S. Whitcomb, Faribault. Geo. Klein, Janesville. COMPANY K. M. McEntyre, Mankato. Gus Coy, Mankato. W. H. Churchill, Stockton. C. H. Andrus, Mankato. COMPANY L. A. J. Underwood, Fergus Falls. J. T. Dahl, Waseca. Evans Goodrich, Mankato. NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. Frank Dickinson, Redwood Falls J. W. Pride, Jr., Shingle Creek. The first day of the reunion was spent by the veterans, after listening to the address of welcome and to the congratulatory speech of ex-Governor Ramsey, in social chat and in getting' acquainted with the people of Waseca. In the evening there was a big campfire, attended by nearly all the people in "Was- eca. On the second day the great attraction was the address of Hon. William Lochren, at this writing one of the United States district judges of ]\Iinnesota. Juilgc Lochren 's address was really a condensed history of the regiment. The following ex- tract is a gem in the record made by the men of the "First."" After mentioning the other battles in which the regiment parti- cipated, he described the great battle of Gettysburg, and con- cluded as follows : "During the forenoon of the second day we were in reserve, except that three companies were detached tor the support of batteries. Still we were within the range of artillery and some of our men were wound- ed from shells. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 341 "After noon we were moved to the left to support a battery on the position from which Sickle's corps had advanced against the enemy. There on the crest of a slight ridge we could see about a half mile In our front the conflict between our forces under Sickles and the enemy who were giving away before him. Seldom had we such an opportunity of viewing a battle, in which we were not engaged, and great was the anxiety as to the result, as our men would at times seem to press the enemy, and at other times to yield to superior force. At length the vastly increased volume of musketry told plainly of stronger reinforcs- ments on the side of the enemy, and soon we saw with alarm that our men were overpowered and retiring; at first slowly, but soon in confu- sion and disorder and presently in full retreat, passing our position, while the bullets from the enemy begun to whistle past us as they ad- vanced steadily in well-formed lines of battle, apparently fifteen or twenty thousand strong, and had nearly reached the dry run at the foot of the ridge. Had they succeeded in getting to our position they would have turned the left flank of our army and been in its rear and must have forced the position, if supported by an attack in front, and won the battle. At that moment Gen. Hancock, our corps commander, galloped up to our little band which was about three hundred strong, and calling to Col. Colville, asked, "Colonel, will your men charge these lines?" A glance showed what was meant. "It was necessary that the regiment should be sacrificed to save the army, by delaying for a short time the advance of the enemy until the Sixth corps, in reserve, could be moved to the position. Every man saw the necessity and knew what was expected. It was apparently cer- tain death, but there was no faltering. The Old First had never failed to go where ordered, and never had retired without orders. As Napoleon's Old Guard at Waterloo threw itself in front of the whole allied army to save the emperor, every man was nerved at the instant, ana stepped off promptly, as the command "Forward" came from our gallant colonel. "Double-Quick" followed the next instant, and down that declivity rushed the handful of devoted men, the speed increasing with every stride, but the numbers melting away under the storm of lead such as men never faced before, which was poured into us from the enemy's whole force. Rapid as was our pace, it seemed as if none would reach the enemy, but the survivors struck them with the force of a projectile, just as they were beginning to cross the run. The suddenness and vigor of the charge and prompt use of the bayonet, caused a recoil, and soon cleared the run of ten times our numbers, and the first line of the enemy broke to the rear in confusion. Sheltering ourselves as well as we could in the run, we opened fire on the enemy in front, having to sustain not only the fire from the front, but from both flanks, as far as they could reach us. But the enemy's whole advance was checked. How long we held this position I could never estimate, but for a sufficient time to enable the reserve to occupy the position, and until we were commanded to fall back. But of the three hundred who made that charge, not more than 342 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. seventy-five returned scathless; and when our dead and wounded were gathered, not a man was missing." Immediately after Judge Lochren's address, a public banquet was served, followed by toasts and short speeches. In response to the toast, "The Press," a well preserved copy of "The First Minnesota," printed and published by the boys while in the service, was presented by the speaker. This copy, the only one known to be in existence, was furnished by Neri Reed, of Iosco, in this county. This paper was published at Berrysville, Va., March 11, 1862, by the boys of the "First." It was edited and published by Ed. A. Stevens, Frank J. ilead, T. H. Presnell and two others whose names I do not call to mind. ilr. Stevens gave a short history of capturing the printing office and issuing two editions of a loyal paper on the "sacred soil" of old Virginia. Ex-Governor Ramsey secured the paper and deposited it in the archives of the State Ilistdrical Society. HEAVY STORMS. There was a terrific hail storm on the 12th of 'May, 1S79, which did much damage. The fruit trees and small fruit were i>ad]y in.jured. The window glass on the south side of nearly every building was broken more or less. Hail stones as large as ordinary hens' egj;s covered the ground in many places, while those of an ounce in weight were niunerous. J. F. ^lurphy meas- ured one chunk of ice, which M-as two inches in diameter. ^Many a window looked as if it had been riddled with bullets. The post office building, in pai'ticular, received considerable damatie. The sky-lights to Palmer's photograph gallery were almost en- tirely destroyed. The public liuikliiigs in.iui-ed were: The Baptist church. 21 lights of glass; the school buildings, -17; court house, 13; English M. E. church, 54; Congregational church, l!); Turner hall. lo. There was seai'cejy a dwelling in the village not in.inred more or less. The grain wiis not far enough advanceil to he mate- I'ially in.inred. Another storm visited the county ^lay 27, 1S7!1 There wns a heav.v rainfall, accompanied l)y a strong wind. Weak fences were blown down, out-houses were u])set, shad(> trei's were in- jured, some shanties were nnroofed, lumber pile's suffered, and chinuiey extensions flew around with perfecl looseness. The CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 343 marshes and streams filled with water and the whole surface of the country was pretty well wet down. Speaking of the storms of July 1 and 2, a local paper said: "Last week, Tuesday and Wednesday night, terrific rain storms vis- ited a large portion of the state. In some places west of us the wind and hail entirely destroyed the small grain, and did much damage to other crops. In some parts of Nicollet county, buildings were blown down, and some cattle injured. In Blue Earth county, near the Waseca county line, west of Freedom, considerable damage was done. Mr. Gun- zolus, of this county, had his granary blown down and his house partly unroofed. In Steele county, many buildings were torn in pieces, some persons Injured, and some cattle killed. At Vassa, Goodhue county, dwellings were torn in pieces, seven persons killed outright, and thirty others more or less injured. News comes from all portions of the state of local tornadoes doing more or less damage. In this county, with the exception of a small tract in Freedom, no serious damage was done to the crops. The rainfall was very heavy, probably as heavy as in other portions of the state, and there were local dashes of hail, but the wind, with the exception noted in Freedom, was not heavy." FOURTH OF JULY. The Catholic society of Waseca held a picnic for the benefit of their church — the net receipts being $200. New Richland held a formal celebration, Hon. William Brisbane and Hon. Isl. D. L. CoUester being the orators of the day. Blooming Grove did herself proud, as usual. Rev. William Pagenhart and James E. Child being the speakers. The Brwin family and neighbors, in St. Mary, observed the day in a formal manner— the venera- ble P. A. Erwin, then eighty-two years of age, presiding. The ladies furnished a most appetizing dinner and all fared sump- tuously. HORSE THIEF AND HIS REVOLVER. On July 16, 1879, Mr. Finger Fingerson, of Blooming Grove, had a horse stolen, and on Thursday a man, giving his name as Frank Carr, stopped at Esquire Northrup's on the road between Waterville and Morristown, to borrow a saddle. ^Ir, Xorthrup being suspicious of him, questioned him pretty closely, and finally concluded that he had stolen a horse, and ordered his arrest by three or four men who were there. Mr. Carr took to his legs and ran toward Morristown; but Messrs. Brooks and Purring- ton, with a horse and buggy, soon overtook him. Then the thief 344 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. stopped and drew ;i revolver on them. While Carr was standing tliere with drawn revolver, I\Ir. Benson, who had cut across the field on foot, came quietly up behind him, in the brush, and threw his arms around him; but the man, being quick and quite mus- cular, threw JNIr. Benson down. Before the thief could again run the two men in the buggy were upon him, he was taken back to ^Mr. Xorthrup's, and committed to the Rice county jail. In a short time after he was sent to Faribault, Sheriff Keeley, who had been pursuing him, arrived at ]\Ii'. Northrup's and identified the horse as the one stolen and returned it. On Sunday the thief Avas turned over to Mr. Keeley, brought to Waseca, and lodged in jail. He Avas afterwards convicted and sent to prison ;it Stillwater. ELECTION OF 1879. At this election there were three tickets in the field — Demo- cratic, Repi^blican and Prohibition. The following candidates were elected: C. i\U'Keiina, treasurer; Matthew Keeley, sheriff; Charles San Galli, register of deeds; M. D. L. Collester, county attorney; Orson L. Smith, surveyor; J. B. Hayden, clerk of court; H. C. Woodbury, judge of probate; Dr. ]\I. Y Hunt, superintendent of schools ; Dr. D. S. C^immings, coroner ; Philip Piii-ri'U and X. M. Nelson, countv commissioners. CHAPTER XLVIII. WASECA COUNTY HORSBTHIEF DETECTIVES. This mutual protection organization is one of the oldest in the state, having been organized in 1864. In every sparsely set- tled farming community, horse stealing is almost a profession. The summer of 1862 revealed the fact that we had in our midst a gang of horsethieves. In the month of June, Orrin Pease, who had just settled in the town of St. Mary, had a pair of fine horses stolen. After considerable search by Sheriff Whipple and others, the horses were found in the possession of three men named Erno, Beatty, and a colored person called Anderson, all three of whom were convicted of larceny, but, pending an appeal to the supreme court, broke jail at Wilton and made their escape. The stealing of these horses, the escape of the thieves, and the expense attending their arrest and trial, created a strong feel- ing of indignation on the part of our people against thieves in general and against horsethieves in particular, and was the pri- mary cause of the organization of the Waseca County Horse- thief Detective Society that still exists. The names of the Pio- neers who brought forth this organization are as follows: W. L. Wheeler, Eri G. Wood, Henry Watkins, Asa G. Sutlief, M. S. Gove, M. D., Myron Blackburn, Wm. Brisbane, Eugene A. Smith, J. K. Myers, Geo. E. Brubaker, W. H. Young, Sr., Q. A. Heath, Noah Lincoln, Joseph Bird, Wm. Roddle, B. A. Lowell, D. L. Whipple, James E. Child. The minutes of the first few meetings will be of interest. The first, or preliminary, meeting was held at Wilton, in the court room, February 16, 1864. The minutes read as follows : 34G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. "Wilton, Feb. 16, 1864. "A meeting of citizens of Waseca county was held at the court house this date for the purpose of organizing an anti-horsethief association. William Brisbane was called to the chair and E. A. Smith elected secre- tary. Motion was made and carried that the chair appoint a committee of three to draft and present a constitution. The chair appointed as such committee D. L. Whipple, B. A. Lowell, and E. B. Stearns. The committee presented a constitution which, after slight amendments, was adopted and reads as found on pages 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this (record) book. On motion a temporary organization was effected by electing Dr. M. S. Gove president, Wm. Brisbane vice-president, and B. A. Smith secretary. The following named persons then each paid one dollar to the secretary and signed the constitution, thus becoming members of the association." (Then follow the names hereinbefore given, and the record continues:) "On motion, the society proceeded to ballot for four temporary riders, which resulted in the election of Henry Watkins, D. L. Whipple, W. L. Wheeler, and E. G. Wood. The riders-elect then chose D. L. Whipple captain. The following persons were elected viva voce as a vigilance committee, viz.: B. A. Lowell, .1. K. Myers, A. G. Sutlief, and Joseph Bird. "On motion, the meeting adjourned till Saturday at one o'clock, Feb. 27, 1804. (Signed.) B. A. SMITH, Secretary." Evidently several men that did not have a dollar with them that day took an active part in organizing the soeii't.v. But they paid in their dollar at the next meeting. Portions of the consti- ution, as adopted, are given, as follows : "We, the citizens of Waseca county, to secure our property against thieves and marauders, do form ourselves into a company to be known as the 'Waseca County Horsethief Detectives,' and will be subject to the following rules and regulations: "Art. 1. Any resident of Waseca county, being recommended by five of his townsmen that are members of this society, may be admitted to membership by a vote of the company upon signing this constitution and paying into the treasury one dollar." (At the next meeting this was amended to read "two dollars.") "Art. 2. The officers of this association shall be a president, a vice- president, and a secretary, who shall be ex-offlcio treasurer. These officers shall be elected annually on the Tuesday following the third Monday in February, at Wilton." (This was afterwards changed to Waseca.) "Art. 0. There shall be twelve riders elected from among the mem- bers of this company, who shall be elected for the Uvm of one year, or until others are elected. * * * "Art. 7. One of the riders shall be elected captain. He shall be the leader of the riders and shall control and direct all their operations." CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 347 There were twenty-one articles of the constitution as origin- ally adopted, and within the year three others were added, mak- ing twenty -four in all. At the adjourned meeting, held February 27, 1864, eleven more members joined. The temporary organization and officers were made permanent, and the following additional riders were elected: W. H. Yoimg, Sen., L. S. Wood, E. Plummer, J. K. ]\Iyers, Jos. Bird, Peter Vandyke, Wm. Roddle, Sen., and Austin Vinton. The meeting then adjourned until the third Saturday in March, 1864. At the March meeting John Anderson, L. F. Peter- son, Chas. Johnson, Edw. Schmitt, and 0. Powell joined the association. The first man of the association to die was the secretary, Mr. Eugene A. Smith, who died at Wilton, of typhoid pneumonia, Sept. 19, 1864. A meeting was held Nov. 27, 1864, for the election of a secre- tary in place of Mr; Smith, deceased. Dr. Gove presided, L. S. AVood served as secretary pro tem., and James E. Child was elected secretary to fill the vacancy. John G. Greening was elect- ed a member at this meeting. Evidently, from the records of the society up to the annual meeting in February, 1900, many persons had been elected, had paid their fees, and yet had neglected to sign the constitution. The membership was carried along in this loose condition until the annual meeting in February, 1900. At that meeting, upon motion of IMr. Adam Bishman, it was ordered that all the names of the members of the association, residing in the county and in good standing, be published in the Waseca County Herald as a part of the report of the meeting. In accordance with this mo- tion, the secretary, Mr. E. P. Latham, gave a list of the members of the Waseca County Horsethief Detective Society, in good standing and residing in said county, Feb. 17, 1900: Obadlah Powell, Thos. Johnson, Patrick Farrell, James E. Child, James Bowe, Geo. Matthews, G. E. Brubaker, Michael Gallagher, Hugh Healy, B. F. Weed, Wm. R. Brisbane, Christy McGrath, Jos. Manthey, M. H. Helms, N. J. Breen, C. C. Comee J. H. Wightman, John Curran, James M. Dunn, W. J. Fitzgibbon, B. P. Latham, 348 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Thos. Harden, W. D. Armstrong, Gil Peterson, J. S. Abell, Jacob Dane, Chas. Konrad, Wm. Lindsay, John Radloff, J. W. Cleland, Gottlieb Krassin, S. H. Drum, John Olson, John P. Whelan, Wm. Trahms, John Blowers, Siegfried Lawin, Michael O'Brien, Jos. T. Dunn, Henry Gehring, Sam Hodgkins, R. Miller, J. A. Tayior, Nicholas Weller, Wm. Buker, Geo. H. Wood, B. G. Sutliet, B. A. Everett, S. J. Krassin, Herman Gehlhoff, Archie Johnston, Louis Klessig, A. D. Goodman, Chas. Rudolph, Robt. Schwenke, Martin Collins, R. O. Swift, Wm. Bartel, Aug. Summick, O. H. Sutlief, J. J. Dinneen, Hiram Powell, John J. Diedrich, J. A. Tyrholm, L. W. Sterling, Iver Iverson, Dr. J. B. Lewis, Thos. Collins, W. F. Schank, Henry Reynolds, Knute Jameson, Thos. Fitzgerald, F. O. Peterson, John G. Arentsen, Adam Bishman, E. G. Wood, Bd. Schmidt, Wilfred Vinton, Wm. H. Gray, Ole Olson, Christy Hefferon, John Carmody, Wm. Byron, John Byron, Gottfried Gehring, Henry Meyers, Thos. Ratchford, John McWaide, Barney McAnany, Mike Smith, A. Lynch, T. J. Kerr, Wm. Mettzler, Fred Betner, R. P. Ward, S. Hawkes, John Bouchier, Phil Bishman, Sam Leslie, C. Fettle, E. Bauman, Ed. F. Hayden, I. Ballard, Chas. K. Wheeler, Gus Slaack, Wm. Coulthart, C. MctJuigan. W. H. Gillis, Guy Evans, James . Curran, David Zimmerman, Wm. A. Henderson, Henry Buker, John A. Krassin, Chas. Clements, H. L. Hoyt, A. Guyer, H. F. Lewer, H. A. Waggoner, G. H. Goodspeed, Tim McGuire, J. W. Aughenbaugh, B. J. Chapman, Alfred Wood, John Y. Brisbane, Frank Domey, B. M. Gallagher, F. A. Swartwood, H. Roberts, M. J. Swift, Jacob Echternach. Chris Hansen, H. F. Hass, Henry Schwenke, Michael Heffron, Julius Gehring, Walter Child, Andrew Liane, Carl A. Sampson, John Zimmerman, Malachl Madden, David Fell, P. C. Bailey, Henry Blaeser, Ole Brack, Robt. Collins, Nora Armstrons, Joseph McCarty. .Some of Ihi'se meiubers have siuce d'wd, and many new names liave been added. 'Jliere is no doubt in the minds of the men of this association CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 349 that the organization has been the means of putting almost an entire stop to horse-stealing in this county. During the forty-one years of the life of the organization only one horse has been stolen from any member of the organization and not recovered— and even in that case it was a question with some Avhether or not the horse was the property of one of the members. The thieves probably thought it was not. In that case the most strenuous efforts were made to find the property and the thief or thieves. "While the horse then stolen was never recovered, it is a well- known fact that at least two families then stopping in this vicin- ity foiind it convenient to move out of the county a short time afterwards on account of the close watch put upon all their movements. It is believed that the gang has not tried to operate in this county since. CHAPTER XLIX, 1880. PARTY TOMAHAWK BURIED— ROUND HOUSE AND MACHINE SHOPS OF C. & N. W. RY. CO.— GREAT CONTEST BETWEEN WARD AND DUNNELL FOR CONGRESS— A RED HOT CONVEN- TION-ELECTION RESULTS— TERRIBLE SNOW STORM OCT. 15 — SOME STOCK PERISHED — ANN HAYDEN KILLED BY A DRUNKEN MAN— DEATH OF H. F. BIERMANN— WOLVES KILLED. In 1880 Waseca was still a village, but rapidly approaching the stature of a city. The village election in 1880 fell on ]\Iay 4. Evidently the political touialiawlv had been buried and the com- batants had smoked the pipe of peace ; for at this election only 239 ballots were cast, of which R. L. jMcCormick received 209 votes, B. S. Lewis 204 and Wni. ]McIntosh Li2 — JMcCormick and Ijewis being declared duly elected. The new board met and or- ganized j\Iay 21, 1880. R. L. ]\lcl'oriiiick was elected president, j\I. D. L. Collester clerk, F. .V. Xewell treasurer, Wm. Blowers marshal, AVm. Coultliart street commissioner. The new board started out by instructing the marshal to notify all saloon keep- ers that the laws and ordinances regarding the traffic would be strictly enforced. The boanl went so far as to have the ordin- ance printed and posted in the saloons. The number of pei'sous to whom saloon licenses were issued this year was seventeen. ROUND HOUSE AND MACHINE SHOPS. On July 12, 1880, a very important move was made to secure the location of the C & N. W. Ky. roundhouse and shops at "Wa- seca. A petition signed by nearly one hundred of tlie prominent men of Waseca asked the village board to appropriate $1,000 to HON. WM. G. WARD. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 351 purchase twenty acres of land of W. G. Ward to be deeded to the railroad company for a round house and repair shops. There was considerable excitement at the time, and the trustees, the same evening, passed the following resolution : "Whereas, W. G. Ward has conveyed to the W. & St. P. (C. & N. "W.) R. R. Co. a strip of land 400 feet in width for the purpose of an engine house, etc., containing 24 and 50-100 acres of land, now, therefore, "Resolved, that there be paid to said W. G. Ward, from any funds in the village treasury the sum of $1,225.00 upon the executing and deliv- ering to the clerk of the village his personal bond to refund said amount to the village, less reasonable damage for the disturbing the surface, use and occupation of said land, in case said land shall revert to him by the conditions of said deed." Thus was accomplished, in a very short time, an important un- dertaking which did much to increase the population and the business of our young city. It was also in evidence that in really veiy important matters our citizens are a unit. The pay roll of the C. & N. W. in Waseca, amounts to at least $10,000 a month, on an average. The new, or present, round house was erected in 1880-1, and constitutes an important factor in the business prosperity of Waseca. AN EXCITING CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST. The year 1880 will long be remembered by the people of Was- eca county on account of the very exciting congressional contest of that year, in which one of our citizens was a contestant. For years there had been a strong feeling against Congressman Bun- nell on account of his ' ' salary grab ' ' record, and his general sub- serviency to corporations and combines. The district was then composed of the counties of Winona, Houston, Mower, Fillmore, Olmstead, Steele, Freeborn, Waseca, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Rock, Pipestone, Murray, Nobles, Martin, Jackson, Faribault, Dodge, and Cottonwood. Dunnell had created a machine which was strong throughout the district. But there' were many able and determined men who thought it could be smashed. The plan was to bring out favorite sons from a number of counties and in that way get control of the convention as against the salary grab- ber. And thus it was that Freeborn county instructed for John A. Lovely, Fillmore for H. S. Barrett, Houston for James O'Brien, Faribault for J. B. Wakefield, Blue Earth for E. P. Free- man, Waseca for Hon. W. G. Ward. The convention was to con- 352 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. sist of one hundred and twenty-five delegates and was to meet at Ward's Opera House, July 7, 1880. Every county was repre- sented and a number of counties had two sets of delegates. The tricks of the politician were visible throughout the district. Jackson and Mower counties both had double delegations. Free- Ijorn county, which was overwhelmingly for Judge Lovely, worked up a Dunuell delegation on cheek. It was admitted by non-partisan men of unbiased judgment that Bunnell was beaten on a fair vote by fifty-four to fifty-six delegates. Both factions held caucuses the night before the convention, and each faction declared it had a regular majority of the fairly elected delegates. Dimn ell's friends had the central committee, and when the hour arrived eveiy delegate was at his post. W. Holt, chairman of the district committee, mounted the platform and called the conven- tion to order. He arbitrarily announced that Freeborn, jMower, and Jackson counties, having contested delegations, would not be allowed to vote until the committee on credentials had been ap- pointed and reported. He also stated that the district commit- tee had instructed him to call Earl S. Youmans to the chair as temporary presiding officer. Holt had scarcely commenced to make this announcement before S. P. Child, of Blue Earth, was standing on the floor in front of him shouting, "^Ir. Chairman," at the top of his voice. "Sim," when in good condition, can be heard a mile away, under ordinary conditions. But Holt was wilfully both deaf and blind on this occasion, and went right along as though Child were not in existence. But Child was not to be silenced. When Holt refused to hear, he mounted a chair, nominated Hon. W. W. Braden temporary chairman, put the motion to vote, and above the yells of both factions declared Mr. Braden elected. Braden and Youmans both reached the plat- form at the same time. D. F. Morgan, of Albert Lea, anti-Diin- nell, was chosen secretary and E. C. Hiintington, of AVindoni, was declared elected secretary by the Dunnellites. It is said that the anti-Dunnell men had the greater lung power and the excitement was intense. The Bunnell men ranged on one side of the hall (it was then a hall) and the anti-Bunnell men on the other. Braden and Morgan of the anti-Bunnellites captured the only table and chairs, the other officers being compelled to stand. The excitement was at fever heat, but the coolness and good na- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA' COUNTY. 353 ture of both Youmans and Braden probably prevented a disgrace- ful physical encounter, which several times seemed likely to occur. The shaking of fists and loud denunciation finally satis- fied the more strenuous. The Bunnell faction had everything "cut and dried," and Bunnell was put in nomination by General Miller, of Worthing- ton, in a whooping speech. He received sixty-eight votes out of the seventy-one cast on informal ballot. The anti-Bunnell men at the same time were balloting. The candidates named were J. A. Lovely, H. S. Barrett, J. B. Wakefield, and W. G. Ward. It took six ballots for these delegates to agree upon a candidate. On the sixth and last ballot, Hon. W. G. Ward, of Waseca, re- ceived all the votes, seventy-five in number, and was declared the nominee amid cheers loud enough to awake the dead if the dead could hear. Bunnell's nomination was ratified on the street in front of the hotel, while a monster meeting at Ward's Opera House ratified the nomination of Mr. Ward. At first, everything looked favorable for the election of Senator Ward, but, soon after the nomination, the state and national central committees sided with Bunnell and the campaign closed disastrously for the Ward faction. Mr. Ward had been a prominent Greeley man, and the cry of "party" was effectually raised against him throughout the district. While he carried his own county by a plurality of 882 and a majority over both his opponents of 415, he received only 7,656 votes in the whole district. He was everywhere slaughtered except at home by the party men. But the seed had been sown, and at the next congressional election it was Hon. Milo White and not Bunnell who was nominated and elected. It was in the campaign of 1880 that Mr. Ward became pro- prietor of the "Minnesota Radical," which he afterwards sold to C. B. Graham, then of Janesville. THE FALL ELECTION. For president. Gen. Garfield received a majority over Gen. Hancock of 418. The following local candidates were elected: R. L. McCormiek, state senator; Christopher Wagner and B. J. Bodge, representatives; C. B. Crane, county auditor; F. A. New- ell, court commissioner; A. J. Jordan and W. B. Armstrong, county commissioners— all Republicans, except Jordan, 14 354 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. TERRIBLE STORM IN OCTOBER. The worst October storm known to the white people of ]\Iinne- sota commenced 0ct. 15, 1880. A heavy rain from the Northwest set in about two o'clock p. m. An hour afterward it changed to a blinding snow storm, known in this section as a blizzard. Ev- eryone was caught unprepared for such a storm, ilany cattle and especially sheep suffered severely in the western portion of the state. A farmer at Heron Lake, Jackson county, lost a large number of sheep in the lake. They were driven into it by the blinding storm of snoM' and wind and were drowned. An- other man had about fifty head of cattle on the prairie that night with nothing but a few haystacks to protect them from the fierce blasts and no fence to keep them from straying away. He and his faithful dog watched the herd all night, some of the leading cattle being fastened to posts, and yet three head of young stock got away during the night and were found in a big grass marsh the next day after the storm subsided. The storm continued until about ten o'clock on the 16th, when the sky cleared. ]Many of the railroads had to suspend operations on account of the snow blockade. Within a week, however, the snow disappeared and the weather remained mild until Nov. 8, when winter came in dead earnest. Cold weather, with frequent snow storms con- tinued throughout November and December. TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OP DRINK. John Meagher, a man about twenty years old, had been at work for several months for Ed. Hayden, of Alton township. On the 26th of October, 1880, he came to Waseca with a load of wheat for his employer, and while here he got drunk. When he started home towards night, he was unable to sit up on his wagon, and lay down with his face downwards. He had no box on the wagon, only some boards laid on the bed part of a common hay rack. As he drove out on Elm street, two of his boon companions were with him. They were pretty noisy, and attempted to get the team to run. It seems that these tM-o companions left him before going very far, and Meagher proceeded on his way alone. Arriving at the residence of John Keeley, on section 7, of St. Mary, Mrs. Ann Hayden, aged about eighty years, mother of J. B. and Ed. Hayden, came out and got on to the rack to ride CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA' COUNTY. 355 home with him, she having been visiting a sick girl at Mr. Kee- ley's. She stated that ^Meagher lay on his face and that he said he was sick, and that he would occasionally vomit. They had proceeded not more than a mile or so, when they came to a ravine over which a bridge was built. In attempting to cross the ravine, or gully, without crossing the bridge, the horses became entan- gled, and, turning aroimd too short, iipset the wagon. Meagher was pitched to the ground head foremost, his face striking in the mud. Mrs. Hayden stated that he made no groan or sign of distress, and the probability is that his neck was broken by the fall and that he died almost instantly. Mrs. Hayden was thrown to the ground, under the feet of the horses, and either by their trampling upon her or by the falling of the rack upon her, her left limb sustained a very serious compound fracture about midway between the knee and ankle, her right fore arm was broken, and she was otherwise more or less bruised. This occurred about seven o'clock in the evening, and the place was at a considerable distance from any house. There Mrs. Hayden lay, helpless and in extreme distress, for the space, probably, of nearly an hour, when John Keeley came along on his return from Janesville. Hearing her cries of distress, Mr. Keeley went to her aid. The team was cut loose from its entanglement, and the suf- fering woman conveyed to her son's, about a mile distant. Dr. Craig, of Janesville, and Dr. Cummings, of Waseca, were sum- moned, and attended to the wounds of the unfortunate woman as best they could. The coroner. Dr. Cummings, did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest on the body of the dead man, so he was laid out to await the orders of his relatives, who lived in Deerfield township, Steele county. Meagher was not known to be a man of drinking habits prior to this time. The unfortunate lady lingered until Oct. 30, when she died of her injuries. DEATH OF H. F. BIERMANN. On Tuesday morning, Dec. 21, 1880, Mr. H. F. Biermann started for Waseca with a load of wheat. When he reached the top of the long hill north of Michael Sinske's, he stopped and locked his wheel, and at the foot of the hill stopped again to unlock it. It is supposed that while he was working at it, his feet slipped and he fell partly under the wagon, and that before he regained 356 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. his footing the horses started and drew one wheel of the heavily loaded wagon directly across his breast, crushing him in a ter- rible manner. The unfortunate man was found soon after by Mr. McDougall and Michael Sinske, who took him home. A doe- tor was immediately sent for, who did all in his power to alle- viate his sufferings, but all efforts were of no avail, and he lingered until Wednesday when death came to his relief. Mr. Biermann was one of the 1855 settlers of this county, as elsewhere detailed in this volume. WOLVES KILLED. A large number of wolves killed in this county on which boun- ty had been paid during the years 1876-80 is as follows: For the year ending Nov. 15, 1877, eleven; 1878, thirty-six; 1879, thirty-three; 1880, thirty; total, 130. The county bounty, $2.00 each, and the state bounty, $3.00, making $5.00 bounty on each scalp, gave an aggregate sum of $650 paid for exterminating the wolves in Waseca countv during the time mentioned. CHAPTER L, 1881. VERY STORMY WINTER — RAILROADS BLOCKADED — HARRY READ'S STORY— NEW CHARTER FOR CITY OP WASECA— TOR- NADOES IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST— DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN WASECA OCT. 20— MURDER OF CHRISTIAN SCHIEFNBR NEAR NEW RICHLAND— C. & N. W. ROUND HOUSE AND MACHINE SHOPS BUILT THIS YEAR— RESULT OF ELECTION- WASECA FIRE COMPANIES— DIED, J. K. MAYNE, PATRICK CALLAHAN. With the opening of the year 1881, the county fathers met, Jan. 4, the following being present : Thos. Bowe, A. J. Jordan, Philip Purcell, N. M. Nelson, and W. D. Armstrong. Philip Pur- cell was elected chairman. Only routine business was trans- acted, except that a new desk was ordered for the judge of pro- bate. THE WINTER WEATHER. While the winter of 1880-1 was by no comparison the coldest ever known to Minnesota, it was by all odds the stormiest, the longest and the most disagreeable. The Southern Minnesota rail- road was blockaded from Winnebago City west from the middle of January until the first week in April. On the 5th and 6th of April, that year, in Jackson county, the snow was three feet deep — on the level— and a heavy span of horses could be driven over it, the crust of the snow being so hard as to bear the weight of the team. About the 7th of April the weather became warm and the snow rapidly disappeared. WINTER STORY BY HARRY READ. The following appeared in the Waseca Herald, Jan. 14, 1881 : CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. "Engineer H. A. Read came home Wednesday night, having been on duty up on the west end of the road. He relates some of the charms of railroading in winter. Having recently been to Winona and procured a new engine for the Western division, Mr. Read was commissioned to break it in. Last Sunday, with the thermometer down to 35, and roads more or less blockaded, he was making his way to Watertown, having a freight train and a caboose of passengers. The water tanks along the road had either gone dry or frozen up, and Mr. Read's supply of water was rapidly being exhausted. When within half a mile of Good- win, his train became stalled in a snow bank. He succeeded in getting his engine through and pulling on to the station. Here the citizens turned out and, with buckets and tubs, brought water to fill up his tank. He then went on to Watertown, some twenty miles, and remained until -Monday, when he came back, and, with help, the train was extricated from the drift, where it had remained all night. Fortunately two of the cars were loaded with wood, which had enabled the passengers to keep themselves warm. On Tuesday night, as Mr. Read was coming down the road between Lamberton and Walnut Grove with two engines on the train, and in front of them a train with a snow plow, the head train becaipe stalled. Before Read's train was signalled, it ran into the caboose, raised it up, and tipped it fairly on to the head engine. An engineer and fireman jumped off and were considerably hurt. It takes a host of nerve and pluck to follow railroading on the Western prairies." A New Richland correspondent on Feb. 18. wrote : "Railroading this winter is not one of the pleasant occupations. Six engines and crews, including the southward bound passenger train, were snow bound at Hartland six days, and as this place Is but a small village, its facilities for accommodating so many were insuflflcient, and a good deal of suffering ensued. The passenger train fortunately had but eight passengers aboard. It was stalled in a drift one mile north of the sta- tion, and was detained there and at the station seven days. One lady and her daughter were on their way to Boston, and were in quite ill health. As the passengers were compelled to stay in the car. It was exceedingly tiresome and unpleasant for them." The body of J. K. Mayne, who died in AYilton. Feb. 11, 1881, was buried temporarily in a snow drift near his home, the snow l)eing so deep that it was impos.sible to pain access to the ceme- tery. PATRICK CALLAHAN. 'J'his gentleman settled in Freedom with his family in 1865. lie (lied ]\Iarch 22, 1881, ai^ed about sixty years. He had been an invalid some tAvo years as the result of a sun-slroke. Alderman Callahan, of Waseca, is his son. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 359 NEW CITY CHARTER. On ^Mareh 26, 1881, AVaseca received, at the hands of the legis- lature, a new charter. Under its provisions the city was divided into five wards. The first election under the new charter was held May 3, 1881. The first city contest was a battle royal. The can- didates were Hon. Warren Smith, and Hon. M. D. L. CoUester. The total vote for mayor numbered 373. Mr. Smith received 219 votes, and Mv. CoUester 164. In the First ward, H. H. Sudduth was elected over C. A. "Wright by a vote of 45 to 34. In the second ward, Dennis ]\[cLoughlin received 110 votes, and Dr. M. Y. Hunt 40. In the Third ward, James B. Hayden was elected without opposition by a vote of 32. The Fourth ward elected Theodore Brown by a vote of 33, to 15, cast for E. W. Piske. The Fifth ward cast 30 ballots for Thomas Coleman, and 26 for John Gutfleisch. H. G. ilosher was unanimously elected assessor, and lion. John Carmody and Hon. B. A. Lowell were elected justices of the peace without much opposition. Samuel Stevenson was elected constable by a vote of 234 to 115 for G. H. Zeller. The first city council met at the office of the clerk of court in the old court house. May 10, 1881, and was called to order by Mayor- elect Smith. Aldermen present, Theodore Brown, James B. Hay- den, H. H. Sudduth, D. McLoughlin, and Thos. Coleman. James B. Hayden was elected president of the council, and the mayor made the following appointments which were confirmed, namely: Jerome E. iladden city recorder, Frank A. Newell treasurer, C. E. Leslie city attorney, and Lucius Keyes marshal. One of the bills allowed by the council this year was accom- jjanied by the following entry: "D. Welch, for standing around with his hands in his pockets and looking on while the men were excavating cistern at the court house corner, $19.00." TORNADOES AND HURRICANES. The year 1881 was noted not only for its winter storms and blizzards, but also for its summer tornadoes. On the 11th of June a destructive tornado started near Blue Earth, in Faribault county, traveled northeasterly and passed near Minnesota Lake. Its pathway was strewn with the wrecks of houses, barns, grain, stock, etc. The farm house of Mr. Chaffey was entirely blown away, killing both himself and wife, an aged couple. The fine large barn of T. J. Probert was blown down, seriously injuring 360 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. his daughter, who was in the barn at the time; also killing one horse, blowing his machinery all to pieces, besides scattering about 500 bushels of grain. The county bridge at Grady's, on the. Maple river, was blown entirely away, and the house of John Grady was also blown away. The lady that was living in the house felt it moving, and opened the door to jump. She landed in the cellar all right. The house of Geo. Earrings was unroofed; house of Robert Jones blown away with its contents, his wife being badly injured; barn of E. Curtis blown down; house of D. Matterson blown from foundation and three of his family injured; house of August Zabel blown entirely away, together with its contents, and he and one son were injured. ]Much other damage resulted in the vicinity. Another terrible storm struck New Ulm July 15, at 4 :48 p. m., and in twelve minutes had destroyed property to the value of $300,000, killed four persons in New Ulm and fifteen in the ad- joining townships, and wounded eighteen severely. The tornado was terrible. Houses were taken up bodily, carried considerable distances and then crushed as they were dropped to earth. Three churches were completely destroyed, as were numerous business houses. August 30, a severe storm visited Waseca county, although it did not amount to a tornado. The Janesville Argus noted that, "The rain was a deluge and the wind a cyclone. Very little dam- age was done in Janesville, but east of the village sad havoc was made with the grain stacks and cornfields. We first hear of trou- ble at A. P. Wilson 's place, northeast of the village, where twenty grain stacks were leveled. Mr. Wilson says the fall of water was tremendous, it standing in his yard from six to ten inches in depth, and over his plowed field a boat might have sailed without fear of grounding. ]\Ir. jMcHugo had a setting of stacks blown down; Mr. Lilly, southeast of the village, seven stacks, some of them entirely blown away; Pat Lilly, eight stacks; jMrs. Mo- Donough, twelve ; Sam Lambert, six ; Keeley boys, fifteen ; D. Glynn, ten; C. Plynn, four; M. Lang, seven; Pat Foley, four; C. Guyer, several. Fences were leveled generally in the track of the storm." The Waseca Herald noted that Isaac Ballard had a cow killed by lightning. At M. Spillane's place, near Meriden, the storm CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 361 came with such force as to burst in the windows and doors. The blinds to the windows were as completely broken as though a man had taken a hammer and smashed them to pieces. One im- mense mass of hail fell, many of the pieces of ice being fully as large as a man's fist. Mr. Spillane had forty acres of corn driven into the ground. A dozen or so of pigs and hogs and many tur- keys were killed. The storm throughout the country was severe. A DISASTROUS FIRE. The most disastrous fire that has ever visited Waseca occurred on the night of Oct. 20, 1881. The Herald of that date con- tained the following account : "A midnight fire broke out in the Dr. Brubaker building, corner of Second and Oak streets, and before it was subdued a dozen buildings were burned to the ground, a half dozen families rendered homeless, and thousands of dollars worth of goods and household property de- voured by the flames or badly injured. Roger Hanbury was working around some cars near the W. & St. Peter freight depot, and discovering the fire, gave the alarm, which was im- mediately taken up by two locomotives. In a few minutes many hun- dred men were on the ground with such means of fighting fire as could be obtained, but they consisted only of pails, axes, ladders, and the long cable with hooks for tearing down buildings. The first efforts were to tear down the small building owned by J. Halvorsen and used for a shoe and harness shop. This had hardly been accomplished be- fore the Kraft hotel caught fire, when it became evident that the entire row of buildings must go. Efforts were then devoted mostly to remov- ing the contents of the several buildings to safe distances. The buildings burned were the two-story structure belonging to Dr. Brubaker, occupied below by Adolph Schildknecht's drug store, and one room above by Dr. Cleary for an office; the shoe and harness shop of J. Halvorsen; the large two-story hotel occupied by Mrs. Kraft; the saloon building owned by Wm. Herbst, and occupied by Miller & Weishar; A. Wert's two-story restaurant and dwelling, including his bakery, etc.; Karstedt's harness shop; the capacious furniture store and manufactur- ing rooms of Comee Bros.; Preston's jewelry store; the shoe shop occu- pied by Anton Anderson, and owned by H. A. Karstedt; the store occupied by D. McLoughlin, and owned by John Anderson, of Otisco; Craven's machine buildings, and other minor adjoining buildings and store rooms. The losses were estimated at $25,000. At the time of this fire the city had no fire company nor any means of fire protection." MURDER OF CHRISTIAN SCHIEFNER. The trial of Christian Henniger, for the killing of Christian 362 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Schiefner on the 3J of June, 1880, near New Richland, was held at the fall term of the district court, and Henniger was found guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. The men involved in this tragedy were two farmers residing about two miles west of the village of New Richland. For a number of years they had been at enmity with each other, and had several times re- sorted to the law to settle their difficulties. Their last trouble, which resulted so seriously, was with regard to a small strip of land that each claimed. Henniger was breaking up the dis- puted land, and Schiefner determined to prevent him from doing so. On the day in question, Henniger secreted himself in a wagon and was driven to the scene of the tragedy, where his son and hired man went to work plowing. Schiefner soon came out and forbade their breaking up the land. Henniger immediately came from his hiding place in the wagon, and after some words, got his gun and shot Schiefner dead, the charge passing through both lungs. Judge Buckham sentenced Henniger to the penitentiary for five years. It was generally thought that the ends of justice were partially thwarted. At the same term of court one Pettengill was convicted of stealing a horse from Mrs. Reed, of Iosco. He was sentenced to three years and six months in the penitentiary, as was also John Duff, for stealing Pheiffer's horses. ROUND HOUSE AND MACHINE SHOPS OP THE CHICAGO AXD NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. It was during this year, 1881, that the C. & X.-W. Railway Co. expended about $100,000 in the construction of the round house, machine shops, coal houses, etc., in Waseca. The round house is built of brick and contains twenty stalls for engines. The building is circular, and occupies two-thirds of an entire circle. The outside wall is 520 feet in lenjith, and the inside wall 210 feet in length, the width is 66 feet ; the area of the floor is 36.100 square feet; the walls are 20 feet high. From one end of the main building is partitioned off six stalls, to be used for the general overhauling and repair of, cars and engines. The turn- table is in the center of the cii-cle formed by the round house, and from it engines can be run into any stall. The machine and repair shop is 52x100 feet in size with eighteen-foot walls. In CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 363 ,one end is situated the immense boiler which is used to generate steam to heat the entire structure, operate the steam pump, etc. ; in the other end are the forges and other arrangements for re- pairing cars and engines. In this building are found, also, the offices and a large fire and frost proof vault for storing oil. There are five forges in the blacksmith shop. The boiler is constructed of locomotive steel, and is 6 feet in diameter and 21 feet long. The chimney, with which the boiler pipe connects, is 7 feet square at its base, and towers to a height of 52 feet. A ladder, constructed of iron rods, extends from the bottom to the top, oh the inside. The water tank is one of the very largest that is built, and holds 2,500 barrels. It is 22 feet from the groiind to the bottom of the tank, and the tank is 18 feet in height, by 30 feet in diameter. The entire space below the tank is boarded up, batten- ed, and painted. The pipes that connect with the tank are thoroughly protected from the action of the frost, at all places. The coal shed, separate and apart from the other buildings, is 460 feet long, 26 feet wide, and 14 feet high, and will hold 2,500 tons of coal. It is built entirely of wood, and is a mammoth building. Derricks are provided at two places, from which coal may be supplied. At one end of the coal house is a sand house 16x60 feet in size. In the construction of the buildings there were u,sed 500 cords of stone, 550,000 brick, 150 cars of sand, 1,600 sacks of cement, 800,000 feet of lumber and six carloads of lime. The plant is a large one and contributes much to the permanent prosperity of the city of Waseca. ELECTION OF 1881. The county officers elected Nov. 8, were as follows: treasurer, C. McKenna, democrat; superintendent of schools. Dr. D. S. Cummings, democrat ; register of deeds, Charles San Galli, demo- crat; sheriff, Hugh Wilson, republican; county attorney, W. R. Kinder, republican; judge of probate, S. D. Crump, republican; county surveyor, Orson L. Smith ; coroner. Dr. R. 0. Craig ; coun- ty commissioners, I. C. Trowbridge, of Waseca, and Geo. W. Soule of Blooming Grove. 364 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. WASECA FIRE COMPANIES. The very disastrous fire of October 20 and 21, of this year, em- phasized the necessity for organizing fire companies, and the year 1881 was appropriately closed by the organizing of an en- gine company and a hose company. MEMBERS OF FIRST ENGINE COMPANY. Jesse Reese, John Lortis, Peter Coles, E. Morrison, H. V. Davis, Sumner Wood, Charles Piatt, C, Ebbinghausen, John Roland, Allan Goodspeed, S. Swenson, John Maloney, Walter Child, Samuel Strohmeier, C. Christopherson, Ellsworth Goodspeed, E. B. Collester, Geo. W. Smith, J. M. Robertson, J. W. Aughenbaugh, Thomas Breen, Wm. Schlicht, M. D. L. Collester, Fred Clayton, Gus. Staack, C. M. Oster, D. McLoughlin, Wenzel Kruezer, A. J. Lohren, J. A. Lilly, Wm. Miller, John F. Murphy. MEMBERS OF THE FIRST HOSE COMPANY. John Locke, Ernest Ramsdale Ed. Forbes, Ed. Cummings, Ed. Castor, Ed. Goetzenberger, B. L. Flske, A. Schildknecht, E. W. Fiske, J. E. Madden. H. E. Strong, D. S. Cummings, C. D. Ward, Jake Niebles, M. O. Forbes. The year 1881 closed vi'ith very pleasant weather. The fall months had been delightful with "December as pleasant as May." CHAPTER LI, 1882. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS— GOLDEN WEDDING OF HON. AND MRS. WM. BRISBANE— A CENTENARIAN DIBS— SUICIDE OF ICHABOD WEST— BUILDING OF GRANT HOUSE AND WAVERLY HOTEL— DEATH OF MRS. KIMBALL— PROSPEROUS YEAR. The county commissioners for this year were Ira C. Trow- bridge, Geo. "W. Soule, Philip Purcell, N. M. Nelson, A. J. Jor- dan, and W. D. Armstrong, with C. E. Crane as county auditor. Philip Purcell was again elected chairman. Nothing special oc- curred except the awarding of the county printing without hav- ing given notice to the publishers in the county asking for bids. This action was a violation of law. A GOLDEN WEDDING. Hon. Wm. Brisbane and wife, of Wilton, celebrated their golden wedding Jan. 20, 1882. Their children, grand children, and great grand children then numbered seventy-three, and nearly all of them were present. There were also present some two himdred other persons, who participated in the celebration of the anniversary. One very noticeable— and to Mr. and Mrs. Brisbane a very interesting feature— was the presence of Mr. and j\Irs. John Gillis, of Wisconsin, who were married on the same day and at the same place that they were. Mr. Gillis came with his aged companion on purpose to celebrate their Golden Wed- ding with their friends of "Auld Lang Syne." He brought with him a picture of the humble, thatched cottage in Scotland where they commenced their married life. It is seldom that two couples. 366 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. who married on the same day in the same place, and afterwards emiorated to a foreign shore, are permitted to celebrate their golden wedding together. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN. A paragraph in a local paper, dated April 14, 1882, read as follows: "Died, at her home in Wilton, on the afternoon of the 6th inst., at 4 o'clock, Mrs. Boyer, in the one hundred and fourth year of her age. She had been confined to her bed all winter, but did not appear worse than usual until a few hours before her death. The funeral services on Saturday afternoon were conducted by Rev. Thos. Hartley of Otisco. " She cared far very kindly by her son, James, who went west soon after her death. SUICIDE. Mr. Ichabod West, one of the early settlers of Vivian, aged 83 years, on the 8th day of August, committed suicide by hanging himself to a bed post in his room. Mr. West had been living with his son's family and had been growing blind for some time. This greatly annoyed him, and caused him to express fears that he would become entirely helpless. This seemed to him an un- bearable calamity. On Tuesday forenoon he went to his room. Soon after, his daughter-in-law had occasion to go in there when she found him suspended to the bed post by means of a handker- chief. He had evidently passed the handkerchief around the bed post and then around his neck and deliberately strangled him- self to death. BUILDING OPERATIONS. During the summer of 1882 several substantial buildings were erected in Waseca. Among them were two large hotels— the Grant House and the Waverly,— the Anderson block— now known as McLoughlin Bros.' Store,— the brick building at the soutlieast corner of Second and Wood streets, and other smaller buildings. DEATH OP MRS. KIMBALL. At a very early hour Sunday morning, Sept. 2. 1882, at the residence of her daughter, ]\Irs. H. P. Norton, of Waseca, jMrs. Nancy Kimball quietly passed from earth. Mrs. Kimball was CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 3C7 the daughter of a soldiei' of the War of the Revolution, Gen. Eliphalet Gay, of New London, N. H. At this place Mrs. Kim- ball was born on the 25th of June, 1795. She was married to Jonathan Kimball in the year 1820, and continued to reside in New London till 1839. The family then emigrated to McHenry county, Illinois, and settled in what afterwards became Wood- stock, the county seat. After nine years of pioneer life her hus- band died, and she lived a widow thirty-four years. Till about ten years ago, she retained her property in Woodstock, and made that place her home. She afterwards resided with her daughters, spending most of her time in Waseca with Mrs. Norton. ELECTION RESULTS. The election, which was held Nov. 7, 1882, gave the following local results: state senator, Dr. R. 0. Craig; representative, John C. White, of Waseca; county auditor, C. E. Crane; coroner. Dr. H. J. Young; county commissioners, Philip Purcell, and N. M. Nelson. Messrs. Crane, H. J. Young and N. M. Nelson were re- publicans — the others democrats. CLOSE OP THE YEAR. On the whole, the year 1882 was a quiet one for Waseca county. The weather, as a rule, had been mild, and the crops better than average. The people generally had been prosperous, and the holidays found them happy and contented. CAPTER LII, 1883. COUNTY PRINTING STRUGGLE— DIED, AMANDA GREGORY, EDIT- OR S. M. ROSE, MATTHIAS MALONEY— MAPLEWOOD PARK DRIVEWAY— CITY OP WASECA ISSUES BONDS TO BUILD STREETS— STEAMBOAT LAUNCHED ON CLEAR LAKE— MAPLE- WOOD PARK ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED— TORNADO JULY 13— PASSENGER TRAIN BLOWN FROM TRACK— ARM BROKEN— ' PROPERTY DESTROYED— RESULT OP ELECTION. The county commissioners opened their session this year Jan. 2. ]\Ir. Purcell was again elected chairman. As usual in those days, there was an unseemly squabble for the county printing, and more or less favoritism was shown. The repoi-t says : "Bids for the county printing were considered. The Argus bid only for the proceedings of the county commissioners at 25 cents per folio. The Radical put in a bid for the delinquent tax list at 2% cents per de- scription, the proceedings free, and suggested that the financial state- ment be published in all three papers, and each paid 25 cents per folio. The Herald proposed to print the delinquent tax list for $40, the finan- cial statement for $25, the proceedings of commissioners, including the proceedings of the board of equalization, for $35, and all other notices at 10 cents per folio. In disposing of the county printing, the bid of the Argus was accepted, also that of the Radical with the exception of the financial statement which was awarded without stating the price. The proceedings of the board of equalization were awarded to the Herald at 25 cents per folio." MRS. AMANDA GREGORY. This lady, who was one of the very early settlers of St. Mary, died Feb. 28, 1883, at the age of seventy-eight years. She had been feeble for a long time and died of old age. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 369 DEATH OF EDITOR ROSE. Salem M. Rose, senior editor and publisher of the Waseca County Herald, departed this life at 4.30 o'clock Tuesday morn- ing, March 13th, aged fifty-one years, and three months. Mr. Rose was one of the pioneers of Minnesota, removing to this state about 1860 from New York. He settled in Dodge county, where he afterwards married Abbie F. Bunker, and for the years that intervened previous to his removal to Waseca, he was successful in obtaining the reward of an industrious, honest and well ordered life. He was one of the early editors of Waseca and highly respected. DEATH ON THE RAILROAD. Matthias Maloney, brother of the late John Maloney, of Wa- seca, and of Thomas Maloney, of Iosco, was found dead by the side of the railroad track. He was one of the early settlers of the county and lived with his four children a short distance east of New Richland, where he owned a farm. Friday night, March 16, he started for Waseca, having in his possession about $45 in money and several valuable papers. At New Richland he took a freight train, arriving at Waseca about the hour of 1 a. m. Very shortly thereafter his dead body was found lying on the railroad track a short distance south of the M. & St. L. de- pot. He was terribly mangled and cut, which indicated that a number of cars had passed over him. Coroner Young was im- mediately summoned, but he did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest, as the manner of Mr. Maloney 's death was entirely plain. Whether he was crawling under a car and the train start- ed meanwhile, or whether he was standing on the track and first run over by the engine, can only be conjectured. One thing, however, seemed a little curious. When his body was found, which was immediately after his death, there was no money or papers about his person. No satisfactory explanation of the mystery ever came to light. He left surviving him three girls and a son, the last having then attained to manhood. MAPLEWOOD PARK DRIVEWAY AND STREETS. During the legislative session of 1883, the city of Waseca asked for and secured an act of the legislature authorizing the city 370 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to issue bonds in any sum not exceeding $6,000.00 for the purpose of constructing highways — more especially a driveway or road around Clear Lake and to the grounds known as ]\Iaplewood Park. Immediately upon the passage of this act, ilayor CoUes- ter called a special meeting of the city council. Upon petition of numerous citizens, the council adopted the following resolu- tion : "RESOLVED: That the common council of said city of Waseca here- by order a special election to be held by the legal voters of said city on the 19th day of March, 1883, at the court house, in said city, commenc- ing at 9 o'clock a. m., and closing at 5 o'clock p. m., for the purpose of voting on the question of issuing such bonds as provided by law; and that a copy of this resolution be published in the Herald and the Radical of said city." The records further show that, at a special meeting of the common council, held March 29, pursuant to the call of the mayor, it was moved and carried "that the recorder be directed to purchase eiiihteen blank printed bonds in denominations of $500.00 each, said bonds to run ten years with interest coupons attached, beaiing a rate of interest of six per cent per annum, interest payalile semi-annually, and said bonds to be issued June 1, 1888.'' There ■\^'as much discussion before the matter of bonds and streets and driveways in and about Waseca was settled. On ]\lay :10, folliiwing, the council ordered the issuance of two bonds, of $500 each, the money to be derived therefrom to be expended in the construction of the driveway around Clear Lake. On June 5, the council awarded the job of grubliing and clearing the road bed around Clear Lake to James Tripp for $16."i.00. The contract for hauling and putting upon the streets one thousand loads of gravel, from the farm of Mike Tomoski, was let to jMr. Patrick Kelly, he being the lowest bidder. At the council meeting of June 15, Alderman Robertson introduced a resolution to immediately issue four more city bonds, numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6, of $500.00 each, for the construction of drives around Clear and Loon Lakes. Alderman Wood moved to amend by making the total amount of the bonds $4,000.00, one-half the amount, $2,000.00, to be used in making stone gutters along Second street. The amendment was lost by a tie vote— Wood and Broughton voting aye, and Madden and Robertson nay. The vote being taken on the original motion it was lost by the same vote. June CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 371 20, ]\layor Trowbridge called a special meeting of the council to take action in regard to the construction of stone gutters ov Second street, and also the construction of the driveway around Clear Lake. This meeting resulted in the adoption of a resolution to issue city bonds to the amount of $3,000— $1,500 of which was to be expended in the construction of stone gutters on Second street, and the rest in the construction of the driveway around Clear Lake. At the council meeting held Nov. 20, of the same year, the mayor and the recorder were directed to issue two more road bonds, each of $500.00. It appears from the records that only $5,000 of the authorized $6,000 in bonds, was issued that year. This was a year of many improvements in and about the city. The Clear Lake road was graded in excellent shape as was the Loon Lake drive. The stone gutters on each side of Second street were put in this season. This last was one of the most useful public improvements ever made by the city up to that time. STEAMBOAT LAUNCHED. A small steamboat, called the "Commodore," was successfully launched on Clear Lake, June 16, 1883. The boat was formerly in use on Lake Minnetonka, Minn., and was purchased by Ira C. Trowbridge and A. P. Jamison for $1,200. It served as a pleasure boat for a number of years, especially during the Chau- tauqua sessions at IMaplewood Park. It was finally sold to parties in the western portion of the state, much to the regret of many in this locality. INDEPENDENCE DAY. Great preparations had been made for a public celebration of the Fourth, at Waseca, but a drizzling rain, which set in at 5 o'clock a. m. and continued till between 9 and 10 o'clock, sadly demoralized the arrangements that had been made. As soon as the rain ceased, however, the people gathered at Court House Square, where Rev. R. Forbes delivered one of his charac- teristic addresses. MAPLBWOOD PARK ASSOCIATION. During the month of July, this year, steps were taken to 372 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. organize this association. The temporary officers were Rev. C. N. Stowers, of Faribault, president; Rev. H. C. Jennings, secre- tary; and Mr. A. P. Jamison, treasurer. Nearly all the leading citizens of Waseca took stock and became interested in what was popularly known as "The Waseca Cautauqua Assembly" at IMaplewood Park. It was one of the finest resorts in the state and was maintained for fifteen years consecutively— the last assembly being held in July, 1898. Financially, the enterprise was never a success; but morally, socially, and intellectually it was worth more than it cost. It is much to be regretted that the people at large did not contribute more liberally to its main- tenance. TORNADO EXTRAORDINARY. This was the year of tornadoes in Southern Minnesota, and Waseca had a foretaste of what was a terrible disaster at Roch- ester, jMinn., about a month later. The worst storm that ever visited this section occurred July 13, 1883. About 10 o'clock a. m., dense, black clouds rolled Tip from the southwest and overcast the- sky. Lightning flashes followed each other in quick succession and heavy peals of thun- der shook every building and made the earth tremble. Rain soon commenced to fall, and then, for a few moments, there was a death-like calm, when, all at once, the wind came from the northwest with all the force of a hurricane, and the rain came in blinding sheets, accompanied by hail. So dense was the falling rain and so fierce the wind that one could not discern objects across the street. This terrible storm lasted about an hour, during which time the strongest mind shuddered with fear at what might happen. Although much damage was done to property, no person was killed or seriously injured. Trowbridge's brick building, now occupied by Mr. Gallien, was imroofed, the tin roofing being carried some distance. The top of the south wall was torn down and the rain drenched the interior of the building. His loss was estimated at $1,000. The furniture factory, since destroyed by fire, was entirely unroofed and the body of the building bad- ly wrecked. Willyard's planing mill and machine shop was badly torn to pieces— almost a complete wreck. Father Christie's CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 373 barn at the Catholic parsonage was moved from its foundation. The wind totally wrecked the warehouse on the west end of the W. & St. P. elevator, and moved a number of barrels of ce- ment and salt several rods, but left them standing uninjured. The large wheel of Roland's windmill and portions of the tower were carried away. The top of the front wall of the Simon Smith brick store was blown down. The "Priest hotel" lost its chimneys and the barn was totally wrecked. The plateglass front windows of the building now owned and occupied by Mc- Loughlin Bros, were broken by flying debris. One corner of the old courthouse was unroofed and portions of the wall blown down. One freight car was blown from the transfer track and upset, while many of the cars were unceremoniously moved about the yards. The German M. E. church was racked out of position and considerably injured. The old "City Roller Mill" of Everett & Aughenbaugh received the full force of the storm as it swept unimpeded across Loon Lake. The roof was torn off and the entire building very much twisted out of shape. Their machinery was badly disarranged and somewhat damaged. Their warehouse was partly unroofed and five hundred sacks of flour were exposed to the rain. The Grant house had a por- tion of its roof torn off and some damage was done to inside rooms. The passenger train that left Waseca, going east, just before the storm, was blown from the track, about three miles this side of Owatonna, and several passengers were more or less injured. Among the passengers were Rev. H. C. Jennings, Misses Fanny and Etta Forbes, and Max Forbes, all residents of Waseca at that time. Miss Etta Forbes had an arm broken by the fall, and all were badly shaken up. After reaching Owatonna, Mr. Jen- nings procured a team and carriage and returned to Waseca with the Misses Forbes. There was one amusing incident during the storm which served to relieve the sadness that was so universal in the community just after the storm subsided. There lived in the city at that time a ponderous gentleman by the name of Kelley, a wood saw- yer by occupation. He was undoubtedly the largest man in the county. "Brother" Kelley lived alone in a small house just east of the W. & St. P. elevator. At the time of the storm he was 374 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. at his house, and being the heaviest man in the county, he wn- doubtedly felt that he would be able to hold his own house down under all circumstances. But alas ! the Storm King was no re- specter of weights and measures, and, in a jiffy, his house was torn in pieces and scattered to all the winds of heaven. Kelley seized hold of the stove as an anchor, but he was soon torn from that and carried bodily with portions of his domicile into a pond of water near by with part of the roof of his house upon him. As soon as he struck the ground and recovered from his surprise, he threw off the piece of roof and waded ashore, where he sat down upon the ground and meditated upon the weakness of hu- man habitations until the storm subsided. Aside from a bad bruise on his head he was not much injured, except in his wounded dignity, for he was a very dignified man. The German Lutheran church, in Iosco, was moved from its foundation and racked to some extent. S. S. Phelps' large barn, in St. ilary, was all torn to pieces, and his granary moved from its foundation. In the same town the new residence of James and John Keeley was blown down. A cow belonging to "Wm. Oestereich was killed by lightning. E. Brossard's barn was im- roofed. Julius Papke lost his granary, corn cribs, sheds, and other property. In Blooming Grove, Malachi Madden had a large new barn de- molished. Two of his small boys were in the barn at the time and were carried quite a distance, but safely landed in a slough. His crops were badly damaged. Roger Garaghty, living near Madden 's, had his log house, his barn and sheds entirely blown down, and his crops badly injured. The storm was fearful at Ole Sonsteby's place. He went into his cellar as the storm struck, and immediately his house, built of logs, was taken up and carried away. Large oak trees near his house were broken off and some torn out by the roots. In Woodville, Mike Spillane's granary was blown down and his crops badly injured. Charles Ileusel had thirty-five tons of hay destroyed, his crops and buildings badly injured, and a quantity of growing timber ruined. At Mci'iden the German Evangelical church was badly wrecked. A very lartic bai'n on the farm of IT. Palas was torn CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 375 down. At the station, a blacksmith shop was torn down, and the tloni'ing mill was nnroofed and otherwise seriously damaged. The damage throughout the towns named was very extensive, and few there M'ere who did not suffer some loss. RESULT OP THE ELECTION. A. Bierman, democrat, for governor, carried the county by a majority of 203. For other state officers, the republican majority was about 165. The democrats elected Charles ilcKenna treas- urer, M. B. Keeley clerk of court, P. McGovern county attorney, and Dr. D. S. Cummings superintendent of schools, fliram A. Mosher, independent, was elected register of deeds. The repub- licans elected S. D. Crump judge of probate, B. A. Lowell court commissioner, Orson L. Smith surveyor, and Dr. H. J. Young coroner. The democrats also elected two county commissioners — J\I. F. Connor and A. J. Jordan. VERMONTERS. The Vermonters held a meeting at the Grant house in Decem- ber, 1883, and Mr. P. A. Brwin, of St. Mary, was present, al- thoiigh eighty-eight years of age. WILTON LODGE NO. 24. The first Masonic lodge organized in the county was located in Wilton, and was instituted Jan. 8, 1858. . After the removal of the county seat from that place to Waseca, Wilton gradually faded away, and on Dec. 20, 1883, the lodge was removed to Alma City. At the time of its location at Alma City it contained a membership of twenty-five. Its membership was soon after much increased. CHAPTER LIII, 1884. COUNTY PRINTING DIVIDED— ECKBNBECK RESIDENCE BURNED —LIFE AND DEATH OP JUDGE CANFIELD— S. S. PHELPS KILLED BY RAILROAD— VICE-PRESIDENT COLFAX ON THE FOURTH— ATTEMPTED JAIL DELIVERY, PRISONER SHOT— J. G. COOLBY KILLED— PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. The county "Fathers" met Jan. 1, 1884; those present being IS. il. Nelson, A. J. Jordan, Philip Purcell, G. W. Soule, Ira C. Trowbridge, and J\l. F. Connor. The board organized by elect- ing Philip Purcell chairman. The county printing was divided aiuong the papers of the county and peace reigned supreme. Only the ordinary routine business of the county was transacted. ECKENBECK RESIDENCE BURNED. Shortly after 4 o'clock on Feb. 24, 1884. the residence of Charles Eckenbeek, corner of Wood and Fourth streets, Waseca, was discovered to be on fire. The fire started between the ceil- ing and roof of the rear part, as near as could be determined, and was first discovered by the hired girl, who rushed out in her night clothes, barefooted, giving the alarm of fire. George Eckenbeek was sleeping up stairs. His father, who was still very feeble from a long illness, Avas also up stairs. George took his father in his arms and carried him below. By this time the house was rapidly filling with smoke, and it was with much diffi- culty that he partly dressed his father and carried him out. Miss Effie Winters was staying over night with ]\Iiss Louise Ecken- beek, and as George stepped to the porch with his father in his arms. Miss Winters also passed out, and all fell, but received CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 377 no injury. Carrying Mr. Eeltenbeck to a place of safety, George went back to look for his sister, whom he supposed to be in the burning building, but she had previously escaped. While in the house this time George was severely burned on his head. The entire building was now on fire and in a very short time burned to the ground. Mr. Eckenbeck suffered the loss of a large num- ber of valuable papers, notes, etc.; Louise, many valuable paint- ings of her own handiwork, besides all her clothes. Sylvester and his father also lost their clothing. George saved a portion of his clothes, his gold watch, which was afterwards found in the street, and $50 in money that was in a bureau. He lost $300 worth of books. The value of the property destroyed was about $4,000, most of it covered by insurance. DEATH OF A PIONEER. Job A. Canfield, who settled in the town of Otisco in 1856, was a lifelong pioneer. He was born in the state of Ohio, his parents having been pioneers in that state. . About the year 1845, when a yoimg man, he settled with his young wife in Dodge county, Wisconsin, near Waupun. His wife was a daugh- ter of Obadiah Mosher, also a Wisconsin and Minnesota pioneer. Mr. Canfield was the first judge of probate in this county, hold- ing the position from 1857 to 1860, and again from Jan. 1, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1878. August 12, 1862, at the age of thirty-eight years, he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, and served until May 18, 1865. He died of apoplexy Jan. 28, 1884, and was buried with Masonic and Grand Army honors. DEATH OF S. S. PHELPS. The following account of the sad death of Mr. Phelps is from the pencil of Mr. G. W. Morse, editor of the Waseca Herald, at the time of Mr. Phelps' death: "Mr. Phelps was In town on business and started for home a few minutes before 6 o'clock, driving a span of horses attached to a pair of sleds with wagon box on same. At the time a very fierce blizzard was raging from the northwest, the snow coming in blinding clouds, and the temperature being very cold. About one mile west of here the road that he must travel is crossed by the Winona & St. Peter railroad. Each side of the railroad track, at the crossing, for perhaps four rods were banks of snow from three to six feet high, the same having been thrown from the track to keep it clear. The snow came in such gusts 378 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. and the wind roared so loudly that no one could see or hear an ap- proaching train for but a short distance. Mr. Phelps drove his team down the embankment on to the track, but found the bank on the op- posite side too steep and high for his team to climb, and so turned up the track, thinking, no doubt, to get through the fence and so back onto the road. He had passed not more than fifty feet up the track before a freight train of two cars and a caboose came dashing along from the west at a speed necessary to pass through drifts that were liable to be found. H. A. Read was the engineer, and did not nor could not see the approaching team until within sixty feet of them. He saw the driver rise up and, as he thinks, make an attempt to jump, but such an effort was quite useless, as no person could have got out and up the steep bank of snow in time to escape. Mr. Read reversed his en- gine immediately and did everything possible to stop, but all in vain, un- til he had gone at least thirty rods. Getting off from his engine and looking for the results of the accident, the mangled body of Mr. Phelps was found under the second car, where his clothes had been caught by projecting bolts and he dragged the distance. The top of his head had been taken off, both feet cut off, and he had received many other cuts and bruises, so that he was quite beyond recognition. Both horses were killed instantly and thrown from the track after being dragged, one of them five or six rods and the other a little farther. The sleds were carried on the pilot until the train stopped. Removing the body from under the car, Mr. Read detached his engine and came down to the depot. Getting Coroner Young and others, he went back and brought the remains of the unfortunate man to the depot, where they remained until morning, when they were placed in a casket and removed to the residence." THE FOURTH OP JULY— VICE-PRESIDENT COLFAX, T'ndoubteclly the most elaborate celebration of the national holiday ever held in this county occurred this year. ]Maplewood Park was then in its youthful «lory and all Waseca joined to make the occasion memorable. The day was very fine and the program was fully carried out. Vice-President Colfax was at his best and delivered a fine addi'ess. The oration ended, the next thin^- in order was dinner, and auain the park was one vast picnic. The G. A. K. boys pooled their provisions and I'li.joyed an army picnic, and many were the jokes and pleasantries that jiasscd around. The drum corps Avith two fifei's, supplied an abundance of martial music. At 2:30 the concei-t besan in the pavilion, under dii-ection of Prof. Pfiyiiioiid. The attendance Avas very fair, considerina; the fact that, as a general rule, out door sports are preferred on the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 379 Fourth of Ju]y. A thunder shower chorus was added to the eoneert program, which somewhat disturbed the same. The rain ett'e<;tuaHy ended further doings at the park and those who were not encamped there made their way to town, where the two bands were already engaged in making the air resonant with music. About 6 o'clock another and heavier shower came, still further dampening the ardor of the celebrators. The sky soon cleared and the cool evening was aeceptal)le to the m(>rry dancers of the G. A. R. ball at the opera house and the concert-goers at AA'ard's Hall. Both were largely patronized and generally pro- nounced successful. There was a brilliant display of fireworks in the evening both at the park and in the cit.v. ATTEMPTED JAIL DELIVERY. On July li. an attempt was made by the three prisoners then in jail to make their escape. About 9 o'clock in the evening, the deputy sheriff, IT. H. Evenson, went to lock the cell doors of the prisoners; the door of Martin Wallace's cell was open, and as Wallace had gone to bed, :i\Ir. Evenson very kindly stepped inside of the corridor to shut it. As he did so Wallace made for him and dealt him a heavy blow in the face. At the same time the other prisoners rushed from their cells and passed out the first door. Wallace and one of the others passed into the office and endeavored to get out the outside door, but it was locked. They were about to jump through the window when Mr. Evenson fired his revolver at Wallace, the ball entering his shoulder. This called a halt, and the prisoners all hurried back into their cells and were securel.v locked in. It was found nec- essary to call in the county physician to dress the wound of Wallace. SUDDENLY KILLED. ;\[r. J. G-. Cooley, who was among the early Wilton settlers, while hauling wheat to Waseca, Nov. 24, 1884, lost his life in the following manner: About noon, as he' was driving up the hill on the Wilton road about a mile south of Waseca, the wagon, by some means, suddenly went into a deep rut, and Mr. Cooley was thrown from the load to the ground, a sack of wheat falling on him. As he fell, his body lay in such a position that the hind wheel of the wagon passed over his neck, killing him instantly. 380 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. The team passed on a short distance and stopped. His son, Josiah, a boy about sixteen years old, was some thirty rods be- hind his father, with another load of wheat. He saw his father fall and hastened to the spot as soon as possible, finding his father dead. Mr. August Schulz and others soon came up, when the body was placed upon a wagon and taken to Waseca, and thence to the family home in "Wilton. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Grover Cleveland was elected president in 1884 for the first time. Waseca county gave James G. Blaine 1,189 votes, Grover Cleveland 867, and John P. St. John 97. The local candidates elected were as follows: M. D. L. Collester, representative: S. Swenson, aiiditor; Austin Vinton and ^l. Craven, county com- missioners. CHAPTER LIV, 1885. DEATH OP J. M. ROBERTSON— COUNTY BOARD— DEATH OP NAN- CY MOSHER— OPPICE OF MUNICIPAL JUDGE— CRANE CREEK IMPROVEMENT, REPORT OP AUDITING BOARD— ST. MARY CHURCH BURNED— BUILDING STATISTICS. Soon after the "Happy New Year" greetings, Jan. 5, 1885, a gloom was cast over the community by the death of J. M. Rob- ertson, a prominent citizen of Waseca. He was born in Liberty, Sullivan county, N. Y., May 23, 1852. Two years later his par- ents moved to Illinois, and thence to Winona in 1856. He grew to manhood in Winona county and came to Waseca about 1879, engaging in the hardware business with Bailey & Watkins. He left a wife and two small children. His wife was the accom- plished daughter of Hon. Burr Deuel, of Quincy, Olmstead coun- ty, Minnesota. Mr. Robertson died of pneumonia. It is said that while returning from Chicago, about three weeks prior to his death, he took a severe cold. The night was cold, and on the train was a poor woman and child who suffered from lack of warm wraps. To relieve them Mr. Robertson let them have his overcoat. The result was he received a cold that brought on the fatal result. For this self-sacrificing act his memory should be preserved. THE COUNTY BOARD. The county commissioners this year were N. M. Nelson, Aus- tin Vinton, M. Craven, Philip Purcell, M. P. Connor, and A. J. Jordan. Mr. Purcell was again elected chairman. The county printing this year was divided and let to the several papers 382 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. designated at legal rates. A movement was made at this meet- ing for the building of a bridge across the Le Sueur river at the John Carmody farm, in Wilton; and at the ;\Iareli meeting, $300 Vf&s appropriated for that purpose. WINTER WEATHER. The Vifinter of 1884-5, while not as prolonged as some winters, furnished some very cold weather, especially during the month of January. AN AGED PIONEER. The 87th anniversary of the birthday of ^Mrs. Xane.v !Mosher A^-as celebrated on the 29th of January by a surprise party for that lady at the residence of her daughter, ]^Irs. W. S. Baker, of Waseca. There were present twenty-five persons who were the children, the grandehildren, and the great grandchildren of the venerable lady. The occasion was one of decided enjoyment. Mrs. Mosher was born in Vermont in 1797. She was mother of Hiram A., Asa, and "Jim" Mosher, pioneers in this county. MUNICIPAL JUDGE. It was at the legislative session of 1885 that the office of munic- ipal judge was created by special act for the city of Waseca — the offices of justices of the peace for said city being abolished by the same act. The new court had jurisdiction throughout the county the same as a justice of the peace, with this addition : in all civil actions where the amount in controversy did not ex- ceed $300. Otherwise its jurisdiction was substantially the same. John Carmody, Esq., was the first judse elected under the new law, and was one of the best who has ever held the position. CRANE, CREEK IMPROVEMENT. The drainage of large tracts of land situated in Steele and this county was undertaken and partly aeeomplisbed in 1885. The following report is here reproduced. Messrs. S. B. Williams, T. H. Griffin, and W. C. Young, appointed by the governor to examine the work and audit the accounts for widening and deepening Crane creek, have submitted their report to State Auditor Braden, in which they say: "The channel in many places has been straightened, widened, and deepened. A uniform width of eighteen feet has been preserved for CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 383 the channel along the whole excavation, and In some places the excava- tion has been five feet in depth. In the opinion of this committee the worlf already done would be more than doubled in value it the work could be continued to the source of the creek at Watkins lake, and some straightening of the channel below the mouth of the creek. The cost of such improvements to complete the work in a permanent manner, would not exceed, in our opinion, the present outlay of $1,500, additional, as the whole engineering is now complete and nothing but excavation is required. This would reclaim thousands of acres of land, a considerable part of which, as this committee is informed, belongs to the state, and is now nearly valueless because of the overflow for want of a free, open channel. "In auditing accounts the committee found all bills reasonable and just except those for surveying, which were considerably above the legal rate of $4.00 per day allowed county surveyors. The committee reduced them thereto, bringing the whole outlay within the appropria- tion. Therefore we recommend that there be allowed as follows: For surveying, $399; for sundries such as tools, hardware, lumber used, etc., $120.10; for pay roll of laborers on excavation, $748.85; for services of the commissioners of Steele and Waseca counties and mileage, $202.65; for paying the commissioners on behalf of the state, $30.00; total, $1,500. In conclusion the committee wish to say that the work of excavating the channel has been done very much below the lowest bid received by the county commissioners for the said work." ST. MARY CHURCH BURNED. The Catholic church people of the St. ]Mary parish met with a heavy loss Dec. 19, 1885. The new Catholic church, which was erected at a cost of $15,000, was entirely destroyed by fire. Serv- ices were held in the morning and in the afternoon the building was consumed. Very few things were saved. The statue of St. Joseph, presented to the church some two months prior by Peter Burns and Christie HefiEeron, at a cost of $125, and the statue of the Blessed Virgin were removed without any material damage. The chalices were also saved. The church members were under lasting obligations to Thomas Garaghty and James Byron for their heroic services in rescuing the altar furniture. Mr. Garaghty at one time became so bewildered in the smoke that he probably would have perished had it not been for the assistance of James Byron in going to his rescue. The buildina: was 44x86 feet, and 26 feet high. It was insured for $7,000. The burned edifice was replaced with a new one early the next year. 384 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS. The building improvements of the city of Waseca for the year 1885 footed up to $69,600. CAPTER LV, 1886. COUNTY PHYSICIANS— HERALD REMOVAL— ANOTHER DESTRUC- TIVE FIRE— ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS- THE ST. CLOUD TOR- NADO, TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY— A BURGLAR SHOT BY ED. GOETZENBERGER— MURDER AND SUI- CIDE NEAR NEW RICHLAND— THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE— NO- TABLE MEETINGS IN THE YEAR— EDITORS, W. C. T. U., OLD SETTLERS, MAPLEWOOD PARK— DIED, JOHN BALLARD, SILAS BUCKMAN, GEO. SMITH, HONORA BURKE (KILLED BY R. R.) — FALL ELECTION— EARLY WINTER— BUILDING STATISTICS. The annual meeting of the county commissioners this year commenced Jan. 5. Philip Purcell was again chosen to preside. The members of the board were N. M. Nelson, Philip Purcell, M. F. Connor, Austin Vinton, and Milton Craven. The county physicians for this year were Dr. H. J. Young for the First dis- trict, Dr. M. J. Taylor for the Second, Dr. John Nutting for the Third, and Dr. W. A. Lang for the Fourth. The county printing was disposed of as follows: The contract for publishing the delinquent tax list was awarded to the "Herald;" the contract for publishing the proceedings of the county board went to the Janesville "Argus," and the contract for publishing the finan- cial statement and the proceedings of the board of equalization was given to the "Radical." REMOVAL. On the 29th and 30th of January, 1886, the "Waseca County "Herald" outfit, was moved into the upper story of the brick building now owned by Hon. C. A. Smith, and adjoining the A. 15 386 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Grapp furniture building, where it remained until September 21, 1900, when it was removed to its present commodious rooms. A $6,000 BLAZE. On Feb. 11, 1886, about 2:30 o'clock a. m. fire was discovered in Tom. Moonan's wooden building, next to the brick store of S. C. Eckenbeck & Co., in the rear or kitchen part. That part of the building was all ablaze when discovered, and Mr. and Mrs. Southworth, who occiipied the building, barely escaped with their every-day clothing. The fire alarm was given and the members of the fire company and many citizens promptly re- sponded. By the time the firemen got out their engine and put on a stream of water, the Moonan building was nearly consumed, and Jos. Gatzman's wooden building was well under way. The flames soon reached Ward's building, known as Brubaker &' Smith's meat market. By the most courageous efforts the fire was confined to the latter building, and although Helms' build- ing, occupied by Sproat, several times caught fire, it was as often extinguished. The loss on buildings was $3,500, and on goods about $2,500. Brick buildings were promptly built the next spring to replace the burned ones. ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS. At the March session of the board of county commissioners the following appropriations were made : "Ordered, that $200 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the first commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of Austin Vinton; that $200 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the second commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of Philip Purcell; that $200 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the third commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of N. M. Nelson; that $200 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the fourth commissioner district to be expended under the supervision of A. J. Jordan; that $200 be appro- priated for repairs on roads and bridges in the fifth commissioner dis- trict, to be expended under the supervision of M. F. Connor." THE ST. CLOUD TORNADO. On the 14th day of April, 1886, Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud were visited by a tornado which killed fifty persons and wounded more than one hundred others. At St. Cloud, in the track of the storm, stood the Manitoba freight house and cars filled with CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 387 freight. Down on them the whirlwind pounced, lifted them from the tracks and cast them in shapeless masses. Iron rails were torn from the ties and twisted like wires. Telegraph poles were torn up and wires twisted into masses. The freight house was totally wrecked and over $3,000 worth of freight was whirled through the air and thrown into heaps and scattered over an area of a quarter of a mile. Fifteen freight cars were demol- ished. The cries and shrieks of the wounded rent the air, and the ground was strewn with the bodies of the dead. The Sauk Rapids disaster was described by an ej^e witness as follows : "The tornado struck this city at 4 o'clock, and in six minutes the town was in ruins. Not a business' house was left standing on the main street, and many residences were demolished. The wind came from the southwest and swept everything before It for a width of about four blocks. The stormcloud was as black as night, with a bright clear sky on either side. The courthouse was made a heap of ruins. The union school house, two churches, the postoffice, flour mill, and large machine shop were all converted into kindling wood. The Northern Pacific depot was blown away, and a large number of freight cars overturned. At the present time twenty-two dead bodies have been recovered from the ruins and a large number of persons are injured. "A wedding party of thirty persons were in a building about four miles from Rice station when the storm came, and twenty-two of the party were killed and the others all injured. The dead were strewn about for a distance of fully six hundred feet, presenting a ghastly spectacle. The situation is a sad one, the living being not only deprived of their friends, but of all their earthly possessions at the same time. The total loss of property is not less than $300,000, without a dollar of tornado insurance." Upon receipt of a report of the terrible affair in Waseca, a public meeting was called at the courthouse. Hugh Wilson was chosen chairman, and James E. Child secretary. A resolu- tion offered by Mr. Lewis Brownell, asking the common council of the city to appropriate $300 to aid the sufferers, was unani- mously adopted. At the suggestion of Judge Crump, seconded by Hon. W. G. Ward, the chair appointed a committee of three— Judge Crump, Senator Ward, and James E. Child— to solicit funds to aid the sufferers. The amount donated by the city was $300, and the amount paid in by private persons was $346.75. All of this was forwarded to the governor of the state to be used for the relief of the sufferers. In addition to this amount, the CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. German Evangelical churches of the county contributed as fol- lows: The Waseca church $28; the Meriden church $22.10; Wil- ton church $11.40, and the Iosco church $42.25. ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS. At the May meeting of the board of county commissioners, it was ordered : That $200 be appropriated for work on road on sections 20 and 29 in town of Alton, between the house of P. Morrissey and Buffalo Lake, and that A. J. Jordan and M. F. Connor be appointed a committee to ex- pend said appropriation, and report at the next meeting of the board; that $400 be appropriated for the construction of the Lamb bridge; that $150 be appropriated for repair of roads and bridges in the sixth com- missioner district, to be expended under the supervision of M. Craven; that $100 be appropriated for the construction of the Stewart creek bridge, on section 7, Otisco. At the July meeting it was ordered: That $75 be appropriated to pay the remainder due for building the Stewart creek bridge, and that $195 be appropriated to pay for replank- ing the Cobb river bridge. August 20, it Wtts ordered: That $150 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the first commissioner district to be expended under the supervision of Austin Vinton; that $200 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges In the second commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of Philip Purcell; that $150 be appropriated for repairs on roads and liridges in the third commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of N. M. Nelson; that $150 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in the fourth commissioner district, to be expended under the supervision of A. J. Jordan; that $150 be appropriated for re- pairs of roads and bridges in the fifth commissioner district, to be ex- pended under the supervision of M. P. Connor. A BURGLAR SHOT. On the night of June 3, 1886, a man named Ed. I\lenck, a tailor, and a stranger, who refused to siive his name, broke into the hardware store of P. C. Bailey, between 11 and 12 o'l'loek. Ed. Goetzenberger and Francis Breen had gone to bed a short time before, in the office, adjoining the store. They heard the report of the glass breaking, and Ed. got up and looked out, but saw nothing. As there were many people on the streets ;ind some in the saloons, he tliought little of it. Presently they heard more noise, this time in the store. Tlun- arose cautiously, CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 389 put on their pantaloons, lighted a lamp, Ed. taking his revolver and Francis the lamp, and suddenly opened the door between the office and the store, where they discovered two burglars. The thieves beat a hasty retreat, notwithstanding Ed. 's invita- tion to them to halt, and as they said something about shooting, Ed. went into practice while young Breen bravely held the light. Ed. emptied his revolver at them as they retreated by crawling" through a window, and then he shoiited for the police. There was a general search instituted, and the men were soon found and arrested by Marshal Keeley. Both of them had their hands cut considerably by the glass in the window, and the stranger received a bullet wound, the ball striking him in the back, fol- lowing a rib, and lodging in front. Dr. Hunt took out the bullet and dressed their wounds. Some of the citizens chipped in and presented Ed. Goetzenberger and Francis Breen each a gold watch and chain as evidence of their appreciation of the courage displayed by the joung men on the occasion. Both offenders were convicted of burglary at the fall term of court and sent to prison. MURDER AND SUICIDE. The people of Xew Eichland were thrown into a state of great excitement on the evening of July 6, 1886, by the murder of Miss Anna il. Discher and the suicide of her murderer. The following report was published at the time: Henry Young was a German whose relatives reside in Wisconsin. He had been around here for several years, was always considered a steady young man, not of vicious habits, tolerably well to do, and owned an interest in a thresher, which he ran in season. The other victim, Anna M. Discher, was the daughter of W. P. Discher, justice of the peace, and a well-to-do farmer. In the afternoon Young was around town and seemed to be drinking heavily. Then he went out to the Discher farm. Mrs. Discher and daughter were sitting on the porch sewing. He walked up to the girl and after a few words drew his revolver and shot her twice, the bullets taking effect in or near the heart. She died in a few min- utes in her mother's arms. Thrusting the revolver into his mouth, he fired and killed himself instantly. It is rumored that he had wanted her for some time to marry him, which she declined to do. This is undoubtedly correct, as it seems to be reasonably well founded." PARMERS' ALLIANCE. This organization became very strong this year throughout 390 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the state. On the 15th of May, 1886, there was a meeting of .Alliance men at Waseca, George W. Sprague, president of the state alliance, being here to address them. ]Mr. W. D. Arm- strong announced that there were now five alliances in the coun- ty, and that they might organize a county alliance, if those pres- ent thought it advisable ; but before doing so he should like to hear from the state officers that were present. He introduced George W. Sprague, president of the state organization, who ad- dressed the meeting; at considerable length. After the address, on motion of M. F. Connor, the five alliances represented pro- ceeded to the formal organization of a county alliance. The president and the secretary of each alliance signed an application to the state alliance for a charter. Jlessrs. W. D. Armstrong, II. A. Wagoner, Patrick Kenehan, and Thomas Barden were chosen to act as a committee to draft by-laws for the count.v alliance, to report to an adjourned meeting to be held ^May 29. At the adjourned meeting, constitution and by-laws were adopt- fd and the following officers elected: President, L. C. Remund, of Blooming Grove; vice-president, I\l. F, Connor, of Wilton: secretary, W. D. Armstrong, of Woodville ; treasurer, Jas. E. Jones, of Iosco. The regular meetings of the county alliance were to be held on the first Saturday of January, April, July and September. The meeting of May 29 adjourned to meet again June 26, 1886. At this last meeting there were present delegates from eight alliances. NOTABLE MEETINGS. There were several notable meetings in Waseca during the summer months. On the 15th of June the Southwestern Editorial convention of Minnesota was held in Waseca. The editors were entertained at Hotel Maplewood at noon and in the evening a banquet was tendered them at the Grant House. The W. C. T. U. societies of the county held a county conven- tion in Waseca, June 17, 1886. The convention was held in the English M. E. church, ]\Irs. D. J. Bickford presiding. The old settlers of Freedom and Alton, met on the 10th day of June, in the cultivated grove on the beautiful farm of Prof. F. D. Seaman. The day was an ideal one for such a picnic and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY, 391 there were three hundred and tifty persons present. The feast was all that could be desired, and then followed toasts and re- sponses. A synopsis of the response by Judge Crump, then of Waseca, is here given: He said he was the first one, as usual, to make a fool of himself, and he proposed to do it well. He deemed it a compliment to be call- ed upon to address them, although it would be unfortunate both for them and himself. "I can remember," said he, "when I became an old settler here. It was in 1865. I also remember the first old settler I met here, who is now in Wisconsin. He was neither naked or clad, and had twenty-five cents in his pocket — now he has nothing. I can appreciate and you can appreciate those who have come here and why they have come. You know that we came here to eat — especially Graham and my- self — and we have enjoyed ourselves, especially Graham. He knows when he has a good thing. We have all enjoyed ourselves on this occasion. "I can remember when we had myriads of mosquitoes here as big as sheep and kept hogs on them. We have driven them out, but alas! the book agents and the lightning rod men have taken their places. "I can remember, too, that the rattlesnake infested this region. He, too, has disappeared before the old settler, and the local editor rattles at the passer-by. "The Indian, too, I am told, once roamed over these prairies with tomahawk and scalping knife; but he is gone, and the politicians and office seekers now scour the country in search of spoils. "I now come to the defense of my friend, Jim Cummins. He has been lied about. Somebody has said he is no old settler. I know he is. He has told me so. He broke the prairie sod here in 1858, and camped here with another Indian at that time, and I want it entered in the minutes. "The old settlers set good tables; they are good eaters and long eaters. "I started to say something serious but I have failed — I generally do. "As the pioneers grow older, as the wrinkles in their faces grow long- er and more numerous, as the hair gets whiter, as the numbers grow less, from year to year, these reunions will be more valued, and your children will thank you for having subdued this wilderness and built these pleasant homes. "We honor and ought to honor the soldier who defended the country in the hour of peril, but I think the men and women who braved the hardships and dangers of frontier life are entitled to some credit for their courage and fortitude, and ought to be congratulated for coming here. "I don't think I'll talk any more. There are editors here who are full of talk; the only trouble is they will lie so." The sessions at Maplewood Park, this year, were well attended. 392 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Among the noted speakers was Gen. Howard, who delivered his famous lecture on the battle of Gettysburg. DEATH OF JOHN BALLARD. John Ballard, of Iosco, on the afternoon of July 13, 1886, started out with a hay rake, just after supper, to rake hay. There was no breeching to the harness, and the rake ran on the heels of the horse, causing him to run. The horse became unmanage- able, ran into a grove, and Mr. Ballard was thrown against a tree with such force as to break several of his ribs loose from the backbone. He was a great sufferer until August 31, Avhen he passed into rest. He was about fifty years of age, and settled in this county in 1858. He married about 1861 and left surviving him his wife and ten children ; the eldest twenty-four years of age and the youngest three. He owned a farm of one hundred and tAventy acres, and a ten-acre timber lot, besides considerable personal property. He was a Union soldier in the War of the Eebellion and was a member of McKune Post G. A. R., which attended his funeral, paying the last sad honors to their departed comrade. NOVEMBER DEATHS. Died, Mr. Silas Buckman, in his seventy-eighth year, at 3 o'clock, a. m., Nov. 9, 1886, of diarrhoea and congestion of the bladder. He had been failing since the latter part of August. He was a native of New Hampshire, removed to Crown Point, New York, when a boy, and resided there until 1S67, when he settled on a farm in "Woodville township. His wife died some years before. Since that time he had lived with his son, G. E. Buckman. Died, George Smith, elder son of Hon. AVarren Smith, Nov. 10, 1886, at 2 o'clock a. m., of congestion, in his twenty-third year. George had suffered for a year or more from diabetes and was much reduced in flesh and strength. He attended the Saturday evening entertainment at the opera house, and took a severe cold, which caused congestion and death. He graduated the spring before with distinction at Dartmouth college, and had chosen civil engineering as his profession. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 393 DEATH OF MISS HONORA BURKE. A sad and fatal accident occurred at the Phelps' crossint;', about a mile and a quarter west of Waseca on the "Winona & St. Peter railroad, December 24, 1886, about 7 o'clock in the even- ing. JNIr. Philip Brown and wife, of St. Mary, came in to meet ]\Iiss Ilonora Burke, daughter of ilichael Burke and sister of ]N[rs. Brown. Miss Burke was coming from Minneapolis to spend Christmas with her parents and friends. According to jMr. Brown's evidence before the coroner's jury they left the de- pot about 7 o'clock. Miss Burke sat on the righthand side of the sleigh, Isabella McCabe, a girl some twelve years of age, next to her, Mrs. Brown on the left side, all on the same seat, with Brown sitting on his wife's lap. He was driving along on a fast trot and did not see or hear the freight train coming from the west until within thirty or forty feet of the track. His wife then said: "There comes the train." He tried to stop the team, one horse and one mule, and had them nearly stopped within perhaps five feet of the track, when the horse gave a plunge and dragged the mule with him over the track. At the same instant the engine struck the sleigh and threw them all out. He and his wife fell near together, the ilcCabe girl a little way from them, near the fence, and Miss Burke still further from them, partly under the wire fence. He got up immediate- ly and went to his wife who was hurt some, then to the McCabe girl who seemed to be stunned,— he thought she was dead. He next went to where Miss Burke was and drew her from under the fence. He could not see that she was alive, so he put his ear to her mouth and found that she did not breathe. Dr. Young, who examined Miss Burke, said that she died of concussion of the brain, caused by being thrown against a fence post, and that death was probably instantaneous. THE FALL ELECTION. For the first time in years, the democrats carried the county for state candidates by pluralities ranging from 137 to 504— the latter number being for "Doc." Ames, of Minneapolis— his total vote in the county having been 1,442. The following local candidates were elected : senator, W. G. Ward ; representa- tive, M. W. Ryan; treasurer, Chas. McKenna; auditor, S. Swen- 394 CHILD'S HISTORY OF "WASECA COUNTY. son; register of deeds, A. F. Kruger; clerk of court, il. B. Keeley; sheriff, A. C. Krassin; judge of probate, Wm. C. Young; county attorney, P. McGovern; superintendent of schools, J. B. Dye ; court commissioner, G. R. Buckman ; coroner, M. V. Hunt ; surveyor, O. L. Smith; county commissioners, Austin Vinton, Philip Purcell, J. 0. Sunde, James Conway, Charles Deyling, Oliver Peterson. EARLY WINTER. The following announcement appeared in the Waseca Herald of Nov. 19, 1886: "The beautiful Indian summer of this month came to a sudden close on Tuesday. Snow commenced to fall in the morning, with the wind northeast, and continued to fall through the day. Tuesday night the wind veered to the north and blew a continuous gale for twenty-four hours, the snow falling continuously and drifting into great heaps. The roads were blockaded in every direction, and railway trains were suspended on both roads. The passenger from Minneapolis got stuck in a snow drift between Waterville and Waseca, and no mail arrived during the day. It was the heaviest snow storm for years in the month of November, but, fortunately, the weather was not very cold. Thurs- day morning the wind was in the northwest, the snow still falling and drifting. The outlook for winter travel was discouraging." On December 3, the same paper said : "The deep snow that now covers this part of mother earth is becom- ing a barrier to trade — a serious obstacle to business." BUILDING STATISTICS. The people of Waseca in 1886 expended eiglity-eight thousand, four hundred eighty-five dollars in constructing new bitildings and making improvements. The largest and most important building erected this year was the Catholic Seminary, bttilt on lots adjoining the Catholic church, in Waseca, liy the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Their headquarters in this country are Philadelphia. The central building is 30x60 feet, and eaeli wing, east and west, is 40x66 feet, all twd stories high. Only the we^t wing and its basement were completed this year and enst $10,- 000. The basement of the part completed this season is 11 feet high and divided as follows : A play room in the south end ll-lxlO feet, next a furnace room 12x20, a cellar 10x12, and a wood room 8x12. In the center is a well of water, then a kitchen 13xir\ and a laundry 13x15, separated by the stairwav hall. At the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 395 north end of the building are two dining rooms, one on each side of the hall, 13x15 feet. The first story over the basement is 16 feet high, and divided as follows: Entrance hall 7x30; the first room on the right, 14x16, is the parlor; opposite this is the reception room, the same size; the next room on the right, as you enter the hall, is the music room, 14x16; and opposite that is the chapel, 14x16 feet; then comes a hall the whole width of the building seven feet across, and next, two school rooms, separated by folding doors, each room 20x30 feet. The second or upper story is 15 feet high, and contains two school rooms, each 20x16 feet; three sleeping rooms, 14x16, one sleeping room, 9x16 feet; a bath room and water closet, 8x9 feet, and two small closets. This is one of the important educational institii- tions of the state and has done much for the people of Waseca and surrounding country. The following is a list of structures costing $1,000 and over : Catholic Seminary $10,000 00 W. E. Scott, new house. . 1,700 00 Pugh & Goodman, new brick store 8,000 00 Everett & Aughenbaugh, engine boiler house and machinery 7,500 00 Joseph Gatzman, new brick store 3,600 00 W. G. Ward, new brick store 3,500 00 Thos. Moonan, new brick store 3,500 00 Pat. Solon, new house and barn 3,500 00 Chicago & Northwestern Railway, round house improvements 3,000 00 P. McElroy, new residence 2,500 00 Van Dusen & Co., im- provements to elevator 2,000 00 W. D. Abbott, new house 1,800 00 H. Britten, new house and improvements .... 1,600 00 Adolph Schmidt, new house 1,500 00 H. Hoyt, new house . . . 1,500 00 R. M. Mi(}daugh, new house 1,500 00 B. Hassing, house and barn 1,200 00 Hans. Borelson, new house 1,200 00 School House, improve- ments 1,100 00 Waseca Iron Works, ma- chinery and improve- ments 1,000 00 Waseca Furniture Com- pany, new machinery and improvements . . . 1,000 00 W. G. Ward, improve- ments on buildings and house 1,000 00 Thos. Flynn, new house. 1,000 00 CHAPTER LVI, 1887. NEW YEAR CALLS— COUNTY LEGISLATION— THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR FIRE AT JANE SVILLE— WEATHER NOTES— DIED, ROB- ERT McDOUGALL, W. S. BAKER, ROBERT EARL, ZABINA CHILD, M. D. L. COLLESTER. New Tear's day was ushered in clear and fair on the north end of an iceberg, the thermometer registering thirty-four de- grees below zero, at day-break. In the afternoon, some twenty- six gentlemen made the customary New Year calls. Messrs. E. A. Everett, B. U. Dye, W. A. Swift and Cieo. F. Tallon com- posed one party and were drawn about town hy Connelly's matched team of white ponies, hitched to a fur-covered sleigh— ])ampas grass plumes adorning the horses' heads. Messrs. H. W. Bird, Jos. Truax, and Arthur Jamison went together, riding about town on an inverted crockery crate, drawn by Charlie Clement's hybrid horses. W. J. Jennison, J. A. Stemen, F. V. Hubbard, H. H. Sudduth, A. D. Goodman and Ellsworth Good- speed composed another party. Drs. Cnmmings and Davidson, E. A. White and C. C. (iriffin constituted a lively quartette. G. W. Eckenbeck, J. D. Walworth, and N. S. Gordon drank together. Oysters, fruits, cake, and coffee were generously served and disposed of with much zest. COUNTY LEGISLATION. The commissioners this year were Austin Vinton, Philip Pur- cell, Jonas O. Sunde, James Conway, Chas. Deyling and Oliver Peterson. The board organized b>- electing Mr. Purcell chair- anan. The question of county pr-in1iiig came up as usual, a por- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 397 tion of the board desiring to let the whole of the work to the lowest bidder, while the majority, led by the chairman, decided to let only four items, to wit : proceedings of board of county commissioners, proceedings of board of equalization, delinquent tax list and financial statement. The Radical offered to print these items for one cent, and received the contract. The county fathers were very liberal this year, making appro- priations for roads and bridges. At their January meeting one hundred dollars was appropriated for corduroying slough on town line road between section 6, Alton, and section 31, Janes- ville, to be expended under the supervision of Messrs. Purcell and Conway. Thirty-five dollars was appropriated for work on road between sections 17 and 18, Iosco, to be expended under the supervision of Mr. Purcell. At the IMarch meeting appropriations were made as follows : The sum of $200 was appropriated for the repair of roads and bridges in the first commissioner district, to be expended under supervision of J. O. Sunde. The sum of $220 was appropriated to be expended in the repair of roads and bridges, in the third commissioner district, under supervision of Philip Purcell. The sum of $250 was appropriated to be expended by Commissioner Peterson — $200 of the same to be expended outside the city of Waseca on roads, and not to exceed $50 inside the city limits. Three hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated tor roads and bridges to be expended under the supervision of James Con- way in the fourth district; and $225 to be expended in the fifth, district under the supervision of Mr. Deyling. The board received and accepted the report of the committee on the Krassin bridge, and appropriated $339 to pay for the work. The report of the committee on the Boot Creek bridge was made and accepted, and $53.50 appropriated to pay for the work. At the May meeting, money was appropriated as follows : The sum of $400 was appropriated to build a new bridge at St. Mary in place of the old one, and Messrs. Purcell, Conway and Deyling were appointed to superintend the construction thereof. The sum of $400 was appropriated to build a new bridge across the LeSueur river on section 34, in Otisco, and Messrs. Peterson and Sunde were appointed to over- see the construction of it. $400 was appropriated to build two new bridges on the outlet of Lake Helena— one on section 36 in JanesvlUe, and one on section 19, in Iosco. The sum- of $120 was appropriated to build a bridge across the Little Cobb river, on section 33, town of Free- dom. $125 was appropriated to build a bridge across the LeSueur river. 398 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. between sections 24 and 25, town of New Richland; and the sum of $100 was appropriated to each commissioner district for the repair of roads and bridges. On July 25, 1887, the board appropriated $1,000 for building the Wil- ton bridge and making the approaches thereto; and an additional sum of $325 for completing the St. Mary bridge, purchasing the right of way for the same and grading the approaches thereto. At the August session of the board the sum of $250 was appropriated for completing the unfinished work on new bridges and caring for material of old bridges in the several commissioner districts. $nn,000 FIRE AT JANESVILLE. The worst conflagration -svliicli has ever visited Janesville vil- lai^e, occurred on the night of April 12, 1887. The fire was first discovered burstint^- from the roof of the barn of the Northwest- ern hotel, standing east of that building. It originated in the hayloft, and was discovered about eight o'clock. The horses in the barn were taken out without difficulty. The flames spread rapidly to the ad.joining buildings, and each new blaze gave impetus to the devouring element. To add to the sad situation the big mill had been shut doMii for some time for repairs, and no water could be obtained from that source, and all other water supplies were soon exhausted. Everything was diy and the flames soon spread to the Northwestern hotel, ]McCabe 's hotel, and Kleeman's saloon. By this time, the fire was beyond con- trol, spread rapidly each way, and soon crossed to the west side of the street. The Johnson house, barn and out-buildings, at the northern limit of the fire, were totally destroyed. ]\Ir. Church, the landlord, removed most of his furniture and goods. It was a hard blow to Janesville, but the plucky men of that energetic town soon rebuilt the waste places. WEATHER NOTES. The winter of 1886-7 gave more than the average fall of snow and cold weather. A local paper of Jan. 28 said : "The boys on the railroad are having a hard struggle with snow. The road between Sleepy Eye and Lake Benton makes costly work for the Northwestern during the winter season. JIuch of the time a snow plow has to be run ahead of passenger trains, from station to station, telegraphing back that it is safe for the latter to go on another stage. With four or five such outfits between Huron and St. Peter the expense is great, the work hard, and the delays vexatious. One or two winters of such expense would almost rebuild the line." CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 399 The snow was deep all winter and remained upon the ground until the middle of March. The last snow storm of the season Aras recorded as follows : Let it be recorded that on the 22d day of April, A. D. 1887, a fierce snow storm from the regions oi the unsalted sea visited this section; that snow fell to the depth of two or three inches, that, on the morning of the 23d, iee had formed to the thickness of half an inch. The next day the snow disappeared." NOTED DEATHS DURING THE YEAR. Robert ilcDougall passed from life into the sleep of death, on the evening of Jan. 15, 1887, in the sixty-sixth year of his life. Robert was born in the highlands of Scotland, in 1821. His parents left their native hills and settled in Canada, near Guelph, where the.v opened a farm in the then wilderness when he was a small boy. Robert spent the years of his minority at home, and encoimtered all the hardships and hard work incident to a new, timbered country. Sometime about 1854, Robert and his brother Hugh came to the "States." They stayed in Iowa for some time, then came to Waseca county, in the fall of 1855. Each made a claim where the McDougall farm now is, and com- menced keeping "batch." There were two other young men near them, from Canada, named Robbins— George and William. All of them had made claims in good faith, none of them know- ing that it was necessary to declare their intentions to become citizens, supposing that they could do that at the time of prov- ing up. During the winter of 1855-6, men from Owatonna, who had laid out and platted the village of Wilton, brought in several persons to .jump the claims of these men. This outrage aroused all the settlers in the neighborhood. A meeting was called and it was decided that the intruders must go. Robert was passion- ate and impetuous, Hugh was cool and determined. The claim- jumpers were ordered to leave at once, and so strong was the feeling that they discreetly stood aside while the "boys," as they were then called, left not one log upon another. The claim- jumpers then went to Owatonna and caused the arrest of every settler in the neighborhood except one or two, on a criminal warrant. Several of the settlers, including Robert, were found guilty of destroying property. The verdict was given by a 400 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. packed jury; on appeal the judgments were set aside. Contests were also instituted in the land office, then at Winona, regarding the claims. Matters became so warm that the men from Owa- tonna dared not be seen on the LeSueur alone, and when the land cases came on at Winona, the "claim-jumpers" were so well con- vinced that their lives were not secure that they virtually with- drew their claims, with the understanding that they might peace- ably take other claims near by. Notwithstanding this patched- up truce, the feeling did not die out, and on the night of the 19th of April, 1856, several house-bodies which had been put up on the village site were torn down and demolished. Wilton never recovered again until a year after, when the Owatonna proprietors, sold or pretended to sell their interests to other persons. The McDougall brothers, a year or so afterwards, proved up on their claims and perfected their titles. Not long after this, Hugh returned to the old homestead in Canada, where he now resides ; and Robert took his horses and wagon and started for the mining regions of the Western mountains. He spent one winter near the head waters of the Saskatchewan river; then crossed the mountains into Washington Territory, worked in different mines some time, and returned in 1860. After a short visit here, he returned to Canada, where he remained until he was married. Shortly after his marriage, in the year 1866, he settled on the farm where he' died. Had he lived imtil the follow- ing March he would have been sixty-six years of age. He left with his wife nine children— six girls and three boys. He o^vned two hundred acres of land and quite a stock of horses and cat- tle, at the time of his demise. Some eight or nine years prior to his death, he was badly injured by a horse, one of his arms being broken. A quack doctor pretended to reduce the frac- ture, but it was done so poorly that he suffered much from it. Mr. McDougall was an honest, conscientious man; and although high-tempered and sometimes very passionate, he was a kind- hearted man and a true friend. His remains were deposited in the quiet Wilton cemetery, where he sleeps the last long sleep. Died, at his home in Waseca, March 6, 1887, AVm. S. Baker, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was born in the state of Jlaine, April 28, 1808. He was a pioneer from early manhood, coming to the state of Ohio in early life. He was married to CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 401 Clarissa B. Mosher, at Marion, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1841. He became a member of the M. E. church in 1842, by conversion, and re- mained such during the remainder of his life. He moved with his family to Dodge county, Wisconsin, as early as 1844, and was among the first settlers of that locality. After out-living the pioneer days of Wisconsin, the family came to this county in 1856, and settled in Otisco. At an early day in this county, he took quite an active part in public affairs, being the first treasurer of Waseca county. Died, Oct. 10, 1887, Minnie Smith, elder daughter of flon. Warren Smith, of this city, aged 28 years, of lingering consump- tion. She had been an invalid for some time, and everything that wealth and affection could do had been done to prolong her life; but the disease was incurable, and she finally passed from life unto death. Capt. Kobert Earl, of Alton, one of the early settlers of Free- dom, dropped suddenly dead while butchering hogs, at his farm, on Monday, Oct. 17, 1887, of apoplexy. Deceased was born in Jamestown, Pa., Aug. 10, 1832, and was a little over fifty-five years of age. (See biographical sketches.) Died, Zabina Child, Nov. 5, 1887, at the residence of his son, S. P. Child, of Blue Earth City, Minn., of dropsy and inflamma- tion of his stomach. He was a contractor and builder by trade, and was a life-long pioneer. He was born in Windsor county Vt., November 22, 1808. At the age of twenty he went to St. Lawrence county. New York, working at his trade in the village of Canton and vicinity. He made his home with his father, Daniel Child, in De Kalb, St. Lawrence county, until his mar- riage to Orrilla Rice, of Jefferson county, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1833. In 1834 he removed to Ohio by horse team and wagon, with his young wife and one child, and settled near Medina, then a pio- neer settlement. He remained there until about 1837, when a failure of crops and the general hard times of that period induced him to return to his old home in the state of New York. There he settled on a small farm with his family, where he re- mained until 1843, when he again went to Ohio, remaining in Perry, Lake county, about a year. He then removed with his family to the territory of Wisconsin, stopping at Sheboygan a few weeks, and afterwards locating in Dodge county. Wis., near 402 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Waupun. He afterwards lived in Herman, Dodge county, and later settled in Outagamie county, near Appleton. Afterwards he spent some time with relatives in Pierce county, Wis., lived a while with his brother Simeon in Washington county, Iowa, and in later years resided in Blue Earth City, spending a por- tion of his time in Jackson county, Minn. He sleeps in the Blue Earth cemetery. Hon. il. D. L. Collester, then of ]\lankato, died of pleuro-pneu- monia, Dec. 17, 1887. He was buried from the Episcopal church of that city under the auspices of the I. 0. 0. F., of which he was a member. He caught cold while taking testimony in the boiler inspection matter at Litchfield, about Nov. 22, and was confined to his bed one day while there. He returned to Man- kato, Nov. 25, and on the Sunday following was taken sick with pleuro-pneumonia, of which, after a very painful illness of near- ly three weeks, he died. Mr. Collester was born in i\Iarlboro, N. H., Jan. 26, 1840. He graduated with high rank at iliddlebury college in Vei'iiiont in 1865. He then read law at Newport, N. PI., and came AVest and commenced the practice of law at Minne- apolis in 1867. Shortly afterward he accepted a professorship of Oreek and Latin languages in Shattuck school, at Faribault, and continued in this position until 1872, when he came to Wa- seca and again entered upon the practice of his profession. While at Waseca he was five years county attorney; one year mayor of Waseca, and one .year, 1885, respresented Waseca county in the state legislature, in which he was chairman of the judiciary com- mittee of the House. In the spring of 1885 he moved to ]\rankato, where he lived at the time of his death. He left surviving him, a wife and one child, a son. Mv. Collester, for many years a resi- dent of Waseca, had many warm friends. The writer certainly had opportunities equal to any to know the true character of the man. In his business affairs he was honorable, upright and prompt. In his intercourse with his fellowmen he was generous, and his gratitude for favors shown him had no end. Such a feeling as enmity or personal revenge was unknown to him. While his ambition led him at times to pander to the ignorant prejudices of class, he never failed to respect virtue and honest worth. Both on the i-ostrum and in the field of journalism we have met him in opposing argument, and yet his generous spirit CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 403 never gave way to that vulvar enmity and personal animosity Avhich too often result from differences of opinion on public ques- tions. He was a ripe scholar and an able advocate. He believed in the universal brotherhood of man, and his charity for the frailties and faults of others command a like feeling of generos- i\v in his own behalf. CHAPTER LVII, 1888. COUNTY PRINTING— CROOKED WORK— WINTER STORM— STORII REMINISCENCES BY FRANK A. NEWELL AND MIKE RYAN- FIRST FARMERS' INSTITUTE— TORNADO IN VIVIAN— ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS— DIED, S. FARRINGTON, MIKE ANDERSON, ALEX. JOHNSTON, MRS. WM. BRISBANE, J. S. G. HONNER, A. D. MONROE, A. J. AND MRS. WOODBURY, JACKSON TURNACLIFF, DENNIS SHEEHAN (KILLED)— POLITICS, DEFALCATION OF MC- KENNA IN THE SUM OF $6,694.64— RESULT OF THE ELECTION. The board of county commissioners met in annual session, Jan. 3, 1888. Philip Purcell was again chosen chairman — the members present being Jonas 0. Sunde, James Conway, Philip Purcell, Charles Deyling, and Oliver Peterson. The matter of county printing;' was again a sub.iect of contention. The follow- ing history of the affair is from the Waseca County Herald: "January 13, 1888. — On Tuesday evening of last week we were in- formed tliat a portion of the county printing would be let on Thursday afternoon and that sealed bids for the same would be received by the board. There was no written or printed notice — simply an oral one. Neither does it appear on record that the board would receive bids — it was only a slip-shod, informal invitation for bids, the board in no way agreeing to let the county printing at all — either to the highest or low- est bidder. "In response to the invitation, however, the Herald offered to do the publishing and advertising for the year as follows: Proceedings of the county board, 5 cents per folio; financial statement (three weeks) 20 cents per folio; proceedings of the board of equalization 5 cents per folio. All miscellaneous notices of the county board and of all the officers of the county to be paid for by the county, at 10 cents per folio, first publication, and 5 cents per folio each subsequent publication. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 405 "C. E. Graham, the only other bidder, offered to do the work for the following: Publish all the proceedings of the county board during the year for 1 cent; financial statement (three weeks) 45 cents per folio; proceedings of board of equalization 5 cents per folio. He did not bid on any other county work — evidently having an understanding in some way that the treasurer's notice and all other notices would be given out, from time to time, at full legal rates, 75 cents a folio for one inser- tion and 35 cents for each subsequent publication. , "Upon the opening and reading of the bids, silence reigned for a mo- ment, and then the chairman brought out some bids for forfeited lands and nervously asked what should be done with them. After some talk, the land bids were finally laid over to the March meeting, and then Mr. Sunde suggested that the printing bids ought to be considered. The chairman thought they would have to estimate as to which would be the lower bid, and, in reply to a question, said the estimate could be made from the last year's work. The other members seemed to agree to that, and then took an adjournment to 7 o'clock in the evening. "At the evening session a representative of the Herald went before the board and stated that he had measured all the work of the last year and found that all the published proceedings of the county board, for the year, measured forty-eight thousand ems (192 folios) which at 5 cents a folio, (Herald bid) would be $9.60. The financial statement of last year measured twenty-one thousand five hundred ems (86 folios) which, at 25 cents a folio— Graham's bid being that much higher than ours — would amount to $21.50. That would be $21.50 minus $9.60, leav- ing the Herald bid $11.90 less than Mr. Graham's bid for the same work. "The Herald man also asked the board, if any member of it had any doubts as to the measurement given, to employ an expert to measure the type. "And yet the majority of the board, without measuring the type or giving the matter the least investigation, as we are credibly informed, awarded the printing to the ring organ of the county. * * *" "In our last issue, we gave the substance of the proceedings of the board of county commissioners during their session last week, from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon, our time of closing the forms. Satur- day afternoon, a representative of the Herald called at the auditor's office for the purpose of obtaining from the public records the further proceedings of the board. Our readers may judge of his surprise and ours when informed that Mr. Purcell, chairman of the board, had taken possession of the records, and forbidden access to them, or their pub- lication, until after the adjourned meeting, which is to be held, as the auditor says, on Wednesday, the 25th inst. "When asked the reason of such a strange proceeding, the auditor said he could not give any. It seemed to be as much of a surprise to the auditor as to others, and when asked if he did not consider himself 40G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the lawful custodian of the county records, he said he did not know, but had supposed heretofore that he was. "As a matter of law, Mr. Purcell, as chairman of the board, or in any other capacity, has no more right or authority to talte possession of the county auditor's records and secrete them from the public than the editors of the Herald have. "The statute says: 'The county auditor shall, by virtue of his office, be clerk of the board of county commissioners of his county, and keep an accurate record of their official proceedings, and carefully preserve all the documents, books, records, maps and other papers required to be deposited or kept in his office.' Nowhere in the statute can be found any authority for the county board, as a body, or for any member of the board, even the chairman, to take possession of the county auditor's records, or any portion of them, and secrete them, or deprive the pub- lic of the right of access to them. "The proceedings of the county commissioners, as recorded by the auditor, constitute a portion of the public records, from day to day, and every citizen has the right — the legal right — of access to them in ac- cordance with the statutes. "We think the auditor erred in allowing Mr. Purcell to illegally take from his possession these records of the county and secrete them, al- though under the circumstances he may have a reasonable excuse. He says he was not certain that he had a right to refuse the chairman of the board. "Of course, being a county commissioner, and especially chairman, in the eyes of some people, make a 'mighty mucky-muck' of very poor timber sometimes. But suppose that the chairman of any county board in the state should become suddenly insane, or drunk, and in such con- dition should come into the auditor's office to carry off the county com- missioners' record book? Would the auditor be justified in allowing him to do so? "Can the people of Waseca county imagine what has caused the chair- man of the board to resort to this unlawful and, heretofore, unheard of act?" A WINTER STORM. The terrible wind and snow storm which, on Jan. 12, ISSS, swept the country from Manitoba to Te.xas seems to have been more destructive of life than any other in the history of the rountry. Nearly two hundred persons were reported frozen to deatli in Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Te.xas. Two deaths from freezing were reported in ^linnesota. The storm seems to have been much worse west of Minnesota than within her bor- ders. In this locality it was not neai-ly so bad as the s'l'^'it storut of !'■'), thoufjh it was bad enonsh. The harrowina; details of suf- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 407 fering and death would fill a whole paper. The thermometer in many places north and west of us registered sixty degrees be- low, while the government record in Minnesota says it was forty- seven degrees below. This storm set the old settlers to talking of old times. Asa Mosher, Frank A. Newell, Geo. Watkins, and others had gathered around "Bill" Johnson's comfortable gro- cery-store stove, and, among others, Mike Ryan, of Byron, one of the old settlers, dropped in. Said Newell : "This reminds me of the great storm of '73, Jan. 7. Egad! I shall never forget It. I was over at Morristown that morning. The fore- noon was mild. As the day wore on, the increasing moisture made us think that the back bone of winter was broken. About 3 o'clock p. m., Sam Stevenson and I started for Waseca. Dark clouds began to gather in the west, and about the time we reached Blooming Grove, the wind was blowing a gale, producing a change in the atmosphere that chilled the marrow in one's bones. The air was filled with blinding snow, so dense that you couldn't see the horse-whip in your hand. The sun seemed to withdraw its light, and the earth seemed to tremble be- neath the terrific fury of the continuous, howling blast. An impene- trable darkness soon settled upon the earth like a funeral pall, bring- ing with it intense cold, made doubly so by the driving, penetrating, piercing force of the wind. I felt as though I were tied down and a thou- sand imps were shoveling snow into my ears and mouth. Sam drove for all that was out, but when I got home I was nearer dead than alive. Egad! I wouldn't take another such chance as that of a winter funeral for all the wealth of a Vanderbilt." "Well," said Mike Ryan, standing with his overcoat on and his whip in hand, "I mind that storm, meself. I was in Waseca that day; and three others as was with me, and one o' them was 'Black Tom,' as we call 'im; an' we started nigh on to 3 o'clock, maybe, to git home. About the time we got to the LeSueur, the wind was a howlin' worse nor the prairie wolves, an' it wasn't long afore it was as black as a stack o' black cats. I drove a pretty good team o' them days, an' so I went ahead, but we hadn't got far on the prairie afore we was afther losin' the road. And, says I, one of us must be afther goin' ahead, so as not to lose the track. So one was afther goin' ahead, but divil the bit could we see of him, and so we told him to holler once in a while, which he did. Finally, when we came to a turn in the road, near a bridge over a slough, the man went straight on and we lost the track. Hole' on, says I, we're off the road. So we stopped, an' two staid with the horses, an' two of us looked for the road. I soon found the bridge an' shouted the others to come on. I got me horses over the bridge all right, but I soon got them down in a drift as high as their heads an' then I took them from the sleigh and said I would lead 'em. One of the men didn't come up, so we hollered and hollered, but we couldn't 408 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. hear nothin'. He could hear us, but the wind howled so we couldn't hear him. So I went back to the bridge an' found him. His team had got off the bridge an' couldn't get up, an' he couldn't get the tugs loose. So I let loose the hames, an' we got the horses out, leavin' the sleigh. Then we went on afut, leadin' the horses. Once in a while it would lighten', an' once when it lightened, I seed tnat we were off the road. Then we stopped an' consulted what we would do. So two staid by the horses, and the other two of us went lookin' for the track; an' we were to holler once in a while so as not to lose each other; an' afther a time we found the road, an' then we knew we had got on to a cross road that led to Murphy's place. So then we went on again, an' afore long we were off the road again. We could hardly see at all — the snow an' ice covered our eyes two inches, more or less. But as I was afther sayin,' we had to hunt the road again; an' so we did as before, two spread out an' was to holler when they shud find the track. An' sure enough, the two fellers as found the track shout- ed an' we shouted, but divil the bit could they hear us. So we went toward them, and after a time we couldn't hear them again. How- sumever we struck the track, an' then we hollered, but divil the word could we hear, an' after listenin' awhile we thought to go on — so we went — an' would ye belave it now? afther goin' a mile or so we found we were going the wrong way, d'ye see? an' we had to get back over the same road again. Well, as I was afther sayin', we finally got to my house just as the wife and children were cryin' their eyes out; for them other two fellers had got in ahead of us. Faith, it was a terrible storum, sir. One of the men, the feller that got his team off the bridge, was nearly dead — in fact I think he never was as good a man again. "The stable door was all drifted over and we had to shovel a hole through the drift to get the horses in. I've been more nor thirty years in Minnesota, an' never seed such anither storum as that, an' God grant I niver may." FIRST FARMERS' INSTITUTE. The first state farmers' institute ever held in the county was opened on Jlonday, ]\Iarch 12, 1888, at ^Yard's Opera House in AVaseca. It was largely attended and highly satisfactory to all concerned. It was conducted by Superintendent Gregg and six or seven assistants. A SMALL TORNADO IN VIVIAN. A whirlwind visited the northern portion of the town of Vivian on May 4, 1888, destroying a school house, a dwelling house, and a barn. ]Mr. Abraham Abrahamson, living in the track of the storm, started out to save his hay which was biMug blown CHILLI'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 409 away. He had gone but a few steps when the storm struck him, carried him some rods and then placed him very gently on the ground. He was picked up later for dead, but in a few hours he recovered consciousness. It was found that his hip and shoulder were dislocated, together with other injuries. His friends tried to get a physician but the high water had swept away the bridges and they could not obtain medical aid till Friday night. The tornado gathered immediately after a shower of rain and seemed to come from all directions. It went sweep- ing across the prairie at a fearful rate. The machine house of Mr. "Wm. Born was carried some rods away, and his machinery, plows, and wagon were badly in.jured. About the same time the newly built horse-barn of ]\Ir. H. Long, 28x16 feet, was blown away, some parts of it being carried a mile distant. The lucky part of it all was that his horses got loose at the the same time and went out unin.jured. Smaller damages were done to much other property. A door came flying through the air from the north- west, high up in the air, and landed in Mr. Ryan's field. People were alarmed and took refuge in cellars and groves, Avatehing the flying timbers until the storm passed over. ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS FOR THE YEAR. The following road and bridge appropriations were made by the county commissioners within the year. At the ilay meeting- two hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated to each com- missioner district, to be expended under the personal supervision of the commissioner of each district, on roads and bridges. At the same meeting it was ordered that $120 be appropriated for bridges in the town of Vivian to be expended under the super- vision of ]Mr. Deyling. Also, that $100 be appropriated for bridges in the town of Janesville, to be expended under super- vision of j\Ir. Conway. Seventy-five dollars was appropriated to repair Boot creek bridge tetween sections 13 and 14, town of Byron, to be expended under the supervision of Mr. Sunde." Messrs. Purcell and Conway were appointed a committee to build a bridge and grade across the outlet of Lake Elysian, be- tween section 4, in Alton, and section 33, in Janesville, and $400 was appropriated therefor to be expended under their super- vision. 410 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. The following appropriations were made by the board July 23 : For Markham bridge, $434.00; for new bridge and repairing old, on section 24, New Richland, $220.00; repairing and grading St. Mary bridge, $94.00; rebuilding bridge on sections 16 and 21, St. Mary, $70.00; repair- ing bridge on Little Cobb, Freedom, $101.00; repairing Lamb bridge, $19.00; building Iver's bridge, Boot creek, $185.00; building B. Weed bridge, Otisco and Wilton, $251.00; building McDougall bridge, $207.00; repairing Wilton bridge, $62.75; repairing Krassin bridge, $32.25; build- ing bridge on Cobbee, Freedom, $75.00; repairing Carmody bridge, Wil- ton, $76.72. NOTED DEATHS OF THE YEAR. The first this year to cross the river Styx was ]Mr. Serenus Parrington, one of the early settlers of Otisco. He was born in !Maine, September 30, 1799, and died at jMinneapolis, January 31, 1888. He settled in Otisco in 1857, where he lived thirteen years. He then moved with his wife to Owatonna, where they lived till December, when they went to ^Minneapolis to live with his son Frank. Mr. Parrington was in comparatively good health, and said grace at the supper table the night of his death, which occurred at 1 o'clock a. m. He left a widow, eighty- eight years of age, six children, sixty grandchildren and great- giandchildren. He had been married about sixty-five years, and had been a member of the Baptist church for a much longer period. Wednesday evening, March 14, at 10:05 o'clock, ]\Iichael An- derson, an old pioneer of Waseca county, died at his home in Norman county, Minn. He had been sick about two years prior to his death, of progressive muscular atrophy. For a year and a half he had been obliged to stay in bed and most of that time he suffered terribly. He was born November 29, 1828, in Nor- way, whence he emigrated in April, 1845, to Rock River, Dodge county, Wis. Within a year after arrival here, his father and grandfather both died, and the struggle with penury was a severe forming of the young boy's character. At the age of twenty-one years he was married to Elizabeth A. Stromme, who survives him. They had nine children, all boys, four of whom are living. In 1856 i\Ir. Anderson left Wisconsin with his wife, two sons, and his aged mother to seek a home farther west. He settled in Otisco early in the summer. It was two year.s liefore he raised a wheat crop of any account. His earlv thresh- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 411 ing was done by driving the oxen over the grain and cleaning il by dropping it from an elevated platform when the wind blew briskly. Alexander Johnston, who died at St. Paul, May 9, was one of the very early settlers of the ancient village of Okaman, now ex- tinct. He came as a young lawyer and opened an office in that "\illage in 1856. He was bom in the year 1833, in Orange county, N. Y., and came to Minnesota with his father-in-law, jMr. John X. Buckhout, who built the Okaman flouring mills. Later, about 1859, j\Ir. Johnston took up his residence in "Wilton, and, in 1861, drifted into the newspaper business. March 1, 1S61, he and Mr. S. J. Willis issued the first copy of the Home Views, printed and published at Wilton. In less than a year after buying Mr. Willis' interest he removed the plant to Fari- bault and continued publishing the Home Views and the North- ern Statesman until about October 1863, when he disposed of the plant. From Faribault he removed to St. Paul and went to work in the office of the old Pioneer. In 1866 he started a Democratic paper at Hastings, calling it the Union. In 1868 he went to St. Paul again and worked as a reporter on the Pioneer. He was also at divers times connected with the Press, the Pioneer Press, the Dispatch, and the Globe. He was a man of much ability, and had it not been for the demon of intemper- ance, would have been useful to society. He was by nature gen- erous and honorable, and many of the old settlers felt a pang of sorrow when they heard of his premature death at the age of fifty-five. The sudden death of Mrs. Janet Scott Brisbane, the estimable wife of Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, startled the whole community. She expired, almost without a struggle, June 14, 1888. Mrs. Brisbane was born in the parish .of Minto, Scotland, September 10, 1810, being in her seventy-eighth year at the time of her death. She married Mr. Brisbane January 2, 1832, and in 1839 came with him and their children to America, and set- tled in the state of New York. Ten years later they removed to Fond du Lac county, near Waupun, Wis., where they resided ten years. In 1859 they again moved, this time to Wilton, their home at the time of her death. She was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom survived her. She was truly a helpmeet. 412 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Much of the success of her husband and family, financially and otherwise, was due to her unselfish devotion and untiring indus- try. She was unusually well informed for a person so burdened with care, and her business shrewdness was of a high order. She was kind, gentle, and affectionate, a good neighbor and a staunch defender of what she believed to be right. Few persons were ever held in higher esteem than was she by all her neigh- bors. Hon. J. S. G. Honner, county treasurer of Redwood coiuity, died at his home in North Redwood, after an illness of two weeks, June 21, 1888. Mr. Ilonner was born in the state of New York in 1831. His parents removed to Canada where he lived until fifteen years of age and then went to ^Michigan. In 1856 he came to Minnesota, and settled in Iosco, this county. He was elected county commissioner in this county in lSti2 and served two years. He removed to Redwood county in 1864, and was one of the first settlers there. He was one of the first commissioners of that county, was the first register of deeds and for a niimber of years was assessor of the town of Honner which was named ill his honor. He was elected to the legislature in 1866, again in 1870 and in 1872 was a member of the state senate. He held the office of county treasurer at the time of his death. lie was married in AVaseca county in ISfiS, to Antoinette (ireen, who sur- vives him. They had six children, thi'ee of whom survived him. Arden D. IMonroe, son of H. C. Monroe, of AYaseca, aged twenty-four years, seven months and ten days, was killed by a runaway team, near Elmore, Alinn., Tliiirsday evening, the 19th of July, 1888. The deceased, wlio was married to Aliss Alix, of Waseca, December 1, 1887, and lived near Algona, Iowa, had been in the county with his wife visiting fen- a few days. He had also purchased some cattle to lake back with him. They stopped with his brother in A^ivian a day or two and then continued their .-journey, he driving the cattle, and his wife the team. The horses were young, and as they were di'ivini>- along near the railroad track, about two and a half miles from Elmore, in the evening, a train came along. A'oung Alonroe ludd the horses, by the head until the train ' passed, and then went ahead to look after the cattle, telling his wif(> to follow with the team at her leisure. He had gone ahead some dislance wlien she started CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 413 the team. One of them commenced to kick and plunge, and got one leg over the tongue, when both commenced to run. Mr. ^Monroe came back to stop them and was instantly run over. The horses ran but a short distance when the tongue fell down and ran into the ground, throwing Mrs. Monroe out of the wagon. She went back to her husband and found him senseless. Some hay-makers near by came to her assistance and Mr. Monroe was taken to Elmore, where he died the next day. There was a de- pression of the skull, near the temple, as though a horse had stepped on his head, and his jaw bone was broken. His father was notified by telegram and went immediately to Elmore, re- turning with the body to Janesville on Saturday. The remains were buried in the Alma City cemetery. ]\Ir. and Mrs. A. J. Woodbury, among the very early settlers at "Wilton, died at Jamestown, N. D., Sept. 3 and 4, 1888, of typhoid pneumonia. Mrs. Woodbury died on ]\Ionday, at 1:30 p. m., and i\rr. Woodbury at G :30 Tuesday morning. According to the best information of the writer Mr. Woodbury was born in 1808, in l\[assachusetts, and was therefore about eighty years of age. The telegram announced that Mrs. Woodbury was about ninety. They settled in Wilton in 1856, and built and kept what was known as the Washington House, where they continued to re- side until 1882, when they went to Dakota. The death of Mr. Jackson Turnacliff was announced in the Wa- seca County Herald of Nov. 30, 1888, as follows : "Ever and anon, as the years glide along, the hurrying throng of life's duties comes to a sudden halt, and we stand beside the yawning grave, that great leveler of mankind, where the proudest and strongest are but dust, where the weakest and poorest enjoy equal privileges in God's great laboratory of nature. This week we are called upon to record the death of Mr. Jackson Turnacliff, of Wilton, who died Tuesday night or Wednesday morning of cancer of the bowels. Mr. Turnacliff had long been a sufferer from some internal disease which had baffled the skill of our best physicians. In order to determine the disease, Drs. Young and Cummings made a post mortem examination on Wednesday which clearly demonstrated that he died of cancer of the bowels. Jack- son Turnacliff was the son of Mr. Ferdinand Turnacliff, residing in Wil- ton. He was born in the state of New York, May 6, 1835, and while a child was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he remained until twenty years of age, when he went to Iowa, where he sojourned only a short time. In December, 1855, in company with a Scotchman, by the 4] 4 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. name of Wm. Young, and Dr. Ambrose Kellogg, he came from Jackson county, Iowa, on snowshoes to Minnesota, arriving at Sutlief's place about New Year's. He made a claim on section seven, town of Otisco, which he pre-empted. He afterwards bought land in section twelve, Wilton, adjoining it, where he has ever since resided. He married Miss Lucia B. Barber, of Ohio, in 1858. His wife and a family of eight children, sev- eral of whom are married, survive. him. He lived here through all the hard times of the early settlement of the country, but was in such cir- cumstances financially that he was not only able to live comfortably himself, but to lend a helping hand to some less fortunate. He was a good citizen and neighbor, an industrious and frugal man, and a kind and indulgent parent. The date of his death was Nov. 27, 1888. Mr. Dennis Sheahan, of St. Mary, was killed by accident Dec. 2, 1888. A local paper gave the following account: Last Saturday evening, as Sheriff Krassin, Mr. John Madden, assistant road master, and Mr. D. Connell were going to supper, about six o'clock, at the crossing of the M. & St. L. road, on Elm street, they discovered a broken oil-can, a lap robe and other indications of an upset. Upon looking around they found the body of Mr. Dennis Sheahan, about two rods east of the railroad track, beside the street. He was stretched at full length on his back, in an unconscious condition. They carried him to the city engine house and summoned Drs. Cummings and Chris- tie. After an examination, Mr. Sheahan was carried to the livery stable office of Sheahan & Baldwin, where he remained until he ceased to breathe, about 5 o'clock Sunday morning. He remained unconscious up to the time of his death. As he was alone at the time of the acci- dent, it is not known just how it happened. His horses and buggy were found in the west part of the city not seriously injured. It is not known that any bones were broken, and only a. slight bruise was found on one elbow. It is supposed that death resulted from concussion of the brain. Mr. Sheahan was among the early settlers of St. Mary, hav- ing taken up his residence there in 1856. By his own industry and that of his family, he had accumulated a large property as a farmer. He was about sixty-two years of age, and left surviving him a worthy wife and ten children. POLITICS. Politically speaking, 1888 was an exciting year. For some time corruption had run wild in the county, and even the corrttp- tionists themselves fell out with one another. The head boodler was Charles McKenna who "could smile and smile and be a villain." Matters came to a head, Sept. 22, 1888, and the fol- lowing record of events is taken from one of the local papers published at the time : AUGUST C. KRASSIN. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 415 "The democratic convention was called to order by Hon. R. O. Craig, chairman of the committee, who read the call. On the instant of the closing word in the call John Moonan nominated Thos. Bohen for chair- man. Some one moved to amend by substituting the name of Martin Laudert, of New Richland. On a vote the amendment was declared lost; then Bohen was elected. He thanked the convention, and announced the election of a secretary in order. "On motion of John Moonan, James Timlin, of Iosco, was elected, with- out opposition. Mr. Moonan escorted him to the table. "A committee on credentials was appointed and as soon as its report was received and adopted, Mike Murphy moved to proceed to nom- inate by ballot a candidate for sheriff. As a result of the balloting, Krassin received 48 votes, Maloney 20, and Keeley 2. The chair de- clared Krassin nominated. The convention then proceeded to the nom- ination of representative which resulted in the choice of J. L. Hanson, of Otisco. Matters were getting warm, when Pat. Splllane moved to nominate county treasurer next. John Moonan moved to amend by substituting auditor for treasurer. The amendment was declared car- ried. The first ballot gave J. B. Madden 46 votes, and Daniel Murray, Jr., 21. The former was declared the nominee. "McKenna's friends began to get excited and several of them moved to nominate treasurer next; but McKenna's Nemesis, John Moonan, moved to amend by substituting superintendent for treasurer and the chair, amid much confusion, noise, and tobacco smoke, declared the amendment carried. Dr. Christie was nominated by acclamation, loud and long, for county superintendent. "Then pandemonium in a mild form (mild for this convention) reigned supreme for a few moments. "Dr. Craig moved the nomination of P. McGovern for county attorney by acclamation. The motion prevailed. "By this time there was 'blood on the moon,' and John Madden moved to proceed to ballot for county treasurer. "Hon. Wm. Brisbane nominated McKenna, and Darling Welch nom- inated Henry Chase. The ballot was taken, and the whole convention crowded around the tellers' table to watch the result. Pretty soon John Moonan gave a whoop, and declared there was a fraudulent vote cast by McDowell, who was not a delegate. The tellers announced the vote as follows: McKenna 37— Chase 37. "Quick as a flash some one moved that 'Henry Chase be declared the nominee of this convention.' The chair put the motion amidst the wildest confusion and declared it carried, while at least one-half of the dele- gates and many others were yelling in a way that would have excited the jealousy of a Modoc band of braves on a scalping expedition. "The decision of the chair added fuel to the fire, and the excited Mc- Kenna men rushed to the table, shook their fists in the face of the 416 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. chairman and demanded a second ballot. The chair vainly pounded the table with a cane and shouted 'Order, gentlemen, order.' "Old men with gray hair, young men and middle-aged men, all joined in a pandemonium such as the old court house never saw before. "The sheriff finally mounted the table, armed with a cane, commanded the peace, and ordered every man outside the railing except the officers of the convention. He pleaded and commanded by turns until partial order was again restored. "Some one then mov'ed to take another ballot for treasurer. The chair decided the motion out of order. John Moonan moved the nomination of C. Deyling for register of deeds. Then the floodgates of Babel were again opened, and, amid the wildest yelling and hooting, the chair put the motion and declared it carried. "By this time it began to look as though there might be something more serious than chin music, and Hon. Wm. Brisbane, declaring that he never before saw in all his life such a disorderly crowd, moved to ad- journ. Thos. Bohen, the chairman still 'full of sand,' put the motion for adjournment and declared it carried, while the McKenna men were still shouting 'ballot!' 'ballot!' 'We'll have a fair ballot or bolt' 'Give us a ballot,' etc., etc. "By this time the platform inside the railing was crowded with excited and angry men, and the sheriff had to call in the whole police force of the city to get the surging crowd back outside the railing. At last partial order was restored, and Mike Murphy mounted the table, stating that the president of the convention had abandoned his position, and advising that the delegates present choose another chairman and proceed to fill out the ticket. That seemed to please those remaining (many having left the hall) and Hon. Wm. Brisbane was elected president. He ac- cepted the election, remarking that although the convention had adjourned on his motion, he hoped that there might be a fair ballot at last. "Mike Sheeran moved that they proceed to ballot for treasurer, that the name of each delegate be called, and that each vote in response to his name. This motion seemed to prevail. Then there was a hunt for a list of names, the secretary having left the hall. The list was finally secured. As a result of this ballot, McKenna received 39 votes and Chase 12. Without seeming to comprehend the ridiculousness of the proposition, Pat. Spillane moved to make McKenna's nomination unanimous, and the motion prevailed. Without acting upon the nomination of court com- missioner, county surveyor, or coroner, the convention came to a close by common consent." , After the convention there was much excitement on the streets and it was evident that the "war" would continue. The follow- ing appeared in the Herald of Oct. 5, 1889 : "Before the last Herald was published there were rumors upon the street that Mr. McKenna, county treasurer, had left the country and was a de- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 417 faulter in thousands of dollars. These rumors were stoutly denied by his friends, who claimed that he and his wife had gone to Faribault on a visit, and would return in a few days. The Herald, ever careful of publishing damaging statements about anyone without proof of facts, refrained from making public the rumors. "It has since come to light that, on Saturday evening, after the Demo- cratic convention, McKenna at once commenced arrangements to leave. He sold his interest in the store to his partner, Mr. Bell, arranged some other matters very privately, and, on Tuesday morning, engaged a livery rig and took his wife with him to Faribault, giving out that they would visit friends there a few days. That allayed suspicion, and if any were in the secret they kept it. Mrs. McKenna did not return until Friday evening, which gave the treasurer plenty of time to join the boodlers in Canada before anyone here was aware of the facts. "On Friday, the board of audit met to examine the accounts and funds of the treasurer. They found a defalcation, and a special meeting of the county board was called. The state examiner was notified, and came down on Monday. He made examinations, results of which appear of record as follows: "Board of county commissioners met in special session, October 1, 1888, at 2 o'clock p. m., for the purpose of examining into the condition of the county treasury — members were all present. "The board of audit, consisting of Philip Purcell, chairman of the county board, S. Swenson, county auditor, and M. B. Keeley, clerk of district court, reported that on the 28th day of September, 1888, they met for the purpose of examining the books and vouchers of said office. Their examination resulted as follows: July 14th, 1888, county funds on deposit in Bank of Waseca, as reported by the bank to board of audit $13,744 71 Amount of deficiency in Bank of Waseca, Sept. 28th, 1888, or not accounted for $3,727 04 Amount drawn on private checks 1,863 39 Amount of private accounts on memorandum book. . . . 1,096 19 $6,686 62 Add together the sum unaccounted for, $3,727.04, the amount drawn on private checks, $1,863.39, and the amount credited to his private accounts, $1,096.62, and the total is $6,686.62, which is only $11.98 less than the de- falcation which is reported to be $6,694.64. We are informed that the Bank of Waseca explains that matter by saying that the bank officer July 14, made a mistake in giving the amount of the county money de- posited — the mistake being the amount of $3,727.40. "The commissioners adjourned to meet Oct. 2. At this time the board met with the members all present. "The board approved of the report. The public examiner being pres- ent, stated that he had sent a dispatch to Governor McGill, and the board adjourned until 1.30 p. m. 16 418 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. "Upon the reassembling of the board, a dispatch was received from Governor McGill to the effect that Chas. McKenna had been removed from office. Thereupon the county commissioners proceeded to the election of a treasurer to fill the vacancy. "The ballot resulted in three for H. C. Chase and two for J. B. Hayden. Mr. Chase was declared elected treasurer ad interim. "The bond of Mr. Chase was fixed at $30,000. Mr. Chase appeared and filed his bond with R. O. Craig, J. O. Chandler, John Pinley, and W. W. Day as sureties. "In the -evening the board of commissioners met and instructed the county auditor to cause an action to be commenced against Chas. Mc- Kenna and his sureties, in district court, for the recovery of moneys belonging to said county." Mr. McKenna never returned or made good the defalcation, and his bondsmen had to make good the loss to the county. There was universal sympathy for his bondsmen, all of whom were farm- ers and hard working men that had made their property by hard work and close economy. The brutality of thus betraying the con- fidence of friends is worse ten times over than ordinary stealing'. THOSE ELECTED. The fall election was an exciting one and resulted in the election of the following officers: representative, Otto Hanson; county auditor, S. Swenson; register of deeds, A. F. Kruger; treasurer, Emil Dieudonne; probate .judge, Hon. AV C. Yoimg; sheriff, A. C. Krassin; county attorney, W. D. Abbott; school superintendent, J. B. Dye; court commissioner, (i. R. Buck- man; surveyor, Orson L. Smith; coroner, H. J. Young; county commissioners, J. 0. Sunde, Albert Remund, Hon. H. AI. Buck. CHAPTER LVIII, 1889. DIED WITHIN THE YEAR, B. K. CARLTON, P. A. ERWIN, SAM KIRSTE, MAJ. W. C. YOUNG, NATHAN WOOD, MRS. McDONOUGH, WM. BEVANS, SAM MANTHB— COUNTY GOVERNMENT— ROAD AND BRIDGE APPROPRIATIONS— TAKEN TO PRISON, FRANK CONWAY OF ELYSIAN. With the opening of the year came death and sorrow as well as mirth and happiness, ilr. B. K. Carlton, of Woodville, well known to older residents, died Jan. 1, 1889. He was born in Otsego county, New York, Feb. 5, 1811 ; was married to ^liss Mary Curdiek, July 31, 1842, at Hornellsville, New York. Soon after he removed to Wisconsin and settled in Dodge county. In 1854: he sold his farm there, and the following summer can'ie to ilinnesota and settled on Bast Prairie in Rice county. He soon sold out there and came to section five in Woodville in June, 1856. He remained on this farm until the fall of 1877, when he sold it. Thereafter he resided in various places in the state, but finally returned in 1881, to this county. Mary, his wife, died July 27, 1879. Mr. Carlton left a twin brother and three children to mourn his death. That old veteran, Mr. Prudin A. Brwin, of St. Mary, peacefully breathed his last on Wednesday morning, Jan. 2, 1889, about 8 o'clock. ]Mr. Brwin was born in Pairhaven, Rutland county, Vermont, Oct. 16, 1797. In 1802 he was taken with his father's family to the wilderness of Franklin county, New York. He enlisted in the last war with Great Britain, in 1813, and served in the United States army until the close of the war. He con- tinued to reside in Franklin county until 1863, when he came to 420 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ilinnesota, and opened a farm in St. ilary. His wife died in 1867. Mr. Brwin was a most excellent citizen and a kind neighbor. His death was as peaceful and quiet as if he were Kt'ing to sleep. He will long be remembered by those who knew him for he was one of God's noblemen. COUNTY GOVERNMENT. The county commissioners met this year in annual session Jan. 1, the members being Messrs. Peterson, Sunde, Conway, Pur- cell, Deyling, and Buck. ilr. Peterson was elected chairman. The county printing was divided among three papers— the Her- ald got the tax list; the Radical, the financial statement; and the Argus, the proceedings of the board. Nothing more than the ordinary routine business transpired at the January session. At the ]March meeting nothing more than ordinary transpired. At the ilay nieetiiiji- the followinii' appropriations were made: One hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated to build a road on the town line between St. Mary and Woodville, to be expended under the supervision of Commissioners Remund and Peterson; $75.00 was ap- propriated to build a new bridge between sections 22 and 27, St. Mary, to be expended under the supervision of J. Conway; $100.00 was appro- priated to grade approaches to the Markham bridge, and to grade slough on section 5, Alton, to be expended under the supervision of Com- missioners Conway and Buck; $250.00 was appropriated for roads and bridges in the First district, to be expended under the supervision of J. O. Sunde; $250.00 was appropriated for roads and bridges in the Sec- ond district, to be expended on roads outside the city of Waseca, un- der the supervision of O. Peterson; $250.00 was appropriated for roads and bridges in the third district, to be expended under the supervision of A. Remund; $250.00 was appropriated for roads and bridges in the Fourth district, to be expended under the supervision of J. Conway; $250.00 was appropriated for roads and bridges in the Fifth district, to be expended under the supervision of H. M. Buck. A SAD RECORD. The following appeared in a Waseca local paper. August 2, 1889: Frank Conway, of LeSueur county, many years ago convicted of steal- ing a pair of H. A. Wagoner's horses, was again arrested last week, and will be taken to Stillwater next Monday afternoon, by the sheriff of this county, to serve out the remainder of his term of Ave years— four years and nine months, we hear. After his conviction of this horse- stealing crime, he obtained bail, after being in Stillwater some three CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 421 months, pending an appeal to the supreme court. His case was argued before the supreme court and that tribunal took six months in which to decide the matter. Frank says that when the case was argued he un- derstood that he was discharged. However that may be, he went to Illi- nois and also to Kansas, and when the supreme court decided against him his bail was forfeited. Shortly after going to Kansas, he was arrest- ed and put in jail, where he remained some nine months. Next he was arrested in Illinois, convicted of passing counterfeit money, and sentenc- ed to ten years in the penlthentiary of that state. Some months ago his term expired in Illinois, and he returned to his old stamping ground, near Elysian, where he was arrested and brought to Waseca. Conway is now sixty-two years of age, and begins to think the way of the transgressor is hard. Between twenty and thirty years ago, he was a very popular man in LeSueur county, and was county commissioner for several years. From his youth he was steeped in crime, but his jolly ways and honest speech, together with his native shrewdness, threw the community off his track, and only now and then a man suspected his true character. Like most men of his class^ he was somewhat of a gambler, and a hard drinker at times. It is claimed that he was, for many years, the leader of a gang of thieves and counterfeiters extending from Illinois to the extreme Northwest. Whether that be true or not, certain it is that some young men in the West took their first steps in dissipation and deviltry under the influence and leadership of Frank Conway. It is wonderful how vice will pull down and degrade a man. This man had native ability for almost any position in life. He was naturally kind-hearted and knew how to be honorable and upright, and yet he has followed a life which has brought his gray hairs in sorrow and remorse to the verge of the grave in a felon's cell. NOTABLE DEATHS OF 1889. From the Herald: "For a number of years a remarkable family lived in the town of St. Mary, section 32, between the farm of Roger Garraghty on the east, and the old Christian Krassin farm on the west. The members of the house- hold were Samuel Kirste, and his two sisters. Rose and Justina Kirste. They were very oddly acting people. Although German born and sur- rounded by their own country people, they never associated or mingled with them. The land was held in the names of the women. Samuel was a miller, by trade, and for several years was employed in the Okanian mill. Rose Kirste died over two years ago, and Justina died on the 15th of March, 1887, leaving her property by will to Samuel. It appears that the eighty acres of land upon which they lived became the property of Samuel Kirste upon the death of his two sisters. Prior to the death of the two sisters and since, scarcely any one was ever admitted inside the miserable log cabin in which they lived. They seemed suspicious of every one, apparently afraid of being robbed. It is stated that when the sisters died, Samuel procured the coffins, per- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. formed the duties of undertaker himself, and buried them without any public ceremony whatever. Since their death he had lived entirely alone, accompanied only by three dogs that kept watch over the premises. For some weeks he had been in the habit of making occasional visits to his neighbor, John Sell, and exchanging newspapers with him. As Kirste had not been around for several days, Mr. Sell went to his cabin Sunday afternoon, April 14, and rapped on the door. The only re- sponse was a moan. He looked in at the window and saw Kirste, on the floor between the stove and bed, evidently in a dying condition. He became alarmed and went immediately for Mr. Menke, half a mile away. When Menke and Sell returned, they raised a window, reached inside, turned the door key and went in. A sorry sight met their view. The poor man, sadly emaciated, lay upon the floor, gasping for breath and unable to speak. They laid him upon the bed where he breathed his last within a few minutes. Soon after Kirste's death. Sell and Menke concluded to lock the house leaving everything as they found it, notify some of the other neighbors and get some one to go to Waseca to notify the coroner. They locked the house and went to Mr. Menke's farrn. Shortly afterward, Menke heard a terrible outcry among the dogs at the Kirste place and, thinking it singular, went back to see what the trouble was. '\\Tien he reached the house he found the window open and, upon looking in, saw Dan Naughton, about twenty-tour years of age, ransacking every- thing in the house. Menke unlocked the door and ask- ed Naughton what he was doing there? Dan, at first tried to escape, but Menke prevented him, and after some dispute about the mon- ey Naughton had taken, it was agreed that they should go together to the house of James Naughton, Dan's father, and there count the money. They did so, and Dan had $908.30. Menke noted down the kinds and amount of money as it was counted over. Soon after this, the same day, Menke, Sell, and others went to Kirste's place and made further search, finding another pocket book, or purse, containing over $240. Coroner Young, as soon as he received notice, went out to the place and examined the body and premises. Mr. Menke turned over the money he found and the keys of the house to the coroner. Dr. Young then proceeded to James Naughton's, and, as coroner, called for the money that young Naughton had carried there. The Naughton family seemed unwilling for some time to turn over the money, and only conclud- ed to do so after the coroner threatened to arrest one of them. Coroner Young brought the money to town, deposited It in a bank, and engaged A. Grapp, undertaker, to-pi'oceed to the farm and bury the body. Mr. Grapp said the cabin and the man presented a sickening and dis- gusting sight. The man was emaciated as though he had died of star- vation. He was covered with filth and his garments were stiff with dirt. Th€ floor was dirty and covered with boxes, palls, trunks and old truck of one kind and another. Mr. Grapp and his assistants washed and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 423 dressed the body, put it into a decent casket, depositing beside him his musket, sword and ammunition, and consigned the whole to mother earth in the St. Mary burying ground. So far as known none of the three had relatives in this country. Sam- uel Kirste, somewhat over a year before, had made his will wherein he devised all his property to two grandchildren, sons of his deceased son, supposed to be somewhere from ten to fourteen years of age, and re- siding in Germany. , Very little was known of the history of the deceased, but there were many Indications that he was well educated and had moved in refined society. The closing scenes of his life can only be accounted for upon the theory that his mind had become unbalanced." ]\Iaj. Wm. C. Young, then judge of probate of this county, fell dead of heart disease on the sidewalk, near the corner of Elm and Second street in "Waseca on the 9th day of May, 1889. Maj. "i'oung and family came to Waseca county in 1866 and opened up a farm in Woodville. Soon after the founding of Waseca, he moved with his family to that city. He was born in Madison county, N. Y., August 10, 1826. He married, July 12, 1846, Miss Caroline Kingsley, a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and a sister of Bishop Kingsley of the M. E. church. In 1854, they came West, residing first in Fitehburg and afterwards in Madison, Wis. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. Young raised a com- pany and was chosen captain. It was designated Company E, Eighth Wisconsin infantry. In 1864, he was promoted to major of his regiment and served in that capacity until the close of the war. Soon after his settlement in this county he became promi- nent in politics. He was elected to the house of representatives of 1870, and to the senate of 1871. In 1876, he was appointed postmaster of Waseca and held the position until about 1885, when he was elected judge of probate. He was re-elected in 1888, having no opponent, and received 1,653 votes. He was the father of four children: William H., Eugene W., and Mabel A. living; and Luna E., deceased. His widow and Mrs. Mabel Bensel are residents of Waseca. ]\Ir. Nathan Wood, although not an old settler, came to Wase- ca county with his family in 1871, an(i settled on a farm in Wood- ville. He was a native of Winehendon, Mass., but emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he carried on a farm until he came to this county. He enlisted as a private in Company A, 211 Pennsylva- nia volunteers, in September, 1864, and was honorably discharg- 424 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ed by general order of the war department June 2, 1865. He was mustered into McKune Post 6. A. R., May 17, 1884. He lost his health in the army and never fully recovered, although he was somewhat better after coming to Minnesota. The last time he was out, he attended Maj. Young's funeral. May 11. He soon af- ter had an attack of pneumonia which culminated in what is termed quick consumption. His death occurred June 16, 1889, in his sixty-seventh year. His end was peaceful and his mind un- clouded to the last. He left a widow and seven children, the youngest nine years of age, the eldest being Frank A. Wood, cashier at the C. & N.-W. depot. Mrs. Rose McDonough, daughter of Andrew Lynch, of St. ilary, and one of the earliest settlers in the county, died June 22, 1889, of typhoid fever, aged thirty-two years and six months. She left a husband and five small children, the youngest about six weeks old. William Bevans was one of the very early settlers in Bja'on. Pie died at his residence July 11, 1889, very suddenly of heart dis- ease. He was a native of New York, enlisted in the Tenth IMinne- sota in 1862, and was discharged in 1864 for disability. He left a large family, having been married twice. His widow survived with two of her children. Waseca Herald, Sept. 13, 1889: Just as we were about to close our forms we learn that Sam Manthey, of this city, son of Joe Manthey, of St. Mary, was instantly liilled yesterday afternoon, Sept. 12, at the 11. & St. L. gravel pit, in the town of Otisco. He was at the time on top of a loaded car of gravel, leveling it off, when some other cars were let loose and came down against the car he was on with great force. The shock threw him off. He fell upon the track and two trucks passed over him, breaking his neck,and one arm, and otherwise bruising him. He died almost instantly. His remains were brought to the city by Mr. Her- man Rieck. He leaves a wife and three or four children in rather poor circumstances. He was born in this county and was about thirty-two years old. Nothing of importance occurred during the closing months of the year except the wann, rainy Aveather of the closing week, which gave the country a very muddy Christmas. CHAPTER LIX, 1890. COUNTY GOVERNMENT— COUNTY POLITICS— DEATHS OP JOHN COLLINS, F. L. GOETZENBERGER, HON. WM. BRISBANE, ASA ROBBINS, OLE K. KINN. The county commissioners met this year Jan. 7. Mr. Oliver Peterson was elected chairman, the other members being Messrs. Snnde, Buck, Conway, Purcell and Deyling. The county printing was divided among the three leading pa- pers of the county, at legal rates. The Herald took the tax list ; the Radical, the financial statement; and the Argus, the pro- ceedings of the board. Upon the petition of McKenna's bondsmen and many others asking the board to settle with said bondsmen at fifty cents on the dollar, — It was ordered that the county attorney be instructed * * * to receive the sum of $6,500 as payment in full and in settlement of all liability of the sureties in such case, including costs, inter- est, etc., provided said settlement be made on or before March 1, 1890. Commissioner Sunde was authorized to expend $25 on slough in Richland township ; Commissioner Buck to expend $25 on highway in Wilton township; and Commissioner Peterson, $100 on Johnson hill, Otisco. There was nothing of an exciting character in the summer ex- cept the Chautauqua Assembly at Maplewood Park, in July. This was well attended and very interesting. One of the noted speak- ers was Rev. Talmage, of New York. 426 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. POLITICAL PARTIES. The Republican county convention this year was held Sept. 20. The principal contest in the nominating convention was on senator ; Hon. Chris. Wagner won by a vote of 36 to 13 for Hon. I. C. Trowbridge. Hon. Otto Hanson was nominated for represen- tative by a vote of 34 to 16. The following were the other can- didates named : W. D. Abbott for county attorney ; Bmil Dieu- donne, for treasurer; S. Swenson, for auditor; A. F. Kruger, for register of deeds ; E. B. Collester, for judge of probate ; 0. L. Smith, for surveyor; Dr. H. J. Young, for coroner; and G. R. Buckman, for court commissioner. The Democratic county convention was held Oct. 4. The fol- lowing candidates were nominated : For senator, Dr. R. 0. Craig; representative, M. H. Helms; treasurer, A. C. Krassin; clerk of court, John M. Byron; register of deeds, John AYollschlaeger ; sheriff, Nic. Jacobs; county attorney, F. B. Andrews; auditor, Henry Jlurphy; school superintendent, J. S. Abell; probate .iud>;e, Jerome i\Iadden; and coroner, L. P. Leonard. Disgruntled republicans and railroad and saloon influences had much to do with polities that year, and in some respects the contest was a lively one. The following gentlemen were elected : Dr. R. 0. Craig, senator; 'M. H. Helms, representative; A. C. Krassin, treasurer; S. Swenson, auditor; John Wollsehlaeger, register of deeds ; F. B. Andrews, county attorney ; John ^NI. Byron, clerk of court; Henry Reynolds, sheriff; E. B. Collester, .jiidge of probate; J. S. Abell, superintendent of sehools; Orson L. Smith, county surveyor; Dr. L. P. Leonard, coroner; (4. R. Buckman, court commissioner ; Oliver Peterson and H. C. Chase, county commissioners. THE WEATHER. On the whole, the weather for the year 1890 was pleasant, and favorable to farming operations. The first installment of snow in the fall came Nov. 8. It snowed gently nearly all da.v, and covered the ground to the depth of about four inches. On Sunday many persons were out riding in cutters. The snow remained on the ground all the week, but the next week it disappeared and the weather remained mild the rest of the vear. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 427 NOTED DEATHS OP 1890. The following notices are clipped from the Waseca County Herald of the dates noted : Jan. 2, 1890: We were surprised and pained to learn of the death of our esteemed friend Mr. John Collins, of Woodville. It occurred about 6 o'clock p. m., on New Year day He had been ill of kidney complaint some four weeks, but had not been considered dangerously so to within a short time of his demise. Mr. Collins was one of our most industrious and successful farmers, having a well-improved farm of four hun'dred and forty acres. He came from Ireland to America when about five years ol: age. He has lived twenty-one years on the farm where he died. He has raised a family of five boys and four girls, who are prominent citi- zens of this vicinity. We are informed that he was seventy-four years of age last June. Jan. 17, 1890: Mr. Franz L. Goetzenberger, of this city, died at Min- neapolis last Tuesday, Jan. 14, of pneumonia, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. A few days ago he went to Minneapolis on a visit, and was taken with the prevailing influenza, which terminated as above stated. The body was brought to Waseca, on Wednesday, accompanied by his family. Mr. Goetzenberger was a native of Wurttemberg, and came to this country early in life. He lived first in New York, then came west and settled in Otisco somewhat over thirty years ago, on a farm. July 25, 1890: The not unexpected death of Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, occurred Wednesday, July 23, 1890. He was born at Glas- gow, Scotland, Dec. 11, 1811, and was, consequently, aged seventy-eight years seven months and twelve days. He had been ill for many weeks, having had an attack of Influenza shortly after town meeting, last spring. For a week prior to his death he refused food, and at times his mind wandered. He suffered much during his illness. His funeral, which took place yesterday, was very largely attended, and his remains rest in the Wilton cemetery beside his patient and loved Janet. Mr. Brisbane came from Hawick, Scotland, to America, in 1839, and settled in Delaware county. New York, where, owing to his natural sympathy for the poor and the unfortunate, he took an active and prominent part in the anti-rent troubles of that period and suffered in consequence. Ten years afterwards he bought a farm in Alto, Fond du Lac county, Wis- consin, near Waupun, where he became prominent in political circles, and also accumulated quite a property for a farmer. In 1859 he came to Minnesota and purchased the farm where he ever afterwards resided. He was a careful manager and by the assistance of his very frugal and estimable wife and family he accumulated a hand- some farm property besides materially aiding his sons in various ways. In politics and religion he was, without acknowledging it, a liberal in thought and sentiment. He was a rough diamond — somewhat warped and illshaped by surrounding circumstances and early habits — but still a diamond of no mean value. His ambition was great. His mind never 428 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ceased to work upon the problems of life, and he loved to study and discuss the principles of the government of his adopted country. No American ever had a greater love for our American institutions than he. While some of his ideas were crude, owing to a want of early education- al advantages, he was nevertheless honest in entertaining them and fear- less in giving them expression. He was always public-spirited and pa- triotic. He was invariably honest and upright in his dealings. He was a good neighbor, and although a man of strong passions, he could easily forgive. He held many minor offices during his life, and twice repre- sented Waseca county in the State legislature — in 1867 and in 1871. He left a large number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchil- dren to mourn his departure. He was a Master Mason and an active mem- ber of Wilton Lodge No. 24 while it remained at Wilton. He will be mourned as a brother by nearly all the early settlers of the coimty, and his memory will be treasured in many hearts long after his body shall have mouldered to dust. Old neighbor and friend, adieu! And may you forever progress and enjoy the spirit realms assigned to the departed. Oct. 31, 1890: Another old settler has gone to his long home. Sat- urday morning, Oct. 25th, at the home of G. H. Woodbury, near James- town, N. D., Mr. Asa Robbins, of Otisco, this county, died of typhoid pneu- monia, after an illness of one week. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, in 1811 and came to Waseca county in 1861, settling on a farm in Otisco. Mr. Robbins was one of the hardy, energetic, honest pio- neers of America. He came of New England stock and inherited and practiced the virtues of the New England people. His remains lie bur- ied in Woodville cemetery. Dec. 5, 1890: Mr. Ole. K. Kinn, of Blooming Grove, died Nov. 28, of old age, his funeral occurring Monday afternoon at the Norwegian Lutheran church, Rev. O. A. Mellby officiating. Mr. Kinn was born in Eidsvold, Norway, July 17, 1796, and settled in this county in 1857. He was buried in the Norwegian cemetery by the side of his wife, who died four years ago. He was in his ninety-fifth year, and up to within a short time of his death had enjoyed good health. He left surviving him several sons and a large number of grandchildren. CAPTER LX, 1891. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY— COUNTY BOARD— "BACO" MILL BURN- ED— WASECA'S NEW CHARTER— WASECA HOUSE BURNED— BIG- SALOON FIGHT— DEATH ROLL CONTAINING THE NAMES OF MATTHEW CONNOR, SILAS GROVER, A. C. KRASSIN, B. S. LEWIS ESQ., JUDGE HALLACK, JAS. A. ROOT, SIMON SMITH, AUSTIN VINTON. The year opened with very fine weather— at least warm weather. The Waseca County Agricultural, Mechanical and Industrial So- ciety, at its annual meeting elected the following officers: Pres- ident, Joseph Dunn ; first vice president, Isaac Vickere ; second vice president, M. W. Ryan; secretary, John Moonan; treasurer, J. A. Krassin; board of directors: M. Sheeran, J. M. Dunn, A. Vinton, H. J. Young, S. Leslie, H. Wagoner, A Hawkes ; delegates to annual meeting of the State Agricultural Society: Joseph Dunn, H J. Young, and S. Leslie. George Remund was elected general superintendent of the fair grounds for 1891. At that time the society was in a very prosperous condition. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. These gentlemen, constituting an important branch of our local government, met on the sixth day of January this year. The board consisted of Oliver Peterson, of Waseca ; Jonas 0. Sunde, of New Richland; Henry C. Chase, of Janesville; H. M. Buck, of Wilton, and Albert Remund of Blooming Grove. At this session of the board, the following entry was made : "Bid of People's Bank to pay 2 per cent on monthly balances of county funds was accepted, and said bank was declared the depository for all public funds coming into the hands of the county treasurer, with bonds 430 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. at $60,000, W. G. Ward, I. C. Trowbridge, D. E. Priest, Geo. Buckman, and Warren Smith, as sureties." This was the result after an agitation of four years carried on by the Waseca Herald demanding that the county funds be depos- ited as the law directs. Prior to that time, the election of county treasurer depended upon the wishes and desires of the banks of Waseca ; and bribery and corruption had marked each election. J. F. Murphy of the Herald, got off the following on county printing : "The county printing and publishing, for the -current year, has been let and all is quiet and serene, like a gently-flowing river. Graham and Murphy and Henry and Bronson came to an understanding and agreed to work for the county at the same rate they would charge private in- dividuals — the price fixed by law. Murphy publishes the tax list, Graham the financial statement and proceedings of board ot equalization, and Henry and Bronson the proceedings of the board of county commission- ers. Psalm cxxxiii." Very little Mas done during the year, aside from routine busi- ness. The count)- road and bridge appropriations were made at the meeting of June '22, 1891. The following is a summary : Ordered that $100 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges be- tween sections 17 and 20, 14 and 23, 13 and 24, and on section 15, all in the town of Byron; that $100 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the town of New Richland; that $75 be appropriated for re- pairs of roads and bridges in town of Iosco; that $100 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in town of Janesville; that $50 be ap- propriated to the town of Wilton for replanking the Wilton bridge; that $100 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in town of Bloom- ing Grove, between sections 4 and 9 and on section 23; that $100 be ap- propriated for repairs of roads and bridges between sections 6 and 7, 19 and 20, 28 and 23 and 1 and 2, in town of Alton; that $45 be appropriated to the town of Otisco for repairs on road, sections 8 and 20, said town, and $25 for repairs on the Burgoff Olson bridge. The proposition to lay out and improve the road from Deer- field through Blooming Grove antl Woodville, to Waseca, was discussed, and preliminary sl(>ps were taken which culminated in the establishing of the road the next year. MILL BURNED. On Sunday afternoon, Felt. 1, ISOl, the city roller mill was wholly destroyed by fire. Alimtt 1 o'clock smoke was seen issuing from around the cornice at the top of the building. The alarm was sounded and the fire department soon had a stream of wa- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 431 ter on the burning building. For about an hour it was difficult to tell which would prove the victor— the fire fiend or the firemen, but when the flames burst out of the building all thought of sav- ing the mill was abandoned and every effort was made to save the flour and other movable property in and around the premises. The safe, office furniture and about four car loads of flour were saved. There Avere nearly 200 tons of coal, 150 barrels of flour and from 8,000 to 10,000 bushels of wheat destroyed, besides a large quantity of bran and shorts and several large bales of flour sacks. The firemen and citizens were untiring in their efforts to save the property and to prevent the fire from spread- ing. Had it not been feared that the fire would reach Breen & Sons' oat meal mill, the coal, large engine, and other valua- ble machinery might have been saved, but IMessrs. Aughenbaugh and Everett did not wish to take any chances and the hose was moved further south and brought to bear on the bran house ; the fire was stopped here before the building was consumed. The origin of the fire was a mystery. Messrs. Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co. estimated their loss as follows: On stock, $10,000; on building and machinery, $20,000 to $25,000. Loss over insurance : on stock $5,000; on building and machinery, $10,000 to $15,- 000. 'Mr. Ward, who owned part of the building and some ma- chinery stored therein placed his loss at $10,000. * * * Before the embers were cold Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co., had plans pre- pared for a new structure more elaborate than the one burned. It was a severe loss to the proprietors, but with commendable courage, which admits of no failure, they soon replaced the mill and were ready to handle the fall crop of wheat. NEW CHARTER. A number of the citizens of Waseca, early in the year desiring some changes in the Waseca city charter, met together and chose Dr. Cummings, John Moonan, and James B. Child a commit- tee to revise the old charter. After much labor the revision was made, and a new charter passed by the legislature aud ap- proved by the governor, April 6, 1891. BURNING OF AN OLD LAND MARK. The Waseca House, of Waseca, was burned to the ground on 432 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the morning of April 20, 1891, between 1 and 3 o'clock. The fire caught in the second story. In a few minutes after the alarm was given the firemen were on the ground with their apparatus. Water for the fire engine was obtained from the tank of the switch engine. The fire had gained such headway, however, that it could not be extinguished. ]\Iost of the furniture and goods on the lower floor were saved. The house was known to the old settlers of this city as the Waverly House and was completed and open- ed to the traveling public in December, 1867, by ]\Ir. E. B. John- son. It then stood in the southwest part of Clear Lake City, near ilr. San Galli's home. It was built by a townsite syndicate, and was of large proportions, the main part being 26x50 feet, with an addition 26x40 feet and a second addition 16x10 feet, all two story. Mr. Coleman valued the house and contents at $5,000, there was an insurance of $2,800 on building and contents. The hotel occupied the site where the water and light plant now stands. THE SALOON FIGHT. At the spring ek-ction the people of Waseca elected aldermen that favored the enforcement of the liquor laws. They also elect- ed "Col." D. E. Priest mayor upon his pretensions that he would have the laws enforced, especially as to liquor-selling. As early as June 2, the council, by a majority vote passed ordinance Xo. 61. which required that each saloon should have and maintain a clean, clear glass-front, without screens or other means of obstructing a clear view of the whole of the inside of the saloon, in order that officers might the more easily know whether or not the laws were being violated. To the surprise of many, this ordinance created much feeling, and the following petition was extensively circulated and was signed by one hundred and tweutv-eight citizens. The petitioners set forth that : "The undersigned citizens of the city of Waseca, hereby petition your honorable body to amend ordinance No. 64, of the city, so that the same shall require keepers of saloons to remove blinds and other obstruc- tions to the public view, during the time only when they are required by law to keep said saloons closed. Respectfully representing that we re- gard the exposure of saloons and other drinking places to the public view during business hours, as unnecessary for the purpose of enforcing the laws, and that such exposure will be oiSensive to many people and espe- cially so to ladies who generally have no desire to see into or study the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 433 saloon business, and demoralizing to the young whose childish curiosl- • ty leads them into mischief and will surely induce them to gather and linger around the saloon doors and windows. That people who choose to patronize saloons should have the right to do so with the same privacy with which they attend to their other affairs. And that a business sanc- tioned by law and requiring so large a license fee as is exacted from saloon-keepers, and is under so many strict, legal restraints, should not be subjected to any unnecessary burdens." The circulation of this petition caused much excitement and a counter petition was put in circulation. It was signed by sixty- seven courageous men and read as follows : To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Wase- ca, Greeting: We, the undersigned, your petitioners, do most heartily congratulate you, upon the passage and approval of the Tate ordinance, regarding the regulation of the saloon traffic in this city; and more especially upon that section of said ordinance, which requires the removal of all screens, partitions or blinds from before the bars in said saloons. We believe the saloon business to be an unmitigated evil, so that while, under present laws it must be endured, yet that it should not be allowed to hide itself behind any sort of a defense, but should be compelled to stand out in all its hideousness, that the public may know, just what means are being used to entrap our young men, and to destroy the moral life of our com- munity; also that the officers of justice may be able to detect any viola- tion of law, and so bring to justice the offenders. We, your petition- ers, do therefore humbly pray that you will allow the present ordinance to remain as it is, nor allow any offender to escape the penalty provided therefor. The struggle was not confined entirely to laymen. Some of the clergy and many good women took an active part in the contest. On the Sunday while the contest was on some of the clergy preach- ed upon the subject. One of them taking for his text, "ilen loved darkness rather than light," (John 3:19) said in substance that ever since Adam and Eve hid behind the trees of the gar- den, men who have committed sin have sought for some kind of a screen for their sin. Men who do right are not ashamed. A prop- er business does not want screens, but publicity. A business that is right, honorable and manly, seeks the light. The liquor business seeks to hide itself ; it is ashamed of its conduct ; it caters to de- based and degraded appetites ; it panders to the lowest passions of men; it never benefits, but always injures; hence it sneaks be- hind blinds, curtains, stained glass, etc. Now our aldermen, wisely or otherwise, have passed an ordinance prohibiting blinds, cur- 4;;4 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. tains, stained glass, etc. This meets with opposition. Those opposed to the ordinance claim that women will stop before the saloons, and children, out of curiosity, will collect in front of the places, and the sights they might see and the sounds they might hear would tend to demoralize them. Then so much the more need of exposing siich a business to the light of day. A place that is not fit for a mother to look upon is not fit for a son to visit. At the meeting of June 16, when the foregoing communica- tions were presented to the council, there was an evident wavering among some of the aldermen. The petitions were referred to the committee on ordinances, and at the next meeting, June 19, the cpmmittee recommended a repeal of that ordinance and the pas- sage of another modifying the screen provision and increasing the license fee from $500 to $1,000. This raised a storm of denuncia- tion on the part of the saloon men and a combined refusal to tfike out licenses under the ordinance. The liquor interests were so strong and united that they induced sixty-three firms and bus- iness men to sign the following : "The undersigned, a committee of citizens of said city of Waseca, would respectfully represent to your honorable body, that we have become fully satisfied, that there is no possibility of any saloon license being taken out in this city, while the fee asked therefor remains any higher than the sum of five hundred dollars ($500), and we are well aware that on account of no saloon license being granted, we are injured very materially in our business, and all classes of business will suffer, as many of our best patrons go to other towns to do trading, for which reason we are prompted to, and do earnestly request you to reduce the saloon license fee to five hundred dollars, as the only remedy to restore our failing business." In addition to this legitimate appeal to the council for a return to the license fee of $500, threatening letters were sent to the mayor until he was alarmed for his personal safety. In order to let some of the aldermen and the mayor down easy, the council, upon the question of changing the license fee from $1,000 back to $500, cast a tie vote, and the mayor was called in to give the casting vote, which he gave in favor of the $500 fee. vote, which he gave in favor of the $500 fee. From July 1 to July 31 the saloons sat with closed doors— at least in front. A gentleman that was familiar with the facts as to the saloon men made the following statement: "About the first of June it became evident that fourteen men would CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 435 make application for license to sell liquor in this city, (Waseca) and the council thinking that number altogether too many for a place of this size, concluded that by putting the license up a notch, fewer men would take out licenses. Some of the saloon men fell in with the scheme, but when it was decided who should be refused license then the trouble commenced. As a compromise measure the no-screen ordinance was passed, the two saloon keepers on the council voting for it. But this did not please the high-license saloonists and one of them objected and cir- culated a petition asking that the ordinance be amended so as to require the screens to be down during the time when the saloons are required by law to be closed. He carried his point, and the council put the li- cense up to $1,000. Then the saloon keepers combined and refused to take out licenses themselves or allow any one else to take one out, and en- tered into an agreement that the first saloon-keeper who should violate said agreement and take out license, should pay $100 to each of the others in the combination. And that was why no license was taken out at $1,000 and why the saloon men won at last." OLD SETTLERS THAT PASSED AWAY. The death roll of this j^ear showed an increase over former years. The following are taken from the files of a local paper: Matthew P. Connor, of Wilton township, died IMarch 15, of consiimption, aged forty-five years. He had been in poor he^dth for several years. ]\Ir. Connor was born in Ireland, Dec. 2-1. 1846, came to Waseca county in 1857, with his parents, they settling in Wilton township. He married Alice Dolan in 1873 and was the father of eight children. He served a term as county commis- sioner and filled many local offices. He was a prominent member of the Farmers' Alliance and an upright man. ;;\rrs. Silas Grover, one of the early settlers in this county, died ]May 8, 1891, in Waseca. She was born in the state of Maine, Feb. 26, 1805, and at the time of her death was in her eighty-seventh year. Moving to Livingston county. New York, she was married to Silas Grover in 1823. They afterward moved to Wisconsin where they lived a number of years and then came to this county, settling in Otisco in 1856. She was the. mother of fourteen chil- dren, seven of whom are now living. There are now living forty grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren— her descendants, living and dead, numbering nearly one hundred. Her late hus- band was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Grover had been ail- ing all winter, but an acute attack of influenza was the immediate cause of her death. 43G CHILD'S HISTORY OF "WASECA COUNTY. August C. Krassin, then county treasurer, died August 9, 1891, and Benedict S. Lewis, Esq., died May 16, 1891. Sketches of their lives will be found in the biographical department. Hon. Caleb Hallack, of Janesville, died June 20, 1891. He had been American Express agent in Janesville for many years. He was judge of probate of this county from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1880. He was a very honorable, upright man and one of the lead- ers of temperance work in this county. He was about eighty years of age and had been ailing some time prior to his death. He was a Master Mason and buried with grand Jlasonic honors. James A. Root, of Wilton, died August 23, 1891— see biograph- ical sketch. Austin Vinton passed away quietly, Saturday, Oct. 24, 1891. He was conscious to the last and was surrounded by his children and other relatives. His death was caused by an attack of influen- za the winter before, and had been anticipated by his friends for some time. Mr. Vinton came to this state in the spring of 1856 and settled on the farm where he resided at the time of his death. He was seventy -five years old. He was a firm friends, a kind neighbor, an da good citien, always alive to the best interests of his town and countj^ He filled many positions of trust in this county and was almost always in some town office. Probably no man has served his town more faithfully and acceptably. He was elected a county commissioner in 1886, and served one term with great credit. He sleeps in Woodville cemetery. His two sons reside in Owatonna. Simon Smith died Dec. 26, 1891. The Herald said : "It is our sad duty this weelt to announce tlie deatli of an honored and aged citizen. Last Saturday afternoon, Mr. Simon Smith and his grandson, Roy Brubalier, went out to the farm in Iosco, after a load of hay. Mr. Smith complaining of feeling tired, pitched on very little hay, the little boy doing most of the work. While both were engaged in fastening the binding pole, Mr. Smith fell forward and expired without a struggle. Heart disease was probably the direct cause of his death, and it is thought that the ride out in the country, and the Intense cold of that afternoon hastened it. He was carried into the house and John Kahnke hastened to town after a physician. Mr. Smith was born in Darm- stadt, Germany, May 13, 1817. He came to America in 1S32, at the age of 15, settling in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. He went to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1842, and was married in February of that year. In 1867 he came to Waseca, and after putting up the brick store building adjoining CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 437 the Bank of Waseca, engaged in the mercantile business. He retired from business some years after, and since that time has led a quiet life, farming on a small scale, as his health would not permit much hard labor. The remains were interred in Woodville cemetery. The world was better for his having lived in it, and may the memory of his life be the means of causing many others to follow in his footsteps and become worthy and respected citizens." CHAPTER LXI, 1892. THE SHOOTING AND KILLING OF FRED WEBBER IN THE TOWN OF JANESVILLE— COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS— STORM SWEPT, CYCLONE JUNE 15— COUNTY FAIRS— FALL ELECTION- DIED: PATRICK MURPHY, A. C. SMITH, H. H. SUNDE, FRANCIS WESCOTT, DR. McINTOSH, FRED WOBSCHALL, JOHN AMER- SON, WM. EVERETT, E. E. AND JAMES HOLMES, COL. W. F. DRUM, HON. W. G. WARD, JOHN BUNAGLE, CHAS. SAN GALLI. Immediately aflei- the holidaj^s, Jan. 5, a man by the name of Wm. Koebnik, i-csiding in the town of Jane-sville, near Ely.sian, about 2 o'clock in the morning, shot and killed a man named Fred AVebber. The evidence showed that Webber was a single man, living with Koebnik; that he came to the latter 's house in a drunken condi- tion ; that a quarrel ensued between the men, one accusing the other of making too much noise. They finally came to blows when Koebnik went to his granary, got his gun, returned to the house and, after more wrangling, shot AVebber and killed him. Koebnik was arrested and bound over to appear at tlie next term of court, but the grand jui'y failed to indict on the ground that he shot Webber in self-defense. ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNTY BOARD. Mr. Peterson was again elected chairman of the board— the members being the same as in the preceding year, viz: Alessrs. Chase, Buck, Remund, Siuulc, and TVterson. Twi) important mat- ters were settled at this meeting— the iMcKenna matter and the purcbas<' of fair grounds. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 439 In the matter of the fair grounds, it was resolved that the said board purchase fair grounds for the use of the Waseca i;ounty Agricultural, Mechanical and Industrial Society, pur- suant to the power granted said board so to do in chapter 468 of the special laws of the state of ^Minnesota for the year 1891; and further that the chairman of said board appoint a committee consisting of three members of said board to procure prices and select location, and report the same to said board at the next meeting thereof. The chairman appointed as such committee ^Messrs. Chase, Buck, and Remund. As the result of this action, the present fair grounds were purchased of Mr. I. C. Trowbridge. The last of the McKenna defalcation was disposed of at this session, by the adoption of the following : Whereas, a resolution was passed by this board, Aug. 24, 1891, agreeing to receive a certain sum of money in full settlement with Timothy Sullivan, Christie McGuigan, John Keeley, Peter Burns, and the estate of Dennis Sheehan, bondsmen in the McKenna bond case; and. Whereas, Oliver Peterson, chairman of this board was duly authorized to act for and in behalf of said board of commissioners in making set- tlement with said bondsmen; and. Whereas, said Oliver Peterson did make settlement in full with said bondsmen for and in consideration of the sum of $6,600, which sum was duly paid by the said bondsmen to B. Dieudonne, county treasurer, on the 1st day of December, 1891. Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this board fully approve of the action of said Oliver Peterson and that the sum of $6,000 be accepted as payment in full to satisfy judgment entered against said bondsmen, and that the above named bondsmen be hereby released from further obligation. At this session the following sums were appropriated: $70 to New Richland to replank two bridges between sections 14 and 23 and between sections 24 and 25 ; and it was ordered that the sum of $800 be allowed for ditching, draining and bridging on sec- tions 2 and 3, Woodville, and sections 25, 26, and 35, Blooming Grove, said amount having been appropriated by the state to be paid back to the county upon the proper certificates. STORM SWEPT. A terrible cyclone swept across Southern Minnesota June 15, 1892. With a roar equal to the din of twenty railway trains running over a score of iron bridges, a great cyclone swept over the Southern Minnesota counties of Jackson, Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, Blue Earth, Mower, and Fillmore Wednesday after- 440 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. noon. The storm began about seven miles west of the village of Jackson, moved eastward over the villages of Sherburne and Wells in Martin county, passed lightly over Faribault county, caused great havoc in Freeborn and spent itself in the two coun- ties farther east. Mr. Z. M. Partridge gave us a list of casualties, in the neighborhood of Freeborn, the result of the great storm as follows: S. Keen, two children killed, two injured, and every- thing gone; Joy Tellet, two barns destroyed; Sam Lowry, barn and machinery, all but house destroyed; Mike Everson, two chil- dren killed, four hurt, house and all gone; J. A. Shequeen, every- thing destroyed, wife badly hurt, horses injured; Oliver Vert- by and E. McCauley, everything gone; Sam. Johnson, granary and barn destroyed, and house unroofed; Hans Omerson, house and machinery all gone and six of the family badly injured; John Heckes, wagon, buggy, and corn crib ; Polander, name unknown, his house lost; L. Drake, house and corn-crib destroyed; F. D. Drake, barn, granary and machine shed unroofed ; Paulson house, everything gone. Vivian, Byron, and New Richland suffered to some extent but without serious damage. COUNTY FAIRS. For six years the people, especially the farmers, had been inter- ested in county fairs, and one had been held each fall. This year extra efforts were made by the officers, and the result was a very successful fair. It was held Sept. 29 and 30, and October 1, and was largely attended. There was received from the sale of tickets, $449.75 ; from the state, $210.52 ; from privileges, $79.00 ; from entrance money, $42.10; from subscriptions, $39; from Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co., special premium, $10 ; grand stand receipts, $22.50; membership fees, $6.00— total $858.87. The fair paid out $389.80 in premiums, and $475.30 in expenses. The re- ceipts were overdrawn $5.23, but the surplus of the year before, $19.6], still left the treasury with $14.38 on hand. That year, Joseph T. Dunn, now deceased, was president, and Hon. John Moonan, secretary, both of them very energetic men. We regret to say that from that time forward interest in the county fair has waned, and for the years 1903 and 1904 there has been no attempt to hold a fair. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 441 THE ELECTION. There were only two sets of local candidates this year, Repub- lican and Democratic, except for county treasurer. For this office the Republican candidate was Capt. Walter Child, the Democratic candidate, Joseph T. Dunn, the People's candidate, George T. Dunn, and the independent candidate, Bmil Dieu- donne. On treasurer, the contest resulted in 896 votes for Child, 843 for Joseph T. Dunn, 427 for Dieudonne and 253 for George T. Dunn. The other candidates elected were: A. J. Lohren, county auditor; Peter McGovern, county attorney; Hen- ry Reynolds, sheriff; John S. Abell, superintendent; John WoU- schlaeger, register of deeds; B. B. Collester, judge of probate; Dr. L. P. Leonard, coroner; O. L. Smith, surveyor; B. P. Latham, court commissioner; Henry F. Lewer, of Woodville, Henry AY. Bluhm, of Vivian, and Thomas Boucher, of Waseca, county com- missioners. Dr. R. 0. Craig was elected to the state senate, and H. M. Buck to the house of representatives. THE DEATH ROLL OF 1892. With each succeeding year, the death roll of the old settlers increases in length. The first to be called this j-ear was Patrick JIurphy, one of the very early settlers of Blooming Grove. He died of influenza at the residence of his son Thomas, in Minne- apolis, Jan. 10, after an illness of four days, aged eighty-three years. Mr. Murphy was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He came to this county in 1856, where he lived many years, moving to Minne- apolis in November, 1891. He was the father of fifteen children, eleven of whom, with his wife, survived him. His remains were brought to Wasecii for burial and lie at rest in the Waseca Catholic cemetery. Mr. Alfred C. Smith, one of the 1855 settlers of Woodville, after an illness of nearly two years, died Jan. 28, 1892. His history is noted at length among the early settlers. The Herald: "One by one the early settlers of Minnesota pass away. Died, Feb. 4, 1892,^ at Northfield, Minn., Hans H. Sunde, aged sixty-six years and eight months. He was one of the eight families who first settled in New Richland in 1856. He came to America in 1854 and resided in New Richland up to 1883, when he removed to Northfield. His remains were brought to New 442 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Richland on the 5th inst., and were buried the 9th, in the church- yard of the Norwegian Lutheran society, which he was instru- mental in forming and of which he was a worthy member. ' ' Francis Wescott came to the township of Wilton, this county in September, 1865, where he resided eight years, when he moved to Yellow Medicine county. After living there seven years he moved to Lyon county, where he lived up to the time of his death, which occurred Feb. 29, 1892. He died of pneumonia, after a short illness. His wife and three children survived him. He was an honorable, upright man in every walk of life. Dr. L. D. ^Mcintosh, who came to Waseca in 1868, died at De Funiak, Florida, Feb. 28. 1892, of heart failure. He went there for the purpose of giving a two-weeks' course of instruc- tion at the Florida Chautauqua. He was a native of Bethel, Vt., and a graduate of the medical college at Castleton, in that state. He came West in 1860 to Sheboygan, Wis., where he mar- ried ;\[iss Rebecca Preston and resided until 1868. He was as- sistant surseon for a short time in the Forty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry in the Rebellion. He was a very ardent temperance man and prohibitionist during his residence in Waseca. He was a resident of Chicago at the time of his death. The doctor stood high in his profession. At the time of his death, he was holding a professorship in the Chicago dental college, also a professor- ship of Electro-Theropeutics in the Chicago Post-Graduate Clinic. He was at the head of the Emmert Proprietary Co., of Chicago, and was also appointed assistant superintendent of microscopy at the World's fair. Ernest Frederick William Wobschall was born the 6th day of January, 1822, in Colmar, Province of Posen, Governmental cir- cuit of Bromberg, Prussia. He came to America in 1858. After spending about two years in Indiana and Wisconsin, he arrived in Minnesota, and settled in St. Mary on the farm where he died, in June, 1855. He came in company with Fred. Proechel, (Big Fred.) Gottlieb Proechel, Martin, John F., and Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., and John G. Greening. He had a yoke of oxen and a home- made wagon, money enough to pre-empt one_hundred and sixty acres of land and improve it. In those early days he was a very industrious and frugal man, and soon became one of the wealthi- est farmers in the county. In those early daj^s, too, he was com- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASBGA COUNTY. 443 panionable and hospitable. The writer often made the trip to Hastings with him, camping by the roadside, and eating potato soup from the same kettle. Fred, probably had some faults— and who among us has not— but on the whole he was an old- fashioned German of honesty and solid worth. By his first mar- riage he had foi;r sons and one daughter, and by his second wife, seven sons and two daughters. His last sickness commenced in November, 1891, and terminated the 29th day of April, 1892, at 7 o'clock a. m. His death was caused by stomach trouble, known as gastritis. He left one brother, a widow, and fourteen children surviving him. On the 22nd day of ]May, 1892, John Emerson, after a long struggle, died of typhoid pneumonia, in the eighty-ninth year of his life. He was born in the state of Vermont, and lived in "Windsor coi^nty, that state, until 1866, when he came as far west as Wisconsin, where he remained until 1868, when he came to ^ilinnesota. He was married to Dr. Young's mother over forty years before. By his former wife he left surviving him a son and two daughters. The son is a resident of California. He was a model Yankee farmer, a strong, upright man, and a good citi- zen. If the world had no worse men than "Uncle John Emer- son," it would come very close to the ideal marked out by the gospel of peace. The death of Wm. Everett, of Waseca, occurred in California, June 21, 1892. He died of diabetes at the age of sixty-four. He was born July 6, 1828, in Sussex county. New Jersey. An ex- tended notice of his life appears in biographical sketches and in the account of the Indian massacre at Lake Shetek. There were two deaths by drowning, July 3, 1892, on section 31, town of Freedom, in the north branch of the Little Cob— Edward Eugene Holmes, fourteen-year-old son of John Holmes, Jr., and James Holmes, aged thirty-two years, uncle to the boy. Edward and some other boys were in the stream bathing, the water at that place being ten or twelve feet deep. Edward, while swimming across the stream, sank- : out of sight. This frightened his Uncle James, who plunged into the stream to save the boy. Both sank to rise no more in this life. It was thought that both got into the eddy or whirl, near the old bridge, and were whirled around until drowned. The bodies were recovered 444 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Nome two hours Mftcrwards; the iM/mains lie buried in the St. ]\rary cemetery. Died, Col. W. F. Drum, U. S. A., at Fort Yates, N. D., at 9 o'clock p. m., July 4, of apoplexy. Col. Drum, brother of S. II. Drum, of Woodville, was about fifty-nine years of age, and was a man of sterling worth and full of patriotism. He was a graduate of West Point, served during the liebellion with emi- nent ability, and remained in the service until his death. He was one of the earliest s(>ttlers near JMeriden, Steele county. Hon. W. G. Ward, whose life and death are noticed at length elsewhere, died Sept. 121, 181)2, of di'opsy. One of the early settlers in St. IMary and Freedom, IMr. John Bunagle, of the latter town, died very suddenly of heart disease. Oct. 4, is:»2. He had l)een at work with his team in the field, plowing out potatoes, when he said to his wife and daughters, M-ho wei'e with him, that he felt bad. They suggested that he go to tlie house and take a rest. When they went to the house, about noon, he was found dead in the barn. Apparently he had died without a struggle. His first settlement in this county was at the old village of St. .Mary, where he opened a small country store. XL' finally closed out his store and devoted himself to farming. After a long and painful sickness, ^Ir. Charles San Galli died Oct. 5, ]S!)2, of stomach trouble. ]\Ir. San Galli was seventy years of age, having been born in Prussia, July S), 1822. Upon attaining his ma.jority he engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued until 1840, when he came to America, set- tling in New York, where he remained about twelve >-ears. He married Miss Emily Sliepliei'd in 18r)ll, by whom be had fotir cbildi'en. His wife died in lS(i:t. After twelve years spent in New York, h(" returnecl to Piaissia for eight years, and tlien came back to America, residing in Albany, N. Y. lie came to this comity in 1869 and bought the Gruhlke farm, ad.ioining ^Vaseca on the south, wliei'e he resided with his family up to the time of his death. lie was elected to the office of register of deeds in tlie fall of 1879, liy the Democrats, and re-elected in 1881, sei'ving four years. In addition to bis other accry soon men would come in very late, others not at all, and at the end of the CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 461 first year the association was laid aside as rotten timber. It died of too much apathy or laziness. A DYNAMITE EXPLOSION. The Herald of August 3 contained the following : "Dynamite! The most fiendish outrage ever perpetrated in Waseca tooli place on the evening o( July 30, 1894, about 10:25 o'clock. The Grant House 'bus had just made the 9:50 M. & St. L. train and been returned to the barn. The horses stood on the west side of the barn, and the 'bus on the east. A dynamite bomb was evidently placed in the bottom of the 'bus with a fuse attached which reached to the door. Within fifteen minutes after the team had been put into the barn there came an explosion which tore the 'bus into fragments and made the barn look as though a cyclone had struck it. The south end and the southeast corner were torn all in pieces, the north door was thrown out into the street, the upper floor was badly demolished, and the roof badly broken. Strange to say, the horses were not badly injured. Evidently they were knocked down by the concussion, for when found they had chang- ed sides, one evidently having fallen over the other. The destruction was sudden and complete. So far as is publicly known, at least, there is no clue to the perpetrator." No clue was ever found, and the perpetrator of the terrible crime will probably die, if not already dead, with this guilt upon his soul. THE ELECTION RESULTS. The election campaign of 1894 was an exciting one. The Popu- lists polled their heaviest state vote that year. The result in this county was as follows: state senator, E. B. Collester, rep. 1,608; R. 0. Craig, dem., 705; Geo. T. Dunn, pop., 364: represen- tative, H. M. Buck, rep., 1,475; M. H. Helms, dem., 852; Keyes Swift, pop., 341 : county auditor, A. J. Lohren, rep., 1,674 ; J. B. Ungerman, dem., 944: treasurer, "Walter Child, rep., 1,551; Thos. Boucher, dem., 1,109: sheriff, Geo. H. Goodspeed, rep., 1,331; Frank Collins, dem., 1,310: register of deeds, A. E. Bishman, rep., 977 ; John Wollschlaeger, dem., 1,708 : judge of probate, Geo. A. Wilson, rep., 1,553; F. B. Andrews, dem., 1,072: attorney, L. D. Rogers, rep., 1,370; P. McGovern, dem., 1,298: coroner. Dr. W. L. Sterns, rep., 1,335 ; Dr. D. D. Smith, dem., 852 ; Dr. J. P. Corry, pop., 382: school superintendent, C. W. Wagner, rep., 1,523; J. S. Abell, dem., 1,136: Orson L. Smith was elected county surveyor, and P. C. Bailey and Herman Ewert were elected county commissioners. 462 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. DEATHS OP THE YEAR. The first old settler called to the Great Beyond, this veHr, was lion. Warren Smith, beloved by all our people. He died of stomach trouble, after a long illness, IMarch 1, 1894, in his seventy-third year. A sketch of his life appears in the biograph- ical department of this M^ork. ]\lr. Peter Burns, of Wilton, one of the early and prominent settlers of this county, died on Wednesday evening, ^lay 23, 1894. The Herald of that date said : "Mr. Burns was bom in Ireland in 1837, and came to America in 1851, stopping first in the state of Ohio. From that state he came to Minne- sota in 1856 and settled in this county. In 1862 he was married to Miss Anna Howlan and eight children have been born to them. By industry, economy, and good management they secured a competency, and he leaves his family in comfortable circumstances. He was a lover of good stock, and kept some very fine cattle and horses. He was a man of much energy, and a good citizen. He was one of the pioneers that helped to make this county what it is, and cheerfully endured the hard- ships incident to frontier life. He died of inflammation of the bladder." Jlrs. A. (_' Smith, of Woodville, died Friday morning, June 29. 1894, after a brief illness. Her maiden name was Arminda C. Fuller, and she was l)orn in Caynga county, N. Y., in 1832. When she was but a little gii-1, hei- parents moved to Cataraugus county. Western New York, and when she was twelve years old, with quite a number of emigrants from that and ad.joining counties, they took boat and came up the great lakes to Wisconsin, settling at ^lag- nolia. Here slie lived with her parents till about her eighteenth year, when she began the life of a teacher, and when she was t\venty years old, while still engaged in teaching, she was mar- ried to Alfred C. Smith, and moved soon after to Iowa, where they remained till the sjn-ing of 1855 when they moved, with four other families, to Waseca county, ;Minn., arriving June 20 of the same yeai-. She resided here till the time of her death. Slie left a family of eight daughters and three sons to mourn the departure of ■! gooil mothei'. Paul Billiard "s hotel in Wasecn look fire on the night of ^lai'ch 22, 1S!I4. The fire was soon put under control but not until one of the firemen, Byr(Mi Smith, was so in.iured that he died the next day. He belonged to the hook and bidder company and. while woi'king to subdue the fii'(>, sustained a fracture' of the skull from a falliiig (diimney. He died the next morning, mourn- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 4G3 ed by the whole city. Byron had been a lifelong citizen of the county and city. He left a wife and one child, who were depend- ent upon hi.s dail>- toil for a livelihood His sad death cast a gloom over the whole community. Mrs. y. W. ilyrick, daughter of Mr. Silas Grover, deceased,— both of these were Wisconsin and Minnesota pioneers,— passed to her final rest Oct. 22, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Myrick were very early settlers at ilinnesota Lake and opened the first hotel there. They came to Waseca at an early day in its history and opened a millinery store. She had no children of her own, but was survived by her aged husband and many relatives. ;Mr. John Remund died Nov. 26, near Wilmot, S. D., aged sixty- four years. He was a native of Switzerland and came to Waseca county in 1856, where he remained until 1882, when he and his family removed to his farm two miles east of Wilmot. A Wilmot paper says: "Deceased was accounted one of the most careful and successful of men that ever did business in Wilmot. Dur- ing his residence here he had also been engaged in farming and had always been regarded as a prompt and square man by all with whom he dealt. He was married in Switzerland in 1855 to Miss ^lary ^Minder who survived him. They were the par- ents of ten children, six boys and four girls, seven of whom are now living. His sons are Fred, John, Sam, Will, and Julius, and his daughters are ]\Irs. Louis Yonker, of this town, and Mrs, H. W. Bluhm, of Vivian, jMinn. He was a brother of ]\Iessrs, Chris., Sam., and Albert Remund, of Blooming Grove. THE WEATHER. In striking contrast with the year before, warm, pleasant weather was the rule all the fall and continued until after the holidays. The year had been a favorable one in the line of farm productions, and, aside from the financial craze that had paralyzed the business of the counti-y, the people of this county were as prosperous as usual. The depression of prices had caused a scarcity of money, but so far as the real necessities and com- forts go our people were well provided for. CAPTER LXIV, 1895. PROCEEDINGS OF COUNTY BOARD— THE NEW COURT HOUSE- CROPS AND WEATHER- DIED: MRS. JOHN BROWN, WILLIAM TAYLOR, G. GRAMS, J. R. DAVIDSON, LOUIS W. KRASSIN, ASA FRANCIS, PETER McELROY, JEROME MADDEN. The annual meeting of the county board came on the 8th day of January this year. Hon. P. C. Baik^y was elected chairman of the board. The other members of the board were : J. O. Sunde, H. F. Lewer, H. Bwert, and H. W. Bluhm. Nothing more than the ordinary routine of work was transacted at this meeting. At the meeting of ftlay 20, the following appropriations were made from the road and bridge fund : Otisco, $100 for a new bridge on LeSueur river, section 35 ; $40 for replacing the Ander- son bridge on section 34; $50 for grading road between sections 18 and 19; $25 for ditching for the road across Bauman slough on section 5; New Richland, $200 for a new bridge on LeSueur river between sections 2, New Richland, and 35, Otisco ; Byron, $30 for replanking and repairing Boot Creek bridge between sec- tions 13 and 24 ; Wilton, $115 for building two new bridges on the line between St. Mary and Wilton, between sections 6 in Wilton and 31 in St. Mary, and sections 5 in Wilton and 32 in St. IMary: Iosco, $100 for grading road between sections 7 and 18, and on section 14; St. Mary, $35 for grading road on section 16, and $35 for grading road between, sections 13 and 14 ; Woodville, $70 for grading road between sections 21 and 22 ; Vivian, $30 for grading road on section 28; $50 for grading road between sections 11 and 14. At the meeting of July 8, 1895, it was ordered that $100 be CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 465 appropriated to Blooming Grove, of which $50 was for grading road between sections 1 and 2, and $50 for grading between sec- tions 11 and 12 ; $35 was appropriated to Vivian for a new bridge on section 10 ; $30 was appropriated to St. Mary for a stone cul- vert on the Phelps road between sections 10 and 15. At the meeting September 3, 1895, appropriations were made as follows: to town of New Richland, $25 for a bridge on LeSueur river between sections 14 and 15, $60 for two bridges between sections 21 and 28, and $40 for grading road between sections 16 and 17, New Richland ; to town of Vivian, $50 for replanking the Cobb river bridge between sections 31 and 32, of said town; to town of Woodville, $50 for grading road on section 16 of said town; to town of Alton, $50 for grading road on west side of section 6, and $75 for a stone culvert on Janesville and Alma City road on section 32 of said town; to town of Iosco, $75 for grading ilcWaide hill. October 15, the following appropriations were made : to town of Janesville, $150 to aid in rebuilding old town bridge over outlet of Lake Elysian ; to town of Otisco, $50 for aid in rebuilding the Ivers bridge on section 31. The proposition to build a new court house had been discuss- ed considerably for more than a year, and at the meeting of the board Dee. 9, 1895, a petition containing over one hundred signa- tures of voters and freeholders was presented asking for the erec- tion of a new courthouse, and that a special election be appointed for the purpose of raising funds, not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, for the erection of the same. The petition was taken under consideration and the next morning action was taken thereon by the board as follows : "Whereas, a petition has heen heretofore duly filed with the auditor in and of the county of Waseca, Minnesota, signed by more than one hundred legal voters and freeholders of said county, addressed to the board of county commissioners of said county, setting forth that it is the desire of such petitioners that said county shall erect and construct a courthouse in the city of Waseca, in the coutity of Waseca and state of Minnesota, the said city of Waseca being the county seat of said Waseca county, and that the amount of money to be raised and expended in the erection and furnishing of said courthouse shall be and not ex- ceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars; and said petitioners thereby pray that the proposition expressed in their petition be submitted to the 4GG CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. electors of such county at a special election to be held at a time to be designated as provided by law; and, "Whereas, upon the presentation of said petition, it becomes the duty, imposed by law on said board of county commissioners, to cause the prop- osition therein expressed to be submitted to the legal voters of said coun- ty as therein prayed for, "Now, therefore, it is resolved by the board of county commissioners of said Waseca county, that a special election be held in said county on the 10th day of March, A. D. 1896, between the hours of 9 o'clock a. m. and 5 o'clock p. m., on said day, for the purpose of submitting to the legal voters of said county the proposition expressed in said petition." The proposition was submitted on town-meeting day so that no extra expense was incurred in voting upon the proposition. CROPS AND WEATHER. The year was blessed with as fine weather as was ever known in the county, and the crops were magnificent. The wheat yiekl was more than the average, and the quality was number one, but the price was the lowest ever known in the history of ]\Iinne- sota. On Dec. 27, 18(15, No. 1 wlieat sold at H cents. The highest price paid during the month was 47 cents for No. 1. The fall weather Avas very fine, Indian summer continuing until Nov. 18, when there was quite a snow storm, followed by colder weather. The year, as a whole, was free from excitement in this count.y. SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. Aftei" considerable discussion through the local papers, a sav- ings and loan, or building, association was organized April 26. 1S05. Its first directors were Dr. D. S. Cunmiings, D. ]\IcLough- lin, E. A. AVhite, E. C. Trowbridge, Dr. P. A. SwartAvood, W. E. Srntt. S. SweiisDu, A. D. Goodman and James E. Child. The offi- cers were Dr. F. A. Swartwood, president; E. C. Trowbridge, vice- president; A. D. Goodman, treasurer; and Wm. A. Swift, secre- tary. The association proved to lie of great benefit to the people of the city, and is still doing a good business. CALLED HOME IN 1895. ^Irs. John Brown, of Was(>ea, who died Feb. 21, was born at Point's Pass, county of Doavu, Ireland, in 1S12. She was married to John Brown in 1830, and soon afterwards they came to Amer- ica and settled in the state of New Yorlc, where thev remained CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 4G7 until about 1836, when they came as far west as Walworth county in the then territory of Wisconsin. They remained there until .187("), when they came to Waseca county. Mrs. Brown was the mother of eleven children, four of whom survive her. Her husband died some five years before. ^Ir. Peter ]MeBlroy, roadmaster of the entire ]\1. & St. L. rail- way system, died at his home in Waseca, May 17, 1895, of stomach trouble, at>-ed about sixty-eight years. He came to this country from Ireland when a boy, and, for many years, lived in IMontreal. He had been a resident of Minnesota for about fourteen years. ilr. Wm. Taylor, one of the early settlers of Blooming Grove, died in Waseca, ]May 17, 1895. On Saturday morning he was in his usual health. In the afternoon he was taken with pneumonia from which he never got better. He was born in Rothwell, Eng- land, Nov. 17, 1819. He was married and came to America in 18J:1 : returned to England in 181:3, and again came to America in 1846, settling in New Orleans. In 1850 he moved to Missouri, going thence to Illinois in a short time, where he lived until 1857, when he came with his family to Waseca county and bought a farm in Blooming (irove. Some years prior to his death he sold his farm and became a resident of Waseca. Seven sons survive him. A very sad death occurred April 23 in Waseca. The Herald gave the following account of it: "Last week was one of sadness for many of our people. First came the death of Mr. Peter McElroy, well known and highly respected, and next Mr. Wm. Taylor, a long time settler whose friends were numerous, and, finally, Mr. J. R. Davison, one of the early and prominent settlers of the state and county. Mr. Davison had started on foot to attend Mr. Taylor's funeral, Friday afternoon, when, in crossing the railroad track, near Mr. Wyman's place, he was struck by an engine. This was about 2 o'clock p. m., and, although the injuries appeared to be slight, he never recovered, dying about 6 o'clock the same evening, at the residence of Mr. S. F. Wyman, his son-in-law, of this city. Mr. Davison was an intelligent, useful citizen, and highly esteemed for his many good quali- ties. He was born in Nova Scotia in 1810, and was married to Miss Eunice Jenks in 1833. In 1848 he left the land of his nativity and moved to Maine, but having started westward he went to the new state of Indiana in 1850. That locality not proving a healthful one, he emigrated to Minnesota, leaving a newly-made grave in each ot these temporary homes. He settled near Morrlstown in 1856; but eight years later crossed the county line and built the "Traveler's Home" in Blooming 468 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Grove. He was well known to the traveling public till the infirmities of age came on. He moved with his wife in 1884 to Waseca to spend the remaining days in the home of their daughter, Mrs. Wyman. His wife died in 1885. One son and four daughters are still living to treasure his memory." About the first of November, 1895, Louis W. Krassin died at Minneapolis of strangulated hernia. He was one of the early settlers of Waseca county. At the breaking out of the Sioux Indian massacre, he enlisted as a member of Capt. Austin's com- pany of mounted rangers and participated in the whole of the Indian campaign. He was in.iured while in the service and never fully recovered— finally dying of it. He left a large family of young men and women surviving him. At the time of his death he resided at ^[ontevideo. ^\i-. Asa Franeis, better known as "Doc" Francis, one of the early settlers of ^Minnesota and of this eoiinty, was born ilay 6, 18(J(), at (ioslien, t'onn. At nine years of age he left his home and moved to central New Yoi-k, and cared for himself ever after. At the age of seventeen, he drove a wagon and peddled tinware in New York State, continuing this until 1835, when he settled on a stock farm in tlie Black River cmuitry, where he remained until the spring of 1856, when he moved to the territory of ]Miu- nesota. He was married in 1828 to ]\Iiss Eliza Jones in New York. Three children were born, two of whom died in infancy —the youngest, a son, JMarshall, lost his life in the War of the Rebellion in 1863. Mr. Francis' wife died in 1846. He married Electra Post in 1847, and she died in 1851 in New York, Hon. Orin W. Francis being the only child of this marriage. In 1852 he married Hannah Bailey in New York State, two children lieing born, one dying in infancy, the other, Lyman E.. now de- ceased, being remembered as a prominent lawyer at Ilillsboro. N. D. Dr. Francis first settled in Rice county, in this state, in 1856, and two or three years after came to Waseca county, taking a farm in Byron, where he resided until 1879, when he removed to North Dakota and took a homestead in Cass county, where he resided until 1886. That year he and his M'ife removed to Fargo, where they made their home until the time of his death. It appears that about a year prior to his death he had the grippe from which he never fully recovei-ed. He was up ajid about, hoM'ever, until the Tuesday Ix^fore his death, which CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 469 occurred December 2, 1895, at the age of ninety-five years and six months, less four days. His wife survived hira, at the age of eighty years, having been his companion for some forty-three years. ilr. Charles Domy, of Woodville, another old settler, about ninety years of age, passed over the river Jordan, Dec. 17, 1895, honored and respected by all his accjuaintauces. He vs^as of French parentage and was a native of Canada. ilr. Jerome Madden, of Waseca, whose early life is noted else- where, died this year, Nov. 18. CHAPTER LXV, 1896. PROCEEDINGS OP COUNTY BOARD— THE VOTE ON COURTHOUSE —CONTRACT FOR BUILDING COURTHOUSE LET— WASECA CREAMERY— TERRIBLE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF SOL. JIID- DAUGH— MASONIC HALL AT ALMA CITY BURNED— "EACO" MILL BURNED— CREAMERIES ESTABLISHED— DIED: JENNIE GASINK, JULIENNE MINSKE, HANNAH BUCKMAN, JOHN PETER- SON, JUSTINA KRASSIN, JOHN JORDAN, P. H. SPILLANE, MARY DONOVAN— THE ELECTION. The le<.;islative braiich of the eouiit.v i;overnment met iu annual session Jan. 7 and oruanizcd by electing Hon. F. C. Bailey to jireside. The county printing was let as follows; The tax list to the Ilci-ald, the financial statement and the report of board of ccinalization to the Kadical, and the proceedings of the county commissioners to the Argus — all at legal rates. At this session fifty dciUars was appropriated to the town of Alton for repairing the Lamb bridge. PROPOSITION TO BUILD COURTHOUSE. The following figures show the vote of Alareh 12, ISiKi. upon the proposition to build a new courthouse at Waseca. Yes. No. New Richland, town 22 64 New Richland, village 42 OS Byron 2S 51 Vivian 54 24 Otisco 33 11 ,1 Wilton 48 4S F\ eedom 28 107 \V(j()(lvi]l(' 77 20 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 471 Waseca, First ward 229 8 Waseca, Second ward 178 9 Waseca, Third ward 160 8 St. Mary , 46 65 Alton 11 114 Blooming Grove 34 45 Iosco 33 92 Janesville, First precinct 101 31 Janesville, Second precinct 22 62 Totals 1,146 937 Majority 209 At the meeting of the county board April 23, after a very lengthy and laborious examination of the eleven plans sub- mitted, the commissioners accepted the plan submitted by archi- tects Orff & Joralemoii, of Minneapolis, the cost of the building not to exceed $35,000. It is 68x911/2 feet in size, two stories high with a stone basement. It fronts on Second street, is built of St. Louis mottled brick, and is heated by steam. The first tloor is fire-proof. The tower and dome are one hundred leet high and furnish a fine look-out over the city and surrounding coun- try. After ordering the publication of advertisements for bids for constructing the proposed building, the board adjourned. At the ]May meeting, the board proceeded to open the pro- posals for erecting the new courthouse. The bids, twenty-one in number, ranged from $48,000, made by Keefe Bros., of Waseca, to $34,765.96, made by J. D. Carroll, of St. Paul Park; the lat- ter bid was accepted. The following appropriations were made to towns: To Free- dom, $75 for stone culvert on county line road on section 7, and $25 for grading road on slough between sections 27 and 34; to Vivian, $40 to be used for building bridge between sections 21 and 28, $20 for a bridge on road between sections 22 and 27. and $40 for bridge on road between sections 1 and 2; to loscd, $50 to be appropriated for grading road on section 10; to Alton, $100 for a stone culvert between sections 9 and 10. At the board meeting of May 18, 1896, the contract for furnish- ing the heating apparatus for the new courthouse was awarded to Pond, Hasey & Co., of Minneapolis, for $2,150. W. P. Porter & Co., of St. Paul, also had in a bid at $2,325. 472 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. In the afternoon the board ordered the purchase of sixty feet front of the Priest land, adjoining the courthouse grounds, and appropriated $2,5Q0 to be paid upon receipt of proper convey- ance of land. The following appropriations were made from the road and bridge fund : Town of New Richland, $30 for two bridges and ap- proaches on road between sections 17 and 18; $30 for grading road between section 2 in New Richland and section 35 in Otisco ; and $40 for two bridges between sections 15 and 22 in New Rich- land; to town of Otisco, $35 for a bridge and grading on sec- tion 10; $45 for repairing the Walstrom bridge, and $20 for re- pairing bridge on section 9. At the September meeting, the following appropriations were made from the road and bridge fund: Town of Byron $25; town of Janesville $100 ; town of St. IMary $50. The erection of the courthouse progressed slowly during the year 1896. The contractor finally failed entirely, and the Amer- ican Surety Company, his bondsmen, were compelled to take charge of the building and complete it. Great credit is due to the board of county commissioners and to Hon. A. J. Lohren, then county auditor, for this very complete edifice. It is of much credit to the county. The American Surety Company and Hon. S. P. Child, its state agent, are also entitled to credit for honestly carrying out the contract. THE WASECA CREAMERY got its start the first of this year. A joint meeting of farmers and business men was held the Saturday before New Year's day and a subscription for stock started. John Diedrich headed the list with fifty shares, or $500. Committees were appointed to solicit stock and also to ascertain the number of cows that would be pledged to the enterprise. At the adjourned meeting held Jan. 3, there was a large attendance and the following offi- cers were then chosen for the first year: Thomas Bowe, presi- dent; W. PI. Wheeler, vice-president; James Conway, secretary; AVm. Mittelsteadt, treasurer; Cornelius McGonagle, Fred. jNIah- ler, and D. A. Brwin, directors. The officers were also elected directors. On motion of John Diedrich, the chair Avas authorized to ap- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 473 point a committee on articles of incorporation and by-laws, and the chairman appointed Messrs. John Diedrich, W. H. Wheeler, James Conway, Wm. Mittelsteadt, C. McGonagle, Fred Mahler, and D. A. Erwin as such committee. The meeting then adjourned to meet at the same place Thurs- day, Jan. 9, 1896,- at 1 o 'clock p. m. The committee on articles of incorporation and by-laws met on Monday and drafted articles and by-laws for the association. Forty-six farmers subscribed for stock, the total amounting to $3,080. Members of the association met again Jan. 9, selected a site for the building, adopted articles of incorporation, and made arrangements to perfect the organization and to erect a creamery building. The enterprise proved to be an entire success, and the association is doing good work to-day. The lib- eral business men of Waseca subscribed to the enterprise $365. TERRIBLE SUFFERING AND DEATH. Solomon Middaugh, one of the early settlers of Meriden and Waseca, about 1875, moved with his family to Jackson county, Mum. On Jan. 15, 1896, in returning from Estherville to his home, his team ran away, throwing him out and breaking both his legs. His brother, R. M. Middaugh, of Waseca, went to his brother's assistance and wrote the following letter describing the closing scenes of the sufferer's life : Petersburg, Jackson Co., Minn., Jan. 27, 189G. To the Editors of tlie Waseca County Herald: It is evening and the doctor has just left us giving no hope that dear brother Sol. will live through the night. While I am writing this he is resting quietly, but has passed a very hard afternoon. Ah! but how he has suffered ever since the awful Monday night, just two weeks ago, when, lying upon the prairie, he vainly called for help that did not come. Poor fellow! He lies helpless upon a high bed, with both legs strapped to the ceiling and walls to keep them in place. How he has lived through it all is a mystery. The particulars of the sad accident, so far as I can learn, are these: He was coming home from Estherville with a horse team attached to a lumber wagon loaded with some lumber and tin roofing. When about one mile from home the ring on one of the singletrees broke, letting the tongue down. The horses ran, striking the wagon tongue against a stone which threw the wagon high in air, and this was the last poor Sol. knew until he found himself on the prairie, some distance from the road, with both legs 474 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. broken close below the knees. He must have fallen with both legs into a wagon wheel. The track showed that one of the wheels must have been clogged for some distance, as It dragged on the ground. When he recovered his senses he crawled some twenty rods, leaving a trail of blood all the way. Pools of blood in places show that he must have stopped to rest several times. At last, when near the road, his strength gave out, and he had to give up. He gathered his broken legs under him as best he could, and there remained all the long night calling lor help. About 8 o'clock the next morning he was found, more dead than alive, by some school children on their way to school. The team did not go home, but ran across the fields through a wire fence, and, when found the next morning, one horse was still attached to the front axle, with only one wheel on, and some of the fence wire hanging to it. Both horses were cut some, but not seriously. The wagon was a total wreck, scattered in every direction. Many wonder why Sol. did not bleed to death during the night, ancj the only answer is that his leg froze and this stopped the flow of blood. Although he had on warm felt boots, they were frozen solid and had to be cut open to get them off. These are the disconnected facts concerning my brother Sol., and, if you can fix them up, they may be of interest to his many friends in Waseca county. Later. — Poor Sol. passed away this (Tuesday) morning at 2 o'clock. Yours in sorrow, R. M. MIDDAUGH. LODGE ROOM AND RECORDS BURNED. On the night of I\Iay 23, 1896, the IMasonie lodge room, at Alma City, was burned. The lodge occitpied rooms over Daniel J. Bickford's blacksmith and wagon shop. The cause of the fire is unknown to the public. It seems that there was lodge meeting that night until after 10 o'clock; within two hours after- ward the whole building was in ashes. My. Bickford lost nearly all his tools and stock on hand, and the hall and all its contents, including the records, M'crc consumed. The records of the lodge were the oldest in the connty, being "Wilton Lodge No. 21," organized in lSr)9. Most of the older IMasons in the county took their first IMasonie lessons in that lodge while it M^as located at Wilton. Many of the "boys in blue" were initiated into the mysteries of the order preparatory to taking their chances on the Southern battle fields. After the old village of Wilton had shi'uiik out of sight, as it were, the archives of the lodge, retaining the old name and number, were removed to Alma Citv. ^IJmm^Mfm ^/ag)^i^:-m» lio CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 475 BURNING OF THE "EACO" MILL. xVt about twenty minutes after 3 o'clock Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, 1896, the fire alarm and mill whistle aroused our citi- zens and it was soon discovered that the old and long-vacant coffin factory, on the west side of the M. & St. L. railroad track, nearly opposite the flour mill of Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co., M'as on fire. It made a terribly hot fire, but soon burned to the groimd, and the people were just congratulating one another that the fire was no worse, when the cry went forth that the flour and bran house on the south of the mill was on fire. Undoubtedly the heat upon the sheet iron covering had set the woodwork inside on fire. Every effort was made by the fire department to keep down the flames, but the high wind and the bursting of a watermain in the south part of the city at that time, reducing the pressure, combined to aid the flames which were carried directly into the windows of the mill. It was short work for the consuming element to destroy one of the best mills in the state, the accumulation of years of industry, economy, and safe biisiness management. Two cars loaded with flour were also consumed. The total loss of the Eaco Milling Company was estimated at $70,000, and the property of the mill was insured for $45,000. The old coffin factory was of little value and had been, for a long time, the tramps' paradise. There is no doubt that the fire was either the work of incendiarism or the careless- ness of tramps. The mills were at once rebuilt on a more elaborate plan than before, and are, at this day, doing the best of work. SEVERAL CREAMERIES. Several farmers' co-operative creameries were established in the county this year. In addition to the Waseca creamery, the following are noted : In the month of January, the farmers of St. Mary and adjoin- ing towns organized a co-operative creamery association by adopting articles of incorporation and subscribing stock to the amount of $3,500. The following officers were chosen: Patrick Campion, president; James Byron, secretary; M. W. Keeley, treasurer; M. Gallagher, manager; George Kahnke, Steven Priebe, Michael Sheeran, and Michael McGonagle, Jr., directors. The last of January, the farmers of Otisco and vicinity, organ- 47G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ized a creamery association and elected as its first officers, Hon. H. M. Buck, president; Joseph Fromlath, treasurer; R. Jacoby, secretary; W. R. Brisbane, Louis Anderson, Amil Weckwerth, Chas. J. Johnson, John A. Johnson, board of directors. The amount of capital stock was fixed at $3,000. The Janesville creamery had been running a .year, and the Argus reported it as follows : ' ' Total number of pounds of milk- received, 1,077,905 ; pounds of butter fat, 41,839 ; pounds of but- ter made and sold, 48,923 ; average price per pound, twenty cents plus a fraction. The officers for the ensuing year are P. 0. Ayers, president; J. H. ^Murphy, vice-president; James Sullivan, secre- tary; J. W. Jennison, treasurer; Ed. Hayden, A. Gunn,- IT. Hu- gunin, H. 0. Thrall, and the officers named, constitute the board of directors. DEATHS OF 189G AS NOTED. I\Irs. Jrnnie Gasink, about eighty-three years of age, mother of Albert, John, and Gradus Gasink, died Jan. 28, of old age and the grijipe. She ciime to this country from Holland in 1847, and settled fii'st in j\Iilwaukee, Wis. She and her husband moved to Sheboygan, the same state, in 1853, and came to "Wa- seca in 1869, where she has since resided. Her husband died some nine years before. She left siirviving her seven children and a large number of grandchildren. ^Irs. Hannah Biu'kman, wife of Augustus Buckman, died Feb. 26, at Waseca. She was l)orn in Crown Point, state of New York, March 20, 1840. She M-as luarried in December, 1863, and came to Minnesota in 1,S69. She became the mother of seven children, five of whom survive her. She was first taken with pleurisy, and typhoid pnpinuoiiia followed. Slie had passed the critical point in her illness, it was thoui;lit, and she appeared much bet- ter. But later slie was taken with congestion of the stomach and rapidly sank into the sleep of death. Mrs. Buckman Avas a kind-hearted, good neighbor, evm- ready to share her scanty fare with those in need. She -^vas one of God's noble workers who somehow so often fail to receive a fair share of the comforts of th(^ life wliich they work so liard to produce. Hers had been a life of toil and eare on behalf of lier children, and mav her CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 477 memorj^ and industrious example be to them a monitor and guide through life. ]Mr. John Peterson, of Otisco, one of the very early settlers of the county, died Aug. 27, 1896, of cancer of the liver. He was born in Sweden, Feb. 6, 1828. lie came to America, stopping at Chicago, in 1853. He worked in Chicago six months, going thence to La Fayette, Indiana, where he worked until he came to JNIinne- sota via Red Wing, in 1857. He at first secured 120 acres of land on section 28, Otisco, and afterwards bought 40 acres more. Soon after his settlement here he married Miss Carolina Hokan- son, of the same town. They had nine children. Mrs. Peterson came from Sweden with her parents in 1858. Mr. Peterson had the misfortune to lose one arm in a threshing machine, in Octo- ber, 1875. Mrs. Justina Krassin, widow of Martin Krassin, after long years of poor health, passed peacefully away, Aug. 31, 1896, aged sixty-one years. She was born in Germany, in 1835, mar- ried ]Martin Krassin in 1851, and came with him to America in the year 1854. She reared a family of six children, all of whom are living except Aiigust C, who died Aug. 9, 1891. Another old settler departed this life, Sept. 1, 1896. The Herald noted his departure as follows : Mr. John Jordan, a single man, of St. Mary, was found dead in his bed on Wednesday morning. He arose about 4 o'clock and was about the house for a short time, and then retired to his room where he was soon after found dead. Mr. Jordan was born in Ireland, June 4, 1835, and came to America with his family in 1849. He first landed in New Brunswick, afterwards lived in Massachusetts, and came to Minnesota in 1856, settling on section 16, in St. Mary, where he had since resided. He remained single, having upon his farm a renter family at the time of his death. Mr. Jordan was a jolly, easy-going, pleasant man, with mimerous friends. It is supposed that he died of heart disease. Patrick H. Spillane, Esq., of Woodville, after a severe illness, died December 19, 1896, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a native of Framore, Ireland; came to America at the age of ten years, lived near Waupun, Wis., enlisted in Company D, Third Wisconsin infantry, in February, 1864, marched with Sherman to the sea, was engaged in the battle of Averysbovo, N. C, Avhere he was shot through the body, just above the hips, and from which he never fully recovered. He married Miss Charlotte 478 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. LaBg, in 1867, and the same year came to this county. The next year he took a homestead in Faribault county, where he re- mained some eight years, and then returned to Waseca county. He was, for several years, jarior to his death, justice of the peace of Woodville, and a prominent member of the G. A. E. post of Waseca. He was honorable and upright in his dealings, and possessed high qualities of good citizenship. His funeral took place with military honors at the Catholic church, Father Trean- or officiating. He left surviving him a widow and five children — three l)oys and two girls. j\Irs. j\lary Donovan, of Woodville, passed to her long rest, Dec. 22, IMitti. She was the widow of the late C. Donovan, and had been sick for many months of cancer. She was a native of County Cork, Ireland. She and her husband came to this county from Wisconsin over twenty-five years ago. She left five sons and two daughters to mourn her departure. THE GENERAL ELECTION. This year saw the great struggle between plutocracy, or the gold standard advocates, and democracy, or the bimetallists of the county, and plutocracy won by an overwhelming majority. In Waseca county the gold standard won by a majority of six hundred and forty votes. The local candidates received the fol- lowing votes : Representative, John Wilkinson, rep., 1,940, Keyes Swift, pop- ulist, 1,315 ; auditor, A. J. Lohren, rep., 1801, John S. Abell, dem,, 1,448; treasurer, W. H. Koesler, rep., 1,913, E. R. Krassin, bimet- allist, 1,366; sheritf, Geo. H. Goodspeed, rep., 2,101, P. H. Kene- han, populist, 1,198; register, Chas. San Galli, rep., 1,202, John M. Wollschlaeger, dem., 2,131; judge of probate, Geo. A. Wilson, rep., 2,145, John j\Iadigan, dem., 1,117; attorney, L. D. Rogers, rep., 1,559, P. McGovern, dem., 1,739: clerk of court, Henry Re.v- nolds, rep., 2,009, John ]M. Byron, dem., 1.290; school superin- tendent, C. W. Wagner, rep., 2,227. Dr. J. P. Corry, populist. 1,171. Orson L. Smith, for county surveyor, E. P. Latham, for court commissioner, and Dr. JF. J. Taylor, for coroner, were elected without opposition. Joseph Fromlath, of the first com- missioner district, Henry P. Lewer, of the third, and Raymond CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 479 Doyle, of the fifth, all democrats, were elected county commis- sioners. THE WEATHER. As a rule, the weather was favorable throughout the year. The heaviest rain storm of the season commenced Nov. 25, and continued three days. The long drouth which had prevailed in the Northwest for two years was broken. The sloughs and low places were filled with water and the high lands were thor- oughly soaked. While November was cold and stormy, the first half of December was mild; but the latter part of the month was stormy, and in the last week of the month a very severe sleet storm visited Southwestern ]\Iinnesota, extending into this coun- tv. CHAPTER LXVI, 1897. COUNTY PRINTING — COUNTY BOARD— CONTRACTOR CARROLL DISCHARGED — COUNTY APPROPRIATIONS — NEW COURT- HOUSE COMPLETED— TORNADOES— WILLIAM HARDING'S 100 YEARS- DIED: J. W. HOSMER, WILLIAM VON SIEN, ESTHER M. YOUNG, J. C. HUNTER, R. P. STEVENS, CORNELIUS McGON- AGLE, THOMAS CAWLEY, C. M. READ, MATTHEW COLEMAN, CHARLES M. SMITH, W. H. IVERS— DECORATION DAY— SHORT CROPS— HOG CHOLERA. The year was ushered in with a January thaw which lasted about a Avoek and closed with a sleet and snow storm and then colder weather. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK. The board of county commissioners met in regular session Jan. 5, 1897. Members present, Joseph Fromlath, P. C. Bailey, H. F. Lewer, H. Ewert, Raymond Doyle. The board organized by the election of Mr. Lewer as chairman. The board of audit made a report designating the Citizens State Bank of Waseca and the Peoples Bank as depositories of county funds for the ensuing two years. The publishers of the newspapers of the county having failed to come to any agreement regarding the county printing, the whole of it was awarded to the Waseca Coiinty Herald at five cents a description for publishing the tax list, and one cent for all the other publishing. John D. Carroll, the courthouse contractor, having failed to carry out his contract on time, the countj' commissioners met in CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 481 special session Feb. 2, 1897, and resolved "that the said contract and said modifications therein with the said John D. Carroll is hereby declared forfeited by him, and that the same be and is hereby terminated and ended as to performance thereof by him and that he is hereby required to cease any further work on said courthouse and all charge or control of the construction of the same." Qn Feb. 6, the board again met and by arrangement with S. P. Child, agent of the American Surety Company, the contract for finishing the courthouse structure was let to C. F. Haglin, of Minneapolis, for $10,000. The board of commissioners, at their session. May 21, 1897, received proposals for building a steel bridge instead of the old ]\Iarkham bridge in the town of Alton from the Gillette, Herzog ilanufacturing Company, of Minneapolis, the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company, of Milwaukee, the Massillion Bridge Company, of Ohio, the A. D. Wheaton Bridge Company, of Chicago, and the N. M. Stark Bridge Company, of Des ;Moines, Iowa, ranging from $1,100 to $975. These proposals were all rejected. The members of the board, in company vidth the bridge builders present, proceeded to the Wilton bridge for the purpose of examining as to the condition of said bridge, and upon the return the board concluded to auction off, to the low- est bidder, the building of two steel bridges in place of the old Wilton and IMarkham bridges. Thirty-five bids were re- ceived, ranging from $2,000 to $1,299, for building the Wilton bridge. Then eight bids ranging from $2,200 to $2,195 for build- ing the two bridges named were received. The lowest bid was made by the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Company, of Minne- apolis. This bid was accepted, and it was ordered that the con- tract for the building of said bridges be awarded the said Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Company, of Minneapolis, the Wilton bridge for $1,260, and the Markham bridge for $935. On J\Iay 22 it was ordered that the following appropriations be made from the county road and bridge fund: To town of Vivian, $50, for grading road on marsh between sections 6 and 7 in said town ; to town of Iosco, $50, for the new road between sections 27 and 28 of said town; to town of Blooming Grove, $50, for grading road between sections 14 and 15 in said town; to town of New Kiehland, $100, for a bridge on section 31 of said 18 482 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. town; to town of Alton, $60, for a stone culvert on road between sections 13 and 14 of said town. On June 16, 1897, bids having been received by the board- It was ordered that the contract for the building of a combination bridge, on section 1, of Janesville, be awarded to the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Company, of Minneapolis, for the sum of $445. It was also ordered that the contract for the building of a combination bridge on section 33, of Otisco, be awarded to the said Gillettte, Herzog Manu- facturing Company for the sum of $450. Commis_sioner Ewert was ap- pointed to oversee the building of the bridge on section 1, of Janesville, and Commissioner Fromlath was appointed to oversee the building of the bridge on section 33, of Otisco. At the same meeting, appropriations were made as follows : To Lars Syverson, $25, for damages on land caused by the change of location of the Wilton bridge; to town of Freedom, $50 for grading ap- proaches to the bridge on road between section 1, of Vivian, and section 36, of Freedom. The town of Freedom was also allowed to expend an appropriation made May 7, 1896, on the Bull Run bridge on section 13, of said town; to town of St. Mary, $50, of which $25 is to be expended on road between sections 13 and 14, and $25 for grading road on sectioa 1 of said town. At the meeting of Sept. 6, the following appropriations were made from the county road and bridge fund: To town of Janesville, $30, for grading approaches to the n,ew bridge on section 1, of said town; to town of Freedom, $50, as aid in the build- ing of a new bridge across Bull Run, on section 13, of said town; to town of Woodville, $65, for grading road between sections 13 and 14, and 21 and 22, of said town. At an adjourned meeting held Oct. 22, 1897, it was ordered that the new Wilton bridge be accepted, and that the contract price, $1,260, less $35, be paid to the Gillette, Herzog ]\Ianufac- turing Company. It was also ordered that the ilarkham bridge- be accepted and the contract price, $935, be paid to the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Company, conditionally, that the little sag in said bridge, now appearing, be straightened by said firm free of charge within one year from date, which order was accept- ed by the representative present from said firm. THE NEW COURTHOUSE. The new courthouse was completed abotit the 1st of August, 1897, and was formally dedicated, Sept. 23. The following ac- count is from the columns of the Waseca County Herald: "The recent completion of our grand, new courthouse, with its nicely CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 483 graded grounds and pleasant surroundings, calls to mind the courthouse history of this county, which may be of some interest to the present generation. "The county of Waseca was organized by act of the territorial legis- lature, dated Feb. 27, 1857. By that act the voters of the county were authorized to hold an election on the first Monday of June, 1857, to choose the county seat and elect county officers. Three villages, Wilton. St. Mary and Empire, were candidates for the county seat, and Wilton won. Strange as It may seem, nothing is left of these "ancient towns" except the lands upon which they were built. "The first courthouse was a store building, about 24 feet wide, CO feet long, and two stories high. The record of its purchase reads as follows: " 'At the session of the board of county supervisors, Oct. 12, 1859, M. S. Gove, H. G. Mosher, and J. W. La Paul were appointed a committee to purchase the store building owned by Thos. L. Paige, in the village of Wilton, for a courthouse, with the county certificates of tax sales of lands sold In 1858, and bid in by the county — ^the amount of said pur- chase not to exceed $700. E. A. Rice, register of deeds, was ordered to assign the certificates upon receiving deed.' "The building was purchased and used as a courthouse until it was destroyed by fire, April 3, 1869. "The same year of the purchase of the courthouse, a jail, costing about $500, was built adjoining it on the north end. This was also burned by the same fire that consumed the courthouse. "The records were nearly or quite all saved, and the county officers took temporary quarters in the wagon shop of Bernard Bundschu. The county board at that time consisted of R. F. Stevens, John S. McKune, Robert Earl, Wm. Byron, and John Buckhout. They met in special ses- sion April 15, 1869, and finally purchased the John C. Hunter building for $500, to be paid from the insurancp money on the old building. This was the second courthouse, worth milch less than the first, but serving the purpose after a fashion, until the J)€nding county seat conflict should be permanently settled. "Waseca had been platted in 1867, and was already a large and thriving town. That it would eventually secure the county seat was inevitable. "At the next session of the legislature, February, 1870, an act was passed authorizing the village of Waseca to issue bonds in the sum of $5,000, the proceeds to be used In the building of a new courthouse for the county of Waseca, upon the removal of the county seat to Waseca. The people of Waseca voted in March to issue the bonds and before fall the then new courthouse was completed. 484 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. COURTHOUSE OF 1870. "This courthouse, removed last spring, was a fine brick structure, 40x50 feet on the ground, and two stories high. The lower floor was divided into four ofiices, and the second floor was used as a court room. At that time, 1870, it was one of the best and most commo- dious courthouses in Southern Min- nesota. The building was for years poorly cared for by the county board and left to decay. "The history of the present new and elegant courthouse, just com- pleted, is .'current history, fresh in the minds of our people. It is 74 feet north and south by 92 feet east and west. The tower is 100 feet high, with a flag staff 30 feet in length. Its total cost. Including land, furniture, burglar-proof safes, etc., as reported by Auditor Lohren, is $55,833.07. In all its appoint- ments it is most ample and com- plete. The vaults are large and roomy, and most of them well light- ed. The county offices are all on the first floor, the second floor be- ing devoted to the court room, jury rooms and judge's private room. "Though there are more costly courthouses in the state. It Is be- lieved that there is not one of its size so complete and ample in its COURTHOUSE AT WASECA 1896-7. arrangements. TORNADOES. There were two severe storms in the summer— one on the 10th of June, the other July 6. The ('ream correspondent of the Herahl Avrote as foUows : June 10, Cream and vicinity were visited by high winds, electrical dis- turbances, rain, and hail, about half past four o'clock p. m. There were several hurricanes formed. They were perpendicular cloud columns reaching from the upper clouds to the earth. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 485 The one south destroyed Postmaster Oleson's home and its con- tents, his barn and grove. Some of the contents of the office were picked up two miles away. The column passed just south of Mr. Hydorn, picked up the Wm. Davidson school house, and whirled it all into pieces. The register and some of the library books were picked up east of Plum Val- ley, near Sam. Hodgkin's place, in Vivian. It just brushed Mr. Krause's new house, which is being constructed, but left it unharmed. People that were near say the roar was deafening. The hurricane that passed north tore down a barn northwest of Alma City. There were four horses in the barn which escaped unharmed. A cow near by had a leg broken. Coming in just east of the village of Alma City, it caught the creamery building and twisted it into pieces. Mr. Blckford's nearly new, large house was moved from its foundation, the roof injured, and porch and kitchen torn away. Mrs. Blckford had over a hundred chickens before the storm; the next day she had but one and that had been blown into the house. The storm passed thence east, doing much damage near Ped- dler's Grove. The Alma City correspondent described the storm as follows : It started northwest of Alma City, visiting Mrs. Gleason's place and tearing down the ice house. A new barn, built last summer, was car- ried out into the road and left in splinters. Prom there the tornado went to John Markham's and moved his new barn the carpenters had just commenced, off its foundation. From there it went to the creamery and left the building nothing but a wreck, carrying some parts of it a long distance. From there it went to Brother Bickford's and just riddled things. Some hogs and chickens were killed and one horse considerably injured, but he will live. Fences were torn down, trees broken off and torn out by the roots. Mr. Bickford was knocked down and hurt, but is now at work. The family saved their lives by being in the cellar. It unroofed Mr. Le Selle's granary and tore his fences down. It was a terrific storm and the wonder is that no one was killed or seriously in- jured in the vicinity. The Otisco correspondent related that the storm twister of the 10th struck Otisco, Thursday afternoon, at the Le Sueur river bridge, near Ed. Weed's place, moving directly east. No build- ings happened to be in its path until Mr. John Carlson's place was reached. There the machine shed, and new barn were blown down and dashed into splinters, not enough whole lumber beino; left to make a chicken coop. Mr. Carlson and two sons were in the barn at the time, and were blown away with the building. All were more or less hurt, but strange to say, none seriously. Most of his machinery and his wagon and buggy were also de- stroyed. Other reports showed that while the rain was general through- 48G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. out the county, the high winds prevailed only in the central por- tions. The large barn of jMr. Wm. Meyers, on section 31, St. Mary, was lifted from its foundation and broken all in pieces. For a wonder the ten horses in the basement of the barn were unin- jured. His wind mill was shattered, and the porch to his house was torn off. The roof of one of the barns on the Lamb farm, in Alton, was torn off. Giis. B. Vogel, on section 3, Freedom, had his buildings torn down, and his face considerably cut. His family -w^ent into the cellar and escaped injury. It is reported that the wind mills of Nic Fox, James Kaiser, and Julius Meyers, in Jleyers ' neighborhood, were badly shattered. The cyclonic por- tion of the storm, in this coiuity, was confined to narrow limits; but near Lyle, IMower county, many buildings were torn down, several persons killed, and a number wounded. THE JULY STORM. On July 6, 1897, manj^ counties were visited by destructive hail and wind storms. A large territory at Sleepy Eye was devastat- ed by hail. Delhi, Redwood county; Fulda, jMurray county; (ilenwood. Pope county; Marshall and Minneota, Lyon county; St. Cloud, Stearns coimty; Northfield, Rice county; Adrian, Nobles county ; Anoka, Anoka county ; and Claremont and West Con- cord, Dodge county, were all more or less injured by terrible hail storms. The most disastrous of the many storms was a tor- nado at Glenwood, Pope county, in which several people were killed and injured, a score or more seriously. The storm tore down buildings of all kinds and killed stock in great numbers. A local paper contained the following regarding this county : "The storm of last Tuesday did much damage to the M. & St. L. rail- road tracks north of here. A freight train containing goods for this city was ditched. The passenger trains yesterday were compelled to go around by way of Mankato. Regular trains resumed to-day." The Palmer correspondent of the Herald Avrote of the storm as follows : "Tuesday night, this section was visited by the heaviest and most fearful rainstorm the oldest inhabitants ever saw or ever wish to see again. People were awakened from their slumbers by the force of the storm to behold the heavens ablaze with lightning and one vast, white Khe€t of rain all around. The water fell in torrents. It was as though the sides had opened and a sea of water was pouring down. It was a cloudburst of I he fiercest kind. There is no way of estimating the amount CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 487 of rain that fell. A kerosene barrel that stood away from any building, where no water could run into it from the roof, and about one-fourth full of water the day before, was full to overflowing after the storm. Every slough, meadow, and little hollow was full of water the next morn- ing. For over a week the farmers had been laboring under difficulties in making clover and timothy hay. Tons of the finest hay were caught out in cocks or wipdrows. The hay is practically a total loss. A few had succeeded in getting a good lot of hay in stack only to find, after the storm, that the tops had been washed or blown off and the stacks water- soaked to the bottom. The loss in hay will be heavy. Aside from the loss of cut hay, the soil has been washed off corn fields and higher lands onto the grass lands, completely burying the grass, or making It so dirty it is unfit for hay. Many of the sloughs and meadows are still under water from one to three feet, and the grass seems to be rotting. There are, as yet, only small areas free of water. WILLIAM HARDING'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS. ^Iv. Wm. Harding, of the town of St. Mary, in this county, with the aid of hosts of friends, celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of his birthday, April 1. ^\v. Harding first saw light in East Orsley, England, one hun- dred years ago— the year that John Adams was inaugurated president of the United States, and more than two years before Geoi-ge "Washington died at Mt. Vernon. At the age of about fifteen years ]Mr. Harding became, for a short time, a British soldier in the war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States. He remained in Canada, at different places for fifteen years, and then settled in Milwaukee, where he remained some five years. He next went to Burlington, Vermont, where he re- mained until the breaking out of. the Mexican war with the United States, which lasted from the latter part of 1845 to the beginning of 1848. He served the United States during the Mex- ican struggle, and afterwards resided in Chicago, where he re- mained until about 1858, when he came to Minnesota and set- tled in Iosco. Prior to the War of the Rebellion he lost his wife. January 24, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota regiment and served until September 13, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. He married Mrs. Reibling, Nov. 20, 1867, and by this marriage he had three children— Prof. Everhard Harding, of the State University, William, Jr., and Miss Caroline, now Mrs. George Phelps. It is said that he was the oldest G. A. R. man in America. He enjoyed his usual health until about the 488 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. first of September, 1897, when he seemed to be overcome bv thp extreme warm weather, and sank peacefully to his final rest and to an honored grave, Sept. 7, 1897. DEATHS NOTED DURING THE YEAR 1897. The first to cross the river of Death this year was ^Ir. J. AY. Hosmer, one of the first permanent settlers in the town of Janes- ville. He died Feb. 24, 1897. He was born in Genesee county, N. Y., ]\lay 19, 1824. He came as far west as "Wisconsin when eighteen years of age and remained there until 1856, when he came to Minnesota and lived for a short time in Empire (Iosco), where he opened a store. He remained there but a short time, when he disposed of his store and, at what was kno^^Ti as Old Janesville, built a sawmill which was very beneficial to early settlers in the county. He also engaged in mercantile enter- prises and did a thriving business as Indian trader — there being man}' of the natives on the Winnebago reservation near by. He also engaged extensively at one time in the production of honey, owning the largest apiary in the West. He became known nationally as an expert in the management of bees and the pro- duction of honey. It is said that in one year his bees produced nine tons of honey. He died of paralysis, and at the time of his death was one of the oldest settlers remaining in the township. Mr. William Von Sien was born in ilecklenberg, Schwerin, Germany, Aug. 28, 1832. He came to America about 1861, and worked for some time near Waukesha, Wis. Coming to Waseca county in 1867, he settled south of Waseca. By his first wife, who died in 1870, he had one daughter, since married. He mar- ried Catharine Theis, in 1872, by whom he had ten children, all living. He died on Tuesday night, April 6, 1897, of heart dis- ease. Mrs. Esther W. Mosher Young died of Bright 's disease, April 25, 1897, at Minneapolis, Minn., aged sixty-nino years. She was born in th(> state of Ohio, October 13, 1827. Her parents remov- ed from Ohio, to Wisconsin, about the year 184."), and lived in the town of (Chester, Dodge county, some six miles south of Wau- pun. She remained with her parents in Wisconsin until about 1854, when she married Mr. Parthian Young. She caiii(> Avith her husband lo Minnesota in IS:").") or lS^iC\ and with him made CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 489 ;i. claim on what was long known as the Peter Lindsay farm, on the south line of Woodville township. They sold to Mr. Lindsay and returned to Wisconsin. Some time afterwards, most of her people living' here, she returned to Minnesota with her two daughters, where she remained until her death. Minnie, the older daughter, died when about fifteen years of age, and Nellie, the younger, is now a prominent teacher in the city schools of INLnneapolis. ilr. John C. Hunter, an early and prominent settler of this coimty. died at his Duluth home on Thursday evening, ]\Iay 15, 1897. ^Ir. Hunter was for years a prominent merchant of Wil- ton, and well and favorably known by all the early settlers of the county. He had an attack of grippe in early winter from Avhich he never recovered. He was a brother of Mrs. W. A. Henderson, of this county. His wife, two sons, and three daugh- ters survive him. It is said that he left large property interests in the northern portion of the state. :\lr. Royse F. Stevens was born in New Portland, Somerset county, ]\laine, August 29, 1817. His wife's maiden name was Lucinda jM. Spaulding. They came to Minnesota in 1863, and first lived in Vivian on a farm. Afterwards the family moved to AVilton, and j\Ir. Stevens engaged in the work of blacksmith. Later he bought a farm in Wilton, where he lived with his fam- ily until about IS^^'l. He was county commissioner during the years 1868, 1869, and 1870 and again in 1873. He sold his farm in Wilton and removed with his family to the vicinity of Lake Benton, .Minn. There his wife died Oct. 16, 1881. There- after he lived with his children in Dakota and western Minneso- ta. About 1896 he returned to this county and lived with his son Edwin. He was taken ill the 18th of January, 1897, and soon became unconscious. He remained in this condition with only lucid intervals until his death which occurred May 27, 1897, in his eightieth year. He Avas a good citizen and a kind neigh- 1)or. His remains were taken to Lake Benton and buried beside those of his wife. :\Ir. Cornelius ]\IcGonagle, of St. ilary, passed to his last rest July 19, 1897, after an illness of about two Aveeks. He died (ibout 10:30 o'clock of stricture of the bowels. He was born in this county 38 years before, being the son of Mr, Michael Mc- 490 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Gonagle, Sr., one of our oldest settlers. He was a communicaut of the Catholic church, a member of the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians and of the Foresters of America, and an honorable, upright citizen, held in high esteem. He left surviving his wife, an in- fant daughter, and numerous other relatives to mourn his early departure. Mr. Thomas Ca-i\'ley, of Blooming (Jrove, who came to this coun- ty in 1866, after a long illness, died Sunday night, Aug. 15, sur- rounded by his family. His funeral, which was very largely at- tended, took place at the Catholic church in Waseca, and his remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, south of that city. ilr. C. il. Read, the aged father of Conductor Harry A. Read, died suddenly Sept. IS, 1897. He had been in his usual good health, and was coming in from his carpenter shop, when, as he opened the screen door to his son's residence, he fell dead iipou the floor. He undoubtedly died of heart disease. He was born in Xew Haven, Conn., October 20, 1813. At the age of twent.v-two years, he came as far west as Cleveland, Ohio, where he resided for many years. He was one of the aldermen of that city in ISiS. In 1854, he came to Tama county, Iowa, where he lived until he came to Waseca, about 1883. ilr. iMatthew Coleman, for many years a resident of this coun- ty, died at his home in Waseca, Sept. 26, 1897, at an advanced age. He first settled on a farm in the south part of the county in 1862, and about 1868 came to Waseca and opened the "Waseca House, " ' where the electric light plant now is. He and his son con- ducted this hotel for several .vears. He was in poor health for more than a year prior to his death. Mr. W. H. Ivers, of New Richland, met a sudden death on Wed- nesday, Nov. 3, 1897. He had carried his milk to the Xew Rich- land creamery and had nearly reached home when he suddenly fell from his buggy and broke his neck, dying almost instantly. It is supposed that he fell in a fit, as he was subject to such spells. jMr. Ivers was among the early settlers of the county. and owned a fine farm on section 6. The farm has a flowing well and an artificial lake well stocked with carp. DECORATION DAY. The thirtieth day of May, held sacred to the memorv of the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 491 brave men and the devoted women that served this country dur- ing the days of the wicked Rebellion of 186f-5, was duly ob- served in 1897. The day in Waseca was observed more appro- priately and with greater propriety than on any previous oc- casion. There was an earnestness and thoughtfulness quite commendable on such an occasion. The addresses were good. Mayor iloonan voiced the patriotic sentiments of the younger generation, while Rev. S. G. Updyke re-kindled the fires of patriotism that burned in every loyal heart during the "sixties," when the traitor horde, led by that arch conspirator, Jeff Davis, assailed the national life and, with traitor hands, attempted to destroy personal liberty throughout the world. While neither address was partisan, ]\Ir. Updyke 's side statement that, al- though corporations and trusts seemed now to be uppermost, still he believed that the people would yet triumph and hand down to future generations our glorious government unimpaired, was thoughtful, truthful, and appropriate. Such words from a veteran of the War of the Rebellion— a man of education, of extensive historical research, of conscientious convictions, of un- selfish love of humanity— give us hope for the future, hope for our country, hope for the great brotherhood of toiling humanity in the days to come when, regardless of wealth, "A man is a man for a' that." SHORT CROPS. The crop of wheat this year was a partial failure in yield, and was considerably injured by the heavy rains of July. The hay crop was also injured by heavy rains. The wheat crop of India being also a failure that year caused a rise in the price of wheat so that our farmers received about as much this year from their poor crop as they did the year before from a much better crop. HOG CHOLERA. Hog cholera was brought into this county from Iowa in 1896 by the importation of a few carloads of hogs to be fed and fat- tened. The importation proved to be a calamity. Nearly half the hogs in the county died of the disease in 1896-7-8. In fact the disease still lingers in some neighborhoods, and the utmost 492 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. care is required to preveiit its spread. The importation of hogs and cattle at any time from the South is a great mistake on the part of Minnesota farmers. CHAPTER LXVII, 1898. COUNTY PRINTING— ROAD AND BRIDGE APPROPRIATIONS- DEATHS: HELENA CLARK, PETER BECK, FRED PROBCHEL, MRS. MARTIN KAISER, L. F. PETERSON, S. SWENSON, GOTT- LIEB PRECHEL, C. KELEHER, WILLIAM BURKE, O. W. FRANCIS, S. W. FRANKLIN, WARREN GATES, JOHN BAILEY, J. F. PRES- TON, AUGUSTA KRASSIN, FRED REDESKE— WEATHER AND STORMS— NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH— FRED JIETZLER'S LEGS CUT OFF— ELECTION. The board of county commissioners of AA'aseca county, ;\Iinn.. met in regular session, at the office of the county auditor, of said county, on the 4th day of Jan. 1898. ^lembers present : H. F. Lewer, Joseph Fromlath, P. C. Bailey, Herman Bwert, and Ray- mond Doyle. Commissioner H. P. Lewer was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Only the usual routine of business was transacted, except the following : It was ordered that $50 be appropriated to the town of Wilton for graveling the Wilton bridge grade.. For the first time in the history of the county all the county printing was let to the lowest bidder. The Herald was awarded the publishing of the financial statement, the county commissioners' proceedings, the proceedings of the board of equalization, and the official ballot of the next general elec- tion. The Radical got the tax sale notices, and also all the sta- tionery printing and the court calendars, and the Journal was awarded the tax list, the official blanks, and the printing of the official ballots. At this meeting the county commissioners accepted the offer 494 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. of AlcKune Post Grand Army of the Republic to plant its cannon on tlie courthouse ^'rounds. At the session of March 15, 1898, it was ordered that the ap- propriation made to the town of Freedom, July session, 1896, be used for gi-ading l)etween sections 28 and 33 and between sec- tions 27 and 34, of said town. Also ordered that the appro- priation to the town of Freedom, made at the June session of 1897, be used foi- a stone culvert on county line road on section 7 of said town. Ajjpi'opriations were made to the town of Wilton, $20.60, for i-epairing the Turnacliff bridge in said toM'n; and to town of Otisco, -triO, for grading county line road on section 12 of said town. At the meetinu- of Jlay 20. the following appropriations were made : To the town of Byron, $35 tor repairing bridge between sections 13 and 24, $2.5 for a new bridge between sections 29 and 30, and $40 for new bridge and grading between sections 25 and 26, all in the town 01 Byron; to the town of Vivian, $40 for grading and repairing bridge between sections 22 and 27, and $40 for grading and repairing bridge between sections (1 and 7 all in the town of Vivian; to the town of St. Mary, $150 tor a stone or steel bridge on section 10 and $40. G3 for replanking the Kerr bridge, all in the town of St. Mary: to the town of Alton, $75 tor a stone culvert on section 17, and $25 tor grading new road on section 27, all in the town of Alton; to the town of Bloom- ing Grove, $30 for grading road between sections 10 and 11, $30 for grading county line road on section 25, and $40 for grading road be- tween sections 17 and 18, all in the town of Blooming Grove; to the town of Iosco, $15 tor grading road between sections 7 and IS, $40 for grading road between sections 24 and 25, $20 for ditching road be- tween sections 22 and 27, and $15 for grading road on section 13, all in the town of Iosco." At the session of July 12, 189S, it was ordered that $31."). 00 l)e paid to the (iillette Herzoii' Manufacturing- Co. on contract for tlie new St. Mary bridt;e. It was also ordered that the expense for placiiii;' the cannon on the courthouse lirouuds to the amount of .tlH.l.ge be paid from the county revenue fund. At the .hily me(>tin^-, it was ordered that the new St. i\lary l)ri(l^e, built by the (iillette, Ilev/on- :Manufacturing Co., of 'Sliu- ncapolis, b(> accepted, :ind that the bahince of the contract pric(\ .$],000.00, l)e ]iaid. At the meeliiiff of October 20, 1S9S. it was ordered that the |);iy I'oll presented liy Commissioner Fronilath in the sum of CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 495 .+237.00, for grading the approaches to the McDougall, Holz, and AVeed bridges, be approved; that the pay roll presented by Com- missioner Doyle for grading at the St. Mary bridge, in the sum of $90.80, be approved, and that the pay roll presented by Com- missioner Ewert, for grading approaches to the Lamb bridge, in the sum of $23.25, be approved. There was allowed to Mr. Peter ]MeLin, for material and work on the Shaughnessy bridge, $20.40. On motion, it was ordered that $75.00 be paid to one Mrs. Gleason, of Alma City, for a strip of land at the Alma City bridge to be used for road purposes. At the same meeting appropriations were made as follows : to A. Bird for a strip of land for road pur- poses, near the St. ]\Iary bridge, $5.00; to the Gillette, Herzog I\Ianufacturing company, on contract for bridges, $2,000; to IMr. Eamble, for two piles for Markham bridge, $6.00; to town of AYilton, as aid in repairing the Carmody bridge, $92.39. At the meeting of the board, Dec. 28, 1898, it was ordered that the pay roll for grading at the Alma City bridge in the sum of $179.38 be approved and that said amount be paid from the county road and bridge fund. It was also ordered that $13.35 be appropriated to the town of Janesville for the straightening of a bridge on the county road. CALLED HENCE DURING THE YEAR. ilrs. Helena Clark, wife of Wm. . Clark, residing on section 4, Janesville, a short distance from Elysian, died Jan. 10, 1898, after a long and painful illness. The funeral was held on Wed- nesday, Rev. Father Sullivan, of Waterville, officiating. From the Herald, Jan. 14, 1898: "The funeral of Mr. Peter Beck, of Waseca, took place from the Catholic church, last Saturday, and was largely attended hy sympathizing friends and neighbors. He was born in Prussia, May 26, 1830, and came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he married Miss Anna Lehnertz, in 1856. They came to Minnesota In 1867." ilr. Frederick Proeehel, of Waseca, died of inflammation of the bladder Monday night, IMarch 21, 1898. He was born near Posen, Prussia, Dec. 18, 1826, and came to America about the year 1852-3. He spent some time working in St. Louis and then went to Princeton, Wis. From there he came to Waseca county in June, 1855, in company with Martin Krassin, and others. He then made a claim in St. Mary where he resided alone until the 496 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUXTY. breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Co. B, Brackett\ Battalion, Nov. 24, 1861, with which he served until Nov. 2-1:. 1864— just three years. He then made a trip to (Germany and soon after married. He sold his old home, after a time, and bought other land.s until he became quite wealthy. The liquor habit got the better of him, some yeai-s ago, and he was finally sent to the Rochester asylum, where he remained until about a year ago, when he was discharged. He left surviving a worthy widow and several children. He had many good qualities, and will be remembered by many of the old settlers as "Big Fred" to distinguish him from Fred Wolischall and Fred Krassin, whi> came to ^linm-sota with him in 1855. ]\Irs. ]\Iartin Kaiser, of Fn^edoni (nee Jane Connor, daughter of widow Simon Connor) died April 23, 1898, of tri'ippe. She had, only a short time before, reenvei-ed from the effects of hav- ing one leg amputated on account of i-ancer from which she had long suffered. She left sur^aving seven children with her huN- band to mourn her departure. She was a sister of 'Sir. Simon Connor, and was highly respected by her neighbnrs. Her father was one of the pioneers of Wilton. ilr. L. F. Peterson, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere, died April 25, of this year. From the Herald: The announcement of the sudden death of Mr. S. Swenson, Tuesday morning. May 10, 1898. was a great shock to every one in this community. He was so well and so favorably known to almost every person in this county that his sudden demise was felt as a personal bereavement. He was born in Fredericksvoern. Norway, Sept. 3, 1S49, where he enjoyed the advantages of the high school of his town. At the age of fifteen years, he shipped as a sailor lad and visited nearly all lands. He was at one time shipwrecked oft the coast of Africa. After following the sea for four years, he came to America, and lived at Rochester, Minn., where he worked at blacksmith work. He came to Waseca about 18G5, and entered the employ of the C. & N. W. Ry. Co., at the roundhouse. During all these years of toil, at the black- smith trade, he spent his spare moments in studying the English lan- guage and those branches which qualify a man for business and official duties. In 1881, he was appointed deputy auditor of this county, and so well did he perform his duties that he was elected county auditor in 1884. This position he held for four successive terms. He was one of the most popular officers of the county. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 497 In 1893, he became the eiflcient cashier of the Citizens State Banlv of Waseca, the position which he held at the time of his d-eath. In 1882, he was married to Miss Julia Anderson, who survives him. He had two adopted children, Clara, now grown to womanhood, and a young girl adopted last year. He was a Master Mason and had also attained the most excellent degree in the Chapter. He filled the Master's chair of Tuscan lodge very acceptably for several terms. He was a most courteous and ex- emplary citizen, an honorable and upright business man, a true hus- band, kind and affectionate toward his family, charitable to the needy, and a favorite in the social circles, to which he gave considerable time. Gottlieb Prechel, of St. Maiy, about seventy-one years of age, died ^lay 24:, about noon, of inflammation of the bladder— hav- ing been ill some months. Deceased was one among- the first settlers of the eoiTnty, having located in St. ;\Iary June, IS.")."). He was a native of Prussia and came to this country abottt lS.3:i — first stopping in AYisconsin, where he remained until the spring of 18.3.'i. when he came to Waseca county in company with Fred Troechel, Fred AVobsehall and others, and settled where he has since resided. Deceased was an industrious, frugal man and a peaceful citizen. Tie left surviving him two sons and two daugh- ters—Lewis Prechel, of Woodville. Emil H. Prechel, of St. :\Iary. :Mrs. Julia :Montei. of Deerfield, and :Mrs. Dora Grunwald, of St. Mary. :Mr. Cornelius Keleher died July 13, 1S9S. in :Miuneapolis. at the residence of his daughter, :Mrs. Crow, of heart failure, aged seventy-eight years, four months and fifteen days. He was boi-n in the county of Cork, Ireland, and came to America in 1846. landing in Xewburyport, :Mass. He afterwards resided in AVis- consin and then came to St. :Mary. in this county, in 18.3(i. He was an industrious, hard working man, one who always paid his honest dues and kept his contracts. He was a man of strong will, and had a mind of his own on all subjects. He was at one time prominent in St. :\Iary town-site aftairs, but for many years he had abandoned all ambitions and quietly spent his days with his children and grandchildren. He was the author of a book re- garding church affairs, compiled some fifteen years before. Hi^ remains were brought to AYaseca, taken to the St. ilary Catholic cemetery, and there deposited beside those of his wife, who died many years before. :\Ir. William Burke, of Alton, died Augtist 13, 1898. of what is 498 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. called the "Hotchkiss" disease, which shows itself by inflamma- tory swellings on different parts of the body. The malady defies the skill of physicians. Mr. Burke was born in Oneida county, X. Y., February 15, 1844. He was the fourth son of ]\IichaeI and (Jatherine (Kelly) Burke, both from count.v Roscommon, Ireland. At the age of seventeen, William enlisted in company B, Six- teenth Wisconsin infantry, in 1861. He was discharged in June, liS62, on account of sickness, but re-enlisted in the same regiment again as soon as he recovered, participating in the battles of yiiiloh, Atlanta, Joiiesboro, Dalton, Resaea, and Corinth. He was discharged July 16, 1865, and returned to Wisconsin. Shortly after he went South and spent some tijne there, coming to Min- nesota, however, in 1867, and settling in Alton. Jan- uary "28, ltS(J7, he was married to Joanna Quirk, born in ]Middletown, Connecticut, her parents being natives of Cork and AVest I\Ieath, Ireland. Mr. Burke vvas chairman of the board of supervisors of Alton for several years, and in 1875, was elected a member of the county board, a position which he held for six years. He was at one time assessor and for many years he wa.s school director. He was a man of decided opinions, but uevertheless charitable toward those who differed from him. Hon. 0. W. Francis, son of Asa ("Dr.") Francis, one of the early settlers of Byron township, died at Fargo, N. D., of appen- dicitis, Aug. 16, 1898. At an early age he studied law with Batchelder and Buckham, of Faribault. Soon after reaching his majority, he removed to Fargo, N. D., where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and was very successful. He was a member of the Dakota legislature at the time of his death. He invested largely in farming lands and other real estate, and is said to have become quite wealthy. ;Mr. S. W. Franklin, early settler in New Richland, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this volume, died of erysipelas, af- ter an illness of two days, August 21, 1898. He was one of our l)est citizens. Air. Warren (iates, of Alma City, died suddenly, Sept. 5, 1898. He was taken with a cough which resulted fatally in a few min- utes. He was born in Bennington county, Vt., January 31, 18'28. He was a wagon maker by trade and first opened shop in Erie county, N. Y. He came as far west as La Crosse, Wis., in 1864. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 499 He bogau his residence in Alma City, in the fall of 1865, being one of the first of her settlers. He married Miss Helen jM. Canfield, of N\mv York State, April ^5, 1852. They were the parents of six children. ■']Mr. John Bailey, of ^Medford, who died at Rochester, Wed- nesday morning, December 7, at 5 o'clock, was one of the old and respected settlers of Waseca coimty. Pie was born at Frank- lin, New Hampshire, and was abont sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. In the spring of 1855 he came West and first located in Waseca county. He was one of the proprietors of the townsite of St. ]\Iary which made a strong fight for the county seat of Waseca county. In September, 1862, he moved to Faribault, and later to the village of East Prairie, remaining at the latter place until 1865, when he moved to ;Medford. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster, which office he held about twelve years. ]Mr. John F. Preston, at one time a prominent citizen of Wa- seca, and a brother of S. H. Preston, died suddenly of heart fail- ure, near his home in the suburbs of Kuoxville, Tenn., Dec. 14, 1898. Deceased was born in Pittsfield, Vt., about 1850, and came to AA'aseca county about 1869. Some time afterwards he married ]\Iiss Etta Taylor. He was engaged in the sale of musical in- struments and jewelry in Waseca until about the close of 1889, -when he went to live near Knoxville, Tenn. His wife and two sons survived him, but the yoimger son has since died. Died, on Sunday, December 18, 1898, Mrs. Augusta Rieck Krassin, wife of Gottlieb Krassin, of Waseca. Deceased was born in Germany, October 22, 1867, and came to JMinnesota about the year 1882. The immediate cause of her death was blood poisoning. ilr. Fred Redeske, of Otisco, passed away Dec. 28, 1898. He died of stomach trouble, having been sick a long time. He was a native of Prussia, sixty-one years of age, and came to Chicago in 1873, thence to this county in 1881. He left surviving him his wife, two sons, and three daughters. His funeral was held under the auspices of the "Deutcher Krieger Verein" of which he was an honorable member. WEATHER AND STORMS. The vear as a whole was one of few storms and much pleas- 500 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ant weather. The winter of 1897-8 was especially free from se- vere storms. The following appeared in a local paper, Feb. lb. 1898: "This has been a wonderful winter for weather. From the middle of December to the 11th of February there was mild and pleasant weather, almost without a ripple of cold. Early on the morning of the 11th inst, there was a fall of some three inches of snow, nearly all of which disappeared the next day. The first of the week, Monday and Tuesday, there was a fall of more snow, but the temperature was very mild and not to exceed four inches of snow came." April 29, 1898, the same paper sang the following: "O, the mud, the terrible mud; in we go with a sickening thud. The horses shy and pull and plunge, as through our streets they heave and lunge. And then the sun comes out a-glint, and makes the mud as hard as flint. We all stand by with none to soothe, without a move the streets to smooth. A little wisdom, now and then, exerted by our councilmen, and duly used upon each street, would bring to all a glad heart-beat." The tirst snow storm in the fall of 1898, was noted as follows. Xov. 21 : "That was a regular, old fashioned "northwester," last ilonday and ]\tonday night. Six or eight iiirhes of snow fell, we .indge, and was blown into huge drifts as fast as it came. The weather became very cold Tuesday morning and the snt)w drifted badly during the day. The highways are in very bad shape— neither sleighing nor wagoning, with heavy drifts all along, especially Avhere there are groves or fences. It is seldom we get so severe a storm thus early in the season. This was the beginning of i-eal winter. NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. This year plans were made for a new church building by the Catholics of Waseca. It was planned to be 50x13-4 feet— the architecture to be Iiomaues(|ue in treatment -, to be constructed of pressed briek the tower lo be 125 feet in height, the total seating capacity 1,000, and to be one of the finest churches in southern j\linnesota. WASECA COUNTY CREAMERIES. Waseca county, at a comparatively eai'ly day. organized a number of farmers co-operative creameries. In 1898 Ihis count.v contained in proportion to its geographical size and population. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 501 more creameries than any other county in the state. In 1898 the local papers piiblished the following: "Here is the list of the creameries accredited to this county with location and number of patrons : Freedom, (Cream P. O.) 120 Palmer 70 Vivian 12G Hamburg, (Minnesota Lake P. Alma City 135 O.) 60 Blooming Grove, (Morristown St. Mary, (Waseca P. O.) 71 P. O.) 42 Smith's Mill 99 New Richland, (private) 75 Byron, (New Richland P. O.) . . 46 Otisco 100 Plum Valley, (Vivian P. O.) . . 75 Janesville 120 Waseca Co. (New Richland P. New Richland 90 O.) 70 Waseca 115 Plainview, (Iosco) 50 Oakwood, (Waseca P. O.) .... 50 Southeast Otisco 60 Freeborn county, with twent.y townships, then had twenty- nine creameries; Faribault county, with twenty townships, had twenty-eight creameries; while Waseca county with only twelve townships, had nineteen." A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. Prom the Waseca Herald, Sept. 3, 1898: "About half past five o'clock, last Saturday afternoon, Fred Metzler, of Wilton, was thrown from his wagon, by an engine, on the C. & N. W. Ry., at the Second street cross- ing, and both his legs were cut off just below the knees. The bones were so badly crushed and mangled that both legs had to be ampu- tated above the knees. It was a fearful maiming! It appears, from what we can learn, that Metzler had just unloaded his grain at the Farmers' grain elevator, and was coming over to the business portion of the town. When he reached the crossing, he found a threshing outfit, with a steam engine, just south of the tracks, which made his horses a little shy and attracted his attention as he drove on to the right of way. Just as the wagon was on one of the tracks, the engine struck the front of it, throwing him out, with the result stated. As the wagon was struck by the engine, the horses broke loose from it and ran astride an electric-light pole, breaking the neck yoke. They then ran down Second street as far as the Grant House near which they were captured. Mr. Metzler was taken up by James E. Shanesy and Emmons H. Smith and conveyed to the Waseca House where Drs. Cummings, Swartwood, and Blanchard dressed his wounds. It is said that he is doing as well as possible under the conditions. This is a terrible affair, and not everybody is guiltless. The Herald has many, many times urged upon the proper authorities the grave im- 502 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. portance of providing at this, and the M. &. St. L. crossing, safeguards against just such terrible and cruel accidents." THE ELECTION OF 1898. The contest in the Minnesota election this year was only sec- ond to that of 1896 in deep and intense interest. The leading candidates for governor were W. H. Eustis and John Lind. Ex-congressman Lind was the candidate of the Silver Republi- cans, the Democrats and the Populists, while ilr. Eiistis was the candidate of the Republican party and the gold combine. The result on governor in this county was as follows: John Lind received 1,315 votes and W. H. Eustis 1,118, giving Lind a plurality of 197— the normal republican majority being a trifle over 300. Local candidates received the following votes : senator, E. B. Collester, rep., 1,167, P. AIcGovcrn, dem., 1,373 ; representa- tive, John Wilkinson, rep., 1,309, H. C. Chase, dem., 1,169, W. C. Wobschall, ind., 63 ; auditor, A. J. Lohren, rep., 1,149 ; P. J. ile- Loone, dem., 1,313 ; treasurer, W. H. Roesler, rep., 1.288. J. T. Dunn, dem., 1,280; sheriff, Geo. H. lioodspeed, rep., 1,199, Frank Collins, dem., 1,387 ; register of deeds, A. F. Kruger, rep., 1,163, J. M. WoUschlaeger, dem., 1,427; judge of probate, Geo. A. Wil- son, rep., 1,623, W. S. Miner, dem., 904; county attorney, B. F. McGregor, rep., 1,039, John Moonan, dem., 1,532; superintendent of schools, C. W. La Du, rep., ],031, F. J. Remund, 1,611; county commissioner, 2d district, W. L. Herbst, rep., 252, ]\1. H. Helms, dem., 276 ; county commissioner, 4th district, Herman Ewert, rep., 368, James Vaughn, Jr., dem., 335. 0. L. Smith, for county sui-- veyor, and Dr. E. J. Batchelder, for coroner, were elected with- out opposition. CHAPTER LXVIII, 1899. COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND APPROPRIATIONS— MASONIC REM- INISCBNSES— WEATHER AND STORMS— FIRE IN WASECA— DIED: URSALENA RBMUND, MICHAEL SPILLANE, MRS. MICH- AEL McGONAGLE, NELS A. NELSON, W. C. JOHNSTON, ANDREW MATZ, HON. L. D. SMITH, SAMUEL LAMBERT, G. R. BUCKMAN, ANDREW LANG, JOHN L. GRAHAM, E. B. STEARNS, ADNA CAR- PENTER, CLARISSA NORTHRUP, GRANDMA BAILEY, H. H. SUDDUTH, CHARLES HANSON (KILLED), ANNIE REBSTEIN, THOMAS BRADY, JOHN DALTON, ALBERT ELTON (SHOT) — BISHMAN GOLDEN WEDDING. The county commissioners this year met on Jan. 3, ilr. Joseph Fromlath being chosen chairman of the board and purchasing- agent for the county. The county printing of the year was let to the lowest bidder and was divided among the papers of the county as follows : the publication of the delinquent tax list went to the Radical ; proceedings of the county board of equali- . zation, to the Janesville Argus; proceedings of the county com- missioners, to the Janesville Democrat ; the financial statement to the Waseca Herald; the printing and furnishing of stationery and county blanks, to the Waseca Journal. At the meeting of March 21, only routine business was trans- acted except the small appropriation of $45.07 to satisfy the bridge balance claimed by the Gillette, Herzog Co. At the meeting of May 5, it was ordered that the county build seven new steel bridges, and that the auditor be instructed to advertise for bids for building the same. It was also ordered that the purchasing agent purchase five No. 2 Austin & Weston 504 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. wheel road scrapers for use of the county ; that $150 be ap- propriated to the town of Blooming Grove, to be expended as fol- lows : $75 for grading roads between sections 10 and 11, $75 for urading road between sections 15 and 21; that an appropriation of $100 be granted to the town of Wilton for grading road be- tween sections 19 and 30; that the town of Freedom be granted $40 for replanking bridge over Cobbee creek in section 34; that the town of Alton be granted $150 to be expended as follows : $100 for grading on new road in section 34, and $50 for grading on road in section 37. At the meeting of j\Iay 19, the contract for building seven steel bridges was awarded to the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Co., of Minneapolis, for the sum of $3,997. The sum of sixtj' dollars Avas appropriated to the town of Freedom for steel for repair- ing bridge between sections 1 and 12. The sum of $200 was ap- Ijropriated to the town of Janesville to be expended as follows: $50 for grading on county line road on west line of section 19 ; $25 on bridge at "\Ym. Jamison's in section 15; $65 on bridge on iieAv road in section 22, and $60 on bridge on east and west road in section 12. An appropriation of $170 was made to the town of AVoodville to be expended as follows : $30 to grade hill on center line of section 21 ; $50 to grade new road in section 23 ; $40 to grade road between sections 5 and 6, and $50 to grade load running south from Waseca in sections 29 and 30. An appropriation of $100 was made to the town of Vivian, $50 of which was to be expended for grading road in section 26, and $50 on road leading to New Richland between sections 11 and 14. At the meeting of July 10, appropriations were made as fol- lows : To the town of Janesville, $150 to be expended on north and south (luai'ter-line road on section 22 in said town, and the supervisors of said town were also authorized to expend the $50 appropriated to said town at the May session of the board; to Byron township, $195 to be expended as follows: $135 tor bridge over Boot creek, between sec- tions 24 and 25 — $20 for repairing bridge between sections 27 and 28 — $35 for repairing bridge between sections 17 and 20; to the town of New Richland, $200 to be expended as follows: $50 for grading on I'oad between sections 23 and 24 — $50 for grading road between sections 15 and 21, $50 for grading road between sections 18 and 19, and $50 for grading road between sections 7 and 18; also, $200 to St. Mary, to Pe .'xpcnded as follows: $150 to build new bridge on road running east and CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 505 west between sections 21 and 28, $25 for grading road between sections 18 and 19, and $25 for grading on town line road between St. Mary and Woodville, on section 1; to Otisco the sum of $150 to be applied as fol- lows: $80 to build a new bridge over the Little LeSueur, in section 8, $50 for grading road between sections 17 and 20, and $20 for grading on east and west road across section 22; to Freedom, $40 to build bridge between sections 1 and 12, in said town. At the meeting of August 26, the sum of $90 was appropriated to the township of Iosco for grading and excavating for the jMurray bridge. At the meeting October 17, 1899, the county commissioners un- der whose supervision various bridges had been built in the county by the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Company, having reported the work as about completed in a satisfactory manner, it was ordered that $3,517.00 be appropriated as part payment for the same, to be paid at once, the remaining $500 to be paid when the bridges were completed and approved by the com- missioner having each bridge in charge. At the same meeting the following appropriations were made from the road and bridge fund: To Strunk and Gaehler, for building stone foundations for the "Guse" bridge, as per contract, $67.50; to Ludwlg Guse for furnishing fifteen cords of stone for the "Guse" bridge, $90. The pay roll submitted by Commissioners Lewer, Fromlath, and Doyle for superintending the building of steel bridges and labor performed in grading approaches to the same, amounting, to $239.50, was approved and allowed. MASONIC REMINISCENCES. ' In February, 1899, the following paper was prepared and read on Washington's birthday anniversary commemoration in jMasonic hall, Waseca : "Among the early organizations of this county that have quietly exer- cised more or less influence upon society, none exceeds in importance or merit that of the Masonic fraternity. The ideal objects and purposes of Masonry are brotherly love, equal rights and privileges, charity and good citizenship, honesty, sobriety, purity, and the protection of the homes of its members. Ancient Free Masonry has no sectarian creed save one— a belief in God— the Great Architect of the Universe, the brotherhood of man, and the equal rights of all mankind. "The first permanent settlement of the county commenced in 1855. In 1857, Col. John Calvin Ide built a steam sawmill at Wilton, on the west bank of the Le Sueur, just below where the present Wilton bridge spans that stream. He finished off the upper part of the mill for use as a lodge room, and on the first day of June, 1857, the first lodge in 506 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the county was organized, 'under dispensation,' with Jesse I. Stewart, worshipful master, John C. Ide, senior warden, H. P. Norton, junior warden, E. A. Rice, treasurer, H. S. Edmondson, secretary, Thos. L. Paige, senior deacon, Buel Welch, junior deacon, and John Magill, tyler. The other members of the TJ. D. lodge, as far as we could learn, were Isaac C. Price, W. S. Baker, J. R. West and H. P. West. There may have been others, but the lodge records having been destroyed by fire, we are unable to give more definite information. Wilton lodge No. 24 received its charter on January 8, 1858, or, at least, it was instituted on that day, with Col. John C. Ide worshipful master, Thos. L. Paige senior warden, Buel Welch junior warden, P. C. Bailey treasurer, H. P. West secretary, I. C. Price senior deacon, J. R. West junior deacon, D. D. Stevens, tyler. This was the only Masonic lodge in the county from that time until December 11, 1868, when Tuscan lodge No. 77 was instituted in Waseca. The Wilton lodge membership extended through- out the county. The lodge remained at Wilton until November 21, 1883, when it was removed to Alma City, where it now has a habitation. It contained many relics of the early days and its records were valuable as a portion of our early history, but they were all destroyed by a fire which occurred May 23, 1896. There is a third lodge at Janesville which commenced work under dispensation August 10, 1875, with Dr. R. O. Craig worshipful master, E. H. Gosper senior warden, P. H. Miner junior warden, R. M. Redfleld sen;pr deacon, J. W. Tefft junior deacon, S. C. L. Moore senior Stewart, C. H. Younglove junior Stewart, R. Heri- tage tyler. The other members were R. N. Sacket, Kelsey Curtis, Darling Welch, and J. O. Chandler. "As to Tuscan Lodge No. 77, of Waseca, we learn that as early as December 11, 1868, the first formal meeting of Masons was held in the hall, in the upper story of what was known tor many years as the "Radical" building, on the corner of Second street and Lake avenue, occupying the lot where the Koerbitz bakery and restaurant building now stands. Those present at that meeting were Maj. Wm. T. Kittredge, Capt. B. M. Broughton, N. E. Strong, E. G. Wood, Lewis Brownell, H. P. Norton, B. S. Lewis, Frank Miner, Judge H. D. Baldwin, and James E. Child — ten of us. Of these. Major Kittredge, Lewis Brownell, and B. g. Lewis have been transferred to the realms of space 'from whose bourn no traveler returns.' Capt. Broughton moved away some years ago. N. B. Strong resides in Pomona, California. Judge Baldwin is at Redwood Falls, Frank Miner resides in Janesville. Norton, Wood and Child are now the only ones of the original organizers left in the city. "This meeting was held to accept a charter under dispensation from the Grand Master, C. W. Nash, authorizing Wm. T. Kittredge, as wor- shipful master, B. M. Broughton, as senior warden, and N. E. Sti'ong, as junior warden, to organize a lodge for 'work and instruction.' The muster appointed as subordinate officers, H. P. Norton, secretary: Lewis Brownell, treasurer; B. S. Lewis, senior deacon; E. G. Wood, junior deacon; James E. Child, tyler. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 507 "At that meeting, regular communications were appointed for the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, at G:30 o'clock p. m. "It was also ordered that Bro. Strong supply the lodge with a copy of the 'Holy Bible' and necessary stationery — that Bro. Lewis see to pro- curing a suitable altar and other necessary wooden furniture — and that Bro. Broughton procure aprons and lodge jewels. "The petitioning members, not mentioned hereinbefore, were James O. Chandler and Jesse W. Tefft, then of Janesville, Orin T. Roice, Jona- than Shaw, and Henry Willyard — fifteen in all on the lodge roll. "The lodge, under dispensation, 'rode the goaf and did active work, and on the 14th of January, 1869, a charter was issued by order of the grand lodge. On the 21st ,of the same month the members elected their first ofiBcers, as follows: Wm. T. Kittredge, worshipful master; B. M. Broughton, senior warden; N. E. Strong, junior warden; Lewis Brown- ell, treasurer; James B. Child, secretary. The appointed officers were: B. S. Lewis, senior deacon; Eri G. Wood, junior deacon; Prank Miner, tyler. Right. Worthy Deputy Grand Master, C. W. Daniels, assisted by Rev. Dubois, both of Faribault, came over, instituted the new lodge and in- stalled its officers in a very impressive manner. "Their first public banquet took place on this occasion, the same being served by Mr. Vincent, at what was then known as the Vincent hotel, situated on the northwest corner of Second and Wood streets. "Wm. Everett, the first man to build a dry goods and general assort- ment store, in Waseca, was the first candidate for Masonry in the new lodge. Following immediately after, came Henry J. Wadsworth, A. E. Dearborn, Bdward Bennett, and W. S. Libby, none of whom are now with us. The expense to each member of maintaining the organization at that time may be judged by the fact that the membership dues were four dollars a year, payable quarterly. "The lodge records show that from the organization of the lodge until the year 1879, it was the custom to have a banquet at the time of the installation of officers, generally the latter part of December; but since then the fraternity have held an annual banquet in honor of the 'Father of our country,' who was a distinguished master mason of his day. "Tuscan lodge No. 77 has a valuable piece of furniture, the Master's chair, which is covered with nearly all the emblems of Masonry carved upon it. It is a master piece of workmanship, and was conceived and manufactured by Mr. George Webb, late of Waseca. He informed us that he commenced work upon it in 1868, and completed it in 1881. He was offered $40 for it, but concluded to present it to Tuscan lodge. It is charming and unique in its workmanship and is more admired by masons than any other object in the lodge room." From the "Radical" building the lodge moved first to the Trowbridge block hall over the clothing store of Leuthold Bros. —next to what is known as Odd Fellow's hall, and last to the hall 508 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. in the Hendriekson building, corner of Second and Wood streets. The order is in a flourishing condition in Waseca and has a very convenient lodge room, occupied jointly by the Chapter, the 0. E. S. and the j\laster Masons. WEATHER AND STORMS. "That was a mighty cold streak of weather that struck Min- nesota, Friday night. May 12, 1899. Ice formed a quarter of an inch thick in a tub of water at our house. Saturday was raw and cold, and Sunday morning there was a sprinkle of rain mixed with snow. Monday opened with a cold, northeast thunder storm althouijh there was very little rainfall. While small grain is looking fine, corn is kept back by the cold weather."— Herald of May 19, 1899. Only one severe storm was noted this year. On May 30, this county suffered to some extent, especially the southwestern part. Wilton suffered more than anj' other locality heard from. Mr. Tim Linnihan's granary and sheds, on his farm, were torn down. Mr. Alartin Sheran, Sr., sustained considerable dam- age to his house and machinery. At the farm of Andrew L^-nch. trees were twisted off and considerable damage done. ilrs. Fred- erick's windmill was torn down, and the chimneys on her house demolished. Patrick McDonough, Jr., found his barn wrenched from its foundation and damaged to some extent. The machine shed, hen house, and buggy of Eugene Bird were shattered, and some of his trees broken down. Mr. Wm. Van Loh also suffered severe losses. The storm M^as heavy throughout the county, but no other serious damage resulted. The following newspaper note of Dec. 1, 1899, is reproduced : On the night ot the 21st of November, last year, we received an old- tashioned "nor'wester." Over six inches of snow fell, and the next day was very cold with a high wind which drifted the snow very much. The roads were left in bad shape, as there was neither good sleighing nor wagoning. Quite a contrast with this year, as we are now enjoying most beautiful weather — more like early October than December. The snow of Nov. 21, last year, remained during the winter. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. There was but one very destructive fire during' the year. At the early morning hour of two o'clock, Feb. 27, 1S99, the sharp clan;,' of the fire bell rang out upon the night air, and the hoarse. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 509 tliimdertones of the city plant whistle vociferously proclaimed a gi-eat fire in what was known as the McCue building, one of the first large buildings constructed in Waseca. It was built about 1868, and was occupied, at the time of the fire, by several persons. The hall in the upper story was rented to ]\IcKune post, G. A. R. Nearly all of the post property was consumed except the guns Avhich Avere not materially injured. All the pictures, relics and keep-sakes Avere destroyed. The ground floor was occupied by Mv. Ed. Castor's jewerly store, Augi;st Santo 's saloon, and Kast Bros.' barber shop. Adjoining, on the north of the McCue build- ing, was a house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Hagan, as residence and millinery shop. The burned buildings belonged to the W. G. Ward estate. CALLED HOME IN 1899. The death roll was longer than usual this year. The first to be called was Mrs. Ursalena Remund, wife of Samuel Remund, of Blooming Grove. She was born at Canton Grisons, Switzer- land, Feb. 22, 1845, and died at the Samaritan Home, Waterville, Minn., January 9, 1899, at 6:30 o'clock a. m., after a somewhat prolonged illness. She came to America in 1866, locating at Alma, Wis., where she was united in marriage with Mr. Henry Rover. They afterwards came to Winona, Minn., where they remained two years, moving thence to Faribault, Minn., where IMr. Rover died. On the 30th day of July, 1874, she was again united in marriage with Samuel Remund, and assumed the duties of mother in a family of ten children, the youngest of whom was less than two years of age. It is the least that could be said, to say that she performed her every duty and was a most thoughtful, self- sacrificing and loving mother. Michael Spillane, Sr., aged eighty-nine years and five months, died at his home in Woodville, Jan. 13, 1899, of old age and grippe. He was born in Waterford, Ireland, in September, 1809. He came to New York in 1847, where he remained until 1851, when he came west and settled in Watipun, Wisconsin. There he married Mrs. Stockfleeth, a widow. He came to Woodville in 1867, and settled on. his farm near the east line of the township. Mrs. Michael JMcGonagle, Sr., who died at six o'clock a. m., Jan. 19," 1899, was born in county Dinegal, Ireland, in 1829, and came 510 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to Boston, Mass., in 1843. In 1851, she married Michael ilc- Gonagle. They came west to Iowa in 1855, remained there about a year, coming to St. Mary in 1856. She was the mother of nine children, eight of whom survive her— four sons and four daugh- ters. She was sick only about a week and died of heart disease. She was one of the brave, pioneer women of ^Minnesota and worthy of all honor. Her I'emains rest in the St. ilary Catholic cemetery. Died, Jan. 24, 1899, ilr. Xels A. Xelson, of Blooming Grove. He was the son of ]Mr. Andrew Xelson, one of the honored early settlers of that town. Deceased was born in the town where he died, March 22, 1865, and was engaged in farming. He died of typhoid fever. From the Herald: Another early settler and a G. A. R. veteran has passed to the "Great Beyond." W. C. Johnston received a telegram last Friday announcing the death of his father, Charles W. Johnston, in San Francisco, Cal., on that day, Feb. 17, 1899, of Bright's disease. Mr. John- ston was among the first to enlist in Company F, Tenth Regiment Min- nesota Volunteers. He was mustered in August 18, 1862, and was hon- orably discharged May 16, 1865. He was a faithful soldier and was highly esteemed by his officers and comrades. Mr. Andrew Matz, Sr., died at the home of his son George, in St. Maiy, April 9, at 5:46 o'clock, at the age of seventy-six yeai-s. He came to this county about 1869. Five sons and one daughter survive him, all of them wealthy farmers. Died, Hon. L. D. Smith, of Alton, on Friday, April 14, 1899, in his sixty-ninth year, of a complication of diseases. His parents were pioneer settlers in Ohio, and he was born in ]\Iedina county. June 29, 1830. He was married Jime 14, 1858, to Lucinda R. Lamb who survived him. He came to IMinnesota in an early day and first settled in the neighborhood of Hopkin's station, near Minneapolis. He came to Alton, in the early days of that township, and became conspicuous as farmer and successful apiarist and honey producer. In the fall of 1873 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of this state, a position which he filled with honor, fidelity, and ability. He afterwards sold his farm and engaged in the cooper business at Albert Lea. He next removed to Tennessee, where he did not remain long. returning to this county some three or four years prior to his CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 511 death, -H'ith his wife and two sons. He was a good citizen, a true man, an unselfish patriot. Died, April 17, 1899, at 11 o'clock p. m., of neuralgia of the heart, George R. Buckman, of Waseca, ]\Iinn., aged sixty-six years, three months and twenty-four days. An extended sketch of his life and public services may be found elsewhere in this work. ]Mr. AndreAv Lang, of Wilton, died April 27, 1899. He came to this county about 1868, and first settled in the town of Janes- ville. He afterwards removed to Wilton where he had lived a number of years. He was well and favorably known to a large number of citizens, and a large concourse of people attended his funeral. He was buried in the Janesville Catholic cemetery. He left a widow, two sons, and two daughters. May 13, 1899, death called another old settler to cross the river Styx, and this time it was no less a personage than John L. Gra- ham, of Janesville. He was born in Peimslyvania, August 31, 1810, and was nearly eighty-nine years of age. He was married to Miss Emma Heemans in 1841, and came West in 1863, first stopping in Houston county. In 1865 he and his family settled in Freedom. He had three sons, 0. E., of the "Radical," Arthur, a prominent farmer in Freedom, and Ernest, of Hayward, Wis. He was an outspoken, iipright man, and thoroughly honest, even in his prejudices, which were many and strong. Mr. Ebenezer B. Stearns, a sketch of whose life appears else- where, died May 15, 1899, at the age of eighty-six years, seven months and fourteen days. Herald, Waseca: The death of Adna Carpenter, of Janesville, is announced by the Argus. It appears that he died Tuesday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, June 29, 1899, at the Astoria, in St. Paul, of stomach trouble. He was receiving treatment from a specialist there, and died rather unexpectedly. Mr. Carpenter was one of the pioneer settlers in Alton, adjoining Janesville, and was known as a Janesville man. He was well known as an extensive stock buyer at one time, and both made and lost money in the business. He left a wife and two daughters to mourn his departure. Mrs. Clarissa Northup, widow of Caleb Northup, died July 25, 1899, at 8 o'clock a. m., at Balaton, Minn., aged eighty-six years. Deceased was born in Rhode Island in 1813, and when she was very young her parents removed to Alleghany coun- ty. New York. She married Mr. Caleb Northup in 1833, at 512 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Hornersville in that state. In 1843, they came west to Dodge county, Wis., some three ov four miles east of Horicon. This was a timbered country, and it was at their home in that place wh('re the writer first met deceased. This was in the month of April, 184"). ]\lr. Northup had chopped and cleared sev- eral acres of land, built a log house and a log stable. The family was then busily engaged in manufacturing maple sugar and syrup which constituted about the only crop that brought any money to the timber settler. As bedtime approached the family gathered about the big fireplace, the father read a por- tion of the Scriptures and the mother poured out her soul in genuine prayer. We have always remembered the kindness and hospitality extended to us by this "mother in Israel." There may be what some people term more genteel religion or worship, but there can be no truer devotion than that which was mani- fested on that occasion in the log cabin in the then frontier settlement of the great West. They remained in Wisconsin im- til ISritj, Avheii they came to Minnesota and settled on section 36 in the town of Wilton. Here they endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life until about 1866, when they removed to Warsaw, Rice county. Nine years afterwards Mr. Northup died and was buried there. After his death Mrs. Northup lived with her children, six of whom survived her. Her remains were taken to Warsaw, Minn., and laid beside those of her husband. "Grandma" Bailey, almost ninety-six years of age, was one of the really old settlers of the county. She was born Oct. 13, 1803, and went to her final sleep about midnight, August 25, 1899. She was a New Yorker and resided near Utica. Her husband died in 1854, and she came West with her daughter, afterwards Mrs. West, in 1857, where she joined her son, Hon. P. C. Bailey, at Wilton. Since that time she always made her home with him. Physically she was a very remarkable woman, having enjoyed good health nearly all her life. For a number of years prior to her death, except for a few months immediately preceding her death, she made regular calls tipon her old ac- quaintances to whom she would tell over and over some of her life experiences. She was always a welcome caller. She was "short" on professions but "long" on good works all her life. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 513 The old Wilton settlers, with many others, will cherish her memory. Mr. H. H. Sudduth, partner of Mr. S. H. Preston, of Waseca, in the drug business, died suddenly Oct. 7, 1899. He was ap- parently in his usual health all day, and about 10 o'clock in the evening called at the residence of F. A. Roth, by appoint- ment, as Mrs. Roth had arranged to go over to stay with the Sudduths that night, Mr. Roth being absent. As he entered, Mrs. Roth noticed that he looked very pale and, in surprise, asked if he was sick. He faintly replied, "Just tired out," and fell to the floor. Mrs. Roth called in the immediate neighbors, sent for :Mrs. Sudduth and Dr. Swartwood, and all was done that could be done, but to no avail. He breathed his last about 1 o 'clock Sunday morning. His wife, a son and a daughter sur- vived him. From the Herald: "A dispatch of Nov. 1, brought the heart-rending news that a head-end collision between a passenger and a freight train occurred a mile and a half west of Courtland village about 6 o'clock. The locomotives of both trains were ditched, a number of cars -were derailed, and Charles Hanson, engineer on the passenger train, was fatally injured, dying about four hours after the accident. The freight train, going west, was in charge of Conductor Chapman, with Engineer Lindell and Fireman Williams. The conductor and engineer both live in this city. Williams, we learn, is of Winona, Con- ductor Moses Gage, of Winona, had charge of the passenger train com- ing east, with Charles Hanson engineer and Wm. Cleary fireman — the two latter being residents of Waseca. Mr. Hanson was an old resi- dent of this city, one of the oldest railroad employes on the North- western system, and was well known throughout the Northwest." Mrs. Annie Rebstein, of Waseca, died Nov. 13, 1899, in her eighty-first year. She had been ailing for a year or more with physical disabilities incident to old age. She came from near the city of Baden, Germany, about 1858 and settled in Otisco. Some years after this, she married Mr. Rebstein. After living on the farm for many years they sold it and removed to Wa- seca. Mr. Rebstein died a few years prior to this, and since then she had resided alone most of the time. Mr. Joseph From- lath, of Otisco, looked after her business affairs. Another old settler suddenly joined the great majority on the Eternity side of the River of Death, Nov. 28, 1899. Mr. Thos. Brady, an early settler in Byron, on that day, about 4 o'clock 19 GM CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. p. m., while walking on the street in New Riehland, near New- f^aard 's cdi'iiei-, suddenly fell, dyiiiL;- almost instantly without a partini;- word. It seems that he had been a sufferer from heart trouble for several years, but on this oeeasioa he hail no warn- ing- of the sudden change. Only a few seeonds Ix'fore he had been talking with friends, and appeared to be in the enjoyment of his usual health. He was about fifty-two years of age and had been a resident of Hyron about thii'ty-two years. ]\lr. John Dalton, a prominent farmer of Iosco, died of par- aylsis Uee. S, ISDl). He was one of the pall benrei-s at the fu- neral of .Mr. Patrick JMoonan, and at that time contracted a cold which, it is claimed, I'esulted in pi-ogressive paralysis. lie was a man highly respected among his neighbors and ac(piaintanees. Near the close of the year a vei'y sad death occurred. ]\Ii-. Al- bert Elton, about twent>'-five >'ears old, son of August Elton, of Wood^■ille, was acciilentaJly shot, Dec. 21, IS!);), by (lustof Zies- man, aged about thirty years, Avhile they wer(> hunting i-abbits. The accident happened about noon and ^Vlhert died about five hours afterwards. Drs. Cummings and Blanehard were called, but the unfortunate young man was beyond the help of surgical aid. It appears, from all that can be learned, that Ziesman was trying to put a cartridge into his gun, that Elton was standing sonu> ciglit oi- ten feet away, autl that, in some way. the cartridge exploded, driving 1lie charge through Elton's right arm and into his body. The shot penetrated his lungs and caused his death in a few hours. A GOLDEN WEDDING. The golden wedding of ^Ir. and Mrs. Adam Bislnnan was duly celebrated by a large family reunion, Sept. 2, 1S;)I). ^\side from the children and grandchildren there were present ('apt. John Brandt (brother of Mrs. Bishmau) and wifi', and Capt. -lohn Knapp and wife, the latter being a, sister of ^li-s. Bishman. These relatives reside near Syrac\is(>. N. Y. The occasion was one of nuu'h pleasure to all the partici[)ants. CHAPTER LXIX, 1900. NEW BRIDGES— COUNTY AFFAIRS— SUNSHINE AND STORM- SEVERE DROUTH— TERRIBLE STORM, NINE PERSONS KILLED —RATTLESNAKE IN WASECA— NEW PRINTING BUILDING — BURNING OF UNITED STATES MAIL— DIED: CHARLES GORMAN, ANN J. TAYLOR, JOACHIM HECHT, MISS MARGARET McGUIGAN, P. LAYELLE (KILLED), MICHAEL MADIGAN, E. P. LATHAM, JOHN BYRON, AIKEN MYCUE (SUICIDE), DR. H. J. YOUNG, MYANDA E. HILL, ilRS. JOHN MORGAN. MRS. CHRISTIAN KOESTBR, MRS. HARRIET E. IDE, THOS. BURNS, ALLEN GOOD- SPEED, STEPHEN McBRIDE, ilRS. J. K. MEYERS. JIRS. THOilAS MALONEY, CHRISTY HEFFBRON, W. F. CARROLL (KILLED), W. KREUZER, JIRS. B. F. WEED, WM. GIBBS, SON OF B. D. ARM- STRONG (SHOT), ANDREW LYNCH. ANDREW R. HENDERSON (KILLED)— ELECTION. The county commissioners met this year Jan. 2. ilr. From- lath was again elected chairman and purchasing agent. The board designated the "U'aseca C'oimty Herald as the paper in which the delinqnent tax list and all other official matters and proceedings of the county should be published during the year, at the rates established by law. The board met again March 20, 1900, but transacted nothing more than the usual routine business. On May 4, 1900, a contract was entered into by and between the Gillette-Herzog I\Ianufaeturing Co., of ^Minneapolis, ilinn., and the board of county commissioners for the construction and completion of six steel bridges for the sum of $3.02.5.00, said 51G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. bridges to be completed and ready for travel on or before the 1st day of August, 1900. At the meeting or May 24, 1900, it was ordered that $350.00 be appropriated from the county road and bridge fund to each of the 1st, 3d, 4th, and 5th commissioner districts. At the board meeting Aug. 22, 1900, the contract for placing a steam heating plant in the county jail building was awarded to The New Prague Manufacturing company, for the sum of $545.00, they being the lowest bidders. SUNSHINE AND STORM. As a rule, the people of Waseca county enjoyed favorable weather during the season. Although it was an unusually dry season, the wheat crop was very fine. The Herald of June 22 said : Never before, since white men settled in Waseca county, has there been at this time of year, such a drouth. Everything green, except the trees, has b€en seriously injured in growth. The grass crop except on the wet sloughs, is almost a total failure. The upland pastures at this writing, June 18, are as bare as we ever saw them in October. We are glad to hear of copious showers all around us, but so far, since the first of April, we have not had in Waseca, all told more than an inch of rainfall. Our wisest farmers are putting in corn and millet for feed, and it behooves every man to prepare for the worst. If we get rain this week or wirhin a few days there may be some crops to save, but a few more days of hot, dry weather will wither everything. Let every one who has tillable land put in root crops, late corn and millet. Every one should save everything eatable for man and beast. Fortunately the country was visited by a few light showers, and fairly good crops were produced. A DESTRUCTIVE STORM. One of those unaccountable atmospheric disturbances that oc- casionally destroy life and property made its appearance in Iosco, Sept. 24, 1900, about 5 p. m. It first demonstrated its power at the farm of Wm. Mittelstead, where it tore down his new barn. It next visited the residence of ]\Ir. Wolter, tearing off' a portion of the roof. It moved toward the northeast, doing more or less damage. At Superintendent Remund's farm, in Blooming Grove, the barn was injured and the roof taken from his machine shed. A little further northeast, at the Goar farm, a young man was killed and much property destroyed. It made CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 517 straight for the village of Morristown, where it tore down a brick building, occupied as a saloon, and killed eight men. Mr. Jack- son's barn, at Palmer, was blown down, and there were other losses. A RATTLESNAKE IN WASECA. Killed a rattlesnake! That is what Mrs. E. A. Everett did September 4, 1900,- at her residence, at the corner of Lake Avenue and Tenth street, in the yard near the house. As she was walk- ing in the yard she heard a peculiar rattle, and discovered the snake not far from her feet. She lost no time in getting a stick and killing the serpent. It had five rattles and was well developed. NEW PRINTING HOUSE. During the summer of 1900, Mr. J. E. Child erected a new brick building especially for the Herald newspaper and job printing business. It is 24x75 feet, built of brick, with stone basement, one story above basement. It was occupied Sept. 21, 1900. BURNING OP UNITED STATES MAIL. From the Herald of Nov. 9, 1900 : "Last Friday evening, November 2, 1900, one of our postofflce clerks, a young man, was seen burning a quantity of papers in the rear of the postofflce, near the alley. Some lads, at play near by, gathered up some of the papers, which were partly burned, and took them to Judge De- vine's house. Glancing at them the judge discovered that they were marked 'Sample Copy,' that they were addressed to some of our well- known citizens. Eacli of the papers was a copy of 'The Evening Dem- ocrat,' of Winona, October 29, 1900, containing a fac simile of the West Hotel register, of Minneapolis, of Saturday, December 20, 1896, where- on was registered the name of J. A. Tawney, as well as the names of some of the lumbermen then and there present. "This paper, thus destroyed, contained, among other matter, Mr. Taw- ney's statement at Lancsboro, to-wit: '"That I attended a meeting of the lumber barons of Minnesota at the West Hotel immediately after my election in 189C, or that I at- attended a meeting of lumbermen there or at any other place where the lumber schedule was discussed or prepared, or taken by me to Washington to be incorporated in the Dingley tariff law, is a lie from the beginning to the end.' ^xr * xi <- , "It also contained, in addition to the fac simile of the West Hotel 518 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. register, extracts from the 'Mississippi Valley Lumberman,' showing that his (Tawney's) statement, as quoted at Lanesboro, was wholly false. There was much other matter of importance bearing upon the politi- cal issues of the day. "We are informed that three hundred copies of the paper (the Demo- crat) were mailed to persons here. How many were Wholly destroyed we do not know. "On Saturday morning, Judge Devine, Tony McDonald, and the writer visited the remains of the bonfire of newspaper,?, in the rear, of the post- office, and found the remains of several other papers, not wholly con- sumed. Among the charred remains we found packages addressed to the following well known names: P. F. Gallagher (fii'm of Boucher & Gallagher), Wm. Oestrich, McMahon, Wm., T. R. Bowe, .1. O. Neff (of the Round House), T. B. Ryan, Edward Remund, Louis Rabe, Wm. Von (remainder of name gone), James Bowe, Gallo Bros., Anton Oswaldson, John Crawley, and Peter Featherman. "On the next train north, Messrs. P, F. Gallagher, of Waseca, who was one of those who had his mail burned, and J. T. Jordan, of St. Mary, went to St. Paul, for the purpose of making k' complaint before a United States commissioner and securing a warrant for the arrest ot the accused party. The United States officials refused to act. The St. Paul Globe of Sunday morning said: "On reaching here last night, Messrs. Gallagher and Jordan, in charge of a big bundle of half charred papers, hunted up United States Commis- sioner Spencer, and were courteously received by that official, but he informed them that he could do nothjng, as District Attorney Evans, who had been informed of the matter, left instructions that no warrant should be issued for the present. "A visit to Chief Postoffice Inspector Kimball, who was found at the Windsor hotel, after a long search, was less fruitful of results, accord- ing to Messrs. Gallagher and Jordan, that official giving them anything but a civil reception. "They were informed, so they say, by Mr. Kimball, that it was too near election for such a proceeding. They were told that no warrant could be issued at present, and that unless they saw fit to await the going through of the customary red tape they might as well go home.*- Postoffice In.speelor Lance, who investigated the matter, said that the information taken l\v him shoAved bovond a reasonable doubt that copies of the Evenincj Democrat were properly mailed at Winona and reeeivod at the AVasoea postoftiee that day, No- vember 2, and hni'iied by one of the clerks the same evening. But for some reason, kn(nvii only to government officials, the matter was never jirosecuted. Politics, Politics, how many crimes thou art guilty of! CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY 519 MANY OLD SETTLERS PASS AWAY. From the Herald: A sad and fatal accident befell Mr. Charles Gor- man, an old settler of St. Mary, last Monday afternoon, Jan. 8. We are informed that he was engaged in hauling wood, wagon length, and had just hauled a load into his yard. He stepped in between his horses and the front end of his wagon to throw off the wood. It appears that one of the horses must have kicked him, as there was a mark just back of his right ear. The horses then ran and one wheel of the wagon passed over his chest crushing in the bones, and another wheel evidently passed over his abdomen. He was insensible when found, and died about five hours afterwards. He leaves a family and numerous rela- tives to mourn his untimely death. He was a brother of Anthony Gor- man, Esq., of the same town. Died, Jan. 19, 1900, at the residence of her son near Saco, Montana, Jlrs. Ann J. Taylor, aged about eighty-one years, of pneumonia. Mrs. Taylor was born and bred in England, and came to this county with her husband, Wm. Taylor, deceased, many years ago. They first lived in New Orleans, but owing to siavery in the South, at that time, they were not satisfied there and came North and settled in Blooming Grove on a farm at an early day. Mr. Taylor died some years befor3, but Mrs. Taylor continued to reside in Waseca until the fall of 1898, when she went to Montana with her son, Mr. W. H. Taylor. Her remains were brought to Waseca and buried beside those of her husband in Woodville cemetery. ]\Ir. Joachim Heoht was born in Germany, in 1825, and came to America about 1856, settling in Blooming Grove. He died after a well-spent life, Feb. 22, 1900, being at the time seventy- five years of ac;'e. He left surviving two sons, John and George, and three daughters, Mrs. Adolph Mahler, Mrs. Gus Eichorst, and I\Irs. C. J. Voge. His widow is still living at this writing, 1905. On Feb. 23, 1900, occurred the death of Miss Margaret Mc- Guigan, daughter of Mr. C. McGuigan, of Iosco. The lady had been ill for a long time, but her death was not expected so sud- denly. Deceased was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, in December, 1858. The family came to this county and settled in Iosco in 1867. A fatal railroad accident happened in Waseca, Feb. 24, 1900, causing the death of Mr. Patrick Lavelle. He was yard master and had just received orders at the freight depot for the next day, when on his way to his home, which was east from the depot, and near the old round house, for some unaccountable reason, he stepped from one track to another immediately in front of a moving train, which ran oyer him, killing him instantly. Mr. Lavelle 520 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. had been in the service of the company here some 20 years. His wife had died the previous November, and he left a family of six children. Edward Payson Latham came to Waseca upon the completion of the road to this point, in the fall of 1867, and was station agent for two years. On Jan. 1, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary S. Banks, at Norwalk, Conn. After a time he resigned his position as railroad agent, and engaged in the drug business. He afterwards was engaged in the hardware business, a meat market, and various other enterprises. He had at va- rious times served as city assessor and in several other official positions, being at the time of his death court commissioner of the county, and contractor for carrying the rural mail over what is known as the Wilton and St. Mary route. Upon his return home the Tuesday evening prior to his death from delivering the mail, he was taken with a chill. Although ill, he went to the postoifice Wednesday and Thursday mornings to sort out the mail for his son, who took his place as carrier. On Thursday he grew rapidly worse, and it became evident that pneumonia had set in. Notwithstanding his strong and vigorous frame, he was unable to cope with the disease, and grew steadily worse until death came to his relief the following Wednesday morning. March 28, 1900. He was born Nov. 12, 1831, at Thetford, Ver- mont, and was one of a family of seventeen children. He was educated in the public schools of his native state, and came West as far as Winona, in 1866, where he served as paymaster on the W. & St. P. R. R. for some time. He was the father of eight chil- dren, six of whom survived him. For several years jirior to his death he held the position of secretary of the Waseca Coimty Horsethief Detective soeiety. Mr. John Byron, an old settler of St. Mary, a sketch of whose life is given elsewhere, died April 14, 1900, in the city of Waseca, mourned by all. Mr. Aiken Mycue, of A^iviaii, died by his own hand April 17, 1900. It appears that he deliberately shot himself throuj^h the head with a revolvei-, in his cattle barn, at milking time. Two of his boys were near by and heard the report of the revolver, and soon after found their fatlier dead. His wife died Septem- ber l(i, leavini,' eight eliildren ranging from two to eighteen years CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 521 of aije. It is thought that brooding over his situation brought oil a fit of insanity. Deceased was born November 25, 1848, and came to this county vi^ith his father, Aiken Mycue, Sr., in 1864. They first settled in the village of Wilton. About 1866, the family moved to Vivian, where Aiken resided. His father died :Mareh 9, 1896. Dr. Henry J. Young was the first physician who located in Waseca— he having come here in the fall of 1867. He was born in Yermoiit, June 9, 1831, and remained in his native town until 1851, when he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. A. Knight, of Springfield, Vt. After two years' practice in Ver- mont and New Hampshire, he came as far West as Sheboygan, Wis., where he practiced until 1862, when he was commissioned as assistant surgeon of the First Wisconsin cavalry and went to the front with that regiment. At the end of a year, he resigned oil account of sickness and returned to Sheboygan. In the fall 111' 1864, he received the appointment of surgeon in the Forty- soventh AA^isconsin infantry. He served in this capacity until the regiment was mustered out, when he was placed in charge of the general hospital at Tullahoma, Tenn., where he served until the hospital was closed. He then returned to Sheboygan, where lie remained until the fall of 1867, when he came to Waseca. As a physician and medical adviser he had few superiors. He was kind and considerate to the poor, always ready and willing to aid the distressed, even though there was no hope of reward for his services. Near 1898, he removed to Alabama, where he remained about a year, and then went to Lebanon, Oregon, where his life closed April 23, 1900, at 11:30 o'clock in the evening. Mrs. Myanda E., wife of Mr. J. B. Hill, was born in Ridgebury, Pa., in 1826. She married Mr. Hill in August, 1846. They came West as far as Green Lake county, Wisconsin, in 1850. They came to ^Minnesota in 1857 and lived on the south bank of the Cobb river, in Vivian. Mrs. Hill had the honor of being the first white woman to settle in that township. In common with the pioneers of this county she endured many of the privations and hardships incident to the early settlement of this state, al- though she never experienced the pinching poverty incident to a large majority of the early settlers. When the writer first knew her, she and her husband kept almost an open house to all comers, 522 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. and were very kind and obliging. About 1889 she had a stroke of paralysis which weakened both body and mind, and from that time to the day of her death she was a confirmed invalid. The family removed from Vivian to Minnesota Lake, in 1872, where she continued to reside until her death, April 26, 1900. On ^lay 21, 1900, ilrs. John ^Morgan, of Iosco, passed away, after a very short illness— the cause of her death being neuralgia of the heart. Jlrs. Morgan was a sister of the late Mr. Christie McGuigan, of this county, and was born in Ireland, in 1826. She came to America in 1848, first stopping in Philadelphia and afterwards living for some time in St. Louis, Mo. She after- wards, in 1855, married Mr. Jolm ^Morgan, and, with him, became one of the early settlers of Iosco, where they have since resided. She left sui'viving two sons and three daughters, namely : Jame-f B. and J. C. ilorgan, ilrs. John Bruce, Mrs. John Devine and ]Mrs. Lice Wesley. Mrs. Harriet E. Ide died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. X. E. Strong, in Pomona, Cal., June 19, 1900, aged eighty-nine years and ten months. She had lived in Pomona fourteen years. Col. John C. Ide and his wife, Harriet E., were characters in the early history of ilinnesota and especially of AVaseca county. Col. Ide and family came to ^Minnesota in 1855, first living at what is known as East Prairie, in Rice county. He served as a mem- ber of the territorial legislature in 185(i. In the fall of this year he and his family came to Wilton. He built the first saw mil] in the county and did much in the way of i\pbviilding and im- proving Wilton, then a new village and the cmuity seat. In the fall of 1857, he was a candidate for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket with Cov. Ramsey— both being defeated. Col. Ide afterwards met with financial reverses. He was appointed county auditor in 1863, holding the position until his death by heart disease in the fall of 1866. During all the vicissitudes of prosperity and adversity, Airs. Ide remained devoted to her hus- band and family. She was a kind neighbor and full of charity. She was the last of a trio of "grandmas" who were the mosv aged of the old settlers of this part of the county— (Jrandma Bailey, (Jrandma Child, and (Jrandma Ide. They all lived be- yond the three-score-years-and-ten limit, and en.ioyed the hiuhest esteem of hosts of friends. If the sinrils of mortals recognize each CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 523 other on the other side of the Styx, no doubt there was a happy reunion of congenial souls as that of Mrs. Ide took its flight to the land of shadows on the 19th of June, 1900. On the 23d of June. 1900, Mv. Thos. Burns, of Wilton, started up the stairway to Dr. Chamberlain's office, in Waseca, and when about half way up fell on the landing, gave a groan and breathed his last within a few moments. He was a long-time resident of Wilton and was a brother of B. Burns, now living, and Peter Burns, deceased. Allen Goodspeed, a brother of Geo. H. Goodspeed, of this county, died at his residence in California, July 8, 1900, after a prolonged illness. He was born January 21, 1860, came to IMin- nesota with his parents at an early day in the history of Waseca, and moved to California some twelve years prior to his death. Stephen ^NIcBride. of Iosco, died at his home, July 13, 1900, from injuries received in a runaway some few weeks before. The injuries resulted in dropsy and expert medical attendance failed to bring any relief. The Ventura, California, Free Press of August 3, 1900, states that :\[rs. J. K. Myers died at the age of seventy-five years, nine months and eleven days. She was born in Vermont, October 15, 1824. Her father, Nathaniel Wood, moved thence to ilalone. New York, where he remained until 184-1, when he and his family came West to Iowa. There she met ]Mr. Jacob K. ]\lyers, of Virginia, and they were married in 1845. In 1856, Mr. Myers and family came to Waseca county and pre-empted the quarter section of land constituting the original plat of what is now the city of Waseca. Here they remained, successfully carrying on a farm, until 1867, when they sold the farm to Mr. I. C. Trowbridge. They went from here to Monona county, Iowa, where they resided until a.bout 1874, when they removed to California. Her hiisband, one son, and two daughters sur- vived her. Mrs. Thos. IMaloney, of Iosco, after an illness of only one week, died August 9, 1900. On Friday previous to her death she com- plained of weakness and of stomach trouble, but was somewhat better Saturday. On Sunday she thought she was getting bet- ter, but on Monday she did not feel so well, and when bedtime came she thought it too warm to sleep in her room on the lower 524 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. floor and wished to go upstairs, where she thought it might be cooler. She started upstairs and when she reached the top step she fell backwards to the floor below, receiving injuries to her spine and about the head from which she did not recover. She lingered until 7 o'clock p. m., Thursday, when God was pleased to take her to enjoy her reward. Mrs. Maloney was born in County I\Iayo, Ireland, fifty-nine years prior to her death. She came to the United States with her parents when a small girl. They lived near Sei-anton, Pa., where she married I\Ir. IMaloney in 1862. They came to Iosco in 1863, where she had since lived. Surviving her were her husband, four sons, and four daughters. The sons are John G., James, Kichard, and Frank; and the daugh- ters were ^Misses Anna and Cecilia, INIrs. John Costello, and ilrs. r. Kane. Christy Hefferon, another of the toiling heroes of earth, was c.illed to his final home, at 10 o'clock p. m., Thursday night, August 23, 1900. lie was one of the pioneers of the county, first settliiiu in the old villaj^e of St. iMary. He afterwards resided ciii a farm until the death of his wife, a few years ago, when he moved to Waseca to live. He was a native of Ireland, born No- vember 16, 1823, and came to this country when a young man. His remains were coiiveyt'd to the St. ]\Iary cemetery and in- terred beside those of his wife. He left no children. There was a bad railroad wreck on the 1st of September, 1900, in which W. F. Carroll, of Waseca, lost his life. The following particulars were at the time condensed from the Mankato Free Press : A freight train going east, with a double header to help It up the grade ■was ready to depart and was backing into the siding to await the arri- val of the St. Peter and New Ulm passenger at 7:50 o'clock. A flagman had been sent up the track to flag the New Ulm train, but he passed up on the outside of the Omaha track. Just at that moment an Omaha freight train pulled along, which obscured the flagman from the C. & N. W. passenger, and the latter rushed on to its doom. The engine on the passenger was backing in, and was in charge of W. F. Carroll, en- gineer and C. O. Sisco, fireman. They hadn't time to jump from their engine had they attempted to do so after the danger they were in was discovered. The tender of the passenger engine struck the forward freight engine as It was on the open switch just before it had cleared the main track, and there was a fearful crash. The wreck was one of the worst that ever took place In or near the city. As the cloud of steam CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 525 which escaped from the two disabled engines and completely enveloped the wreck, cleared away, the awfulness of the crash revealed itself. The two engines were piled up together, a mass of twisted and broken iron. The freight engine was completely dismantled, the cab being en- tirely carried away. Had not the engineer and fireman, Chas. DensU and William Sherman, jumped, they would doubtless have been instant- ly killed. Engineer Carroll was found on the west side of the wreck on the ground on his hands and knees. He was fatally injured, the lower portion of his abdomen being laid completely open, bones badly crushed and his jaw was broken. He was conveyed immediately to his home, where he died shortly before 10 o'clock. Mr. Wenzel Kreuzer, the well known wagon manufacturer and blacksmith, died at his residence, in Waseca, about noon, Oct. 7, 1900. He was born March 22, 1851, in Germany, and came to this country in 1868, when only seventeen years of age. He first stop- ped in Milwaukee where he worked at his trade for three years, and then came as far west as ilankato. There he lived for four years. He married Miss Elizabeth Eeuther, at iMankato, in 1873. In 1875 he removed with his family to Waseca, where he had af- terwards resided. When in good health he was a stirring, success- ful business man, and accumulated quite a property. He was a liberal-minded, good citizen, and an honest, upright man. He had been in poor health for a long time, and his death finally re- sulted from consumption. He left surviving him a widow and six children. From the Waseca Herald of Nov. 9, 1900 : Another old settler has gone to her long rest, has "joined the silent majority." Her death was sudden and unexpected. We learn from her sis- ter, Mrs. Maggie Turnacliff, of this city, that, although ]\Irs. Weed had been failing in health for some time, she was as well as usual Thursday evening when she retired for the night. About 4 o'clock Friday morning, her husband was awakened by a gurgling noise, and when he spoke to her and raised her head her spirit had departed. The fact is recalled that her mother, Mrs. Wm. Brisbane, died in almost the same way, a few years ago. Helen Brisbane Weed was born in Hawick, Scotland, June 21, 1836. Her father, Hon. Wm. Brisbane, came to America with his family in 1839, and resided in the town of Andes, Delaware county, N. T., on what was called the "Holland purchase." In 1849, the family went to live in the town of Alto, Fond du Lac comity, Wis. Ten years later, 1859, they moved to Wilton, in 52G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. this county. But prior to this time, while living with her married sister, in Preston, Jackson county, Iowa, Helen married Mr. Benjamin F. Weed, December 6, 1855. In the summer of 1856, :\Ir. and Mrs. Weed settled on section 23, Wilton. She left surviving her, besides her husband, four sons, one daughter, five brothers, and four sisters. She was a most estimable woman, a kind and hospitable neighbor, an affectionate and devoted mother, a good wife, and a true friend. None knew her without feelings of respect and admiration. She was so good, so kind, so gentk' in sickness and distress among her neighbors, that her memoi-y will be held dear while life remains with them. Waterville Advance: "William Gibbs died at his home In this city on Saturday, November 12, 1900, after a brief illness of five daj's. The deceased was born on the 9th day of March, 1824, at King's Kipton, Huntingdonshire, England, He was married to Miss Mary A. Howell on December 25, 1848. They came to America in May, 1854, remaining in New York until November of the same year. They went from there to Wisconsin, and thence to Hastings. On May 31, 1856, they settled in Blooming Grove, where they resided until November 11, 1892, when they removed to Waterville. ]\lr. Andrew Lynch, one of the very early settlers in the town of St. ]Mary. died Dec. 10, 1111)0, at 4 o'clock, at an advanced age. He settled on the farm where he died, in the summer of 1856, and lived there continuously until his death. He left surviving him three sons and five dauuhters. An account of the sad death of Andrew R. Henderson, Dec. IJ), 1900, was given in the ?i[adelia Times as follows: "On his return from dinner, Mr. Henderson dropped into the mill office and chatted a few moments, and then went over to the engine room to resume his duties about the mill. He had noticed that the fan shaft of the condenser was loose and called the attention of the engineer to the fact, saying he thought a collar in the water tower must be loose, Mr. Ki-ng turned the water off the tower and asked it he hadn't better throw off the belt. Mr. Henderson said he didn't need to, so they both went into the fan room of the condenser, a small space about five feet Tiigh. They found the collar all right and oiled the bearings. On leaving the chamber, Mr. King preceded. He had just stepped out of the door •when he heard a terrible pounding behind him and, turning saw the body of Mr. Henderson whirling about the shaft, the pounding sound being produced by his limbs striking the roof. King ran into the en- gine room and shut down the engine, but it was too late. The shaft on which the poor fellow was caught revolved at the rate of four hun- dred and fifty revolutions a minute and by the time it had ceased to re- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 527 volve, life was beaten out, and only a mangled, mutilated mass remained. The shaft was far enough from the floor and ceiling so his head didn't strike. His death was in all probability - instantaneous and painless. "When the machinery was stopped it was found that nearly all his clothing had been torn from his body. At the time of the terrible ac- cident, his father, W. A. Henderson, was at the ranch near Dickinson, N. D., taking care of another son, James, who was ill. Mrs. Hender- son, his mother, was quite ill at her home in St. Mary, and Mrs. Andrew R. Henderson, wife of the deceased, was with her married sister who was sick and resided near Echo in this state." Deceased vras born in the town of St. ]\[ary about 1869, his father being Wm. A. Henderson, well known in this county and state as an extensive and successful farmer. Andrew attended business college for some time, and in April, 1895, he associated himself with C. S. Christensen, forming the firm of Christensen A: Henderson, proprietors of the IMadelia Roller Mills. He rep- resented the milling company as a traveling salesman for four years. He was most happily married to Miss Nancy H. Phelps, of St. ::\Iary, on the 30th day of August, 1899. THE ELECTION OP 1900. The election this year was an exciting one— the struggle being substantially the same as it was in 1896. The local result was as follows: AVm. ]\IcKinley's majority was 589. John Lind, for governor, dem., and populist, received a majority of 33. For representative, G. E. Brubaker, rep., received 1,675 votes, and Raymond Dojde, dem., 1,439; county auditor, C. H. Bailer, rep., 1.650, and P. J. IMcLoone, dem., 1,516; treasurer. Otto C. John- son, rep., 1,543, and Jos. T. Dunn, dem., 1,610; sheriff, Milo A. Hodgkins, rep., 1,362, Prank Collins, dem., 1,809; register of deeds, Walter Child, rep., 1,417. and John I\I. WoUschlaeger, dem., 1.760; judge of probate, G. A. Wilson, rep., 1,905, and Chris. Strunk, dem., 1,203; county attorney, F. L. Farley, rep., 1,241, and John Moonan, dem., 1,934; clerk of court, Henry Reynolds, rep., 1,577, and W. H. Stearns, dem., 1,546 ; school superintendent, L. J. Larson, rep., 1,656, and F. J. Remund, dem. and populist, 1,643; county commissioner. First district, H. J. Hanson, rep., 283, and John T. Brisbane, ind., 209 ; commissioner of Fifth dis- trict, Herman Weckwerth, rep., 261, and Joe. S. Root, dem., 254. X. M. Nelson, court commissioner, 0. L. Smith, surveyor, and Dr. H. G. Blanchard, coroner, were elected without opposition. CHAPTER LXX, 1901. COUNTY GOVERNMENT MATTERS— FOURTH OF JULY STORM, NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING— DEATH OF BISHOP WHIP- PLE— DIED: MRS. TERRENCB LILLY, JOHN MORGAN, MARY RE- MUND, O. POWELL, ANDREW NELSON, W. H. HARMON, JOSEPH T. DUNN, ELLA J. BALLARD, EDWARD MOYLAN, SR., JOSEPH MANTHEY, MRS. PETER BECK, MRS. J. M. WOLLSCHLAEGER, MRS. BRI. G. WOOD, JESSE R. WEED, ED. I. SCHOLER, MRS. O. T. HAGEN, GULLICK KNUTSEN, T. K. ALLAND, ROGER GARAGHTY. OF BLOOMING GROVE, FERDINAND HOLZ (HANGED), S. W. MYRICK, A. CALLAHAN, MRS. A. N. ROBERTS. The new board of comity commissioners of "Waseca county, met in regular session at the auditor's office on the Sth day of January, 1901. ^Members present, H. J. Hanson, M. H. Helms, Fred McKune, Herman Ewert, Herman "Weckwerth. The board organized by electing Commissioner Herman Ewert, chairman. The Kadieal of Waseca, was chosen as the official paper of the county for the yeai'. At the meeting of .May 18, it was ordered that the bid of Gil- lette Herzog Manufacturing Co., of ^Minneapolis, ]\Iinn., for the construction and completion of two steel bridges for the sum of $911.25 be accepted, and also that $100 be appropriated to the town of Woodville to be expended in grading in section 13. NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING JULY FOURTH, 1901. Loren Wood, wife, daughter, Luman S. Wood and their sister,, Florence, narrowly escaped drowning during the terrible thunder storm, of the afternoon of July 4. They were rowing for the north shore of Clear Lake, Waseca, when a sudden storm arose CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 529 as they were off Maplewood Park. They started for the shore, but the storm overtook them, and their boat swamped and capsized. It was fortunate indeed that both Loren and Luman were good swimmers, level headed, and familiar with the lake. The women, too, evinced the most wonderful courage and good sense. Several persons at the park saw them as they went over- board, and among the number were W. L. Grapp, and E. A. Mc- Adams, who immediately manned a boat and started to their assistance. Unfortunately one of the oar locks to the boat gave out and the rescuers were forced to make for the shore, landing at the foot of Von Sien's hill. They sprang ashore and ran as fast as possible back to the park where they found another boat and immediately started out again. This time they reached the shipwrecked persons, who were bravely clinging to the sides of their half-submerged boat. They took Mrs. Wood and her daughter safely to land, returned at once and took Miss Florence ashore, Loren and Luman insisting upon remaining for fear of overloading the rescuing boat. In the meantime, Prof. George Alden had secured a boat and started to the rescue. Being near sighted, and the rain coming down in sheets, he passed the Wood boat and searched for some time before finding it. He finally found the Wood brothers shortly after ]\[iss Florence had been rescued, and took them on board. Several times dif- ferent ones of the Wood party were separated from their boat by the force of the terrible gale and it required the utmost sldll and coolness to regain their hold. Many times the waves rolled over and entirely submerged them, requiring all their strength and courage to maintain themselves. Very few persons would have lived through such an experience. Messrs. McAdams, Grapp, Alden, and Peterson were entitled to all the credit that could be bestowed upon them for their courage in facing such a storm to go to the relief of the shipwrecked. There, was general rejoicing as the news spread that all were saved. DEATH OF BISHOP WHIPPLE. Henry Benjamin Whipple, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Minnesota, died at his home in Faribault at 6 o'clock, on the morning of Sept. 16, 1901. He had been ill only a few days. The week before he suffered a severe attack of inflammation of 530 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. the throat and lungs, but rallied and was considered out of danger. Sunday evening there was a serious relapse, followed by death early Monday morning. Bishop Whipple was born at Adams, New York, February 15, 1822. In his early manhood ho engaged in mercantile business. In 1847 he relinquished busi- ness and became a candidate for orders in the church, and in 1849 was ordained deacon. In 1850 he was ordained priest and served as pastor of different churches until June 30, 1859, when he was elected bishop of the diocese of ]\Iinnesota. As bishop he was eminently successful. Seabnry Divinity school, Shattuck military school, and St. IMary's hall, all at Faribault, are among the institutions founded by the dead prelate. He was a good man, and his influence, as a rule, was for higher moral living, for nobler aims in life. He died full of years and good deeds, and will be mourned by the old settlers of this state, regardless of sect or creed. He brought honor upon our state and nation, and his name will be revered by coming generations. THOSE WHO CROSSED THE RIVER OF DEATH IN 1901. Jan. 4, 1901, ]Mrs. Terrence Lilly, an old settler of this coim- ty, quietly fell asleep at the residence of her son, B. J. Lilly, of Waseca. She was born in Ireland, seventy-seven years before, came to this country in 1847, and lived first in Cincinnati, Ohio, She and her husband afterwards removed to Illinois, where they remained two years. They came to ]\Iin- nesota in 1856 and settled in the tovm of St. ]^Iary, where she experienced the hardships incident to frontier life. Her husband, many years her senior, died nine years before, at the age of eighty-two. She was a good Christian neighbor, a devot- ed wife, a kind mother. Funeral services were held at the Catholic church in Waseca and her remains rest in the Janesville Catholic cemetery beside those of her husband. Mr. John Morgan, of Iosco, passed to his long rest Jan. 25, 1901. He had been ill of heart trouble for some time, but the evening before his death Ke sat up for a few hours, talked with all in the house and, after going to bed, slept soundly and natui- ally. The first signs of death occurred about 7 o'clock next morn- ing, when he seemed to be in a stupor. This lasted about an hour, when he went to sleep as easily as a child, to sleep the long sleep CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 531 of death. He was born in the county of Derry, Ireland, in No- vember, 1830. At the age of fifteen he went to Scotland and there secured work in an iron mine. He was employed there un- til 1849, when he sailed for the United States, lauding at New Orleans after a seven weeks' voyage. He pushed on up the [Mississippi river to his destination at Shellsburg, Wisconsin, where he engaged, as miner in the lead mines. There he saved his scanty earnings until he had enough to send for the rest of his family, a father and five sisters. He next found employ- ment as a boatman on the INIississippi river for a number of years. He also had the honor of working on the boat that went from St. I'aul to Traverse on the Minnesota river, and carried the com- missioners, including Gov. Ramsey, that made the treaty with the Indians for lands west of the Mississippi river, on July 23, 1851. Mrs. Mary Remund, widow of the late John Remund, was one of the oldest settlers of Waseca county. She was born in Swit- zerland and married ilr. Remund in that country. In February, 1856, she and her husband moved to section 15, Blooming Grove, where they lived until 1876. Then they went to Vivian, where they remained until 1882, when they sold their farm and removed to Wilmot, S. D. ]Mr. Remund died at that place in 1894. In February, 1900, IMrs. Remund came back from AVilmot, and lived until her death with her daughter, ]\Irs. H. W. Bluhm. She was taken with that dread disease, pneumonia, and died Feb- ruary 28, 1901. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom, five sons and two daughters, survive her. The sons and one daughter reside near Wilmot, the other daughter being ^Irs. H. W. Bluhm, of Vivian. ]\Ir. Bluhm accompanied her remains to Wilmot, where they were deposited beside those of her hus- band. Obadiah Powell, one of the prominent and highly respected old settlers of the county, was born Feb. 1, 1828, at Hartsville, Steuben county, New York. His forefathers were among the early settlers of America and he was a typical American farmer. He arrived in Woodville in 1856, taking the claim where he re- sided the remainder of his life, May 6, 1856. On July 5, 1857, he married Miss Mary Jane Gray. He helped to organize one of the first if not the first, school district in the county, was elected 532 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. its first clerk, and was either clerk or treasurer of the district for many years. He was the first chairman of the board of super- visors of Woodville, and for two years, under the supervisor sys- tem, represented his town on the county board. He was a member of the board of supervisors of his town most of the time till 1869, when he was elected county commissioner of the first district — Woodville and Blooming Grove. He was re-elected, served two years, and then resigned. He was afterwards town supervisor for two yi'ars, and for many years elected and re-elected town treasurer until failing health admonished him to refuse the office longer. He held variows offices in the I. 0. 0. F. organization, of which he was an honored member. He also served two years as a member of the state board of equalization. He was an active and highly respected member of the Waseca County Horsethief Det(>etive association, and was its treasurer for a long time and ■until February, 1900. He was sick of dropsy for many months prior to his death which occurred April 3, 1901, at 3 o clock p. m. He left surviving him a family consisting of his widow, five sons and three daughters. On April 11, 1901, Mr. Andrew Xelson, of Blooming Grove, went to his long rest. Although he had been ill for months, he was able to be up and about the house an hour before he diel. J\ist before he expired he arose from his bed and said to his son Oscar that he was about to die. He was assisted to a chair and died within a few moments. Deceased was born in Sweden, Au- gust 29, 1829. and was in his seventy-second year. He was anions- our first settlers and one of the most honorable of men. A sketch is given of his early life elsewhere in this work. W. H. Harmon was one of the early settlers in Vivian. He was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Jan. 27, 1827. At the age of twenty-two, he married Miss Esther Smith, by whom he had eleven children. His wife died in Vivian May 14, 1873. He afterwards married Ellen ilycue, of that town, who died a few years ago in "Waseca. Deceased was one of the pioneers of the state, having lived first in Blue Earth county, in 1857, and a year later on section 32, in Vivian, where he resided until he removed to Waseca. At one time he was quite wealthy, but in the crash of 1892-3 he lost nearly all his property, and became much de- pressed. He was a member of Tuscan lodge No. 77, A. F. and CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 533 A. IM., and was always esteemed an honorable, upright man. He died at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. John Elmore, near Alma City, April 19, 1901, in his seventy-fourth year. Mr. Joseph T. Dunn, county treasurer at the time of 'his death, was born in Park county, Indiana, November 21, 1855. His pa- rents, William and Mary J. (Baird) Dunn, were born in Ireland and were of Scotch origin. His parents settled in Otisco in 1856, being among the very early pioneers of the county. His motiier died in 1871, and his father in 1884. March 21, 1877, he married Miss Lena Beck, then of Steele county, Minnesota, who survives him. He had six children, two sons and four daughters. For many years he was engaged in buying and selling cattle and hogs, and was very well known to most of the people of the county as an honorable, upright man. He was personally very popular. Three times he was a candidate on the Democratic re- form ticket for county treasurer and each time received many more than his party vote. He was for years a prominent member of the Waseca County Horsethief Detective society, and at the time of his death was its captain of riders. He was also an hon- ored member of the I. 0. of 0. P. lodge in Waseca. He died of pneumonia, April 18, 1901, after an illness of about a week, at the age of forty-five years, four months, and twenty-eight days. A. J. Jordan, for many years of St. Mary, and later of Wa- seca, died April 4, 1901, at his home. He was about sixty-four years of age, and died of a complication of diseases. He was born in County I\layo, Ireland, and came to this country when about thirteen years old. His parents first lived in ]\Iassachu- setts, afterwards in the state of New York. He afterwards went to Pennsylvania, where he married Mary Loftus, July 7, 1856. They came, very soon after marriage, to this county, settling in St. Mary. He was quite a politician, in his way, and served one term as county commissioner. Miss Ella J. Ballard died at St. Barnabas hospital, Minneapo- lis, Wednesday, May 1, 1901, at 5 o'cock p. m., after an illness of only four or five days. Her death was caused by blood poi- soning from an internal pelvic abscess, which must have devel- oped very rapidly, as she was apparently in good health nine days before her death when she spent the day shopping with her 534 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. twin sister, Nellie. She was one of the daughters of the late Daniel Ballard. ilr. Edward Jloylan, another prominent old settler, passed to the Grealf Beyond Wednesday morning, ]\lay 1st, 1901. ]Mr. Moylan, of St. ^Mary, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in the year 1818. He was a wagon maker by trade and remained in Ire- land until he was thirty-three yrars of age. He then came to America, and landed in New York on the last day of July, 1851. He worked his way to Rochester, N. T., where he was employed at wagon making for five years. He married his first wife, iliss Mar'y Burke, from County Galway, Ireland, in the spring of 1852. In the fall of 1856, he removed with his family to Galena, 111., and thence to Dubuque, Iowa, where he worked during the win- ter at his trade. In the spring of 1857 he took the first boat up the river to St. Paul, and then back to Hastings, where he landed. He hired a team and went as far as Faribault with his wife. Then he left her and came on foot to the then new and promising- village of St. JNlary, where he bought a lot, intending to open a wagon shop. He Mas in better shape financially than many nth- ers, having saved up some $500 in gold. He bought a cow for $50, and hired a man for $13 to move the family and goods from Faribault to St. Mary. His experience in getting settled was like that of all laioneers in this then new country. Soon after St. !^rary began to decline, he went to farming. His first wife died in 1869, August 29. He married his second wife, Tiliss Hannah (Jorman, in 1872. He left a nice farm of one hundred and sixty acres besides personal property. He was one of oiir best citizens, prompt and honorable in all his dealings, a peace- able man, a good neighbor, a kind husband and father. He was always a rugged, robust man and was seldom sick until the day of his death. The morning before he died he did his chores about the farm. He died of pneumonia, being ill only one day. He left surviving, besides his widow, ilrs. Charles ]\lcLoone, ^Ir-i, Charles MeCabe, Rieliiird ]\loylan, of St. Paul, married, and AYil- liam antl Edward, of St. ^lary, single. jAIi'. Joseph Manthey, of Waseca, after a long and painful ilhicss, died ;\Iay 10, 1901, in his seventy-seventh year. He was boi'u at Adamslieim, Prussia, ]\lareh 15, 1825. He came to the United States in 1853 and lived first, in Wisconsin, near Prince- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 535 ton, where he married j\Iiss IMinnie Krassin, daughter of ]\rrs. Augusta Krassin, in December, 1855. J\Ir. Manthey was a black- smith by trade, and in 1856, in company with Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., and Christian Krassin, came to this state and settled in St. Mary, on the farm where his son now resides. There he built a rude blacksmith shop, the first in St. Mary township, and also opened a farm. He was the father of nine children, eight of whom, with their mother, survived him. Samuel, the eldest son, was killed on the railroad, at the Otisco gravel pit, some years ago, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. Manthey was one of the most genial of men. He excelled as a conversationalist in his native language, and was always kind and generous to his family and neighbors. He had troubles enough of his own, yi't he was always cheerful and hopeful. 'Sirs. Peter Beck, of Waseca, died Thursday morning, July 5, 1901, at an early hour, of heart disease. She had been feeble all winter. She was born in Germany. She came to this country thirty-four years before her death and lived in Steele county. She and her husband afterwards settled in Waseca. Her hus- band died some months before she did. She left surviving her a son, ]Mr. Henry Beck, of Meriden, and three daughters. iMrs. John il. WoUschlaeger, of Waseca, after an illness of three weeks, died at 7:45 o'clock, Wednesday evening, July 17, 1901. Louisa Ida (Neidt) WoUschlaeger was born in Waseca Janviary 18, 1876. Her mother died while Louisa was very young, and her father, Mr. Christian Xeidt, died about 1884. She mar- ried Mr. John jM. WoUschlaeger, our popular register of deeds, April 18, 1900. She had an attack of cholera morbus, followed by inflammation of the bowels. Abeesses formed which caused much suffering and, finally, death. Her trouble assumed a ma- lignant form at the start, and defied medical skill. She left sur- viving her husband, a brother and a sister. The people of Waseca were painfully shocked upon hearing of the sudden death of Mrs. Eri G. Wood, which occurrAl about 1:30 o'clock p. m., July 23, 1901, her age being sixty-six years, five months and sixteen days. She had been indisposed for a week or more, but had been pronounced by her physician much improved. She ate her dinner with a relish and was able to be about the house. Her death, therefore, came as a surprise to ;>;!ii run i>s iiisi'oK\ i>i>' w vsi'cv rtHNrx luT r.'iuul} iu\\iilrnlU ilioil willi litllo or no pain I'lissi-il i|nirll\ i\\\a\ liLo one riilliilif ii- Marx l.ovojov Stc'NiMis was liorn at 1 I.m orlull. (ItaKon ('ouul\, N 11,, .lanuarv ','S, IS.'lo With \\vv paronls anil a oolonv oC rnomlN. who cinurratol o\orlaiiil \o Mi'iluia. (Miio, nl'onl tlio xoiir IS 10. «|iri-i' slic ,",i'o\\ In w onianliooii. In Soplonilun-, IS,) I, nIio I'.nuo to ('la\ Ion ('omit,\, Iowa, luid Cor a \oai' niailo lior homo willi hor nin tor, M i-s Cliarlo.s WnlkniN (K'tolior :'.>. IS.i.i, ,sli,' wa,s niainoii to \]y\ (J W'ooil. So\ on olulilron w oro iKO'n to tlioni, sl\ ol' whom Mir\i\o I'onr sons, l,oron. SnnmiT, laiinaii iiml Iv'oImm'I, innl two (iiUKvhtcrs. Isal'ol iiinl l''loi'i'ni'o Mr, luiil Mrs \\ ooJ nio\oil to tho hinni' w hoi'o ,sho ilnul \\\ IS,iii, imil w cro annnii' tho \orv oaily sotlh'rs of Iho I'oimly. • losso l\ WiM'ii, ono ol' tlo' I'arl.N .soltlors ol' |!\ron. ihoil Vnonsl ■_', lllOI. Ml.si'w lion> in thi.s \olnino i,s (^»i\rn im aooonnt ol Ium oai-l\ si'ttloniont, Ml- l''.ilwaril Isaao Si'holi'i', who was I'orn hiK ' •. ISlil, in Wahasha ooiinl,\, this wlalo. ilioil ,\ii!>:nsl :il, l!l|l|, i\\' oanror ol' Iho .stmiiaoh llo was niairioil to Carolino h'.'ll. dinu'liloi- ol' .l.ilm l'\'ll, (>r this ooiint.v, Marrh |:>, ISSS llo lol'l with liis wil'o nIn ohihlii'ii, tlio olilosi honiK a son IwoUo \oars ol' ar.o llo iilso lol'l li\o lirolhorN and livo nisIits Io inoiini hiN oai'l,\ do|iarliiro Him disoaso luid lioi'ii of lone.' slandinj^ allhnnvh ho w ;in no! mado awiii'o (if till' nidnn' id' tho troiihlo till uliinit ii .\oai- pnoi- to hi'i doalli. V,iw\\ III tho yoar ho wan Iro.ilod ill Iho Ma,\o h(ri|Mtal, in K'oclioNlor Tho doolors roiiioxcd llio disoiisod portion id' tho sloiiiMoli, UN lho,\ Ihoiifdil. and for ii Imio ho o.aiiiod Nironolh lind lippoaroil Io ho iiiipro\' in|^ Hilt ,\i|liiii i\ few witKs tho old fool ni(.^ rolnniod, and rnrlhor oNinninill ion li\ tho doolors disoloNod Iho I'liol tJliit tiioro wMN nc» liolp I'm' hiiii 'rilo lour dInoMH of Mrs (» 'I' IImkihi, of lllooimiic . ISIO; (■miic lo Anicricii Willi tuM pnn'iilM ill IS[>I, liviiiK in Dmiic ( !(piiiiI,,v, W incoiiMiii. Iliw pit i-imiIm rciiiliiiiKil llici'c iiiilil llii' HprinjJT ol" ISMI wlicii (licy ciiiiio lo MiiiiicNoln, mill III llic ImIIci- purl, ol' .liiiir s(^IH(l(l in Hlooiiiini/ Onivc Al llic Imn- ol' l,iii< liitliiin niiiNHiirro, in \H^\'^, lio diilisliMi III ('i)iiipiiny M, li'iiHl Minni'Ndlii Monnlcd |{iinK<"i'H. IliN conirMdi'M rroiii lliiN ('(iiiiily were linn. S. I* Cliild, hiiMit. T. I'' Wi'mI, .IoIiii ('niiniiifrliiiiii, il. II MliiMldii, Mfflo < H(>h(hi, W. M. Ii'iiy. \i. W. Kriis Nin, ildlin Mnrpliy, iiiiil .Innhin Hiiiilli. lie wiin i\ hriivc iiiiil I'liilli I'll! MdliliiM- iind piirlicipiil(>(l in nil (lid liiirdNliipH id' llio cMiiipiiifTn iit-^iinml Hid vifd nUIiim. II(< Ndi-vdd liis I'till loriii iinil wiis inns (oi-dd dni id I'Virl Siu'lliii^. In lM(>(i. li(> wiin niiii-ricd, .Iniid lil'dli, Id MiwM Miirllui .IdlinNdii, dl' liddi, (Idliiiiihiti C'tninly, WiN(Miiisiii. wild WIIN lidrii ill lidiiK^*, lt(tdn.stir(, Norwiiy, An^rnst l!(t, 1811, and cMiiu" (d Anicricn with licr piircids in IHr>0. I'iJKlit (diildrdn W('n> Imm-ii td IIkmii, ni'vimi diiiifrldorH iiiul one .son. Al'lcr (heir nnirriiiKi" tlicy Ncllicd in loHCd. wiiorc (licy lived until 1S7H, wIiimi llicy N(dd iind rclnriidd to Moi'lidii IH in niddiiiinjj Orovc. Koi- miiny ydiiiM li(> lirld Idwn dlllcoM. Iidinj.; siipdrvisdi-, IrriiNnror, iind town (■ii'rk, lid wiis town cli^rU i\{ llic linid dl' lii.s dciilli. lid Idi'l NiirvivniK liiiii Mrs KniltsiMl (ind MdV(>n childrdii. All dl' (In- dliiidriMi wi'i'd pn-srnl id llir riincriii dNccpl Mlirlliii, Mfs, Sloli'd. wild IM 111 Miiddf-rtiMt'iir lidr iiiiMluiiid lii'iii,i; ii I iiillicrdii niiNsidiniry in IIdiI I'lir II way liind Mr 'T K Alliind, wiidNd dcidll dciMirr(>d M.-pliMiilidr 1;!. \W\. dl' ddiiMunipl idii. wiiM lidfn tliirly I'diir ydiirN bdl'drd iiiui lipdiisdil up dii llid did Alliind lidiiidsload, in soclidii ,'!0, llld(>inin<'; (irdxr lid rdd(MVi'd M c'ddd I'dllilllOll Ni'lldol ddllcididii in llldsrilddl dl-^ll'ii'l ill wlili'li 111' ri'siddd, mid id' w liU'li lio wiih diriM'Idr jil llic liiiio dl' In; ddiilll. AluMil i'ld\i'ii vdiirsi ii>':d lid was iiiiiidd in iiiiirriiij'.c wdll MiMM Alicd .laiiid'^dii, wli(>, Willi ll\dsiiiMll I'liildroii, lilo dlildsl iiinr Vdiir^ did, siir\ l\ d llilll Mr K'd.ivdr ( Jarajtlil y, id' l!ldiMiuii>v (li'dvi', llrsi cdiiMiii dl' Mr Kd.i'>'r (larajvlil.^ , l l.dllis, Md,, illul dailld td IIiIn I'dlllllx alidllt IS(i.'!, sdlllllUV ill UlddlilUd' (Jl'dVd. lid was (ilidut iMiidlx Noai'M dl' a,LV(\ and liisi d<>ath wa^; pdiii'dl'id, like diid rallmf; iislodp lid was an lidiidraldd, I'air ddaliiitv. qiiidl dili 538 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. zen, a good neighbor, and higlil.v respected by all his acquaint- ances. Mr. Ferdinand Holz committed snicide Nov. 29, 1901, at his home in (_)tisco. ilr. E. H. Holz, his son, reported the following facts : Deceased had complained of ill health for some time. On the morning of the 29th of November, he complained to his vrife that he felt ill and desired to go to Waseca for treatment. He was assured that he would be taken to "Waseca by his wife and son Paul. His son, E. H. Holz, and .Mrs. E. H. Holz were milk- ing the Cdws at the time. After the talk with his wife and son, he went out of the house as usual, there being nothini;' unusual in his manner or actions.- Soon after, before 7 o'clock a. m., he Avas found dead in the granary, having hanged himself with a strap. It is believed that his mind had been affected, more or less, since the death of his brother the preceding February, and that his disease became suddenly acute that fatal morning. De- ceased -was born in Germany, June 14, 1826. He came to America about 1847. He enlisted in the Union army in 1864, caiue to this county in 1869, and has since resided here. He died at the age of seventy-five years, five months and fifteen days. He left sur- viving a widow and eight children. Samuel W. IMyrick died December 24, 1901, after a short illr ness, at the residence of Mi'. L. A. Bullard, in AVaseea, of pneu- monia, at the age of eighly-one years, three months and fourteen days. Deceased was born in Vermont, September 10, 1820. He married Miss Fidelia Grover, in the state of New York, in 1843. They came West at an early day and resided near Horicon, Wis- consin. It is said that he came to ilinnesota in 1854, stopping for a time in Fillmore county. He moved to ilinnesota Lake about 1857, being one of the first to settle in that locality. He afterwards lived in Morristown where he and his wife owned a millinery store. They came to AVaseca about 1870, where they opened a millinery store which they conducted for many years. His wife died some years before. The writer's first aequaint:inee with him was while ilr, ]\Iyrick and his wife kept a pioneer hotel a1 Minnesota Lake, in 1858, where "many a weary traveler found refreshment and sleep." The New Richland Star, Dec. 20, 1901 : Anthony Callahan, one of the pioneer residents of Byron, died sud- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 539 denly at his home in this village Saturday afternoon. He had been complaining ot not feeling well, having contracted a cold and left church Wednesday before services were over because of his feebleness. Thurs- day he was stricken with paralysis at his home, losing entire control of his body and limbs; two days later death came, peacefully and pain- lessly. Mr. Callahan was born in Ireland nearly sixty-six years ago and came to this country in 1857 first living in Illinois, then moving to Wiscon- sin, and after his discharge from the army, thirty-five years ago, settling in this county. About two years ago he moved from his farm in Byron, where he had spent the previous twenty-six years, and made his home in this village. ]\rrs. Amos N. Eoherts died ;\IondMy afternoon, Dec. 30, 1901, at her home inAVatervill(i, after a liiiii'eriiis' illness of Brig'ht's dis- ease. She was borii ,Inne-2, 1832, her maiden name being Mary A. Christman. In early childhood- she moved with her parents to Illinois, where she was married to Amos N. lioberts in 1851. They, came to ilinnesota in 1855, and to Waterville in 1877. Eight chiU dren survive her. For a niimber of years ^Iv. and ilrs. Roberts kept the Okaman hotel, and during the years of the B.uekhout milling business many an old settler made his home with them while waiting for his grist. ^Ir. and Mrs. Roberts were; well and favorably known to all the pioneer settlers of the county. CHAPTER LXXI, 1902. WORK OF THE COUNTY FATHERS— MURDER OF PHILIP BISHMAN —BOY ACCIDENTALLY HANGED— DEATH AND DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY TORNADO JULY 5— ELIZABETH AND ADAM BISH- MAN, JR., KILLED— OTHER TORNADOES, JULY 15 AND AUG. 30— SHERIFF COLLINS SHOOTS A DESPERADO— GASOLINE EXPLO- SION—DIED: "JOKER" JONES, GOTTLIEB KRASSIN, SAMUEL KNUTSEN, THOS. BOWERS, JOHN G. FELL, C. HOOVER, MRS. G. BUCHLER, MRS. L. W. CONCANNON, MRS. C. J. BLUHM, F. HOL- LANDER, MRS. FRANK ERFURTH, BENNY SIMONS, GEO. WOSKIE (KILLED)— THE ELECTION. The board of county commissioners met in annual session Jan. 7, 1802, and organized by re-electing Mr. Herman Ewert chair- man. The Waseca County Herald was chosen the official paper of the county for the year. The board this year consisted of Her- man Ewert, H. J. Hanson, M. H. Helms, Herman Weckwerth, and Fred McKune. At the March session of the board only routine business was transacted. CHARIVARI AND DRUNKEN BRAWL; FOUL MURDER OF PHILIP BISHMAN, JUNE 18, 1902. On the 18th of June, 1902, Charles Lipke and Mrs. Katie Han- son, of Wilton, were married in the forenoon by Judge Geo. A. Wilson, at Waseca. It appeared in evidence that Lipke invited Philip Bishman and Michael Mulcahy, of Waseca, to attend his reception that evening. These two men secured a keg of beer CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 541 and drove over to Wilton. At the coroner's inquest, Mulcahy testified substantially as follows: "I am about thirty-seven years of age. Knew Philip Bishtnan In his life time — have known him from boyhood. Left Waseca with him Wed- nesday evening about 9 o'clock. We got a team and buggy from Gal- lagher, took a keg of beer from Meyer's saloon and drove to Wilton. Bishman drove the team. Stopped nowhere on the road till we reached the Kujath place, in Wilton. We took the beer and went out upon invitation of the man who got married (Lipke). When we got there we put team in barn. Bishman took keg of beer in house and we went in. We drank some beer. The groom drank with me and then I drank with the bride. There were several people there. They were social and drank beer lively. After staying about twenty-five minutes I wanted to go home; but they were playing cards and called Bishman back. I went out into the barn and camped down. Don't know just how long I was there, but two or three men came to where I was and one of them said, 'Where are you, you son of a .' One of them caught hold of me, and I said, 'What is up?' They said, 'We'll use you as we have your partner.' '^fHefe were three of them. One knocked me down and dragged m.e to Uhe buggy and I got in. Then they went toward the house, then they caipe back and pounded me with a club. Bishman was then in the buggy and ,said, 'Don't, boys, don't.' They knocked me out of the buggy and I took a northeast course to get away from them. As I left I heard loud talk. One man said, 'You son of a , are you dead? I will kill you.' Fred Kujath is the man that #w'ore he would kill me, and E. P. Bahr is the man that used the club on me. Albert Sumnick was sworn and testified in substance as fol- lows: "I live in Wilton — have lived there five years. I knew Bishman anyway five years. I saw him there at Kujath's place Wednesday night. I met Bishman and the other man there. I was at the charivari that evening, at Kujath's with my brother. Some of the folks there had gone before I left. My brother and I left between 12 and 1 o'clock. I saw some of the fight. I saw B. P. Bahr knock Bishman down in the house with his fist, and when Bishman got up Bahr knocked him down again. Mrs. Kujath said they should stop and put Bishman in the buggy and send him home. I was outside, but could see in. Fred Kujath and old man Kujath were outside, I think. Bahr dragged Bish- man out of the house to the buggy. They said they wanted to get the other man (Mulcahy). They went to the barn and got him, and about then my brother and I left. We heard the racket after we got away a short distance. I did not hear striking before I left, but shortly after I heard striking as with a strap or board. I heard Bahr ask where Mulcahy was. I heard nothing from Bishman. After I got away I heard Bahr call 'Philip' three times, but I heard no answer. The moon 542 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. shone and the night was light. This was at Carl Kujath's, and Fred is Carl's son. Both the Kujaths and Bahr and the others had been drinking and were jaggy." Ernest P. Bahr, one of the accused, at his own request, and after being informed by Mr. Moonan of his legal right not to make any statement, was sworn and made substantially the fol- lowing statement : "I live in Wilton — am twenty-five years old in July, and a farmer. I have rented the Jack Turnacliff farm and my mother keeps house for me. I have known Philip Bishman since I was a boy. I have also known Mulcahy since I was a boy. Wednesday evening I was at a neighbor's and heard of the wedding — saw the Sumnick boys and we went over to Piehl's place — in front of Kujath's. There were some fourteen or fifteen of us. Services were being held in a church near by, and we waited with our charivari until meeting was out. That was about 10 o'clock. I was chosen captain. Then we went to Kujath's and charivaried the couple. As we were about ready to go, Bishman and Mulcahy drove up with a keg" of b.^er. They asked us to come back and have some beer; and so we wffent into the house and com- menced to drink beer. We probably dT^nk too much. Bishman and Mulcahy wanted to drink with the bpide. Bphman followed her into the kitchen and when he came back in the roam he and Mulcahy talked very vulgarly between themselves. TJ'hey talked' so we thought they ought to be whipped. Bishman sat by Mi's. Kujath. ' I told him he was a son of a — • — . I hit him several blows with my hands. Then Bishman came out of doors. Fred Kujat]^' said I did just right. Fred's mother* said we should not hit him again, but put him in the buggy and send them away. Then the two Kujaths and myself went to the barn to get Mulcahy. We hit him a few blows and took him to the buggy and put him in. When we got to the buggy with Mulcahy Bishman had gone — had got out of the buggy. While we were looking for Bishman, Mulcahy jumped out of the buggy and ran away. Both the Kujaths followed him, but he got away. When they came back, Fred said, 'Let's have another drink,' and we drank more. Then we found Bishman near the fence by the house. I lifted him partly up and about that time Fred Kujath hit him on the head with a water glass and afterwards with a club as I took him to the buggy. "When we got to the buggy I put my ear down to his mouth and found he was dead. I said to Fred, 'He Is dead.' Fred said, 'If he is dead we shall have to report him to the coroner.' First we thought to take him to the house, but Mrs. Kujath said we should not bring him in the house, so we took the body to the barn. The old man Kujath said we should make up a story that we found him in the barn dead in the morning. The old man also said he ought to be killed, and that he hit him himself. "I then went home and told my mother I had to go to Waseca. I CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 543 didn't tell her the truth. Then I went and got Verbitzky to haul my milk to the creamery, after which I hitched up my team and drove to Kujath's. Fred was going to Waseca, and the old m^n said we must both tell the same story, and he would clean up the blood and obliter- ate the tracks. Fred changed his stockings and we drove to Dr. Blan- chard's oflSce in Waseca. We told him about the death, but didn't tell it all. We hitched the horses and pretty soon Sheriff Collins called to me and I went to Dr. Lynn's office where I saw Mulcahy, who said, That is the man who used the club.' I don't remember striking anybody with a piece of board — don't think I did. I know Fred Kujath hit Bishman with a piece of board and kicked him about the head as he was on the ground by the buggy, before we knew he was dead. When I first found Bishman was dead I called 'Philip' three or four times, but got no answer. When we found Bishman by the fence, near the house, he was alive and talk- ed, but when we got him to the buggy he was dead. I saw no blood on him at the fence. I was not at the buggy when Mulcahy ran away. When I was through with the charivari I started and intended to go home, but Fred Kujath urged me to stay and have some more beer. I am willing to tell all I know about the matter." These statements at the inquest reveal substantially all the facts It was a drunken hrawl, just such as may happen at any time among people indulging in intoxicating liquors. At the fall term of court, Bahr and both the Kujaths were convicted of manslaughter —the two Kujaths after trial and E. P. Bahr upon his own con- fession and plea of guilty. Carl Kujath, the elder, received a sentence of one year and six months in the Stillwater prison, and each of the others ten years. So far as Bahr was connected with the murder of Bishman, he no doubt was incited thereto by his drunken condition, and it is clear to the mind of the writer that, had there been no intoxication, there would have been no murder. DEATH AND DESTRUCTION— WINDSTORMS, WIDESPREAD AND DE- STRUCTIVE OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, RAGED IN WASECA COUNTY SATURDAY NIGHT, JULY 5, 1902. From the Herald, July 11 : The whole county of Waseca was storm swept last Saturday evening. The tornado in many places destroyed buildings large and small, mak- ing a general wreck of windmills and killed two persons and a large number of horses, cattle, sheep, and poultry. It was one of the worst and most extensive storms in the history of this county. Its general direction was a little north of southwest to a trifle south of northeast, with cyclonic demonstrations here and there quite erratic. Everywhere the wind blew a gale and the rain fell in blinding sheets. The first 544 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. reports that reached us here were the sad and fatal results of the storm at the farm of Mr. Adam Bishman, of Otlsco. Adam Bishman, .Jr., his two sisters, Elizabeth and Clara, and a lad from the Owatonna State school, were in the basement of the large barn milking cows at the time of the storm. It appears that the two large barn doors on the west side of the barn were open, -and when the storm came in all its death dealing fury, it blew out the east side of the barn and moved the structure off its foundation, letting the large quantity of hay in the barn fall down upon the people and animals in the basement. As we are informed, there were, besides the four persons named, nine horses, a large number of cows and some smaller animals in the base- ment of the barn at the time. All of these were caught fast b«neath the hay, lumber and timbers. Miss Elizabeth was evidently killed at once, as she was found beneath a piece of timber with her chest crushed in and her collar bone and two upper ribs broken. Her death must have been almost instantaneous. The rescue required time and the herculean efforts of many neighbors. When the storm struck the farm, Mr. Adam Bishman, Sr., seventy-eight years of age, and his aged wife were in the house, and at first did not realize the force of the storm. Mr. Bishman first discovered that three large soft maple trees between the house and barn were broken off near the ground. He next looked to the barn and found it demolished. A glance revealed to him the horrible fact that his son and two daughters were buried beneath the crushing mass of hay and timber, and that he alone was powerless to rescue them. He and his aged and heart-stricken wife were alone in that terrible storm. What could they do? In a moment Mr. Bishman decided to call in his neighbors, as he alone was power- less. The rain was still coming in almost blinding sheets, accompanied by the fury of the wind, as he started for Otisco station, about a mile to the southwest, nearly facing the wind. He reached the station after much effort. There he called upon Mr. R. Jacoby, who, with prompt- ness and energy, aroused the neighborhood. In the meantime, a tele- phone message was sent to Dr. Swartwood, of Waseca, calling him to the scene of the fatal disaster. For four hours men with strong hands but tender hearts toiled in the storm and darkness before they were able to rescue the living and give aid to the wounded. They were compelled to remove most of the hay with their hands. They found Miss Clara Bishman and the Owatonna State school boy alive and un- harmed. Miss Elizabeth, as before stated, was dead. Adam Bishman, Jr., was fastened beneath the timbers of the barn, still alive, but so crushed and injured that he died Sunday evening. Bight cows were found with the life crushed out, and two others so badly injured that they soon after died. Four out of nine horses in the barn were found dead. The house was not injured. Three trees close to the house were twisted off near the ground. The gasoline en- gine-house between the house and barn was untouched. Just north of the barn, east of the house, and west of a cottonwood grove, was a shed, CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY, 545 which was untouched. The Cottonwood grove just east of the shed, was badly injured. Adam Bishman, Jr., died of internal Injuries, having been caught between timbers which pressed upon the lower part of his chest and back. When taken out by the rescuers, he was able to talk, but circulation could not be restored and death resulted. He was born in Otisco, and reared on the farm where his young life was crushed out. He was a bright, well-educated young man, being a graduate of one of the departments of the State University. He was the pride and reliance of his aged parents, having assumed the heavy burdens of carrying on the large farm. Miss Elizabeth had been a home girl all her life, never having enjoyed very good health. But she had always been a kind and faithful daughter and a great comfort, especially to her aged mother. Words cannot express the sympathy of the whole community for the aged parents and for all of the bereaved family. OTHER DESTRUCTION. "The whole county bears evidence of the destructive force of the storm. We cannot name all the losses, but we give the greater ones as they have been given to us. "St. Joseph's church, on South Prairie, was so shaken by the wind that the plastering was badly injured. Mr. George Matthews, of the same vicinity, had a span of horses frightened by the storm into a wire fence, and they were so Injured that recovery Is hardly expected. Tim and James Sullivan, of Janesville, who own one of the largest, if not the largest barn in the county, the same being 40x100 feet, write that the barn was moved on its foundations about six inches at one end and three inches at the other — the foundation walls being badly injured. Martin Vaughan, In Alton, found the cupola of his barn blown off and the roof injured. Joseph Adams, of Freedom, reports a severe loss — barn and other buildings torn down and a span of horses killed. Mike McGannon, of Byron, had the chimney on his house blown off and other slight damages done. T. J. Adams' big double corn crib was dashed against his house with such force as to break in his roof. Henry Linnihan, of Byron, says his house Is badly racked and injured by the storm. Daniel Linnihan, Sr., had glass broken in his house and a chimney demolish- ed. In the village of Otisco and vicinity the following are reported: J. L. Hanson, store front blown in; Otto Bauman, store front badly damaged; Frank Taylor, blacksmith shop blown down and demolished; Hoover's warehouse moved from its foundation; Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co.'s warehouse moved from foundation; and R. Jacoby and W. H. Stearns' corn houses were overturned. The Janesville Argus reports that a barn at the west end of town was lifted off its foundation and literally torn to pieces. One side was carried a block or more and landed In the forks of a big cottonwood tree in front of Mr. Wentland's residence. The timbers were scatter- ed over a wide area. J. D. Underwood had the roof of his barn taken 20 54G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. off and his buggies tangled up in bad shape. The horses were caught and were extricated from the ruins with difficulty. The roof was taken up and carried quite a distance. The greatest damage was done about four miles northwest of this place at the home of J. H. Jewison where a large barn, erected three years ago, was leveled to the ground. Re- ports from an eye witness are to the effect that from appearances the bam was moved off its foundation and then collapsed in turning over. Three cows were killed outright and two others injured. Strange as it may seem, the horses, three in number, were not killed. They were pressed into a space about three feet high. After considerable labor they were gotten out and at present they appear to be all right. Mr. Jewison lost his hog house and corn crib, but his residence remained without injury. The Herald also learns that Wilton suffered. Herman Weckwerth, of Wilton, county commissioner, was one of the heaviest losers by the storm. He had two large barns and some smaller buildings totally wrecked. His loss cannot be less than $2,000. Diedrich Freeman, of Woodville, had his barn moved off its foundation. The barn on the Rieck place, east of the McDougall farm, was turned off its foundation and badly damaged. Gustof Krueger, the farm tenant, found one of the horses in the barn with one leg so broken and mangled that the animal had to be killed. Several windmills in Woodville, among them Emil Sahler's, were torn down. Albert Domy's horse barn was torn away, leaving his horses exposed to the storm, but not in- jured. Alfred Wood, no doubt, was the heaviest loser in Wood- ville. It is reported that the cyclone first turned his barn around and then tore it to pieces, scattering the lumber and timbers in every direction. Pierce Hacket, of Blooming Grove, reports damage to his house, barn, and granary. Some of his smaller buildings were swept away entirely. Charles Brush, of the same town, on the Steele county line, section 2.5, had his barn torn down and a fine span of horses killed. Ten days later, July 15. the county wa.s again visited. The Herald said : Tuesday was a very comfortable, pleasant, refreshing day and very few persons indeed suspected a destructive storm that night. Even the weather bureau of Tuesday gave no intimation of the storm that was to sweep from the land of Manitoba across North Dakota and Minne- sota like a demon that night. The storm or a kindred storm was heard of about 8 o'clock Tuesday evening in North Dakota and soon after Borup, in Clay county, Minnesota, was reported wiped out. The storm reached St. Paul about 12:40, and a little after 2 o'clock a. ra., a storm struck Waseca with great fierceness. Coming from the northeast, it swept the whole city. Every yard was visited, and every lot owner had his favorite tree broken and crushed by the merciless wind. The buildings, fences, and sheds on the fair grounds were badly wrecked. "Floral hall" was crushed. The judges' stand was unroofed and car- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 547 Tied southwosi across the laci.'l.ra-fk. The hay that was being made on the premises was sc,:itlLrco Hospital, at Rochester, Minn.. 'S\v. (iuslav Sehilknecht passed away Tuesday morning, Jan. :20. about '2 o'clock. Mr. Schildkneelit was born in Ger- many, ^larch 7, 1848. He came to Waseca some twenty -five years before his death, and M'as married to ]Miss Grapp, sister of A. Grapp, in 1881. They have two children, Gustav and Lena. Deceased was a member of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge of this city, and also of the Rebekahs. Both these societies had charge of the funeral services. Mr. Patrick Dolan, one of the very early settlers of Iosco, died Sunday morning, Feb. 1, 1903, of old age. He was eighty-six years old. At the age of twenty-three he came to the United States, landing at Boston, where he remained for seventeen years, working at the mason trade. Here it was that he met and mar- ried Miss Ellen Hubert, who preceded him to the grave by about 560 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. five years. Mr. Dolan came to Waterville in the spring of 1857 and took a claim in Iosco, on which he lived until his death. He was a very energetic man and had accumulated quite a fortune. He had held in his lifetime many places of trust in his town, and was a model citizen, and a kind and loving husband and father. He left surviving him five sons and five daughters. Mrs. John N. Powers, one of the pioneers of Waseca county, died at her home in Waterville, Feb. 8, 1903, of Bright 's disease. Mrs. Powers' maiden name was Anna Connor, and she was a sister of the late IMatthew F. Connor, of Wilton. With her. parents, she was among the pioneer settlers of Wilton — enter- prising, industrious, honest, worthy. Deceased was born in Ire- land, came to America with her parents in December, 1846, set- tled in Illinois where they remained until 1857, and then came to this county and resided in Wilton. She married Hon. John N. Powers in 1868. Her husband died about two years before her death. Eight children survive her. She was a noble woman and performed well her part in life. From the Waseca Herald of Feb. 13, 1903 : "The Angel of Death summoned from our midst, about 5 o'clock a. m. of Tuesday, February 10, 1903, one of the noblest and best of our citizens, Mr. Eri G. Wood. None knew him but to honor and respect him. Mr. Wood was taken ill of pneumonia, week before last, and after a manly struggle of several days gave up his spirit and joined the great majority on the other side. He was born March 17, 1832, in Franklin county, state of New York. He was the son of Nathaniel Wood, who came West and settled in Iowa as early ai 1845. There Eri grew to manhood, and in 1855 married Miss Mary L. Stevens, who died in July, 1901. He came to Woodville with his wife in 1856 and made his home where he has continued to reside till the time of his death. He was a quiet, unpretentious, unambitious man, of much more than ordinary ability, and one of the pioneers for whom the township of Woodville was named. The township was organized April 5, 1858, and the first town meeting was held at his house. May 11, 1858. Mr. Wood served as one of the first judges of election, and was elected the first assessor of his township. The modesty and honesty of the man appeared in his first dealings with the public. The town record shows the following bill against the town for services, etc.: For assessing town of Woodville ■ $8.00 Service as judge of two elections 2.00 Use of room three days for elections 3.00 His son, Loren G., was the first white child born in Woodville — the date being August 5, 1856. The first religious services held in the town- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 5G1 ship were held at his residence hy Rev. Moreland, in 1857. He united with the M. E. church in early life and was ever a consistent member. He was the father of seven children, six of whom survive him. Mr. Wood was a prominent Chapter and Master Mason, and also a member of the I. O. of O. F., of this city. In all of these organizations, he held for several terms the highest stations. He was also a useful member of the board of education of Waseca for many years. His first step in Masonry was taken in Wilton Lodge No. 24, January 5, 18G5. He was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, January 15, the same year, and made a Master Mason February 2, 1865. His advance was not only rapid, but thorough. He became a member of Tuscan Lodge No. 77. December 11, 1868, and remained a consistent member to the day of his death. He first became Worshipful Master of Tuscan Lodge Jan- uary 23, 1873, a position which he filled till January 13, 1876. In poli- tics, he was originally an abolition, prohibition republican, then he affil- iated with the prohibition party from 1872 till 1896, when he supported Mr. Bryan. Strictly speaking, he was a conscientious independent in ' politics." Mr. Samuel Remund, of Blooming Grove, breathed his last, Sunday morning, Feb. 8, 1903, at 8:10, aged seventy years and twelve days. He was born at Oberamt Laupen, Canton Berne, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 1833. He died of dropsy. In 1855, he mar- ried Miss Anna Jueni, and the same fall came to America, land- ing in New York at Christmas time. They immediately came West by way of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa. They did not tarry long in Dubuque but left there Jan. 15, 1856, for Blooming Grove. They were detained at Dunleith by sickness and did not arrive in Blooming Grove until the elev- enth of February. In company with him came his parents, his brothers John, Rudolph, and Albert, and his sister Lina— his brother .Christian, having moved to Blooming Grove. June 28. 1855, furnished them shelter until they were able to build for themselves. Samuel made his claim on section nine. His first wife became the mother of ten children, and died Feb. 23, 1871, beloved by all who knew her. In the fall of 1871, he married Miss Elizabeth Neuhart, of the same town. She gave birth to two children, dying at the birth of the second, the child also dying, Feb. 6, 1874. This left Mr. Remund with ten children, the oldest still in her teens. He again married in the fall of 1874. Mrs. Ersulena Rover, whose maiden name Avas Schneke, became his third wife, and was a kind, good mother to the motherless children. She nobly and faithfully performed the 562 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. duties which she had assumed until Jan. 9, 1899, -when she, too, passed away from earthly scenes. She died as the result of an op- eration for cancer. Her death was sincerely mourned by her hus- band and children. October 20, 1900, he was again married; this time to ;Mrs. Anna B. Goelz, whose maiden name was Koch, and who survived him. Ten of his children also survive him. Mr. Milo Baldwin, of Freedom, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, March 22, 1818, and died at his home in Alma City, January 29, 1903. AVhen he reached his majority, he engaged in the painting business in New York. He followed this occupa- tion for a short time, and then removed to j\Iedina county, Ohio, where he followed farming for six years, and then went to In- diana, where he engaged in both farming and cabinet making. ]\[r. Baldwin then removed to IMinnesota and settled in Freedom, where he lived until his death. ]Mrs. ^lary J. Pease, of Woodville, who was stricken by paraly- sis on the 13th of February, died Sunday evening, February 22, 1903, at 9 o'clock p. m., aged seventy-four years. Two children, both married, survive her — Mr. Wm. F. Eaton, who resides in Otiseo, by her first husl)a7ul, and ]Mrs. Yicila Patch, residing at .Motley, in this state, ilrs. Pease came to this county with her husband about 1862. I\Irs. Pease was an energetic, business wo- man, and ai'cuiuulated quite a property. She was prompt in the payment of all demands, and enjoyed the entire confidence of the community in business matters. ilr. G. C. Runnerstroni, of Otiseo, died ^Monday night, April 6. He was born in Sweden in 1826. He was married to !Miss Christina Johnson, by whom he had five children. Three chil- dren survive him: a son, G. R. Runnerstroni, of (^tisco; a daugh- ter, !Mrs. John Blowers, of the same town, and one other. 'Sir Kunnerstrom settled in "Wilton as a butcher in 1863, and opened a meat market, Avhich he conducted for some time. He finally sold his market and moveil to Otiseo, where he carried on farm- ing. He had not been a well man for thirty years prior to his death. New Richland Star: "Mrs. Mary Dinneen, wife ot Jolm Dinneen, died at lier home in tliis village Tuesday, May 5, 1903, at 2.30 p. m., after a long Illness of kidney and liver disease, aged seventy years. Deceased was born in Ireland and came to this country with her parents when a young girl, first settling CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 5C3 in St. Lawrence county, New York. Here she was married to Mr. Din- neen. Shortly after their marriage, the young couple came to this county, first locating on what is now Henry Bluhm's farm in Vivian and afterwards taking a homestead in Byron. About seven years ago Mr. Dinneen built a residence in this village and from that time they have lived here. Mrs. Dinneen had been in feeble health since she left the farm, and since last September had been confined to the house. From January last she has been unable to leave her bed. She was a good Christian woman of generous impulses and charitable disposition." A man killed liy drinking intoxicants, was the announcement on June 26, 1903. Richard Proehl, of Byron, accompanied by his wife and daughter and his brother-in-law, who resides near Mapleton, Minn., drove into Waseca with Mr. Proehl's team and the brother-in-law's buggy. Mrs. Proehl, her daughter and her brother took the train for Rochester, Minn., to visit her mother, who had undergone an operation in the hospital there. ]Mr. Proehl drank rather freely through the afternoon and evening, and late in the evening started for a visit in Iosco. When he reached the M. & St. L. crossing near Mr. Wyman's place, instead of crossing the track, he turned his team north on to the railroad track and drove along the track, one horse inside the rails. xV ilrs. AYobschall, whose home is close to this crossing, observing the conduct of the man, and knowing that the 10 o'clock pas- senger was almost due, instantly telephoned to the M. & St. L. depot the situation. Messengers Avere hastily dispatched, but they were too late. The on-coming train, as it neared Charles Ward's residence, struck the horses, throwing one of them a con- siderable distance and killing it. The other horse was pushed along and literally ground up. The carriage also was badly broken. The unfortunate man was instantly -killed, his head being crushed, his left arm broken twiee, and one leg also broken twice. Young Edward IMoylan, of St. ]\lary, received an injury by a fall from a load of hay in the fall of 1902. From that time he had been very poorly; better at times, then worse again. Sun- day, July 12, he came to the honu-> of his sister, IMrs. Charles ilc- Loone. of Waseca, and, feeling very weak, he decided to remain for a few days. This weakness grew in intensity until Tuesday morning, July 20, 1903, when his death occurred from heart fail- ure. Edward was born Feb. 11, 1874, in St. ]\lary township, and 5G4 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. was the only child of his witli)wed mother. His father died about three years before. James W. Cleland was born in Delaware county, New York, in 1847. His father was a Pi-esbyterian minister and came West in 1862, living about a year in Steele county, and then settling in Wilton, Waseca county, where he purchased a farm. His children were reared on this farm, one by one leaving it when old enough to enter college, until finally only James was left with the old people. James had married, meantime, in the fall of 1877, Miss Amanda Connor, of Blooming Grove, who had been successfully engaged for several years in teaching school in the coimty. After the death of Rev. Cleland and his wife, the old home farm was sold and the present home of the family, on the west shore of Clear Lake, was purchased. ;\Ir. Cleland had a stroke of paraly- sis in the fall of 1899, but rallied from it and was able to be about the house until the winter of 1901, when he slipped on some ice, fell and injured his hip. From that time he was prac- tically helpless. On July 15, 1903, he received another stroke of paralysis, which proved fatal. He was the father of seven chil- dren, four of whom survived him — Edgar, Spencer, Jay, and Ralph. Waseca Herald, Oct. 10, 1903 : "Another of the noblest of our pioneer settlers, P. Kenehan, has gone to his long rest. Intelligent, modest, unassuming, honorable, indus- trious and liberal minded, he was respected and held in high esteem by all who knew him. He was born in Ireland March 17, 1823, and emigrated from his native land March 18, 1849, landing in New York May 1, 1849. He afterwards came West, first to Geneva, Wis., then to Peoria, 111., next to Lacon, in the same state, and finally to Wilton, in this county, in 1856, where he has ever since resided. In the early days he held the office of town supervisor for many years and was always an honorable and efficient officer. In the Indian outbreak of 1802, he became a mem- ber of the company of "Home Guards" at Wilton, and was very influen- tial in helping to prevent a panic among the people at that time. He married Miss Bridget Martin, October 24, 1849, and became the father of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. While attending the funeral of his friend, M. Gallagher, on the 24th ult., at the St. Mary church, he had a stroke of apoplexy, resulting in paralysis. After lin- gering a few days he departed this life Oct. 10, 1903." Another of the eai'ly and euterprisini;' pioneers of ^Minnesota joined the i;rea,t majority on the other side. Oetol)er 13, 1903. at the advaneed age of eighty-five years. ^Ir. James Dovle resided CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 565 with his son, Raymond Doyle, of Freedom, at the time of his de- mise, ilr. Doyle was born July 6, 1818. at Tinahely, County AVicklow. Ireland. When nineteen years of age, he left Ireland and spent the eight following years traveling and working in Scotland, England, and Continental Europe. lie came to America in 1847, living in Niagara county, New York. He was married at Providence, Rhode Island, in May, 1851, to Miss Catherine I\[cCormick. He came West the following year to Logansport, Ind., and in the fall of 1853 resided temporarily at La Crosse, Wis. In the spring of 1854, he began farming at La Crescent, Houston county, Minn., and spent the following thirteen years there. In 1867, he sold his farm there and came to Waseca county, where he resided continuously until his death. His wife died April 4, 1901, and from that time he made his home with his son, Raymond, on the old homestead. After the death of his wife, to whom he was devotedly attached, his health gradually failed until he passed away. On Monday, Nov. 15, 1903, occurred the death of i\Ir. Patrick IMcDonough at his home in Wilton after an illness of about a year. His funeral was held in St. IMary, and he was followed to his last resting place by a large number of relatives and friends by wliom he was held in high regard. His wife died some years ago. Their family circle contained twelve sons and daughters, all of whom survived the father, and one of whom, J\r. l\Ic- Donough, was, for a number of years, eity marshal of Waseca. Mr. Simon Brown, formerly of St. Mary, later of Woodville, died on Wednesday night, Dec. 8, 1903. ilr. Brown was among the early settlers of St. I\Iary, and was noted as a quiet, indus- trious, peaceable farmer. He had been ill for some time of can- cer of the stomach, that dread disease which, of late years, has carried so many to the grave. He was nearly sixty-two years of age. Mrs. A. Kaibel, of Waseca, died very suddenly of general paralysis, Dec. 9, 1903. She was born in Concoleva, West Prus- sia, in 1839. At the age of fifteen, she came to America with her parents and settled in IMarquette county, Wisconsin. In 1855, she married Martin Buscho. In 1862, the family came to this county and have resided in or near Waseca since that time. After' the death of ]\Ir. Buscho, in 1870, she married Ur. Kaibel. 566 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. She was the mother of twelve children, four of whom survived her. Gilbert (Jison Kin, of Iosco, died on Sunday, Dec. 20, 1903, of stomach disease. Deceased was one of our most industrious, temperate, and honorable citizens, and was held in high esteem by a large circle of relatives and acquaintances. He had been quite a sufferer for several years from rheumatism, but his last illness and the cause of his death M'as stomach trouble, thought by some to have been cancer. For some weeks prior to his death he was a great sufferer. He was a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, having served in (Company K, Fifth regiment, ]Minne- sota infanti'v. He left surviving him his aged companion and twelve children. He was some sixty-nine years of age. His fam- ily were left in comfortal)le circumstances. CHAPTER LXXIII, 1904. COUNTY MATTERS— WASECA'S NEW CHARTER— MR. AND MRS. BARNEY BURNS' GOLDEN WEDDING— ATTEMPTED ASSASSINA- TION OF A GIRL WHO SOON AFTER MARRIES HER WOULD-BE MURDERER— DIED: GEO. W. ARBNTSEN, C. B. GRAHAM, CAPT. C. C. COMEE, J. A. KAHNKB, P. FARLEY, KATHERINE MURPHY, W. H. ROESLER, ADAM BISHMAN, BRIDGET KBNEHAN, HON. C. WAGNER, MRS. J. B. SULLIVAN, JOHN CAHILL, PHILIP KBELEY, R. GARAGHTY OF ST. MARY, SAMUEL HAWKBS, MRS. P. SPIL- LANB— RESULT OF ELECTION. This year the county legislators met Jan. 5, and organized by electing Herman Weckwerth chairman and H. J. Hanson vice- chairman. Only routine business was transacted at this session. The county publishing and advertising for the year was awarded to the Journal-Radical, of Waseca. WASECA'S NEW CHARTER. At the beginning of the new year, the agitation in Yfaseca regarding the proposed new city charter was at its height and so continued until ]May 10, 1904, when it was adopted by the voters at a special election. The adoption of the new charter introduced a new theory in city government, namely: the con- trol and management of the water and light plant by a board of three instead of by the common council as theretofore. This seemed to be a new idea to many, and it was not long before a contest grew out of the new departure as between the mayor and council, on the one side, and the water and light board, on the other. As the contention is still unsettled at this writing, the matter must be turned over to some future history. 5G8 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. GOLDEN WEDDING. Mr. and ]\Irs. Barney Burns, of Wilton, who settled in that toMTi as early as 1856, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their mar- riage Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1904. They had eleven children, all living, and thirty-two grandchildren, and their presence made the gath- ering one of much enjoyment. ]\Ir. and ~Slrs. Burns are among, the very early pioneei's of this county, and are to be congratu- lated upon their continued good health and prosperity. ]May they live long in this land of plenty. MURDEROUS ASSAULT. One of the most tragic events of the year occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21. 190-4, at Waseca. Miss Alice Eyan, aged nineteen years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Thomas Ryan, was oc- cupied as "central" at the telephone office. A few minutes after 5 o'clock, Charles Smith, about twenty-six years of age, son of C. A. Smith, grandson of J. B. Smith, and brother-in-law of Miss Ryan, came into the reception room of the telephone office, and, with scarcely a word, drew a revolver and fired at ]\Iiss Ryan three times, the third time the bullet striking her in the back of the neck and lodging in her body. Smith was overpowered and arrested. ]\Iiss Ryan was taken to Dr. Cummings' office and placed in his care. The would-be assassin was a young man, Avho had been engaged for several years as brakeman and freight conductor on the Chi- cago and Xorth-Western railway. Some four or five years be- fore this event, he had married a sister of ]\Iiss Alice. About a year after the marriage, a babe was born to them, the mother dying some two weeks later. The child was cared for by the grandparents, ]Mr. and ]\lrs. Thoinas Ryan. ^Meantime Smith de- sired to marry ]\Iiss Alice, but her mother not approving of the \mion, :\liss Ryan refused to wed. Smith brooded over his dis- missal, and finally became jealous. The day of the shooting, he had been drinking considerably. It was generally believed that Charlie Smith, sober, was not the guilt,^• party, but that Charlie Smith, crazed with saloon liquor, was the criminal. Charlie Smith's hands ai'C red with the blood of this innocent girl — and whose hands in Waseca are clean? Smith, full of cruel, murder- ous, licensed liquor, plans to murder a helpless girl. He secures CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 5G9 cartridges, marches directly to his victim, and, without the least Avarning, in open day, in the presence of three witnesses, shoots her with murderous intent. And now as to the sequel. Miss Alice rapidly recovered. jNIrs. Ryan, mother-like, visited her son-in-law in jail. As soon as Alice was able, she also went with her mother to see him. As a result, Smith soon obtained bail, and, on the evening of his release, he married the girl he would have assassinated; at the March term of court, 1904, Smith was let off with a fine of $100 on a charge of assault in the second degree. CALLED HOME. The death roll of the fiftieth year in the history of the county was not lengthy, considering the number of years since the first settlement was made. Several of the old first settlers are still living in the count.y, while others are living in other localities. The first to cross the Great River this year was 'Mr. Geo. W. Arentsen, who died Jan. 6, 1904, at Jackson, Minn. He was born in Holland, some eighty-three years ago. He came to America when a young man, and settled in Wisconsin, at Sheboygan Falls, about 1850, where he married Miss Lucretia E. Campbell. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed his calling there until 1869, when he came to Waseca. He purchased a farm in Wood- ville where his family resided, but he worked at his trade in Waseca. He remained here until 1880, when he removed his family to Jackson county, Minnesota. His family lived on a farm, but he opened a shoe shop in the village of Jackson. He remained there until 1887, when he returned to Waseca and re- sided with his son John until the fall of 1903 when he returned to Jackson and remained until the time of his death, living with his son John. Clarence E. Graham, editor and farmer, was a noted character in the history of this county. He died at his farm in Alton, Jan. 11, 1904. The immediate cause of death was dropsy, ilr. Gra- ham was born in Windsor, Broome county, New York, December 22, 1841, and was the son of Mr. and IMrs. John L. Graham. He was reared in the county of his birth. When nineteen years of age, he went to Perry county, Missouri, where he took part in carpentry work on the court house then being built. While there he saw what they termed Lincoln men ridden on a rail for 570 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. their opinions' sake. The following winter ill health compelled him to return to New York. He remained there during the win- ter. In the spring of 1862, his father and brother came to Min- nesotri, and he and his mother followed the same fall, settling in Houston county. In 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Second "Wisconsin cavalry, known as Washburn's cavalry, and remained in the service until December 12, 1865, when he was mustered out, and came to Waseca county. January 9, 1866, he moved to a farm in Freedom to\vnship, where he resided until 1873. He then removed to the village of Janesville, where he purchased the Ar- gus and was soon after made postmaster of the place. In 1881, he sold the Argus to J. A. Henry and removed to Waseca, where he purchased the Waseca Radical. He continued his connection with this paper until it was sold to the present proprietors of the Journal-Radical. Soon after selling the Radical, he engaged in farming so far as his health would permit. January 3, 1869, he married Miss Rosetha Helen Stone, who survives him. They were the parents of four sons, three of whom are still living. Capt. C. C. Comee, another old veteran, died Jan. 15, 1904, of a complication of diseases incident to old age. He was born in the state of Massachusetts in January, 1827. He enlisted in the Ninety-fourth New York infantry at the opening of the Rebellion, was chosen first lieutenant of his company, and soon after was promoted to captain. He participated in many battles, was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, and was confined in Libby prison for nine months. He was honorably discharged near the close of the war and came to Minnesota in 1864. He was county auditor of this county from 1865 to 1870. He then removed to Tennessee, where he remained for a number of years, returning to Waseca some eighteen or twenty years ago. where he followed his trade of painter. Two sons and four daughters survive him. WaseCfi Herald : Mr. John A. Kahnke, one of the early settlers of St. Mary, died on the 20th of Jan., 1904, at his home in that township. He was eighty- Kpven years of age and died of a complication of ailments incident to persons of that age. He was a native of Germany, but came to this country many years ago. He was not only a good man when he died, but he had been a good man for the last thirty years, to our personal knowledge, and, we doubt not, all his life. He was not only honorable and upright, blit also kind, charitable, and obliging. If there is a heaven, John A. Kahnke will have a place there. His children, worthy offspring CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 571 of honored parents, are tour sons, John, Albert, George, and Frank, and four daughters, Mrs. John Volz, Mrs. Joseph Matz, Mrs. Casper Kramer, and Mrs. Peter Amberg. May their last days be like his. Patrick Farley, a prominent farmer of St. IMary, died suddenly Feb. 2, 1904. Mr. Farley had been slightly indisposed from what he siipposed was heart trouble ; but that afternoon, feeling better than usual, he said that he was going out to pump water for the stock. His sons urged him not to do so, but, saying that he needed the exercise, he wrapped up and went out. He was gone somewhat longer than usual, causing so much anxiety on the part of the family that James went out to look for him, only to find his lifeless body, still warm, on the ground near the pump. A post mortem examination showed that he died of apoplexy. Mr. Farley was born in Ireland in 1836. He came to Waseca county when twenty-nine years of age, settling in Alton. Twenty-one years later he purchased his farm home in St. jMary. Surviving him are his wife, five sons, and foiir daughters. After an illness of several years, during three of which she had been imable to be about the house, Mrs. Katherine Murphy, wife of Alderman Heniy jMurphy, died at her home in Waseca, Satur- day night, Jan. 30, 1904. :\lrs. Murphy was born in Ireland, com- ing to America in 1853, and to this comity in 1875. She was about eighty-four years of age at the time of her death. She left surviving, with her husband, one daughter and one son. Wm. H. Roesler, of AVaseca, died Feb. '23, 1904, of heart disease. Deceased was born in :\rarquette county, Wisconsin, Sept. 11, 1S58. He came to Waseca county with his parents when he was eight years old and resided here after that time. In January, 1885. he was united in marriage to :Miss Pauline W. Kaiser. They were the parents of five children. After his marriage, Mr. Roes- ler lived on his farm in Wilton, until, in 1892, he accepted a posi- tion with the Laird Norton Lumber Company in Waseca. In 1896, he was elected treasurer of Waseca county on the republican ticket and filled this ofBce efficiently for two terms. For more than a year he had been manager of the Farmers' Elevator in Waseca,' and had just been chosen to this position for another year. Waseca Herald, March 18, 1904: The sudden death of Mr. Adam Bishman, of this city, shortly after 12 o'clock noon, last Monday, March 14, 1904, was a severe shock to his 572 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. many friends and acquaintances in this county. He had been feeling unwell for some two weeks, but neither he nor his friends supposed his illness was serious. Mr. Mahler called upon him at dinner time, but did not consider his condition at all critical; and yet, before Mr. Mahler reached his store, a messenger overtook him to say that Mr. Bishman was dead. Adam Bishmann, as he was christened, was born in Dorn Durkheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on the 27th day of March, 1824. He came to America in 184C, settling in Monee, Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his native town and was married to Miss Anna M.. Brandt, September 2. They at once came to his Illinois home, where they lived until they came to Minnesota, in 185G, moving to Otisco, where they resided until November, 1902. They then took up their residence in "Waseca, where they have since lived. When Mr. Bishman came to Minnesota, he was in much better financial circumstances than most of the pioneer settlers of the West, and he died possessed of a con- siderable fortune, the greater part of it being invested in land. Notwith- standing his comfortable financial standing, he and his now aged compan- ion participated fully in the hardships incident to pioneer life, and never failed to extend the hand of friendship and hospitality to all comers. Many of our readers will call to mind the terrible tornado which visited Mr. Bishman's Otisco farm in July, 1902, when a son and a daughter were crushed and killed. Notwithstanding that fierce storm, Mr. Bishman went to Otisco station, over a mile distant, gave the alarm, and tele- phoned to Waseca for medical aid. It was a terrible ordeal for so aged a person, and he never fully recovered from the shock then received. He leaves surviving of his own family a son, George, of South Dakota: and three daughters: Miss Clara, at home; Mrs. Gus Krassin, of this city; and Mrs. Anna Perso, of South Dakota. He also leaves surviving three brothers and two sisters: Philip of Illinois, Louis of Mankato, Jacob of Otisco, Mrs. Christian Klein of Chicago, and Mrs. Philip Miller of Rice county. Deceased was one of our best citizens. In politics, he was a prohibitionist. In his dealings he was prompt and honorable. He was kind to his family, hospitable and friendly with his neighbors, and liberal to his church." 'Sirs. Bridfiet (Martin) Kenchan. widow of the late Patrick Kenehan, of Wilton, dird Sunday, .May S, 1904, at the home of her daughters, Misse.s .Mary and Atones, in Waseca, at the age of seventy-six, of blood poisoning- Her ailment commence 1 in her hands and gradually extended to her body causing death. ^Irs. Kenehan .ioined ;\lr. Kenehan in holy wedlock, at Geneva. Wis.. Oct. '28, 1849. She was the niothei' of nine children, of whom six »!■(' now living, three sons and three daughters. lion, t'hristoph Wagner passed to his I'est June 19, 1904. A liical paper of June 24, 1904, noticed his tleath as follows: The people of this county were sin-pristd and shocked on Monday last CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. to hear of the death of Hon. Chris. Wagner, of New Richland, who died of heart failure at 12:45 that morning after an illness of only two days. Mr. Wagner attended the G. A. R. encampment in Waseca, last week, and appeared to be in his usual health. He was taken ill shortly after his return from Waseca, and passed away a little after midnight, Sunday night. Deceased was born in Prussia, November 7. 1842; came to America in 1847 with his parents, who settled in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. There he resided until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. A, Ninth Wisconsin infantry. In which he served three years and three months. He was honorably discharged in 18G4 and returned to his old home in Wisconsin. December 10, 1867, he married Miss Mary Zieger and in 1869 came to Waseca county and took up his residence on section 18, town of New Richland, which has been the family home since that time. He was a member of the state house of representatives during the notable session of 1881, when the "Old Minnesota Bond Swindle" was finally consummated. That was a session that tried men's souls. The man that could be bribed took his price and the people were mulcted in bonds to the amount of ,$5,000,000, which they still have to pay. Mr. Wagner stood firm against the wiles of Selah Chamberlain's lobbyists and the devil of corruption, and came forth unsullied in character. Of course plutocracy marked him for slaughter, but he lived and died with an honored name among honest men that are intelligent enough to know an honest man from a boodler. In 1885, Mr. Wagner and his brother C. A., now county treasurer, opened a lumber yard in New Richland. Afterwards deceased became sole owner; about eight years ago, he sold out altogether. He assisted in organizing the New Richland State Bank, was chosen its president, and continued to hold that position to the time of his death. For twenty years, he has been almost continuously town clerk, and for many years has been a member of the board of education of the village. For the past two or three years, he has confined his , principal activities to the management of his farm of three hundred fifty acres adjoining the vil- lage of New Richland. He leaves surviving him Mrs. Wagner, his widow; three sons — C. W. Wagner, editor of the Litchfield Review, Dr. Frank J. Wagner, and Otto H. Wagner, of New Richland; six daughters — Mrs. Jacob Bchternach, Mrs. C. G. Hauge, Misses Ida M., Alma H., Bertha M., and Elsie E. An honorable, upright citizen and a good man has passed away. His memory will be an inspiration to honorable life. Mr,s. Gertrude Utley Sullivan, wife of J. B. Sullivan, cashier of the First National bank of Waseca, entered into her rest Sat- urday, September 3, 1904. She was born February 16, 1875, in Fryeburg-, IMaine. She came West with her parents and lived in Lake Preston, S. D. Here she .attended the public school and, later, received instruction in Sacred Heart Academy in Waseca. 574 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. She was married to J. B. Sullivan in Lake Preston November 10, 1892. Two children, John aged eight and Florian aged five, with her husband, mourn her departure. Mr. John Cahill, of Janesville, an early settler, died Thursday night, Sept. 22, 1904. Mr. Cahill had been a great sufferer from rheumatism for many years, but had been in his usual health, going to town and back Thursday. He went to bed at an early hour. As he did not get up at his usual time in the mornuig, his son-in- law, Thomas Eustis, went to his bedside and was shocked to find him dead. ilr. Cahill was born in Ireland in 1831. He came to this country in his early manhood, married, and settled on the farm where he lived. His wife and family of eight children sur- vive him. Mr. Philip Keeley died very suddenly on his farm in St. Mary Friday, Nov. 18, 1904. He had started a fire to burn up some rubbish. The fiames were spreading in the direction of some hay stacks, and ilr. Keeley was working with all his strength to keep the fire under his control. A neighbor saw him fall to the ground and hastened to his assistance. Drawing ~Slr. Keeley out of the smoke, the man ran for help to revive the fainting man; but before aid came, ;Mr. Keeley was beyond help. Deceased was a brother of James Keeley and of Alatt Keeley, formerly sheriff of this county. ilr. Roger Garaghty, of St. Mary, died Nov. 17. 1904. He had not been as well as usual during the day and his son Thomas had decided to call in a physician. A few minutes later, the son entered his father's room and founcl that the old gentleman had passed quietly away. ]\h-. Garaghty had been a prominent citizen of St. Mary for nearly forty years, having settled upon section 32, in that town, in 1865. He was born July 4, 1833, in Ireland. His parents were Peter and Alary Garaghty, who reared a fam- ily of six children. Deceased came to America in 1849. when only sixteen years of age. His first two years in this country were spent in IMarquette county, AVisconsin. He then went intci the South where he remained until 1865, when he came to this county. November 16, 1856, he married Aliss Catherine Aladden, who also came from Ireland in 1849. She was the daughter of Thomas and Honora Madden, and was born August 5, lS3:i. They were the parents of five children, three of whom survived CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 575 him. He held the office of town clerk one term, and held school district offices on several occasions. Mr. Samuel Ilawkes passed qiiietly away at his home in Wa- seca, Wednesday morning, Dec. 7. 1904. In April, 1903, he suf- fered a stroke of paralj\sis. He partially recovered from this and had been able to be about the city more or less. Mr. Hawkes was born in Windham, Cumberland county, ]\Iaine, September 13, 1838. He lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to Iowa. After a short residence there, he came to Jleriden, Steele countj^ ]\rinnesota, and bought a farm. In October, 1865, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Shillings, of ilaine. He broiight his bride to his farm where they lived for nine years. He then sold this farm and bought a farm about one and one-half miles northwest of Waseca. After he purchased this farm, he and his family lived part of the time there and the remainder of the time in Waseca. After an illness of about a year of cancer of the stomach, Mrs. Patrick Spillane passed away at her. home in Woodville Saturday morning, Dec. 24, 1904. Charlotte Lang Spillane was born August 22, 1S47, in Cataraugus county. New York. Soon after this the family moved to Waupun, Wis. At the age of nineteen, Mrs. Spillane was married to Patrick Spillane, and came to Faribault county, Minnesota, where they took up a home- stead. In 1874 they moved to Woodville, this county, which was the home of the family after that time. Mr. Spillane died in December, 1896. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spillane, three sons and two daughters, all of whom survive th(^ mother. THE ELECTION OP 1904. Although this was presidential year, there was very little en- thusiasm and more than the usiial number did not vote. The local returns showed the following results: For representative, Emil Dieudonne, rep., 1,314, Wm. H. Meyer, ind., 1,340; treasurer, Fred. W. Roesler, rep., 1.435, John L. Hanson, dem., 1,269; sheriff, Geo. H. Goodspeed, rep., 1,360, Frank Collins, dem., 1,384; register of deeds, F. J. Skocdopole, rep., 1,032, John M. Wollschaeger, dem., 1,704; attorney, John J. Isker, rep., 1,332, F. B. Andrews, dem., 1,363; clerk of court. 570 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Henry Reynolds, rep., 1,517, W. 8. Scott, dem., 1,182: superin- tendent of schools, L. J. Larson, rep., l.-t81, Herman A. Panzram, dem., I,ti32 ; county commissioner of the Third district, John S. Johnson, rep., 240, Patrick ^McIIugo, dem., 175. C. H. Bailer, county auditor, Geo. A. Wilson, judge of probate. Dr. H. 0. Blanchard, coroner, X. 'SI. Nelson, court commissioner, 0. L. Smith, surveyor, H. J. Hanson, county commissioner of First ilistrict, and Edward Thompson, county commissioner of the Fifth district, were elected without opposition. CHAPTER LXXIV. NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER MEN OF WASECA COUNTY, PAST AND PRESENT. NEWS, RADICAL, JOURNAL-RADICAL— HERALD— ARGUS— NORTH STAR. CHILD, MURPHY, GRA- HAM, MORSE, HENRY, BROWN, AND OTHERS. NEWSPAPERS. The present newspapers in the county of Waseca are the Journal-Radical and the Waseca County Herald, of Waseca, the Argus, of Janesville, and the North Star of New Richland. The Journal-Radical is the lineal descendant of the Home Views, which first made its appearance at Wilton as far back as March 13, 1860. That was sometime ago. It was edited by J. W. Crawford, at one time register of deeds of this county, and printed at the office of A. B. Cornell, in Owatonna. About the 1st of March, 1861, Alex. Johnston and S. J. Willis took the paper in hand, called it The Waseca Home Views, and printed it at Wilton on their own press and type. They published it in Wilton until the fall of 1861, when Johnston bought the Willis interest and removed the material to Faribault, changed it to a democratic paper, still continuing to publish a Wilton edi- tion with Buel Welsh, Esq., as local scribe at Wilton. In the fall of 1863, Hon. H. D. Baldwin, who had a lien upon the material, brought it back to Wilton. James Mowatt was em- ployed as printer, and James E. Child served as editor. The first issue of The Wilton Weekly News made its appearance December 8, 1863. It was a six column folio, all home print, and Eepublican in politics. At the close of the first year of the paper, Mr. Child bought the outfit and assumed control of the 21 578 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. paper. March 8, 1866, the paper was made one column larger, and in this form it continued for a number of years. In October, 1867, Mr. Child removed the material to the then new village of Waseca and changed the name to Waseca News. In No- vember, 1868, Wm. J. Graham became half owner of the News, and tried to edit it for some time. He remained with the paper until May 31, 1871, when Mr. Child again took entire charge of the office. On the 1st of August, 1871, Jlr. John F. Murphy,, now of the Herald, became a partner in the management of the News and continued as such until May 29, 1872, when he retired. July 15, 1874, the form of the paper was changed to a six- column quarto. It was then the largest paper published in Southern ilinnesota west of Winona. Jan. 6, 1875, the name of the paper was changed to the Minne- sota Radical. In May, 1878, Walter Child, son of James E., be- came part owner of the paper and took charge of the mechanical department. In October of the same year the ^Messrs. Chid bought a portion of the material of the Liberty Blade, of ]\Im- neapolis, and took over the subscription list of that paper, call- ing the consolidated papers the Radical and Liberty Blade. It was known as an advocate of the temperance and anti-monopoly interests. Incessant toil as attorney and editor for years hid impaired the health of the elder i\Ir. Child, and he reluctantly sold his interest in the paper to Hon. W. G. Ward, in July, 18S0, who was then a candidate for congress. Mr. Ward restored the heading, ^Minnesota Radical, and employed Hon. E. B. Collester as editor, although Senator Ward himself wrote the "savage political articles." In August, 1881, ]\Ir. Ward, having tired of the "luxury," transferred it to C. B. Graham. This gentleman continued the paper until the last of December, 1901,, when he sold material and good will to a company consisting of Dr. F. A. Swartwood, P. C. Bailey, E. B. Collester, L. Bliss, R. P Ward, C. A. Smith, and W. A. Clement. These men at the same time be- came the owners of the Waseca Journal, a paper theretofore pub- lished by J. T. Heck, who came here from Washington. Recently Mr. W. A. Clement, who had been business manager from the be- ginning of the consolidation of the two papers, has bought the other interests, and is now sole proprietor. The Journal-Radical CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 579 is now somewhat like the boy's jackknife. He first broke the blade and had a new one put in. Then he broke the back and had it replaced. Lastly the handle came off and he got a new one; and yet it was the same good, old jackknife. THE WASECA COURIER. This paper was published by Mrs. A. B. Cornell, of Owatonna, in 1862-3. It was a five column quarto, the local editor being Col. J. C. Ide of Wilton. It never had the hearty support of the people of the county, and ceased to exist in the fall of 1863. WILTON COURANT. Early in the winter of 1867, after the News had been removed to Waseca, A. J. Clark and W. D. Palmer, of Winona, were induced to start a paper at Wilton, and they called it the Courant. Mr. Clark was "great" on securing bonuses and man- aged to get a number of pledges from citizens of Wilton and from some of the county officers. His bills for the printing of county blanks were enormous, far exceeding any ever allowed before or since, but the people did not, as a rule, take kindly to the new paper, and about August 17, 1869, Mr. Clark, having secured a bonus from a town in Sherburne county, gathered his material together and removed thither. He was a man of con- siderable ability, genial, and kind in disposition, but strong drink had so debased his manhood and destroyed his business ability that he died a financial and physical wreck a number of years ago in the South. JANESVILLB ARGUS. The next successful paper to be established in the county was the Argus. In the spring of 1873, John L. (not "Billy") Barlow prevailed upon the people of Janesville to purchase press and material for a newspaper and turn the same over to him, taking a chattel mortgage back. Mr. Barlow seemed to be a failure from the start, as a newspaper man, and those who had their money invested foreclosed the mortgage within three months after he started, and the paper was suspended. In the fall, of 1873, the Janesville proprietors of the material prevailed upon C. E. Graham, of Freedom, to accept the same and start a newspaper. The first number appeared November 2, 580 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 1873. It was a five-column quarto and bristled with odd, quaint sayings, and with witticisms fresh and stale presented in an orig- inal manner. Mr. Graham continued to publish the paper until August, 1881, when he sold it to Mr. John A. Henry and bought the Waseca Radical. Mr. Henry has had command of the Argus continuously ever since, although he was ably assisted by I\Ir. C. W. Brown, as a partner, from the fall of 1900 to about June 15, 1903. THE RECORD. Messrs. W. J. Graham and A. H. Carman, in October, 1873, started a small, three-column folio, called The Record. It sus- pended the next spring. WASECA LEADER. This was a weekly paper instituted in Waseca, by T. F. Hol- lister, from Wisconsin, in the spring of 1876. Jlr. Hollister strug- gled hard to maintain the publication, but with three papers in the village at that time, he found it impossible. On the 7th of May, 1880, he sold his outfit to jMessrs. G. W. Morse and A. F. Booth, who consolidated it with the Herald, then owned by Messrs. Morse & Booth. WASECA COUNTY HERALD. Lem Reeves and A. J. Fullerton came to Waseca from Mc- Gregor, Iowa, and commenced the publication of a seven-column folio, the first number of ■which bore date October 5, 1877, and announced itself as "straight Republican." Oct. 4. 1878, it was changed in form to an eight-column folio with "patent inside." That fall ]\Ir. Fullerton retired, ilr. Reeves continued the pub- lication of the paper until j\]ay 2, 1879, when he disposed of the outfit to A. F. Booth. July 1, following, H. F. Pond, of Trempea- leau, Wis., bought a half interest in the paper, and the firm name became Booth & Pond. They published the paper until April 23, 1880, when ]Mr. Pond retired. On the 7th of May following, as before stated, Mv. Booth "absorbed" the Leader, at the same time forming a copartnership with Mr. G. W. Morse. The next week Mr. Booth sold his interest to Mr. S. IM. Rose, and on ]\Iay 14, 1880, the Herald was issued by the new firm of Rose & ]\Iorse. Under the able management of these two men, the paper became CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 581 firmly established. Mr. Rose died about March 13, 1883, and his widow continued her interest in the paper until Dec. 1883, when she sold to Mr. J. F. Murphy her half interest and the business was thenceforth conducted in the name of Morse & Murphy, until Oct. 15, 1885, when Mr. ]\Iorse sold his half interest to James E. Child. The firm name of Child & Murphy was used until about the first of April, 1890, when the name of the firm was changed to J. P. Murphy & Co. This name has been con- tinued to the present time. At the beginning of volume XXL, Sept. 21, 1900, the form of the Herald was changed from an eight-column folio to a six-column quarto. THE NORTH STAR. R. P. Child made the first venture in newspaper work at New Richland, in the fall of 1878. About six months' experience closed the deal. Sept. 24, 1884, Morse & Murphy, of the "Waseca Herald, commenced the publication of a paper called the New Richland Review, with L. M. Paschall as local editor. It was ably edited by that gentleman, but it did not pay and was dis- continued Oct. 7, 1885. The next venture was the North Star, which made its first appearance Feb. 4, 1886, S. K. Gregg and M. E. Goodwin publishers. Mr. Goodwin retired April 15, 1886, leaving Mr. Gregg sole owner. The latter part of August, 1887, Bronson & Holland bought the paper, 0. H. Bronson becoming editor. Their first paper was dated Sept. 5, 1887. Mr. Holland soon after retired, leaving Mr. Bronson in sole command. Along in the nineties, Mr. Bronson sold the outfit to B. "W. Graham, nephew of C. E. Graham, "on time." After about a year Mr. Bronson again took charge of the office. He was a very com- petent, bright editor. He continued with the Star until June 15, 1903, when he sold the whole plant to Mr. C. W. Brown, who has continued it with marked business ability ever since. TOWN TALK: A three-column folio paper made its appearance Oct. 9, 1879, and was exactly what its name implied. At least, for the time being it was the talk of the town. It bore the name of T. White, editor, although T. "White probably never wrote a word of it. The second number, dated Oct. 23, 1879, was decidedly personal, 582 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. and exhausted the energies of its authors, it is supposed, as that was the end of the publication. THE CLIPPER, Oct. 4, 1901, Thos. J. Kelley, from Jordan, Minn., started a paper called the Clipper, in Waseca. He issued six numbers and then threw up the enterprise. No doubt he was deceived by representations made by Waseca men that knew nothing of the newspaper business. CHAPTER LXXV. WASECA COUNTY IN THE SPANISH WAR— OVATION TO COMPANY K— CAMP RAMSEY AT ST. PAUL— COMPANY ROSTER- TRIP TO CHATTANOOGA— MARCH TO CAMP THOMAS— CAMP LIFE— RE- TURN HOME. For years, Waseca county had maintained a military organi- zation, known as Company K. At the time of the breaking out of the Spanish war, in 1898, the company was nearly complete in its number of men, and vi'ithin a very short time af- ter the call for troops, the company was ready for ser- vice. About the last of April, Capt. Walter Child I eceived orders to embark his company for St. Paul the next morning. "There was hurrying to and fro" among the boys to get ready for the sudden change, and the peo- ple of Waseca, at the instiga- tion of John Moonan, Esq., also moved in the matter. A local paper said: "Wednesday evening, Capt. Walter Child received orders for Company K to proceed to St. Paul, via the M. & St. CAPT. WALTER CHILD. L railway 7:30 o'clock morn- 584 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ing train. Hon. John Moonan learned of the order about 9 o'clock the same evening, and immediately set to work to give the boys a decent send off. Quietly but effectively he enlisted the services of patriotic citizens and in a tew hours, Thursday morning, had everything ar- ranged for a monster meeting and banquet. And so it happened that Company K, of this county, received a generous ovation the night be- fore it left. The Waseca Opera House was filled to overflowing, and the street in front of the building was crowded with a swaying, patriotic mass of people who could not gain admittance. While a bounteous sup- per was being prepared in the G. A. R. hall by the ladies, the crowds outside were being entertained by the Waseca band. At the same time, in the opera house, a formal meeting was being held to cheer and con- gratulate the young men that wer« about to face the hardships of war in defense of the old flag." The boys had a little experience to start with. They left "Wa- seca early in the morning, arriving at St. Paul a little after 10 o'clock the same morning. Upon arrival the company received orders to leave all grips and packages with detail and teams vchich would bring them out. Consequently all boys without haversacks left their rations, and had nothing to eat until 9 o'clock at night, after marching from St. Paul to the fair grounds. It was an unfortunate oversight on the part of the St. Paul offi- cers. The company was finally mustered into the United States service May 8, 1898. The following was the roster of Company K, Waseca : CAPTAIN, Walter Child. FIRST LIEUTENANT, Milo A. Hodgkins. SECOND LIEUTENANT, J. S. Sheehan. FIRST SERGEANT, Geo. E. Stowe. QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT, E. Durston. Joseph Dunn. Arthur B. Ward. SERGEANTS. F. C. Priest. Charles Hemstreet. Alvis Henle, Carl Lund, J. McLoone, A. J. Kurkowskl, CORPORALS. A. F. Bartles, F. C. Cook, Henry Gasink, P. J. McLin, D. E. Cordry, E. R. Connors, M. W. Anderson, J. D. Reynolds. MUSICIANS. L. H. Dibble, H. E. Gillam. (CHILD'S IIISTOItY OF WASKCA COUNTY. 585 II. 10. HiulHoti. W. A. Siuilo. liostwlck, ]I. J. JiC'DI-H, R. W. < liiii-Uo, Geo. F. Barlow, ('•!•<>. W. BlomJxTK, Alviii Dliilicsico, W. M. Ciilhanc, W. F, Clark, ]<'iatik ('haH(!, Ira Daniels, S. I!. Dcwald, II. Davis, JO. A. lOlUriKSOii, M. 10. lOrlcksoTi, "W. M. I''i-i(z, D. C. FriHtail. A. Clbbs, U. S. Ga.sink, Geo. A. (iaslnk, Edwaiil .1. Hale, I. W. ARTIFICIOR. WAGONIOIL PRIVATES. Hanson, Olof liolz^rove, 11. (!. Hall', John lli'aly, (;<■(,. Irons, Frank B. Johnson, Thco. Koplen, 10. W. Lunil, Joc' Larson, O. J. IJf)yil. T. E. MitldauKli, R. W. MlddaiiKli, C. A. Mycue, Wm. Mcbln, Fra.iik Mlka, C. B. McMahon, W. A. McGlnnlH, Timothy E. McDonald, James A. O'Leary, .lohn Olson, Simon Olson, Mail in Pel rail, A. L. P( l.erson, l''red Parizram, II. A. J. Ryan, M. A. Reynolds, Wm. S. R(jmy, W. M. Sill, Ransom Schaiiml(i!ssel, Aug. Selianml<(,'SKeI, Al. Hliorlell, Henry Vernon, Wm. Veal, Herman Wllsey, T. A. Williams, II. II. Wlnship, A. K. VVehsI.er, Harry WIchman, Theo. Zeralh, P. C. Tlie coiiiiiany I'l'iiiMiiied ill (,'ainp Kainscy, llic^ Stale Fair Si'oiiiiils, iinlil May 10, ]HI)H, when its n'Kiiiieiil,, th(' Twelfth, was tak-eii l,() ( 'hielciiinail^a, I'a.rk in Triinesser'. 'I'lie eonipany passed tlirmi^di Waseea, on the Idlli of ]\la,y, over the M. & St. Ij. rail- way, and was I'nrniHhed coU'ec! and limcli at Waseca,, with a grand ()va,tion. 'Hie, followinj,' exti'a,ets I't'oiii a, pi'iva.te h'tter written liy ('aplain Chihl, e-jye soinc^tliing of an idea, ol' th(! trip. On train between Hannibal and St. Louis, Mo., May 17, 1898. Father: Wo brokit camp at 0:30 a. m. Monday, May IC, and took train about 11 a. m. Wer<> detained In St. Paul on account of our bag- KaK<' and slock, and did iiol leave lliere until about 2 o'clock p. m. One man of Comiiany 1) had his bead badly cut in Minneapolis while leaning out of a window. Il out In force, especially through Minnesota and Iowa. We awoke this morning In 586 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Burlington, Iowa; got coffee at Keokuk, and had our breakfast. We have been following the Mississippi river all the forenoon, and the country is the most Godforsaken, I believe, that I ever saw. We passed the second section of our regiment at Hannibal. They stopped there for coffee, as their engine had broken down. The boys are all feeling well at this writing, 12 m., except Geo. Gasink, who is a little sick at his stomach from riding on the cars. We have seen, from the car windows, the log huts that we have heard of, occupied by the colored race. One small* town in Missouri was nearly all log huts. Company K appreciate the eatables and demonstration made by the Waseca people, and are at this time enjoying the lunches. Waseca is all O. K. The merchants there furnished our train with coffee for $7.50, while in Keokuk the same amount of coffee cost us $23.50. We shall be in St. Louis at 3:30 p. m., and from there we go to Cor- inth, Miss., thence to Chickamauga. We shall probably reach our des- tination about Wednesday night. Under date of Jlay 21, writing from Camp Thomas, he said: "We arrived at Chattanooga, Thursday morning at 4.30, and although we were there all the forenoon, we did not leave the depot. "We left Chattanooga about 1 o'clock p. m. and marched to Chicka- mauga Park, a distance of some ten miles. The boys were all in heavy marching order, and a good many of all the companies fell out along the road. We got into camp a little after 7 o'clock, and the boys were nearly dead for want of water. A detail was sent for water to one of the springs, but found it guarded by an Illinois company. Their guns were loaded with cartridges, and they would let no one get at the spring unless accompanied by an oflicer; such a cry as went up from the men for water, when we arrived, was enough to make a man sick. "A lieutenant has to go with the water brigade several times a day. The reason for this guarding is, that some one had poisoned the springs and wells, a day or two before we arrived, and they had to be cleaned out; so guards are now stationed at each spring and well. "The Park is a fine place. Our regiment has cleaned its camp quar- ters so that there is no grass or leaves left on the ground. We all had a good bath in Chickamauga creek yesterday. The water looks dirty, but one can wash quite clean in it after all. "This is no play soldier. The first night in camp no tents were put up, and we all lay upon the ground in our blankets and were very glad of the chance to do so and rest. A good many of the bovs sleep in the open air yet, as one car load of our tents was lost on the way. Our boys are all standing camp life pretty well, although the 'grub' is pretty tough at present, as we are just finishing up our traveling rations. We expect something better after a little." CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 587 Under date of June 11, the Waseca Herald correspondent wrote : "On the 11th of June, Corporal Cordry was detailed to return to Wa- seca to secure twenty-three recruits for the company so as to bring It up to the number of one hundred and six. He arrived at Waseca June 13, 1898, and on the 21st of the same month his recruits had all been secured. The following were the recruits with name, age and occupa- tion of each: Anderson, Otto, 31, miller; Axtell, Arthur V., 21, farmer; Borge, Lars K., 22, tailor; Clark, Geo. A., 22, saddler; Davis, Thos. A., 24, mlUer; Everson, Sofus, 21, clerk; Hanley, James M., 21, law student; Hanson, Albert, 23, plumber; Johnson, David, 23, laborer; Ketchum, Verner A., 20, farmer; Lindsay, George W., 25, clerk; Leo, Wm., 25, tinner; Smith, Jasper A., 26, farmer; Skaug, Henry M., 21, clerk; Shave, Edwin, D., 23, carpenter; Sand, Ole, 21, mechanic; Smith, Varde, 18, laborer; Starr, Frank E., 19, laborer; Sterner, Wm. A., 27, butcher; Thoresen, And. C, 23, miller; Walte, Fred A., 22, butcher; Wynnemer, Fred, 31, mechanic; Wlckershelm, 24, farmer." The regiment remained at Camp Thomas, Ga., until August 22, when the men broke camp and started for Camp Hamilton, near Lexington, Ky. The Waseca Herald correspondent, under date of Aug. 28, 1898, wrote as follows : "We broke camp at Camp Thomas at 6:30, Monday, the 22d, packed up and started on the march for Rossvllle about 9 o'clock; after a fast march of nearly seven miles, we arrived there only to find that there were no cars and that we would have to wait until night. When night came we were told that the cars were expected any time, so we camped on the ground without even putting up our shelter tents, for we ex- pected to load any time within the night. The cars at last arrived Tuesday morning, and at 9 o'clock we were going as fast as steam could carry us away from the place that none of the men can remember with pleasant thoughts. Nothing of any interest happened en route, only that the boys were delighted with the beautiful scenery that was to be seen from the car windows. We arrived at Rossvllle about 4 o'clock, Wednesday morning, unloaded, marched to our new camp, put up our tents, and Thursday night found us all settled with board floors In our tents. A good many of the boys have purchased cots. This place seems to have been made on purpose for a camp — the ground is sloping and it so pleasant and cool here. The grass is green and that is something we have not seen since we came South. This is In the heart of the blue-grass country where the best of everything grows. If anything does not grow, the people make sure to get it in some other way. The people here think there is nothing too good for a soldier; at Camp Thomas all the people thought of a soldier was the money they could get from him, and they got pretty near all of It too. &88 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Just think of paying forty cents a gallon for milk, and that not very good. Here we g«t the very best milk right from the farmers for twenty-five cents a gallon." By this time the war with Spain was substantially at an end and the boys were destined to return home without seeing any actual fighting. After remaining at Camp Hamilton about a month the Twelfth regiment was ordered home, to New Ulm, to be mustered out of service. The company arrived in Waseca September 22, and was tendered a banquet and a flag presentation. The banquet was prepared by the Woman's Relief Corps and the old veterans of McKune Post, G. A. R., with the assistance of lady friends. The company men and many of their relatives, with the members of the W. R. C. and G. A.R., sat down to a sumptuous repast at the G. A. R. Hall, about 7 o'clock p. m. As soon as the banquet was disposed of, all repaired to the court room, where speeches of welcome were made, and a large silk flag presented to the com- pany. The flag was the joint work of the ladies of Waseca, Waterville, and Janesville, and was a very handsome gift. Short speeches were made by Senator Collester, Hon. Peter ilcGovern, Capt. Walter Child, Editor John A. Henry, and lawyers P. B. An- drews and John Moonan. The company remained in camp at New Ulm, — most of the men being home on furlough— for a month, Avhen they were paid off and mustered out of the United States service, with the privi- lege of continuing as a part of the State organization. But after the service the men had seen, they lost interest in the organiza- tion and declined to stand the expense of maintaining a company, so they soon after disbanded. CHAPTER LXXVL MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS— WASECA AND ITS MAYORS— COM- MISSIONER KEELBY INVESTIGATES AND FINDS "STEALAGE." WASECA AND ITS MAYORS. The official record book of Waseca, from the organization of the village to the year 1881, has been lost for a long time. How or when, no one seems to know. After considerable search, were found the following names and dates. Under the village charter there were three trustees, instead of aldermen, and one of the three was made president, who was in fact mayor or chief mag- istrate. PRESIDENTS. W. G. Ward in 1868; Wm. Everett in 1870; I. C. Trowbridge in 1871-2; George P. Johnson in 1873, 1874 and 1875; P. C. Bailey in 1876, 1877, 1878; R. L. McCormick in 1879 and 1880. MAYORS. Warren Smitli in 1881; M. L. D. Collester in 1882; I. C. Trowbridge in 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1892; G. Buchler, 1886; B. B. Collester, 1887; D. S. Cummings, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1896; D. E. Priest, 1891; John Moonan, 1897; C. A. Smith, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903; Wm. C. Wobschall, 1904 and 1905. From the Waseca County Herald, Dec. 30, 1904 : COMMISSIONER KEELBY INVESTIGATES. "We are informed that the record of the proceedings of the board of county commissioners, at their late session, did not contain all that was done. It is reported to us that the board appointed a committee of two of the county officers to examine certain books of the county, and that no record was made of their appointment. Our informant says that Commissioner Keeley, some time ago, commenced to investigate 590 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. a little on his own account, being assisted by another. He found, first, that the law required all plaintiffs in district court, having jury trials, to deposit with the clerk of court $3; second, that the clerk of court is required, by statute, to "forthwith" pay over the same to the county treasurer; third, upon inquiry of the county treasurer and the county auditor, that no such fees had been paid into the county treasury for years. These findings Mr. Keeley presented to the county commissioners and the county attorney at the late session. All of the commissioners, save one, were astonished; that commissioner, it is said, at first argued that the officer was all right. After considerable discussion by members of the board, the clerk of the court appeared before them, invited them into a back room, confirmed Commissioner Keeley's statement, and agreed to restore every cent as soon as he could borrow the money. The commissioners then appointed the county attorney and the county auditor to investigate the books of the clerk of court and ascertain the amount of money withheld from the county, and to report at the next meeting of the board. We are informed that the amount collected by the clerk during the past eight years and not paid over amounts to over $500. Subsequent investigations by the state authorities confirmed Mv. Keeley s findings, but the attorney general of the state held that since all this stealing had been done prior to the commence- ment of the clerk's term of office, Jan. 1, 1905, he could not be removed unless he should be indicted and convicted by the courts. The grand .jury of the county, at the March term of court, failed to indict the clerk, and IMr. Henry Keynolds con- tinues as one branch of the court which, theoretically, is ex- pected to have clean hands. CHAPTER LXXVII. LEGISLATORS OF FIFTY YEARS— COUNTY AUDITORS— REGISTERS OF DEEDS— TREASURERS— DISTRICT COURT CLERKS— SHER- IFFS— PROBATE JUDGES— COUNTY ATTORNEYS— COUNTY SUR- VEYORS—COUNTY CORONERS— SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. LEGISLATIVE ROSTER. On the adoption of the State constitution in 1857, the coun- ties of Waseca and Steele, constituting at that time the Fifteenth senatorial district, were represented in the first legislature, which assembled December 2, 1857, by Senator Lewis McKune, of Wa- seca county, and Representatives H. M. Sheetz, G. C. Pettie, and Smith Johnson, of Steele county. At the election of 1858, Buel Yreleh, of Waseca county, was chosen representative. However, owing to the protracted session of the legislature of 1857-8, there W'^R no session in the winter of 1858-9. The second legislature convened December 7, 1859, and ad- journed March 12, 1860. The Fifteenth district was represented in the senate by W. F. Pettit, of Steele county, and in the house of representatives by Amos Coggswell, and G. W. Greene, of Steele county, and George T. White and Jesse I. Stewart, of Waseca county. In 1860, the counties of Steele, Waseca, and Freeborn were set oft' as the Sixteenth senatorial district. This district was repre- sented in the third legislature by Senator George Watson, of Free- born county, and Representatives J. E. Child, of Waseca county, and W. F. Pettit, of Steele county. . The fourth legislature, assembling January 4, 1862, contained in the senate A. B. Webber, of Freeborn county, and in the house 592 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. H. C. Magoon, of Steele county, and P. C. Bailey, of Waseca county. The fifth legislature opened January 6, and adjourned March 6, 1863. Senator M. A. Dailj', of Steele county, and Representa- tives Asa Walker, of Freeborn county, and Philo Woodruff, of Waseca county, represented the Sixteenth district. Senator F. J. Stevens, of Steele county, and Representatives Philo Woodruff, of Waseca county; and J. L. Gibbs, of Freeborn county, represented the Sixteenth district in the sixth legislature, which met January 5, 1864. The seventh legislature came together January 3, 1865. This district was represented by Senator B. A. Lowell, of Waseca county, and Representatives J. L. Gibbs, of Freeborn county, and J. B. Crooker, of Steele county. The eighth legislature opened its sessions January 2, 1866. This district was represented by Senator B. A. Lowell, of Wa- seca county, and Representatives J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, and Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county. On January 8, 1867, the opening of the ninth legislature, this district was represented by Senator Augustus Armstrong, of Free- born county, and Representatives William Brisbane, of Waseca county, W. H. Twiford, of Steele county, and J. E. Smith, of Freeborn county. The tenth legislature convened January 7. 1S68, and adjourned March 6. The Sixteenth district was represented by Senator Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county, and Representatives William R. Kinyon, of Steele county, J. E. Smith, of Freeborn county, and George A. La Dow, of Waseca county. In the eleventh legislature, J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, was senator; and Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county, E. Eas- ton, of Steele county, and Warren Smith of Waseca county, were representatives from the Sixteenth district. The twelfth legislature met the first time on the 4th day of January, 1870. J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, was in the sen- ate, and Major W. C. Young, of Waseca county, H. W. Ruliffson, of Steele county, and Dr. A. C. Wedge, of Freeborn county, were in the house. The next year Major W. C. Young, of this county, was elected to the senate, and Dr. A. C. Wedge, of Freeborn county, F. B. RESIDENCE OFJNO. S.ABELL, SEC. II, OTISCO TR, WASECA CO.,MINM. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 593: Davis, of Steele county, and William Brisbane, of Waseca county,, were chosen as representatives from the Sixteenth district to the,- thirteenth legislature. Under the apportionment act of 1871, Waseca county was mad& a senatorial district by itself and was entitled to a senator and two representatives. In the fall of 1871, James E. Child was elected to the senate, and Kelsey Curtis, of Alma City, and John Thompson, of New Richland, were elected to the house. In the fall of 1872, W. G. Ward, of Waseca, was elected to the- senate; John Thompson, of New Richland, and J. L. Saufferer, of Blooming Grove, were elected to the house. The sixteenth legislature convened January 6, 1874. W. G. Ward held over, and L. D. Smith, of Alton, and James E. Child, of Waseca, were in the house. In the fall of 1874, Hon. Peter McGovern, of Waseca, was elected to the senate; Morris H. Lamb, of Alton, and Joseph Minges, of Otisco, were chosen to represent this county in the house. At the legislative session of 1876, Mr. INIcGovern still repre- sented Waseca county in the senate, and Robert Earl, of Free- dom, and Kelsey Curtis, of Alma City, represented the county in the house. In 1877, Hon. P. C. Bailey, of Waseca, was our senator, and Penton Keenan and Anthony Sampson, of New Richland, were our representatives. At the twentieth session of the legislature, which assembled January 8, 1878, P. C. Bailey was still senator from this county, and J. 0. Chandler, of Janesville, and Penton Keenan, of New Richland, represented the county in the house. In the fall of 1878, S. B. Williams, of Waseca, was elected to the senate by the prohibition party, and John Thompson, of New Richland, and John S. Abell, of Otisco, were elected to the house. In the fall of 1880, R. L. McCormick, of Waseca, was elected to the senate, and Christoph. Wagner, of New Richland, and D. J. Dodge, of Janesville, were elected representatives. It was in the session of the legislature of 1881 that the old Minnesota state railroad bonds were resurrected and settled. At the fall election of 1882, Dr. R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, was chosen senator, and J. C. White, of Waseca, was elected to 594 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the house. Under the apportionment aet of 1881, Waseca county was entitled to one senator and only one representative. In the twenty-fourth legislative session, Dr. R. 0. Craig was still in the senate, and M. D. L. Collester, then a prominent attorney of Waseca, was our representative in the house. In the fall of 1886, W. G. Ward was again chosen to the sen- ate, and M. W. Ryan, of Byron, was elected to the house. In the twenty-sixth legislature, Mr. Ward was our senator, and Otto Hanson, of Otisco, represented us in the house. In the fall of 1890, R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, was again chosen to the senate, and M. H. Helms, of Waseca, was chosen repre- sentative. In the twenty-eighth legislature, which assembled January 3, 1893, and adjourned April 18, R. 0. Craig continued to represent the county in the senate, and Henry M. Buck, of Wilton, was our representative in the house. At the fall election of 1894, E. B. Collester, of Waseca, was elected to the senate, and Henry M. Buck, of Wilton, to the house. Mr. Collester continued to represent this county in the legis- lative session of 1897, and John Wilkinson, of Freedom, Avas our representative in the house. There was a new apportionment by the legislature of 1897, and the number of this senatorial district was changed from eleven to ten. In the fall of 1898, Peter McGovern, of AA^aseca, was elected senator, and .John Wilkinson, of Freedom, was chosen represent- ative. Senator McGovern continued to represent us during the ses- sion of 1901, and G. E. Brubaker, of Waseca, was our representa- tive in the house. In the fall of 1902, E. B. Collester was again elected to the senate, and A. J. Lohren, of Waseca, was elected to represent the county in the house. Senator Collester continues to represent this county in the senate of 1905, and William H. Meyers, of St. Mary, is our rep- resentative in the house. Biennial sessions of the legislature began in 1881. COUNTY AUDITOR. The office of county auditor was not created in this state until CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 595 1859. The first to occupy this office in Waseca county was Spencer J. Willis, who entered upon his duties January 1, 1860, and held the position for three years. Colonel John C. Ide, of ^Yilton, was his successor, being appointed such in January, 1863, upon the resignation of Mr. Willis. Colonel Ide held this ofSce until the fall of 1866, when he died suddenly of heart disease. Captain C. C. Comee, then of Vivian, was appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. At the election following in November, 1866, he was elected to the office and was re-elected biennially, holding the office until 1870, when he resigned. Captain Comee was succeeded by Hon. Warren Smith, who was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Comee 's resignation. At the fall election of 1870, Edgar Cronk- hite, Esq., of Freedom, was elected auditor, and entered upon the duties of the office March 1, 1871. He was re-elected in 1873, 1875, 1877, and 1879, thus holding the office for ten years most acceptably to the people of the county. Mr. C. E. Crane, of Free- dom, was the next to fill the office of auditor, being elected in the fall of 1880. He was re-elected in the fall of 1882, and thus served the people of the county for four years. He was followed in the office by ]\Ir. S. Swenson, of Waseca, who was elected No- vember 4, 1884, and re-elected in the falls of 1886 and 1888, thus holding the position for six years. Mr. A. J. Lohren, of Waseca, was elected auditor in 1890, and again in 1892 and 1894. He was succeeded by P. J. jMcLoone, of Waseca, who held the office from January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1901. C. H. Bailer, the present auditor, was elected to this office in 1900, 1902, and 1904. At the last election ]\lr. Bailer had no opponent. REGISTER OF DEEDS. At the time of the organization of the county of Waseca, Gov- ernor Gorman appointed Mr. Tarrant Putnam register of deeds. He entered upon his duties in ilarch, 1857, and held the office until the election in June following, when he was succeeded by Mr. J. W. Crawford, then of Janesville, who had been elected to the position. At the general election in the fall of 1857, Major E. A. Kice, then of Wilton, was elected to this office, and held the position for two years. At the fall election of 1860, Mr. Tar- rant Putnam, of the same place, was elected to succeed Major 590 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Rice. In the fall of 1862, Mr Putnam was re-elected, thus hold- ing the office four years in all. Mr. H. P. Norton, then of Wil- ton, now of AVaseca, was elected to succeed Mr. Putnam in the fall of 1863, and held the office for two years. The next incum- bent of this office was Mr. Hiram A. I\Iosher, an ex-soldier, who had lost an arm in the service. He was elected in 1865, and re- elected term after tei'm, holding the office until January 1, 1880. Then he gave way to his successor, Mr. Charles San Galli, of "Wa- seca, who was elected register of deeds in 1879. ilr. San Galli served in all four years, when Mr. H. A. Mosher was again elected to this office in the fall of 1883, and served until November 13, 1884, when he suddenly died of heart disease. On the death of Mr. Mosher, the county board appointed ]\Ir. A. F. Kruger, of Janesville to fill the vacancy. In the fall of 1886 Jlr. Kruger was elected to the office and held the position for four years. John il. Wollsclilaeger, of Waseca, was elected to succeed Jlr. Kruger in the fall of 1890. He has been re-elected each succeed- ing two years by increased ma.jorities and is our present register of deeds. TREASURER. The first man to hold the position of treasurer in AYaseca coun- ty was Mr. AV. S. Baker, of Otisco, who was appointed to that position at the first meeting of the board of county commission- ers, which was held on the 16th of March, 1857. His duties wi-re not arduous, as there was no money in the treasury. He held the office until the close of the year, when Jesse I. Stewart, who was elected in the fall of 1857, succeeded him. Air. Stewart held the office for two years, when he was succeeded by Air. J. S. Rice, then of New Richland, who held the office for two years. In the fall of 1861, Hon. George T. AVhite (afterwards Captain AYhite), then of St. Alary, was elected to succeed Air. Rice as county treas- urer. Although he enlisted in the month of August in 1862, he continued to hold the office by deputy during the term for which he had been elected. Hon. P. C. Bailey, of AVilton, was elected in 1863 to succeed Air. AAHiite. Mr. Bailey held the office for two years, when he was succeeded by Air. George R. Buckman, then of St. Mary, who held the office by re-election until January 1, 1874. At the election of 1871, the official returns showed that CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 597 Dr. R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, received a majority of three votes, but on contesting the matter the court decided that Mr. Buck- man was duly elected to the office of treasurer. Mr. Buckman ■was succeeded in 1874 by Hon. Warren Smith, of Waseca, who held the office by re-election for six years. In 1879, Charles Mc- Kenna was elected to succeed Mr. Smith. He was re-elected in 1881 and again in 1883 and 1885. He held the office until the month of September, 1888, when he was found to be a defaulter in the sum of $6,694. It is safe to say that Mr. McKenna, dur- ing his residence in Waseca county, did more to sow the seeds of bribery and corruption than any other politician that ever flour- ished here. The Democratic county convention, which met on the 22d of September, 1888, broke up in a row, one faction claim- ing the nomination of H. C. Chase, of Janesville, and the other claiming the nomination of Charles McKenna. Immediately after the convention, and clandestinely, McKenna disposed of all his property, and on the following Tuesday, under pretense of taking his wife to Faribault on a visit, he made his escape to Canada. As before stated, it was discovered that he was short of county funds $6,694, which his bondsmen were required to make good. H. C. Chase, of Janesville, was appointed to the vacancy, and Mr. Bmil Dieudonne was elected in the fall to succeed Mr. McKenna. Mr. Dieudonne held the office for one term and Mr. August C. Krassin was elected in the fall of 1900 to take his place. Mr. Krassin held the office until August of 1891, when he died. Mr. Emil Dieudonne was appointed to fill out the term. In the fall of 1892, Captain Walter Child was elected treasurer and held the office foi- four years. He was succeeded by W. H. Roesler, of Waseca, who also filled the office for four years. In the fall of 1900, Mr. Joseph T. Dunn, of Waseca, was elected treasurer. His death occurring April 18, 1901, Hon. D. J. Dodge, of Janesville, was appointed by the county commissioners to fill out ]\Ir. Dunn's unexpired term. Mr. C. A. Wagner, of New Richland, was the next to fill the position, and Fred W. Roesler, of Waseca, was chosen at the election in 1904, and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1905. CLERK OP DISTRICT COURT. The first district court held in Waseca county was under our 598 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. territorial form of government in 1857, and Thomas L. Page held the office by appointment. He soon resigned the office, and H. P. Norton, now of Waseca, was appointed to fill out his term. At the fall election of 1857, Mr. Norton was elected to the office for the term of four years. In the fall of 1861, H. P. West, then of Wilton, was chosen to the office and held the position for a term of four years. Mr. N. B. Strong, then of the same town, was elected in 1863, and held the office from January 1, 1864, to January 1, 1868. S. J. Willis was elected in the fall of 1867, and held the office from January 1, 1868, to January 1, 1872. He was followed by James B. Hayden, of Alton, who held the place by re-election from Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1880. M. B. Keeley, of Waseca, was chosen in the fall of 1879 to succeed j\Ir. Hayden. Mr. Keeley held the office by re-election until Jan. 1, 1892, when he was succeeded by John M. Bj^ron, then of St. IMary, who held the office until Jan. 1, 1897. At the fall election of 1896, Henry Reynolds was elected to the position, and was re-elected in 1900 and in 1904. For a time Mr. Reynolds was suspended from of- fice by Governor John A. Johnson for having embezzled jury fees paid into court for several years, but was reinstated as elsewhere detailed in this work. SHERIFF. The first sheriff' of Wnseca county was Nathaniel Garland, who was appointed to that office by the governor of the territory at the time of the organization of the county by legislative act. He was then elected to succeed himself at the special election hel'' in June, 1857. He filled the office until the close of the year IS'iO. At the fall election in 1859, D. L. Whipple was elected to s'lo- ceed him. ]\[r. Whipple was re-elected in 1861 and 1S63. C'lp- tain E. M. Broughton, then of Okaman, was elected in the fall of 1865, and served from Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 1, 1868. ^Ir. Brough- ton was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Seth W. Long, who held the office for ten consecutive years. Jlntthew Keeley. of St. Mary, was elected in the fall of 1877 to the office of sheriff, which he held for four years. Hugh Wilson, of Waseca, was the rext incumbeiit of the office and held the position from Jan. 1, 1882. to Jan. 1, 1886. In the fall of 1885, August C. Krassin, of Wasec'i, was chosen to the office of sheriff. He wa.s re-elected in 1888, and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 599 held the position until January, 1891. Henry Reynolds, of Otisco, followed Mr. Krassin in office, and remained in it until Jan. 1, 1895. Mr. Reynolds' successor was Mr. George H. Goodspeed, who held the office for four years. Prank Collins, of Waseca, was chosen sheriff in 1898 and he has held the office continuously since, being our present sheriff. JUDGE OF PROBATE. Job A. Canfield, of Otisco, was the first judge of probate in Waseca county and was elected to that position in 1857. He con- tinued in this office until 1860, when H. D. Baldwin, Esq., was elected in 1859 to follow him. Mr. Baldwin held the office for four years. In the fall of 1863, P. Brink Enos, Esq., of Wilton, was elected to the position, which he held xintil the close of 1865. James E. Child, then of Wilton, was chosen to the office, which he held from Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 1, 1868. He was succeeded by Hon. H. D. Baldwin, then of Wilton, who held the office until Jan. 1, 1870, when Hon. J. A. Canfleld, of Otisco, was again elected to the office. Mr. Canfield then held the office for eight years. Mr. Caleb Hallack, of Janesville, was then elected to the position, which he held from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1880. H. C. Woodbury, then of Wilton, followed Mr. Hallack and held the position one term. S. D. Crump, of Alton, succeeded to the office Jan. 1, 1882, and served in this capacity until Jan. 1, 188S. Following Mr. Crump, Major W. C. Young, of Waseca, took nr> the duties of this office and executed them until his sudden death, May 9, 1889. He was followed by E. B. Collester, Esq., who was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. In 1890, Mr. Col- lester was elected to this office, and again elected in 1892. In the fall of 1894, George A. Wilson, of Janesville, was elected to the position and has since executed its duties continuously up to the present time, having no opponent in the election of 1904. COUNTY ATTORNEY. John Bradish, Esq., of Janesville, had the honor of being the first county attorney of Waseca county. He received the magnif- icent salary of $100 a year. He held the office one year only, when he gave way to M. S. (Squire) Green, of Empire, who was elected to that position in the fall of 1857. James E. Child, then of Wilton, was chosen to follow Mr. Green in the office in 1859, 600 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. holding the position for one year. H. D. Baldwin, then of Em- pire, was elected county attorney in the fall of 1860, and per- formed its duties until Jan. 1, 1865. James E. Child was then again chosen to the office and held it for two years. Major W. T. Kittredge, then of Wilton, was next elected county attorney. He entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1868, and continued in office two years. B. S. Lewis, Esq., of Waseca, was next chosen to this office and entered upon its execution in 1870, holding this position four years. Peter MeGovern, Esq., of Waseca, next occupied this office, holding it for two years, when he was suc- ceeded by M. D. L. CoUester, Esq., of Waseca, who held the office until the close of 1881. W. R. Kinder, of Waseca, then served as county attorney for two years. Mr. P. MeGovern then held the office again until the close of 1887. AV. D. Abbott, Esq., of Waseca, was chosen in the fall of 1887, and served a term of two years. The next incumbent was Mr. F. B. Andrews, of New Richland. In the fall of 1892, Mr. MeGovern was again chosen county attorney for one term. He was succeeded by 'Mr. L. D. Rogers, of Janesville, who served one term, when IMr. [MeGovern was again chosen. In 1898, Mr. John ]\Ioonan was selected to succeed Mr. MeGovern, and in 1900 [Mr. IMoonan was again elected to the office. Mr. F. B. Andrews, the present county at- torney, was chosen in 1902 and again in 1904. COUNTY SURVEYOR. The first surveyor of Waseca county was H. W. Peck, of Em- pire, who was appointed March 16, 1857. He held the office about a year, when he removed to Ohio. He was succeeded by Eugene A. Smith, of Wilton, a brother of Orson L. Smith, our present surveyor. He held the office until 1862, when George P. Johnson, of St. Mary, was elected to the office and performed its duties from Jan. 1, 18(i2, to Jan. 1, 1864. H. G. ]Mosher, of Otisco, then occupied the office for two years, when he was followed by 0. S. Canfield, of Freedom, who held the office two years. In the fall of 1867, Mr. C. E. Crane, of Freedom, was chosen surveyor and held the office continuously until the first of January, 1881, when he was succeeded by Orson L. Smith, who still holds the position, this being his thirteenth term. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 601 COURT COMMISSIONER. The following gentlemen have held the office of court commis- sioner in this county since its organization, commencing with 1860, in the order named : W. T. Kittredge, Job A. Canfield, James E. Child, J. B. Smith, C. G. Park, Frank A. Newell, B. A. Lowell, G. R. Buckman, B. P. Latham, and N. M. Nelson, the present incumbent. COUNTY CORONER. The early records, if any were made, regarding county coro- ner, are very deficient. The names of those remembered and of record are given in the order of time in which they held the office: Nathaniel Wood, of Woodville, 1860-1-2-3; W. S. Baker, then of Otiseo, 1864-5 ; Dr. M. S. Gove, then of Wilton, 1866-7-8- 9-70-1; Dr. L. D. Mcintosh, of Waseca, 1872-3-4-5; Dr. J. C. McMahon, 1876-7-8-9; Dr. D. S. Cummings, 1880-1; Dr. R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, 1882-3; Dr. H. J. Young, of Waseca, 1884- 5; Dr. M. V. Hunt, then of Waseca, 1886-7; Dr. H. J. Young, 1888-9; Dr. L. P. Leonard, dentist, of Waseca, 1890-1-2-3-4; Dr. W. L. Sterns, of Waseca, 1895-6 ; Dr. M. J. Taylor, of Janes- ville, 1897-8 ; Dr. E. J. Batchelder, of New Richland, 1899-1900 ; Dr. H. G. Blanchard, of Waseca, 1901-2-3-4-5. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. This, one of the most important offices in the county, was in early days the most poorly paid. Prior to 1864, school superin- tendents were appointed by commissioner districts, and at one time by toAvnships; and oftentimes the superintendent was to- tally incompetent. But the legislature of 1863 created the office of county superintendent to be appointed by the county commis- sioners. The first to be appointed in this county was Rev. Eli.jah S. Smith, who served at a salary of $100 a year until 1867. James B. Child was then chosen at a salary of $200 a year. Think of such an overwhelming salary for visiting sixty schools twice a year and holding two public examinations in three of the most public places in the county each year! Mr. Jesse Poland, of Vivian, then served one year. Rev. S. T. Catlin next accepted the position in 1869 at a salary of $300. Dr. R. 0. Craig was appointed in 1870. In 1871, Dr. M. S. Gove was elected by the people, but declined to serve, and the board of 602 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. county commissioners appointed H. G. ]\Iosher, one of their own number, to that oiSce. He gave such entire satisfaction that he was elected and re-elected, serving until 1880. In the fall of 1879, Dr. M. V. Hunt was elected and served in a way for two years. In the fall of 1881, Dr. D. S. Cummings was elected and served four years. He was followed by J. B. Dye, who was elected to the position in the fall of 1886. He held the office two terms. Hon. John S. Abell was chosen in the fall of 1890, and again in the fall of 1892, serving with credit to himself and the schools. He was succeeded by Mr. C. W. Wagner, who was elected in the fall of 1894 and again in the fall of 1896. He was an efficient officer. Frank J. Remund succeeded him for one term, having been elected in the fall of 1898. Mr. Remund was succeeded by L. J. Larson, who was elected in 1900 and again in 1902. In the fall of 1904 Mr. Herman A. Panzram, the present active and industrious incumbent, was elected and en- tered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1905. CHAPTER LXXVIII. TOWNS AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS— NEW RICHLAND TOWN- SHIP AND VILLAGE, TOWNSHIP OP BYRON, VIVIAN AND ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT, OTISCO, WILTON AND ITS VILLAGE, FREEDOM, ALMA CITY, WOODVILLE, ST. MARY, ALTON, BLOOM- ING GROVE, IOSCO AND "EMPIRE," JANESVILLE, OKAMAN, AND VILLAGE OF "BAST JANESVILLE" AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS. NEW RICHLAND. This is the southeast corner township of the county, at the headwaters of the Le Sueur river. The township was originally all prairie except a narrow skirt of trees along the river. The soil is very rich and productive. The first settlement in the township was made in 1856 by a colony, as detailed by Hon. A. Sampson. Among the early settlers the following are noted . Knute Christensen, Nels Christensen, K. 0. Rotegard, H. 0. Sunde, Anthony Sampson, H. H. Sunde, Ole K. Hagan, W. Anderson, Christian Knudson, and E. 0. Strenge were the first to settle in the township, and they located about June 10, 1856. Of the settlers of 1858, the following are remembered: Ole Hogaas, who died in 1885; John Benson, born in Norway in 1833, a prominent and well-to-do farmer; Nels Tyrholm, now of the village; Torkel Lund and Ole H. Sunde; H. J. Hanson, now county commissioner; David Skinner, Hon. John Thompson, who recently died at Albert Lea; Brie Christianson, A. N. Berg, A. J. Stensvad, and Ole Johnson. Andrew Berg is one of the wealthy farmers of the town. He is father of fourteen children. J. H. Wightman, now a resident of New Richland, was born in the state of New York Feb. 3, 1822 ; he settled in Byron in July C04 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 1857; went to Wilton and engaged in the hardware business with Hon. P. C. Bailey in 1864. After two years he sold to G. "W. Watkins, and opened a general store at Wilton. At the build- ing of New Richland, he moved his stock to that place and con- tinued in trade till 1885-6, when he sold to A. J. Newgard and retired to his farm on section 16, where he still resides. 'Mr. E. E. Verplank, elsewhere noticed in this work, settled in this town in the "sixties." He married Jliss Sophia Hanson Oct. 22, 1864. Knute 0. Hagan, Torkel Lund, E. C. Sybilrud, and Rev. 0. A. Mellby settled early in this township. RICHLAND'S "FIRST" ITEMS. ]Mrs. Even Tostensen, daughter of 0. K. Hagan, was the first child born in the township. Samuel S. Sampson was the first person to die. He departed this life Aug. 22, 1861. The first school meeting was held at the house of Xels Tyrholm. The offi- cers elected were Anthony Sampson, director ; John Larson, clerk ; and T. Tidmanson, treasurer. The first church organiza- tion was in 1861. The first school house was built of logs in 1862, on land donated by Mr. A. Sampson; the first teacher was a Miss Northrup. The Norwegian Lutheran church on section 11 was built in 1875-6 and cost about $5,000. The first place of worship was built of logs in 1862, and Rev. B. Muse, of Good- hue county, was the first minister. The Lutheran society was first organized in 1858, by Rev. Laurs Larson, a home missionary, at the residence of Ole Arneson. The first town meeting was held at the residence of John Larson. Hon. John Thompson was chairman. J. S. Rice was chosen moderator and S. W. Franklin clerk. The first township officers elected were as fol- lows: Supervisors, John Thompson (chairman), J. S. Rice, and David Skinner; assessor, A. Sampson; treasurer, Nels Christian- son ; justices of the peace, J. S. Rice and John Larson ; constables, George W. Legg and Andrew Johnson; overseer of the poor, Ole Johnson. Mr. John Larson was not only one of the first jus- tices of the peace, but was also the first postmaster. The thriv- ing village of New Richland, situated upon section 17, was sur- veyed and platted in August, 1877, by Henry T. AYells. There have been four additions to the plat since, one by Charles Zieger, one by Mr. Wells, one by Frank McClane, and one by Jane Mc- Clane. The village grew by leaps and bounds the first two vears CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 005 of its existence. Buildings were erected by a Mr. Buncho, by Thomas Lynch, J. H. "Wightman, A. J. Stensvad, Henry Jaehning, Hugh Wilson, Halvor K. Stearns, Murphy & Johnson, C. H. Brossard, Clark & Swann, Nels Tyrholm & Son, Hon. Fenton Keenan, Joseph Smith & Co., B. E. Ellifson, Hunt Bros., Fred Bettner, Torgerson & Johnson, Newgard & Zieger, 0. P. Olson, T. Thompson, P. A. Holt, 0. S. Bokke, N. J. Bobbins, who built the Washburn hotel, Ole Johnson Moe, who built the Commercial house, and Charles Bruunell, who built the American house. The INlodel Roller ilill, now owned by Everett, Augenbaugh & Co., was built in the fall of 1879 by Messrs. Dunwoody & Corson at a cost of about $40,000. The plant was bought by the Messrs. Everett, Augenbaugh & Co. some years since and has been thor- oughly repaired and remodeled so that it is an up-to-date plant pnd is run in connection with the "Eaco" Mills at Waseca. The mill does most excellent work, and furnishes a live market for all the good wheat raised in the surrounding country. The Congregationalists erected the first church building in the fall of 1882 at a cost of about $1,500. Rev. Wilbur Fisk was the clergyman who then served the people and rustled for the church. The Norwegian Lutheran church was constructed in the sum- mer of 1883 at a cost of about $2,500. A school building was erected in the north part of town in 1878 at a cost of $1,200. Since that time a new site has been selected south of the business portion of the town, and New Rich- land now has one of the finest school buildings and school house sites in the state. Strangers Refuge Lodge No. 74 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized Jan. 4, 1880, with the following officers: C. G. Cheesebro, N. G.; E. Steinhaus, V. G.; F. G. Schneider, S.; Henry Jaehning, treasurer; C. Hooper, R. S. N. G. ; Charles Brossard, L. S. N. G. ; W. Smith, Jr., W. ; Charles Brunell, C. ; and AV. Luff, I. G. Lincoln Post No. 26, G. A. R., was organized in 1882. Its first officers were Chris Wagner, P. C; B. F. Weed, S. V. C; 0. H. Sutlief, J. V. C; Fenton Keenan, 0. D.; E. E. Verplank, A.; H. J. Hanson, Q. M. ; and p. A. Holt, 0. G. New Richland has a good town hall, a beautiful public park, a telephone system owned by Mr. Milo Hodgkins, and well graded 606 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. streets. It is surrounded by an industrious, frugal, well-to-do class of farmers. BYRON TOWNSHIP. Originally, in 1857, Byron was a part of the Otisco precinct, and so remained until the fall of 1858, when it was organized as a separate township. The early records of the township have been lost, but the oldest settlers claim that the first supervisors of the town were J. H. Wightman, chairman, Daniel C. Davis and Christie ]\IcGrath; David Beavins town clerk, and C. S. Weed, assessor. Jeremy Davis and family were the first white settlers in the township. Jeremy built the first log cabin in the summer of 1855. It was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1857, and the familj- was left houseless for a time. ]Mr. Davis died in Byron, Sept. 13, 1863. Daniel C. Davis, son of Jeremy, born ]\Iay 13, 1834, came with his father and settled at the same time, in 1855. July 18, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Parvin. Christie McGrath, a native of .Ireland, settled in Byron in 1856, and still resides on his farm.: He saw many hardships in the pioneer days. He has been an industrious worker all his life. William and David Beavins also settled in this township in 1856. David was a character in his way. He was a very kind hearted man and very .jovial. He was long on profuse prom- ises, but sometimes short on performances. One time he prom- ised Alex Johnston a large number of votes in Byron, upon the strength of which he got many a drink. After election Ales chided him for not getting a single vote, and Dave, with a great appearance of sincere sorrow, declared that he was mistaken in the day and didn't get to the polls, and that that was the reason why Alex was short on votes. It was claimed by others that Alex's opponent saw David last on election morning. William served in the Union army and died a few years after his return home. Isaac Ling settled in Byron in 1856. He served as a soldier in Company F, Tenth Minnesota infantry, dying at Dauphin Island, March 10, 1865. Mrs. Ling died here the same year, leaving a number of small children. C. S. Weed and family also settled in Byron in 1856. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 60T J. H. Wightman, now of New Richland; Richard Ayers (de- ceased), late of Janesville; William Philbrook, who died in 1865; Jacob W. Pierce, still a resident of the town, moved to Byron in 1857. Omer H. Sutlief, Garret Hope, and a number of other men' and their families, came to this town prior to 1860. Garret Hope, born in county of West Mayo, Ireland, Aug. 15, 1840, came to America in 1852, and lived for a time in Con- necticut; he came West to Beloit, Wis., in 1855, and to Byron in 1858. Some years ago he sold his farm in Byron and removed to California. Benaiah Parvin came here in 1860, and after several years' residence, emigrated to Arkansas, where he died soon after. Calista J. Campbell, born in Madison county, N. Y., came West with her parents to Rock county. Wis., as early as 1848. Dec. 11, 1849, she married Edwin A. Crump. Eight years after they moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and three years later came to Byron. Some time afterward they spent a few years in the village of Wilton— Mr. Crump running a wagon shop and Mrs. Crump a millinery store. Mr. Crump was consumptive, and died Jan. 20, 1878. They were the parents of five children— three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Crump bravely carried on the farm in Byron, with the assistance of her children until 1880, Feb. 28, when she married Mr. John N. Wilson, who was born in Canada Sept. 1, 1833. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin, later he went to Colorado, where he enlisted in Company G, First Colorado regi- ment, and served until the close of the rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson now have a cozy home in New Richland village. Peter Bumgerten, born in Prussia, June 27, 1832, came to America in 1857, first living in Wisconsin. He remained there until 1869, when he came to St. Mary in this county. Six years after he removed to Byron. The last few years of his life he re- sided in New Richland, and died there in the spring of 1905. Lawrence Concanon, born in Ireland, July 20, 1827, landed at New Orleans in 1851 ; he followed up the river to Illinois, where he lived until 1877, when he came to St. Mary. After spending three years in St. Mary, he settled on section 19, in Byron, where he still resides. Zalmon M. Partridge, born Jan. 15, 1834, in Berkshire county, 608 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Mass., came to Minnesota in 1857, and lived in Dakota county, where he worked at carpentering and farming. Three years later he went to Virginia where he worked as a brick molder. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Loyal Virginia infantry, and served a little over three years. Nov. 2, 1864, he married Narcissus Samples, of West Virginia. In 1866 he returned to ]\Iinnesota with his fam- ily, again going to Dakota county. In 1870 he came to Byron, where he has since resided and made a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge have been the parents of four sons and one daughter. Mrs. Margaret Dwyer, one of the early settlers of Byron, nearly perished in the winter of 186-1. She started to visit a neighbor, about four miles distant, was caught in a blinding snow storm, became bewildered on the prairie, and wandered around from Wednesday until Friday afternoon toward evening, when she ar- rived at her sister's house. She was so badly frozen and so much exhausted that she could scarcely move without assistance. Her suffering was intense. She lost half of each of her feet and was for a long time unable to walk. Byron, in early days, was treeless but now it abounds in fine groves of cultivated timber, which give the landscape a very at- tractive appearance. The township, as a whole, is better adapted to stock raising and dairying than to wheat culture. VIVIAN. This is the southwest township of the county and was known in early days as the "Cobb river country." The land in this township is more nearly level than that of any other town in the county. The "Big Cobb river," running westerly through the southern portion of the town, and the "Cobbee, " in the northern portion, furnish the principal means of surface drainage. The soil is a dark, alluvial loam, on a heavy clnj' subsoil, and very rich and productive. E. S. Woodruff' was the first white man to reside in Vivian. He had an Indian woman for his wife. He formerly lived near Green Bay, Wis., among the Indians, and afterwards lived in Iowa. He settled on section 27, in this town, in the summer of 1856 and lived there until the spring of 1865, when he died. He was one of the early mail carriers of that section. Ijnter, the same year, two bachelors, B. F. Ilanes and E. A. Clark, cnme CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 609 here. Clark afterwards married and removed to Wisconsin in 1858. Hanes lived on his claim until his death, which occurred in 1872. James B. Hill, a sketch of whose life is given else- where, moved here with his family July 2, 1857. S. L. Daggett soon after moved near Mr. Hill's place. He afterwards went to Blue Earth and died there in 1863. Four brothers named Shan- nahan came here in 1857, but soon after left for the gold mines in Colorado. Joseph Thurston and family and W. H. Harmon ond family moved to this township in 1857. Ichabod West and his two sons, Ammi and John F., with their families, and John Dwyer and John Dineen and their families, began their homes in this town in 1858. Thomas Ryan, deceased, settled on section 15 in 1858. John A. Wheeler, one of the early settlers in St. Mary, took a claim on section 4, in this town in 1858. He was a wind- mill inventor and manufacturer. He at one time built a flouring mill, with windmill powet, at Freeborn Lake. He was quite a genius. He was a Union soldier in the War of the Rebellion. His death occurred about 1876. Ole Johnson and his family came from Norway in 1855, lived in Waupun, Wis., for three years, and came to Vivian in 1858. Ole was born Jan. 4, 1824, and his wife, Betsy Nelson, Oct. 3, 1826. They were married Feb. 8, 1852. He enlisted in Company F, Tenth Minnesota Volunteer infantry, and served till the close of the war. Mark Moore, Montraville Sias, and three Welshmen (brothers)— Owen M., David, and Samuel Jones— also came here in 1858. Vivian was organized as a separate township under an order of the county commissioners dated April 5, 1858. According to tradition— the ofidcial records being lost— the first town meeting was held at the house of J. B. Hill. The first town board con- sisted of J. B. Hill, B. S. Woodruff, and S. L. Daggett— Hill being chairman. E. A. Clark was town clerk. The names of the other town officers are entirely forgotten. The first death recorded in the township was that of a man named Sweeney, who perished near his home in November, 1857. He had been to St. IMary, and on his return was caught in a snow storm. Darkness coming on, he undoubtedly became bewildered on the prairie and froze to death. Many of our pioneers were thinly clad, and it is not surprising that a man, lost upon the 22 610 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. prairie in a blinding snow storm, should perish. The population of the township has nearly all changed since 1860. Very few indeed of the earlier settlers remain. The Ryan family and the Ole Johnson family are the only ones remembered to have settled in the township prior to that date. The town is now well peopled by hardy, frugal, industrious farmers, who are making it one of the richest agricultural townships in the county. Like Byron, it is well adapted to the production of grass, and to the raising of cattle and hogs. As before stated, the early records of the to-\vn were destroyed, ilr. Edward Thompson, present town clerk, reports the records of the first ten years missing. The records of 1868 are the first to be found, and they show the town supervisors of that year to have been as follows: J. B. Hill, chairman, S. 8. Comee, and il. Sias. OTISCO-. This is one of the wealthiest and most densely populated town- ships in the county. An account of the first settlement of this township, and its first settlers, is given in the fore part of this book. The name Otiseo, at first, embraced all of Vivian, Byron, Xcw Richland, the south one-third of Wilton and the south one-third of what is now Otiseo. This continued for a year, when, on April 5, 18.38. the county commis- sioners organized the townships of the eounty in accordance with the government survey. The government to^vnship 106, of range 22, was designated as Otiseo. Several villages have been born and put to rest on the soil of Otiseo, and only one remains. Two pioneer speculators. AVatters l^- Chamberlain, came in 1856, bought the claims of George and "William Roblnns. on the east side of the Le Sueur river, ojiposite the Wilton village site, and there laid out a village which they called Waterlynn. They erected a store and a hotel. They did quite a bxisiness at their store, but the hotel did not floin-ish. The latter Iniilding, which was part logs and part frame, went up in smoke one night in 18-')8. It w;is occupied at the time by Dr. William ^Murphy and family— J. F. Alurphy, now of the Waseca Herald, being the eldest son of the family. That was about the last of that village nnd the site now makes a very good farm. The "ancient village of Otiseo" was laid out bv Warren Bundv CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Gil and S. S. Goodrich in July, 1857. It soon had a store, a post- office, a blaclismith shop, and a sawmill. Dan and Gould Grover built the dam and the sawmill, and for a time the mill did good work. The Grovers soon sold to Griggs & Obert. After a time Gould Grover again became owner, or manager, and was soon after killed in the mill by accident. It then passed into the hands of Eno & Beattj^ who turned out to be professional and practical horsethieves, and were caught stealing the horses of Orrin Pease. Soon after the arrest of Eno and Beatty, the. mill dam Avent out and the village boom soon collapsed. Goodrich owned the store and Mr. Owen Salisbury was the first postmaster. Since the building of the M. & St. L. railway the present Otisco station has been laid out, and is quite a lively little burg with its store, postoffiee, blacksmith shop, grain elevator, cream- ery, etc. Its present business will no doubt remain permanently It is not the intention of the writer to cumber the record with the names of transient persons or those who have come in later years unless they may have been connected in some way with public affairs, for the reason that space and expense forbid. There are many such in Otisco. Mention is made, however, of all the early settlers. Silas Grover, an aged veteran of the War of 1812, settled in this town in 1856, and resided in the county till his death, April 12, 1870. H. G. Mosher settled here Oct. 10, 1856. ^Mr. Mosher, wife and two children, and J. S. Abell, wife and two children lived the first winter in one cabin, 16x20 feet. Mr. Mosher and family removed to Kansas in the eighties. Uriah Northrup, Sr., and his sons, Benjamin, Uriah, George and Thomas H., settled here at a very early day. The elder Mr. Northrup died here, and the sons removed to Rice county. Owen Salisbury, the first post- master at the old village of Otisco, finally moved to Wabasha county, where he died. J. D. Andrews was one of those rest- less, energetic pioneers who are always on the move. He moved to Otisco, July 3, 1858. He was a carpenter by trade. He after- wards entered the drug business at Wilton ; went to Duluth and opened a drug store ; returned to this county and went into busi- ness at Janesville ; afterwards removed to Madison, S. D., where he died June 11, 1887. Moses Plummer, born at Sanborton, N. H., Dec. 23, 1817, mar- 612 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ried Miss Matilda S. Gate, who was born at Meredith, N. H., Nov. 11, 1824. They came to Minnesota in 1859, first residing in Clinton Falls, Steele county. They then came to Otisco in 1860, and purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Plummer was with a crowd of three hundred people in Mere- dith hall, in 1850, when the floor gave way, killing several and injuring many. Mr. Plummer then received injuries from which he never fully recovered. For five years previous to his death, he was paralyzed and helpless. He died Sept. 20, 1883. He left surviving- his widow and one daughter, ilrs. B. L. Case. They now reside in Owatonna. Roger B. Wood, born June 1, 1842, in Ontario, Canada, worked westward until he reached Waseca in 1867, where he opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. He remained in AVaseca until 1871, when he moved to his present fai'ni in Otisco, which contains three hundred and fifty-four acres. He married iliss Parmelia Smith, a bright Western girl, Dec. 15, 1869. She was born at Onk Grove, Dodge county, Wis., Feb. 1, 1852, and came with her parents to Byron, in this county, in 1866. They have been the parents of six children, five of whom are living. Asa Robbins was an early settler in Otisco. He was a native of New York State, born in 1811. February 5, 1838, he married IMiss Hulda xV. Chapman, who was born Jan. 9, 1815, and died Dec. 10, 1885. Gustaf Johnson was born in Sweden, Nov. 25, 1831. On reach- ing the United States, he came directly to Otisco. His wife's name was Johanna Johnson, and she was born in 1831, in the same country. They have a pleasant farm home and six children. James Irwin, l)()rn in Ireland in ilay, 1S2S, came to America in 1849. He was a Union soldier in the War of the Rebellion. He lived in Wisconsin after the close of the war, until 1870, when he came to Otisco and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has live sons living. The first judges of election at the organization of the town are said 111 have been Owen Salisbury, II. G. ilosher and S. S. Griggs. WILTON. This was the first township in the county to be settled. The first settlers were As;i G. Sutlief and family, who pitched their tents on section 33, in the month of August, 1S54. The next to CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 613 reach here were S. P. and James E. Child, who arrived Feb. 2, 1855. Chris Scott and family came about ten days later, in Feb- ruary. Others followed and before fall there were some ten families in the township. A precinct election was held in the fall of 1855 at the house of Chris Scott, on the farm now owned by Mr. John Carmody, Sr. The first election precincts were formed regardless of town lines, and the township of Wilton, as it now exists, was not organized until the spring of 1858. The first town meeting was held at the house of Joseph Doty, May 11, 1858. P. C. Bailey was chairman and stated the object of the meeting. Buel Welsh was chosen moderator, and Thomas L. Paige, clerk. On motion of A. J. Woodbury, the township, like the village, was named Wilton. The following were the first township officers: town board, W. W. Robinson, chairman, John Brand, and A. J. Woodbury ; town clerk, Tarrant Putnam ; assessor, L. Curtis ; justices of the peace, J. B. Jackson and P. C. Bailey; overseer of the poor, A. Miller; constables, Peter Van Dyke and L. Curtis. The first birth was that of a child born to Mr. and Mrs. Plum- mer in July, 1855. This family soon after removed to Wiscon- sin, being sick of the country. The first death was that of a child of Mr. and Jlrs. William Wells, in the summer of 1856. The first prairie broken was by Asa G. Sutlief, in August, 1854. The first sawmill in the town and county was built by Colonel J. C. Ide. Rev. Mr. Hicks, a Methodist clergyman, in 1856, held the first religious service in the township at the house of Caleb Northrup, on section 36. The first school house was erected by Mr. E. B. Stearns, in what is now the Carmody, or Brisbane, dis- trict, in 1858. It was a frame building standing on the bottom landi half a mile south of the present school house site. The building was afterwards moved with ox teams over the hill to the present site— a move that caused much excitement at the time. The first Catholic Church built in Wilton stands at the south- western corner of section 31, where some sixty families-over three hundred people— meet for worship. FREEDOM. The town of Freedom and the west tier of sections in the town of Wilton were held by the Winnebago Indians until 1863. After 614 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. the removal of the Indians, the lands were sold to white men under sealed bids to the highest bidder, no bid being accepted at less than $2.50 per acre. Settlers crowded into the town rap- idly. March 9, 1864, the people of the two towns of Alton and Freedom petitioned the county commissioners to have the new territory organized as a town, and the board granted the peti- tion. The order of the board provided that the electors should hold their first town meeting at the house of Stephen Robinson, situated at the place then known as Peddler's Grove, on the 5th day of April, 1864. At this meeting the voters decided that the name of the new town should be Freedom. It is said that F. D. Seaman !j;ave the casting vote making "Freedom" the name. The town early took front rank as one of the prettiest and most productive in the West. Its people stand high morally and intellectually, and in wealth they rank with the most opulent of farming communities. Among those who setted at an early day in Freedom the fol- lowing are noted : Henry Ghase was born in 1842, in the Green ilountain state. He enlisted in Company E, Ninth Vermont infantry, and was four months in Libby prison, having been captured at the first "Winchester battle. He was discharged in 1863, went to Freedom in 1864, and remained there until 1869, when he moved to Janes- ville, this coiuity. He is now a resident of Wisconsin, although still interested financially in Janesville. Luke Chase is said to have been the first white settler in the township. Ed Steele and Steve Robinson moved to a grove of burr oaks on section 3, and, being traveling peddlers they gave the place the name Peddler's Grove. Delos P. Young, a native of Massachusetts, born "Slay 11, 1838, came from Wisconsin in 1864, and made his home in this town. He now resides in Mankato. F. D. Seaman, now a resident of Alton, came in April, 1864. He is a native of New York, born Sept. 8, 1843. lie enlsted in Company G, First Wisconsin cav- alry, in the fall of 1861, and served a year. In the fall of 1864 he again enlisted, this time in Company A, Second ilinnesota infantry, and served until July, 1865, when he returned to Free- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. CI 5 dom. Sopt. 23, 1S6S, he married Phoebe Chase, who was born Sept. 24, 1849, in Orleans county, N. Y. ^Yilliam Davidson, Sr., now nearly eiglity-three years of age, and his two sons— "William and J. D.— were early settlers and still remain here. ^Yillet Tolles (deceased), Daniel Pierce, S. C. Brooks, Amos Waring, William Reid, Liitlier Ackerman, Simon Saekett, now of Janesville, John II. Fields, Harry Seoville, and Ira Abell were among the settlers of 1864. John J. Wilkins, born in New Jersey, July 13, 1827 ; William Oreutt, since deceased; Darling Welch, afterwards a resident of Janesville, and later of Waseca; John L. Graham, deceased, late of Janesville ; Arthur Graham, born in New York Sept. 12, 1845 ; Captain Robert Earl, and others settled here in 1865. Samuel S. Rollins, born in New Hampshire, INIay 1, 1836; F. W Bromaghin, born in St. L;nvrence county, N. Y., June 29, 1820; Hon. John Wilkinson, born in Wisconsin, Feb. 28, 1846; John Davis, and C. E. Graham were among the 1866 settlers. Sandford Hydorn, another St. Lawrence, N. Y., man, born July 24, 1841, who served the Union from 1862 to 1865, settled here in 1868. The Congregational church of Freedom was organized in No- vember, 1878, and Rev. Robert S. Armstrong was its first pastor. ALMA CITY. It is generally conceded that Uncle Sam Larabee, now de- ceased, was the father of Alma City. The village was surveyed and platted by S. E. Stebbins in 1865, for Uncle Sam, who at once put up a hotel, then and for a long time known as the "Larabee -House." "Uncle Sam" and "Aunt Patty" were known far and wide. Aunt Patty was thrown from a buggy and killed in 1885, and Uncle Sam died in 1900 at the advanced age of eighty-five years, of of heart disease, while eating supper. He was with his daughter, Mrs. Craig, at Blue Earth, at the time of his sudden death. The same fall Chase and Ames opened the first store. Mary Ann Johnson opened a store about the same time. In the spring of 1866 A. H. Davis and 0. P. Smith each opened a store. Ri- neerson & Morton opened a blacksmith shop in 1865. Alma City has always been a thriving village and the center 616 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. of business for most of the people of Preedoin and a portion of the people of Alton. It has a thriving school and a successful creamery. WOODVILLE. Township No. 107 north, of range 22 west, was named after one of its earliest settlers (Mr. Eri G. Wood) by resolution of the county commissioners, April 5, 1858. Long before any white man ever viewed the rich hunting grounds of this county the native Indians must have made the town of Woodville one of their principal villages. There can be no doubt, in view of the Indian mounds and other relics which have been found upon the shores and in the vicinity of Watkins lake, that the Sioux In- dians, for many generations, lived in large numbers in this town- ship. Geographically it held a commanding position for the red man. Prom Clear lake he could, with his canoe, descend Crane creek to Straight river, thence to the Cannon river, and on to the Mississippi; or he could drag his light boat across the narrow strip of land that divides Clear lake from Gaiter lake, and there launch it for a journey down McDougall creek, thence down the Le Sueur river to the Blue Earth and the ^Minnesota rivers, and thus easily traverse vast sections of country abounding in fish and game. Later residents may dou.bt this view of the primitive situation, on account of late dry seasons, but the older settlers of this region remember well when small boats were run and could be run as here stated. The splendid forests which then existed in portions of Wood- ville. Blooming Grove, Deerfield, and ]\Ieriden, not only afforded comfortable shelter from the freezing blasts of winter, but they furnished plenty of fuel and material for Indian wigwams. The woods abounded in game and the lakes were filled with the very choicest fish. Barring the sometimes intense cold of winter, it was the ideal land of milk and honey for the native tribes. It is no less a land of plenty for the white men that now possess it. The surface is beautifully diversified— gently undulating, as a rule— rich prairies interspersed with timber, lovely lakes, bor- dered with groves of heavy timber— the groves being adorned in spring with blossoming plum trees, cherry trees, thorn and crab apple trees, and other flowering shrubs and trees in great pro- fusion. Of the 23,040 acres of land in the township, over 2,000 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 617 are embraced in its lakes. The principal of these is Clear lake, which occupies portions of sections 8, 9, 16, and 17, and is a trifle over a mile and a half in length and nearly a mile wide. In addition to this beautiful body of water, there is Loon lake, a beautiful gem of water within the limits of the city of Waseca, half in section 7 and half in section 18. There is a wooded island in the center of the lake, which, in summer, with its dark green foliage, gives the lake a picturesque and very beautiful appear- ance, especially during the months of June and July. With very little expense Loon lake could be made to rival in beauty and pieturesqueness Lake Como, at St. Paul, and many other noted places of resort. May we not hope that in the near future it may be so improved as to be a "thing of beauty and a joy forever?" The surface soil is a rich, black loam, resting upon a gray clay and gravel, mixed, which, in turn, rests upon a heavy, blue-clay subsoil, many feet in depth, and almost impervious to water. The surface soil is as productive and lasting in quality as any in the known world. Experience has demonstrated that it is capable of withstanding extreme moisture and extreme drouth; for in the past fifty years there has never been a failure of crops. At the time of the first settlement and for years thereafter, until pastured and fed down, the native grasses, blue joint and "crow- foot," grew to be from five to six feet in height, and were fully equal to cultivated grasses as food for animals. The first settler in Woodville was Mr. A. C. Smith, deceased. Mr. Smith died Jan. 29, 1892, and his worthy wife died June 29, 1894. O. Powell, Eri G. and Loren C. Wood, Henry Watkins, B. K. Carlton, Jacob Myers, William Dunn, and Austin Vinton settled here in 1856. A part of this township was at first a por- tion of the precinct of Swavesey, which at that time embraced all of Blooming Grove, Iosco, Janesville, and the north halves of St. Mary and Woodville. March 16, 1857, the county commissioners divided Swavesey precinct,making the precinct of Empire out of the two west town- ships. They appointed for Sv/avesey, W. H. Young, of Wood- ville, and Lewis McKune, of Blooming Grove, as justices; and Loren Clark Wood, of Woodville, and S. F. Wyman, of Blooming Grove, as constables. At the fourteenth meeting of the county commissioners, held C18 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. at Wilton, April 5, 1858, Woodville was set off by metes and bounds, and J. K. Myers, "William M. Green, and E. G. Wood were appointed judges of the first election. On the fly leaf of the first town record book, in the handwriting of Loren C. Wood, is the following: "Township 107 north, Range 22 west, was organized on the 11th day of May, A. D. 1858, and named Woodville." The record continues : "The town of Woodville held its first town meeting on the 11th day of May, 1858." (At the house of B. G. Wood.) Mr. J. K. Myers was chosen to serve as moderator, and L. C. Wood, as clerk. On motion of Nathaniel Wood, the meeting adjourned one hour for dinner. At 1 o'cloclc the meeting was again called to order. Obadiah Powell, J. K. Myers, and F. Glover were elected supervisors. L. C. Wood was elected clerk; Eri G. Wood, assessor; W. H. Young, collector and treasurer; Nathaniel Wood, overseer of the poor; Lewis C. Kate and W. H. Young, constables; Amzi Schaffer and Austin Vinton, justices; and Garret Houck, overseer of roads." Aug. '25, 1864, the town held a special meeting and voted to issue soldiers' bonds in the sum of $1,200. Following this record there are three eertificates recorded showing that William R. Brisbane, Francis Lincoln, and George Nock — all residents of Wilton — were duly mustered into the United States service for one year, and credited to the town of Woodville. Dec. 19 eame the Inst call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men. Woodville proiiiptl>' called a special meeting Jan. 14, 1S65, and voted sol- diers' bonds in the sum of $1,600. Of this amount only $6.'i:I3i1 were afterwards issued. The records also show that AVilfred Vinton and W. II. Young, Jr., were mustered into the service to the credit of this town, Tilarch 25, 1865. Another s]iecial town meeting was held March 11, 1865, which ratified and sanctioned the action of the board in issuing bounty bonds. As the Rebel- lion soon after was subdued, there is no further record of the matter. Loren G. Wood, son of Eri G., was the first white boy, and Lovica Smith, daughter of A. C., was the first white girl, born in the township. The first school building was a log school house, a short dis- tance east of the present Woodville cemetery. Miss Emma Cook, afterwards the wife of Major W. T. Kittredge, was tlie first teacher away back in the summer of 1859. PATRICK CAMPION. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 619 ST. MARY. After being partly in the precinct of Empire and partly in the precinct of Wilton for a year or more, what now comprises the township of St. Mary was duly organized in a township by order of the county commissioners on April 5, 1858. The town- ship, 107, range 23, was duly designated as the "town of St. Mary," and the tavern of J. W. Clark was named as the place for holding the first to-\vn meeting. B. M. Morrill, Warren Smith, and H. W. Chamberlain were appointed to serve as the first judges of election. The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858. The Catholics of St. Mary, under the leadership of Father Keller, of Faribault, organized in 1856. Religious services were held at the house of Andrew Lynch, near St. Mary, at one time. The Catholics built their first church in 1858. They established a cemetery in 1857, and some say that a Mr. Grossman was the first person biiried in it; but Mr. William Byron asserts that the first person buried there was a Mr. Morris, and that the next was Michael O'Brien, who was killed by lightning in September, 1858. ALTON. Township 107, range 24, remained a portion of Freedom until the 27th day of April, 1866, when the commissioners of Waseca county passed an order to organize the town of Alton, the first town meeting to be held at the house of M. L. Devereaux, in said township, May 15, 1866. Township officers were elected at that time, and the town started out free from all entangling al- liances. Lucius Keyes has the honor of being the first settler in Alton. He was born in Medina county, Ohio, in 1837. He now resides near Knoxville, Tenn. He moved to Alton, on section 32, in September, 1863. William Wager and Elijah Hills, with their families, came here a few days after the arrival of Keyes. The families of Wager and Hills spent the first winter in one cabin built of poles and bark taken from the old Indian wigwams, and a few basswood boards. The cabin was only 14x16 feet in size. Morris Lamb was another of the early comers. At the breaking out of the great Rebellion he was a resident of Cumberland county, Tenn., and was compelled to leave there on account of C20 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. his Union, sentiments. He first lived near Minneapolis, but in 1864 came to Alton. He died Dec. 31, 1869. His son, Hon. Morris H. Lamb, born in Ohio, Jan. 2, 1837, also came here in 1864. Aug. 15, 1864, Jlorris enlisted in Com- pany F, Eleventh Minnesota infantry, and served until July 11, 1865, when he returned to his home in Alton. Oct. 20, 1870, he married Miss Harriet Oldfield, and they at one time, about 1880- 85, carried on the largest dairy business in the county. Mr. Lamb was a member of the house in the legislature of 1875. He and his family have been residents of California for a number of years. C. M. Campion, with his sons, Patrick and John, came here at an earlj'- dn.y, and settled on section 13, where he continued to reside until his death. Patrick and Edward Hayden also settled on section 13 in 1864. For further information regarding the settlers of this township, see "Biographical Sketches." BLOOMING GROVE. This is one of the towns that has preserved its records in good shape. At first it was a part of the precinct of Swavesey, and so remained until April 5, 1858. There seems to be something of a conflict of authorities regard- ing the organization of this township. The county commissioner record shows that the township of Blooming Grove was set off by itself by an order of the board of commissioners April 5, 1858, and that Patrick Healey, James Isaacs, and J. M. Bliven were ap- pointed judges of election. But the records of the town show that the voters themselves had organized nearly a month before. The first recorded history of the town reads as follows : "TOWN OP BLOOMING GROVE. According to an act to provide for township organization, a meeting was held at the house of Patrick Healy, in the town of Blooming Grove, Waseca county, state of Minnesota, March 11, 1858, for the purpose of electing town officers, and enacting such other township business as provided in said act. The meeting being called to order at the proper time, James Isaacs was chosen as moderator and Morgan Woodruff as clerk. The polls were kept open from 9 o'clock a. m. to 5 o'clock p. m., with one hour adjournment at noon. After closing the polls the votes were canvassed by the moderator, CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 621 when the result of the election of town officers was found to be as follows: For chairman of board of supervisors, Philo Woodruff received 52 votes; for supervisors, James Isaacs 25 votes, A. Derrin 25 votes. After drawing for a decision, James Isaacs was declared elected. Patrick Healy (for supervisor) received 49 votes; for town clerk, Sam T. Isaacs 20 votes, Peter Eckert 24 votes; assessor, Patrick McCullough 27 votes, W. Don- aldson 22 votes; collector, Patrick McCullough 22 votes, E. J. Southworth 22 votes. After dr&wing Patrick McCullough was declared elected. For overseer of the poor, D. T. Bells received 50 votes, S. F. Wyman 2 votes; for constables, J. R. Smith received 48 votes, H. B. Withrow 46, M. Healy 1; justice of the peace, Elias Conner 47 votes, James Isaacs 24, Daniel Riegle 27." From this it appears that fifty-two ballots were cast, and that the first town meeting was closely contested as to some of the officers. At this meeting a tax of $100 was directed to be levied to defray town expenses. It was also unanimously voted that the town be divided into four road districts— the northeast quar- ter of the town to be designated as No. 1, the northwest quarter No. 2, the southwest quarter No. 3, and the southeast quarter No. 4. Patrick McCullough was chosen overseer of district one, Jona- than Howell of district two, Patrick Murray of district three, and James Isaacs of district four. It was determined by the voters present that cattle, horses and mules, over one year old, should be allowed to run at large. It was also declared that a "rail fence on crotches or spiles, four rails high, staked and rider ed, or a board (fence) four feet and a half high, with three boards five inches wide, should be a law- ful fence." The meeting then adjourned until the first Tuesday in April, 1859. The proceedings of this meeting are given in full, because it was one of great importance to the township, and because it shows how orderly and intelligently the pioneers of this county conducted public affairs, notwitlistanding the slurs of Eastern editors about the "wild and woolly AVest." The German Methodists held services in this town at the house of Chris Remund as early as 1856. In 1860 they erected a small church, and in 1885 they built the present building in the Re- mund neighborhood. The Gei-man M. E. society in the Sauit'erer neighborhood was organized in 1858. For many years services 022 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. were held at the residence of Hon. John L. Saufferer and then in the school house until about 1873, when they built a brick ve- neered church on section 1. In 1885 this building was recon- structed and given a handsome spire. The Norwegian Lutheran church, on section 19, which accom- modates people both in Iosco and Blooming Grove, was built in 1864. The Norwegian Lutherans of that neighborhood held their first church services at the house of Alec Herlugsen, Oct. 17, 1858. Rev. Laur Larson was the first pastor. He was followed suc- cessively by Rev. B. J. Muus, Rev. Quammen, Rev. 0. A. ]\Iellby of New Richland, Rev. Quanbeck, and Rev. R. P. Wasbotten of Waseca, the latter now being in charge. The first recorded death was that of Mrs. Josiah Smith, who died in the fall of 1856. A postofSce was established in the town in 1857, and Mrs. William Gibbs was made postmistress. The office was situated on section 5. It afterwards passed into the hands of James R. Davidson, and was suspended in 1880. W. H. H. Jackson, one of the very early settlers, is authority for the statement that the first death among the old settlers of the township was that of Henry Howell, a native of England, who was frozen to death in 1858, as elsewhere detailed. William Reinhardt, born in Berlin, Prussia, Feb. 10, 1850, came to America in 1855 with his parents and to Blooming Grove in 1857. His father died in 1876. He married Caroline Kruger in 1878. Justus Reinhardt, a brother of AVilliam, was born in Illinois, Oct. 12, 1857, and came with his parents to Blooming rjrove in 1858. Pie married jNIiss Plelen Pehner in 18S3. They are prosperous residents of the town. Francis Brossard, son of Augustus and Agatha Brossard, was born at Lenox, Mass., Nov. IS, 1833, and came to Blooming Grove in 1859 with his father's family. There were ten children of the Augustus Brossard family: Francis, Augustus, Edward, Charles, Joseph, Julia (]\lrs. Oliver James), Adele (Jlrs. Constant Bros- sard), Rosalie (Mrs. 0. P. Smith), Louise (Mrs. J. E. Jones) and Josephine (Mrs. D. T. Ballard). The Brossards took an active part in the early development of the country. The old gentleman and several of the sons resided in St. Mary at an early day. IOSCO. This township is one of the favored ones of the great North- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. G23 west. It is rich in soil, with an undulating surface, plenty of timber, and ample drainage. Upland, meadow, and groves are so evenly distributed that nearly every farm has its proper pro- portion of each. The first settlers in this township were Luke B. Osgood, Daniel ilcDaniels, and John H. Wheeler. David Wood followed a few days later, and Buel Welsh made a claim here in 1855, but soon returned to Faribault. This township was organized separate from other territory the 5th day of April, 1858. On that day the board of county com- missioners, consisting of Messrs. E .B. Stearns, of Otisco; John Bailey, of St. Mary ; and Luman C. Wood, of Woodville, made an order constituting township 108 N. of Range 23 W. the town of Iosco, and appointed Messrs. H. W. Peck, George L. Leonard, and David Smith judges of the election which was to be held at the house of Daniel Tripp, in said township. The minutes of the first town meeting read as follows : FIRST ELECTION OF IOSCO. "At an election held at the house of Daniel Tripp, in the town of Iosco, Waseca county, Minn., on the 11th day of May, A. D. 1858, the following named persons received the number of votes set to their respective names for the following offices, to wit:" Then followed in detail the names of all the candidates and the number of votes each received. N. B. Strong was elected chairman and David Smith and John G. Ward supervisors ; Spen- cer J. Willis, clerk; L. B. Osgood, town collector; A. J. Bell, assessor ; B. W. Gifford, overseer of the poor ; A. J. Walton, con- stable ; L. P. Kellogg and Silas Ward, justices of the peace. The names of E. Carpenter, James Babcock, Samuel Hardy, William Eockwell, G. L. Leonard and H. P. Chamberlain are recorded as receiving complimentary votes, but nearly the whole vote was cast for the successful candidates. Only forty-two votes were east and the successful candidates received from thirty-nine to forty-one. The result of the election is certified to by H. W. Peck, David Smith, and G. L. Leonard, judges of election, and attested by N. E. Strong and M. L. Kellogg, clerks. The town was divided into seven road districts and the following road over- seers were appointed: A. J. Walton, Daniel McDaniels, Silas 624 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Ward, John Otis, Segur Johnson, Charles Billings, and Hugh Healey. There was a large addition to the population of the township in 1856. Early that spring, N. E. Strong, George L. Leonard, Daniel Tripp, Benjamin W. Gifford, and A. A. Gotten platted a village site on section 20 and called it "Empire." It was sur- veyed and platted by H. W. Peck. William Long, father of Seth W., George and Frank Long, built a sawiuill at this place. Thom- as and Daniel Tripp built a hotel. It was at this village of Em- pire that Peter Parrell stabbed and killed Jacob Hagadom on election day, in October, 1857. After the defeat of Empire in the county seat contest of 1857, the village soon disappeared, and the township reverted to its normal condition as a pa,radise for farming. JANBSVILLE TOWNSHIP. This is the northwest corner township of the county, and boasts of the largest lake in the county— one which abounds in pickerel, bass and croppies. It is a very fine body of water in the midst of a fertile country. Elscwliere in this work is given a record of the first settlement which occurred in 1S55. John Douglas and a man named Hughes were the first settlers, and John Davis and Alfred Holstein, Indian traders, came next. The early records of this township were lost years ago— forever Lost no doubt. The board of county commissioners, April 5, 1858, set off and organized the township under the name of Okaman, with two polling places. The one at Okaman had, for judges of election, Alex. Johnston, C. H. Bisliop, and W. X. Buckhout, and the election was to be held at the house of A. Tuttle. The other polling place was at the house of Caesar De Regan, with R. Brown, John Cunning- ham, and De Regan as judges. On the 17th of the next May, upon petition filed, the name of the township was changed to Janesvillc. Under the township oi-ganization, adopted by the first state legislature, N. E. Strong was the first chairman of the board of supervisors, and served as a member of the board of county supervisors during the year. The next year he was fol- lowed by J. W. La Paul. l\Ir. La Paul, within the year, moved CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 625 to St. IMary, and was succeeded by W. W. Cowles. Both La Paul and Cowles were noted for their talking propensities. The only town records to be found commence with the year 1868. The town meeting of that year was held at the house of Amos Roberts, in Okaman village, on the 7th of April. Mr. Hiram Christman was chosen moderator ; the town clerk and town treasurer each made a report, and both reports were adopted. Prom all that appears upon the record book, these reports might have been verbal. As to their contents, the record book is alto- gether silent. The town then had ten road districts and the fol- lowing gentlemen were chosen overseers of highways : R. C. Wilkins, A. J. Patchen, Richard Cahill, Thomas McHugo, John Cahill, J. R. Wright, Henry Lane, Hiram Fish, William Popham, Nelson Thwing. The meeting voted a tax of $315 for town ex- penses, the sum of $400 for the payment of outstanding soldier bounties, and one per cent, upon all taxable property for road ex- penses. The supervisors elected were Silas Waterbury (chair- man), William Patchin, and Hiram Fish; W. N. Buckhout, town clerk; J. H. Ricker, treasurer; A. N. Roberts, assessor; C. P. Pratt and Hiram Christman, justices of the peace; C. Hover and C. Peaslee, constables. That year there was paid from the road fund $83.91, and for ordinary expenses $104.60. Caesar De Regan made a claim in 1856 and had surveyed and platted the old village of 'Janesville. The town site subsequently fell into the hands of J. W. Hosmer and others, but when the present Janesville was platted the old site was gradually aban- doned. The village of Okaman at the head of Lake Elysian was plat- ted in May, 1857. The proprietors were W. P. Mathes, B. S. Hall, S. M. Cooley, F. E. Roberts, and G. H. Bishop. Here was situated the famous Buckhout flouring mills, which furnished flour to the early settlers as far south as the Iowa state line for years. Okaman was one of the prettiest little villages in the state of Minnesota from 1857 to 1864, and was inhabited by an or- derly, intelligent, and cultured people who had great hopes that it would grow into a city. Alas, for human hopes and expecta- tions! Okaman now exists only in name. The reader is referred to "biographical sketches" for particu- lars regarding early settlers in this township. 626 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. VILLAGE OF JANESVILLE. Janesville, or "East Janesville, " as it was platted, is one of the substantial and permanent towns of Southern Minnesota. It is in the midst of a beautiful and rich farming country, inhabited by an industrious and frugal people, who earn and command pros- perity. It was platted in August, 1869, by Surveyor S. H. Mott for J. W. Sprague, general manager of the W. & St. P. railroad at that time. Nine additions have been added since. Buildings were constructed as if by magic. James Cummins hauled the first load of lumber for the first building, Baldwin's hotel. J. O. Chandler, A. W. Jennison, F. II. I\Iiner, D. J. Dodge & Co., J. D. Andrews, and others erected buildings that fall. Dr. Crai'i' wa.s the first physician, and John Bradish, Es([., the first attorney, as he was the first in Waseca county In the winter of 1869-70, several buildings from Old Janesville were moved to the now town, and in the spring of 1870 the new town was full of life and vigor. James Cummins, born March 5, 1840, in Kenosha coun- ty, AVis., came to Blue Earth county in 1857, lived in Old Janes- ville for a time, and soon took a hand in the business of the new town. Joseph Davison, horn in the state of Xew York, in 1834, came to Byron township in 1862, enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota heavy artillery Oct. 20, 1864, served until Sept. 27, 1865, returned to Minnesota the same year, and in 1869 went to Janesville and helped to build the town as a contractor and builder. The Banner flouring mill, now owned by Jennison & Co., was built in 1873, by the firm of Stokes, Kimball & Co. The Diadem flouring mill was erected in 1877, by Harn, Snyder & Co. They became financially involved and the mill passed to Ilillyer & Tillotson, then to J. S. Snteliffe, and finally, in 1886, it became the property of Jennison Bros. The W. & St. P. rail- road company erected a grain elevator in 1S()I), which soon after passed into other hands. Among the business houses, that of Byron & Barden is very popular. The first school house was erected in 1871, at a cost of $2,800. Another school building was erected in 1877, and a third in 188,"). The latest is a brick building costing $7,000. The Freewill Baptist society built the first church in 1870, at a cost of $3,000. The Episcopalians next built in 1877, at a cost of $2,000. The CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 627 Catholics erected their church building in 1876, and expended thereon about $6,000. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1880. It is a brick structure, costing $4,000. The Lutheran Evangelical church building was erected in 1885 at a cost of $2,500. The town and village together, in 1878, put up a building 45x 100 feet, which is used as a town hall and for public meetings of all kinds. It cost about $5,000, and is a credit to the place. A lodge of A. P. and A. M., No. 124, was organized under dis- pensation, Aug. 10, 1875. Its present charter was issued Feb. 11, 1877. The dispensation members were R. N. Sackett, Kel- sey Curtis, Darling Welch, and J. 0. Chandler, the officers be- ing: R. 0. Craig, W. M.; E. H. Gosper, S. W.; F. H. Miner, J. W.; R. M. Redfield, S. D.; J. W. Tefft, J. D. ; S. C. L. Moore, S. S.; C. H. Younglove, J. S.; R. Heritage, Tyler. The lodge does good work, and is in a prosperous condition. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. CHAPTER LXXIX. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES— REMINISCBNSES OP EARLY DAYS IN THE SETTLEMENT OP THE COUNTY— MISCELLANEOUS MEN- TION OP PERSONAL MATTERS— THE CLOSE. NEW RICHLAND, BY HON. ANTHONY SAMPSON. Mr. Sampson was born in Norway, August 21, 1827; and Mrs. Sanap- son was born in the same counti:y, October 12, 1825. They left their native land May 15, 1853, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, July 10, of that year, where they remained three years. Mr. Sampson finally concluded to remove to Minnesota. He went around among his neigh- bors and got up a company to go with him. The men's names are as fol- lows: H. H. Sunde, K. O. Rotegard, H. T. Hangrud, O. K. Hagen, W. Anderson, Kresten Knudson, and B. O. Strenge. They were all from Norway originally, but had settled in Rock county, Wisconsin. They started from the latter place on the 3d day of May, 1856, and after encoun- tering and overcoming the various obstacles and hindrances incident to an overland trip with ox teams and lumber wagons, reached New Rich- land on the 10th of June following. Until the arrival of these people there was not a white settler in the township. There were some Winnebago Indians around almost every day, but they never did any harm. Mr. Sampson says: "The whole company of us had only twelve yoke of oxen, thirty cows, fifty head of young cattle and about $600 in gold. The first thing we did was to rig out two breaking teams and break four acres of ground for each fam- ily. This we planted mostly to flint corn, but as soon as the corn came up the ulackbirds and gophers took it all. It was hard times for us the first two years. Plour was high in price costing us $11 a barrel, and we had to go seventy-five miles to get it. But we got along any way. We had plenty of milk and made butter and cheese; and we could catch all the fish we needed in the lake and the river at that time. "The company never had any trouble among its members. When- ever there happened any differences three or four of us got together 632 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. and settled it all right, and without any cost; and there is not one of those old settlers has ever had a costly law suit yet. The first white child born in the township was a daughter of O. K. Hagen m July, 1856. The first death was that of Sam A. Samson, August 22, :861. Each of the eight families bought 160 acres of land for which they paid the government $1.25 per acre. The first school district in the town was organized in 1860. John Larsen was elected clerk; Anthony Sampson, director; and T. Tidman- son, treasurer. The first school house was erected on a half acre lot given by Mr. Sampson from a portion of his farm in 1862. The first church (Lutheran) was organized In 1861. H. Halvorsen, Anthony Sampson and H. Taraldson were elected trustees of the so- ciety; and the first church building was erected by this society in 1862. It was a log building, 20x26 feet, and 14 feet in height. We got a minister from Goodhue county who held services once every two months. There v/ere at that time about twenty families belonging to the society, but now it contains one hundred and thirty families. In 1872, we sent a call to Norway for a minister, and obtained Rev. O. A. Mellby. He is our minister yet, and is an honest, able worker in this society. Ihe society bought eighty acres of land and put up buildings for him and his family that cost about $1,800. We now have two good churches that cost about $8,000. There is a good Congregational church in the village, and there are seven good schoolhouses in the township." Mr. Sampson, besides holding numerous town ofllces, represented ^^iS county in the house of representatives in the session of 1877. He was ■one of our most substantial citizens who, in a modest way, did his part toward developing the country and changing it from a wilderness to one of the most productive regions in the West. He died May 16, 1899, at his home, honored and respected by all. CAPTAIN EARL OF FREEDOM. This gentleman was born August 10, 1832, in Jamestown, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. His mother died while he was quite young, and in 1838 he went to live in the family of Mr. Samuel Fitch, who resided three miles east of Youngstown, Ohio. He was a very worthy man and instilled into tne mind of young Earl, both by precept and example, the principles of honesty and uprightness of character. Captain Earl lived with this family eleven years. In the spring of 1850, he started West, coming as far as Rock Island, Illinois. In February 1851, he went north into Jefferson county, Wis- consin, where he worked until November 25, 1S55. He then married Miss Mary O. Hubbard, of Hebron, in that county. She was born in Troy, N. Y., and came West with her parents when she was four years of age. In September, 1856, they moved to Richland county, Wisconsin, where CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 633 they resided until July 4, 1859, when they started for Minnesota with two yoke of oxen, one wagon, a cow and a calf. They arrived at their uew home in the town of Yucatan, Houston county, on the 11th of July. When they had reached their destination they had about $20 in gold left, and were owing $250 on the one hundred and twenty acres they had bought. Captain Earl says there had been considerable railroad excitement, and the Southern Minnesota had been graded as far as Houston; but the bubble had burst, and the hands were going out when he was mov- ing in. He found a vacant shanty a mile from his land, and took pos- session of it. He immediately went to work cutting and hewing oak logs for a house, 16x20 feet, which he covered with oak shingles. His nearest neighbor was three miles away, and help to raise the house had to come from three to four miles. He worked out through harvest at $1.50 per day, and did not get his house raised until September, but completed it in November and moved into it. For a year and a half he had to work out for enough to support his family. His land w^s what is known as grub and openings. He grubbed and broke and fenced and thus opened his farm to cultivation. In March, 1865, he sold his farm for $1,200 and in April following, in company with J. L. Graham and Arthur Graham, started for Redwood Falls. He furnished the team and they the provisions, and they camped out. Nine miles west of Wilton they came across Darling Welch, who was living upon the Winnebago reservation. He described the beauties of the land ana the natural advantages of the situation in his enchant- ing style, but they had made up their minds to visit Redwood Falls, which they did, spending two weeks looking over that section of coun- try. They found timber rather scarce and the land not yet in market. 'i hey were pleased with Waseca county, and returned to Mr. Welch's place. J. L. Graham and Earl each bought '160 acres of land. Captain Earl's farm cost him $960. The improvements consisted of six acres broken and in crop, forty acres fenced with a two-rail fence, and a log house 12x18 feet. After going back to Houston county, he returned in June and broke up twenty acres — keeping "bach" during the time. He then went to Fillmore county and worked through harvest with his team. On the 1st of September he started from Houston county with his fam- ily and arrived at the new home on the 7th. He had one span of good mules — which he sold that fall for $400— three good cows and six young cattle. Mrs. Earl drove the team on the road while he drove the cattle. He had his hay to cut and stack after his arrival. He hired a man and mower one and a half days, and the rest he cut with a scythe. In speaking of that fall he says: "The weather, till late in the fall, was very fine, but the first snow storm was a terrible one. It was my first experience with a blizzard, and it came in all its glory. That was the night Billy Adams, the stage driver, was so badly frozen. It was about C34 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. two miles west of my place where he brought up at a vacant shanty and stayed that fearful night. It was one never to he forgotten by the early settlers of Freedom. "The next summer," says he, "was very wet, and it was almost impossible to get around. It cost one dollar per hun- dred to get flour from Mankato to our settlement, a distance of twenty miles. We had very good crops, however, that season, and in the fall "we were as happy as could have been expected. We had a splendid neighborhood, very little sickness, and no reason to complain of our prosperity." The first office held by him was that of assessor in the town of Forest, Richland county, Wisconsin, in 1859. In Houston county, he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors in 1861 and re-elected in '62, '63 and '64. In that time he paid out over $8,000 for volunteers, and kept the town clear from draft. He served as chairman of the board in Freedom in 1866, and was the first commissioner elected from the fifth district in Waseca county. He was assessor in Freedom for the years '73-4 and '75 and in the fall of 1875 was elected one of the representatives from this county to the legislature of 1876. After having faithfully served his generation and his country he joined the great majority on the other side. MR. EDWIN B. VERPLANK, NEW RICHLAND. Mr. Edwin E. Verplank was born in 1S34, two and a half miles from Auburn, N. Y. His wife, Anna Sophia, was born near Konlgsberg, Nor- way, and is forty-two years of age. Mr. Verplank came to Minnesota by way of Iowa, in a "prairie schooner," and settled at Faribault, in Novem- ber, 1855. Settlements were then few and far between, but the country was delightful and fruitful. Larger vegetables grew here that year than were ever seen before or heard of since. The weather was delightful that fall — Indian summer extending into December. Mr. Verplank writes: "A young man named Tyler and myself went to Wilton in the spring of 1857, and took claims a little southwest of that village. We bought lumber, and with saw, hammer and hatchet we made music, while the gophers stood around on their hind feet whistling a chorus of welcome until we completed our structure." "Well, if we were not as virtuous as the virgins of the Bible, we were at least as foolish, for we had neither oil, lamps nor provisions, and none were to be obtained. We concluded that for two young, unmarried men, with well developed appetites and no visible means of supply, the prospects of growing up with the country were not very flattering. We finally abandoned our claims and returned to Faribault where we could get plenty of work and enough to eat. I remained in Faribault until 1861, when I enlisted in Co. G, First Minnesota volunteers." After his term of service Mr. Verplank purchased eighty acres of land where he now resides. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 635 OLE H. SUNDE. Ole H. Sunde and others of New Richland, had some rough experience in the early days. They had to go to Iowa for food and supplies, taking the round-a-bout way over which they came from Wisconsin. They started on bare ground in the fall, the weather being fine, but were caught in a snow storm while out, and were detained three weeks while their families had only a small quantity of corn meal, ground cob and all, which they sifted and ate with milk. The anxiety of each of the separated parties as to the fate and welfare of the others was intense. None but those who have been placed in similar circumstances can real- ize the feelings of husband, wife or relatives thus separated. W. H. H. JACKSON. Mr. W. H. H. Jackson, of Blooming Grove, being interviewed, said: •T call to mind most of the early settlers. Michael Johnson, who still lives on the claim he pre-empted, Mr. Hatch, father of Mrs. H. P. Chamberlain of Iosco, who moved away years ago; the Messrs. Remund, most of whom are still with us; Mr. Gray and family, J. M. Blivens, Mr. Simeon Smith and his son, A. C; Jonathan Howell, deceased, and I pre- sume others settled in 1S55. Among those who came in 1856, were B. R. Connor, now of Dakota, George Dean, John Walker, James Walker, Boss Sharp, Wm. Donaldson, Patrick Healy, the lamented Capt. Lewis McKune who was killed in the battle of Bull Run, Hon. J. L. Saufferer, James Hand, Hon. J. N. Powers and his father; Hon. Philo Woodruff, John Gibson and Mr. Winthrow. "Thomas Jackson, his three sons, and one daughter came there in May, 1858, from Indiana. He bought a farm of Mr. Walker, which he afterward sold, and then moved to Morristown where he died years ago. "Caleb B. Jackson enlisted in Captain McKune's company of the First Minnesota regiment, served three years, and then enlisted as a veteran in the Second Minnesota cavalry, serving until the close of the war. "Thos. B. Jackson enlisted and served three years in the Fourth Min- nesota, then re-enlisted as a veteran, was wounded in the battle of Al- toona, and died from the effect of his injuries soon after. "W. H. H. Jackson enlisted in the Third Minnesota and served two years and four months. He was born In Indiana, 1840, and came to Blooming Grove with his father in 1858. The same year. In the fall, he married Miss Mary Eckert, daughter of Peter Eckert, who came to the same township in 1857. Mr. Eckert sold his farm and went to Illinois In 1870, returning to Minnesota In 1877. He died some years ago. "It Is claimed that George Connor was the first white child born in the township. "The first schoolhouse was built in 1856. The Baptists organized a church society in 1856, and held services In the schoolhouse." 636 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. JAMES CUMMINS. Mr. James Cummins, of Janesville, first inhabited the earth at a place known as the town of Bristol, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, his birthday being March 5, 1840. His wife's name was Hester J. Coddington; she was born In Livingston county, New York, on the 18th of February, 1841. "Jim," as he is familiarly called, moved to LeRay, Blue Earth county, in 1857, and to "Old Janesville" in 1862. At this time, he avers, he had neither lands, houses nor cattle. He writes: "The first fall after our arrival, having put up our hay, my father, John Cummins, sent me, with Charles and Ed. Bennett, to New Auburn, Iowa, for flour. We went with three wagons and six yoke of oxen, and brought back 7,500 pounds of flour, so we did not go hungry that winter. Our family of eleven had 2,500 pounds, while the Bennetts had fifty work hands and nearly "all Lord's Creation" to eat from their two loads. Ed. Bennett's father was putting in a mill dam at Tivoli, that winter. "The next season, 1858, my father had a job of breaking one hundred acres of prairie for the Winnebago Indians. Two brothers and myself took turn-about, each going there for a week. We had four yoke of oxen and a self-holding breaking plow. The breaking was done in patches, not over three acres in a place, and we were all the time moving about and camping in different places. "By the way C. A. DeGraff, while excavating for his cellar, dug up the ashes and coals where I camped about four weeks — so you see I was there first. During the summer I camped a portion of the time with John Barden, of Wilton, a brother of Thomas Barden. . John Barden also had a contract for breaking one hundred acres for the Winnebagoes. He was a gentleman in every respect and I heard of his death in the war with much sorrow. By the way, I saw a man two years ago by the name of James Dobson, who was in John's company and stood by his side when he was shot. Dobson gave John the same good name he en- joyed while here. "I am 01 the opinion that Sam Crump was a little rattled, at the old settlers' meeting at Seaman's, when he blushlngly accused me of camp- ing with an Indian all summer. "In the fall we started to build a log schoolhouse. The body was raised and bark peeled and packed for the roof, but that was as far as we ever got. The bark was afterwards used to cover a shop, and the logs rotted down. "That winter my parents hired Miss Hattie Xorthrup, then of Wilton, now of Morristown, to teach tnelr nine children at home. We had a good school. Our house was built of logs 16x24 feet, and covered with bark. "During the winter I took a job of cutting five cords of white ash wood. I didn't then know enough about the business to know which way to run when the tree commenced to fall. In fact the trees wouldn't fall if they could CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 637 help it. I chopped all around the tree until it would commence to fall; and then it would be sure to lodge. I woi'ked very hard, broke three axes and gave up the job after cutting three and a half cords. "The next spring my brother Horace and I took a job of clearing a road. We were very thirsty, at least I was. I tapped a maple, and he a butternut tree. My tree didn't seem to furnish much sap; at any rate I kept the trough dry. Horace said his tree had plenty of sap and that it was sweeter than maple. I tried it and found he was about right; and so kept the trough empty till night. During the night I was taken with a fever — had three relapses, each time being worse than the first — and when I finally got around the sum- mer was gone; and I felt all " gone" too. "I worked here and there and finally commenced work at "Old Janes- ville," Jan. 1, 1862. In June of the same year I was married and have been in sight ever since. "The first religious services held in our neighborhood, in Blue Earth county, were at the house of my uncle, Moses Bennett, father of Ed. Bennett, of Waseca, in 1857. In "Old Janesville," religious services were held in private houses until the schoolhouse was built. The first church organized in "East Janesville," the present Janesville, was the Free Baptist. "The first child born, that I remember about, was a daugbter of J. W. LaPaul. The deaths were a child in the family of James Savage and two daughters of David Jenkins. "The first buildings in Janesville, as I remember, were the houses of P. Ratchford and Mary Corcoran. "Among the oldest, settlers of LeRay township, I call to mind Thos. Davis, who died in 1860; my father, John Cummins; A. P. Johnson who went to Wisconsin in 1863; Ed. Clocksun; Adna Carpenter, late of Janesville; A. Lamer, of "Old Janesville;" Hen- ry Lane, who died in 1879; and Captain Dane, who used to preach to us. Moses Bennett and HoUis Whitney both died some years ago. These were among the men who at the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862, moved to the old town site of Iosco. Mr. Bennett took a large drove of cattle with him, and a wagon loaded with cheese of his own make with two yoke of oxen attached. They camped in military array for a few days and then returned to their homes. "When I came to old Janesville there were many old settlers, but they were mostly Indians. Among the first white settlers were J. W. Hosmer, N. E. Strong, John Cunningham, John Davis, John Wind, John Bradish, Richard Dreever, John Put, Wm. Cahill, Thos. McHugo, Thos. Bichel, John McCue, James McCue, and Patrick McCue. "Oh! by the way, I came near forgetting Geo. Dreever, and only for the fact that he was here today, telling some of his early doings, I should have forgotten him. George says he once broke into lake Elysian through the ice. He stood with one toe on a pond lily root and pawed 638 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ice until he wore his finger nails off to the first joint — was in the water about two hours and twenty minutes by the watch. Pat Cahill was standing on a piece of rotten ice not more than a rod away and dared not come to help him for fear both would be drowned. Richard Dreever and another man, as soon as they could cut a boat loose out of the ice, came to George's relief by sliding the boat along on the ice, After getting to George, the man with Richard, instead of at once helping him out, had to stop and ask, 'What in h — 1 brought you here?' George ."uid Cahill finally got out of it all right. "George is a live corpse yet, and looks as though he would be here until the Winnebagoes come again. He has a good farm and house, and can 'sling' the Indian dialect 'right smart' yet. He was here when the Winnebagoes came, I suppose, but he could not talk fast enough to keep them from tying to his horse bridle one of the big toes severed from the body of one of the Sioux Indians murdered by the Winnebagoes, in 1862, to appease the anger of the whites on account of the Sioux massacre on the frontier. "I am giving too much attention to George, so I return to David Codding- ton, my wife's father. He died here in 1878. A. H. Coddington moved to Kansas in 18S4. Jerry Hogan was found dead in his house several years ago. James Hogan lives on the same farm, and Thomas Hogan now lives in Alton. John Hogan, I think, came first in 1855, returned to Kentucky for a time, but now lives on his old farm." [Mr. Cummins wrote the foregoing in 1896 — The author.] ■ MR. S. A. FARRINGTON. Among the early settlers of Waseca county there are few more un- assuming or more worthy tnan the subject of this sketch. Ivir. Parring- ton was born August 27, 1827, in the county of Kennebec, state of Maine. In 1850 he left his native state to seek a home in the West, first stepping in Peoria, Illinois, and afterward in Green Lake county, Wisconsin. In 1855 he was married to Miss Mary A. Poster, who was born in Cay- uga county. New York. May 10, 1857, a company from Green Lake county started for Minne- sota in "prairie schooners." The company consisted of S. A. Parrington and wife, Mr. Parrington's father and mother, his sister, Sarah, a brother. Pranldm and his wife, widow Lincoln, afterwards wife of Hon. B. A. Lowell, of Waseca, with her four boys and a girl, Volney Dewitt and wife, and a young blacksmith named Michael Quiggle. The company had five wagons and nine yoke of oxen, with some cows and other cattle. Near LaCrosse they fell in with other emigrants, among them Daniel Styles and wife, and son Elijah and wife, who joined the company and settled in the same neighborhood. Some of the way the company made slow progress. There were tew bridges in the country, and the roads were not sraded at all. In many places they were obliged to hitch all the teams to one wagon at a time in order to haul the vehicles through the mudholes or sloughs,. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 639- with axles dragging on the ground, sometimes pulling out wagon tongues and breaking log-chains. One day they made only one mile, camping in sight of the camp-fire of the night before. After many days of weary toil they arrived at their place of settlement, in what is now Otisco, June 14. They soon selected claims and went to work Duilding places to live in. Mr. S. A. Farrington built a log house, 14x20, one story high. At first they had only an earth floor. The cover, or roof, was made of poles, hay and prairie sod. Later he obtained a few narrow, poplar boards, at the Clinton mill, by waiting to have them sawed. The other houses were all about the same. S. A. Farrington took a claim on section 25 — his father, brother, De- witt and M. Quiggle on section 26. Daniel and Elijah Styles and Mrs.. Lincoln took claims near by. As soon as possible after their arrival, they commenced running the breaking plow, using from five to seven. pair of oxen to the plow, and breaking some on each claim. The first child born in the settlement was Minnie Farrington, daugh- ter of the subject of this sketch. She died at the age of eighteen years. The seasons of 185S-9 were very wet and the settlers raised but very lit- tle grain. In the fall of 1858, Phillip Quiggle and family, joined the settle- ment from Wisconsin. As he was a blacksmith, he went to work in his son's shop on the day of his arrival; that night the- shop was burned to^ the ground with all its contents. His means being limited, he went to- Owatonna to work at his trade. On the 1st of January, 1859, he- started for home with an ox team in the morning. About midnight of that day some one found him and his team in a snow bank near Owa- tonna. He had traveled all day and at midnight he was found near the place from which he started in the morning, almost irozen. Times were hard then — not such hard times as we have now with granaries full of grain — but genuine hard times, when it was difficult,, at times, to get enough to eat; some of the settlers got discouraged and left, and others would have done the same if they had had the means to go with. On account of the wet summer of 1858 there was not much raised, as not much wheat was sowed and the corn did not ripen that year. Those who had money — and they were few — went to Mankato and other points for their supplies. Of Mr. Farrington's company there are none now living in this county. His brother, Franklin, resides in Mineapolis, and his sister Sarah, in Dakota. Mrs. Dewitt died some years ago, and Mr. Dewitt is living in Iowa with his second wife. Uncle Daniel Styles and wife lie buried in the Otisco cemetery, and Elijah Styles sleeps in a soldier's grave in the South. His widow is living with friends in the East. Mr. S. A. Farrington lived on his Otisco farm for twelve years, then sold it and bought another two miles south of Waseca, where he lived fourteen years. He then traded that for a farm on sections fifteen and sixteen, town of Wilton, containing 240 acres, where he resided for a num- G40 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ber of years. He then sold his farm and moved to Watervllle where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 17, 1905. MR. ANDREW NELSON OP BLOOMING GROVE. wcto corn in Sweden, in the year 1829, and came to America in 1854. He nrst lived in Moline, Illinois, where he remained about a year. The tidal wave of emigration was then pushing toward Minnesota, and young Nelson was among the number who came to the state in 1855. He stop- ped in Red Wing where he found employment. After remaining there a little over a year, he came to Blooming Grove and selected a claim where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred April 11, 1901. He first built a log house, and, being a single man, worked out much of the time until he was married in 1861. His first wite's maiden name was Christina Evanson. In 1865, he returned to visit friends in his native land. Shortly after his return from Sweden, his first wife died. He married again some ume afterwards. At the time of his death he was well-to-do, having three hundred and torty acres of land, eighty acres of which was timber. He came to this county empty handed and worked by the day to get his start. He cradled grain many a day in the harvest field for a dollar a day. Like many another old settler, he hauled wheat to Hastings, camping by the way- side, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel — often spending five or six days in making the trip with one load. THE HONORABLE WILLIAM BRISBANE. "I received a card from you requesting me to give what information I uidy possess in regard to the early settlement of the county. I may state that the county was partially settled when I came, and no doubt there are old settlers still living better qualified to give you the informa- tion j'ou desire than I am; however, if I can contribute anything inter- esting to your historical department, you are welcome to it. I see you ask replies to twelve different questions. First, my full name, age, birth place, and that of my wife. My name is William Brisbane. I was born in Che city of Glasgow, Scotland, December 11, 1811, and have just passed tne seventy-fifth milestone in the journey of life. My wife's name is Janet Scott. She was born in the Parish of Minto, Roxburghshire, Scotland, and is now seventy-six years old. I may state that my father was a soldier in the British army, and that my mother and I were sent home a little before the battle of Waterloo. My mother being a native of the town of Hawick, I lived there until I emigrated to America; hence 1 have always called myself a Hawick man. I came to America in the iL.prmg of 1839; lived ten years in the state of New York. I then lived ten years in Pon du Lac county, Wisconsin, when I came to Minnesota ana settled in the town of Wilton in the spring of 1859. The season be- fore had been very wet, and the county was literally a quagmire. I recol- lect that we would some times camp two nights in sight of the same CHILD'S 'HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 641 house and have to unload two or three times a day and carry our goods to dry ground. It was called a new country. I thought it so new that it hadnt had time to -dry since tlie spirit moved upon the face of the waters; but upon examination, I found that the soil was very rich, and hy proper cultivation might become well adapted to the raising of either grain or stock, for to keep land in heart, grain and stock must go to- gether. I am happy to say that my expectations have been fully real- ized; in fact, I have found that even our wire grass sloughs, by being properly drained, may become the most profitable land we have. I bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie and nine acres of timber from a Mr. Wattles, who was paying Interest at the rate of ten per cent, a month to Thomas E. Bennett of Winona. I brought with me forty-two head of horned cattle, young and old, with a span of yearling colts. The original farm, on the prairie, now consists of two hundred forty-eight acres, with about one hundred fifty acres under cultivation, the re- mainder in hay and pasture, with twenty acres of timber. There are on tne place thirty-eight head of horned cattle and thirteen horses, young and old. There is a barn 30x40 feet, with an ell 16x40 feet, with under- ground stables; two granaries, one 22x30 feet, the other 16x22 feet; a frame house 20x28 feet, with two wings, one 16x20 feet, the other 12x16 feet. My wife and I occupy the old frame building. The whole is now in possession of our son, W. R., with whom we are living and quietly waiting the time when we shall bid farewell to all earthly possessions. I may say that my wife and I who have shared the joys and sorrows of life together, have just completed our fifty-fifth year of married life. You then want to . know if I held any offices. Yes ; lots of 'em. X nave held so many that if I hadn't been a Scotchman, I should have died from softening of the bram long ago, for I have been school district director, town supervisor, assessor, and I believe the first member Wa- seca county sent to the state legislature as an independent representa- tive district. I am now town clerk, justice of the peace, and president of the anti-horse thief society. It is said the words, "Man, know thy- self," were posted up in a heathen temple, but it is of no use for a man to study his own character nowadays. The editors will do that for him. I had no idea that I possessed such a many-sided character until I be- came a candidate for legislative honors. My friends gave me credit for virtues that I am certain I never possessed, and my enemies as- cribed vices to me I never had even dreamed of. Then you want to know all about my lucky hits. I have been in regard to lucky hits what Artemus Ward was to railroad accidents. Artemus says he never had a railroad accident; he was always a little too early or a little too late; that is my case exactly. I have always been before or behind the lucky hits. My wife, looking over my shoulder, whispered softly in my ear, -i know of one lucky hit you made." When was that? I said. "When you married me," said she, with an air of triumph gleaming in her eyes. I 23 C42 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ireely acknowledge the fact, as I am always willing to give honor to whom honor Is due. Then you want to get all the facts within my knowledge regarding the early settlement of my neighborhood. That would take a volume, and I have neither time nor ability to write a book; you must be content with a few facts jumbled hastily and incoherently together. I have often wondered why our magazine writers have not seized upon the experi- ences and hardships undergone by early settlers. They might be woven into more thrilling and instructive narratives than the sickly, sentimental novels so destructive to the morals of our youth. I find from town records that the first town meeting was held at the house of Joseph Doty (now if'. Hollanders) on the 11th day of May, 1858, pursuant to an act to provide tor township organization. The meeting was called to order, and Philo C. Bailey was appointed chairman; whereupon, the object of the meeting being stated, Buel Welsh was duly elected moderator and Thomas L. Paige, clerk. On motion of Mr. Woodbury, the name of the township was called Wilton. Polls were opened, and the following named persons were elected: For supervisors, W. W. Robinson (chairman), John Brand, A. J. Woodbury; town clerk, Tarrant Putnam; assessor, L. Curtiss; col- lector, Tarrant Putnam; justices of the peace, J. B. Jacksen, Philo C. Bailey; overseer of poor, A. Miller; constables, P. VanDyke, — Stevens. The day that I arrived in Wilton, April 5, 1859, I found that the town meeting had just been adjourned from the Globe hotel to B. A. Lowell's hall. There were some unconverted sinners in the whisky business then. Even Pat himself could then, occasionally, turn up his little finger for medica.1 purposes. I merely mention these things to show the advance in civilization. Uncle Bris. was then, as now, a conservative, as most Scotchmen are. I will give two or three extracts from reports made by committees in those early times. They are what Squire Green would have called "char- acteristic." A committee (No. 1) was appointed (1859) to take into con- sideration the amount of tax necessary to defray township expenses. It reported that "for the repair and construction of roads and bridges nO' money is needed above road tax and land road tax, and that a tax not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars is all that would be necessary to de- fray the expenses of said town the ensuing year; all of which was re- spectfully submitted by A. T. Peck, Thomas Barden, and Peter VanDyke, committee." A. G. Sutlief then made a motion that no breachy, horned cattle shall be allowed to run at large. I thought this was a chance for the muleys. Committee No. 2 reported "that, first, for the current and in- cidental expenses of the town, we recommend the raising of one hun- dred twenty-five dollars; second, that twenty-five dollars be raised for the immediate erection of a pound in the town of Wilton: third, that for the assistance and support of the poor we recommend the raising of twenty-five dollars, making a total sum of one hundred seventy-five dol- lars. All of which was respectfully submitted by M. S, Gove, P. C. Bailey. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 643 and George W. Watkins, committee." They were so economical that I was surpj-issd that a motion wasn't made to set the poor to herding the cattle and thus save the pound money. Another report was made "that the poundmaster shall receive as fees for impounding hogs twelve and one-half cents; letting the same out, twelve and one-half cents, and twelve and one-half cents per day for every day said hog is kept in the pound. For sheep, the same fees be allowed as for impounding hogs, cattle and oxen. The pound master shall receive as fees fifty cents for letting a stallion into the pound, and fifty cents for letting said stallion out, and fifty cents per day for keeping said stallion. — S. P. Child, chair- man; attest, Tarrant Putnam, clerk." I may state that the first ballot box used was made by D. L. Whipple, and cost one dollar. It might have passed for an antediluvian rat trap, and as it is stili in existence, it may be eagerly sought after as a curiosity for our county museum, when we get one. Everything in and around Wilton, although it was then the county seat, seemed dull and stagna.nt. Hastings was the nearest market, and there was nothing to stimulate enterprise. The only things that broke the monotony of life were law suits, in which .1. T. Eldridge figured conspic- uously, for in almost every suit J. T. appeared either as a witness or ono horse counsel' and in many cases he appeared as both witness and counsel; that is, he gave outside counsel, and inside evidence. So notorious as a witness did he become that I recollect in one case a law- yer in court said "Mr. Eldridge will be sworn." "Of course," said Judge Donaldson, "Mr. Eldridge will have to be sworn." His evidence was impeached, but instead of blushing at the exposure, he seemed rather proud of the notoriety the impeachment gave him. He was my nearest neighbor, and I often talked to him about the value of a good reputation. I really began to believe that he had turned a corner and like Balaam prayed that he might die the death of the righteous; but, as we say in Scotland, what is bred in the bone is hard to eradicate from the flesh. I had cimost forgotten to state that the first bridge built in road district No. 2, was built by S. P. Child and his brother Pat. It cost five dollars, a sum m perfect harmony with the economy of the times. It .was the narrowest bridge I ever saw; so very narrow that a religious enthusiast might have mistaken it for the road to paradise. Next year, being over- seer of highways, I tore it out, as I considered it dangerous for a Scotch- man coming home from Wilton after dark. I have an idea that a broad bridge isn't so apt to lead to destruction as a narrow one; so, actuated by a feeling of self preservation, I built a broader one, and the feeling of safety I enjoyed was ample compensation for my trouble. INDIAN WAR. But Wilton was soon to be aroused from her Rip "Van Winkle slumber, with this difference, that instead of waking up after the war, she awoke to find the nation engaged in a hand to hand struggle for existence. 644 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. One day the citizens had met to hid good hye to a number of the boys who were starting for the front, some of whom never came back, hut offered up their lives a willing sacrifice upon the altar of their country. The last wagon was barely out of sight when the stage from the west brought us the terrible news of the Indian massacre. The people were so confounded that they couldn't be brought to realize the fact that such a bloody tragedy had been enacted. About mid-afternoon, when the ex- citement had somewhat cooled, it was suddenly kindled again into fever heat, by the appearance of two men in a covered buggy, one a white man, the other an Indian grasping a rifle. The white man said they were from the agency and that the Winnebagoes were making very warlike demonstrations, and that they had come to solicit immediate help. Here then, we thought, was war at our very doors, and most all of our young men gone South. A meeting was soon held and volunteers called for. All seemed chock-full of patriotism, and spoiling for fight. It was agreed that the volunteers should secure what arms they could and meet at the Globe hotel, at 8 o'clock that night. On my way to Wilton, I called upon Peter Van Dyke who, in the afternoon, seemed to have no other thought but just to kill two at a blow; but a change had come over his dream of military glory, for I found Peter in bed groaning with neu- ralgia. His wife, the better man of the two, shamed him and called him a coward. Very few came at the time appointed, and I began to think neuralgia had become epidemical. If memory serves me right, three wagons started about 11 o'clock. The night was pitch dark, with a heavy, drizzling rain falling, and the roads 'almost impassable. We had taken with us all the ammunition Wilton could furnish, not forgetting a little drop of the "craithur," but on such a night the supply was not equal to the demand, and the men began to doze. They were suddenly startled into life again by the second wagon running into the one ahead, which had stopped. Upon enquiring what the matter was, the teamster said that he had heard an Indian war whoop and refused to go on. While de- liberating upon the situation, the loud crowing of roosters broke the stillness of the night air. So, after a not very hearty laugh, we started ahead again, and arrived at the Agency as the day began to break, wearied and jaded enough. Balcombe, the agent, received us with apparent gratitude, and thanked us for responding so promptly to the call for aid. A lew bales of Indian blankets were ripped open and spread down as couches for us to lie upon and rest, but our nerves were too much excited by the novelty of our sur- roundings to get the rest we so much needed; so, getting up and per- forming *our ablutions, we thought we would take a stroll and reconnoitre a little; but here we were met by a difficulty we were hardly prepared lor. Col. Ide and Balcombe objected to our taking our guns with us, as it might excite the Indians, they said. I remarked that If the Indians had any hostile Intentions they would be more apt to attack unarmed men than if they had arms in their hands. The Colonel didn't think that CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 645 there was any danger. Then if there is no danger, I said, why are we here? I saw I had no influence, and finally gave in, leaving my gun in a room of the government store house. While sauntering along, a few Indians passed us. One of them complimented us by calling us G-d d— n whites. He could swear in English, anyway. We concluded that things presented rather a warlike aspect, and that we had better go and secure our guns; but to our surprise we found the door of the room in which we had left our guns locked, and nobody could tell who had the key. I said I would find a key, grasping a stick of cordwood. Just then a man by the name of Byer came running with the key. He said that he had gone out on the prairie for a load of hay and taken the key with him. At night we were doomed to another surprise. The storekeeper, Jim Hubbell, Col. Ide, and agent Balcombe proposed dividing the men and stationing one party at Hubbell's store and the other part at the government store house. This I strenuously opposed, as there were so few of us; however, I told Balcombe if he would assume the responsibility of command, I would willingly serve under him until troops arrived. He said be would assume no responsibility, though he distributed a few flasks of powder among us Here then we found no one to act as leader, and with no plan of action, so that in case of an attack it would be every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost. It looked to me as though we were running with eyes open Into a trap, and I began to wish myself well out of it. The next day was distribution day, but few Indians were around; they were down in the woods holding a pow-wow. The squaws came for the provisions and they cut a very ludicrous figure as they waddled away with a bag of flour and a chunk of pork strapped on their backs. In the afternoon the Indians came from the woods, dressed in all their toggery and war paint. A sort of council was held; the Indians formed In a circle with the chiefs and interpreter In the center. The chiefs, according to the interpreter, complained of unfair dealing by the agent. The scene, with its surround- ings, was extremely picturesque. While walking around In the evening along with a man by the name of Burgess, w;e saw two squaws leave a store carrying something between them. They kneeled down on the prairie, applying their hands in quick, successive movements to their mouths. I felt a curiosity to see what they were doing. I found them engaged In the delectable employment of eating sugar. They motioned me to kneel and partake with them. I did so, but I believe I forgot to ask a blessing, my mind being too much engrossed by the novelty of the scene. Then the idea flashed across my mind like greased lightning, wouldn't this be a precious item for Pat Child to hear that Uncle Brls. was found out on the prairie after dark eating sugar with a couple of squaws? I began to realize that I might be committing an act of im- propriety, and, like St. Paul, I mentally exclaimed oh, wretched man that 1 am; and, being a virtuous man, I trembled for my reputation. So, gird- ing up my loins, I bowed a graceful acknowledgement to my entertainers, rejoined my companion, and I never saw my dusky doxies any more. 646 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. The Indian scare over, and the country becoming more settled, con- siderable business was transacted, and Wilton began to show signs of awakening to new life and activity. But this dream of future greatness was soon dispelled. Time, that great wonder-worker, had been hard at work. Waseca was built, and the railroad had arrived. It was the old story of the boys and frogs; what was fun for Waseca was death to Wil- ton. She died rather hard, but has gradually melted away and is not now even the shadow of her former self. The old settler when he has crossed "Wilton bridge always finds a sort of melancholy feeling creeping over him. He can hardly realize that this lonely spot was once the scene of active life, and will ask himself, "Is this the place where judges once held court, where juries sat, where criminals were confined, and the business of the county transacted?" and concludes that the past must be all a dream, a mere phantasy of the brain; but a wild, unearthly yell recalls him to consciousness — it is the scream of a locomotive a mile east of Wilton, the demon that murdered her. But, upon mature reflection, he concludes that the change is for the better, after all, when he thinks of the long and weary journeys he used to make to Hastings, with wheat aL fifty cents a bushel, and Waseca within a few hours drive from home, with the pleasure of sleeping in his own comfortable bed at night, instead of lying down by a camp fire on the open prairie, with the thermometer ten degrees below zero. He thinks it is best to be philosophical, accept the inevitable, and be thankful for the change. And surely every citizen ot the county ought to feel proud of the little gem Waseca, our present county seat. There is such an air of calm and dignified superiority about her that captivates every stranger who has the good fortune to visit her. Lying as she does between two crysta'l lakes, she appears like a beautiful bride locked in the arnis of her husband. I may likewise say of the ladies of Waseca what the Irish beggar said to a Scotch lady who was as remarkable for charity as she was for beauty: "Thank you, ma'am, 1 see, your honor, that your manners and charity are equal to your beauty." "Eve's bonny daughters. Priests blame sorely for our fall, But still — but still — I like them dearly — God bless them all!" Yours respectfully, William Brisbane. FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN IOSCO. (By M. S. Green.) It may not be generally known, even by the present people of Iosco, that the first, permanent settlement in that township was made by Luke B. Osgood, Daniel McDaniels, and John Wheeler. Mr. Osgood erected the first shanty, in .luly, 18.55, made of logs and covered with shakes, lu had a (Uiorway, Imt no door, and possessed neither window nor floor. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 047 The family lived in this cabin till fall when a better house was construct- ed. Having camped in the wagon and by the roadside for about three months, the family was glad of even such accommodations. In the early part of winter, Mr. Osgood cut two saw logs, put them on his sled and started for Morristown to get them sawed into lumber for a house floor. Although he had three pair of oxen attached to his sled, ■ he made slow progress. There was considerable snow and it was piled into huge drifts here and there. There was no traveled road and he had not proceeded more than a mile when he rolled off one log. He then shoveled and traveled until evening, having made a distance of about five miles. Here he camped for the night — camped all night with three yoke of oxen in the open air. There was a heavy snow storm during the night and the wind blew a gale. The next morning, he concluded to throw off the other log and get along with a ground floor, as they had been doing, and go on to Faribault with his team and bring back some flour After fi^'e days spent in shoveling snow, prying up 'the sled, unloading and reloading he arrived at home with a very small load of flour. The winter of '55-6 was one of the most severe ever known in the state. The snow was deep, the thermometer away down to the bulb, and very few ventured from home except when compelled to go to obtain the necessaries of life. At one time there was prospect of a famine, and Mr. Osgood furnished money while David Smith furnished the pluck, energy and endurance to go to Iowa for a supply of provisions. As he was detained a much longer time on the road than was anticipated by the set- tlers, some of them had to boil their seed wheat and corn. Thinking it poor economy to use their seed grain in that way, they concluded to send Jake Conrad, for flour. He started for Faribault with an ox team and Eied. About five miles from home, one of the oxen fell dead. Here he camped for the night, and the next morning drove the live ox toward Faribault until he came to a house where he left the ox and proceeded to Faribault on foot. He bought one hundred pounds of flour and started with it on his back to return to the settlement. After toiling through the snow drifts for a mile or a little more, he concluded that it was too much of a load for even German pluck, so he sold the flour to a settler, return- ing home tQ report progress and "ask leave to sit awhile." In the mean time Mr. Smith had returned with his load from Iowa, to the relief and joy of the "Plum Valley" settlement. The settlers in this township not only suffered much hardship, but they lost nearly half their cattle during the winter of '55-6, owing to the poorly built, open stables, the intensely cold weather, and, more than all else, the poor hay. Owing to the lateness of the season when the settlement was made, much of the hay was not cut till after the first frost. THE FIRE FIEND. In the fall of 1855 Mr. Osgood went to the Winnebago Agency to move JotJi Davis to a claim near where the village of Janesville is now situat- 648 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ed. While Mr. Osgood was absent, one of his neighbors, very imprudently, undertook to burn around a stack of hay. The fire got away from him and all the hay in the country was in danger of being burned. Mrs. Os- good, ever watchful of her husband's interests, went out to look after his hay. Mr. McDaniels had succeeded in arresting the progress of the fire, in part, and went to another part of the farm, telling Mrs. Osgood to keep watch of the fire and, if it should get over the trail which they had made for protection, to let him know. She had been on the ground but a short time when, to her utter dismay, she discovered that she was entirely surrounded by fire. She first endeavored to escape to the woods near by, but soon became entangled in the vines that had clambered over the thick underbrush. She turned despairingly in the direction ol the fire — it roared and crackled and screamed equal to sheol itself — the flames at one moment rising mountain high, then, driven by the force of the wind, along the ground at railroad speed, it would devour everything in its path, and then rise again in its fury as though to scorch the very heavens. Mrs. Osgood with rare presence of mind stepped behind a large tree, gathered her clothing closely about her, and awaited the re- sult with Christian heroism and resignation. On came the fiery monster, and almost in a moment the flames enveloped her. She fell upon her face and lay there until the fire passed over. When she arose she found her clothing on fire. Blinded with smoke and smarting from the burns she had received, still she had presence of mind enough to go to a marsh near by, where there was some water, and extinguish the fire in her clothing. It was a narrow escape from a most painful death. She was so badly burned that it was nearly eight months before she could use one of her hands, and her face was so blistered that the skin all came off. She finally recovered, however, without showing many scars. Mr. Osgood sold out many years ago to the Messrs. Timlin, and moved East. THE HONORABLE JOHN S. ABELL, OP OTISCO. Of the hardy pioneers of this county, Mr. Abell ranks as one of the first. He was born in Constantia, Oswego county, N. Y., in 1S34. His father, who was one of the early settlers in that portion of New York, and who was one of the owners of a saw mill, a grist-mill, and some manufactur- ing establishments, during the financial crash of 1837, lost all his proper- ty, and died in 1841, when John was only seven years of age. The lad then went to live with his grandfather, where he remained until he was ten years of age, when his grandfather died. From that time forward John earned his living by working out summers and attending school winters until he was thirteen. He worked at whatever came to hand until he was sixteen years old, when he commenced work on the Erie canal which he followed summers until the fall of 1856. In the fall of '56 he came West, more to visit the country than with any expectation of remaining here. He visited his uncle in Winona county. HON. AND MRS. J. S. ABBLL. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 649 arriving there in October, 1856. Austin Abell, his cousin, had already made a claim in Otisco, the September before, in company with H. G. Mosher, who afterwards was superintendent of schools in this county for several years, and is now in California. About the first of January, 1857, H. G. Mosher, John S., and Austin Abell, left "Winona county bound for Otisco. On the first day out, just west of St. Charles, they met a blizzard which forced them to stop with a pioneer settler until the storm abated. They reached Judge Canfield's place in Otisco, January 8, 1857. After remaining a short time, they re- turned to Winona county. During the summer of 1857, John worked for R. D. Fellows of that county, to earn money to pay for eighty acres of land which he bought from his cousin, Austin. In the spring of 1858, he came out with Austin, and the two did breaking for themselves and others. After the breaking season was over, they returned to Winona county and ran a threshing machine during the fall. The next spring they came out and put in crops, made sonie other improvements, and returned to Winona county, where John S. was married in August, to Miss Hannah Harshman, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania in 1840. Their wedding tour was something out of the ordinary and a little amusing. Mr. Abell bought a yoke of large, four-year-old steers that had never been used. He also bought an ox-cart, strong and trusty. He put on bows and a cover, making what is known in western phrase, as "a prairie schooner." With the assistance of three or four men he got the steers yoked and hitched to the cart, with Mrs. Abell on board, and away they went over the prairie. The exciting scenes of the trip would fill a small volume. Whenever they met a team the steers would give the whole road and more too, generally making a large circuit before coming back to the road. It took them a week to come to Otisco, camping by the way. They remained a week at their farm, and ihen returned as they came, only in a more moderate and orderly way. That fall, Mr. Abell made a trip to Stillwater to visit a brother. He planned to work en the Mississippi steam boats a while but concluded, after the first half day trial, that he was not put up for a roustabout to be cursed by a half drunken boss, and abruptly cut his acquaintance with that noble functionary, and returned to Wilton on foot. He remembers that on the 5th day of June, 1859, there was a heavy frost which killed the leaves on the trees and cut the corn to the ground. iNevertheless the corn came on and there was a good crop. During the winter of '62-3, H. G. Mosher and the two Abells "bached it" in a dug out 10x14 feet, with a fire place to cook by. It was originally a lime kiln. He says it was so cold that winter that the water froze in one side of the bucket while the staves next to the fire were being scorched brown. Austin Abell lived here until 1863, when he enlisted and served in the army till the close of the war. In the mean time he sold his other 650 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. eighty acre lot to Jolin who has since added eighty acres more, making a farm of 240 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Abell have been the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Sarah, born July 11, 1862; John H., July 3, 1865; Marie, December 7, 1860; Irving O., Jan. 3, 1872; Helen L., April 23, 1874; Emma and Jennie, July 13, 1876. John H. died Jan. 16, 1882. Mr. Abell, though differing from a large majority of his townsmen politically, held some town office continually until his last year. He served as town clerk of Otisco for twenty years, justice of the peacs two terms, a member of the legislature in 1879, and county superinten- dent of schools from 1890 to 1894. In every station to which he was called he performed his duties with ability and fidelity. DEATH OF MR. ABELL. Since the foregoing was prepared for this history, Mr. Abell has passed away. About Nov. 1, 1904, he suffered a slight stroke of paralysis, which de- prived him of the use of one of his arms. On the 27th of January he received another severe stroke, after which he remained in an almost helpless condition. On the evening of June 30, 1905, he appeared to be as well as usual, but about two o'clock the next morning, Mrs. Abell was awakened by a noise at her husband's couch and upon going to him found that he had fallen to the floor. Irving Abell hastened to his mother's assistance and placed him back upon his couch, and a few moments afterwards he breathed his last. Mr. Abell was a man of much more than ordinary ability. He was a leader, a thinker, and a close reasoner. He was not only honest in nls business dealings but he was honest in his politics. He believed in the doctrine of equal rights and privileges for all men — not only as a theory, but as a principle that should be maintained at all hazards and by all means. He was a good neighbor and a kind husband and father, and a citizen, of whose record, private and official, Waseca county may well feel proud. JAMES B. HILL, VIVIAN. The following facts were obtained from the late Mr. Hill, in 1887: The first permanent settlement in the town of Vivian was made in the summer of 1856, by two bachelors, B. F. Hanes and E. AVoodrutt'. The latter died in 1865. Mr. Hanes was an educated man and somewhat of a recluse in his habits of life. He was honorable and upright and a good citizen. He died at his farm in Vivian in 1872. The memory of Mr. Hanes is still held in great respect by all the old settlers. The next settlers were Mr. J. B. Hill, wife and children, Mrs. Hill being the hrst white woman to settle in the township. Mr. Hill took a claim and dated his settlement July 2, 1857. He selected a beautiful tarm on the Cobb river, section 31. James B. Hill was born at Smithboro, Tioga county, N. Y., in 1S24. He CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 651 learned the blacksmith's trade and followed the business for several years. He married Myanda E. Stevens, who was a native of Rldgebury, Pa., in 1846. She was born in 1826. They moved to Wisconsin in 1850, and lived in what is now Green Lake county, where they carried on a farm. They were not entirely pleased with that location, and sold their farm, making their way by team to Minnesota, and opened a farm in Vivian as before stated. Mr. Hill came better prepared than the average immigrant of those days to open a farm in a new country. He brought a span of horses, a yoke of oxen, eight or nine cows and some young stock. The season for breaking was nearly closed when he made his claim, so that little of it was done that year. The year 1858 brought little return to the husbandman for his toil, in Minnesota, and Mr. Hill opened a blacksmith shop in the then thriving village of St. Mary, in 1859, where he carried on the business for a year, and then returned to his farm. Mr. Hill narrowly escaped death in the spring of 1858. As he was going from St. Mary to his home, with an ox team, he stopped to chat a moment with Mr. McLin, who then lived at Silver Lake. Mr. McLin said that they had discovered large quantities of artichokes, and brought out some and gave them to Mr. Hill, saying that they were good food tor hogs. He advised Mr. Hill to plant some, if there were none growing wild on the Cobb. Mr. Hill put them into his pocket and soon after commenced eating them. He ate quite a quantity and soon became very sick. He must have had spasms, for when he recovered, he found that he had bitten his tongue severely. He left his team and lay on the prairie for several hours unconscious. He was found by Nick Kremer and another man who took him up and carried him home. Kremer, at first, supposed that he was intoxicated, but Mr. Hill, by showing the roots and making signs, for he could not talk, made him understand that he was poisoned. Dr. Gove, of Wilton, was called, under whose treatment he soon recovered. It was soon discovered that the so-cafled artichokes were what are called wild parsnips. This narrow escape of Mr. Hill explained the death of Michael McLin, which occurred a few days before, while he was plowing in the field. It was at first supposed that McLin died of heart disease or in a fit, but after Mr. Hill's experience, no one doubted that he was poisonea in the same way. It was Dr. Gove's opinion, that Mr. Hill owed his escape to the fact that he ate a quantity sufllcient to cause vomiting and thus threw off the poison. Several Irish-American families settled in the eastern part of Vivian, in 1857, and the first death in the township occurred among these set- tiers. An unexpected and very severe storm occurred early in that fall. Mr. Sweeney was at St. Mary. He was thinly clad— not expecting such severe weather — and, in returning home, got bewildered and lost on the 652 ' CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. prairie, and was found dead not far from his home. He left a widow, who was a sister of the Shanahau brothers. The next death was that of Henry T. Daggett, who died of consumption, in July 1858. The first children born were a boy (George) to Mr. and Mrs. Montreville Sias, and a child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Daggett. George Sias is now a successful merchant in Kansas. Among the early settlers were the Wests, Moore, W. H. Harman, Nels Sanderson, and Ole Johnson, who came in about 1858. At an early day, a post-route was established through Vivian, and Mr. Hill was appointed postmaster under Buchanan's administration, a posi- tion which he held for the accommodation of the neighbors for a good many years. He was elected chairman of the board of supervisors, and served as a member of the county board during the supervisor system. The pioneer school house was built in 1859, and a new one was built in 186G. Elder Smith, a pioneer clergyman of Wilton, used to hold services frequently in the school house. The first marriage ceremony was solemnized by Esquire Hill, the parties being an old bachelor named Clark, and Ann Stocker. The settlement in Vivian, as well as many other towns, experienced some demoralization during the Indian outbreak of 1862. They took the women and children to Wilton, the men returning the next day to look after stock and crops. There were some losses both of cattle and crops, but nothing serious. In a few days the women and children all returned. In February, 1864, Mr. Hill enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota infantry and went to the front. He was at the battle of Nashville, the siege of Spanish Port, and was with his regiment in Kentucky, Missouri, Missis- sippi, Tennessee, and other states. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In 1872, he leased his farm and moved to Minnesota Lake, where he opened a blacksmith shop which he carried on for a time but finally dis- posed of. He served as justice of the peace for several years at the Lake, but of late has devoted his time to the sale of marble work. He has two children : Myron V. Hill, of Minnesota Lake, who is doing a successful merchandise business there; and A'iola S., now Mrs. R. N. Gale, of Minneapolis. Mr. Hill has always been a republican in politics and has taken much interest in public affairs. We are glad to know that he and Mrs. Hill have a comfortable home, with enough to insure comfort in their declining years. Their hospital- ity was proverbial among the early settlers, and they were liberal minded as well as liberal hearted. They belong to that class of citizens who give stability to our form of government, and who make it possible that free institutions may exist without running into anarchy and lawlessness. Shortly after the foregoing was written, Mrs. Hill suffered a stroke of CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 653 paralysis and became a confirmed Invalid for the remainder of her life, requiring the constant attendance and attention of Mr. Hill. Mr. Hill's health no doubt became impaired by his constant attention to Mrs. Hill, and he passed to the great beyond at Minnesota Lake, Jan. 11, 1902, honored and respected by all who knew him. SPENCER J. WILLIS. Among the young men who came to Minnesota early in 1857, was Mr. S. J. Willis, who afterwards became quite prominent in the politics of the covmty. We can best give an idea of the times and of the conditions of the country at that date by quoting his own words: "I was born in Franklin, D&laware county, N. Y., July 28, 1833, and voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. In the spring of 1857, I started for Hancock, our nearest depot, on the N. Y. & E. R'y. At this place I flipped a cent to see whether I should go to California or Minnesota — heads Minnesota, tails California — and heads won. West I went and stopped awhile in Chicago where I met S. f. Kellogg with whom, on the 30th day of April 1857, I left for Minnesota. Our nearest route was via Galena, 111., where we took passage on the "Old War Eagle," and I assure you it was one of the most stormy passages in some respects I ever saw. Gambling Vas far above zero, and racing with other steamers was all the go. We arrived at Reed's landing about 10 or 11 o'clock in the evening. After great effort we secured lodgings for the night at the American house, I think they called it. And in some respects it was American — at any rate it seemed to be the asylum of every nationality on earth. Such pandemonium! Such beds! Such rooms! I had never seen the like before. The 'school section' in which I tried to sleep, was filled with men, wo- men and children of many nationalities and ways. Most of the beds were made of blankets laid on the bare floor. Our grips were our pillows. And those sheets! I don't believe they had been washed since they were made, and they bore evidence of having been made long before, and used often. They would almost rise up like a beard when one took hold of the end to get into bed. The breakfast was substantial but coarse, and for such lodging- and breakfast we paid $2.50 each. May 4, 1857, we left Reed's landing and started with teams for Red Wing, passing over snow and snowdrifts from one to ten feet deep. We were all day in making the trip to Red Wing. There were many sleighs and numerous people in our van. We remained over night in Red Wing, and in the meantime hired a conveyance to take us to Faribault for which I paid $48. At this point there were much talk and excitement about the Spirit Lake massacre which occurred in Iowa, the previous March, a number of 654 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COaNTY. the murdered victims having been former residents of Red Wing. The name of Inltpaduta was in every one's mouth. We went by way of Cannon Palls where we had to stop over night. We found that the further we got from the Mississippi river the less was the Indian excitement, and the less frightened people were. Of course the scare at Red Wing was the cause of the enormous charge of $48 for tak- ing us out into the dangerous (?) vicinity of Faribault. This was the time of the town site speculations. I was shown lots in Cannon Palls that were only from three to five hundred dollars apiece, and I was assured over and over that by investing I would soon become rich. There was one log hotel on the town site, and that was all. It was long after dark the second day out from Red Wing before we arrived at Paribault, and here, for the first time since leaving Chicago, we found some of the comforts of civilized life. Mr. Kellogg was a fine car- penter and joiner and soon got work enough. My health had been poor, but soon the invigorating climate and roughing it made me tired of loaf- ing, and I told Kellogg that I thought I would go to work at my trade. Having known me all my life, he nevertheless wanted to know what my trade was, and I had to confess that I did not know myself. But as 1 sauntered down the street a day or two afterwards, it struck me, upon seeing a saw and hammer exposed in a store window, that I might as well start in as a carpenter; so I purchased a saw and hammer and secured a job as a journeyman carpenter at the same place that Kellogg was at work, for which I received $2.50 per day in gold coin. And that was how 1 became a carpenter. After that week's work, Kellogg and I took the job of building the Tripp hotel, at Empire, later Iosco. It was in May that, with packs on our backs and hatchets in our belts, — the latter to fight hostile Indians with — we struck out, via Jewett's Valley, for our new Eldorado, near the shores of Lake Elysian. After some miles of journeying on foot we became tired and hungry and seeing a cal)in in the distance made for it, hoping to get something to eat. The woman said no; but that four miles further on we would find a hotel at the village of Swavesey. We finally got there, and such a village! Such a hotel! It was here that we first saw H. W. Peck and John H. Wheeler on their homeward way to Empire. It was about 5 o'clock p. m., when we struck Hotel Swavesey, and mid- night when we arrived at Wheeler's place in Iosco. The dogs gave us an uproarious and glorious welcome; the kind hostess and her daughters gave us a good lunch and blanketed us down as well as they could for the remainder of the night. In the early morning we took our frontier breakfast. I shall never forget it. The table top was of rough boards laid upon a couple of rough carpenter's saw-horses. Half barrels, boxes, tubs, etc., served as chairs, and everything was of the primitive order. After breakfast, Mr. Kellogg and myself went over to the embryo city, consisting of some three hun- dred and twenty acres of town lots and romantic streets, with only one CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 655 small, log shanty and the saw-mill, as yet only sun-covered, in the whole city. The shanty was used by Hosmer & Gifford as a store. I think these gentlemen put up the first frame and board building in the place. Our next business was to make a fortune by securing a claim. Of course there were claims on all sides, but for all that, it was the fashion, in those days, to go claim hunting for a time. So I started out, securing an Indian canoe, and crossed Lake Elysian from Long's point, armed and equipped for almost any emergency, and bound to find the best claim on the shores of that beautiful lake. Already there were several settlers in the timber west of the lake, but I thought there still might be some choice claims; hence my Journey into the tl^en wilderness. "I traveled for a long time, that day, and looked the country over pret- ty thoroughly, but found nothing that really suited me for a claim. I re- turned to Mr. S. W. Long's place, where I was kindly treated, and from there I got as far back as to N. E. Strong's ranch, when I was thoroughly tired out. There I called for a drink of water and was waited upon by Mr. Strong's young wife. It was so neat in the little house, and the beds looked so comfortable that I pleaded hard for a night's lodging and final- ly succeeded. I stayed for many a day at the home of these people where «verything was so pleasant and agreeable. My search for land continued and I finally located on eighty acres one mile south of the west line of our young city. I built a log cabin 12x14 feet, and seven feet high in the center. It had an open door and window — most claim shanties had. A day and a night, shortly before proving up, I spent with Mr. Moses Emerson, brother of Mrs. Strong, on his claim. Emerson had an extra board and gave it to me to hang as a door to my house. In the morning I started with the board on my back. I took the trail for my shanty, but, in some way, the trail divided and I got on the wrong side of the divide. I traveled and traveled, yes, traveled, and should have been traveling yet, perhaps, had my strength held out. I became tired, awfully tired, and very hungry; hut I hung to my board, for it was my board — the only one in southern Minnesota for me, and yet I was bored. I was in the woods, I knew not where, and tired out; so I took the board I could not eat and laid me down upon it to rest. I soon slept, and when I awoke it was near night. I was confused, yes, lost in the woods. I sat down to think what to do, and, remembering that moss grew heavier on the north side of trees than on any other, and knowing that, by going east, I would strike the Indian trail running from Krassin's to Lake Elysian, I directed my course as nearly due east as possible and struck the trail about seven miles east from my base of operations. Following this trail, I came to Jim Chad- wick's place where, without over-much persuasion, I was induced to par- take of a good, square meal, such as his good wife knew how to get. The next night we had to stay on my farm. Emerson and I were to be witnesses, each for the other. On that memorable night we spread our hlankets in my own home to be. This was one of my sick headache C5G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. nights, and, as I was groaning, praying, scolding, on my pallet of dried grass, almost wishing I was dead, Emerson, in his dry way said: 'Willis, you have one thing to be thankful for.' Said I, 'For God's sake what is it? 'Why,' said he, 'you ought to be thankful that you are at your own home while sick?' The thought was so ridiculous, under the circumstan- ces, that I could but laugh most heartily, and it really drove away my headache. The next day we did, as all others did, went to Faribault and proved up. I can remember only a few of the early settlers of Empire proper. Those i remember are as follows: Mr. McArthur, a brother-in-law of N. E. Strong, with hj,s wife and child, Hosmer, Gifford, Jack Walton and wife from Ohio, Esquire M. S. Green and wife from the same state, Mr. Hagadorn and wife, and L. P. Kellogg. John H. Wheeler and family opened a hotel about this time. Mr. Ulysses Kellogg came out from the state of New York to help build the Tripp house. Soon after, a Mr. and Mrs. Francisco came to town, and 'Pap' Tripp and wife came soon after. Next came Mr. A. A. Cotton, who was made one of the original proprietors of the town site and agent for all. Wm. Rockwell, from Smithport, Pa., also became a resident of our prospective city. In the winter of 1857-S was established our first school which was taught by Mr. L. Kellogg, a brother of Mr. L. P. Kellogg. Mr. L. Kellogg is now employed in the custom house in New York city. In the summer of 1857, Iosco, Okaman, and Elysian were rival towns; so we, of Iosco, concluded to get up a glorious Fourth of July cele- bration. We had our bills printed at Faribault, wherein we adver- tised martial music. The people of our city thought they could get a arum and fife at Faribault, and appointed a committee to visit the town and report. The committee, after making strenuous efforts, were compelled to report that such instruments could not be obtained there. What was to be done? I finally told Mr. Strong that if he could saw me some thin boards for a drum barrel I would make a drum. He sawed the boards, and I put them in 'sweat' all day. I then succeeded, after considerable work, in turning one over a nail keg. Some one furnished a calf skin which I tanned with ashes and water, and succeeded in having the drum ready for the 'glo- rious' aay. Father Ira Willis beat the drum, and a man from across the lake, whose name I have forgotten, played the fife. It was a great day for iosco, I assure you. Okaman had also advertised a celebration and, not to be outdone by Iosco, had advertised martial music. But ours was the only drum in the county, and negotiations were in order. So it was de- termined that Okaman should join with Iosco and we would reciprocate by assisting them. And thus we had a double celebration of the Fourth, and all had a grand, enjoyable time. In the winter of 1S58-9, I taught the Okaman school, and, for pay. took corn, potatoes, oats, or any other commodity the parents saw fit to bring- in as pay. Notwithstanding the almost universal poverty of all the pio- CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 65T neers, resulting from the financial crash and panic of 1857, the early settlers of Iosco and Okaman were a social, intelligent, and cultured peo- ple, and managed to get a great deal of enjoyment out of misery during- the early days of the settlement of the county. They were brave, cour- teous, open-hearted, and hospitable." Mr. Willis served as first town clerk of the town of Iosco, in 1858. In. the s-pring of 1859, he went to St. Paul and was employed as clerk in a store for a time. He then returned to this county and was elected that fall as county auditor — the first auditor in the history of the county — and his salary was fixed at the magnificent sum of $360 per annum. He afterwards served as clerk of the court in this county. He was appoint- ed a clerk in the postoffioe department at Washington in 1872; afterwards to a clerkship in the military department, which he held until his death which occurred January 3, 1900. "UNCLE BEN GIPFORD." (By M. P. Satterlee.) One scarcely knows how far some little specialty in a local paper may reach and interest many readers. Myself and others in this extreme north have lived in the bounteous county of Waseca in the earlier days. Among the others are three daughters of a Mr. Bgan, who lived, I think, at Wil- ton. Tney are now Mrs. W. T. Spillane, Mrs. J. A. Duffy, and Mrs. J. J. Doe. Mr. Daniel Linnihan, section foreman for the N. P. Ry., also lives nere. We have been much interested in your historical sketches of Waseca county, and it has brought many remembrances of old friends and happy days. In your issue of December 11, I find in the account of the celebration of the Pourth of July, 1856, at Iosco, that Pather Ira Willis played the drum and a "man from over the lake," (Elysian) played the fife. I think this was "Uncle" Ben Gifford, whom I find mentioned in the same article, in the election of 1858, as overseer of the poor. In 1863, when I came into the country, he lived at Elysian. He was one of the oddest geniuses 1 ever Imew, and with your permission I would like to pay a slight tribute to "Uncie Ben." There was not a man, woman, or child, horse, dog or cat, in Elysian, but knew and loved "Uncle Ben." And it must have been for himself alone, for he was poor, unkempt, and unknown. His life, till he came among us, was a blank to all. As a musician, he was the impres- sario of the whole country. Well do I remember those celebrations oi Independence Day. Uncle Ben, who resembled the revolutionary heroes in build, countenance, and military bearing, was always fifer and chief musician, and, from morning till night, "Yankee Doodle, Hail Columbia, Haste to the Wedding, and the Girl I Left Behind Me," (the last of which was a favorite of his) filled the people with patriotic fire. And, on the side, let me say that the allowance for real good boys on that day, was one bunch of fire-crackers, at twenty-five cents per bunch. They were hauled by team over a hundred miles. 658 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Uncle Ben "led the singin' " in all the religious services without regard to sect or belief. There was a melodeon ai Okaman, which was the only instrument in the country, but he had no such assistance. We took up the hymn-books containing words only, and Uncle Ben, snapping his tun- ing fork, said "la" with a strong nasal intonation; so we had the pitch and the words, and all knew the tune, and you may be assured that it was not long till the air was full of music, not lacking in spirit or erratic ren- dition. The only meeting when Uncle Ben was "not in it" was a Metho- dist camp meeting at which the horse thieves got after the preachers' horses, probably a visitation of judgment upon the parsons. He was a patriot too, and when the dreadful draft, in the spring of 1865, took several of our respected citizens to the front, he was a great comforter with his homely philosophy, telling us "he knew as how the war weren't going to last long, noways. " etc. He lived alone in his shanty, caught fish, trapped muskrats, and did various odd jobs, for subsistence. IN or would he leave his own home to die. He was taken with fever which developed into pneumonia, and it was two days before he was discovered, having been all that time without food or fire or care, suffering alone. He calmly disposed of his insignificant estate, and died peacefully as a child. God bless Uncle Ben. There may be greater and wiser men from whom 1 have learned lessons of life, but his simple, honest, sunshiny nature has left its rays with me forever. MR. THOMAS McHUGO was one of the 1856 settlers of Janesville. He was born in County Gal- way, Ireland, in 1825, and came to America in 1845, first arriving in New York. Prom there he went to Vermont where he was employed as a farm hand for seven years. In 1852 he came to Wisconsin, where he spent four years. In 1856 he moved to Minnesota and located at Janesville, this county, where, by good judgment, economy, and foresight, he succeeded in acquiring a goodly share of this world's goods. He was married in 1866 to Miss Hannah Kelly, a daughter of Michael Kelly, of Faribault. He was often known as a benefactor; always willing to assist those who merited assistance. He was the architect of his own fortune and the builder of his own home. In the storms of life he was always oak and rock, but in sunshine his warm heart opened up with genuine sunshine and showed a frank, open-hearted man. He died as he lived, fortified with the sacraments of the holy Catholic church. He left a wife, four sons, and four daughters to mourn his loss. He died of paral- ysis Nov. 21, 1896, at the age of seventy-one. MR. AND MRS. THOMAS HARDEN. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harden are among those who came to this coun- ty at an early day; not to speculate in town lots, nor to loan money at six per cent a month, nor to seek to live upon the misfortunes of others, but to get a home for themselves and for those that might in the future MR. AND MRS. THOMAS HARDEN. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 659 constitute their family; and from the virgin soil of the then territory, by industry and frugality, obtain a living and accumulate a competency for old age. Would to God that every citizen of this great republic were as industrious, as moral, as honest, and as upright; then indeed should we be very near that great day when that ancient rule — "Whatsoever ye would not that others should do unto you, do ye even not so vmto them" — would become almost universal, and the cost of government be thereby reduced to the minimum. One winter evening, in 1891, Mr. Thomas Barden told the following s:ory of his settlement in Waseca county: "My full name is Thomas Harden. I was born in the county of Meath, Ireland. Mrs. Barden's name was Honora Roark, and she was bom in the county of Roscommon, Ireland. I am now (1891) fifty-eight years of age and my wife fifty-four. I landed in New York Aug. 12, 1846, and she landed at the same place Nov. 3, 1852. We were married in Pittsfield, Mass., Jan. 30, 1855, and came to Minnesota in 1857, arriving at the then village of St. Mary, in this county. May 27. We were then blessed with one child, Henry, sixteen months old, one yoke of oxen, one cow, six chickens, a dog, an old wagon, a breaking plow, twenty-five cents cash capital, and a small stock of provisions. But we enjoyed good health, and possessed a fair share of pluck, with a deter- mination to build up a home of our own on some of Uncle Sam's lands. Our luck was of the mixed variety — sometimes good and sometimes not so good, but we have always managed to keep the wolf from the door. We had come from Hastings by wagon, and, although the weather was cool and raw, we had to sleep under our wagon at night in order to save money to buy feed for the oxen; and, as I said before, our money was all gone when we reached St. Mary, except twenty-five cents. Of course we had to stop there. We made inquiry for vacant land, and found a va- cant eighty on section five, in Wilton township. We immediately filed on it, and went to work to break up the sod, to plant corn, potatoes and beans. This work had to be done before we could think of a house, and during that time we lived out of doors ; often the rain poured down upon us during the night while in bed, and then everything had to be spread out and dried in the sunshine. I tell you it was a sad change for the young wife to move from the heart of Yankeedom, where everything was com- fortable to such an out door place as that was — and the half will never be told. It was bad enough to live thus exposed to the elements, but that was not the worst of it. We were living on the border of the then Win- nebago Indian reservation, and one day, lo and behold! we received a visit Irom eight or ten Indians, the first Mrs. Barden had ever seen. They were dressed in breechclouts and feathers, and carried guns and knives. She thought her time had come, but it hadn't. They looked about awhile and then left. There was only one thing that saved me from destruction and that was that Mrs. Barden belonged to the Catholic church, and you linow there is no divorce allowed by that. She certainly had causes 660 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. enough for divorce for taking her to such a place, but she 'broke in' all right and soon became a heroic pioneer, having many face to face encoun- ters with the Indians before they were removed in 1863, often staying at the place nights and days alone except for our little boy. But I was speaking of the house. We had no money, no lumber, no nails, but there was plenty of good timber on the Indian lands, and we did not steal it, of course, but then we took it in broad day without ask- ing their leave. We could not very well do otherwise, you know, as we could not talk their language. Nearly all the other settlers went along to keep us company, but they would not steal any Indian timber; O, no! However, I got a good set of logs, and the kind neighbors helped me raise my house, as was the fashion, you remember; and the last money went for a little something to drink, for in those days we thought it not lucky to raise a house without something to moisten the throat. Such is fashion or custom! Well, the next thing was, what were we to do for a roof? We had neither lumber, shingles, nor nails. A good old yankee neighbor told us to cut and peel the bark off from elm trees and lay the bark on some poles for a roof; we were Irish enough ourselves to cut some sods and cover the bark to keep it from warping and also to make the house warm for winter. Well, we don't live there now, but I tell you it did us good ser- vice for a long time in our days of need. Finally the Indians complained of us for taking timber. I think Major Mix was the agent at that time. So one day he sent a posse of white men and halt-breeds to arrest us and scare us off. I saw them coming as I was going home with a fine load of logs, and they steered straight for me and the oxen, the men being well supplied with firearms. Thought I to myselt, I am 'gone up.' When they got close to me, one of them shouted 'Whoa!' and my oxen stopped. Then one of them asked, 'Where did you get them logs? A thought struck me that I would answer him in the Irish language, as I was pretty good at it. So I gave him back correct answers to everything he asked. Finally he got mad and swore a big oath saying: 'You damned Norwegian, I will soon take you where you will talk English,' and then passed on. That fall, 1857, there was a financial crash, and we really did have hard times, and no mistake. Money was scarce. Property depreciated. In fact there was no money in circulation here. We used to swap one thing for another. We didn't have money enough to pay letter postage, ll was no uncommon thing for us about St. Mary to ask Warren Smith, then our postmaster, .at St. Mary, to charge up our letter postage to us. Warren was a father to us all in those days. He kept a store in St. Mary and proved a good friend to everyone in n(x-(l during what we called '.Johnny- cake times.' No/ie of us had anything to make bread of except corn meal. We had no grist mill nearer than Faribault or Okaman and only oxen to make the journey with. So, in the fall, we made a mill of our own by taking a tin pan and punching it full of holes in the bottom with a hammer CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. C61 and a nail, thus making a grater. Then each evening we would grate meal enougn to do for the next day. My first experience with wheat raising was not very flattering. I sowed six bushels of club wheat in the spring. The next fall we cleaned a spot near the stack, and when the ground was frozen we went at it with a flail. After two or three days we got it threshed. We had no fanning mills then, so we waited until the wind blew and then cleaned our im- mense crop. I had just six bushels of very smutty wheat. I took it to mill and had it ground. When I got home the good wife was overjoyed with the prospects of some good biscuits; but disappointment is the lot of man and, in this case, of woman; for when the biscuits were baked they were as black as the ace of spades, with smut, and we had to fall back on corn cakes and mush. Well the next year the wheat was a great deal better and more to the acre. Besides, Christie Hefferon and I hit upon a new way of threshing — we trod out the wheat with oxen. Some people complain that wheat is cheap now, but in 1859-60, we used to haul wheat thirty miles, to Faribault, and sell it for forty cents a bushel ; it we hauled it to Hastings — sixty -five miles — we used to get from fifty-five to sixty cents a bushel. It took us from five to six days to make the Hastings trip with oxen. We were compelled to sleep under our wagons nights, and sometimes it rained or snowed on us. Times may be hard now for the 'tender-footed,' but they are not what they 'used to was' by several dollars to us in hand paid.." MR. ISAAC BALLARD was born in North Hamptonshlre, Eng., eighty-five miles from London, Dec. 14, 1834. He came to America in 1857, and stopped in Pennsylvania one summer. He came to Minnesota in the fall of 1857, and boarded with Mr. Chas. Billings, of Iosco, who had been here one year. He made a claim adjoining Mr. Billings' place. Mr. Wm. Taylor, his half brother, came about the same time, and settled on a farm in Blooming Grove. Mr. Ballard had no property whatever to commence with. His first investment was changing work with a Mr. Churchill for a pig, and also with old Uncle Brossard for a calf. He was compelled to keep bachelor's hall. By working out a little here and a little there he was soon able to buy a pair of three-year-old steers from Enoch Roe, of St. Mary, pay- ing therefor $45. He was obliged to change works to get some break- ing done. After this he raised a crop of wheat, part of which he traded for a wagon.. Some of his first crop of wheat he hauled to Wilton, and sold It for twenty-five cents a bushel in store pay. He remembers that the first good bargain he ever made was when he sold two chickens to two Indians for twenty-five cents each. He says he never felt so rich before in his life. The Winnebago Indians were near neighbors and frequent visitors in those days. He married Catharine Erwin, Oct. 7, 1865. His first Investment in land was sixty acres, which he thoroughly improved. 662 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. His nearest cash market was Hastings or Redwing. After a few years he was enabled to buy one hundred and sixty acres more, and he after- wards added another eighty to his large farm. A few years ago he sold a half section of his land, and retained only eighty acres, upon which he now resides. He enlisted in Company C, First Minnesota infantry, as a recruit, and served during a portion of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have seven children — Carrie, Arthur, Clifton, Wal- ter Isaac, Marshall, Eugene, and Maud. Mr. Ballard is one of our best and wealthiest farmers, and has a comfortable home in which to spend his declining years. Mrs. Ballard is a refined and worthy woman, a sister of Mr. D. A. Erwin, of St. Mary. MR. WILLIAM M. GRAY. Among the Blooming Grove settlers who faced the storms and bliz- zards and exposures and hardships of 1855, was William M. Gray, one of the earliest settlers, who was born in Genesee county. New York. He was married in his native state to Miss Lucina Fuller. They came West ai an early day and settled first in Illinois, then came to Iowa, where they tarried two years, and finally came to Blooming Grove, in the early sum- mer of 1855, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The last days of December, 1855, Mr. Gray, in company with Simeon Smith, J. M. Bliven and Daniel Riegle started for West Union, Iowa, to obtain a sup- ply of provisions. They found the roads blocked with snow, the weather being intensely cold, and they made slow progress. They had horse teams, but even with those they were long on the road. Miss Jane Gray, now Mrs. O. Powell, came back with her father from Iowa, on that trip. Messrs. Blivens and Riegle did not return at that time with the others. Messrs. Gray and two Mankato men encountered rough weather and bad roads on their return, and between the Vaughn settlement and Owatonna they got caught out and had to remain in a grove or thicket over night. They built a fire and managed to keep from perishing, but Mrs. Powell frosted her feet and suffered much from the cold. They had nothing to eat except flour wet with snow water and baked before the campfire on the end board of the wagon box. When Mr. Gray got back as far as Mr. Hatch's place, he left his daughter and his load and went home on foot to get oxen to haul the load the rest of the way, the horses being nearly tired out. The family had eaten the last potatoes the day the father reached home. Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Gray reared a family of nine chil- dren, one of whom, Melissa, died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Gray died in 1872, of dropsy, aged sixty-four years. Mrs. Gray died some years after, aged seventy. WILLIAM HENRY GRAY known as Henry, was born July 22, 1840, in the state of Illinois. He came to Minnesota with his father and participated in all the labor and CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 663 hardships iacident to pioneer life. At the age of twenty-one he enlisted in Company F., Fifth Minnesota infantry, and served his country faith- fully for over thrse years. He participated in many battles and was always found at his post. On the fifth of June, 1865, he married Miss Rosalia Ketchum, who was born in Ohio, May 24, 1846, and who came to Minnesota with her parents in 1856. This worthy citizen, after years of suffering, passed to the "Great Beyond" Monday morning, Feb. 27, 1905. 'He left surviving him his widow, one son, Fred W., and four daughters, Mrs. E. R. Stevens, Mrs. D. M. Tanner, Mrs. W. R. Ellis, and Miss Isora, to mourn his departure. He was an honored and prominent member of Comee lodge. No. 25, I. O. O. F., of Waseca, and of McKune Post G. A. R. He owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, a mile northwest of Waseca, and left his family in comfortable circumstances. MR. H. P. CHAMBERLAIN. Some years ago, when the writer was considered a pretty fair repub- lican, he had a chat about "ye olden times," with Mr. Chamberlain, who gave substantially the following account of himself: "I was born in Sparta, Livingston county. New York, April 13, 1833. My parents emigrated from there to Florence, Brie county, Ohio, when I was a year old. My father, being the victim of the saloon traffic like thousands of others, made it necessary for me, at the age of nine years, to shift for myself. I worked out by the month and day, in Ohio, until I was about twenty years of age when I went to Grand Island, Lake Superior, and worked about a year. I was also employed in the Mich- igan pineries one winter. Early in the spring of 1855, I started for Min- nesota, coming through from Michigan, accompanied by my brother, Or- lando, and arriving at what is now the city of Rochester, Olmsted county, April 13. My personal property consisted of one horse and a small amount of money for expenses. After looking the country over, I made a claim south of Rochester, near Root river, put up a small cabin, and eight days afterwards sold my improvements for $200 to a man named Wilson. Then, in company with Messrs. Tuttle, Keys, Roberts, and 'ihomas, I came to LeSueur county, about a mile north of Okaman, and took another claim. The next June, 1855, Fred Roberts, George Johnson, Chas. Chrlstenson, Bph. Davis, Frank and John Conway, came in and settled near by. George Johnson was the first proprietor of Okaman village site. I held my claim in LeSueur county until March, 1856, when I sold to Patrick Kelly and removed to Iosco, on section 28. But before I sold out in LeSueur county, late in the fall of 1855, I was employed by George Johnson to take my oxen and sleighs and go with Jim Johnson, the hired man, to Iowa for provisions. We started about the 17th of December, with two sleighs and four pair of oxen, with instructions to bring back 8,000 pounds of flour, pork, etc. We arrived at Auburn, Iowa, about the first of January, 1856, and while purchasing our loads, there 664 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. came a heavy snow storm blockading all the roads. We bought the pork in West Union, and the flour in Auburn, putting 4,000 pounds on each sleigh. We started on the return trip about January 6. It was one of those undertakings which tried a man's pluck and powers of endurance. "In many localities the stopping places were from eighteen to twenty- five miles apart. The roads were very little traveled and badly drifted. In many places we were compelled to shovel through the drifts, and some- times had to unload and reload to get through. At two places we stayed at the same house three nights. The first night, we left our loads on the prairie, five miles away, in order to get to the house. We went back the next day and brought in the loads, again staying over night. The inird day we went on five or six miles, and returned to stay the third night. The next morning at break of day we were again on the road. "Jim Johnson was a peculiar fellow. He was a large muscular man, would swear like a trooper, and was full of brag and bluster, pretending not to believe in any hereafter, and apt to ridicule all religious belief. The day we started to cross the large prairie, between the two Cedars, near the Iowa line, the weather was cold and stormy. Night came on be- fore we got in sight of any house; the lead cattle were tired out and re- fused to face the storm, so we were obliged to stay all night without shelter or protection from the cold blasts, and nothing to eat but frozen bread. As soon as all hope of getting to a house was lost, Johnson's brag and bluster and profanity turned in the opposite direction, and he commenced to weep like a child, and pray like a lunatic. He was so beside himself with fear of perishing, that it was some time before he could ae induced to secure his teams or take any precautions against freezing. All night, at intervals, he would cry and pray, exhibiting the most abject fear. He was considerably frost bitten before we reached the settlement next morning, where we found food and shelter. "The fact is that this state has never seen colder weather than during the winter of 1855-6. "Between Austin and Owatonna we were again caught out all night, but it was not so bad as the night between the Cedars, as we found a grove which afforded some protection. From Owatonna we went north- west and reached a house in Blooming Grove. The next day we reached Okaman under the sheltering wing of the Big Woods, thankful for a chance to rest a little." Mr. Chamberlain was married to Sarah Hatch, February 22, 1857. She was the daughter of Curtis Hatch, who settled in Blooming Grove in 1855. He was a blind man and died in Moody county, D. T., In 1SS4. Mrs Chamberlain was born in the state of Ohio. She resides on the old farm at this writing, (1904) while Mr. Chamberlain does business in the city of Waseca. Mr. Chamberlain was elected to the ofllce of justice of the peace, soon after the organization of the township, and held the olHce for ten con- secutive years by reelection. Before the railroads were built into this CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 665 section, he did his share of marketing grain, at points on the Mississippi river — camping out on the green-carpeted prairie, under the broad can- opy of infinite space, with prairie wolves as watch dogs and prairie chlcliens to sound the reveille. MR. ANTHONY GORMAN. This gentleman, for many years justice of the peace in St. Mary, was born in the county of Donegal, in the north of Ireland, in 1S25. He came to America In 1848, and landed in New YorK. .lie was employed in Orange county. New York, where he remained some ten months. He afterwards went to Duchess county, the same state, where he lived three years. He then came west to Aurora, 111., where he remained thirteen months. He next came to St. Mary, Waseca county, where he arrived in the month of June, 1856, and settled on section 28, which has since been his home. He had at one time two hundred forty acres of land, but now, has only two hundred, one hundred thirty-five acres of which are culti- vated. He was elected justice of the peace in 1859 or 1860, and held that office for nine or ten years. He has been chairman of the board of town supervisors, and for some years was town treasurer. He brought with him to the county some $400 or $500 in money, His first house was made of sod. He afterwards built a small farm house, and some years ago he built his present residence. He is a bachelor and rents his land. One season during the early years of his settlement he made ten trips to Hastings with wheat. He says he distinctly remembers the "Johnny cake and cold water" times when he had to pay twenty-two cents a pound for pork and fifty-five cents per hundred for corn meal, and only got three pounds of sugar for a dollar. At this writing (1904) he is hale and hearty for a man of eighty years. MR. ROSCOB A. PHILBROOK. About 1895 Mr. Phllbrook gave the following story of his life: "I was born in the town of Palmyra, Somerset county, Maine, June 16, 1839. My parents came to Wisconsin in the year 1844, and lived first in Jefferson county, afterwards in Marquette county. "In the spring of 1856 we covered two wagons and started for Min- nesota. We first lived In Olmsted county. In the spring of 1857 we again started west, arriving, about the first of June, in the town of By- ron, in this county. We had four yoke of oxen, two covered wagons, very little money, and no stock. Our family numbered six in all, William and Sarah Phllbrook, and their four boys. "After locating our claims, the first thing we did was to start the break- ing plow, and that summer we turned over ninety-five acres of the prairie sod. W^e planted a few potatoes, some corn, etc. We did considerable breaking that season for others at |5 and $6 per acre. We lived in our covered wagons five months before we built our house. We raised very little the first year, and experienced many hardships the first few years 666 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. of our settlement. I remember that almost every one went barefoot summers, and wore bag pants and other coarse clothing. We often paid as high as $6 per hundred for flour, which had to be hauled from Has- tings, eighty miles distant. At one time we lived two weeks on potatoes and salt and no bread. "The first public school was taught In our district in 1863 — kept in a vacated house. Several terms were taught in this house, but in 1866 we built a school house. "The first death that occurred in the neighborhood was that of the infant daughter of Asa Francis on the 17th of June, 1858. "William Philbrook, my father, died in 1864, and was buried in the Freeborn cemetery, and Sarah Philbrook, his wife, died in June, 1890, aged eighty-three years. Lyman and George, the two youngest sons, are both dead. Byron lives in California." "One of the first settlers in Otisco was Zachariah Holbrook, who was born in Courtland county, N. Y., in 1820. He went to Chautauqua county N. Y., when a young man, and married Mary Jane Bumpus, who was born in Cataraugus county in 1824. They came west as far as Wisconsin, where they lived a few years, and then came to Otisco early in May, 1856, settling near the LeSueur. Their first house was built of bark and poles. In August, 1858, their oldest son, Marvin, was drowned. Mr. Hol- brook died April, 1887, and was buried in the Wilton cemetery. "David Beavins, Wm. Beavins and Isaac Lyng settled in Byron town- ship in June, 1857, where they resided for many years. David Beavins now lives near Alma City, this county. Mr. Lyng died in the service of his country. Wm. Beavins served as a soldier during the Sioux out- break under Gen. Sibley, and also with the Fifth regiment in the south. He died some time ago, and was buried in the Wilton cemetery." Roscoe was a modest, retiring man and held no ofiice except that of supervisor for one term. He was ill for a long time and died some years ago. MR. SAMUEL W. FRANKLIN, one of the early school teachers of the county, a number of years ago wrote the following characteristic letter to the author: "I received a circular from you asking for my biography. At least, it amounts to 'something like a biography to answer your questions. Now 1 have some objections to having my biography published. My principal objection is that 1 have sometimes been very foolish and have done things that I don't like to talk about. Besides I have not been a success- ful man in making and saving money. By the way, I have been studying to find something that I can tell of with a feeling of complacency: and I can think of only one thing and that is, that I have paid out in Waseca county between four and five thousand dollars in interest money. "Now, I am not sure that this is a matter to feel complacent about. It is true that I had only the handling of this money, but then, what more CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. GG7 do the successful moneyed men have? Surely, I have been of some use. The foxes would not fare well if there were no geese! But I confess that this is not much satisfaction to me. "But now for tlie autobiography: In the autumn of 1845, a youth of twenty-one was slowly plodding his way from the northern part of Penn- sylvania to Illinois. He was driving a pair of very poor old horses, which required the almost constant use of the whip to keep up a slow motion. He does not own the team but is working his passage and camping out. There is nothing striking in his appearance except verdancy. Except for this, he is very common place in his appearance. You can see nothing very smart or heroic. But he is bound for the land of promise and is in dead earnest. He is full of wild and extravagant notions, and nothing but a severe discipline in the school of experience can dispel his illu- sions and make him reasonable. He is going to get rich, to make money; but he has no reasonable, well-defined plan of action. His first idea is to teach school. His education is very limited and he has not the quickness of eye necessary to a teacher. But he is full of hope and expectation. Difficulties are nothing, and, at last, the sight of Illinois and its prairies, its immense stretch of unoccupied land, so rich, so beautiful of promise for the future, dawns upon his vision. Is it to be wondered that he was full of enthusiasm for Illinois, and of contempt for the comparatively rough and poor soil of northern Pennsylvania? An extract from a letter he wrote home at the time of his arrival at the then new town of Dixon, 111., will illustrate. Speaking of the land he had left, he apostrophizes: "Land of stones and cradle-knolls. Land of hard-pan and hemlocks, Land of stumps and broomsticks, Is there nothing amid all thy pleasant scenes To call forth one long-drawn sigh of regret At leaving thy peaceful shores?" "He engaged a school, the first district school taught in the now city of Dixon, but after a month's trial became satisfied that he had under- taken more than he could do and he gave it up. "This was failure No. 1. Could he have been moderate and reasonable, and engaged in some country school he might, no doubt, have succeeded passably well. But he now gave up all thoughts of that kind and hired out to work on a farm. It was a time of depression in business. Farmers had to draw their wheat one hundred and ten miles to Chicago and sell it for sixty or seventy cents per bushel; pork was $3 per cwt.; beef was not much better; butter six to eight cents per pound; eggs three to four cents per dozen; corn fifteen cents per bushel; oats about the same. He hired out for $12 per month by the year and worked three years for the same man. There was but little of the country occupied. There was as good land as ever was seen in market at government price, but no buyers. "His next extravagant idea was to keep stock — be a kind of cow-boy. CCS CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 1 don c think the plan was necessarily altogether extravagant; but his plans were very extravagant. There was a very good, unoccupied house several miles from inhabitants and in the timber. Around and near the house was a beautiful stretch of natural meadow and pasture. His plan was to occupy the house entirely alone and keep his stock. It was a kind of hermit plan, very wild and extravagant, and ended very disas- trously. He found himself alone in the world without means, almost with- out friends — for his wild notions had alienated those who would have been his friends. But he was not disheartened. Among some poetic effusions which he contributed at this time to a Chicago literary paper, was this: Though all the powers of fate combine To blast my prospects, and consign My hope unto the dust: My spirit proud will never yield; Nor shun the fight, nor quit the field; But still the future trust. This was failure No. 2. "He next went to Dupage county. 111., and hired to the same man for whom he had formerly worked. "When the time came for winter school, he_ with some difficulty engaged a school which, they said, was badly run down. There would not be more than eight or ten scholars and they would give him $14 per month and board. He asked them if they would agree to give him $20 per month if he would make the school average twenty scholars. They agreed that they would. He went to work and succeeded in filling the house with scholars. He taught three winters in the same district at $20 and board. He had now considerable popularity as a teacher; more than his abili- ties warranted. "He came to New Richland the spring Buchanan was inaugurated, in the montn of March. He came from Illinois the fall before, and staid at Willow Creek, twelve miles this side of Red Wing, through the winter. He kept a hotel there, and O. Powell and likely some others in the county were his customers. "He had been looking over the state considerably and was well satis- fied with it. He found here when he came A. G. Sutlief, E. B. Stearns, Z. Holbrook, N. Lincoln, the Northups, Grovers, Scotts, and Jenkinses. Be- sides, in his neighborhood, there were several town proprietors trying to start a town near the Holbrook place, called Otisco. The only wholesale drygoods store ever built in that city is now a part of Wm. Iver's bam. There was a saw mill and some boards were sawed there. A school house was built the next year costing about one hundred dollars. Miss Rachel Dodge, who afterwards married Dr. Gove, was the first teacher, and Mrs. G. R. Buckman the next. The house was used for religious meetings, CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. GG9 political and other debates, etc. Few of our more costly, modern school houses do as well. "A. G. Sutllef was the only wealthy man in the settlement, and he had some enemies as well as a good many friends. At one time a party of his enemies were coming from Wilton in the evening by a very lonely place which had the reputation of being haunted. Sutlief managed to occupy the haunted place when they were passing, and acted the ghost to his own satisfaction. The fright caused a stampede of the ox-teams, when Sutlief slipped back by a short way, and when they came by in some excitement he asked all about the trouble. "He ought to have told you that he brought with him, when he came, four yoke of oxen, a span of horses, and three cows. But he left some debts behind which he had to pay, and he puts that in as a partial excuse for not Deing rich now." Mr. Franklin was one of our best and most conscientious citizens. He owned a good farm in New Richland township, and died Aug. 21, 1898, of erysipelas, highly respected by all who knew him. MR. THOMAS MALONEY, of Iosco, was born in Ireland, in 1834. He came to America in 1852, and lived in the state of New York about two years. He then went to Penn- sylvania where he lived ten years, and then came to Minnesota in 1863, and settled in Iosco. He married Miss Catharine Gorman, in 1861, in Pennsylvania. She came from Ireland in 1852. They have eight chil- dren; four boys and four girls. They have a valuable farm. In the first years of his settlement in this county he, like others, hauled his wheat to Hastings, that being our nearest market. One year he obtained fifty cents a bushel for his wheat. In the year 1871 he lost all his crop by hall. He Is one of our most public spirited citizens, and honorable In all matters. MR. SAMUEL LAMBERT. Among the pioneers who earned their daily bread by honest toll, few are more entitled to honorable mention than iVIr. Samuel Lambert, of St. Mary. In an interview with him in 1897 he said: -I was born In Three Rivers, Canada, May 15, 1836. When nineteen years of age I went to New Hampshire. I lived there until 1863 and was m.arried Jan. 15, 1863, to Miss Catharine Sullivan. She was a native of Waterford, Ireland. In March, 1863, we came to Minnesota and stopped in Hastings for a time. We opened a boarding house on the railroad then being constructed near Hastings, for one G. W. Cummins, a con- tractor, and ran It some four months. Cummins then left without paying anyone, and we lost $450 by the deal. I followed the rascal as far as Crow River, and then lost track of him. I then worked in a stave factory for some time. I bought my land in St. Mary in 1864, but did not move onto it until 1868. In that year we built a shanty. I remember when the 670 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. shanty was completed I got of Tom White a dollar's worth ot sugar, a sack of flour and a pound of tea, and had only sixty cents in money left. When we got the flour home we found that it was so injured by kerosene oil we could not use it, and I hired a man to take it back, as I had no team of my own then. Soon after I got a yoke of cattle of Matt Keeley for which I agreed to pay $130. Our first crop was that of 1868 — had twenty acres broken in 1867. I paid for seed wheat $1.25 per bushel to John Baldwin, and raised one hundred eighty bushels. We put one hun- dred bushels into the house and eighty bushels into a crib outside. Late in the fall, Tom White, having a grading contract on the W. & St. P. R. R. set a prairie fire, which burned the eighty bushels of wheat and nearly burned tne house. I was absent from home at the time, working for |3 a day in the Faribault stave factory. Tom refused to pay for the burned wheat and other darnage, and for some years after we had a tough time trying to make a living and pay debts. After a while we got along better and have managed to make a living. I now have the old home eighty and we have eighty acres more for the boys." Mr. Lambert died of paralysis April 17, 1899, aged sixty-two years, eleven months and two days. MR. WILLIAM LEE of Iosco, is one of the prominent pioneers of Waseca county. In his notes, furnished by request in 1897, he said: "I was born Oct. 10, 1831, on a farm, in county Wexford, Ireland, at a place called Killcotty, midway between the town of Bnniscorthy and the village of Oulart. The last named places are ten miles apart. I emi- grated to America and landed in New York on St. Patrick's day 1851. I had a cold reception from the elements as it was snowing when I landed from the vessel, and it continued to snow and blow all day. I hired to a farmer on Long Island, a few miles from Brooklyn, and worked for him until navigation opened in the rivers and lakes and then I started for Milwaukee, Wis. I went to Albany by steamboat, thence to Bufi'alo by freight train, and by steamboat from Buifalo to Milwaukee. The journey tooK ten days and the weather was cold for April. I lived on the poorest and roughest kind of food and did not see a bed during ttie whole jour- ney. On the 25th of April, I went to work for a farmer twelve miles from Milwaukee, for eight dollars a month. The next June, I went to work on the Prairie du Chien railroad. My pay was seventy-five cents a day in script, worth seventy-five cents on the dollar at the bank in cash. At that time there were but twenty miles of railroad in all Wisconsin, from Milwaukee to Waukesha. After remaining a little more than a year in the state, I went to Chi- cago and worked unloading lumber from vessels in the harbor. May 4. 1852, I commenced working on the Rock Island railroad, near Ottawa, 111. That scourge of the human race, cholera, broke out among the men. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 671 and I shouldered my "turkey" and went to Elgin, 111., where I worked tor the C. & G. railroad company and was with the track layers when the track was built into Rockford. I was on the first train that ever crossed the railroad bridge at that place; this was the first railroad bridge across Rock river. After a time I was fireman on a locomotive that hauled the construction train. This was the first train that ran to Beloit, Wis. Next I was night watch in the round house at Turner Junction. I went South in the winter 1853-4, to Memphis, worked on a levee in_ Arkansas, returned to Chicago in the spring and worked in a livery barn for a month, and then worked as a section hand on the Dixon Air Line railway, at Lodi, 111. I was imited in marriage with Catharine Behan at Freeport, 111., Aug. 10, 1854. She came from Ireland to America in 1853. We went to the same school in Ireland. In the summer of 1855 I ran a stationary engine In a machine shop and foundry, at Rockford, 111. We came to Minnesota, Hastings, Nov. 15, 1855. It was a small place at that time; the population was made up of whites, half-breeds, Indians, and one black man. Red Owl's band of Sioux Indians camped near the village all winter. That winter I cut cord wood and scored timbers for a mill that was being Duilt in the Vermillion river, near town. While there I saw a glowing account in the Boston Pilot about the Lake Elysian country, so I came to look for a claim and arrived at Lake Elysian March 26, 1856. I traveled in parts of Waterville, Janesville, Elysian and Iosco. I selected the claim I now live on in Iosco. There was a man in company with me named James Hennessy. He took the southwest one half of section 6. We left the claims with the intention of not coming back, if we found land that suited us better; not finding any, we returned about the middle of April. At that time a young man by the name of James Foard came with us and we worked together building shanties by cutting small logs and carrying them to the build- ing place. Neither one of us had a team, and a yoke of oxen at that time would cost about $200. I had $200 when I came to Minnesota but I bought a lot in Hastings and paid $100 for it which left me short of funds. There was claim jumping in those times, so Mr. Hennessy remained to watch the claims and I went to Hastings to bring his wife and mine and our household goods out here. We got on a steamboat and went to St. Paul and thence by steamboat to St. Peter on the Minnesota river. The Minnesota river was very crook- ed and we were three days on the journey. I made every effort in St. Peter to hire a team to take us out to the claims but was unsuccessful, and we started to walk the twenty-five miles. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when we started and we intended to stop over night at some house on the way; we were told the country was settled for a short distance. C72 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. We kept on traveling until we got beyond the settlement, and night coming on we found ourselves in the dense woods. Not wishing to go back we traveled on and soon came to a claim shanty. It was unoccupied but we stayed there all night. I built a fire in one corner and we warmed up, for the nights were cool, being the second week in May, 1856. I found some potatoes in a hole under the floor and we cooked them in the fire and had roast potatoes for supper. We had some quilts and the women slept on a bunk in one corner, while I kept fire all night. Next morning we started, on empty stomachs, for our destination. Nothing could be seen but large timber. About the middle of the forenoon we began to meet Indians by the hundreds. They were all shapes, all sizes, and all ages. We were told there were three hundred of them but there seemed to us to be nearer three thousand. After traveling ten or twelve miles we came to a house where Greenland is now. George Jaqua lived there (he now lives in Ely- sian); it was then long after noon but we got some dinner which we ate with a relish. After dinner we came through in good shape. Mr. Hennessy met us on the bank of Lake Eljsian and there was joy all around. We boarded with a Mr. Johnson until our cabins were fixed so we could occupy them. We peeled the bark off the elm trees and roofed our cabins with it as there was no lumber nearer than Faribault twenty miles dis- tant. There were five families living in the town when I came to Iosco. There is but one of them here now, Mr. David Wood's, on section two." Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been the parents of eight children: Mary Ann, Catnarlne. Ellen J., John, Maggie, Susan. James and Emma. Mr. Lee served as county commissioner from 1871 to 1S73 inclusive, and has been elected to various town offices for many successive years. He has also held important positions in his church parish and in his school district. He owns a good farm and is in a position to enjoy the fruits ot a well-spent life. MR. BBENEZER B. STEARXS. This well-known gentleman and early pioneer, in September, 1S97. fur- nished the following brief facts regarding his life and works; He was born in Readsborough, Bennington county, \'ermont, Oct, 1, 1812. When he was four years of age, his parents removed from Ver- mont to near Syracuse, Onondaga county, N. Y. In that locality he learned the carpenter and joiner trade which he followed for a number of years, at times working as a millwright. Fifty years ago he built a mill at Bellville, Canada West. In 1853, he married Miss Emily Garrett, a native of Onondaga county, N. Y., and late the same year they came west, living first at Greenbush, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. There he bought eighty acres of land, built a house and barn, and made other improvements. After three years ot hard work in Wisconsin, he concluded to try his fortune in Minnesota. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. G73 Early in the spring of 1856, in company with Mr. Zachariah Holbroolv, he visited the new settlement along the LeSueur river in this county. After a pretty thorough examination, he concluded to cast his lot in Waseca county. His first arrival was April 7, 1856. He then returned to Wisconsin, settled his matters there, and returned by prairie schooner, arriving on the Le Sueur about the first of August. His first introduction was to the claim jumping struggle going on at Wilton. He was the innocent cause of the claim changes which took place between Tom Kerr, "Uncle" Fisk, Tarrant Putnam and Col. Ide, as related elsewhere in this history in the statement of Thomas J. Kerr. He soon cut loose from all entangling al- liances at Wilton and moved up the river to Otisco, where, on the 5th of August, 1856, he made his claim. Here he broke the native sod, built a house and stables, and made large improvements. He sold his first claim after a few years, and then obtained the fine farm where he now resides. . He was early called upon to take an active part in piloting our new county through the financial disasters and business depressions of 1857 and following years. At the October election of 1857, Mr. Stearns was elected county commissioner — his associates being Mr. John Bailey, (late of Medford, Steele county,) then of St. Mary, and Mr. L. C. Wood, of Woodville, who died a soldier of the Union. He was re-elected for three successive years, and was one of the ablest and most conscientious of- ficers that ever served the county. After three years of faithful and poorly-paid services for the county, he declined further honors as an officer, and devoted himself wholly to his own affairs. He did some building for other parties in an early day, erecting the first frame schooi house in the Brisbane district. Farming, however, was his principal business. He now owns a farm of two hun- dred fifty-two and' one-half acres, all improved. His family were three boys and three girls. The boys, William H., George, and Charles, are all married and living in the vicinity. The eldest girl married Frank Weed and died several years ago. Mary married M. R. Baldridge, a clergyman; Cora became the wife of Mr. Wm. Root, of Wilton. At this writing (1897) Mr. Stearns is almost eighty-five years of age and yet he retains to a remarkable degree his physical and mental vigor. He and his wife are general favorites, socially, with old and young. In addition to rearing their own six children, they have had the care and education of two grandchildren left by their daughter, Mrs. Weed. Ah, If the world were only filled with such people, what a paradise it would bo! Courts and lawyers and constables and a horde of ofiice-holders who now "eat our substance" could be dispensed with and put to work. Since the foregoing was written, Mr. Stearns passed peacefully away on the 15th day of May, 1899, honored by the whole community. The son, William H., also died Jan. 10, 1905. 24 C74 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. MR. SIMON HENRY DRUM contributed the following to the Waseca County Herald, Feb. 25, 1898. "I came to Waseca county, May 3, 1859. After visiting with Mr. Austin Vinton's family and others in the neighborhood for several weeks, I be- came a clerk in Dr. D. S. Harsha's drug store in Owatonna, where I re- mained until August of the same year. My first visit to Clear Lake was in that month, when I accompanied Mr. Vinton, who was going after lumber at Forrest's saw mill, which was situated in the hollow just east of where Wm. Deverell now lives, near the lake shore. This trip will always remain very distinct in my memory. We had two yoke of oxen. On our arrival, Mr. Vinton requested me to unhitch the cattle and let them run in the yoke to "bait", while he went to hunt up Mr. Forrest. I was decidedly green at that business. Whether it was my greenness that he objected to, or a natural viciousness that he possessed, I am unable to say, but certain it is, one of the steers, when I went between them to take them off the wagon- tongue, began to kick and paw and finally ran off leaving me sprawling in a fashion that Mr. Vinton seemed to think very amusing, though I failed to see the fun of it. But I was only a "tender-foot" then. However, when he "saw that I was unable to rise, he helped me up and apologized for his levity, for he was one of the kindest of men. I must have been a sight as I was scratched considerably and my clothes were pretty badly torn, especially my pantaloons. But my worst hurt was my left leg, the small bone of which was broken between the knee and the ankle. I didn't realize that it was fractured at the time, so it was never properly set. Among the settlers I found here when I came were Austin Vinton, of Woodville, T. J. Stevens, M. T. C. Flower, Geo. Hatch, Howard Hatch, Anton Schuldt, Wm. Schuldt, and C. H. Wilker, of Meriden. Of these, Mr. Vinton has gone to his long home, Mr. Stevens is living in Massachu- setts, Mr. Flower is m St. Paul, Mr. Geo. Hatch has a farm in Byron town- ship in this county, but lives in New Richland. Howard Hatch is dead. Anton and William Schuldt are still living in green old age on their pre- emption farms, and are very prosperous. Mr. "Wilker and wife are living near San Diego, California. Their children are respected and well to do; most of them are still living in Meriden. [Mr. Wilker died in the spring of 1905.— Ed.] The year '58-9 was what is known as the 'Johnny-cake year' among the old settlers, when the best-to-do had mush and milk for breakfast, Johnny- cake for dinner, mush and milk for supper, with fried mush next morning for breakfast. Lucky the family that had fifty pounds of white flour for the year. It was treasured and only used when distinguished guests ar- rived. I well remember one of the matrons censuring a hostess for ex- travagance in making a pan of biscuits when only her neighbors were present." CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 675 MR. GEORGE R. BUCKMAN. Died, April IT, 1899, at 11 o'clock p. m., of neuralgia of the heart, George R. Buckman, of Waseca, Minnesota, aged sixty-six years, three months and twenty-iour days. Mr. Buckman was horn December 23, 1832, at Crown Point, New York, and in his boyhood days played many a time under the old oak tree to which Gen. Putnam was hound by the Indians when taken prisoner dur- ing the French and Indian war, prior to the Revolution. The tree was still standing there when he visited the place during the War of the Re- bellion. At the age of twenty he went to New Hampshire and spent somewhat over two years with an uncle in the hardware business. Prior to this he had learned the carpenter and joiner trade. In 1855 he came West, arriving at Winona on the 29th of April. At that time Winona was a decidedly small village. About the 1st of May fol- lowing, he, in company with another young man, went to Rochester. This place then contained only one or two houses, one of which, of course, was an inn. There was no bridge across the Zumbro, and the water was high. They went down the river some distance and finally waded the stream, putting up at Head's tavern. He staid a few days, selecting a claim in the mean time. After taking the claim he needed an ax, but not an ax could he purchase in Rochester. As Mr. Head was going to Winona with a team, Mr. Buckman concluded to return with him. Shortly after his return, he fell in with a Scotchman, by the name of Brownlee, and the two soon commenced to burn lime. The bluffs just west of the village contained excellent limestone and he and his partner did a thriving business, lime then being worth a dollar a barrel at the kiln. After working hard through the summer they both took the ague in the fall. Not being used to that disease, he thought he would surely die. They left the shanty by the lime-kiln and went over to town. After consider- able shaking and taking medicine, he got better and taught the Winona school that winter — the second term taught in the place. The ague still hung about him, and all the next summer he was unable to work much. The next October he came as far west as Waseca county, looked the country over pretty thoroughly, and entirely recovered his health. He returned to Winona and settled up his affairs, -coming a'gain to this county in January, 1857. His entry this time was in a hard storm or blizzard. He and George Tremper, with a horse team, left Owatonna about noon and did not reach Wilton until 9 o'clock In the evening. The next day he went to St. Mary and stayed with a Mr. Grossman who had opened a hoarding house. Everything in and about St. Mary was then new, and the carpenter business offered Inducements which Mr. Buck- man accepted. He taught the St. Mary village school during the winter of 1860-1. In the spring of 1861, as the report of the rebel guns fired on Fort 676 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Sumter reverberated over the continent, G. R. Buckman was among the first to respond to the call for volunteers, and enlisted in Company G, First Minnesota regiment. His comrades from the village of St. Mary- ware Norman B. Barron and Charles C. Davis, and though they passed through all the hard-fought battles of three years' service, they came out without a wound. His company when it entered the service was com- manded by Capt. Lewis McKune, who was shot dead at the first battle of Bull Run. He and his company participated iu the siege of Yorktown, the Penin- sular campaign, the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks, West Point on York River, Gettysburg, and numerous other battles. His com- pany participated in a sharp fight at Brlstow station, where Sergeant Niedam captured twenty prisoners in a most daring and reckless manner. At tne close of his term of enlistment he was mustered out of the ser- vice, May 5, 1864. Shortly after, he opened a country store in St. Mary, as modestly as though he had never taken part in the most terrific battles of civilized times. He was nominated for county treasurer in 1865, without solicitation on his part, and elected. He held that office for four successive terms, with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. He was married to Miss Isadora A. Wood, of Woodville, March 12, 1867. Just prior to the close of his term of office, as treasurer, he opened a real estate and loan office in Waseca, and made that his main business until December, ISSO, when he became one of the founders of the Peo- ples bank, serving the first year as president, and afterwards as cashier until June 29, 1897, when, his health having become somewhat Impaired, he resigned the position. The robbery of the Peoples bank by the Guarantee Loan swindlers, of Minneapolis, we doubt not, shortened his life at least ten years. It was a terrible blow to a man of his high sense of honor and to one with his sensitive feelings. Himself a man of the strictest integrity and of un- impeachable character, he became prostrated by the financial blow dsalt by the Guarantee Loan assassins. A suspicion that he might be mis- judged or misunderstood by former friends and the people generally, dis- turbed him more than all the hardships and terrors of the battlefield. But his life struggle is o'er. A brave, gentle, and noble spirit has been set free from the cares and burdens of this transient and incomprehensi- ble life, to take its flight to that eternal state where, let us hope, the scales of justice are held wiih equal poise, and where duplicity, deception, double- dealing, and falsehood shall not prevail against honesty, sincerity, and true manhood. MR. GEORGE W. WATKINS. Few men, even in the West, have had more experience and less real manual labor than Geo. W. Watklns, Sen. He was born of wealthy par- ents, at Hamptonburg, Orange county. N. Y., May 27, 1S20. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 077 One would hardly Relieve, to look at him, that he is over eighty years of age. But such he declares is his record. The first twenty-four years of his life were spent on his father's Orange county farm, and then he came west as far as Dupage county, III. He spent atout six months on horse back, exploring a great deal of country, in Wisconsin, Iowa, and portions of Missouri. That was in 1844 when Chicago and St. Louis were frontier villages. He rode his horse over two thousand five hundred miles and hack to his home in the state of New York. A detailed account of his travels and experiences among the pioneer settlers of the west fifty-five years ago, would fill' a large volume. Returning to Orange county, N. Y., in 1844-5, he remained there until 1850, when he went to California, by way of the isthmus, and at once engaged in mining. How well he succeeded in his mining operations he has always kept to himself, simply remarking whenever approached on that subject, that he made enough to pay expenses. He returned to his New York home within a year, and remained there until 1853, when he again came as far west as Chicago. He engaged in railroading on the Galena road for some time as a contractor, and finally came to J'aribault, in this state, in November, 1855. There he remained for nearly a year and then returned to Chicago where he married Miss Annetta Ward, in 1856. They remained in Chicago about a year, and in the spring of 1857 came to Wilton, then the county seat of this county, where they made their future residence. They built a very pleasant home in that village, but his wife did not live many years to enjoy it. One son, George, was born to them, and shortly afterwards the mother passed to the Eternal Home in 1860. A little over a year later he married Miss Anna F. Green, of Wilton, who bore him one daughter, who is now Mrs. Adams and resides with her husband. Prof. Adams, in Oregon. His second wife died in May, 1895. For many years he was engaged with Hon. P. C. Bailey in the hard- ware business in Wilton and Waseca. He also had an interest in the firm of Dodge & Co., hardware merchants, of Janesville. He has hosts of friends wherever he has lived, who are always glad to greet him. MR. OBADIAH POWELL was one ot our worthiest pioneers. The following was taken in the form of an mterview in 1897 : "Come, Obe," said a Herald reporter, "give us a little biography; open confession is good for the soul." "Well, to begin with,'' said he, "I commenced life very young, so young, in fact, that I have always had to depend upon my parents to refresh my recollections regarding my first start in my biographical career. Accord- ing to that recollection, I entered upon the scene of action Feb. 1, 1828, in the town of Hartsville, Steuben county, N. Y. In due time, I worked west- 678 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. v/ard and arrived in tlie then territory of Minnesota, the last of October, 1855. I settled where I now live. May 9, 1856. It was then called Swa- vesey precinct, Steele county. I found in the southwest corner of what is now Blooming Grove, a small settlement made in the month of June, 1855. There was John M. Blivens, now in Missouri; Wm. M. Gray, who died aoout fifteen years ago; Simeon Smith, who also died some thirteen or fourteen years ago; Alfred C. Smith, who has the honor of being father to the first child born in tSie neighborhood, (Lovica, now Mrs. H. N. Carl- ton, born Oct. 15, 1855); and Ole Knuteson, now of Renville county." " How about your property qualifications," queried the reporter. "Property! Well, it was immense. It inventoried about as follows: An ax, iron wedge, two beetle rings, $90 in cash and my every day clothes, all of which I easily carried in a satchel strapped upon my back. Having neither lamily nor property, the settlers treated me rather coolly — did not rush around to show me the best claims — and some of them plainly told me they did not want single men to settle among them. So, not to crowd them too much, I left, but did not go far, making my claim on sections four and five, in Woodville. The part of my claim running down to Clear Lake was fractional, as I learned on going to Winona, the next October so that I got one hundred and forty-four and fifty-nine one-hundredths acres. 1 must say, however, in justice to my neighbors, that when they saw me strip my coat and go to. splitting rails in hot weather, in order to get some breaking done, they softened, so to speak, and without excep- tion, treated me very kindly. "Two weeks after my settlement, B. K. Carlton, now living with his son near me, came with his family to be my neighbor, and I broke bread with them until I was married July 5, 1857. My wife, Mary J., daughter of Wm. M. Gray, was born in Alleghany county, N. Y., March 22, 1837. As she was as poor as myself, we had about an even start, and suffered and en- joyed all the inconveniences incident to poverty and a new country." "In the summer of '56 our settlement was increased in population by the coming of Daniel Riegle, now living in Kittson county; Patrick Murphy, still living here; Joshua R. Smith, now of Greenland, LeSueur county; Josiah Smith, when last heard from being in Nebraska; Henry Smith, now of Montana; Sam Smith, now of California; Jacob Oory, now in Kansas; Wm. H. Young, deceased; Jos. Churchill, who removed to Renville county and died there several years ago; Jacob Myers, who pre- empted the present site of the city of Waseca, sold it to I. C. Trowbridge, and soon after removed to California, where he now resides; E. G. Wood; Loren C. Wood, who died of disease contracted in the army; and some others." "I think ours was the first school district organized in the county. At any rate it was originally No. 1. When the township district was adopted, under the law of 1861, we lost the number, and now it is No. 7. Our first school house was built in the spring of 1857. We had three months school that summer and paid the teacher six dollars per month." CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. G79 "In June, 1857, Patrick Farrell and his lathcr-in-law, Daniel Bagen, set- tled in our neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Eagen died years ago. Mr. Far- rell and wife, Patrick Murphy and wife, W. H. Gray, who came with his parents when he was about sixteen years of age, H. N. Carlton and wife. Uncle E. K. Carlton, A. C. Smith and wife, and your humble servant and wife are about all that remain in our neighborhood of the settlers prior to 1860. In the early days we were known as the 'Blivens settlement.' Mr. Powell died April 3, 1901, honored and respected by all. (See Year 1901.) MR. SEGURD JOHNSON. In January, 1897, in a chat with one of the sons of the late Mr. Segurd Johnson, of Iosco, I learned something of the life of that early settler. He was born at a place in Norway called Gjoslor Ovre Telemarkan, on the 29th day of May, 1821. It seems that he commenced life as a cattle herder; afterwards learned and worked at the carpenter and joiner trade, and finally became a traveling merchant or peddler, traveling from town to town among the people of his own country. This variety of work and experience qualified him, in his younger days, for the duties of after life in Minnesota. He heard much, in his travels, of that great country. North America, and, in the year 1845, made up his mind to make his future home in the United States. Before leaving Norway, he married Miss Anna Livorson, who was his faithful and devoted helpmate all through life. He and his young wife were among the first to emigrate from that part of Norway to this country. They took passage on a sailing ship and endured the hardships incident to a long and stormy voyage across the sea, with only the fickle winds as motive power. They finally reached tReir destination. Sun Prairie, in Wisconsin. They were twenty-three weeks on their journey. Wisconsin was then a new territory and Mr. Johnson was among the first settlers in that section of country. He^ en- dured many hardships and privations in Wisconsin. His first market place, in the Badger state, was Milwaukee, seventy miles distant from his Sun Prairie home. He lived there about eleven years and then, in 1856, sold his possessions and came to Minnesota. It appears that he came to Iosco early in the spring of 1856, and settled on section 11 where he secured three hundred acres of fine land upon which he resided until the time of his death, which occurred Sept: 12, 1886. He came to Minnesota with considerable property, and was,' to a great extent, exempt from that struggle with poverty which marked the early lives of very many of the first settlers of the county. He partici- pated, however, in all the arduous labors incident to pioneer life, and made many trips to Hastings with ox-team, camping by the way-side witn the otne>- early settlers. -He helped to organize the Norwegian Lutheran church of Iosco and Blooming Grove, in 1863, and became one of its directors and principal 680 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. supporters. He helped to build the church edifice with his own hands. He also took a leading part in the erection of the school house in his district, No. 10, about the same time. Six of his children survive him, three sons and three daughters. Anna, John, Taaraand and Gunhild were born in Wisconsin, and Louis and Segurd S., in Minnesota. Louis is said to have been the second child born in the township of Iosco. He brought with him, from Wisconsin, one span of mules, one yoke of oxen, and twenty-four head of other cattle. He also brought with him a new wagon and necessary farm implements, and money enough to pay for his land. He was one of our best and most reliable citizens, and was a leading and influential man in his community. He exemplified the piety, the patience, the endurance, the industry, the frugality, the honesty, and the sound judgment so characteristic of the successful Scandinavians that came to this country in the early days. MR. HIRAM A. MOSHER. Company F of the Tenth regiment was almost entirely made up of men from Waseca county, and among them was Hiram A. Mosher, who was mustered in August 18, 1862. Hiram was born in the state of Ohio in 1834 and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1845. They settled in Chester, four miles south of Waupun. Hiram came to Minnesota in 1856 and pre-empted a claim on section one in Otisco. He returned to Wisconsin that fall where he remained until 1860, when he married Miss Frances Robbing, and returned to Min- nesota settling in Woodville. He engaged in farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, of the Tenth Minnesota infantry, com- manded by Capt. George T. White, of this county. His company was stationed at the Winnebago agency, Blue Earth county, during the winter of 1862-3, did duty at Mankato at the hanging of the Sioux murderers, and "chased the Indians o'er the plains," as mounted infantry, under the command of General Sibley. After the Indian expedition, he went South with his regiment and par- ticipated in all its gallant history there. He was at the battle of Tupelo, helped to chase Forrest for some days, drove Price out of Jlissourl, and fought the good fight at Nashville where he lost his left arm and was wounded in the side and abdomen. At the battle his regiment lost some twenty-nve killed and seventy-five wounded. It was at this battle that Captain George T. White gave up his life for his country, shot through the bowels. Privates Theodore Hacker, Hanson Oleson, Chandler Flem- ing and J. D. Ferguson, were killed. Lieutenant Isaac Hamlin, sergeants H. A. Mosher and George H. Woodbury, and private Edward Brossard, of this county, were wounded, more or less severtly. Corporal David Snyder was also wounded at the battle of Nashville. After his return from the service, with his armless sleeve, he was elect- ed register of deeds in November, iscr.. in this county, and reelected for CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 681 S3ven consecutive terms — fourteen years. He then gave way for Mr. Charles SanGalll, hut was again elected to that position in 1883. He died Nov. 13, 1884, very suddenly, of heart disease. He was one of God's noblemen in every sense of the word, and came about as near perfection as any human being gets. MR. AUGUST MINSKB, of Iosco, was born in Belgen, Prussia, near the city of Berlin, August 14, 1837. He came with his parents across the ocean and landed at New York, taept. 11, 1855, after a voyage of seven weeks. They came on to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where they spent the winter and made preparation to come to Minnesota. They started from Dodge county, in March, 1856, with two covered wagons and four pair of oxen. The company that came together consisted of John Minske, father of August and F. W., and family; Gottfried Kanne, who died in 1886, and his sons, F. Kanne, August Kanne, Gottlieb Kanne, and his only daughter, Mrs. Wm. Marzahn and her husband. There were five covered wagons and nine pair of oxen in all. They were little used to the ways of the country or that niode of travel- ing, and were six weeks on the road, reaching Iosco, the 25th day of May, 1856. 'ihe country, as is generally the case in early spring, was wet and the sloughs soft, and some days the company would not make more than two miles. At nearly every soft place they had to double teams, and in some places they had to put all the teams to one wagon, often breaking chains and having a rough time generally. Mr. Minske says: "As soon after our arrival as we could select our claims we commenced breaking with four yoke of oxen and broke about sixty acres — twenty acres on each ot our claims. The season was a busy one, breaking and building. "The next spring we bought seed wheat, Scotch fife, near Morristown, for which we paid $2 a bushel. The crop was a light one. We got only forty bushels, having harvested it with a cradle and threshed it on the frozen ground with flails. This we saved mostly for seed the next year. Ihe next year's wheat crop, that of 1858, was almost a total failure. Our corn crop that year was middling good, and we had a good crop of vege- tables, so we had to fall back on corn for bread. "As we were not well informed then on prairie fires, we came near losing everything that fall by fire." August Minske was married to Miss Karoline Schultz, February 27, 1860. Mrs. Minske was born in Prussia, April 12, 1838, and came to Amer- ica in the same ship with Minske. They have had twelve children, ten boys and two girls. Three of the boys are dead. Robert died of croup at the age of two years, six months; Bmll was so badly burned in a prairie fire that he died within twelve hours thereafter. The third death was that of an infant, twenty days old, on Sept. 25, 1S79. . John Minske, the father of August, died In 1862, after a long Illness, 682 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. brought on, no doubt, by hardship and exposure to which he had not been accustomed in earlier days. Mr. Minske says: "When we first commenced to cut grain I had to cut it with my 'arm- strong' reaper, my wife following, raking and binding. Then, after thresh- ing, we had to haul it to Red Wing or Hastings with ox teams and got from forty-five to fifty cents a bushel. It took a round week of travel and camping out before we saw home again. On one trip, our trusty engines, the oxen, in the night, left for better quarters, and it took nearly all the next day to hunt them up. Another time, in the fall, I camped on the yellow prairie, ten miles out from Hastings. It was a cold night. I wrapped myself in an Indian blanket, lay down under the wagon, and awoke in the night to find myself covered with about three inches of snow, with a keen wind from the northwest. While I was getting ready to bid my landlord and his white feather-bed good-bye, I was surprised to miss my watch, the only time piece we had. After a half hour's search I found it in the snowy bed. At another' time, Wm. Priebe, now deceased, and myself made the round trip to Hastings, with ox teams, in three days and nights, but we drove day and night — and the last night I fell asleep m the wagon" about midnight and did not awake until I found mj-- self at home the next morning. "On the 9th of March, 1865, I enlisted in the First Minnesota battalion. Company C, and proceeded to the front at Petersburg. The next day after my arrival, the company had to fall into line of battle and march upon the enemy. My first lesson in war was in a hall-storm of bullets from 9 a. m., till dark at night, but after three days of hard fighting, Petersburg was ours. Then followed days and nights of marching and fighting while following G-en. Lee. At High Bridge many a soldier saw daylight for the last time till the day of resurrection. After Lee's sur- render we marched back to Burk's Station, and on this march the men suffered very much for want of provisions, as the army wagons could not be brought along, owing to the swampy roads. We were without provis- ions for nearly three days. While in camp there, H. P. Chamberlain, Wm. Allen, Isaac Ballard, and Isaac Billings came to us from Washington, to rejoin the company. After camping there for about four weeks, we marched to Washington, thence we were shipped to Louisville, Ky., where I was taken with dysentery and ague and became so weak that I could not care for myself. Here our company lost fifteen strong men by disease. Shortly after, we started by boat for Fort Snelling. After camping a week, near Minnehaha, we received our discharge, and reached home July 26, 1865." MR. GEORGE W. SOULE is one of those, who at an early day, followed Horace Greeley's advice by coming West when a very young man. He came with elder brothers and a widowed mother, in 1849, from Coeymans, Albany co\mty, X. Y.. and settled first at Watertown, Wis. Coming thence to Minnesota, the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. C83 family settled just over the county line, in Morristown, arriving at their new home August 10, 1855, when George was only eleven years of age. Mrs. Soule, nee Nancy Canfield, daughter of the late Judge Canfleld, of this county, was born in the town of Chester, Dodge county. Wis., July 27, 1846, and came with her parents to this county, arriving here, June 9, 1S56. George W. Soule enlisted in the Third regiment, Minnesota volunteers, Feb. 15, 1864, and served until the close of the war. Soon after his dis- charge, he bought eighty acres of land on section 4, Blooming Grove, where he settled down to farming. He was elected assessor in 1877, to which office he was re-elected for five consecutive years. He was then elected county commissioner and served one term. In reply to inquiry as to pioneer experience, he says: "Hardships were many and lucky hits few. Some of my older brothers were here a year previous to our coming, and had a potato and a buck- wheat patch, and a little sod corn. They had the body of a log house raised and covered with bark. That was a lucky hit as we learned before the next spring, for the winter following was one of Minnesota's coldest. "We had to go to Hastings to get that buckwheat and corn ground. We had only the ground for a floor, the first winter, and other comforts in the household line to correspond. "The first school house was on the site now occupied by the Remund school house. In that old log building, I finished my education. Among the earliest settlers were B. K. and W. R. Soule with their younger brothers. Of these the following have died: L. B. Soule, Dec. 2, 1859; F. N. Soule, Sept. 28, 1864, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, member of Co. H, Third Minnesota volunteers; H. S. Soule, June 9, 1880, at Baker City, Oregon, (he also was in the service during the war) ; S. G. Soule, June 30, 1882, at Morristown; Jane Soule, mother of the Soule boys, July 12, 1877, at the old homestead in Rice county. There is a silent yet glorious eloquence in the fact that a brave mother, away back in 1855, came to this unsettled country with her young sons and endured all the hardships and privations of frontier life that they they might make for themselves free homes and acquire a competency for themselves and their children. It requires no small amount of cour- age, devotion, and heroism for a mother thus to face the dangers of the frontier, and endure the privations incident to early pioneer life. Mr. George Soule, at this writing, 1904, resides in Oregon. MR. DANIEL RIEGLE. Among the first settlers of Blooming Grove, the name of Daniel Riegle must not be forgotten. He was born in Erie county, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1829. His forefathers, away back, came from Germany, and retained their mother tongue; and Daniel can converse fluently in that language. He left his native state, when twenty-two years of age, and came West- stopped one month at Chicago, and then went to Stevenson county, 111., 684 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. where he remained one year. He next moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and thence to Delaware county, the same state, where he ran a saw mill about two years. While living at the latter place he married Miss M. C. Bliven, daughter of J. M. Bliven, one of the earliest settlers in Bloom- ing Grove. She died in 1870. J. M. Bliven came here early in the season of 1855, and in the month of December of that year, Bliven having re- turned to Iowa for supplies, Riegle came up with him and another man, ariving ox teams. Between Fort Atkinson and Cottrell's grove, in Iowa, they met a blizzard which detained them three days and nights. They wandered off the road, got some of the oxen down in a creek, and came near losing one pair. They finally found a Bohemian family, who had just moved in that fall. The house was small, and contained a family of children, and a sow with a brood of young pigs in one corner. There was no room to lie down, but then they had plenty to eat, could keep from freezing, and could sleep some while sitting. After much hard work and many exposures, they reached Blooming Grove — then Swavesey. After looking the ground over, Mr. Riegle, ac- companieu by Wm. M. Gray and Simeon Smith, returned to Fayette county, Iowa. This was during the last days of December. Messrs. Gray and Smith went to West Union, Iowa, for provisions. Mr. Riegle returned with his family in the spring of 1856, and made a claim on section 31 which he afterwards bought of the government, and on which he resided until 1874. The first death in the settlement was in the family of Mr. Riegle, being that of his son Mahlon who died in the winter of 1857. Mr. Riegle enlisted August 18, 1862, for three years, in Company F, Tenth regiment Minnesota infantry, and served until July, 1865. For his second wife he married Miss Melvina Gray, in 1871. She was born in Illinois, Oct. 11, 1847, being a daughter of Wm. M. Gray. Mr. Riegle remained on his farm until 1874, when he sold out. He lived for a time in Morristown, then went to Waterville, and from there he moved to Renville county where he bought a farm. There he remained until 1883, when he moved to the farm where he now resides, in Kittson county. MR. ALFRED C. SMITH. The first claim taken in the town of Woodville was that of Mr. Alfred C. Smith, who came to the county in 1855. Under date of Jan. 10, 1891, he wrote as follows: "In answer to your request I will say that I came to Minnesota and settled in the town of Woodville, June 20. 1855. I came in company with my father, Simeon Smith, and William Gray and- John Bliven. We all settled in what they called then the Swavesey district. Our nearest neigh- bor, except the Indians, was old Mr. Morris, of Morristown, ten miles away. I was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1830. My wife, Armanda C. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 6C5 Smith, was born in Cataraugus county, New York, in 1833. We brought with us, when we came West, one yoke of oxen, a wagon, a cow, a calf, and a five franc piece. My wife and I are the only settlers left in the neighborhood of those who settled here in 1855. Mrs. Simeon Smith died in 187J-, and Simeon died in 1872. Mr. Gray died in 1871, and Mrs. Gray died some time afterwards. The first year we were here we had to go to Iowa for provisions. I re- member that I worked for one dollar a day, and paid seven dollars a htm- dred lor flour, four dollars and a half a hundred for corn meal, and twenty- five and thirty-five cents a pound for pork. The first school house was built of logs. Ours was the first district organized in the county, and we used the building also for religious meetings. The first birth in the neighborhood was that of my daughter Lovica, and the first death was that of Mrs. Josiah Smith. E. G. Wood, L. C. Wood, Henry Watkins, Jacob Myers, O. Powell, E. K. Carlton, Patrick Murphy, Joshua Smith, Samuel Smith, Daniel Riegle, Joseph Churchill, Henry Smith, William Dunn, and perhaps others settled here in 1856. Our circumstances were such that we were compelled to go barefoot during the summer. We built our houses of logs with puncheon floors and elm bark for roofing. I remember that I gave an acre of breaking for a pair of boots that had been worn a year. Of course we had to haul our wheat for many years to Hastings, camping by the roadside, and getting from fifty to sixty cents a bushel." Mr. Smith was an industrious, honorable man. He died Jan. 28, 1902. MR. SIMON HENRY DRUM. This early and worthy settler was born April 14, 1840, at Port Gratiot, Michigan. His wife, Ella A. Sutliff, was born May 13, 1850, at New Haven, Conn., and came with her parents to Houston county, Minn., in 1856, coming from there to Waseca county in 1865. Mr. Drum arrived in Owa- tonna. May 4, 1859, and found employment in the drug store of Dr. Harsha, of that place, until the following August. He taught school eight succes- sive winters, spenaing his summers at farm work. He was elected clerk of joint school district No. 21-35 and held the position for upward of twenty years. He was town assessor in 1881-2, elected justice of the peace in 1883, and re-elected for many successive terms. The first school house in his neighborhood was built in Meriden in 1860. The school house in joint district No. 21, Steele county, and 35, Waseca county, was built in 1870. Mr. Drum now has two hundred acres in his farm and devotes con- siderable attention to dairying. He is the father of ten children— four boys and six girls. Two of the sons and four of the daughters have been teachers in the county. One son and two daughters attended the State University in 1904-5. MR. JESSE R. WEED will be remembered by early residents of Byron as one of its oldest rest- 686 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. dents. He was born in the town of Angelica, county of Alleghany, state 01 New York, May 23, 1819. His wife was Miss Clarinda Maxson, born April 9, 1819, in ihe town of Deruyter, Madison county. New York. Mr. and Mrs. Weed settled in the town of Byron, in this county, October 7, 1860, on sections twenty-seven and thirty-four, where they reside at the present writing, 1896. Mr. Weed brought with him two yoke of oxen, a wagon, three cows, two steers, and a calf. He has held the office of town clerk, supervisor, justice of the peace, and assessor. He has been school district clerk for more than half the time since since the dis- trict was organized. He Is at this writing the oldest school district clerk in the county, being nearly seventy-two years of age. His nearest flouring mill, for years, was at Okaman. It often took from three to four days to make the trip to mill. At one time, in February, 1862, he was four days going from Okaman to his home, a distance of thirty miles by the road. In many places the snow was up to the oxen's necks. The first school house built in that neighborhood was in 1860, on the line between the counties of Freeborn and Waseca. The first child born was Maggie Davis, daughter of Jeremy and Keziah Davis. The first death in the neighborhood was an old lady by the name of Hodge, the mother of Mrs. Parvin. MRS. ALMIRA WHEELER AND FAMILY. Mrs. Wheeler, now residing in the town of Woodville, in January, 1891, gave the following short sketch of her family. Mr. Lewis W. Wheeler, her husband's father, was born in the state of New York, in the year 1791, July 6, and lived there until the spring of 1844, when he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. He came next to Fari- bault, Minn., in 1854, where he lived until 1857, when he moved to the then village of St. Mary. In 1866 he again moved, this time settling in Wilton, where he died in 1867, at the age of seventy-six years and six months. Mrs. Almira Wheeler's late husband, Whitney L. Wheeler, son of Lewis W., was born in the state of New York, in the year 1822. In 1846, he was married to Miss Almira Kibby, who was born in the state of New York, April 2, 1821. They resided in their native state until 1856, when they came to Faribault, in this state, where they tarried until the spring of i857, when they moved to St. Mary where Mr. Wheeler carried on a saw mill and worked his farm. They remained in St. Mary until the fall of 1866, when they settled in Wilton, where the family resided until after Mr. Wheeler's deam, which occurred Nov. 4, 1S70. Mrs. Wheeler has three children, two sons and a daughter. Mr. Whitney L. Wheeler practiced as a veterinary surgeon. He was prominent as a very active republican during the days of James Buch- anan's administration. After her husband's death, Mrs. Wneeler secured a farm in Woodville, CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 687 where she has since resided. She is not only one of the early settlers of Minnesota, but one of the oldest now living in the county. MR. GEORGE DRBBVER, OF JANESVILLE. The following facts were gathered from Mr. Dreever in 1892: This gentleman was horn in the county of Kildare, Ireland, in 1837, and came to America in 1855, first living in Newark, N. J. He soon after came as far west as Illinois and settled in Stevenson county. There he remained until the spring of 1857 when he came to Minnesota. Soon . after he married Rosanna McQuade, who was also born in the Emerald Isle. Like many another patriotic young man, he enlisted in the Union army, Co. F, Tenth Minnesota regiment, volunteer infantry, under Captain White. He served until 1864, when he was discharged for disability. He first bought a quarter section of land in Janesville of a Mr. O'Rourke. He next bought the Haines farm and afterwards forty acres more of a Mr. McArthy, of Faribault. He was somewhat unfortunate in the purchase of some of his lands. The land warrant wiich had been laid on the McArthy land, turned out to be a forgery and Mr. Dreever was compelled some years afterwards to pay the price of the land to- the government to protect the title. In regard to the Haines farm, one of the title • sharks of the country discovered a flaw in the title, and Mr. Dreever was compelled to pay a large bonus in order to save it. When Mr. Dreever came to Minnesota, he took steamboat from Galena, 111., to Hastings, Minn., and then drove across the country to Janesville with four yoke of oxen, two wagons, and fourteen cows. His brother, Rich- ard Dreever, also came in 1857, and settled near him in Iosco. Richard died some years ago. George has three children living. His son, George F. Dreever, is a graduate of the Watertown, Wis., college, of Notre Dame college, Indiana, and of the medical school of Ann Arbor, Mich. MR. W. D. ABBOTT. Mr. Abbott, now of Winona, one of the prominent and leading lawyers of the state, was born July 13, 1859, at Clinton Falls, Steele county, Minn. He is one of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Abbott, who settled at Clinton Falls, in the fall of 1857. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Abbott were born in New Hampshire— Mr. Abbott, May 10, 1829; Mrs. Abbott, March 5, 1830. ■W. D. Abbott is a graduate of the law department of the Minnesota state university. He practiced for a time in Owatonna as a member of the firm of Sawyer, Abbott & Sawyer; in March 1885, he came to Waseca, where he practiced law until November, 1892, when he accepted a position in the law department of the C. & N. W. Ry. Co., and is, at this time, 1904, a member of the firm of Brown, Abbott & Somsen, of Winona. Mr. Abbott was married Oct. 7, 1886, to Miss Mary Lorena Adams, of 688 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Prairieville, Rice county, Minn. They have an adopted daughter, Helen D. Abbott, but no children have been born to them. Mr. Abbott is still a young man and his prospects for the future are promising indeed. He recently came prominently before the public as leading attorney in the defense of Dr. Koch, of New Ulm. MR. OBADIAH MOSHER. This man was a natural pioneer. He was born in June 1797, in Wash- ington county, N. Y. His wife was Miss Nancy Allen, of Vermont, who was born Jan. 29, 1797. She died at Minneapolis, June 1, 1890, being over ninety-three years of age. Obadiah went to Ohio in 1816, at the age of nineteen years, and remained there until 1845, when he removed with his family to Dodge county, Wisconsin. In 1859 he and his wife came to Min- nesota and lived on section 35, Woodville. He sold out here in 1866, and moved to Plainview, Minn., where he died in 1867, aged seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Mosher were the parents of eight children, who grew to manhood and womanhood — five sons and three daughters — John, Robert, Asa, Hiram A., L. J. (Jim), Mrs. W. S. Baker, Mrs. J. A. Canfield, and Mrs. Esther Young. L. J., better known as Jim, Mosher, son of Obadiah, came with his par- ents to this county in 1859. He was one of the first to enlist in the Union army and joined Company G, First Minnesota infantry under the first call in 1861. He participated in many battles and returned home with one leg ana one arm crippled. Soon after the war he moved to Iowa, and afterwards lived in the state of Kansas. THE REVEREND W. J. CLELAXD, who was born Feb. 14, 1814, in Butler county. Pa., was one of the pioneer clergymen of this section. He was a graduate of one of the Presbyterian colleges of the East, and preached to the people of Delaware county, X. Y., until 1863, when he came West and lived temporarily in Owatonna. In 1864, he bought a farm in Otisco, just east of the old villag; of Wilton, where he resided until the time of his death, which took place August 31, 1876. He was a devout man and preached the gospel wherever he could find a school house, hall, or church to preach in. Mrs. Cleland's maiden name was Judith A. Wilson. She was born in Albany, \. Y., in the month of August, 1819. J. W. Cleland, son of the foregoing, was born in Delaware coimty, N. Y., and was one of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. W, J. Cleland. His birthday was Sept. 27, 1847. He came West with his family in 1863. He carried on the homestead farm until 1885, when the place was sold and he purchased a small farm on the west shore of Clear lake, near Waseca. J. W. Cleland and Miss Amanda C. Connor, of Blooming Grove, were married Oct. 3, 1877. Amanda was born Sept. 11, 1S52. in the state of Indiana, and came to Waseca county with her parents in 1S56. The children of Rev. W. J. Cleland were known as Anna M.. Wm. T., E. E., CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 689 Maggie A., John W., D. M., J. McKay, and C. S. James W. was stricken by paralysis while working about a threshing machine. He never re- covered from the stroke, and died after a very prolonged illness, July 15, 1903. CAPTAIN JACOB W. PIERCE was born in Cumberland County, N. J., Oct. 15, 1833. His wife, Sarah A., was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1837. Captain Pierce came West in 1855, tarried in Wisconsin a little over a year, then returned to New Jersey, remaining until 1857 when he came to Freeborn, Freeborn county. Soon after he took a claim on section 35, town of Byron where he now lives. The date of this settlement was May 27, 1857. He worked at the carpenter and joiner trade in Byron, Freeborn, and Wilton for several years, putting up a number of frame buildings for the early settlers. He went with James D. Andrews and D. Skinner to Superior, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1861, where they worked until the next summer. He returned in the summer of 1862, and in August enlisted in Company F, Fifth Minnesota infantry. He participated in many battles, being wounded at the second battle of Corinth. He served until September, 1865, when he was mustered out at Fort Snelling with all the honors of war. He married Sarah Horning, Jan. 1, 1867, and they immediately com- menced housekeeping on their farm.- They are the parents of live chil- dren: Clarence E., born Jan. 4, 1868; Albertus M., born March 12, 1869; Vilmer E., born March 20, 1872; Bertrice M., born March 19, 1874, and Claude A., born August 18, 1877. MISS LOVICA SMITH IN THE JAUNARY STORM OF 1873. In the afternoon of Jan. 7, 1873, a very mild day, dark clouds gathered in the west, and about 3 o'clock the wind commenced blowing a gale from the northwest, producing a rapid change in the temperature, and at the same time the air became filled with fine snow which was driven with great force into every opening, however small, by the terrific fury of the howling blast. The sun was soon hidden from view, and darkness settled upon the earth like a funeral pall, bringing with it intense cold, made doubly severe by the driving, penetrating force of the wind. This most terrible storm in the history of the state since its first settlement by white men continued throughout Wednesday, Wednesday night, and un- til Thursday about midnight. It was one of those intensely furious storms which once in a while visit this high northern latitude. The remembrance 01 it is retained by the old settlers and constitutes the theme of their con- versation upon each succeeding similar occasion. The fierce blasts of the Storm King, on this occasion, deposited snow in vast quantities over the whole Northwest, making a winding sheet for many of the men, wo- men and children that were caught in its icy embrace. No pen can fully C90 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. describe the terrifflc death-chill of the fifty-six hours during which this storm raged. In the history of Waseca county, printed in 1887, by the Union Pub- lishing company appears the following: "The day opened as a pleasant one, and many people had taken advan- tage of it to go to town, or to visit neighbors. It so happened that Alfred C. Smith, then living on section 5, Woodville township, had gone over to the farm where his father had settled, about a mile away, with his team. About the time the storm had got well under way, his daughter Lovlca, born in this county and about seventeen years of age, who had been washing clothes, threw a shawl over her head, and taking a little brother with her, went out and up the road looking for her father. For part of the way the grove on the west side of the road shut off the gale, and she did not realize that the storm was of any unusual character. Coming to the end of the grove the brother ran back, but she pushed on, nothing daunted, thinking that she must soon meet her father. But thinly clad, no wrap around her except a light cotton shawl thrown over her head and held together by her naked hands, she soon became aware that she must turn back or perish from the cold, for the wind that' swept down upon her was of Arctic severity. Retracing her steps, blinded by the whirling, drifting snow, confused by the savage fury of the wind, she took the wrong road where the two crossed and wandered oh across the bleak prairie, death staring her in the face. Battling bravely sne pushed on, her limbs chilled by the cold, her form growing weak beneath the merci- less pelting of the storm, until she reached the grove near the house of Obadiah Powell, where she halted but a moment, when, knowing that it was death to stop, she pushed on, and spying a light, made her way to Mr. Powell's house. So confused was she, so bewildered by the blizzard, and unhinged by the tension upon her nerves, that she did not know for a few moments where she was nor who were the friends she had stumbled upon. But soon the genial hospitality of Mrs. Powell, the light and warmth of the room restored her, and she was made comfortable until the SLorm abated." THE HONORABLE WARREN SMITH. This worthy pioneer was born in Barnstable county, Mass., Nov. 15, 1821. His father's name was Amasa Smith. Warren grew to manhood in his native county and attended the public schools of the neighborhood until the age of sixteen, when he learned the trade of boat builder. Be- tween Doat building and wrecking he employed his time until 1S55-6. In the mean time, 1853, he married Miss Susan E. Johnson, of Provincetown, Mass. They came to Minnesota in 1856 and resided in Faribault. Mr. Smith and his brother-in-law, J. S. Fuller, engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at that place. In the winter of 1856-r, he came to the then village of St. Mary, in this county, purchased the general stock of merchandise of Chambenaln, Bailey & Co., and entered into the mercantile business HON. WARREN SMITH. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 691 in that village. He remained in business in St. Mary until 1862, when he was appointed assistant sutler of the Tenth Minnesota infantry, and accompanied the Sibley expedition in pursuit of the Sioux Indians in 1863. friOT to this time he had also become a member of the Wilton firm of J. W. Johnson & Co., which carried a large stock of general merchandise in the village of Wilton. About 1863 he moved his family to Wilton where they resided until 1870 when they came to Waseca. He was elected to tne house of representatives and served during the session of 1869. In 1870, upon the retirement of Captain Comee from the office of county auditor, Mr. Smith was appointed by the county board to fill out the unexpired term. In 1873, he was elected county treasurer by a majority of over six hundred votes. He was twice re-elected, thus serving as treasurer six years. In 1881, when Waseca first became a city, he was elected mayor, and served one year. He declined a re-elec- tion and the common council, upon his retirement, unanimously adopted the following resolution: "Whereas, the retirement of our esteemed fellow citizen, the Hon. War- ren Smith, from the ofllce of mayor of the city of Waseca, presents a suitable opportunity of expressing the esteem in which we hold him, as a faithful and courteous public servant, therefore, be it Resolved, that the common council of the city of Waseca tender him a vote of thanks for the impartial and faithful performance of his duties as such mayor in having the laws and ordinances of the city duly enforced during his term of ofilce, and for the appointment of competent and faithful persons to the several offices of the city during his said term as mayor." From that time to the close of his life he steadfastly refused to accept any office, though often urged to do so. His children were Minnie M., Mary L., George W., and Charles A. Min- nie and George both died soon after reaching womanhood and manhood. Miss Mary L. and Hon. Charles A., only survivors of the family, reside in the city of Waseca. In religion Mr. Smith was a Universalist, and in all that goes to make up a true Christian life he was pre-eminent. In every calling of life, he was scrupulously honest, truthful, kind, charitable. He made no loud professions, but his everyday life was a living, practical sermon of good works. He was a member of the Masonic organizations, of this county, as high as Knight Templar, and was a true and worthy brother in all the relations of life. He visited the Pacific coast in the winter of 1892-3, where he was taken with influenza, from the effects of which he never recovered. His death had been long expected, by both himself and family, and his departure was quiet and peaceful. He expressed, a few days before his demise, his entire readiness for the change, and his desire to depart as soon as pos- sible. He was a grand, good man, and a true friend. ■ e92 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. MR. NOAH LINCOLN and family were among the early settlers of the county. Mr. Lincoln and his wife were representative pioneers. Mr. Lincoln was born in the state of New York, June 16, 1822. He came as far west as Michigan when a young man. He and Emma S. Davis were married Dec. 7, 1844. She was born Dec. 19, 1826. They came to Minnesota in 1855 and first took a claim in Fillmore county which they sold the same fall, and in 1856 came to Waseca county and bought the claim of Chris Scott — the place where the Messrs. Carmody now reside, in Wilton. This farm they sold to Mr. John Carmody and then bought a farm on section 1, in Wilton, where they resided until the time of Mr. Lincoln's death which occurred March 23, 1875. They had a family of eight children: Maria W., born Oct. 13, 1845, died in Rochester; Francis M., born July 4, 1847, died April 7, 1865, in the army at Mound City, 111.; Charles F., born Sept. 9, 1849, died recently ot consumption, in Oregon; F. A., born Dec. 11, 1851, died the following August; Eiva V., born July 13, 1853, married and resides at Mankato; Louisa .T., born Nov. 20, 1855, died July 8, 1887; Mina A., born Nov. 19, 1855, died March 30, 1862; Ida V., now Mrs. H. M. Buck, born April 4, 1862. During the winter of 1856-7, times were hard and this family, like the most of their neighbors, had to live on buckwheat flour ground in a coffee mill, and on corn meal made in a mortar with a pestle. MR. JACKSON TURNACLIFF was among the very young men who came West in 1855. Mr. Ferdinand Turnacliff, father of Jackson and Dellevan, was born in the state of New York, Sept. 11, 1813. He lived for some years in Jefferson county, N. Y., while a young man, but finally moved to the state of Ohio when that state was in "the far West." His wife, Maria, was also a New Yorker, born Api-il 4, 1812. She died Dec. 6, 1862. Five children were born to them; Jackson, May 6, 1835; Amelia Ann, deceased, born Jan. 2, 1837; Dellevan, born Sept, 30, 1838; Sally M., deceased, born August 27, 1842; Matilda, now Mrs. J. M. Dunn, born March 16, 1S4S; and Seymour, who was born May 8, 1851, and died Jan. 17, 1854. Jackson came from Ohio to Iowa in the fall of 1855. In December 1855, in company with "Doc" Ambrose Kellogg and William Young, the last a Scotchman, he came from Jackson county, Iowa, to Minnesota most of the way on Norwegian snow shoes, arriving at the Sutlief farm, in Wilton, on the last day of December, 1855. He took a claim on section 7, Otisco, where he made his future home. He returned to Ohio in 1858 and married Miss Lucia E. Barber, who was born in Ohio Feb. 6, 1839. They were married August 25, 1858, and at once came to their home in Minnesota. The Turnacliffs were well supplied with money and experienced few of the real hardships endured by most of the early settlers. Nine children were born unto Jackson and Lucia: Minnie D., June 6, 1859; Lolah M., Jan. 26, 1861; Elsie L., Oct. 26, 1863; Linna M., Dec. 6, 1865, deceased; Laura M., Aug. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. C93 y, 1867; Ferdinand, April 26, 1872; Walter D., May 1, 1876; J. B., Sept. 5, 1880; Kill, May 1, 1885. Dellevan ("Tip") Turnacliff came to Minnesota with his lather and sis- ters about 1863 and settled with them in Wilton where, at this time, 1904, he still owns an excellent farm. He and Miss Maggie Brisbane were mar- ried some years later and now reside in Waseca. MR. JOHN DORAN, one of the really honest men that have lived in Waseca county, was born in Ireland, June 20, 1829. He left his native land for America, Dec. 11, 1851. He landed in New York and worked as a laborer in that state, living the greater part of the time in Brie county where he remained until about 1855. He and Catharine Kohl were married March 16, 1855, and became the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom reached adult years. The family came West in 1856, residing for a time in Wisconsin.. They came to Minnesota in 1865, and finally settled on section 33, in the town of Wilton. John Doran was a man absolutely honest. For several- years he worked a farm on shares, and so honest was he found to be that the proprietor used to allow him to thresh and divide the grain himself and bring it to market, contrary to all custom. He was quite deaf for many years and finally met a tragic death. On the 11th of July 1891, he was thrown in front of his mowing machine and run over, re- ceiving injuries from which he died on the 17th of the same month. MR. JAMES A. ROOT was one of the pioneers of the West. He was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1832. While yet a boy his parents removed to Ellicott- ville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where his mother died. His father's name was Joseph N. Root, and he died April 12, 1869, aged sixty-eight years and eight months, being a resident of the town of Byron at the time of his death. James A. came to Waseca county in 1859, his father and other relatives coming later. Miss Hannah Brisbane, daughter of the late Hon. William Brisbane, of Wilton, was married to James A. Root, Dec. 12, 1859. Mrs. Root was born in New York state, Delaware county, August 18, 1840. Ten children were born to them: Charles E., Feb. 27, 1861; Wm'. L., Jan. 29, 1863; Joseph S., April 16, 1865; Cora B., Aug. 26, 1867; Hattie M., March 4, 1870; James A., May 22, 1872; Maggie J., May 31, 1873; Freddie, July 2, 1877; Dora B., March 14, 1879, and Marvin L., Oct. 9, 1880. Freddie died August 24, 1877, and Marvin died Feb. 22, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Root were among the first to plant a forest of trees about the house and barn. Their-timber lot shows what may be done in the way of providing timber and fuel for the future. Mr. Root died August 23, 1891. MR. REZIN NELSON, of Wilton, was born in Crawford county. Pa., Dec. 16, 1837. At the age 694 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. of twelve years he moved with his parents to Wisconsin. His father was a lawyer and died in the Badger state. In 1857, Rezin visited this county with his brother-in-law, James D. Andrews, but soon returned. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirty-second Wisconsin infantry and served until October, 1863, when he was discharged and came to Wilton where he farmed until Feb. 2, 1865, when he again enlisted, this time in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and went immediately to Chattanooga, Tenn. Here he remained until the close of the war. He then returned to Min- nesota, and on the 18th of March, 1866, he married Miss Rhoda A. Sutlief, daughter of Asa G. Sutlief, deceased, the first white man to open a farm or settle in Waseca county. Rhoda was born in the town of Herman, Dodge county, Wisconsin, Sept. 18, 1848. She came to this county with her father when she was only six years of age and when the whole county was an unbroken wilderness of prairie and woodland. Mr. and Mrs. Nel- son are the parents of seven children, born on the following dates: Lee B., Dec. 31, 1868; Rezin Jr., Feb. 15, 1871; Clarence W., April 13, 1S73; Mary, Jan. 22, 1876; Roy, Sept. 23, 1878; Volney F., Feb. 10, 1881; Nellie D., Aug. 20, 1884, and Rex, March 5, 1887. Mary died Feb. 22, 1882, and Volney died Feb. 5, 1882, two deaths the same month. MR. WILLIAM RODDLE, born June 2, 1822, in "Old England," came to America in 1840. He first stopped in Cayuga county, N. Y. From there he went to Onondaga county and thence to Tompkins county in the same state. From there he came West in 1844, and settled in Kenosha county, Wisconsin. In 1849 he married Mrs. Mary Green, a widow with three daughters. In the fall of 18C0, he came to Wilton with his family and purchased a farm near the old village of Wilton. His wife bore him three children: Wm. H., born Dec. 28, 1850; Ben. F., born April 9, 1854; and Ella, born Jan. 12, 1863. Mrs. Reddle died in Wilton, June 19, 1876. Miss Ella married Charles B. Root, Feb. 2, 1883. She became the mother of one son, Oren E., born Feb. 4, 1884. Her health was never of the best, and after a prolonged and se- vere illness, she died some three or four years after the birth of her child. William H. Roddle learned the tinner's trade of P. C. Bailey, went to Brookings, S. D., some twenty-five years ago, engaged in the hardware business, was finally elected secretary of state of South Dakota, for two terms, and is now practicing law in company with Philo Hall, his half sister's son, who was also a Waseca boy. Benjamin F. is also a resi- dent of South Dakota. Dec. 17, 1879, Mr. William Roddle married Miss Emily M. Loder, who was born in Wisconsin October 26, 1852. Her father, John W. Loder, was also an early settler with his family in Wilton, Mr. Loder enlisted at the beginning of the Rebellion and died in 1S62 while in the army. I\:r. William noddle died Nov. 9, 1889. He was one of our best citizens. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 695 MR. BUBL WELSH, was one of the noted men of this county among its early settlers. He was Ivind and humane at heart, much beyond the average of men. He was liberal to a fault. In sickness or want or sorrow, he was always ready and willing to extend a helping hand. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and first lived in Faribault having come hither from Wisconsin in 1854. He made his appearance in Iosco, as a carpenter, in 1855, and set- tled in the village of Wilton in the fall of 1856. Soon after his settle- ment in Wilton, work in his line being slack, he commenced to read law and practiced before justices of the peace. He was quite illiterate, but he managed to pick up considerable knowledge of law, and often won his cases against some more pretentious practitioners. He had one sad tail- ing — alcoholism — which he could never overcome long at a time. On Saturday, April 24, 1886, he died suddenly in a neighbor's wagon while going from Alma City to his boarding place in Freedom township. With more favorable environments, he might have been a more useful citizen and enjoyed life to a greater extent. He was a good man at heart. MR. A. J. WOODBURY, came to Wilton in the fall of 1856 and built the iirst hotel in that place. His sons, George H., and Henry C, assisted in carrying on the hotel busi- ness until about 1882, when it was abandoned by them. They also carried on a farm in connection with their hotel business. The old gentleman was a native of Beverly, Mass., and was, born in 1808., The family lived for a time in New Orleans before commg to Wilton. A. J. Woodbury and Elizabeth Stratton were married in 1830, and only two sons were born to them. George H., enlisted in company F, Tenth Minnesota infantry, and served for three years. Henry C, a. man of much "cheek" but small brain capacity, made up in self assurance what he lacked in ability, being at one time judge of the municipal court of Waseca. Henry finally went to Jamestown, North Dakota, where he died some years ago. George was the exact opposite of Henry. He was a man. of ability and high character, yet modest and unassuming. After his return from the war, he married Miss Hannah Robbins, then of Otisco, and they now (1904) hve in James- town, North Dakota. MR. MICHAEL McGONAGLB, SEN., was one of the 1856 pioneer settlers in St. Mary where he still owns a valuable farm. He was born in Ireland, Sept. ,10, 1825, and came to Ameri- ca, March 7, 1862. He and Margaret Gill, she being also a native of Ire- land, were married Oct. 10, 1855, and commenced farm life at once. They experienced many of the hardships and deprivations incident to frontier life, but overcame them all and enjoyed a competence at last. The fol- lowing named children were born to them : Michael, Jr., Mary Ann, Kate, Neil, Maggie, Hugh, John, William and Lizzie. Mrs. McGonagle died some years ago, and Mr. McGonagle, at this, writing, 1904, is living with his 696 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. daughter 'Lizzie, Mrs. Tim Dbnovan, in Waseca, enjoying the rest and comfort of a well spent life. CHARLES W. AND JANE C. JOHNSTON, were of the pioneers that came to this county in 1857. They located on section 13, St. Mary. Charles W. Johnston was born in Montpelier, Vt., March 9, 1834. Mrs. Johnston was born at Chelsea, Vt., Feb. 5, 1833. She is the daughter of Samuel Scri'oner, a native of Washington county, N. H. Her mother's name was Louisa Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Scribner had five children: Charles, who married Emma Horn; Geo. F., who married Abbie Chapman; Alzoa, who married S. D. Osterhout; Mary A., and Jane C. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were married April 5, 1857. Five children were born to them: Nellie M. L., August 7, 1858; Alma S., May 22, 1860; Charles i<'., April 17, 1863; Willard C, June 29, 1866; and George S., May 28, 1869. Charles P. died March 25, and George, March 31, 1873, of scarlet fever and diphtheria. Charles W. Johnston, the father, died In California, Feb. 17, 1899, as elsewhere noted in this book. MESSRS. WILLIAM AND JOHN PRIEBE, brothers, both deceased, came from Prussia and settled in St. Mary as early as 1860. Both were single men. Wm. Priebe married Miss Augusta Prechel, who came to Minnesota in 1855 with her brother, Gottlieb PrEchel. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters — all living but one, Gust Priebe, who was accidently killed in 1903, in Renville county, by a passing railroad passenger train. William settled on section 22, town of St. Mary. John settled on section 10 in the same town, where he and his wife, by very hard work and close economy, saved quite a fortune. His wife's maiden name was Caroline Vondrie. John died in 1872. Wm. Mittelsteadt married his widow about a year later, and she died June 19, 1880. John Priebe left three children: August, who owns a large farm in St. Mary; William J., who lives in Waseca and deals in farm machinery; and Amelia, wife of Julius Mittel- steadt. August Priebe who owns the old homestead married Molvena Krienke, a native of this county, June 16, 1SS7. She is the daughter of August and Henrietta Krienke, of St. Mary. MR. DANIEL T. BALLARD, was born in England, Oct. 16, 1839. He is one of three brothers, all of whom settled in Waseca county at an early day. They came to America in 1856. Daniel worked his way West and arrived in Waseca county in 1858. He resided first in Iosco. He enlisted in Company F, Eighth Min- nesota regiment in the fall of 1862, and was discharged the same year for disability at Ft. Snelling. In 1866, with D. A. Brwin and others, he made an overland trip to Montana, with ox teams. He returned in Nov. 1872, and settled in St. Mary. On the 17th of June, 1873. he married Miss Josephine Brossard, who was also one of the early settlers of the county. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 697 Mr. Brossard was a very successful farmer. He sold his farm here some years ago and removed to the state of Washington, where he and his family now reside. THE ERWINS. Mr. P. A. Brwin was one of the aged men that came to Waseca county at an early period in its history. P. A. Erwin was born in the Green Mountain State, in 1797, and served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812-15 with Great Britain. His wife, Jane Brwin, was Born In Ireland. She was a sister of Rev. James Erwin who was quite a noted Methodist minister in Northern New York about 1833. P. A. Erwin and his family settled in St. Mary about 1863. Mrs. Jane Erwin passed to the Great Beyond in September, 1867. Her husband lived to the age of ninety-two, when he, too, joined the silent dead, honored and respected by all who knew him. D. A. Erwin, son of P. A., was born in the state of New York, Aug. 4, 1839. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Ninety-eighth New York infantry, and served until May 1863, when he was honorably dis- charged for disability. He remained in the state of New York until 1864, when he came to this county and Joined his parents in St. Mary. In 1866, in company with D. T. Ballard and others, he made a trip to Montana with ox teams in search of gold. After three years of unsatisfactory toil in Montana, he returned to this county where he has since made his home. He married Miss Orrilla Ketchum, daughter of Rev. Alvin Ketchum, de- ceased, Sept. 15, 1870. Mrs. Erwin is one of the pioneer girls of Minne- sota, having come with her parents in 1856. They are the parents of nine children: Sidney, born Sept. 15, 1871, died Oct. 11, 1873; Claude, born March 26, 1873; Stanley, May 1, 1875; Grant, April 26, 1877; Roland, Jan. 27, 1879; Eugene, J&n. 17, 1882; Ray, Nov. 29, 1886; Ruth and Ruby (twins,) born Oct. 7, 1890. Ruth died March 13, 1900. The Erwins are of Revolutionary stock. D. A. Erwin's grandfather, David, who was born at Castleton, N. J., 1758, was four years in the Revolutionary War as a pri- vate; in the War of 1812 he was captain of a company and served until the close of the contest with Great Britain. His father, P. A., served in the War of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg, Sept. 11, 1814, where the British under General Prevost and Admiral Downie, were defeated by the Americans under Gen. Macomb and Admiral McDonough. MR. JULIUS PAPKE, now a retired farmer, was born in Prussia and came to America in 1861 with his family. He married Miss Eliza Buscho in Prussia, February 15, 1857. They first lived in Wisconsin, remaining there until 1865, when they located on section 26, St. Mary. Mr. Papke and wife were good farmers and accumulated a handsome property. They have been the par- ents of eleven children: Adolph, Melia, Augusta, Fred, John, Julius Jr., Sarah, Mary, Edward, Lewis and Ella. Adolph became a prominent far- C98 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. mer of Blooming Grove: he died June 16, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Papke are now residents of Waseca. MR. WILLIAM MITTBLSTEADT, born Feb. 15, 1848, In Prussia, came directly to Waseca county in 1867. He settled on section 9, and has become one of the wealthy farmers of the county. He has been married three times. His first wife was Caroline, widow of John Priebe, of St. Mary, by whom he had two children. She died June 19, 1880. Jan. 13, 1881, he married Augusta Fischer, who died March 20, 1884, leaving one child. His third wife was Mrs. Wilhelmine Leeck. He was town treasurer of St. Mary for a number of years, and is influential among his neighbors. He has also served as town supervisor for three terms. MR. PATRICK FARLEY, a native of Ireland, was bom March 16, 1836, came to America in 1855, tarried a year in Albany, N. Y., then moved to Wisconsin where he lived until 1865, when he came to Alton, where he resided until 1887. He then bought a farm of Ed Brossard, in St. Mary, where he lived up to the time^ of his death, which occurred February 2, 1902. He married Miss Mary Ann Hagearty Feb. 2, 1870. She was born in Wisconsin in November, 1848. Eight children were born to them: Emma May, Thos. P., Wm. H., Edward, Nellie J., Katie, James and Sarah. An account of Mr. Farley's sudden death is noted elsewhere. MR. S. S. PHELPS, was a prominent citizen of this county during his life time. He was born in the state of New York, April 5, 1840. He was the son of John and Nancy Phelps and was reared on their farm. When Seth S. first came West, he lived near Portage, in Wisconsin. He and Miss Elspa Sutherland were married there Oct. 13, 1861. In 1865, Mr. Phelps visited Waseca county and purchased land where the family residence now stands. He then returned to Wisconsin to settle up his business. He moved hither with his family in 1866. In 1867 he became a railroad contractor and hauled freight from Waseca to Mankato, St. Peter, and New Ulm. He also had the contract for distributing ties along the railroad track as the road bed was completed west from Waseca. In 18G9 he took a contract to furnish a very large quantity of wood for the W. & St. P. railroad com- pany. This business he followed for six or seven years. He put up a number of wood sawing machines and kept a boarding car for the ac- commodation of his workmen. His large and convenient farm residence now occupied by his widow, was built by him in 1869, and cost about $10,000. The death of Mr. Phelps caused a sensation all along the line of the C. & N. W. railway in Minnesota. On the 11th of Mnrch. ISSt, he had been in Waseca on business and started to drive home late In the afternoon. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 699 As he reached the crossing of the C. & N. W. railway just west of Waseca, he was struck by an engine and instantly killed, cut off in the prime of life. He left surviving him his wife, two daughters, and two sons. The two sons are married and live on the farm; Ellen, Mrs. Pitch, resides in Belview, Redwood county; Nancy, Mrs. Henderson, now a widow, makes her home on the farm with her mother. MR. MICHAEL GALLAGHER, born in Marquette county. Wis., Peb. 22, 1858, is one of the prominent men of St. Mary. He came to Waseca county with his parents, Michael and Maria (Poley) Gallagher, about the first of July, 1863. On the 20th of October, 1SS6, he married Miss Ellen Lynch, who was born in St. Mary, Jan. 16, 1861. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lynch, were among the very early settlers of that town. Michael Gallagher, Sen., and his wife came to America in 1847, and first lived in the state of New York for seven years, and then moved to Wisconsin. The children of Michael, Sen., were six in number: Bernard, Rose Ann, John, Michael, Maria, and Celia. The last was burned to death when eleven years old, at the time the family residence was destroyed by fire. Mr. Gallagher senior, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Barden, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. His death occurred Sept. 24, 1903. MR. HUGH HEALEY was one of the prominent early settlers of Iosco, having settled there in 1857. He was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, born in September, 1821. He came to America in 1849, landing in New York, March 31. He lived for some time in Pennsylvania. He married Miss Sarah Coleman, Dec. 14, 1852, and they reared a family of eleven children. MR. CHRISTIAN KOESTER was born in Alsace, France, July 31, 1832. His father died when his son was eight years of age. Christian came to America in 1853. He resided in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, but finally settled in Iosco, in 1864, where he purchased a farm. He married his first wife, Miss Catherine Eppingler, in 1858. She died March 9, 1873, leaving five children. March 22, 1874, he was again married, his bride being Anna Rudolph. He still resides on the old farm enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. MR. JOHN McWAIDE is another of the early settlers of Iosco. He married Miss Ann Lynch, at Lowell, Mass., in 1855, and they came to Iosco in 1856. Mr. McWaide was born in Ireland on Christmas, 1829, and came to America in 1849, accompanied by his sister, Ella. They landed in Boston after being on the water seven weeks and three days. Mr. and Mrs. McWaide have a fine, large farm of 280 acres with a large residence, and are possessed of 700 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. all the comforts of life. Mr. McWaide has held many town offices and for several years has been president of the Waseca County Horse-thief De- tectives. With this society he is very popular. Mr. and Mrs. McWaide have had five children, three of whom are living. Mrs. McWaide is the Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Lynch and one of a family of six chil- dren. Her brother, John Lynch, enlisted in 1861 and served during the war. He participated in many battles, and was especially commended for his bravery in the battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley. THE HONORABLE JOHN MOONAN. In this connection it is proper to correct a mistake made on page 41. It is there stated that Patrick Moonan settled in JanesvlUe in 1855. It should have read Iosco instead of Janesville. Hon. John Moonan was born in the township of Iosco, Feb. 9, 1866, the year before the present city of Waseca was founded. His parents, who had lived in Iosco since 1855, moved to the village of Janesville about 1870, where they resided until November 22, 1882, when they removed to Waseca, and built what is now known as the Waverly Hotel. John is a graduate of the Waseca high school and studied law in the office of Lewis Brownell, Esq., being admitted to the bar March 21, 1887, by Judge Buckham. He at once took front rank at the bar of this county, and now has an extensive practice in this and adjoining counties. He was married to Miss Rosemary Breen, of this city, February 12, 1890. Their children number six — three boys and three girls. Mr. Moonan was elected Mayor of Waseca in 1897, and served one term. He was elected and served as county attorney two terms — from Jan. 1, 1899, to Jan. 1903. He is now a member of the school board of this city and takes a deep interest in our educational affairs. Mrs. Rosemary Breen Moonan is a daughter of the late Nicholas Breen, of this city. She was born in Iosco, in this county, in 1868, and came to Waseca with her parents when she was about four years of age. She is a graduate of the Waseca high school, and was for a time a teach- er in one of the departments of the same school. She is a woman of marked ability and force of character. This county can't have too many such women. MR. GEORGE H. GOODSPEED. Mr. George H. Goodspeed of Waseca, son of Henry Goodspeed, a Union veteran of the war of the Rebellion, was born in Barnstable, Mass., March 8, 1858, and came to Minnesota with his parents in 1872. His father died in 1876, leaving a widow, three sons, and two daughters. George was the oldest and upon him devolved the duty of carrying on the farm and business pertaining thereto. On the 25th of May, 1880, he was married to Miss Orilla Justina Child, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Child. Orilla was born in Wilton, Dec. 15, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed aro the parents of three HON. JOHN MOONAN. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 701 sons: Henry Erwin, dentist, of Waseca, born March 23, 1881; Claude Martin, born July 13, 1883; Frank Bradford, born Jan, 25, 1888. Claude is a sheep herder in Montana, and Frank is in the senior class of the Wa- seca high school at this writing. George H. held the office of chairman of the board of supervisors of the town of Woodvihe prior to his removal to the city of Waseca. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1896, and again in 1898. In 1901 he opened up a small farm in the eastern part of Waseca. He soon after became foreman of R. P. Ward's large farm just west of Waseca, a po- sition ne still holds at this writing. THE HONORABLE HENRY GOODSPEBD. The subject of this sketch was born in Barnstable, Mass., Nov. 13, 1834, where he grew to manhood. He was the first man to enlist in Company E of the Fortieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers under Captain Bearse. His health failed him to some extent, but he was ad- mitted to the reserve corps and served until the 28th day of June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was elected a member of the Mas- sachusetts legislature, house of representatives, in 1871. In 1872 he came with his family to Minnesota and resided on a farm on the west side of Clear Lake, just northeast of Waseca. He was never a very rugged man, and died of consumption October 19, 1876. He married Miss Temperance H. Parker in 1856. She was also a native of Barnstable, Mass., born July 15, 1836. For years prior to her death she suffered from cancer of the breast and side, and finally departed this life at Waseca, Dec. 9, 1896, at the age of sixty years, respected and mourned by all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed had five children: George H., Allen C, (de- ceased) Stanton W., Mrs. O. L. Smith, and Mrs. Elmer Herrick. Stanton and Mrs. Herrick reside at Glendive, Mont. The others are residents of this county. MR. EMIL H. PRECHEL. This gentleman was one of the earliest settlers of St. Mary township. He was born in the town of Princeton, Wisconsin, April 13, 1855. His father, Mr. Gottlieb Prechel, started with an ox team and a covered wag- on for Minnesota about the 1st of May following, in company with Martin, John F., and Gottlieb Krassin, Frederick Wobschall and Frederick Pre- chel, the last known as "Big Fred." Emil came a babe and was reared in St. Mary where he has ever since resided. He married Miss Alvina Lawin of the same town Nov. 26, 1880. Mrs. Prechel was born in Germany April 27, 1857, and came to America with her parents in 1864. They first lived in Wisconsin, near the city of Oshkosh, where they remained until 1878, when the family came to Minnesota, making their home on a farm near the south line of St. Mary township. Mr. and Mrs. Prechel have 702 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. a large well- improved farm and good buildings. They are the parents of three sons all grown to man's estate. THE HONORABLE GEORGE A. WILSON. Judge Wilson was horn Jan. 22, 1856, in the town of Hammond, St. Lawrence county. New York. He did not come West to "grow up with the country" for he was fully developed in old St. Lawrence county, and must have come because the West at that time needed such a man. He moved to Janesville and captured first place in that village without a struggle. In 1894 he was a candidate for judge of probate against one of the most popular men in the county and was elected by a safe ma- jority. In the campaign of 1904 he had the field all to himself. He married Miss Mary E. Wilson of Janesville July 3, 1895. Mrs. Wilson is also a. native of St. Lawrence county and is prominent in church and W. C. !■. U. work. MR. EDWARD BENNETT was one of the early pioneers of Blue Earth county and our city of Wa- seca. He was born August 17, 1839, and moved with his parents near Mankato in 1856. In 1861, he enlisted in company A, Forty-fourth New York infantry and was afterward transferred to the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New York. He participated in nearly all of the battles of the Potomac, and was discharged as lieutenant July 26, 1865. He was married August 22, 1865, to Miss Eliza J. Brackett, of New Hampshire. In 1867 ',hey settled in Waseca and he engaged in the meat market busi- ness. In 1872 Mr. Bennett platted Bennett's Addition to Waseca, which still bears his name. He died after a long illness Oct. 16, 1898. His widow, his son, Moses E., and daughter, Georglana, who reside in Waseca, and his daughter, Jennie, now Mrs. Campbell, survive him. MR. J. W. AUGHENBAUGH. Mr. John W. Aughenbaugh, a member of the enterprising milling com- pany of Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co., is a native of Ohio, born Dec. 25. 1846. HJs parents removed to Vandalia, Illinois, where they tarried about two years. They came to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in Freeborn. Freeborn county, where his father engaged In farming. When J. W. Aughenbaugh was only fifteen years of age he enlisted to serve in the navy. While in the navy he served on the lower Mississippi and along the Red River under Commodore Porter. After three >-ears' service in the navy he enlisted in Company B, First Minnesota, and served about two years in Virginia. At the close of the war he returned to Minnesota and entered the milling business at Faribault Aug. 25, 1865. He remained thus employed for four years, and mastered the millers' trade. He then entered a mill at Redwing, Minn., where he worked at his trade. He afterwards had charge of mills at Warsaw, Waterville and for a time ran a windmill at Freeborn. He came from Waterville to Waseca in J. W. AUGHBNBAUGH. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 703 1877 and formed a partnership with Mr. William Everett, which continued until about 1888 when E. A. Everett, son of William, was admitted to the partnership. He married Miss Carrie Kocher, of Faribault, Nov. 18, 1868, and they are the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Harry Miller, and Mrs. G. W. Strong; and of one son. Master Dana. Mr. Aughenbaugh stands at the head of the flour milling business and knows all about the manufacturing of flour from A to Z. MR. EDWARD A. EVERETT. This gentleman was born in the town of Arena, Wisconsin, February 20, 1867, and sometimes remarks that he is two days older than Wash- ington. His parents came to Waseca the following August and his father, Mr. Wm. Everett, commenced the erection of the first store building in Waseca. Edward is therefore a Waseca pioneer of the old school. He played marbles and fished and hunted and attended the village school until he was fifteen years old when he entered the school of schools, a business career with his father in the mercantile and milling business. He could shoulder as much wheat, pack as much flour, or shovel as much coal as the best man In the yards. By universal consent he soon became general manager of the immense business of the company, and throughout the state he is known as a safe and reliable business man. He is also president of the First National Bank of Waseca, having held that position since its organization. His mother's maiden name was Amelia S. Addison. She was the daughter of Dr. Addison, an English physician of note in Wisconsin. On the 2nd of September, 1890, Mr. B. A. Everett and Nettie Miller of Waseca, were united in marriage, she being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Miller of Waseca. They are the parents of two cnildren, a son, William R., and a daughter, Constance Antoinette. In addition to his extensive milling business, both in Waseca and New Rich- land, he has large interests in Louisana and Texas in connection with the rice lands of those two states. MR. GUY W. EVERETT, brother of E. A. Everett, was born in Waseca, Sept. 21, 1876. He attended the public schools of Waseca for some years and then was a student in a school in San Francisco, Cal., during the sojourn of his parents in that city. Upon his return from California after the death of his father which occurred June 16, 1892, he took up work in the milling business of Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co. He was salesman on the road for some time and then took charge of the sales department of the business. He thoroughly understands his branch of the business, and gives it the most careful attention. He married Miss Esther Lewis, daughter of the late B. S. Lewis, of Waseca, June 15, 1898. They are the parents of one child, a daughter named Esther. 704 CHILD'S HISTORY Oi: WASECA COUNTY. MR. WILLIAM EVERETT founder of the Eaco mills, of Waseca, was born In New Jersey, near New- ton, in the year 1828. There he lived until twenty-two years of age when he came West and lived at Hayworth. Wis. He married at the age of twenty-four and in May, 1859, came to Minnesota, with his family, and re- sided at the south end of Lake Shetek, Murray county. There he opened a farm and cultivated it until Aug. 20, 18C2, when the murderous Sioux Indians commenced the indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children all along the western frontier. On that terrible day the little band of white settlers, consisting of some six families, were surrounded by a band of two hundred Sioux Indians, and the most of them either killed or wounded. Mr. Everett was shot in one leg and one arm and his wife and two little boys were murdered after having surrendered to the Indians. His little daughter, Lilly, was taken captive and afterwards recovered. Mr. Everett lost all his property, besides being ill for a long time of his wounds and exposures. He remained in the Mankato hos- pital till the following February when he went to Wisconsin. His loss at Lake Shetek was fully $5,000 of which he afterwards recovered of the government only $800. Mr. Everett then resided in Arena, Wis., and married Miss Amelia S. Addison, daughter of Dr. Addison, Oct. 29, 1865. In August, 1867, he came to Waseca and erected and opened the first mercantile house in the village of Waseca. He continued the sale of mer- chandise in this city until he commenced the milling business. By nature he was a very strong, robust man, but wounds and exposure at the time of the Indian Massacre so undermined his physical strength that he never recovered. He went to California for his health and died there June 16, 1892. MR. JOHN B. SULLIVAN, cashier of the First National Bank of Waseca, is a native of Xewbury- port, Mass. His parents came to Minnesota in 1863 and lived on a farm In Dakota county, near Parmington, until 1872, when they settled in the town of Bath, Freeborn county. John attended the public schools of his neighborhood until about 1883-4 when he attended school at Winona and graduated from the Winona Commercial College. In 1885, he went to Kingsbury county, D. T., and opened a real estate and loan office at Lake Preston. For two winters he returned to Minnesota and taught school. In 1888 he bought a half interest in the Merchants Exchange Bank at that place, and in 1893 went into the flour milling business at the same place. He continued in the milling business until 1896, when he sold his interest in the mill and accepted the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Lake Benton. In 1901 he became interested in the Citizens State Bank, of Arlington, S. D., which was afterwards changed to a National Bank. About October 1, 1902, he, in connection with others, bought the Citizens State Bank of Waseca and changed it to the present First National Bank of Waseca. This insUtution began CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 705 business under its new charter Jan. 2, 1903. Mr. Sullivan has been cashier of this bank since its opening. He is familiar with all the details of the banking business, and is very kind and obliging in all business and social affairs. He was joined in marriage with Miss Gertrude TJtley Anderson, Nov. 10, 1892, at De Smet, S. D. Mrs. Sullivan was born in Pryeburg, Maine, Peb. 16, 1875, and settled with her parents in South Dakota at an early day. Mrs. Sullivan, who was never very rugged, died of heart disease Sept. 3, 1904, leaving two little boys to the care of the father and a maiden aunt. MR. EUGENE A. SMITH. Among the very early settlers in the village of Wilton came Mr. E. A. Smith, brother of our county surveyor, Orson L. Smith. E. A. was born at Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1833. He graduated at the Norwich University of Vermont in 1856, and immediately after came to Minnesota and settled in Wilton. He married Miss Sarah Ide, of that place, about 1861. He was an honorable and highly respected man. He died of typhoid pneumonia, Sept. 19, 1864, at Wilton, leaving a widow and one daughter. Miss Winnie, who is a resident of California at this writing. Mr. Smith had accumulated quite a property in real estate at the time of his demise. MR. ORSON L. SMITH, for twenty-five years county surveyor of Waseca county, was born in the town of Perry, Lake county, Ohio, April 7, 1845. He attended the public schools of his county, and at the age of seventeen, in 1862, enlisted in Company K, Fifty-second Ohio infantry and served for three years. At the close of the war, he went to Montana and worked in the mining re- gions five years. He then enlisted in Company E, Second United States cavalry, and served five years under Gen. Crooks, the noted Indian fighter. The most serious fighting in which he participated was at the destruction of the "Crazy Horse" camp, March 17, 1876, near the close of his term of service. He was honorably discharged soon after, and came to Waseca county in December, 1876. In the spring of 1877, he bought the farm on the north shore of Clear Lake where he has ever since resided. He mar- ried Miss Ruth Mabel Goodspeed, sister of George H. Goodspeed, Nov. 28,1878. They are the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Herbert Star, and Miss Isadore T. Mr. Smith was first elected county surveyor in 1880 and has held that oflice continuously by re-election ever since. He has also acted as city engineer for the city of Waseca for many years. MR. JEROME E. MADDEN, Insurance agent and real estate dealer, of Waseca, was born in St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 14, 1854, and is one of the youngest old settlers in Waseca county. His father, Jerome Madden, deceased, came to this county in the summer of 1856, in compa^y with Patrick Kenehan, Terrence Lilly 25 706 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. and thfeir families. .Jerome Madden, Sr., secured a half section of land in the township of Wilton which belongs to his heirs at this writing. The fam- ily moved to Faribault about 1864, and opened a hotel where the Rice county court house now stands. Mr. Madden sold out in Faribault about 1868 and came to Waseca and erected what was known as the Madden House. Jerome E. attended St. John's college, near St. Cloud, Minn., at a place now known as "Collegeville," for some time, and then went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he finished his school studies and gradu- ated from St. John's college, at that place, June 2-t, 1875. Very soon after that he accepted the position of deputy auditor of Waseca county under Mr. Cronkhite. He held this position until the close of the year 1880. He then went to Faribault where he was deputy auditor of Rice county for two years. He next went to Deadwood, S. D., where he was employed as bookkeeper in the First National bank until the death of his mother which occurred in Waseca, August 30, 1888. Shortly after her death, he went to Ely, in St. Louis county, Minn., where he spent one year as book- keeper in a store owned and operated by a large mining company, a hun- dred miles north of Duluth. He soon after returned to Waseca, and in 1895 opened a real estate, loan and insurance office. He also has a com- plete set of abstract books and furnishes abstracts in connection with his other business. His father died in Waseca, Nov. IS, 1895. J. E. Madden and Miss Edith Bellm, of New Ulm, were united in mar- riage Feb. 9, 1899. Miss Bellm was born July 2, 1S72, in New Ulm, of German parents. Mr. Madden is a stockholder and one of the directors of the First National bank of Waseca, and a first-class business man. HALVOR K. STEARNS. of New Richland, was born in Nomedal, Norway. Christmas Day, 1S36. At the age of seventeen he came to America, and lived in Rock county. W is- consin. Here he was married in 1860 to Miss Betsy Sevets, who was born in Norway in June, 1840. He came to Waseca county, accompanied by his wife and one child, in 1862, settling on a farm about two miles east of the present village of New Richland. He lived on his farm from 1SH2 to 1880, when he removed to the village of New Richland and opened a general merchandise store. He served as county commissioner from Jan- uary, 1874, to December, 1879, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He departed this life February 16, 1905. MR. GARRETT SHEEHAN, of St. Mary, was born in County Cork, Ireland, about the year 1830. He came to this country in 1852, landed at New York and came immediately to Detroit, Mich., where an uncle resided. Shortly afterwards, he com- menced work in the copper mines on the south shore of Lake Superior where he remained about two years. He also worked some time on the Sault Ste. Marie canal and afterwards in the Ontanagon, Mich., mines. He then started for Waseca county and arrived on election day in the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 707 fall of 1S56, his brother Dennis and Mr. James Brown having settled here a short time before. Mr. Sheehan made a claim on section 20, town of St. Mary, where he still resides. He married Miss Ellen Daly in the fall of 1858. She passed to rest October 13, 1903. At this writing, (1905) he has one son and three daughters. His son, James, is on the farm with him, as are also two of the daughters. The third daughter, Mrs. Wm. Wheelock, resides in "Waseca. Mr. Sheehan's experiences in hauling produce to the Hastings market in the early days, and with the Indians would fill much space. He was a strong, vigorous man, and few have done more than he in developing the natural resources of the country. He has two farms and has a competency for his old age. MRS. SUSAN E. SMITH. Mrs. Susan K. Smith, widow of Hon. Warren Smith, deceased, died at the family residence, June 21, 1896, after a lingering illness of some twelve weeks. She was prostrated at first with grippe from which she was un- able to recover. She was a sister of the well-ltnown merchant, J. W. Johnson, of "Waseca, and was born in Boston, Mass., August 8, 1S25. She married Mr. Warren Smith, October 9, 1853, and came to Minnesota with him in 1856. They first lived in Faribault, but came to St. Mary, in this county, in 1858, where they made their home until 1862, when they removed to Wilton where they resided until the fall of 1870 when they settled in Waseca. Mrs. Smith was a model wife, mother, neighbor, and citizen. She was thoroughly devoted to the welfare of her family and neighbors, and enjoyed the highest esteem of all who knew her. She pos- sessed all the Christian virtues and graces. She left surviving a daugh- ter, Mary L., a son, Hon. Charles A., four sisters, and two brothers. MR. HENRY J. MEYER. This gentleman was born in Germany, February 12, 1832, and lacked only ten days of being seventy-three years of age at the time of his death. He came to Waseca county about the year 1860, and first lived in Wilton. He married Miss Justina Krassin, daughter of Gottlieb Krassin, April 1, 1861. They commenced married life on a farm in the south part of Wilton. He soon after sold that farm, and then bought and sold several in succession, finally settling in Freedom in the early seventies. October 15, 1873, his left arm was torn off in a threshing machine. He still car- ried on his farming operations, however, until a few years ago when he Duilt a residence in Waseca and turned his farm over to his sons. For about two years prior to his death, which occurred Jan. 30, 1905, he suf- fered from bladder trouble. He was the father of three children — Mrs. S. J. Krassin, Hon. W. H. Meyer, and Julius Meyer, all of whom, with his wife, survive him. Mr. Meyer was an energetic, prompt man in business, thoroughly honorable and upright in his dealings, and a good citizen. 708 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. THE REVEREND FATHER HERMON. This gentleman was one of the early priests of this county and of- ficiated for a long time in the St. Mary parish, some thirty years ago. He was an earnest, eloquent worker and did perhaps more than any other one person to promote temperance and total abstinence among his church members. The principles of total abstinence, which he inculcated in the hearts of the young men of this county, have been of uncounted value to the people of the parishes where he officiated and to all the people of the county. While he sometimes erred, as a rule, he was a woricer for the right, and an efficient worker. He died Jan. 27, 1905, at St. Joseph's hos- pital in St. Jt'aul, of Bright's disease, at the age of sixty-five. His funeral was held in the Catholic church of Waseca, Jan. 29, 1905, Father Treanor officiating, and his remains were interred in the Janesville cemetery beside those of relatives gone before. WM. H. STEARNS. This gentleman was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Stearns, early set- tlers in the town of Otisco. He was born in that township in May, 1859. He resided the greater part of his life there, leaving the farm only a short time to buy wheat in this city for Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co. He spent a short time in the mercantile business in New Richland and then re- turned to the farm for awhile before settling in Waseca. He taught school lor a number of winters while engaged in farming. In the spring of 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Armitage, who survives him. One daughter, Monna, was born to them. After a prolonged and severe illness, he departed this life, Jan. 10, 1905. Some six years prior to his death, he underwent an operation for tuberculosis of a bone of one leg. The operation cost him the loss of his entire limb. He had not been in robust health since that time, but had been able to keep about and attended to light work until about a year prior to his demise. MR. FRED M. PAPKE. This gentleman was born In St. Mary, this county, September 17, 1866, Jir. and Mrs. Julius Papke, of Waseca, being his parents. He was a pros- perous farmer, and one of the largest men, physically, in ^Yaseca county. He was a genial, good-hearted citizen, a kind father and husband. He owned a good farm on section 36, in Blooming Grove, and was a success- ful farmer. He died June 16, 1904, of pneumonia after a short Illness. His wife and two children— a son and a daughter— survive him. MRS. JENNIE WEED STEARNS. This lady, wife of Mr. George B. Stearns, of Otisco, died at her home, June 10, 1904, of Addison's disease of the kidneys from which she had been ailing for some time and for which she underwent an operation at the Mayo hospital in Rochester a few weeks prior to her death. Mrs. Stearns was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Weed and was born on the CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 709 home .farm in Wilton in 1859; she grew to womanhood in that part of the county and was married at the age of seventeen. With the exception of a few years in New Richland, she and her husband made their home in Otisco. Four children were born to them: Edwin, who is married and resides in Waiseoa, being a fireman on the C. & N. W. railway; Charles, Floyd, and Walter, who are yet at home. MR. FREDERICK McKUNE. Tnis gentleman was born in Illinois, February 10, 1854. His father, Capt. Lewis McKune, who was instantly killed at the first battle of Bull Run, came with his family to Minnesota, and settled in Blooming Grove, in 1856. With the exception of a few years at Morristown, Frederick had been a resident of Blooming Grove to the time of his death. He married Miss Clarissa C. Gore, of Morristown, in 1883, and three children were bovn to them. Mr. McKune was elected county commissioner in 1900, and, although a very modest man, performed his duties with fidelity. His death from brain trouble occurred June 14, 1904. He had been sick for some time, but it was not generally known that his illness was oi a se- rious nature. MR. NICHOLAS J. BRBEN KILLED INSTANTLY. Thirj gentleman, senior member of the firm of N. J. Breen & Sons, pro- prietors of the oatmeal mill, was instantly killed at Waseca, June 8, 1904, on the side track of the M. & St. L. railroad, at the Wood street crossing, near their mill. Freight cars were standing on the crossing, the rear end of the hind car being about half way across the sidewalk crossing. As Mr. Breen stepped upon the track, in going around the end of the car, the cars were suddenly shoved back. The bumper struck him and knocked him down. He attempted to get off the track upon his hands and knees when the wheels caught him at the waist and cut him in two— the skin only holding the body together. It is said that three cars passed over his body. One arm was badly broken as was one of his legs. Death must have been almost instantaneous. Sympathetic citizens rolled the car wheel off the body and put the re- mains upon a stretcher, whence they were taken to the Comee & Pfaff undertaking rooms. Mr. Breen was born in Dublin, Ireland, January 29, 1830. His parents died when he was twelve years old and he was cared for by an uncle who lived in county Wexford. While living there he learned blacksmith- Ing. When only nineteen years of age he came to America, first stop- ping at Binghampton, N. Y. In the fall of 1849 he came as far west as Milwaukee where he lived two years. In 1851 he opened a blacksmith shop at Franklin, Wis., where he lived until 1866 when he came to the town of Iosco where he opened a farm. This he carried on until about 1871, when he came to Waseca to live and erected a blacksmith shop on the 710 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. corner of First and Elm streets. This he sold to the city for a city hall, June 14, 1888, and at once erected the oatmeal mill situated at the side of the M. & St. L. railroad tracks. He married Miss Rose Anna McAnany, a native of New York city, in 1857, by whom he had seven children: Margaret M., John J., Thomas, Francis M., Agnes C, Mrs. John Moonan and Alice, all of whom reside In Waseca. Mr. Breen was one of our most honorable, upright, and re- liable citizens. All his life he was a Father Matthew total abstinence advocate; a man well read and thoroughly informed, especially in mat- ters pertaining to America and Great Britain. He was a prominent, de- voted, and consistent member of the Catholic church, and if all men were such as he, there need be no fear of the Hereafter. MRS. RUDOLPH BABLBR. • This good woman died at her home in Merton, Minn., Monday, May 30, at the age of seventy-four years, of cancer of the stomach. She was born at Canton Glarus, Switzerland, In 1830. On February 16, 1853, she was married to Rudolph Babler and on February 27, eleven days after their marriage, they started for the United States, reaching Greene county, Wisconsin, May 1, 1853. There they lived eleven years, and then came to Minnesota to the town of Woodville, Waseca county, in 1864. They ar- rived on May 1 of that year and lived there until 1887, when they moved to Clinton Falls, where they lived until May 1903, when they moved to Merton. The deceased was a most estimable woman. She was the mother of eight children, six of whom survive her, as follows: Mrs. A. C. San- ders, Merton; Mrs. George Irvine, Woodville; John Babler, Humbird, Wis.; Christopher Babler, of Hennepin county; Mrs. William Biram, of Idaho; and Rudolph Babler, Jr., of Perham, Minn. Mr. Rudolph Babler died June 24, 1905, at Genesee, Idaho, where he was visiting his daughter, Mrs. W. L. Biram. He was born in Switzer- land Jan. 21, 1828. Mr. Babler was a good citizen, a kind husband and father, and an obliging neighbor. MR. L. F. PETERSON. Mr. Peterson was one of the prominent and influential men of Otisco. He was born June 25, 1825, in Smoland, Skarstad Socken, Sweden. At the age of twenty-eight, in the fall of 1853. he sailed for America, arriv- ing at New York, Oct 20, 1853. He then journeyed to La Fayette, Ind., and entered the employ of a farmer named Murdock where he worked until the spring of 1857. In the month of March, of that year, he was united in marriage with Miss Britta Christina Peterson, of Chicago, and they at once came to Minnesota, arriving the same month. He settled on section 21, in Otisco where he resided at the time of his death. His first wife died in August, 1862, leaving one daughter, Miss Mary C. Peterson. In 1864, Mr. Peterson visited his native land, leaving America in Mav. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 711 He Temained in Sweden a year, leaving there in June, on his return trip, arriving at New York, July 4, 1865. On the 18th of August following, he was united in marriage to Miss Helena Johnson, of Otisco. Ten children were born to them, of whom only four are now living. He died at his home in Otisco at the advanced age of seventy-three, April 25, 1898. ' His son, Theodore Peterson, was born in Otisco, Sept. 26, 1871. He is an active, influential young man. He was appointed deputy county auditor, by Auditor Bailer, in 1901, and still holds the position, giving general satisfaction to all concerned. MR. JOHN FRATZKE. This gentleman was one of our "Union veterans, and an early settler in the town of Freedom. He was a native of Germany, born Oct. 25, 1833. At the age of twenty years, he sailed for America on a sail ship, being nine weeks on the sea. He landed at New York, Jan. 3, 1854, and immediately came west as far as Princeton, Wisconsin. Three years later his parents, five brothers, and one sister, arrived at Princeton from Germany. He married Miss Gering in 1859. On the second day of De- cember, 18C2, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Sixteenth regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer infantry to serve for three years or during the war. He went South with nis regiment the same fall. At Louisville, Ky., he was wounded twice. At Atlanta, Ga., he was in a hot place and received two gun shot wounds, one bullet passing through his left thigh and another through his left ankle. He was sent to the hospital and re- mained there five months. At one time the rebel firing was so hot that the hospital had to be moved seven times in one day. After his recovery, he again took the field, this time at the battle of Gettysburg, which con- tinued three days and nights. At the close of the war he marched to Washington and passed the Capitol in grand review. He was soon after honorably discharged and returned to his home in Wisconsin. In 1866, he and his brother William and their families came with ox teams and covered wagons to the town of Freedom, then a new settlement. Two years later his wife died, leaving three small children. For three years he lived with his brother William in a log cabin 12x14 feet, with a clay r.oor. i'eb. 1, 1870, he visited Germany and there married Miss Gussey and returned to America in May, 1871. Three years later, his second wife died leaving a daughter, Hulda, and a son. Gust J., the latter only three weeks old. Gust J. was cared for and reared by Mrs. Henry Liferman. In 1875, Mr. Fratzke was again married, this time to Miss Mathilda Barb- knecht. Mr. Fratzke was treasurer of the town of Freedom for seventeen years. In 1894, he moved into the town of Wilton where he died in 1896 at tne age of sixty-three years. He was an honorable, upright man, and a true patriot. Two years after John and William came to Minnesota, their father and mother, three brothers, and a sister joined them. The father died at the ago of seventy-seven years; the mother at the age of sixty-six. 712 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Wm. Pratzke still resides in Freedom. Carl Fratzke owns a large farm In Freedom, but resides on another farm near Cottonwood. Julius died in 1891 at the age of fifty-five years. Gustave, another brother of John, owns a large farm in Freedom, but resides in the village of Janesville and runs a general store. Another brother, Herman, is living in Ripen, Wisconsin. The only sister of the family married Mr. Ernest Miller, who owns a large farm in Freedom, while managing a store in Janesville where he resides with his family. John Fratzke had three sons by his first wife: Herman, a carpenter, who is married and lives in this county; William, who went to Wisconsin ten years ago, married and lives at Fox Lake; Charles, who left home at the age of fourteen years and has not been heard from since. John's daughter Hulda, by his second wife, at the age of twenty-one, married Fred Kelling, and died five years later at Janesville. Gust J. Fratzke, the son by his second wife, married Miss Amy Lang, of Vivian, daughter of Mr. Herman Lang, one of the old settlers of that town. Gust J. ran a threshing machine for some time, and then moved to Janes- ville, at the same time becoming traveling salesman for a Minneapolis machinery company. After being with the company three years, he ac- cepted a position with the J. I. Case company, of Wisconsin. John Fratzke had three sons by his third wife^ — Ed, now in Texas; Henry, who is married and lives on a farm in Wilton; and Frank W., who enlisted Dec. 23, 1901, in the army of the United States and served three years. He was a private of Troop H, Sixth regiment of cavalry, and served the most of the time in the Philippine Islands. Near the close of his term he was stationed at Fort Meade, Souh Dakota. He enlisted at the age of eighteen years, and was honorably discharged on the 22nd of December, 1904. MR. H. W. REINEKE, of Blooming Grove, was born in Deerfleld, Steele county, Oct. 5, 1S66, and is the son of Mr. Conrad Reineke, now of Faribault. His grandfather, whose name was also Conrad, was born in the Province of Hanover, Ger- many, and came to Arnerica with his family about the year 1S53. They were eight weeks on the ocean. They first lived in Schonberg, near Chi- cago. In May, 1855, Conrad, Christian, and Henry Reineke, with their parents, started for Minnesota with ox teams and wagons. They arrived in Deerfleld about the first of June 1855, where Grandfather Conrad Reine- ke made a claim. Here the family made their home in spite of the hard- ships incident to pioneer life. Conrad Junior, father of H. W., was then about twelve years of age, having been born July 19, lS-13. Grandfather Conrad died in the early sixties. Conrad Junior enlisted in Company F, Third Minnesota, in 1863, and served until 1865. Conrad was married soon after his return from the army to Miss Otelia Wilkowski. They have ten children: Henry W., Anna, George, William, Albert, Louis, Hulda, Ernest, Rudolph, and Stella. Henry W. was married to Miss Winnie MR. AND MRS. CONRAD REINEKB. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 713 Fehmer Oct. 23, 1900. She was born March 25, 1867. They have six children, one boy and five girls. H. W. has been secretary oi: the Deer- fleld creamery association and prominent in all public affairs. His broth- er, Dr. George Reineke, lives at New Ulm where he practices medicine. William and Albert are well-to-do farmers in Blooming Grove. Louis is a farmer in Deerfield. Ernest is studying for the ministry in the Ger- man M. E. church. Rudolph is attending school in Faribault. Fred and Edward Reinfike, sons of Christian Reineke, of Deerfield, also reside in Blooming Grove. The Messrs. Reineke are all well-to-do people and very reliable. MR. BLLING JOHNSON. Mr. Johnson was born in Norway Jan. 6, 1840, and came to America in 1856, living first in McHenry county, 111. In Dec, 1859, he, with others, went into northern Wisconsin and chopped and cleared the timber from a public highway which was being constructed at public expense. From Dec. 2, 1859, to March 1, 1860, they camped out in the open air and slept in their working clothes. The only protection they had was a covering of evergreen boughs overhead and a bed of the same material with a big campflre in front. In March he went to work in the copper mines at Rockland, Michigan. From there he came to Dodge county, Minnesota, and in 1864 enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer in- fantry. He served until June 26, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to Dodge county, Minn. There he engaged in the lumber business until 1872 when he came to Waseca and took charge of the Winona Lumber company's business in Waseca where he has since re- sided. He married Miss G. Anderson while yet In McHenry county. 111. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are prominent and leading members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church. MR. JOHN A. KRASSIN. This gentleman is a native of this county. He was born in St. Mary township, Sept. 6, 1856. He followed farming until 1889, when he came to Waseca and went into the machine business with San Galli and Her- man Lawin. About a year later he sold his interest in the machine busi- ness and commenced the buying and selling of cattle and hogs, the busi- ness in which he is now engaged. He was married to Miss Emma Lawin, then of St. Mary, March 29, 1887. Mrs. Krassin was born near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, April 25, 1865, and came to Minnesota with her parents in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Krassin are the parents of five children— two boys and three girls. Mr. Krassin still owns his farm and other lands, in all about two hundred seventy acres. MR. JEROME MADDEN. Jerome Madden, who was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1828, and who came to Amferica in 1848, lived first in Illinois and afterwards in 714 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. St. Louis, Mo. He came to Waseca county with his family and settled in Wilton in 1856. He was the father of four sons and one daughter. Mary, now Mrs. Carroll of Waseca, was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 3, 1850; Jerome B. was born at the same place Dec. 14, 1854; Thomas was born in Lacon, 111., Jan. 18, 1857; Francis was born in St. Mary, Minn., Jan. 30, 1859; and James was born at the same place July 27, 1862. Thomas Madden is a resident of St. Mary; Prank is at Dedham, Wis.; and James is in Minneapolis. The mother died August 30, 1888, and Jerome, the father, died Nov. 18, 1895. Other facts are given under the title "Jerome E. Madden." MR. ROSCOB PERCY WARD. Mr. Ward is the well-known cashier of the People's State bank of Waseca, and a son of Hon. W. G. Ward, deceased, who was one of the pioneers of the West and chief engineer in charge of the building of that portion of the C. & N. W. railway, known as the Winona & St. Peter brancn. R. V. was born in the city of Waseca, Jan. 5, 1872. He attended the city schools and graduated from the high school in the class of 1889. He then began the academic course at the State University of Minnesota; but, on the death of his father, which occurred Sept. 21, 1892, he was obliged to leave his university studies in order to look after the large business interests of his father's estate. He married Miss Daisy M. Cole of Minneapolis, Aug. 10, 1893, she being about his own age. They have one child, Emerson. Mr. Ward entered upon the duties of bank cashier in July, 1897, and under his administration, the business of the bank has been largely increased. In addition to his banking interests, he is large- ly interested in farming. He owns one of the finest farms in the state just west of Waseca. He has been alderman from his ward for a number of years and president of the city council for several terms. He resigned the office of alderman in the spring of 1905, having served less than half his last term. MR. H. P. NORTON. Mr. H. P. Norton, who came to Minnesota in July, 1855, is a native of Richford, Tioga county, New York. He was born May 20, 1823. His father was a blacksmith. H. P. attended the public school of his town, learned his father's trade, and worked at home until he reached his ma- jority. Por two years he worked at his trade as a journeyman. In the spring of 1846 he came West, arriving at Woodstock, 111., about the 1st of June. He remained there for several years, working at his trade, and then went to Chicago where he was employed in the railroad shops until 1856, when he came to Minnesota, arriving at Owatonna in July of that year. Here he found employment with "Uncle" Joel Wilson, the pioneer blacksmith, of Owatonna. He remained with "Uncle Joel" until fall, when he came to Wilton, then a new town, and opened the first blacksmith shop in that place. Those were the days' that tried men's H. P. NORTON. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 715 souls, it was work and trust and trust and work, and barter and dicker and dicker and barter. Mr. Norton's books still show several hundred dollars of "trust" unpaid, but the "trusts" of those days were not like the "trusts" of to-day. His brother, C. O. Norton, also a blacksmith, joined him in 1857, and they carried on the business together for a long time. In 1859 H. P. Norton was appointed and elected to fill out the term of clerk of the district court, made vacant by the removal of Thos. L. Page. This oflBce he held until Jan. 1, 1862, when he was succeeded by H. P. West. He was then made postmaster of Wilton for two years, when he was elected register of deeds. He served two years as register, and at the same time held the position of agent for the American Ex- press company. He was married at Woodstock, 111., March 2, 1863, to Miss Anna G. Kimball, an accomplished lady possessed of some property. They have one son, Charles N., who is married and resides in Waseca. In 1867, Mr. Norton and his wife became part proprietors of the First Addition to Waseca, and were among the very first to make their home in the new town. Mr. Norton still held the position of agent of the American Express company and opened the office in Waseca in the fall of 1867. In connection with the express business, he opened a real estate office, which he carried on until 1884, when he retired from active busi- ness. Mr. Norton was the first village marshal of Waseca and held various other positions of honor. His father's name was Amzi. He was a native of Connecticut and was born Feb. 12, 1783, and his mother was a native of the same state. They were the parents of ten children. At this writing — March 1905 — Mr. Norton is nearly eighty-two years of age and is remarkably well preserved. The picture accompanying this sketch, was taken March 13, 1905. Financially he is well fixed, and in every way he is surrounded with all that is agreeable and comfortable. COLONEL W. W. ROBINSON. This gentleman settled in Wilton in 1856. He was bom at Fair Haven, Vermont, Dec. 14, 1819. He graduated from Rutland Academy at the age of nineteen. He also took a course at the Norwich Military academy. He married Sarah Jane Fisk, daughter of Daniel Fisk, Feb. 5, 1842. At the breaking out of the war with Mexico, in 1846, he promptly enlisted and was elected first lieutenant, his commission bearing date June 12, 1846. Oct. 26, 1846, he was promoted to captain. At the close of the Mexican war he returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1851, when he made a trip to Wisconsin on a land speculation. In the spring of 1852, he went to California overland, being six months on the way thither. He remained in the "Golden State" until the fall of 1855, when he rejoined his family at Sparta, Wisconsin. As before stated, he came to Wilton, in this county, in the fall of 1856, where ne resided with his family. He practiced law to some extent while in Wilton and was prominent in local affairs. In 1859 he disposed of his property here and returned to Sparta, Wis. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he engaged in drilling men 716 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. for ihe service, and on the 15th of August, 1861, was commissioned lieu- tenant colonel of the Seventh Regiment Wisconsin volunteer infantry. This regiment, with four others, constituted the famous Iron Brigade. He was promoted to colonel of the regiment in February, 1862. He re- signed in July, 1864, on account of sickness and the breaking out of a wound received at Gainesville, in 1862. He participated in over thirty battles and skirmishes. After a partial recovery of his health he engaged in lumbering at Chippewa Falls, Wis. In 1875 he was appointed U. S. consul at Madagascar by President Grant and held that position until the fall of 1886, when he resigned and returned to his family. At this writing, 1905, Mrs. Robinson is living at Seattle, state of Washington, in good health at the age of eighty-six years. Colonel Robinson died April 27, la03. MR. JOSEPH FROMLATH. Joseph Promlath was born in Stadel Baden, Germany, March 19, 1853. He came to Waseca, Minn., Feb. 1, 1871. He obtained employment for three years on the farm that he later bought of Mr. S. F. Repstein. The farm is situated on section twenty, town of Otisco, Minn., and was the home of Mr. Fromlath's family for many years. It was to this farm that, in the yoar 1876, he brought his bride, Minnie Frank, daughter of Ludwig Frank, of Wilton. Here were reared their six children: Caroline, born May 4, 1877: George, born July 29, 1879; Anna, born Jan. 19, ISSl; Ed- ward, born August 16, 1887; Martha, born January 18, 1S9:3; Joseph, Jr., born March 19, 1904. In 1904, Mr. Fromlath and family removed to North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Fromlath reside in the city of Lisbon; their older children are car- rying on a large farm near that place. While a resident of this county Mr. Fromlath held at different times the ofHces of school director, town supervisor, treasurer of the Otisco Station creamery association, and county commissioner. At the time of his removal to North Dakota, he was one of the directors of the First National bank, of Waseca, and is at this writing a stockholder therein. THE HONORABLE JOHN N. POWERS. Hon. .Tohn Neil Powers was one of the early settlers of this county and a good citizen. He was born of Irish parents, at Providence, Rhode Island, September 26, 1836, and with his parents, at an early age, moved to Woodstock, Illinois, where he resided until 1856, when he came to Blooming Grove, in Waseca county, Minnesota. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fourth regiment, Minnesota volunteers, serving for three years. After being honorably discharged he returned to Waseca county, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867. Here he practiced law for some time. He was married Nov. 2, IStiS. to Miss Anna Josephine Conners. He removed to Morristown soon after, where he practiced law and also edited the first paper published in Morristown CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 717 during 1876. He also published a paper at Waterville during 1877. He was elected to the legislature as a member of the house of representatives from Kice county in 1866. Mr. Powers died March 1, 1901, after having suffered from, paralysis for a long time. He was survived by a widow, eight children, and two sisters. He was a very kind-hearted, good man. He was in no sense a money maker — much less a money schemer. Com- ing from the ranks of working men, he was always their friend and cham- pion. The world would be better if there were more such men. MRS. CHARLES MUNSON. This lady is a daughter of the late James Jones, known as "Jones the joker," and came with her parents to Iosco in May 1856. Mrs. Munson was about five years old when her parents settled in Iosco, and has a very distinct recollection of the early days in this county. She has a vivid remembrance of the Indians, who made frequent visits to the farm and often camped in the vicinity. Her father, who died January 24, 1902, at the age of ninety-two years, was one of the iolliest of all the pioneer set- tlers of the county. THE HONORABLE GOTTFRIED BUCHLER. Mr. Buchler was born in Baden, Germany, in 1836, the last day of Feb- ruary. His mother died when he was about a year old. He came to America with his father when Gottfried was eight years of age. They lived in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, when that section was a wilder- ness of heavy timber. He helped to clear and cultivate the farm, and married there, carrying on his farm until 1868, when he sold his property there and came to Waseca that fall. He first opened a boot and shoe store, and afterwards added clothing — a business which he continued to the time of his death. In 1886 he was elected mayor of this city, and served one term. His administration was noted for its strenuous economy in all departments. AS a business man, he was conservative, never a plunger, and he ac- cumulated quite an amount of property. On Christmas morning, 1904, he arose apparently in his usual health; he ate his breakfast, smoked his pipe, and talked with his children as usual. About 11:30 a. m. he went from the kitchen into the dining room and sat down in his arm chair near the table. Evidently he took from a plate on the table a piece of candy, and when about to eat it, was sud- denly stricken. His daughter heard a peculiar gasping and went to his side. He gasped a time or two more and was dead without speaking. He had not been feeling very well for some days, a pain in the region of the heart being felt at times. But his doctor told him it was only the result of indigestion, and little was thought of it. His sudden death on Christmas morning was a painful shock to the community as well as to his immediate family. He left surviving, three daughters and' two sons- Messrs. Louis and Edmund, and Misses Mary, Louise and Josephine, all of age. 718 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. SUICIDE OF MATT CHRISTIAXSON. The Waseca Herald of April 1, 1904, contained the following: Wednesday morning last, Mr. Raymond Doyle, business manager of the Plum Valley creamery, brought the sad news that Matt Christianson, of Vivian, was found upon the floor of his house, beside his bed, with a bullet hole in his head. The facts, as we hear them, are substantially as follows: Some time ago Mrs. Christianson, fearing that her husband, in his bursts of passion or madness, would kill her, left her home to live with relatives or friends. Christianson and a son thirteen or fourteen years of age, had been keeping house by themselves. On Monday the father went to Mankato, to see his wife. Returning, he stopped at Minnesota Lake, bought a re- volver, and proceeded homeward. In the meantime his son did the chores Monday night and went to stay over night with a neighbor boy. Tuesday morning the son, accompanied by the neighbor boy, returned to the Christianson house. Upon opening the door, a terrible sight met their astonished gaze. There upon the floor, covered with blood and with blood all around him, lay Christianson with a bullet hole in his head apparently unconscious, but still breathing. The terrified boys at once alarmed the neighbors, who soon gathered at the house, but no one seemed willing to attempt to do anything for the wounded man until a physician could be obtained from Minnesota Lake. This is the same Christianson who, over a year ago, assaulted his neigh- bor, Ewald, with a loaded gun and who was himself thoroughly bruised at the time by young Ewald, who defended his father. Mr. Christianson was arrested at that time, heavily fined, and put under bonds to keep the peace. It is generally thought by those acquainted with him that he has been insane for a long time. It aiso appears that Mrs. Christianson had commenced an action for divorce, on the grounds of cruelty. Our Vivian correspondent writes that the victim shot himself through the mouth, the bullet piercing the brain. This is confirmed by Coroner Blanchard who visited the remains on Wednesday, the man having died on Tuesday. Our Vivian correspondent also writes that Christianson, a short time before, attempted to kill his wife with a butcher knife. It also appears that Mrs. Christianson, since that time, has been living wih a daughter at Mankato. TRAGIC DEATH OF DR. EDWARD DOLAN. Tragic in the extreme was the death by accidental poisoning of Dr. Edward Dolan, of Worthington, .Jan. 8, 1904. Not feeling well Saturday night when leaving the farm house of a patient five miles south of Worthington, he reached for his medicine case, pulled out a bottle and drank a quantity of carbolic acid. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 719 He had made a mistake in the darlmess, but with great presence of mind, poured several ounces of alcohol down his throat, but his efforts to save himself were vain. Doctor Dolan gasped out an Order to his driver to hurry at full spe6d to' Woi'thington, and while the buggy rushed over tne road he exerted every effort to save his own life. About a mile from Lown he alighted from the vehicle, intending to keep the vital spark alive by walking. He had wallted but a few paces when he reeled and fell, racked with convulsions. Death ended his sufferings very soon and the driver brought the body into town. Doctor Dolan was about thirty- seven years of age and had practiced medicine at Worthington for ten or twelve years. He was born in Iosco and many of his relatives live in this vicinity. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he left his large practice to serve as captain of Company H, Fifteenth Minnesota volunteers, and continued in the service until his regiment was mustered out. He left surviving him his wife and one son two years old. PROFESSOR P. V. HUBBARD. This gentleman was superintendent in charge of the schools of Waseca for nine years, having come here from Redwood Falls where he had taught for six years. He was highly esteemed and stood high among the schoolmen of the state. He had been one of the vice presidents of the State Teachers' association and an officer of the National Association of Superintendents. He was suddenly killed at his home in Red Wing, August 27, 1901. He had been remodeling his house and was directing work with a horse scraper on the lawn. The driver had some trouble with the scraper, and Mr. Hubbard, who was in haste to be done, tried to help him. As Mr. Hubbard unhooked it, the load of dirt threw the scraper over suddenly and the end of the lever hit him in the back of the head, breaking his neck. He died instantly. He was forty-six years old. His wife and four sons survived him. He was a graduate of the Whitewater, Wis., Normal school. He was one of the best teachers, if not the best, that ever had charge of the Waseca schools. MR. JOHN DALTON. This gentleman was one of the prominent farmers of Iosco, who set- tled there about the year 1866. He was born in Ireland, coming to this country in 1847, at the age of twenty-three. He worked on the Erie canal m the state of New York, and later resided some years in Illinois, before coming to Minnesota. He accumulated considerable property, having a fine farm and a pleasant home, at the time of his death. He died Dec. 8, 1899, at the age of seventy-five years. MR. AUGUST F. GRAPP. Mr. August F. Grapp, who stands at the head of the Grapp Furniture 720 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. & Carpet company, was born July 26, 1841, at Ukermark, Prussia, where he was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of cabinet maker. At the age of eighteen, as is the law there, he entered the army and served in all four years — the last year, 1864-5, he saw active service in the war with Denmark. As soon as the war was over he came to Amer- ica, arriving in August, 1866. His parents had preceded him and resided at Fountain City, Wis., where he joined them. He worked at Fountain City a few months, and then came as far west as Owatonna. There he worked until the village of Waseca was platted in 1867, when he was one among the very first to buy a lot in the new town and build. He had on- ly $75 to begin with, but, nothing daunted, he purchased a lot on time, put up a small building with his own hands and opened a furniture store before the grain crop then standing on the plat had been stacked. The lot he then built upon is the adjoining lot on the north of the one he now occ;ipies. From this small beginning has grown the immense business of the present firm. On the first of December, 1869, he was wedded to Miss Ottilie L. Roesler, who was born Sept, 17, 18&2, in Michigan City, In- diana, and came to Waseca county with her parents in 1862, about the time of the Indian massacre in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Grapp are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: Wm. L., born Dec. 14, 1871; Otto W., born Nov. 7, 1873; Albert E., born Sept. 6, 1875; Frederick C, born Sept. 27, 1877, and died July 19, 1885; Lydia A. R., born Feb. 14, 1882; John H., born Jan. 10, 1885; George L., born Aug. 17, 1887; Edward A., born Feb. 10, 1889, and Roy E., born Jan. 9, 1893. Wm. L. Grapp manages the popular store at Janesville, and Otto W. is at the head of their business at Redwood Falls. Mr. A. Grapp is one of the solid busi- ness men of Waseca, who has succeeded by hard work and attention to business. SUPERINTENDENT H. A. PANZRAM. Herman A. Panzram was born in Olmsted county, Minn., Oct. 1, 1877. His mother died when he was a babe, and he was adopted by his father's ' sister and her husband, Martin Helwig and wife, resident farmers of Free- dom. He remained in Freedom until 1885, when the family moved to Alton and thence to Janesville in 1888. He graduated from the Janes- ville high school and attended the State University one year. When the Spanish war broke out, he was one of the first of the patriotic young men to enlist in Company K, of this county. He spent the summer of 1898 in the service, being stationed most of the time at Chickamauga. He was . honorably mustered out in the tall. For the three and a half years fol- lowing, he was engaged in school teaching. In the fall of 1904, he was elected to the oflice of county school superintendent, and holds this po- sition at the present writing. He is also publisher of the Waseca County Teacher, and Is thoroughly devoted to the cause of education. He was married to Miss Pansy E. Jenkins Oct. 4, 1905. 1 ^B^^v^^^l ^H^,: . ':^H 1 1 -■-* w^^ ^ H [ 1^ 1 1 ^^r- ,;»^» ^ ^^^J «^S HI H'^^^^H ^^^g ^M H^r.'^^H ^^BBsM^m ■H ^^1 B^r -'^^H H^B 1 ^Hmh C~>' '->^ ■ AUGUST GRAPP. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 721 MR. CHAUNCY E. PARKER. This aged pioneer of the West died at the residence of his son, James E. Parker, of Waseca, March 23, 1904, of pneumonia, in his eighty-eighth year. He was horn in the state of New York, in the month of June, 1816. When a young man, he started West and first lived near Ashtahula, Ohio. About 1850, he moved to Evanston, 111., where the family remained until about 18.57 when they removed to Marquette county, Wisconsin. His wife died about 1S5S. He remained in Wisconsin until 1885, when he came to Waseca where he resided with his sons. He was a well-preserved man and had enjoyed good health nearly all his life up to the time of his last illness. He left surviving him three sons and two daughters: A. H. and J. E. Parker, of Waseca; Orson Parker, of Pomona, Cal. ; Mrs. Bort, of St. Paul; and Mrs. Hibbard, of Fond du Lac, Wis. MR. C. H. BAILER. Charles H. Bailer, the present efficient county auditor, was born March 19, 1861, in Schuylkill, Pa., and came to Minnesota, March 17, 1884, first stopping at Mankato but soon after going to Janesville. There he entered the store of Mr. Cordry as clerk and afterwards as partner. He remained in Janesville until the fall of 1900 when he was elected county auditor. He has been re-elected twice since, at the last election having no com- petitor. Sept. 25, 1888, he married Miss Emma Parnum, of Janesville, who was born in Minnesota May 7, 1866. They are the parents of three daughters and one sen. Mr. Bailer followed farming, when not at school, until he became of age, when he was employed as clerk. He graduated from the high school of his town and also from a business college in his native state. HENRY G. BLANCHARD, M. D. Dr. H. G. Blanchard, son of Mr. Gustof Blanchard, one of the very early settlers of Winona county, was born April 17, 1868, in Winona county, Minn. When the doctor's parents first settled in this then territory, the Indians were numerous. The family lived fifteen miles west of Wi- nona, and his father, who was a carpenter by trade, worked in Winona and often made the distance on foot, sometimes carrying family supplies the whole distance on his shoulders. Doctor Blanchard attended the public schools of his county, took the academic course at the Grand Porks, N. D., university, and graduated from the medical department of the Minnesota university. He practiced medicine and surgery for some time in Hutchinson, afterwards in Minneapolis, and came to Waseca in 1898, where he soon enjoyed an extensive practice. On June 25, 1902, he was joined to Miss Catharine Kiesler, of Hutchinson, in holy wedlock. He has a fine suite of rooms in the First National Bank building and is supplied with all modern implements and appliances for surgical and other work in the art curative. 722 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. FRANK B. ANDREWS, ATTORNEY. Frank B. Andrews, Esq., present county attorney of this county, was first ■ urought to light" in the town of Wonewoc, Wisconsin, March 30, 1862. His parents removed from Wonewoc, Wis., to Wells, Minn., about 1871. He attended the Wells schools and studied law with his brother. Oct. 1, 1885, he was joined with Miss Jessie Smout in marriage and com- menced life in earnest. In 1889, he was admitted to the bar by Judge Severance, at Blue Earth, and the same year moved to New Richland, this county. At the election in 1890, he was chosen county attorney and served acceptably one term. In 1902 he was again elected county attor- ney and re-elected in 1904. He is the father of five children: Florence, born in December, 1886; Robert, born in September, 18S9, died Oct. 14, 1905; Clifford, born in October, 1891; Catharine, born in July, 1897; Marian, born in April, 1904. In the performance of his duties as county attorney, he is very conservative, and takes extra precautions against extravagant expenses. Socially, he stands at the head of his class. MR. WILLIAM HOOVER. This gentleman, who was one of the early settlers in Vivian, was born in Ontario county, New York, April 30, 1824. His parents moved to Brad- ford county. Pa., while he was yet a small lad. He remained there with his parents till Nov. 8, 1845, when he married Miss Susan Hill. He then engaged in lumbering. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are the parents of one daugh- ter, now Mrs. A. T. Wolcott, of Waseca, and one son, who died at the age of seventeen years. Mr. Hoover was in the Wisconsin lumber work until 1862, when he came to Minnesota to section 27, Vivian, where, in 1864, he owned two hundred acres of farm land. He joined the army Dec. 17, 1864, enlisting in Company G, Fifth Minnesota infantry. He returned from the army in September, 1865, and resumed farming. Mrs. Hoover died Jan. 8, 1880. In 1885 he sold his farm in Vivian and came to Waseca where he has since resided. At this writing he is still hale and hearty although over eighty-one years of age. MR. B. J. CHAPMAN. This gentleman was born in Madison county. New York, in 1S35; came to Wisconsin in 1856, to Rice county, Minnesota, April 16, 1S57. He built a claim shanty, which some one soon appropriated. He bought a yoke of oxen and paid down $50 which was all of his available capital. In his statement he says: "My aunt, Mrs. Chapin, signed a fifty-dollar note with me to pay for the oxen. By the way she did not have it to pay. I got a few acres broken that year, and next year sowed it to wheat; but the wheat did not fill, hence I had nothing to harvest. I broke more land and sowed all to wheat the next year. I got it harvested, threshed, and put into a rail pen. Soon after the pen caught fire and the wheat was burned, except a part of it, which was badly smoked. After that I had better success. HON. P. C. BAILEY. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUxXTY. 723 Within five years I had my farm of one hundred sixty acres paid for, one hundred twenty acres fenced, seventy acres broken, a comfortable house, etc. I then went back to York State but returned in 1863. The following year, 1864, I purchased the B. B. Stearns old farm in Otisco, and moved there In the spring of 1864. October 15, 1865, I was united in marriage with Miss Samantha Reynolds who was born in Grant county, Indiana, Sept. 17, 1846. She came to Minnesota in 1857 with her parents who settled on what is known as the McLaln farm." Mr. uhapman Is one of the successful farmers of the county who has made his property, not by sharpness or shrewdness, but by hard work and economy. He is the father of two sons and four daughters. His oldest son, Gecrge, is on a farm in Stevens county. The younger. Orange, is attending school in Mankato. His daughters are Mrs. Thos. Ivers, of Byron; Mrs. Wm. Lust, of Olivia, Minn.; Mrs. Wm. Duncan, of Fairmont, Minn.; and Miss Lilian, attending school at Waseca. MR. B. SIMONS. This gentleman is the popular proprietor of the restaurant on the corner of Second and Wood streets. He was born in Norway, March 11, 1852; came to America with his parents in 1857, and lived for six months in Manitowoc, Wis. His parents then moved to Adams county, same state. He married Miss Emma Thompson, March 29, 1880, coming to Minnesota in 1882. Miss Thompson was born Dec. 29, 1856, near Madison, Wis. In the fall of 1882, he opened the Nicollet House in Waseca, which he con- ducted for four years. In the tall of 1886, in company with Fred Byers- dorf, he opened a grocery store. In the fall of 1894, he sold his interest to Byersdorf, and traveled a year for a cigar house. In the fall of 1895, he commenced the business in which he and his family are now engaged. At the last city election he was chosen alderman from the First ward. He is th3 father of three sons and three daughters; Malinda, born in 1881; Anna, in 1883; Jalmar, in 1885; Clarence, in 1887; Bert, in 1891, deceased; and Eva, in 1894. Jalmar is attending the State University. MR. JOHN RADLOFF. Mr. Kadloff, who was torn in Germany Oct. 7, 1834, came to America in 1854, landing at Buffalo, N. Y., where he worked ten years for one lumberman. In March, 1860, he married Lena Billiard who was born in the state of New York. They are the parents of three sons and three daughters. They settled on section 11, Vivian, in 1864, where they have since resided. Mr. Radloff is one of the oldest threshermen in the state, and has earned a great deal of money, very much of it being spent for machinery, repairs, and interest. He is one of the leading men of his townsnip. THE HONORABLE P. C. BAILEY. Philo 0. Bailey, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1828, came 724 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to Faribault, Rice county, Minn., in 1856, and to Wilton, this county, in 1857, opening the first hardware store in the county with his brother-in- law, H. P. West — the firm name being P. C. Bailey & Co. Some time after the death of Mr. West, J. H. Wightman became a partner, while he was at Wilton. At the starting of Waseca, Mr. Bailey and Geo. W. Watkins, under the firm name of Bailey & Watkins, put in the first hard- ware store, and Mr. Bailey has been connected with the store ever since, either as an active or silent partner. For a number of years past he and his firm have handled Standard Oil goods in this county. He has also been interested in the hardware business at Janesville with his brother- in-law, D. J. Dodge. Mr. Bailey married his first wife, Miss Avis Slocum, sister of Congressman Slocum, of the state of New York, in June, 1857, by whom he had two daughters, Kate and Gertrude. Kate married Eu- gene W. Fisk and lives in Helena, Montana. Gertrude married Mr. Franklin Williams. She died in August, 1S05, in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Bailey's first wife died in September, 1865. About two years ' thereafter, Dec. 27, 1867, ne married Miss Lurinda Dodge, whose parents were among the very early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are the parents of a son and a daughter. Fred, born Nov. 7, 1870, is now married and en- gaged in the flour milling business, at Mitchell, South Dakota. Lena, born Dec. 5, 1872, is now Mrs. Armitage, of Waterville. Mrs. Lurinda Bailey was born April 12, 1850, at Owego, in the state of New York, and came to Waseca county with her parents about 1857. Mr. Bailey has not only been fortunate in business, but he has held a number of oflScial positions both of honor and trust with credit to himself. He held the ofiice of justice of the peace in early days, in Wilton, was elected to the lower branch of the legislature in the fall of 1861, and county treasurer in the fall of 1S63. He served as state senator during the sessions of 1877 and 1878. He was also county commissioner during the years 1895-6-7 and took a prominent and very useful part in the construction of the new court house. Mr. Bailey is a man who keeps his own counsel, but those who have been closest to him respect him most highly. Early in life he be- came a Master Mason and attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is a man of sound financial judgment, and seldom makes a mistake in business undertakings. MR. PATRICK McHUGO came to Waseca when a boy about five years of age. He was born in Ireland in 1854. His mother died before he was two years old. Soon after his mother's death, his father, Lawrence McHugo, came to America and lived for a time in Janesville township. He then made a claim in Iosco, on section 34, in 1863, and permanently settled thereon in Nov. 1866, where Patrick now resides. Patrick McHugo and Miss Mary Kinney were married in November 1880. Her father was Michael Kinney, one of the very early settlers of Janesville, who died In Jan. 1897. Mrs. Mc- Hugo was born in the town of Janesville in 1858. She is the mother of CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 725 four sons and three daughters. Mr. McHugo was an only son and In- herited his father's estate which he had helped to create. He was demo- cratic candidate in his district for county commissioner in the fall of 1904 and made a strong run against an overwhelming republican majority. THE HONORABLE R. L. McCORMICK. [From the National Cyclopedia of American Biography.] Robert Laird McCormick, financier, was born on a farm near Lock Haven, Clinton county. Pa., Oct. 29, 1S47, son of Alexander and Jane Hayes (Laird) McCormick. The north of Ireland was the home of his remote ancestors — pious, industrious Protestants of Scotch origin. From that region his great-grandfather, John McCormick, emigrated to Chester county. Pa., in 1750. John McCormick became a private in the Revolu- tionary army. Robert Laird McCormick wasfeducated chiefly at Saunder's Institute, Philadelphia, and Tuscarora Acwiemy, Mifflin, Pa., but left school before graduation. While he was a school boy, his father served in the Civil War with the Ninth Minnesota regiment, the family having removed to the Northwest. At the age of eighteen, Robert began to earn his own liv- ing by working as a clerk in the employ of the Philadelphia & Erie Rail- road at Lewisburg, Pa. In 1868 he moved to Winona, Minn., taking charge of the Laird & Norton Lumber company office. In 1874 his health became impaired by the confinement of office work and he removed to Waseca, Minn., where he bought a retail lumber yard. This he operated until 1881, at the same time doing the auditing for Laird & Norton, whose lumber yards were scattered through Minnesota and Wisconsin. He also established for them new lumber yards, in some of which he retained an interest. In 1881, with others, he incorporated the North Wisconsin Lum- ber company and became its secretary, treasurer, and manager. Its mill at Hayward, Wis., had a daily capacity of nearly 500,000 feet of lumber. Still adding to his responsibilities, Mr. McCormick, in connection with Frederick Weyerhaeuser, established the Sawyer County bank, of which he became president, having in 1882 removed to Hayward. In 1893 he became president of the Northern Boom company, at Brainerd, Minn.; president of the Mississippi & Rum River Boom company; vice-president of the St. Paul Boom company, St. Paul, Minn. ; vice president of the Flam- beau Land company, Chippewa, Wis. ; secretary and treasurer of the North- ern Grain company, of Chicago, 111., with warehouses in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas; treasurer of the New Richmond Mill company, (flour) New Richmond, Wis. In 1899 the Weyerhaeuser Tim- ber company was organized and Mr. McCormick became its secretary and western manager. This company has acquired all the timber lands belonging to the Northern Pacific Railway company west of the Cascade mountains, including 1,300,000 acres in Washington, and is buying the remainder of the railroad's grants as fast as surveyed. Meanwhile Mr. McCormick has taken an active part in civic and polit- 726 CHILDS HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. leal affairs. In 1876 he was elected president of the village council of Waseca, and In 1881, as senator, secured the passage of the bill for the Incorporation of the city. He was mayor of Waseca, serving until 1880, when he was elected to the state senate, where he served for two ses- sions. For five years he was president of the school board of Hayward, and was president of Ashland academy at Ashland, Wis.; also president of the Hayward library association and vice-president of the Wisconsin State Historical society, which he also served in 1901-04 as president. His deep Interest in the American Indian led him to agitate for and finally secure through congress the establishment at Hayward of schools for the Chippewa tribe. In 1904 Mr. McCormick removed to Tacoma, Wash., and in 1905 resigned his offices in the eastern corporations already men- tioned, to devote himself to the Weyerhaeuser Timber company's inter- ests in Washington, and the Lumbermen's National bank of Tacoma, of which he Is president. He Is also preajdent of the Washington State Historical society, having been elected in 1905. Mr. McCormick is a republican in politics, and in 1900 was a delegate from Wisconsin to the national convention of Philadelphia. He is a thirty-two degree JIason, a Mystic Shrlner and a Knight Templar, serving as its grand commander in Minnesota for one term, 1881 and 1SS2; a member also of the Sons of Veterans, of the Washington society of the Sons of the American Revolu- tion, and of the Chicago Chapter of the Society of the War of 1812. He has published a "History of Journalism in Sawyer County, Wisconsin" (18. .) and with rtof. James G. Adams, a "History of the Schools of Saw- yer county," (18..) Mr. McCormick writing the chapters devoted to the Indian schools. He is an attendant of the Congregational church. Jlr. McCormick was married at Tiflln, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1S70, to Anna B. daughter of Daniel and Minerva (Mills) Goodman. They have had three children, William Laird, Robert Allen, and Blanche Amelia. The daugh- ter died in infancy. MR. GEORGE H. WOOD. Mr. Wood is one of the most extensive and prosperous dairymen in the county, his dairy farm being situated just east of Waseca. He was born in Wisconsin, Sept. 29, 1849. His father and family settled in Woodville June 11, 1866. George is one of the sons of Ezra H. and Catharine (Gamble) Wood, the former born in Massachusetts May 1, 1S14. and the latter In the state of New York, Sept. 15, 1820. Ezra died Oct. 11, 1SS5, and George's mother, Sept. 29, 1SS6. George married Miss Jennie Dever- ell, of Woodville, July 4, 1S77. She was a Badger state girl, born Dec. 22, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are known in the state as high-grade butter makers and first-class dairy managers, their butter always commanding the highest market price. They are the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters: Casper A., born Fob. 2, 1S79; Augusta A., Jan. C, 188a; Frank G., Sept. 29, 1885; Effie, Jan. 18, ISSS; Ezra, March 21, 1S92; William, Oct. 6, 1893. Casper A. and Augusta A. are graduates of CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 727 the' agricultural department of the state university. Augusta A. married Mr. Louis J. Sheldon, July 6, 1904, and they reside on one of her father's farms. For a number of years Mr. Wood has been treasurer of the town of Woodville, which Is a very responsible position, as he holds and handles a large amount of money now in the sinking fund to pay off railroad bonds issued years ago. In the summer of 1905 he bought a house in Waseca and now occupies it with his family. His sons Casper and Frank, manage the farm near town. Casper was married to Miss Lottie Snyder, August 16, 1905. MR. PATRICK MURPHY. This energetic, old-time settler of Alton, was born in Ireland and came to America in early life. We first learn of him in Milwaukee, Wis., where he was married. The family came to Alton in 1865, and settled on the northeast shore of Buffalo Lake. Here he opened a large farm where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. His wife died Oct. 12, 1887, and he died March 5, 1894, at an advanced age. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters — Rose, now Mrs. Thos. Lynch, Ellen, John H., Hugh S., Robert, Peter, James C, and Patrick Joseph. Hugh S. and Robert were twins as were Peter and James C. John H. was born in Dodge county. Wis., in 1858. His wife was Miss Jennie A. Markham, daughter of Mr. Patrick Markham, one of the early and success- ful farmers of Alton, near Alma City. She was born in Ireland. Mr. John H. Murphy is largely engaged in raising fine stock, especially Angora goats, horses and Short Horn cattle. He is one of the wealthy, solid farmers of the county, and a stockholder and director in the Janesville Waseca County bank. MR. TBRRENCE LILLY. Among Waseca county pioneers was Terrence Lilly, who, with his family, settled close to what then was the eastern border of the Winne- bago Indian Reservation, in St. Mary. He was a cooper by trade, and in 1849, taking his family and a few tools, he left his native city of Ennis- killen, Ireland, that he and his might enjoy the blessings and privileges of a free country. For six years he followed his trade in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then moved westward to Lacon, 111., and two years later concluded that Minnesota farm life offered peculiar inducements and so, early in the year 1857, he came to this state. Living near a populous Indian res- ervation offers a great field fpr the imagination of romantic boys. It didn't require a curfew ordinance in those days to call the children in at night, and it is recorded that even men in those days kept good hours. Every age and time has its utilities. Now, the city parent reminds the young hopeful to look out for the policeman, but in those early days, to secure good order and early hours, a mother had but to speak of Indians. The old settler still recalls Indian days and tells the newcomer that men went to bed in those days not knowing whether they would "wake up dead 728 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. or alive next morning." Tlie trials of the Lilly family were incidental to all early settlers in ante-railroad days; but the head of the family never lost faith in the productive future of the county. His first house was a "cotton top." It caught fire one windy day and, although the alarm was promptly sounded and the boys responded with a pall of milk, there was nothing saved. A better house succeeded that one, and for this father, as for most men that patiently and willingly toil, better times were ahead. Mr. Lilly did not entirely give up his trade, for in early times a man that could make pork and sorghum barrels, and incidentally and oc- casionally a cofiin for the indigent, was in demand. However, he came to Minnesota to farm and his success as a farmer was evident from the large farm he left at his death. He and his wife thoroughly cast their lot in Waseca county, for they came at an early day and never left the county except to do marketing. Both are asleep in the Catholic cemetery near Janesville. Mr. and Mrs. Lilly were reared in Enniskillen, Ireland, Mr. Lilly was born in 1808, and Mrs. Lilly, whose maiden name was Mary McManus, was born in 1822. The former died May 15, 1891, the latter Jan. 2, 1901. Seven children blessed their home: one daughter, Margaret, born March 4, 1863, died June 30, 1894; six sons — Owen, born in 1845; P. A., born in 1848; Thomas, born in 1854; B. J., born in 1856; T. J., born in 1860; and J. P., born in 1865. Terrence J. Lilly resides at St. Paul with his family and is the efficient and gentlemanly state adjuster of losses for the Continental Insurance company. B. J. Lilly resides in Waseca and is local insurance agent for the Continental. P. A. and Owen are engaged in farming and reside in Alton. THE HONORABLE W. E. YOUNG. This gentleman, who is now a member of the State Railroad and Ware- house Commission, was one of the early boy settlers in the town of Freedom. His father's name is Delos P. Young and his mother was Miss Ruth Lockwood. The former was born in Massachusetts, May 11, 183S, and the latter was born Oct. 8, the same year. They were married in Wisconsin, May 27, 1858. W. E. Young was born in Adams county, Wis- consin, Oct. 20, 1861. When W. E. was three years of age, his parents movea into the town of Preedom, to a farm about a mile west of what was then called Peddler's Grove. Here the family resided for ten years when the elder Mr. Young engaged in mercantile business at Alma City, removing his family to that place. W. E. attended the country school and also served an apprenticeship as tinner. He then attended the State Nor- mal school at Mankato, and there graduated in 1881. He then commenced the study of law, reading at Mankato and St. Paul and then at the Iowa City State Law school where he graduated in 18S4. He practiced law one year in Pope county, then opened a law office in Janesville, Minn., where he practiced two years. In 1887 he moved to Mankato where he has since lived and practiced his profession. For six years he was city attorney in Mankato, and for seventeen years he has been a leading attorney in HON. WM. B. YOUNG. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 729 that place. He was admitted to the bar in Waseca county at the age of twenty-one years. He married Miss Nettie Shingler, of Pope county, in I880. She is a native of Wisconsin and was reared on a farm. They are the parents of three children: two sons, nearly men grown — Paul, aged nineteen, and Donald, aged sixteen — and one daughter, Alice, aged four years. W. B. Young has long been known as one of the ablest attor- neys of the state, and he now occupies a position in which he may become very useful to the people. His father, D. P. Young, after leaving Alma City, carried on a store at Minnesota Lake, then at Rock Rapids, Iowa, and finally, for the last ten years, at Mankato. Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Young spent xae winter of 1904-05 in California. Arthur E. Young, a brother of Wm. E., is a dentist, married and living in Minneapolis. The sister of W. B. and Arthur, born in 1881, is teaching at Little Palls, Minn., at this writing. The Youngs were prominent in social and political circles in this county during their residence here, and are remembered kindly by all the early settlers of the county. MR. THOMAS H. JOHNSON. Mr. Johnson, who is now a leading hardware merchant in Waseca, was born in Iosco, Feb. 11, 1864. His father, Albert Johnson, was one of the early settlers, having settled in Iosco in 1856. Thomas H. was reared on the farm, but in early manhood developed a liking for machinery. He first engaged in putting down tubular wells, and then drifted into farm machinery and especially threshing outfits. He married Miss Helen Olson, daughter of Andrew Olson, of Iosco, in March 1884. They have two sons — • Alfred, born Feb. 7, 1885, and John, born in 1891 — and one daughter, Clara, born in March, 1887. The family moved into Waseca about 1898. Thomas H. remained in the machinery and lightning rod business until the spring of 1904 when he accepted the appointment of city marshal of Waseca. This position he resigned in February, 1905, when he bought the extensive hardware stock of O. J. Johnson & Co., of Waseca. He carries an extensive stock of hardware and is a popular dealer. MR. C. W. RBDESKE. C. W. Redeske is the son of Frederick Redeske, who came to this coun- try from Prussia in 1873. C. W. was born in Bshen Rieze, Prussia, Jan. 13, 1868. He and his parents reached Chicago in 1873, and came to Wa- seca county in 1881. They first lived in Wilton. In 18S3 they moved to Otisco. Frederick died Dec. 28, 1898. His wife is still living. C. W. mar- ried Bertha Stolz, of Waseca, Oct. 21, 1903. They have one child living. Mr. Redeske has three sisters: Mrs. Gus Stolz, Mrs. J. T. Johnson, and Mrs. Thos. Curley, all of this county. He owns what is known as the John Hilton farm in Otisco. MINGES BROTHERS. Joseph, Edward, and Charles W. Minges are sons of Joseph Minges, 7:;0 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. who was born in Bavaria, Germany, In 1817. He landed in New York in 1847 where he lived until 1858, when he came with his family to Otisco where hs continued to reside until his death on June 21, 1886. He died ot paralysis, at the age of sixty-nine years. Joseph, Jr., was born in New York city, Feb. 9, 1851; Charles W., Feb. 14, 1853, and Edward, Nov.28,1855. Joseph married Emma Brandt, of Iowa, Oct. 17, 1889, and they are the parents of three boys and three girls. Charles W. married in New York, but is now a widower, his wife and children being dead. Charles W. lives at Wilmot, S. D. Jo. and Ed. have a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and a timber lot of six acres. They have four sisters: Mrs. Wm. Luff, of New Richland; Mrs. Henry Brandt, of Phillips, Neb.; Mrs. Gertje, of Wil- mot, S. D.; and Mrs. Chris Billings, of Lisbon, N, D. Ed. is a single man and resides with the family of his brother Jo. Joseph Minges, the father, was prominent in the political history of the county, during his life time. Few were the republican conventions he did not attend and his voice was potent in their management. He served the county well and faith- fully m the legislative session of 1875. MR. W. H. WHEELER. This gentleman is the son of Whitney L. Wheeler, one of the early settlers whose life-sketch is in this history. W. H. was born in St. Mary, June 28, 1866. He owns a farm of one hundred sixty acres in Woodville, and is a successful farmer. He was joined to Miss Mary Kief in holy wedlock, Api-il 15, 1890. Miss Kief was born March 18, 1864, in Canada. They are the parents of three girls and two boys. Mr. Wheeler moved from Wilton to Woodville in 1871, his father having died in Wilton, Nov. 4, 1870. MR. KNUTE JAMESON. Mr. Jameson, of Blooming Grove, was born in Norway May 9, 1855, and is therefore about as old as Waseca county. His father, Tarrel Jameson, came to Waseca in the fall of 1862. Knute's wife's name was Margaret Hagen, and they have seven children. He is one of the industrious and well-to-do farmers of that township. MR. STEPHEN J. KRASSIN is a native of Waseca county, born in St. Mary, August 14, 1859; his father, Martin Krassin, having explored Waseca county in the fall of 1S54 and settled here in June 1855. Steve was married to Miss Lizzie Meyers, of St. Mary, March 15, 1886. She is the daughter of the late Henry Meyers of Waseca, and was born Feb. 9, 1861. S. J. owns land in this county and considerable land in Ward county, North Dakota. He is a breeder of good horspq and an expert thresherman. His wife is a sister ot Hon. W. H. Meyers, MR. LEWIS L. FRETHAM. Erick Larson Fretham, lather of Lewis, a native of Norway, settled in CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 731 Waseca county in 1864. Lewis was born in Iosco, Feb. 25, 1867, and was the only son. He joined Miss Christina Quitney in the holy bonds of matrimony in 1889. They are the parents of four sons and two daughters. Their pleasant home is on section 20, Blooming Grove. He has been one of the supervisors of his town for several years, and is prominent in the management of the Palmer creamery as one of its officers. MR. JOHN S. JOHNSON, at present a county commissioner of this county, and grandson of John Segurdson, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, Oct. 27, 1850. He came to this county in 1855 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Segurd Johnson, a sketch 01 whose life is given elsewhere in this book. John Segurdson, John's grandfather, was one of the 1855 settlers in Iosco. He was born m 1794, and died in 1S64. The grandmother was born in 1796, and died in January, 1881. John's father, Segurd Johnson, came to America in 1845, and his father and brothers came in 1850. The grandfather settled in Iosco in 1855. John's father did not come until the next year. John Segurdson had six sons — Segurd, Thomas, Torgus, Albert, John and Ole — and two daughters — Gonield and Birget. One of the daughters became the. wife of Jacob Jackson, and the other the wife of Tarrel Anderson, both of them earlj^ settlers. John S. Johnson and Angelei Bagne, daugh- ter of S. O. Bagne, of the town of Iosco, were married Oct. IS, 1874. They are the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters — no "race suicide" there. John S. Johnson states that Mr. Tarrel Anderson, who settled in Iosco in 1855, was the father of four sons and two daughters. Both Mr. Anderson and his wife died some years ago. Jacob Jackson, who married the other aunt of Mr. Johnson, also died some years ago, but Mrs. Jackson Is still living. Segurd Jackson, the merchant at Palmer creamery, is her son and grandson of John Segurdson the first Nor- wegian settler in Iosco. The several branches of this family are numer- ous in this county, notwithstanding the fact that a number of them are residing elsewhere in the Northwest. Tom Johnson, an uncle of John S., was born May 23, 1833. He came to America in 1850 and lived in Dane county. Wis., until 1855, when he came to Waseca county and moved to his present homestead, in Iosco, July 5. His first wife was Mary Olson Kin, who died Jan. 16, 1869. His second wife was Miss Mary Bvenson. He is the father of thirteen children— nine sons and four daughters- all of whom are living except one son. He is one of the very few left of the settlers of 1855. MR. A. K. LEE is one of the substantial farmers of Blooming Grove. He was born in Norway May 16, 1839. He came to America in June 1861, and worked at various places in Wisconsin and Minnesota until 1S68. He married in June of this year, while living at Meriden, and in 1869 settled on his present farm in section 7, Blooming Grove, where he owns two hundred 732 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. ninety-two acres. They have had nine children, seven of whom are liv- ing. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father died about twenty-four years ago. He is an energetic, prosperous farmer. MR. JOHN BYRON. The subject of this sketch was born in 1819, in the parish of Kitteely, county nf Limerick, Ireland. He sailed from Ireland in 1846,' and after a long and tedious voyage landed In New York. After a short stay there , he went to the state of Virginia where he was a contractor for the con- struction of Macadam and turnpike roads, there being at that time very few railroads. In 1851 his brother William came over from the old home and joined him, and from that time their history runs together. The brothers, when they left Virginia, came as far west as Cincinnati, where John met and married Miss Catharine Murray. The marriage ceremony was performed by Father Wood, afterwards Archbishop of Philadelphia. They then started for the far West, spending the winter of 1855 in Lyons, Iowa. In May, 1856, tney, in company with several other families, and with William Byron, then a single man, started for Minnesota with all their worldly goods in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen. There were no roads, only tracks or trails, in those days, and traveling was indeed slow and tirssome. They arrived in St. Mary about the 18th of June, 1856. Mr. Byron selected as his, home one hundred and sixty acres in section 21 of St. Mary. William Byron and Michael McGonagle, both elsewhere sketcned in this volume, settled adjoining him. From that time forward, for a number of years, his history is the same as that of the other early pioneers — one of hardship, privation, self-denial, and economy, securing after many years of industry and careful management a competency for his declining years. He was a man of excellent habits, large of heart, and always ready to help a neighbor in distress. Of a home-loving and retiring nature, he seldom took part in politics outside of township and school district affairs. He held school-district and town offices for a num- ber of years. He was the father of nine children, five of whom are living. James A., living on a farm near the old homestead in St. Mary is a prom- inent and successful farmer. John M., well and favorably known as clerk of the district court of this county from Jan. 1, 1892, to Jan. 1, 1897, is now engaged in the clothing business at Janesville. One daughter, Mrs. John Cahill, also resides at Janesville, and two daughters are with their mother in Waseca. Mr. Byron retired from active farming some years before his death and spent his last years quietly and peacefully in his Waseca home, where, surrounded by his family, he died April 14, 1900, at the age of eighty-one years. He was burled in the St. Mary Cath- olic cemetery not far from the spot where he camped on the ISth day of June, 1856. He was an exci-llent, useful citizen, respected by all who knew him. JOHN BYRON. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 733 MR. STEPHEN H. PRESTON, son of Lucius and Rebecca, was born Sept 11, 1842, in tlie Green Moun- tain state and reared on a farm. At the age of eighteen years, his heart swelling with pure patriotism, he enlisted in Company G, Fifth Vermont infantry and served through all the campaigns of the army of the Po- tomac. He was honorably discharged Sept. 24, 1864, and then re-enlisted in Hancock's First Veteran Reserve Corps serving until Jan. 24, 1866, when he was finally mustered out with all the honors of war. The same year he came West to Sheboygan, Wis., and entered a drug store. He remained there a year when he came to Waseca county and lived on a farm in Woodville until about 1872, when he took a soldier's- homestead in Lyon county where he and his family spent the winter of 1872-3. They were literally buried by that terrible blizzard known as the "great storm of Jan. 7, 1873." The family returned to Waseca the next season, and Mr. Preston engaged in the drug business which he has ever since followed. He was with E. P. Latham for some time, then in partnership with Mr. Middaugh, then with H. H. Sudduth, since deceased, and now with Anton Stucky. He married Miss Emily Durkee, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Oct. 8, 1866. They have one daughter, Josie, now Mrs. Charles Leuthold, and one son, Lucius F., clerk in Leuthold Bros', clothing store. MR. THOMAS J. KERR, one of Scotia's sons, became a resident of St. Mary, Waseca county, in 1856. rie was born on a farm near Dumfries, Scotland, March 24, 1826. He came to America and reached Buffalo Dec. 31, 1851, where he worked, except when sick of fever, until May of the next year; he then went to Cattaraugus county where Thomas Dunn, father of James M. Dunn, his cousin, lived. There he worked for four years by the month. In 1855 he came as far west as Sparta, Wisconsin, where he worked during the winter, and the next spring came to this county. He made a claim and worked around for others until fall when he returned to York State. There, on the 5th of May, 1857, he married Miss Agnes Afleck, who was born in Scotland, Nov. 16, 1837. They at once started for Minnesota with a horse team and a prairie schooner, in company with Messrs. Lindsay and Daniels and their families. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are the parents of two sons and two daugh- ters: Robert A., now a prosperous farjmer of Bruce, S. D.; Agnes, now Mrs. A. H. Kinyon, of Bruce, S. D.; Luverne, now Mrs. B. G. Sutlief, of Wilton, Minn.; and Thomas J., Jr., merchant in Waseca. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr moved from their old farm in St. Mary to their present cozy home in Waseca, in 1888. Mr. Kerr is now in his eightieth year and very rug- ged and hearty for a man of his age. MR. NELS M. NELSON. This gentleman is one of our best citizens. He is an American by choice. He is a native of Smalan, near Jonkoping, Sweden, born Dec. 8, 7 34 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 1848. He started for America the first week ia May, 1868, in company witli thirty young people, all single men except two young families and three young ladies. Nearly all of the company, except himself, had relatives in different parts of America. The party had all been residents of the same neighborhood, or township, in the old home and made a jolly company. Among the men were two brothers of Mose Johnson, of Otisco — John Johnson and Gus Johnson — and a third man, John Swanson. These four became close friends and kept together. At Chicago they tried to get tickets for Owatonna, then the nearest station to Otisco, but the agent couldn't find Owatonna, and so sold them tickets for Prairie du Chien, telling them they could get tickets from that point. They were getting short of money when they got to the last place, and there the baggage master charged them a dollar apiece — ?4 — for what he called excess baggage. Upon reaching McGregor, they found themselves short of funds. The fare was $8 each, and they had only $5 each. None of them could speak much English and two of them could not write so it was de- termined that John Johnson and John Swanson should come on to Owa- tonna and that Mr. Nelson and Gus Johnson should remain at McGregor to await results. The two, who came on, finally found Mose Johnson, of Otisco, through whose means money was forwarded to the two left in McGregor, and in due time they came on. Mr. Nelson immediately went to work at whatever he could find to do, and in IS 76 was able to pur- chase a farm in Otisco. This farm he sold in 1883 and bought another which he still owns, on section 9, town of New Richland. He was elected town supervisor of Otisco in 1877 and 1S7S, county commissioner in 1S79 and re-elected a second term. He is now holding second term as court commissioner of this county. He married Miss Lottie Johnson, of Otisco, March 9, 188 4. She died Jan. 8, 18S5, leaving an infant daughter, now Mrs. vj. P. Johnson, of Waseca. His second marriage was in. the fall of 1889, to Mrs. Lina Newquist, who had two daughters by her first hus- band. There is no issue by the second marriage. They own a comfortable home in Waseca, which they have occupied since 1S89. They have a comfortable income from their farm and other sources, and are most excellent citizens. . MR. JOHN M. BYRON, merchant at Janesville, was born in St. Mary, Jan. 25, 1865, his father, John Byron, having settled in that town in 1856. He received his educa- tion in the old log school house, known as the Gallagher school house. At the age of sixteen, he entered the Waseca high school, attending the school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. In the winter of 1883, he taught school in the Brisbane district; and thereafter taught two winter terms of school in the Sheehan district, St. Mary, work- ing on the farm summers. In 1890 he was elected clerk of the district court, his term of office beginning Jan. 1, 1892 and expiring Jan. 1. 1S96. He was then appointed by Judge Buckham for one year to fill the vacancy CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 735 existing under the election law. Since 1897 he has been in the clothing business and is senior member of the firm of Byron & Barden, of Janes- ville. In September, 1893, he married Miss Martha Burns, daughter of the late Peter Burns, of Wilton. She was born July 4, 1873, in Wilton, and is a graduate of the Waseca high school. They are the parents of four children — two sons and two daughters. Mr. Byron is the owner of the old homestead in St. Mary, where he was born. He is a thorough business man, and enjoys the confidence of the people in a marked degree. MR. WILLIAM EDGAR HEATH. Ibis enterprising and progressive farmer, who resides in Freedom, was born in the town of Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1838. Mrs. Heath, whose maiden name was Maria Elizabeth Gamine, was born in the town of Caroline, in the same county, Nov. 29, 1840. They were mar- ried May 21, 1862, and came to vVaseca county and settled in Freedom, in the fall of 1866, where they still live. He brought with him a pair of good horses, but no other stock. Mr. and Mrs. Heath have a very fine home, with all the comforts of farm life. The first school house in their district was built in 1868. They came to Minnesota more on account of Mrs. Heath's health than from choice, she having throat trouble. They started in May, having one son. Jay C, three years of age. They came by car to Waupun, Wis., where they remained with an uncle about three months. In the meantime Mr. Heath and his uncle visited Minnesota, and Mr. Heath bought his Freedom farm, near Peddler's Grove, a new town with "great expectations." The Heaths came to their new home in the fall in a regular prairie schooner, heavily loaded with household gpods. Mrs. Heath writes: "We started from near Waupun, Aug. 31, 1866, Saturday, in a thunder storm, expecting to camp out and sleep in our wagon nights. Every one was very kind to us along the way and many times we accepted the proffered hospitality instead of camping in our wagon. We were eight- een days on the road and it was a really enjoyable trip. But soon after getiing onto Minnesota soil we got stuck in mudholes a number of times. The roads tended to make one sick of the country. At one place, near Rochester, Minn., wagon, horses and all were stuck so fast in the mud that we could not get out until aided by four or five ox teams. It was Satur- day afternoon when we arrived at 'our abode in Freedom. The family then living in it moved out that afternoon and we moved in. When we awoke Sunday morning in that log hut, all open up to the rafters, was it any wonder that we were a little homesick? The hut had two half windows, one-half in each end of the building, and only one door. When the letters that awaited us at Peddler's Grove, from the dear, old home- land were opened, the gloom was lightened a little. Friends there thought we might as well die of disease among friends as to die of home-sickness among strangers. But we didn't die. In five years we returned East with our three children. Our only daughter, Georgia, was born the first winter 736 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. we were In Minnesota, and Edgar I. was born the fall ol our visit to the East, where we remained two years. Since then two other sons have blessed our home. Our oldest son. Jay C, married Harriet A. Willsey, of Janesville, and lives a mile and a half west of us; Georgia married Frank M. Smith, son of Hon. L. D. Smith, late of Alton, and they also live near us; Edgar I. married Wm. M. Oldfield's daughter and they live in New York state; Roy L. is still at home, taking care of the farm; and our youngest is one of the class of thirteen who graduated from the Janes- ville high school in 1905. In our first winter here, Mr. Heath and several of the neighbors went off across the prairie (there were no fences then to obstruct) to buy wheat and get some flour. They were gone a week but finally came home with flour. Sometimes that winter we had to cook whole wheat for the horses and ourselves as well. Often that first winter, 1 thought perhaps it was wrong that we had brought our boy away from Grandpa's place where apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits were plentiful, with no prospect of ever raising any here. But, strange as it seemed then, it is now a fact that we have apples to waste and for cider too, besides other fruit, and to-day. May 16, 1905, the trees are a mass of bloom, a bower of beauty. O, what a change for the better since 1866!" MR. A. S. MALONEY, is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maloney, and has recently opened a law oflice in Waseca. His father, John Maloney, was bom in the county Mayo, Ireland, 1829; he went to England in 1848 where he worked in a manufacturing plant two years; he came to America two years later, to near Scranton, Pa., where he resided until 1857. In 1854, he married Miss Bridget Nilan, at Binghamton, Pa. Mrs. Maloney wg,s born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1835, and was fourteen years of age when she came to America. In 1857 the family came to Iosco where Mr. Maloney bought one hundred sixty acres of land. He also bought eighty acres in Blooming Grove. He carried on his farm until 1S67, when he came to Waseca and went into business — kept for a time a bakery and grocery store and was proprietor of the "Old Minnesota House," a popular resort for farmers. His hotel was burned in 1SS8, after which he built his home on First street where he spent the remainder of his life as a private citizen, passing away Feb. 24, 1904. Mrs. Maloney, who survives him, was a worthy helpmeet, and encouraged him through all the hard- ships they endured in early days. John Maloney was always a vigorous champion of Ireland, and helped its onward progress whenever and wherever possible. Eleven children were born to them, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Henry Smith, of Byron, (deceased); Mrs. Geo. McGrath, of Renville county; Miss Beezie, teacher in the Minneapolis schools; Francis, "Vincent and Albinus S., residents of Waseca. Albinus S. Ma- loney graduated from the law department of the State University June 1, 1904, and very soon after opened a law office in Waseca. At the last CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 737 two sessions of the legislature, he served as a legislative appointee upon the commendation of Senator Collester. MR. GEORGE W. COMEB is one of tne pioneers of the city of Waseca, having become a resident there in 1867. He was born June 9, 1838, at Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y. In 1864 he went to Ashburnham, Mass., where he sojourned three years. In the spring of 1867, he came West, arriving in Waseca at its christening. He erected a building and opened a furniture store, in com- pany with Major Wm. C. Young in the fall of 1867. Capt. Helms suc- ceeded Major Young as partner. In 1873, S. S. Conlee took the place of Mr. Helms, and the firm remained Comee Bros, until 1882 when the Waseca Furniture company was organized. After this company wound up its affairs, the firm name became Sawin & Comee. In 1904, Mr. Sawin sold his interest to Geo. W. and some time after Mr. Pfaff bought an in- terest and the firm name became Comee & Pfaff. Mr. Comee is one of our best citizens. Dec. 26, 1877, he married Mrs. Elizabeth L. Kittredge, widow of Fred Kittredge. She is a native of Ohio and one of the pioneers of this county. She had three daughters by her first husband: Mary Ab- bie, now Mrs. Kennedy, of Bvanston, 111.; Laura E., now Mrs. Kirkpatrick of Parker's Prairie, Ottertail county, Minn.; and Jessie C, now Mrs. Ed. Rausch, of Winona. Mr. Comee is a worthy member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow organizations of this city and a member of the Congre- gational society. So far in life he has been the soul of honor, true and trusty, a man worthy of all confidence. SENATOR B. B. COLLESTER. Hon. Eugene B. Collester is a native of Gardner, Mass., born Dec. 20, 1847. He attended the schools of that city, entered Amherst college and graduated therefrom in 1873. Soon after he took up his residence in New London, Conn., where he became principal of Bulkeley high school. This position he held until 1880 when he resigned and came to Waseca where he joined his half brother, Hon. M. D. L. Collester, and entered upon the practice of law. He married Miss Sarah Jane Holande, of Conn., April 6, 1875. They have one daughter, Alice, now Mrs. Meacham, who resides with her parents in Waseca. Mr. Collester has held numerous official positions; mayor of the city of Waseca in 1887; judge of probate from May, 1889, to Dec. 31, 1894; state senator from Jan. 1, 1895 to Dec. 31, 1899, and again in the fall of 1902 he was elected to the senate for four years. Senator Collester has the confidence of the people to a marked degree. He is a member of Comee Lodge I. O. O. P., and also of Tuscan Lodge No. 77, A. F. and A. M., of Waseca. He is also one of the leading lawyers of the county. MR. BYRON G. SU-TLIEF, son of the first settler in the county, Mr. Asa G. Sutlief, is a native of 2G 738 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Wilton, bom on the old homestead, Sept. 10, 1858, where he still resides. December 18, 1884, he married Miss Luverne Kerr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Kerr, fcihe was born in St. Mary, this county, Oct. 1, 1863. tie owns the oldest farm in the county, about two hundred acres, and is ex- tensively engaged in raising. Buying, fattening, and selling hogs and cat- tle. He is wealthy and has an interesting family of children. Mr. Sut- lief is not only a well-to-do farmer, but he is interested in the Xew Rich- land bank, the Byron creamery, etc. MR. WILLIAM BYRON. Among the many who have helped to make Waseca county blossom as the rose, Mr. Wm. Byron, of St. Mary, occupies a conspicuous place. At the request of the author he gave the following sketch of his life : "I was born and reared in the parish of Kitteely, county of Limerick, Ireland, in May, 1828. My brother John, who was five years older, came to America in 1846. I left Ireland March 12, 1851, and after a stormy voyage of seven weeks landed in New York, April 29. After a week of sight seeing there, I proceeded to Virginia via Philadelphia, Baltimore, city of Washington, Alexandria, Fairfax Court House and Warrenton, to Little Washington, at the foot of the Blue Ridge, where John Byron and Matt O'Brien had a contract of turnpike building from Little Washington to Waterloo, a distance of ten or twelve miles. We finished the turnpike that year, and in May, 1852, started across the Blue Ridge. At the top of the Ridge we took stage, crossed the Shenandoah bridge near where General Shields won a victory over the Confederates, passed through New Market and stopped at Staunton. After a week in Staunton, we again took stage and went to Christiansburg. We remained there two years building turnpiKe roads. In November, 1885, we started West on foot and went eighty miles to Charleston, now the Capital of West Virginia, then a little village of a few small houses and a small hotel. We then went down the Kanawha and Ohio rivers to Aurora, near Cincinnati, where I made the acquaintance of my wife that was to be. After a short stay there, we took the cars to Chicago. I concluded to see the 'far West' before venturing upon matrimony. John and his wife remained in Chicago, and I took the cars to Rock Island; crossed the river into Davenport, Iowa, and then traveled on foot forty miles to Lyons. The snow covered the grass among the bur-oaks, and I thought it the worst country I ever saw — wished I was back in Old Virginia. John and family soon came on and we spent the winter in Lyons. In the spring, we bought two yoke of oxen, two cows, and two wagons, and on the 16th day of May, IS.'SG, in company with the families of M. P. Fitzgerald, Michael McGonagle, and L. J. Fitz- gerald, started for Minnesota. We came through Freeborn county and for miles had nothing to guide us on the way except the sun and a slight Indian trail. After getting into Minnesota, we never saw a house or a hu- man being until we arrived at Peddler's Grove, Waseca county. We then went as tar west as the Winnebago Agency, then turned and came back MR. AND MRS. WM. BYRON. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 739 to St. Mary and camped on the hill where the St. Mary church now stands, June 18, 1856. That night we had a terrible battle with the mosquitoes. After resting a little we selected our claims, turned over some of the virgin sod, sowed a little buckwheat, made hay and in the fall built our log cabins. No one without the experience can know how we labored and struggled along, and to young people our stories of the past seem incredible. In the fall of 1858, I gave a mortgage on forty acres of my land tor $40 — all I could raise on it, the rate being 'thirty-six per cent, in- terest from date till due, and sixty per cent from due till paid.' I soon saw that I never could make enough off the farm to pay it, so, in Nov. 1859, I went down the Mississippi river and was lucky enough to strike a job of 'bossing' on a levee at $60 per month. I married Miss Catha- rine O'Mara, April 12, 1860, at her father's home in Old Geneva, Ind., and at once returned to Minnesota. In 1862, during the Indian excite- ment, we used to gather at the house of John Byron for mutual protection. At one time there was a frenzied report that the Winnebago Indians were to 'break out that night.' Some ten families hitched up their ox teams, gathered together their valuables and, with the women and chil- dren, went into camp on the prairie east of where Mike McGonagle, Jr., now lives. We formed our wagons in a circle, camped inside the circle, placed pickets on guard and camped without a fire. Everything was quiet until toward morning when the dogs commenced to bark, and the pickets came running in with the cry — 'They're coming! they're coming!' All was in commotion for a while. There were only three or four shot guns in camp, but every man was on one knee looking for Indians that never came. At the coming of daylight, we broke camp and all went back home. We all felt worn out for want of sleep, and I went to bed in my own cabin. I haa not been in bed ten minutes before there was a knock on the door. I jumped, seized my gun, and demanded, 'Who is there?' A neighbor, and he too wanted sleep and so we slept a while. The week before I had sent mj' wife to Rochester on account of the Indian scare, and our second child was born at that place a few days after the camp- ing incident. I was elected town clerk in 1858, and held the office three different terms. I was justice of the peace one term, town supervisor three dii- ferent years, and county commissioner two terms, from 1869 to 1874. We built our first school house in 1861, and our first church in 1862. Rev. Father Keller, of Faribault, visited our church three or four times within the first year. The first person buried in the St. Mary burial ground was Mr. Morris. The next to be consigned to that ground was Michael u'Brien, who was killed by lightning in September, 1858. Ah! but that was the most terriffic thunder I ever heard." MR. JOHN REIBOLD. John Reibold, Sr., was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, July 31, 1830. He came to America in 1849 and lived in Fonda, N. Y., until 1860, when 740 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. he came to Minnesota. He was at Northfleld on the day that Lincoln was elected, and came on to St. Mary the next day. Oct. 1, 1851, he married Miss Mary Baldwin, and to them four children were born: Peter, (deceased) horn in 1853; Thomas, now of St. Mary, July 7, 1855; John, Jr., July 27, 1857; Johanna, July 24, 1861, who married Thomas Burns. Mrs. Reibold died March 21, 1864. The following July 4, he married Miss Margaret McWaide, sister of Mr. John McWaide, of Iosco. She died Jan. 28, 1903, at the Rochester asylum. For several years he worked, and "worked mighty hard," for $15 a month and boarded himself, and upon so small a pittance he and his family managed to live. His wife kept some poultry, and his employer would occasionally make him a present of a little flour. In later years the proprietor of the mill raised his wages to the magnificent sum of $20 a month and one barrel of flour a year, Mr. Reibold to board himself. What would young men of to-day think of such a wage? John Reibold, Jr., was born at Fonda, N. Y., July 27, 1857, and came to St. Mary with his father in 1860. He learned the blacksmith trade at Mankato, when a lad. He then came to Waseca, worked as a journeyman ■for some years and finally rented the Roland shop then standing on the southwest corner of Wood and Third streets, and opened shop for himself. That was twenty-two years ago. In 1884 he formed a co-partnership with Theo. Brown and they carried on business at what is now known as Reibold's foundry and shops for five years, when Mr. Reibold became sole proprietor. About nine years ago he bought a half interest in the Crane foundry, and three years later bought the remaining interest of Mr. Crane. He is now sole proprietor of a flourishing business. He married Miss Mary McDermott, May 20, 1882. They have one son, Wm. J., born July i, 1884, who is now a stenographer in the employ of the Minneapolis Iron Store Co., dealers in heavy hardware. Thomas Reibold, brother of John, is a prosperous farmer of St. Mary, and has an interesting and intelligent family. HONORABLE D. S. CUMMINGS. Dr. D. S. Cummings is now the oldest resident physician in Waseca. He is son of Dr. D. J. Cummings, deceased, one of the pioneer physicians of Hastings, in this state. Our Doctor Cummings was born in Otsego coun- ty, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1S50. When he was six years of age his parents came to the territory of Minnesota and became residents of Hastings. D. S. at- tended the public schools of Hastings, spent one year at the Shattuck school, Faribault, studied two years at the Cooperstown, N. Y., academy, took a course In medicine and surgery at the Ann Arbor, Mich., univer- sity, and graduated at the Northwestern Medical college, of Chicago. He practiced medicine for a time with his father in Hastings, and then came to Waseca, in 1876. He at once became popular with our people and very soon enjoyed an extensive practice. His first public service was that of county superintendent of schools. He held this office for four years, CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 741 from 1882 to 1886. In 1888 he was elected mayor of the city of Waseca, and again in 1889 and 1890. After an intermission of three years, he was again elected mayor in 1893. He succeeded himself each year until and including 1896. It was during these four years and under his administra- tion that the water and light systems of the city were installed. He has been president of the board of education of the city "since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." He is a man of public spirit and of marked ability and has the happy faculty of often harmonizing conflict- ing interests. Oct. 6, 1897, he was married to Miss Mattie Ward, an accomplished daughter of Hon. W. G. Ward. They are the parents of two boys. For years Dr. Cummings has been the local surgeon and physician of both the railroads crossing at Waseca. He has also had charge of the construction of the local telephone lines in and about Waseca since the local telephone company was organized. His capacity for hard work seems lo be almost unlimited, as he employs no stenographer or assist- ant. MR. NATHANIEL GARLAND. This gentleman was the first sheriff of Waseca county. He was ap- pointed by Governor Gorman in the spring of 1857; in June of the same year, at the time of choosing the county seat, he was elected sheriff and held the office for two years. He then went to Iowa and engaged in the sheep business. He returned to Wilton in 1864 and engaged in the mer- cantile business in company with John Forrest, also one of the early set- tlers of the county. About 1868 he sold out in Wilton and opened a meat market in Waseca in company with J. A. Claghorn. He followed this busi- ness until his death, July 26, 1880. Mr. Garland was born April 5, 1827, at Kingston, New Hampshire; and came to Waseca county in 1856. He mar- ried Miss Ladorna P. Dodge Feb. 3, 1864, at Wilton. Miss Dodge was born in Owego, New York, April 27, 1842, and came to this county with her par- ents in the spring of 1857. Two sons were born to them. Harold N. was born in Wilton, June 26, 1867, and died of consumption in California, Feb. 26, 1893. Ralph D. was born in Wilton, April 19, 18G9. He attended our public schools and learned the tinner's trade with his uncle, Hon. P. C. Bailey. He afterwards became a partner of Mr. Bailey and is now the active member of the popular hardware firm of Bailey & Garland. On the 14th day of June 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Stewart, who was born In Waseca, Nov. 3, 1873. They have one daughter, Helen, now five years of age. They live in a very pretty, mod- • est home on Lake avenue. Mr. Garland was alderman from the Second ward for several years, and declined a re-election in 1905. MR. JOSEPH E.- GREGORY. Joseph is the grandson of Mr. Barney Gregory, one of the pioneers who settlea in St. Mary in 1855, on the farm now owned by Mr. Gus Somers. 742 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Joseph is the son of A. D. Gregory, and was born in the town of Freedom, June 12, 1S75. His father died in Roseville, California, Nov. 29, 1904. When five years of age, Joseph went with his parents to South Daltota where they remained until 1892, when they returned to Waseca county. On July 27, 1899, he married Miss Virgie Anthony, of Blue Earth county. They reside on a farm in the town of Wilton. The young man has been compelled to rely upon his own resources since he was old enough to work and it is a credit to nim that he has succeeded so well. MR. TIMOTHY DONOVAN. This well-known and popular groceryman, of Waseca, is the eldest son of Cornelius and Mary Donovan, natives of the Emerald isle, who came to this country in early life and lived for a time in Wisconsin. The elder Mr. Donovan settled in Woodville, this county, in 1868, when Timothy, who was born July 3, 1S67, was about a year old. The other sons and aaughters of the family are John, Daniel, Dennis, Ellen, Hannah, Cor- nelius, and Mary — the two last are twins. Timothy Donovan and Miss Lizzie McGonagle were married Dec, 26, 1S93. They have four children living. They buried their second son who died in infancy. Mr. Timothy Donovan learned the carpenter's trade; later he worked as clerk a while in a store, and in 1898 formed a copartnership with O. N. Jellum and en- tered the grocery trade. In the fall of 1903, he bought his partner's in- terest, and his youngest brother, Cornelius, is now with him. They are doing a prosperous business. Mrs. Donovan is a daughter of the well- known, early settler, Mr. Michael McGonagle. Sr. MR. LEWIS C. PRECHBL, of Woodville, is a son of Gottlieb Prechel, one of the very first settlers of the town of St. Mary, and was born in that township, Sept. 16, 1864. He was reared on the farm and brought up to hard labor. He married Mathilda Bethke, of Woodville, March 19, 1890. He carried on his fath- er's farm in St. Mary for two years and then bought a farm on section 4, Otisco, where he has resided since 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Prechel are the parents of two sons and one daughter. They have a pleasant, cozy home, Mrs. Prechel being a model housekeeper. MR. PATRICK HEALY was one of the very early settlers of Waseca county, having moved to a farm in Blooming Grove in 1856. He was born in Roscommon county, Ireland, March 17, 1817, and came to America in 1836. In early life he was a manufacturer of woolen cloths, and an advocate of "protection for home manufacturers." He married Miss Emma Dearborn, of Windsor county, Vt.. in 1843. She was born in 1825, and died in 1887. Mr. Healy carried on his farm in Blooming Grove until the "seventies" when he removed to Waseca and formed a copartnership with A. E. t)earborn in the mercantile business. In 1880 he sold his interest in the Waseca store CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 743 and retired from active business. He died Sept. 1, 1884, at his Blooming Grove home, respected and honored hy every one. During the early days of the county, Mr. Healy was noted as about the only Irish-American republican in it, and in those days it required nerve and backbone to be a republican or "Black Abolitionist," as such men were called in those days. Mr. and Mrs. Healy were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living: Martin J., Mrs. Emma McLoughlin, Mrs. Almira G. Flyn, Mrs. Sarah L. Bird, and Patrick Healy. MR. ROBERT MOORE. This quiet, unpretentious, and honorable citizen, was born in Cattarau- gus county, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1835. He came to this county in June, 1856, and began to make his home on the northeast quarter of section 8, in Wilton. He married Miss Martha M. Gregory March 3, 1857. Martha M. was one of the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. B. Gregory, who settled in St. Mary in june, 1855. She was born in Coldwater, Mich., May 22, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Emma, born Dec. 13, 1857; Mary E., born Sept. 3, 1859; James R., born Jan. 20, 1865; Lucia B., born June 5, 1870; Charles 1'., born July 28, 1872. Mrs. Moore died Dec. 5, 1875, aged thirty-seven years, six months and thirteen days. Mr. Moore has for years suffered with asthma. He spent the winter of 1902-3 in California. He is in every respect a good citizen. He was one of the high privates In the organization of the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for the election of Abraham Lincoln and his last for William Jennings Bryan. Mr. Moore now resides on section 13, town of Freedom, and is a well-to-do farmer. MR. H. F. KOECHEL, who owns and manages a most complete stock of harnesses, trunks, valises, etc., was born in Marquette county, Wisconsin, Nov. 26, 1866. His father, Daniel Koechel, was born in Germany. He came to Wiscon- sin prior to the Rebellion, and served one year as a Union soldier in a Wisconsin regiment. The family came to Minnesota in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Koechel were married Feb. 18, 1888. Mrs. Koechel's maiden name was Hulda Kanne, and she is a daughter of that well-known pio- neer, August F. Kanne, of Waterville. She was born Dec. 19, 1865. The year of their marriage they went to live in Redfield, S. D., where Mr. Koechel carried on the harness business until 1895, when they returned to this county. In November of that year, he opened business in Waseca, and keeps on hand a large stock of goods. He makes a specialty of Mc- Connell's patent-rivet, curled-hair-face horse collars. He Is the father of five children — four boys and one girl. At the recent city election, he was elected alderman at large without opposition. MR. DENNIS McLOUGHLIN, of the firm of McLaughlin Bros., prominent grocery merchants of Waseca, 744 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. was bom m County Meath, Ireland, Dec. 6, 1852. His parents were Dennis and Judith McLoughlin. They came to America in 1853, and first lived in Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y. They came to Minnesota in September, 1862, tarried a short time at Faribault, and settled permanently at Can- non City soon after. Young Dennis was reared on the farm, attending the schools of his village until qualified to teach; he then taught winters until 1871, when he accepted a clerkship in a hardware store in Faribault. He was engaged as teacher and clerk for a number of years. Nov. 12, 1877, he married Miss Emma Healy, daughter of Mr. Patrick Healy, one of the worthy pioneers of Blooming Grove. Mr. McLoughlin's father died at his home in Cannon City, in the year 1898, at the age of eighty-one years. His mother is still living. There were twelve children in the fam- ily, seven boys and five girls, of whom three girls and three boys have died. Mr. and Mrs. D. McLoughlin, of Waseca, are the parents of six daughters. Mr. McLoughlin came to Waseca in March, 1878, and bought the interest of Mr. A. E. Dearborn in the mercantile firm of Dearborn & Healy. Two years later he bought Mr. Healy's interest and has continued the business here ever since. His brother, Thomas, bought a one-third interest in the business in 1884, and is still a member of the firm, although engaged the most of the time as traveling salesman. Dennis served as alderman in the year 1881-2, and again in 1904-5. He served as postmaster most ef- ficiently for eight years, having been appointed by President Cleveland at the beginning of both terms of his administration. Mr. McLoughlin is justly popular with all classes of our people. MR. SAMUEL LESLIE. June 15, 1894, the following was penned: "Young man and young woman, if you want to learn what a couple of youngish people have done, and, consequently, what you may or can do, go visit the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Leslie, of Otisco. Twenty-five years ago they located where they are now without any capital except a homestead right, which they applied to eighty acres. Since then they have added one hundred twenty acres more. There were no trees when they went there in 1869. Now they have a magnificent grove. They have also a large, convenient farm house, an excellent hay and cattle barn, a creamery (dairy) that takes the first premiums everywhere. They milk twenty-four cows, have horses, raise cattle for beef, and hogs for pork. They have all that people need in life. And all these things they have gathered together by twenty-five years of industry, care, and frugality. Young man, there is no reason why you should not do as well." Mr. Leslie was born in Essex county, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1S37; came to Waseca county in 186C; helped survey the village of Waseca in 1867; and lived in Waseca until 1SG9. He married Mary E. Sisson, Sept. 23, 1860. Ten children were born to them, seven of whom are living: Jen- nie M., now Mrs. C. G. Mosher, of Pine county, born Dec. 6. 1861- Frank CHILD S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 745 J., torn Oct. 6, 1863; Herbert J., bom Feb. 7, 1866; Ralph B., born April 7, 1869; Mark P., born .Tune 6, 1871; and Ella, born July 12, 1875. In the early part of 1867, that wet year, Mr. Leslie shipped flour and other goods in a skiff by way of Crane creek. He is noted as a breeder of fine, pure- blood Holstein cattle, and a manufacturer of high-grade butter. MR. EDWIN R. KRASSIN Is one among the early native-born sons of Waseca county. He is the second son of Martin Krassin, deceased, and was born July 27, 1857. He was inured to hard toil from infancy, and after his father's death had charge of the several farms left to the heirs. He is an expert at sinking tubular wells and handling farm machinery. He is a single man, owns a good farm in Wilton, and a comfortable home in Waseca. MR. JOHN F. KRASSIN, brother of Edward, was born August 26, 1862. He has been reared a farmer and owns one farm in Wilton and another in St. Mary. He mar- ried Miss Augusta Stolz, Sept. 28, 1889. They have four sons, and reside on the old homestead where John's father first lived in St. Mary. MR. BMIL W. KRASSIN, another brother, the youngest of the sons, was born Feb. 5, 1865. He has also spent his life on the farm. He married Miss Edith Gehring, daughter oi Gottfried Gehring, a pioneer settler of Wilton, Dec. 4, 1894. She was born in Wilton, Feb. 14, 1873. They are the parents of two daugh- ters. Emil has a well cultivated farm in St. Mary and leads a happy and contented life. MRS. .JULIA KRASSIN BATHKB, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Krassin, deceased, was born in St. Mary, this county, June 15, 1869. She married a man named Wm. Bathke, Dec. 5, 1896. They separated the following May and have since been divorced. A daughter was born to her in December 1897 and remains with her. Mrs. Bathke resides in Waseca and keeps house for her brother Ed- ward. They have a pleasant home in Broughton's addition to Waseca. MR. S. S. COMEE. This gentleman was born June 11, 1830, in Gardner, Mass. His occupa- tion was that of chair maker. Mrs. Sarah White Sawin Comee was born July 3, 1836, in Gardner, Mass. These two were married May 13, 1855, in Gardner. They moved to EUisburg, N. Y., where their two children were born. In 1865, the family came to Vivian in this county where they carried on a farm until 1870, when they moved to Waseca. They have resided in this place the greater part of the time since. Mr. Comee was engaged for many years in company with his brother, G. W. Comee, in carrying on a furniture store in this city. From 1888 to 1893, Mr. Comee 746 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA CO,UNTY. was employed in a furniture factory in Minneapolis. He then came back to Waseca where he has since carried on a market garden. They have two daughters: Myra, wife of Rev. Robinson residing at Madison, Wis- consin; and Martha, wife of Judge C. E. Leslie, of Carrington, N. D. Judge Leslie was for many years a practicing attorney in this city, and at one time judge of the municipal court of Waseca. NORTH STAR EDITOR. C. W. Brown, editor of the New Richland paper, is one of the bright, industrious young men of the state. He was born Sept. 24, 1874, in the town of Kalmar, Olmsted county, Minn. His father served in the Tenth Minnesota regiment in the War of the Rebellion.- He was an early settler of Dodge county, Minn. In February, 1891, C. W. went to live in Janes- ville and commenced work in the office of the Argus. Here he learned the "art preservative," and remained until 1898. In the fall of that year he purchased the Eagle Lake News, and published it for two years. He then sold the News and purchased a half interest in the Janesville Argus. He remained with Mr. Henry until June 15, 1903, when he sold his inter- est in the paper to his partner, and bought the North Star at New Rich- land. He at once moved to that place and has made the Star a suc- cessful, local "luminary." Mr. Brown and Miss Gertrude Pressnell were joined in holy wedlock June 17, 1896. Miss Pressnell was born near Eagle Lake, Feb. 7, 1878, her parents being early settlers in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of two hoys. MR. JOHN FISK MURPHY. This gentleman is the oldest practical printer in the county, and un- derstands the business thoroughly. He is the son of Dr. William and Mrs. Sophia (Fisk) Murphy, and was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 7, 1850. His father was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and came to America when three years of age. He was a graduate of the Hahnemann college, Philadelphia, and practiced medicine in that city before coming to Minnesota in 1857. The family resided in Wilton where Dr. Jlurphy died, alter a long illness, May 14, 1859. In the fall of 1862, John P. went to Iowa where he herded and cared for sheep, being employed by X. Garland, the first sheriff of Waseca county. In the fall of 1SG3, John re- turned to Wilton and was soon after employed as an apprentice in the office of the Wilton News. In January, 1864, he went to live with relatives in Philadelphia and worked for a time in the office of the Daily News, of that city, as proof taker and copy holder. He returned to Wilton July 15, 1865, and again went to work in the Wilton News office where he re- mained until 1869. He then went to Davenport, Iowa, worked a while in the Gazette office, went thence to Monona county, made a claim, and soon after went to Omaha, Neb., where he worked on the Daily Republi- can. In 1870 he was foreman of the Pilot, of Blair, Neb., and afterwards returned to Omaha where he again worked at his trade, being for some CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 747 time employed in a large job office. In 1871, he returned to Waseca, and put in a job office. He was the first to bring a job printing press to Waseca. He published a small campaign sheet for the Horace Greeley campaigners of Waseca county in 1872. He sold his outfit to W. J. Gra- ham who, for a time, published a small paper called the Record. John P'. remained in Waseca working at his trade until 1877 when he went to Baltimore and took charge of the mechanical department of the Presby- terian Weekly, of that city. He returned to Waseca in March, 1879, and again worked on the Radical. He continued with that paper till 1883, when he purchased a half interest in the Waseca County Herald which he still holds. He married Miss Emma J. Hlller, Nov. 15, 1871; they have one daughter, Martha Inez, born Nov. 7, 1872. Mr. Murphy is a Master Mason, and served as worthy master of Tuscan Lodge No. 77 in 1903-4. MR. JOHN A. HENRY. This gentleman was born in Crawford county. Pa., May 25, 1855, the year that Waseca county was first settled. He is the son of Dr. J. N. Henry and Diana (Merchant) Henry. When John A. was very young his parents went to the state of New York and remained there until 1872, when they came to this state and located near Mankato. His father was not only a physician but a Methodist clergyman. John N. attended the Mankato Normal school three terms, and then read law for a time. He finally went with his father to Janesville where the latter was sent as the M. E. clergyman. Soon after moving here John was employed as post- office clerk and assistant in the newspaper office of C. E. Graham, who was postmaster and also publisher of the Argus at that place. In August 1881, Mr. Henry purchased the Argus of Mr. Graham which he still owns and publishes. He was appointed postmaster at Janesville in the fall of 1881, and has held that position, either as postmaster or deputy, ever since, except during a portion of President Cleveland's latter term. He is prominent in the councils of the republican party and a strong party man. As a local editor, he Is -active and alert, and no local matter, im- portant or otherwise, escapes him. In social matters he is prominent and useful. He was married to Miss Frances J. Allyn, daughter of Mr. Wm. G. Allyn, one of the very early settlers of the town of Janesville, in 1878. They are the parents of three children: J. Harold, Miss Bthelyn, and Allyn Harrison, all of whom are living. MR. H. S. CLEMENT. Mr H S Clement, father of Wm. A. Clement, editor of the Journal-Radi- cal was born in Cornish, N. H., March 19, 1835. He came West to Iowa in 1853 thence to what is now Meriden, Steele county, Minn., in July, 1856 He was the first assessor of that township. He came in company with Col Wm. Drum, and Hon. F. J. Stevens, all of whom took claims near what was then known as Meriden. He lived on his farm just over the county line until 1868, when he purchased a farm In Woodville where 748 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUXTY. he lived until 1883, when he removed to Waseca and engaged in the sale of farm machinery. He continued this business until 1900. He owns a residence and truck farm on North street, Waseca. He married Miss Nellie M. Wilcox Dec. 22, 1868. She was horn in the state of New York in 1841 and died June 12, 1883. Four sons and two daughters were bom to them: Wm. A., of Waseca; Arthur R., of Glendive, Mont.; Mary, de- ceased; Lucien O., a physician of Lamberton, Minn.; Benjamin, of Wa- seca; and Miss Emma, at home. Mr. Clement is a man who does his own thinking and is a staunch prohibitionist. The first winter he passed here was the hardest he ever experienced. Messrs. Clement, Vinton, and Drum, bought hay of Daniel Riegle, who lived in Blooming Grove. Mr. Clement says: "We drew this hay during the winter of 1S5C-7. We had three yoke of oxen and two sleds. The snow was very deep and had a sharp crust which cut the cattle's legs so that they refused to go. The men had to go ahead of the teams and tramp the snow to make a track for them, and, as a final expedient, the oxen's legs were wrapped in cloths to protect them from the sharp crust. In this way it took two days to make a trip. Mr. Riegle could not keep us, so we would, on arriving there, load up and return as far as Joshua Smith's where we would stay over night, and next day make home. In this way twenty tons of hay were hauled in bitterly cold weather. We were thinly clad for this climate and suffered intensely from the cold. "The nearest postofflce that winter was Owatonna, twelve miles away. We used to take turns going after the mail on foot." MR. WM. A. CLEMENT, son of h. S. Clement, was born Feb. 13, 1870. He commenced to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Waterville Advance, owned by Howard Parrington, in 1889. He remained there until 1891 when he jour- neyed to Albert Lea and worked on the Enterprise until March, 1892. Then he took a "sit" on the Austin, Minn., Daily Register. In June he went to Lake Benton, Minn., where he workeu until December when he returned to Waseca and worked on the Waseca Herald from Jan. 1, 1893, to Oct. 25, 1894, when he purchased the Annandale, Minn., Post. This he sold March 1, 1895, and worked on the Ellendale, S. D., Commercial until July 5, 1895. In August of that year he entered the employ of the Owaton- na Journal and remained there until December, when he returned to the Waseca Herald. Here he remained until the fall of 1896, when he entered the Waseca Journal office as foreman. He remained with that office until the first week in April, 1905, when he became sole proprietor of the plant. He married Miss Hilda Ranke Nov. 16, 1898. She was born in Politz, Pomerania, Germany, July 28, 1874, and came to America with her par- ents in 1884. They settled in Beadle county, South Dakota. Mr. Clement is a very industrious man and popular with all classes. MR. BARNEY BURNS. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Burns are among the high privates of the army CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 749 of pioneers that poured into Minnesota in 1856. Barney was born in Monaghan county, Ireland, in 1828, and Mary Duffy, his wife, was born in the same county in 1832. They came to America as far as Ohio about 1850. They were maiTled October 11, 1854, and came to Waseca county in 1856, settling on a claim near the old village of St. Mary, where they still reside. They have reared a family of eleven children, all living and in good health. Their names in the order of birth are as follows: George, in business at Burlington, Iowa; Benjamin, R. R. conductor. Green Bay, Wis.; Anna, Mrs. Ed Bowe, of this county; Mary, Mrs. Gearin, of Webster, S. D.; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Madden, of Waseca; Thomas, of Minneapolis; Rose, Mrs. J. A. Curran, of Woodville; P. H., of Minneapolis; Wm. J., of Webster, S. D.; Catharine, Mrs. Robert Collins, of Woodville; and Frank, of Minneapolis. There .was a happy reunion of all the family Oct. 11, 1904, on the occasion of the golden wedding of the aged couple. MR. W. G. GALLIEN. This gentleman is one of the popular business men of Waseca. He was born in Albany, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1862. His father died when W. G. was an infant. Two of his uncles lived near Wilton, at an early day, but soon after settled near Winona, on account of nearness to market. Mr. Gallien came with his mother to Winona, when he was nine years of age. He graduated from the Winona high school in 1881, and the same year en- tered the drug business at St. Paul. In 1891, he purchased the drug stock of Mr. Rhode of Waseca, and has since continued the business at the corner of Second and Elm streets. He married Miss Jessica B. Parker, daughter of Mr. Albert H. Parker, of Waseca, June 20, 1895. He is a prominent member of the M. B. church, and of one or two fraternal so- cieties. He is a very careful and safe druggist and enjoys the confidence of the public to a marked degree. Mr. and Mrs. Gallien have three chil- dren: Helene Guernsey, Jeanne La Page, and William Gross. MR. AND MRS. J. L. WERDIN. John L. Werdin was born March 10, 1830; Henrietta, his wife, was born Sept. 25, 1835; both were natives of Prussia. They v/ere married Oct. 2, 1853, in the Fatherland. They came to America in the spring of 1857, arriving at Ripon, Wis., April 3, of that year. They remained there a short time, when, with eight other families, they started with ox teams for Minnesota, their destination being Mankato. It was a rainy season which caused them to be two months on the road and to meet with many dis- couragements on the way. Arriving at Mankato, then a small town, they held a consultation and concluded to return to Wilton, this county. Mr. Werdin met with a serious accident at Mankato in the breaking of his ox-yoke. He had no money with which to purchase a new one and no way of making one. Fortunately, Mr. John Sell — now of Waseca — who was one of the party of movers, loaned him sufficient money to purchase a new yoke. Mr. Werdin's first location was on eighty acres of land that 750 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. he bought of Jo Manthey in the town of St. Mary and that is now owned by Mr. McLoone. His first house was built of logs and was twelve by sixteen feet in size. For a number of years the Winnebago Indians lived in close proximity, and. while they were peaceable, they were constantly begging food from their whitc> neighbors, thus making the lives of the new settlers a great hardship; for food, at this time, was high priced and scarce. During the Indian outbreak of 1862, the white settlers gathered nights at the house of John Priebe, returning to their homes to spend the days. Mr. Werdin was the first carpenter to settle in that neighborhood and constructed a number of the first frame buildings in that locality. The first frame bouse he built was for Mr. Harding. He built several other houses; among them being one for Mr. Fred Stoltz, and others for GottlieD Kanne, August Kanne, and Christian Seewald. In 1859, while he and his family were at Wilton, his house, and all its contents were burned. In 1866, he sold his land in St. Mary and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-three, of Iosco, where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1875. The cnildren are Ferdinand W., born Sept. 16, 1855, in Prussia; Henry J., born Jan. 29, 1858, in St. Mary, Minn,; Amelia, now Mrs. Weishaar, of Los Angeles, Cal., born March 12, 1862, in St. Mary; J. L. Werdin, Jr., born in Iosco, Minn., Aug. 26, 1864; Otelia, now Mrs. H. O. Riebeth, of Minneapolis, born in Iosco, March 23, 1867; Ernest R., born in Iosco, Feb. 16, 1869; Herman B. P., born in Iosco, Aug. 9, 1872. The two latter reside in Los Angeles, California. The grandchildren of Mr, and Mrs. J. L. Werdin now number twenty- six, and the great-grandchildren, three. Mrs. Henrietta Werdin, the widowed mother, will be seventy years of age on her next birthday. She resides with her daughter in Minneapolis, and is in the enjoyment of good health. MR. FERDINAND W. WERDIN, who was born Sept. 16, 1855, in Prussia, was married in October, 1878, to Miss Anna Roesler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Roesler, of Woodville. Mr. \verdin is a prominent business man in Glen wood. Pope county, Minn. He is the father of three sons and three daughters. His eldest daughter Blanche is now Mrs. Commings. MR. HENRY J. WERDIN, who was born Jan. 29, 1858, in St. Mary, Minn., was married to Miss Bertha Seewald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Seewald, of Iosco, Dec. 10, 1880. Mr. Werdin owns a fine farm in Alton near Alma City. His family is composed of five sons— Edward Theodore, Benjamin Henry, John B., Henry .!., Jr., and Ernest C— and three daughters— Dorothy, (now Mrs! Gottschalk), Laura, an.d Tillle. MR. HENRY GEHRING. Mr. and Mrs. Gottfried Gehring came to this county in 1S63— first liv- CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 751 ing ia the town of St. Mary and afterwards in Wilton on section 13 wliere they now reside. Gottfried was for many years chairman of the board of supervisors of Wilton. He was always a very successful farmer. Mr. Henry Gehring, one of his sons, is also a prominent farmer. He was born in Marquette county, Wis., Dec. 25, 1857, and came to Minnesota with his parents in 1863. He married Miss Augusta Michaelis, daughter of John Michaelis, of New Richland. Augusta was born in Germany, Sept. 8, 1866. She came to America with her parents in 1869. They first lived in Marquette county. Wis., and then came to New Richland in this county in June, 1875. Henry and Augusta were married Dec. 5, 18S5, and have eight children, four sons and four daughters. They have a comforiable home and a well improved farm. MR. JAMES M. HANLBY. Mr. Hanley is one of the rising young men of the West, and is now practicing law at Mandan, N. D. He was born at Winona, Minn., January 6, 1877; graduated at Kasson, Minn., high school June, 1893; resided in Waseca from June 1893 to January 1903; attended Carleton college in 1894-95; commenced the study of law with Hon. Peter McGovern, in Wa- seca, in June 1895, and was city recorder of Waseca during Mayor Moon- an's administration in 1897-8. He was ready to take the bar examination in the spring of 1898, but enlisted in Company K, of the Twelfth Minnesota regiment, and went South. He took the state board examination shortly after his regiment was mustered out, at the age of twenty-one, and was admitted to the bar in 1899. He was deputy state oil inspector from January, 1899, to June 1900. At the state democratic convention of 1900, he was elected as alternate delegate to the St. Louis national convention. He was a member of the democratic. First Congressional district central committee and its secretary in 1902. He was secretary of the Waseca county agricultural society from 1900 to 1902, and a member of the Waseca board of health in 1902. He removed to Mandan, N. D., in 1903, and formed the law partnership of Voss & Hanley. He married Miss Irma Lewis, of Waseca, March 3, 1903. She was born in Waseca, July 10, 18V 0, being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Lewis, early settlers of Waseca. Her father, in his lifetime, was one of the leading attorneys of SouLhern Minnesota, and always a prominent and influential citizen of Waseca. Mr. and Mrs. Hanley have one child, a son, born April 22, 1905. THE HONORABLE PETER McGOVBRN, the oldest law practitioner in the county, was born in Watertown, Wis- consin, Oct. 9, 1845, of Irish parentage. He attended the public schools, took an academic course and graduated from the law department of the Wisconsin State University in 1871. He came to Waseca in 1872, and opened a law office. In 1873 he was elected county attorney and in 1874 state senator, serving two years in the latter position. He was county 752 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. attorney from 1884 to 1888; from 1892 to 1894; and also from 1896 to 1898. In the fall of 1898 he was again elected to the state senate and served four years. In the fall of 1902 he was democratic candidate for congressman from the First district and made a strong campaign. At various times he has been city attorney, and holds that position at the present time. He is also one of the board of education of Waseca. In 1883 he married Miss Minnie Gilmore, a native of Canada; they are the parents of five children. MR. WILLIAM GRUNWALD. One of the substantial farmers of St. Mary is Mr. Grunwald, who was born in Prussia, April 9, 1866, and came to America in May 1872. He worked in and near Waseca as farm hand and laborer several years. He was married to Miss Dora Preohel, of St. Mary, March 22, 1889. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Prechel, now deceased, settled in St. Mary in 1855, and she was born March 22, 1868. Mr. Grunwald lived in Waseca until Dec. 9, 1891, when he moved to the farm where the family now reside.- In 1897, he added another eighty acre lot to the farm making in ail about two hundred forty acres of very fine land. They are the parents of six children: Edwin A., born August 27, 1890; Elsie R., born Nov. 4, 1892; Lilian F., Feb. 20, 1895; John G., May 5, 1898; Henry W., Nov. 21, 1900; and Adeline E., Nov. 3, 1903. THE HONORABLE KELSEY CURTIS. This gentleman who was one of the early settlers at Alma City, was born in the state of Connecticut Nov. 8, 1825. He married Eliza R. Sutliffe April 11, 1848. She was also a native of the Nutmeg state and was born in the year 1824. Four boys and four girls were born to them, but only two sons and two daughters are now living. Though Mr. Curtis followed blacksmithing in younger life, he was engaged in the sale of merchandise while in Alma City. Some years ago, in consequence of failing health, he retired from active business and has since resided in Janesviile. He represented Waseca county in the house of representa- tives in the sessions of 1872 and 1876. He served as justice of the peace for many years and has always been popular with the people. MR. ANDERS LIANE. This successful. New Richland farmer was born May 16, 1845, in Uper Sansver, Norway. He remained in his native land until April 27, 1S70, when ne sailed for America, landing in New York the 14th day of the following May. He arrived in Dane county. Wis., May 21, and at once entered the employ of a farmer.- Jan. 23, 1S74, he united in marriage with Miss Dorothea Brotten, who was born in Norway, May 4, 1849, and who came to Dane county. Wis,, in May 1S73. Both were natives of the same town. They came by team to New Richland, arriving June 7, 1S75. That year he bought eighty acres of land and opened a farm. He now CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 753 owns three hundred twenty-six acres in section 39, well improved. He is the father of ten living children and two boys who died in infancy. He nas held the office of 'town supervisor and is now town and school- district treasurer. The names of his children are as follows: Caroline, now Mrs. Paska, of Ransom county, N. D. ; Oluf, married and on the farm; Christine, now Mrs. Christianson, of New Richland; Nels, Sam, Karl, Albert, Daniel, Potter, and Dora, all at home. His success in life should be an inspiration to young men everywhere. MR. DANIEL DINNEEN, son of John Dinneen, was born in the town of Byron, Oct. 29, 1866. He is now one of the mail carriers from New Richland. His father, John Dinneen, is a native of Ireland, born in June 1828. He came to America in 1850, landing in New York. He remained in the East until about 1858 when he came to Waseca county. He married Mary Burke in February, 1856, and they have been the parents of five sons and three daughters. The elder Mr. Dinneen at first took one hundred sixty acres of land and after- wards bought three hvmdred twenty acres more, making a large farm. Some years ago he retired from active business, and now resides in Waseca. MR. OTTO L. LUECK, now of Augusta, Wisconsin, foriherly of this county, was born in Min- neapolis, Oct. 19, 1876, but was reared in Waseca county. He enlisted in Company D, 16th U. S. infantry, at Seattle, Wash., March 25, 1898, served in the Philippines with rank of corporal, and was honorably dis- charged at San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 8, 1900. He married Miss Amy Blodgett April 30, 1902. They have two children: Madyline, born June 20, 190d, and Livingston, born Jan. 25, 1905. Otto is a grandson of Mr. Rudolph Babler, one of the early settlers of Woodville. His mother is now Mrs. George Irvine, of Woodville. MR. ORLANDO M. SIMONS, of Janesville, one ofthe fathers of Waseca county, was born June 12, 1821, at South New Berlin, Chenango county, N. Y. He married Miss Phoebe StensQn Oct. 30, 1845. She was born April 21, 1824, at Gilberts- ville, Oswego county, N. Y. About two weeks after their marriage, they moved to Berlin, Erie county, Ohio. They came to Minnesota, to the town of Janesville in 1859. They endured many hardships on the jour- ney and arrived November 5. They soon after settled on their claim near Elysian. They were here during the hard times of 1859-60, and at the time of the Indian massacre. He was a wagon, and carriage maker by trade, but followed farming after he began his residence in Minnesota. Mr. Simons passed to his final rest June 27, 1905, aged eighty-four years and fifteen days, of heart failure. He had been ill about two weeks. His widow, two sons and five daughters survive him. The sons and daugh- 754 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. ters are T. A. Simons, Mrs. John Williams, Mrs. J. Bignall, Mrs. C. N. Smith, Mrs. Clarence Thwlng, of Chetek, Wis., P. R. Simons, and Mrs. P. Galagan, the last of LeSueur Center. Mr. Simons was always a temperate^ honorable, upright man, an affec- tionate husband, a kind parent, a . good citizen, and an accommodating neighbor. It is said of him that he died without an enemy. MR. JULIUS GEHRING. This gentleman is to "the Manor born," being a native of Waseca county and the second Christmas boy in the family, having been born Dec. 25, 1866 — his brother Henry being just nine years of age at the time. Amelia Bethke, daughter of August Bethke, of Woodville, deceased, was born la Germany, Feb. 8, 1870. She married Julius Gehring May 24, 1894, and has borne him three sons and two daughters. They have a pleasant little farm in Wilton, their house being on the old John C. Hunter residence blocK of the old village of Wilton. The site belonged to the William RodQle estate at the time of Mr. Reddle's death. MR. PHILIP GEHRING, son of Gottfried Gehring, of Wilton, was bom in the town of St. Mary, Jan. 12, 1864. He lived on the farm with his parents until 1886, when he came to Waseca and worked as a cabinet maker for some time, after- wards learning the painter's trade. He opened a paint shop and com- menced business for himself in 1892. He afterwards formed a copartner- ship with Mr. Klohe in the paint and paper-hanging business. Mr. Geh- ring served as alderman of the first ward of Waseca four years. Nov. 5, 1892, he married Miss Annie Tetzloff, of Janesville. She was born in Germany, March 9, 1873, and came to America in 1880. Her parents first lived m Janesville village and four years later on a farm in Janesville township. Mr. and Mrs. Gehring have eight children, three boys and five girls. MR. B. J. LILLY. This gentleman represents the Old Reliable Continental Fire Insur- ance company, and is a life-time resident of the county. He was born at Lacon, ill., on Feb. 9, 1856. He is a son of Terrence Lilly,. deceased, and came to this county with his parents in 1857. He was reared a farmer, and resided on his farm in Alton until 1895 when he came to Waseca and engaged in the insurance business. He married Miss Nellie G. Sheehah, daughter of Mr. Dennis Sheehan, an early settler, Nov. 9, 1887. She was born in Detroit, Mich., on January 28, 1863, although her parents' home was in St. Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Lilly are the parents of three daughters: Anastasia M., born October 11, 1888; Evelin L., born April 24, 1892; Mar- cella, born Jan. 31, 1901. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 755 MR. EMIL SAHLER, of Woodville, farmer and inventor, was born in Baraboo, Wis., June 28, 1859. He came to Clinton Falls, Minnesota, with his parents in 1869, and lived there until 1884. Emil Sahler and Miss Minnie Krassin were married June 15, 1882. Minnie is a daughter of the late Christian Kras- sin, of St. Mary, and was born Dec. 6, 1860. They own a farm of two hundred acres, and have growing thereon, fourteen hundred fruit trees, mostly apple and improved plum. They have a grove of ilve acres about the house, consisting of Norway poplars, evergreens, and soft maples. Including the orchard, they have about sixteen acres devoted to trees. They are also engaged in dairying and general farming. Mr. Sahler is the inventor of the "Boss Fence Tools." He is also a prominent member of the Minnesota horticultural society, and has invented a number of fruit picking implements. Mr. and Mrs. Sahler are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters; Christian, born Dec. 3, 1888; Emma, born Nov. 15, 1890; Lizzie, born July 9, 1898. They have one of the largest and finest fruit orchards in the state, and as they are hard work- ers, thev realize a comfortable income. "WASECA FENCE TOOL COMPANY." This company was organized about the first of March, 1905, by Emil Sahler, the inventor, and Mr. Harry P. Shafer, with headquarters in Waseca, Minn. Mr. Sahler calls his invention the "Boss Fence Tool." This invention of five tools in one is for stretching wire on wire fences, mending wire fences, pulling and driving staples, etc. It has been patented and on recent improvements patent has been applied for. He has also invented a cow-tail holder whereby the milker, in fly time, can prevent the cow from switching her tail in his face or throwing dirt into the milk. Agents for the sale of these simple, yet valuable implements, are operat- ing in many of the western states, and within the first six months of the company business, they disposed of some twenty-five thousand fence tool implements. The company give liberal terms te agents. In the office picture, Mr. Sahler, the inventor, sits next to the door on the left hand side witn a hammer and wire-stretcher in his hands, and Mr. Shafer, business manager, sits opposite him near the oflice desk. MR. OWEN LILLY, of Alton, one of its wealthy farmers, was born in Bnniskillen, Ireland, in 1844; he came to America with his parents in 1849, and to mis county in 1857. In April 1883, he married Miss Johanna Fitzgibbon whose parents were among the very early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lilly are the parents of one son and two daughters. PATRICK FARRELL, of Woodville, is another of the early pioneers. Born in 1831, he came to America from West Meath county, Ireland, in 1847, when sixteen 756 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. years of age. He. spent one., year in New York, eight years in Indiana, and on the last day of August, 1857, came to Woodville. John Forrest and Wm. M. Green then owned and operated a steam saw mill at the foot of the hill on the road from Waseca to the south shore of Clear Lake. This looked like business and Mr. Farrell concluded to make his home here. He was married to Miss Julia Egan, June 9, 1857, a few days he- fore starting for Minnesota. Ten children were horn to them, only four of whom are living. Mrs. Farrell died some years ago. His son Lewis was born in Woodville, in 1858, and now lives in South Dakota. Two daughters reside in Minneapolis, and one daughter, Mrs. John Keeley, resides wuh her husband on the old homestead. MR. EDWIN R. STEVENS was born in Washara county. Wis., Oct. 29, 1859. He came to Vivian, this county, with his parents, who settled there in October, 1863, the next year after the Indian massacre. The family moved to Wilton in 1866, his father carrying on blacksmithing there for some years. Edwin went to Lake Benton in 1880, where he made his home until 1895. Nov. 30, 1S92, he married Miss Lura A. Gray, daughter of the late Wm. H. Gray, an eany settler of Woodville and an old soldier, now deceased. Lura was born in Woodville Nov. 11, 1866. In 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Stevens re- turned to Woodville and lived on a farm, east of Waseca, which they carried on until the spring of 1900, when they moved into Waseca. Since Aug. 11, 1902, Mr. Stevens has been mail carrier on route No. 2. Of Mr. Stevens' brothers and sisters, Franklin J. resides in Moorhead, Minn.; Olive A., Mrs. B. F. Roddle, and Fannie R., Mrs. W. H. Roddle, reside in Brookings, S. D.; Walter, in Waseca: Florence, Mrs. Mudgett, at Chatta- nooga, Tenn.; Charles F. enlisted March 24, 1864, and died at Helena, Ark., Sept. 1, 1864, of disease contracted in the service. MR. CHARLES P. SPILLANE. This active young attorney was born in Faribault county, Minn., March 15, 1873, and was brought to Woodville by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pat- rick Spillane, in 1875. He was reared on his fathers farm, but upon reach- ing his majority, entered the law office of Hon. John Moonan of ^A'aseca, as a student. He went to North Dakota in the spring of 1901. Nov. 27, of the same year, he married Miss Agnes L Moonan, a native of this county, daughter of Mr. Patrick Moonan, who was an early settler. They returned to Waseca in 1903, and went to live in New Richland in the fall of the same year. Mr. Spillane was admitted to the bar in North Dakota in 1902, and is in active practice at New Richland. He is chairman of the democratic county central committee, and holds the office of deputy oil inspector for this county. He was a very strong supporter of W. J. Bryan during the campaigns of 1896 and 1900. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 757 E. R. CONNER AND FAMILY. This g'entleman and his family were among the early settlers in Blooming Grove. Mr. Conner was born in Indiana, Feb. 17, 1814. His wife, Sarah (Lilly) Conner, was horn in West Virginia, Dec. 16, 1824, and died in South Dakota, Jan. 3, 1900. They were married in Indiana March 13, 1845. Twelve children, six sons and six daughters, were horn to them. Three of the daughters died before reaching maturity. The family came to Waseca county with ox teams and covered wagons, arriving June 11, 1856, hoping thereby to escape the malaria, which was prevalent in Hoo- sierdom. They were six long, weary weeks In making the toilsome journey. Two of the sons enlisted in the Union army. John G. enlisted at the age of eighteen years in Company H, Third Minnesota regiment, and died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. James L. enlisted Dec. 20, 1861, at the age of sixteen years, and served until July 19, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Conner were noted for their hospitality. All the early farm settlers in the south part of this county will remember their many acts of kindness. On one occasion Capt. E. A. Rice (afterwards major) and about twelve of his men were caught in a heavy snow storm when going from Wilton to Ft. Snelling, and arrived at the Conner place at night. There was also a clergyman and a student from I'aribault along. They all asked to re- main over night. There was but one room in the log house and not a large one at that, hut they all gathered in and most of them slept on the floor. Mrs. Conner gave them supper and was up nearly all night mak- ing ready for breakfast. The family experienced all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. In 1883 Mr. Conner sold out and removed to South Dakota with his family, so that the boys might secure farms m that then new country. At this writing, 1905, -he is still living in that state. Mrs. J. W. Cleland, whose maiden name was Amanda C. Conner, is a daughter of B. R., and was born in Indiana, Sept. 11, 1852. She taught school for several years before she married Mr. J. W. Cleland, Oct. 3, 1877. [A sketch of Mr. Cleland's life is given elsewhere in this work.] Mrs. Cleland has four sons: Edgar J., born May 16, 1884; Spencer B., born Dec. 20, 1886; Jay Conner, born Dec. 21, 1889; and Ralph E., born July 20, 1893. Her home is pleasantly situated on the west shore of Clear Lake. MR. JOHN CARMODY, SEN. This man of rugged honesty is a native of Ireland, born in County Kerry, in the year 1821. He came to America with his parents in 1835 and lived on a farm in New York until 1843. That year he came with his parents to Wisconsin, and made his home on a farm in Milwaukee county. He married Miss Mary Purcel in September, 1851, and they continued their residence in Wisconsin until 1867, when they came to Waseca county and bought the Noah Lincoln farm on section 26, in Wilton, where Mr. Carmody still resides. Mrs. Carmody died Feb. 11, 1885, 758 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. mourned by all who knew her. Bight children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. John, Jr., is a lawyer and resides at Hillsboro, N. D. Mary is the wife of Ivir. John Curran, of Woodville, and was mar- ried to him Nov. 9, 1876. Margaret married John Murphy, of Byron, May 16, 1882. Thomas, Eliza, and Julia are living at the old home, which is one of the oldest and best farms in the county. It was first taken by Chris. Scott in February 1855, and contains prairie and timber land and running water. MR. JAMES B. HAYDEN, a war veteran, born in Ireland Nov. 30, 1840, son of Peter and Anna Hay- den, came to Canada with his parents when he was two years of age, and thence to Wisconsin, where, in 1862, Jan. 2, he was mustered into Company H, Seventeenth Wisconsin infantry, in which he served until May 5, 1865. He was in a number of battles, and at Atlanta received a wound in his left wrist, which has largely deprived him of the use of his arm. He went to live in Alton in 1865, and was elected clerk of court in the fall of 1871, holding the office for twelve years. He was express agent in Waseca for a few years and then received an appointment in one of the departments at Washington where he remained until the year 1904, when he retired from business, his health not being very good. His wife was Miss Goff, of Alton, and they have several children grown to maturity. Mr. Ed Hayden, of Alton, prominent as an ardent and con- sistent Populist, and. a successful farmer, is James' brother. He settled in Alton in 1865. MR. JENS T. DAHLE, born March 5, 1839, in Norway, came to America in 1858, and to Minne- sota soon after, working at whatever he could find to do. Jan. 22, 1862, he enlisted in the second company of Minnesota sharpshooters. He was afterwards transferred to the "Old First Minnesota," participating in all the bloody battles of the Chickahominy, and also the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and Deep Bottom. He was captured at Ream's Station August 24, 1864, and taken to the rebel prison pens of Libby and Belle Isle, Va., and Salisbury, N. C. He was finally paroled, reaching the Union lines March 13. 1S65. He was then in very poor health, and was sent to the parole camp at Annapolis, Md., and from there to St. Louis in a box car. At St. Louis he obtained a furlough and went to Chicago, where he became very ill and entered the hospital where he remained for some time. Getting better to some extent, he came on to St. Paul where he received his discharge. He then engaged in the grocery business at Faribault for two years, and then bought the Philo Woodruff farm in Blooming Grove where he has since resided. He married Miss Anna Olena Seim whose parents came from Norway. They have a very pleasant home. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 759 FATHER SCHUETTB and his sons were among the early settlers of Blooming Grove. The mother died in 1868 and the father in 1883. Edward Schuette was or- dained a German iMethodist clergyman at the age of twenty. Julius E. Schuette married Henrietta Saufferer, daughter of Hon. John L. Sauf- ferer, in 1878. A. H., John H., brothers of Julius, and William E., a nephew, all live in the same neighborhood, in Blooming Grove, and all have well improved farms. MR. J. C. JOHNSON, is a son of Carl Johnson who moved to section 19, Blooming Grove, May 17, 1857. Carl Johnson, the father, was born in Sweden, Sept. 22, 1825, and came to America in 1853, landing at New York Oct. 22. He came West to Milwaukee, Wis., and from there went to Rockford, 111., where he worked some two years. He next went into the Wisconsin pineries where he remained two years and then came to Minnesota. He married Miss Julia Johnson, of Vivian, July 16, 1862. She was born in Norway in February 1825, and came to America in 1853. She came to Vivian with her married sister in 1858. From there she walked all the way to Faribault where she worked until a short time before her marriage. Of such courageous stock come the sons and daughters of Waseca county. John C. and Christina are the only children and they are kindly caring for their father in his declining years. They have a very pleasant, com- fortable home, and are highly esteemed by their neighbors. On May IS, 1896, John C. Johnson married Miss Emma Lee, daughter of Aleck Lee, of Blooming Grove. They have four sons — the oldest eight and the youngest three years of age. MR. JAMES HAND, born Feb. 22, 1835, in the state of Ohio, son of Cornelius Hand, settled in Blooming Grove, in 1856. His grandfather, Cornelius, of New Jersey, was a soldier in the war of 1812-15. James married Lydia A. Sprague Aug. 24, 1856. He enlisted in Company E, Minnesota heavy artillery Nov. 15, 1864, and served until Sept. 27, 1865. MR. KBYES SWIFT, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., came to Blooming Grove in 1856. He was left fatherless at an early age and thrown upon his own resources. He owns a valuable farm and has accumulated a handsome property. He was married July 3, and has two children. In 1896, he was the Populist candidate for representative of this district. THE REVEREND J. C. JAHN, born in Prussia, July 1, 1839, came to America in 1846. He resided in Baltimore, Md., for a few years and then came to St. Paul. In 1861, he enlisted In the First Minnesota cavalry, and was in the battles of 760 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Port Henry, Port Donaldson, Shiloh, and Granville. At the last place he was wounded and made prisoner. He was afterwards paroled, and honor- ably discharged in July 1863. He was married in 1864, then studied for the ministry and was licensed to preach in 1870. He was pastor of the Blooming Grove M. B. church in 1886. He was the father of ten chil- dren. MR. HENRY BEHNE, who is now deceased, was born in Germany, near Hanover, April 29, 1839, and came to this country in 1853. He worked in Illinois until 1855, when he came to Minnesota. He married Hannah Muller, March 18, 1860, and settled down to farming. They had eight children: Henry W., Emma, (now Mrs. Henry Beck,) George, August, Mary, Ida, Willie, and Lewis. THE REVEREND HENRY SINGENSTRTJE, born in Oelber, Germany, Nov. 16, 1821, sailed for America in 1852, land- ing at New Orleans and coming north as far as Cincinnati. In 1854 he came to Red Wing, Minn., and bought a claim, remaining two years, when he was appointed missionary of the German M. E. church, a position which he neld for sixteen years. He married Salome Bider, a Swiss woman, in 1861. They own a little farm in Blooming Grove. Mr. Singenstrue was a pioneer in the church work of the state. MR. CHRISTIAN KNAXJSS and family came to Blooming Grove in 1881. The parents came from Alsace, France, about 1846, and settled in Cook county. 111. There were nine children in this family: John, Charles, Christian W., Henry, William, Bertha, Carrie (who died in Illinois), Benjamin, and Edward. MR. JOHN L. BAHR, born August 18, 1847, in Saxoiiy, Germany, came to America with his parents in 1853, and resided in Waukesha county. Wis. In 1867 his fam- ily came to Deerfleld, Steele county, where John L. remained until 1873. Having married Miss Julia Reineke, March 26, 1872, he began house- keeping on a farm in DeerHeld, where he remained with his family four years. They then bought a farm on section 15, Blooming Grove, where they now reside with their children. They are leading members of the German M. E. church. MR. ANDREW J. HENDERSON, born in Scotland, Aug. 15, 1849, bought a farm in Vivian in 1SS2, and for a number of years was extensively engaged in raising cattle and horses. Of the latter, he chose the Clyde breed. He was very success- ful in the business, and a short time ago retired from his farm to a home in Owatonna. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 761 MR. HERMAN BALDUAN, one of the wealthy farmers of Byron and New Richland, born in Germany Jan. 10, 1847, settled in Byron in 1877 upon a farm containing two hun- dred forty acres. He married Augustina Dumpka, of Dunbar, Faribault county, April 5, 1878. MR. E. W. PISKE, born March 8, 1851, in Oneida county, N. Y., came to Waseca in 1872. After following various employments, he engaged in the business of contraciing and building. He married Miss Kate I. Bailey, daughter of Hon. P. C. Bailey, Dec. 21, 1880. They now reside in Helena, Montana, with their family of five children. MR. JOHN W. JOHNSON. "Bill Johnson," as he is familiarly called, was born in Provincetown, Mass., March 31, 1832. He came West to Paribault in 185G, where he was employed as clerk for his brothers-in-law. Puller & Smith, until the spring of 1857 when he went to St. Mary, and for a time "boomed" that ancient village. In 1858, after the first county seat contest, he moved to Wilton, and opened a store for the sale of merchandise in the firm name of J. W. Johnson & Co. There he remained ten years, when he came to Waseca and opened a grocery store, a business in which he is still engaged. He married Mary A. Marston, of Massachusetts, June 27, 1866. They have two sons, Edward P., married and an express agent at Port Dodge, Iowa; and William M., single and American express agent at Waseca. J. W. is a local politician whom the office seekers generally consult. PEOPLES STATE BANK OP WASECA. This bank was organized in December 1880. The stockholders were W. G. Ward, C. H. Smith, A. P. Kelly, G. R. Buckman, Mrs. W. G. Ward, E. B. Collester, M. Madden, E. M. Broughton, W. J. Jameson, M. A. Green, and C. M. Star. The officers were: G. R. Buckman, president; A. P. Kelly, vice president; C. H. Smith, cashier; directors — Ward, Buckman, Brough- ton, Smith and Kelly. It started with a capital of $25,000. The capital was afterwards increased to $50,000, and again reduced to $25,000. The bank is now in a flourishing condition, with the following officers and directors: B. C. Trowbridge, president; D. S. Cummings, vice president; R. P. Ward, cashier; H. C. Didra, assistant cashier; R. P. Ward, D. S. Cummings, Marlon Buckman, E. C. Trowbridge, E. W. Ward, and C. H. Watson, directors. THE HONORABLE M. H. HELMS, born Dec. 19, 1831, in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., came with his parents to Dane county. Wis., in 1845, where he resided until 1861, when he en- listed in Company E, Eighth Wisconsin infantry and was commissioned 762 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. as second lieutenant. He served until Dec. 12, 1865, when he was mustered out, and returned to Madison, Wis., where he remained until 1868, when he came to Waseca. He married Miss Eleanor M. Dodge, Nov. 30, 1870. She died June 30, 1877, leaving two daughters, Vinnie M., now Mrs. Rausch, of Grand Forks, N. D.; and Jessie R., now the wife of Dr. Lynn, of Waseca. Mr. Helms ably represented this county in the legislative house during the session of 1891. MR. CHRIS HANSEN, a native of Denmark, born in 1845, came to America in 1869. He ar- rived at Waseca in 1872. For some years he was engaged in the saloon business, but now carries on a small farm north of Waseca, in Wood- ville. He has a family of bright and intelligent children. Aside from the business he followed, he is a good citizen. THE REVEREND FATHER A. CHRISTIE, a native of Vermont, born in 1851, came to Waseca about the first of the year 1878. When he was yet a child, his parents came West as far as Adams county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1866, when the family came to Austin, Mower county, Minn. Mr. Christie attended the public schools while a lad, and later attended the college of St. Joseph, near St. Cloud, Minn. He finished his school days at Montreal, Canada. He was a power for good works in Waseca, and remained here for a num- ber of years. He is now the very able bishop of Alaska. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Father J. J. Treanor, under whose management the present splendid church edifice was constructed. MR. S. S. ROLLINS, a native of New Hampshire, born May 1, 1836, son of Reuben and Lovina Rollins, came to Minnesota in 1855, first living on a farm in Houston county. He moved to Freedom in 1866. In 1860 he married Martha M. Elmore, who was born Oct. 31, 1843. They have been the parents of six children. Mr. Rollins is an ideal American citizen. For years he was clerk of his township and treasurer of his school district. He now resides in Janesville, having retired from active business. THE HONORABLE W. G. WARD. (By his daughter, Mrs. D. S. Cummings.) William Grosvenor Ward was born December 26, 1827, in Boonville, N. Y., the sixth child in a family of twelve. Possessing an inquisitive mind, naturally studious and reflective, he readily absorbed all that the high school was able to offer, and at an early age was graduated from the Boonville Academy where he had earned his tuition by tutoring the younger pupils. Although excelling in his favorite study, — that of mathematics in all its branches,— much of his time was devoted to perfecting his knowledge of Latin and Greek. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASKCA COUNTY. 763 At the age of seventeen, having proved himself a hrilliant scholar and already showing those traits of character which made him conspicuous in later years, to the great grief of his mother, who fully realized his natural ability, instead of entering, a sophomore, in Union College, he began the practice of civil engineering, — his first position being that of assistant on the Black River canal. Rapidly rising in the profession for which he was so well equipped, he became in turn chief engineer and road master on the Long Island railroad during the construction of two new branches, and superintendent of car and engine repairs of the entire road with headquarters in the city of Brooklyn. At this time, the year 1852, occurred his marriage to Martha E. Dodge. This union was blessed by a family of two children, Clarence T. and Annie L. Soon after he became first assistant engineer on the Lake Ontario and Auburn railroad, after which he was given a similar posi- tion ffizh the Utica and Black River railroad. With visions of better things in the opening up of new country, the year 1856 finds him turn- ing westward to take his place as chief engineer on the Watertown and Madison, (now Milwaukee & St. Paul) system, after which came the construction of the Oconomowoc and Columbus railroad. The financial crash of 1857 which involved so disastrously the whole country, put a halt to further projection of railway systems, and Mr. Ward began the study of law in Madison, Wisconsin, with the firm of Wood and Blake. He was admitted to the bar and practiced only long enough to try one case when the war broke out, and he was appointed quartermaster in the Thirty-fourth Wisconsin. For three years after that, he held the appointment of postmaster in Madison. In 1865 he was called upon to sustain the loss of his wife who died in Jefferson. After taking his motherless children East to place them in the care of rela- tives, Mr. Ward returned West to resume railroading, this time as chief engineer in the construction of the Winona and St. Peter railroad. This line was completed in 1868. Investing largely in property in and about Waseca, he became one of the early promoters of resident industries. In 1867 ne was married to Ella C. Trowbridge, youngest daughter of the founder of Waseca. He built a home to which in time there came four children: Martha E., Roscoe Percy, Florence Trowbridge, and Earl W. Always an ardent politician, Mr. Ward spared neither pains nor expense in the support of republican candidates for oiEce, generally taking an active part in the campaign. He was twice elected to the legislature as state senator, and was, in 1880, the republican candidate for congress, but, owing to party differences, was not elected. In whatever place we find him, as a youth in studies and athletics; or in maturer years, directing the laying out of many lines of traffic, or pre- siding with unwonted grace and dignity in the senate chamber, Mr. Ward was ever a leader of. men. His commanding presence attracted the be- 764 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. holder whose attention was held by the eloquence and versatility of a ready talker. A constant student all his life, his mind was stored with learning, — science, history, theology, poetry, — the best the great minds had to offer, all were his. His last days of suffering were lightened and uplifted by the ennobling sentiments inspired by long hours of com- panionsnip with his beloved books. In September, 1892, after a long illness, death brought him relief from pain. The poor had lost a friend to whom they never turned in vain, and, if his enemies did not regret the sharp spur of his active animosity, his hosts of friends do not yet cease to mourn the loss of one who never wearied in deeds of kindness for those who merited his esteem. MR. LUMAN S. WOOD, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1836, and came to Woodville in 1857. He was one of the patriots of the "Old First Minnesota." He married Miss Fannie Lansdale in 1867, and in 1872 emigrated to Oregon where he now resides. MR. JAMES M. DUNN, was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland March 3, 1839, and came to America with his parents, Thomas and Isabella Dunn, in 1840. They first lived in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and removed to Lee county, Illinois, in 1856, where the father was killed by a stroke of lightning Sept. 16, 1862. The family came to Minnesota in 1866. There were ten of the children, Ann, James M., Isabella (drowned), William, George T., Walter, John, Eliza, Andrew, and Isabella (second). In the spring of 1867, James M. bought eighty acres of land on section 36, Woodville, which was the beginning of what a few years ago, was the noted Oak Hill stock iarm. He married Miss Matilda Turnacliff, daughter of Ferdinand Turnacliff, July IS, 1868. For many years Mr. Dunn was engaged in breeding pure-blood horses and cattle. He kept Percheron and French coach horses, and Short Horn cattle. The health of himself and wife finally became impaired, and a few years ago he retired from farming and now resides with his family in Waseca. They are the parents of six children, four of whom are living. MR. N. J. LEAVITT, another prominent cattle raiser and dairyman, born in Vermont, Nov. 19, 1841, came to this county in 1869, and bought the farm southeast of Clear Lake, in Woodville, now owned by George H. Wood. He enlisted in Company C, Eighth Vermont regiment Nov. 20, 1861, and served until Sept. 4, 1863. May 1, 1864, he married Lizzie P. Sterling, of Vermont, who was born Aug. 10, 1845. Mr. Leavitt's favorite cattle were pure- blood Holsteins. He removed from the county some years ago and re- sides in Minneapolis. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 765 MR. JOHN CURRAN, of Woodville, a prosperous farmer, born near Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 28, 1S47, came to Woodville, in this county, with his father's family, in 1874. He followed the saw mill business some seven years in the northern portion of the state before coming here. He finally settled on section 28, town of Woodville. He married Miss Mary Carmody Nov. 9, 1876, and they have a model home. MR. JAMES CURRAN, brother of John, learned the carpenter trade, but follows farming. He was born near Milwaukee, September 11, 1857, and came to Minnesota in 1877. Some years since he married Miss Rose Burns, daughter of Mr. Barney Burns, of Wilton. He has held the office of town supervisor and is one of the prominent men of the township of Woodville. MR. LOREN A. GAGE, of Woodville, section 4, was born in the state of New York, April 11, 1838. AS early as 1846, his father moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, about five miles south of Waupun. Loren came to this county over forty years ago. His wife was Miss Catharine Collins, a native of Ireland. She died March 16, 1902, leaving no children. Mr. Gage lives on his little farm by himself and is an honest, upright man. MR. THOMAS KENNEDY is one of the prosperous farmers of Woodville. He was born in Ireland, May 28, 1848, the son of Patrick and Mary Kennedy. His parents brought him to America the same year, going to St. Johns, N. B. They spent three years there, two years in Vermont and then came West as far as Wisconsin. Oct. 11, 1862, Thomas married Miss Rose Reynolds, also a native of Ireland, born Dec. 28, 1844. Their children are John, Mary, Rose, Thomas, Bernard, Joseph, William, and Edward. MR. CHARLES LOCKWOOD was born in Connecticut, Dec. 2, 1824, and settled in Alton in 1865. In his younger days he was a seafaring man, having followed a sailor's life for ten years. He married Louisa Merrill Sept. 3, 1855. She was born in Erie county. New York, May 9, 1832. They were the parents of four children — one son and three daughters. MR. GEORGE W. DUNHAM was born in Fairfield county. Conn., Nov. 24, 1837. He came to the town of Alton, in 1866, and bought a farm on section 23 where he has since re- sided. He married Mary J. Lyon, Sept. 23, 1857. She was born in 1836 in Massachusetts. Four sons and two daughters have- been born to them. MR. TERRENCB HAMMEL, -who for many years was the assessor of Alton, was born in Ireland in 766 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 1845. He is the son of James Hammel, who came to America in 1850. Terrence was married June 2, 1865, to Mary Smith, who was born in Ire- land in 1847. They settled in Alton in 1866. They are the parents of ten children — one son and nine daughters. MR. PATRICK MARKHAM settled near Alma City in 1867, on section 34, in Alton. He was a native of Ireland, born Dec. 25, 1805. He came to Canada when a young man. A sketch of his life and death appears elsewhere in this work. MR. M. S. HOPKINS and family came to the town of Alton in 1867, and made their home on section 25. Mr. Hopkins died Sept. 25, 1871, and Mrs. Hopkins passed away June 3, 1882. MR. H. M. HOPKINS, son of M. S., was born in Ohio, Nov. 15, 1845. He has followed farming all his life, buying land in Alton in 1866, and carrying on farming until a short time ago when he sold the farm and removed to Minneapolis, where he now resides. He is an unmarried man of a somewhat poetical temperament. MR. ANDREW HOGAN, born in Ireland in the year 1835, came to America in 1856, landing in New York, and going thence to Ohio, where he remained until 1858 when he moved to the town of Janesville. In 1874 he went to live in Alton on section 3. He was married to Mary Handerhan in 1860, and they are the parents of three sons and three daughters. MR. JAMES A. VAUGHN, son of Edward and Mary Vaughn, born in Ireland in 1831, came to the United States in 1S38 with his parents, and in 1S73 moved to Alton. His parents died in Illinois — the mother in 1861, and the father in 1S66. James married Catharine O'Lochlin in 1859. She was born in Ireland July 26, 1843, and her parents — Mr. and Mrs. John O'Lochlin, came to this country in 1863. Mr. Vaughn is the father of four sons and four daugh- ters. MR. GEORGE HOPELD, born March 4, 1838, in Germany, came to the United States in 1S54, and to Preedom in ISGS. He remained on the farm in Preedom until 1S77, when he sold it and entered the mercantile business in Alma City. He is an old school teacher, having taught some thirteen winters in all. He has held a number of town offices and is a reliable man. He was mar- ried to Anna Huff, of Michigan, July 5, 1868, and they have had five chil- dren, tnree sons and two daughters, one of the sons dying in infancy. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 7G7 MR. PRANK PIELD, a native of Illinois, born Nov. 1, 1855, came to Preedom June 6, 1864, when only a lad. His father is John H., born In 1834, March 19, also a resident of Preedom. Prank Field and Martha A. Boston were married in 1880. She was born in Wisconsin Feb. 23, 1850, and is a capable woman. MR. WILLIAM ORCUTT, now deceased, was born in Ohio, March 17, 1840, and came to Minnesota at an early day. He was a poor lad and commenced to earn his living at twelve years of age. June 29, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Second Minnesota volunteer infantry, and served three years. -He settled in Preedom, in 1866. He married Miss Mary Morrirson, June 1, 1869. She being Louise Connor, by whom he had two daughters — Dora Belle, born April 31, 1876, and Anna Louise, born May 1, 1878. MR. P. W. BROMAGHIN. This gentleman, born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., June 29, 1820, set- tled in Preedom in 1866. He came a poor man, having with him a feeble old father, a sick wife, eight children and only $19 in money. He had no house of any kind. It was the scarce year in Minnesota with high prices: wheat $2 per bushel, potatoes $1, pork $25 per barrel, and butter from 25 to 50 cents per pound. He finally bought a small board shanty for $bO on credit, and managed to pull through and pay for his land in the course of six or eight years. He served in the Union army from Peb. 27, 1864, to July 27, 1865. THE HONORABLE JOHN WILKINSON, a native of Wisconsin, born Peb. 28, 1846, bought a farm in section 4, Preedom, in 1866. He married Miss Mary Morrinson, June 1, 1869. She was born August 1, 1851. They now reside in Janesville. Mr. Wilkinson served in the house of representatives during the sessions of 1897 and 1899. MRS. MARY (HEALY) HAYDBN. Of this lady, later Mrs. Henry Converse, the following is related in t.ie "History of Steele and Waseca counties:" "Mrs. Converse had an ex- perience in the Indian troubles in 1862. It seems that she and her first husband, Mr. Hayden, then lived in Renville county. Hearing that the savages were murdering people within five miles of them, they fled from their house and their neighbors from theirs. When they had gone but a short distance, Mr. Hayden returned to the house for something or other, and was killed by the red fiends, who had just arrived. Mrs. Hayden and the neighbors pushed on as rapidly as possible, but they were over- taken by the Indians; the men with them were butchered, the women and cnildren taken prisoners. Mrs. Hayden leaping from the wagon, with her child in her arms, ran and hid in the woods till night, and then 768 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. walked to Fort Rldgely, eighteen miles distant, where she found protec- tion." She married Mr. Henry Converse in 1863, and lives in Freedom. MR. JOHN E. GEARY, born in Scotland, July 28, 1840, came with his parents two years later to America and resided in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred Forty-second N. Y. infantry, and served until June 15, 1865. He married Eliza Fields, March 14, 1867, and they settled in Freedom the next November, where they have since resided. MR. SAMUEL HODGKINS, a veteran soldier and farmer, born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., June 15, 1839, son of William and Almira Hodgkins, enlisted May 1, 1861, in Company K, Eighteenth N. Y. infantry, and served until May 28, 1863. The following August 7, he again enlisted, this time in the heavy artil- lery, and while in that service received severe injuries. He was mustered out in September 1865, having served over two years in the artillery com- pany. He married Lucretia Ackerman Dec. 28, 1865. He carried on his father's farm until 1870 when he came to Freedom, arriving April 7, 1870, and then bought eighty , acres of land for $500. He has since added to it until he has a large farm — half a section or more. He is a man of very decided opinions and is prominent in the community where he lives. THE HONORABLE OTTO HANSON, a prosperous farmer of Otisco, born in Norway, March 16, 1850, came to the United States with his parents in 1867, and settled in Otisco. 'His mother died in 1809, and his father in October 1885. Otto married Miss Ellen Thompson, of Wisconsin, March 15, 1S74. He owns a large farm with fine buildings, cultivated groves and fruit trees. When he came to America he owed $35 for his passage. He first worked three weeks for a farmer for $5 and his board. How many young men would do that to- day? He worked through haying and harvest for $13 a month. During the winter he worked for $5 a month and board. And thus he labored faithfully for what he could get until to-day he possesses a competency He worked out among farmers by the month until 1873, when he bought an eighty acre farm on section 24, Otisco. This he cultivated for three years and then sold it. He then purchased the quarter section where he now resides. Mrs. Hanson was born in Hadeland, Norway, Oct. 23, 1851, and came to America with her parents in 1861. They were thirteen weeks and three days on the ocean. Seven children, four boys and three girls, all living, have been born to them. Martin O., born July 7, 1875; Helma S., Sept. 1870; Emill Theodore, May 19, 1879; Minnie, Jan. 16, ISSO; Henry O., Jan. 13, 1885; Selmer, Nov. 5, 1887; and Ella C, Jan. 2S, 1S92. Mr. Hanson has the confidence to a marked degree of those who know nim. He has been school director, town supervisor or chairman of the CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 769 board for twenty years, president of the Farmers' insurance company for twelve years, and representative in the legislature in 1889. He is one of the trustees of Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, and a director of the First National bank of Waseca. Besides his large farm in Otisco, he owns two farms in Western Canada. MR. BENJAMIN L. BALLARD, son of the late Daniel Ballard, was born in St. Mary, where he now resides, June 7, 1877. He spent the years 1899, 1900, and 1901 in Montana. With the exception of these years his home has been in St. Mary. He married Christine Johnston Sept. 24, 1903. She was born in Scotland, Nov. 3, 1877, and in 1881 came to America with her parents, who settled in Mil- waukee, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have one son, born Dec. 22, 1904. Mr. Ballard is an industrious, frugal farmer. MR. WILLIAM A. HENDERSON. This gentleman was born in Menstrie, Clackmannonshire, Scotland, on the 5th day of May, 1838. At the age of thirteen years, he came to this country in company with a maiden aunt, and stopped in Dane county, Wisconsin. Two years later his father and the rest of the family followed, and they made their first home in Springdale, Dane county, in 1852. This was Mr. Henderson's home until he was twenty-eight years of age. At that age, he had saved from his earnings in working in the pinery in the winter, rafting in the spring, breaking grub land in early summer, and running a threshing machine in the fall, the sum of $2,000. The harvest times were given to his father during these years since his majority and so helped relieve the old homestead of debt. In 1867 Mr. Henderson located his present home in Minnesota by the purchase of two hundred eighty acres of land in the town of St. Mary. In this purchase, the $2,000 of savings was invested, and a debt of nearly $5,000 incurred, bearing 7 and 10 per cent, interest. In 1868 Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Grace Hunter, who is still living. They have five children, four sons and one daughter. For the first few years of his farm life in Minnesota, Mr. Henderson was a wheat raiser, but in 1878 he determined to change his mode of farming, and made a visit to Scotland to study sheep-husbandry as a preparation for his new pursuit. He followed sheep farming for several years, and then changed to diversified farming. He has one of the finest farms in the county which he keeps under a high state of cultivation. He is also a stockholder and director in the First National bank of Waseca. On May 18, 1905, his team ran away with him, on Second street, Wa- seca, throwing him out of his buggy at the Grant House and severely injuring him, though no bones were broken. He was compelled to remain at the Grant House for nearly four weeks before he could be taken home. It was a narrow escape from death. 27 770 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. MRS. MICHAEL BURKE, of Janesville, is one of the enterprising women that came West at an early day. She moved with her family from Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1865, and settled in Janesville where she still resides. MR. ROBERT MARZAHN is a native of Iosco, having been horn in this county on July 27, 1866. His father, Wm. Marzahn, was a native of Germany, and settled in Iosco in 1856, having arrived in America in 1855. The father died June 27, 1893, at the age of seventy-three years. Robert married Miss Lydia Miller, of the same town, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Miller, Feb. 25, 1891. They have one son and tw^ daughters: Mason, Esther, and Adeline. Mrs. Marzahn's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Miller, were among the early settlers of Iosco, and reared a family of four sons and five daugh- ters. Mr. Miller died Aug. 2, 1900, and Mrs. Miller Nov. 14 of the same year. Mr. Robert Marzahn's mother is still living at Morristown. Robert owns a valuable farm of three hundred twenty acres in sections 1, 2, 10 and 11, in that township, and is one of the prosperous young farmers of the county. MR. WILLIAM CAHILL, of Janesville, came to this country from Ireland when young. He settled on section 35, Janesville, in June, 1858, where he has since resided. He married Miss Bridget McCarthy, of Marysburg, Minn., in 1873. Ten chil- dren ha-'-e been born to them, seven of whom are living — four sons and three daughters. MR. THOMAS CAHILL, born in Ireland in the month of November, 1825, came to America in 1847, lived tor a time in Kentucky, then came West to Iowa and finally set- tled in Janesville April 9, 1857, on section 27. Here he secured the owner- ship of seven hundred ninety-flve acres of fine land. He married Mary Harney, also a native of Ireland, in March 1855. She was born August 15, 1831. They have been the parents of five children. MR. ALBERT JAMESON, a native of Norway, bought a farm on section 19, Blooming Grove, in 1893. His wife's maiden name was Mary Olsen, of the same town. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Jameson's father's name was Jens Longlle. He resided in this county a number of years, but moved to Steele county in 1896. MR. SEGURD JACKSON, born in Blooming Grove, July 29, 1863, is a grandson of Segurd Johnson, one of the very early settlers of Iosco. His wife's name was Christina Wad; she was also a native of Blooming Grove. They have one daughter. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 771 Geda, born Dec. 22, 1899. Mr. Jackson owns a farm and is also proprietor of the Palmer Creamery store. DOCTOR R. O. CRAIG, a native of the state of New York, was born in 1834. He studied medi- cine at Ogdensburg and, in 1855, graduated at the Albany, N. Y., Medical college. He practiced medicine in that city one year, served as assistant surgeon in the U. S. army five years on the Pacific coast, and was appoint- ed surgeon of the Tenth N. Y. infantry serving until the close of the war. He moved to old Janesville to practice as a physician about the year 1866. He served as county superintendent of schools in 1870-71, and for several years as county commissioner. In 1874 he entered the drug business with Hon. J. O. Chandler. They are also largely interested in farming operations as farm proprietors. He was state senator in 1883 and 1885, and again in 1891 and 1893. He married Miss Lamb, a sister of Hon. M. H. Lamb, of Alton. She died some years ago without issue. The doctor is an active member of the society of the 6. A. R., and prom- inent in all public affairs. He has the confidence of the people in a marked degree and is worthy of it. THE HONORABLE J. O. CHANDLER is a native of the state of Maine, born Sept. 21, 1837. He came to Min- nesota in 1857 and resided at Pleasant Grove. He went to Idaho in 1858, returning in 1859, to make his home in Winona. In 1863 he entered the military service as paymaster's clerk and served until 1865, when he re- turned to Minnesota and was traveling salesman for J. D. Blake & Co., of Rochester, Minn. A year later he opened a store at Janesville. He was postmaster of Janesville from 1867 to 1870. In 1873 he disposed of his old line of goods and joined with Dr. R. O. Craig in the drug store business. He served this county in the legislative house during the ses- sion of 1877. He has always been active and prominent in the public affairs of Janesville. His first wife died many years ago, and he after- wards married Miss Elizabeth Reid, one of the early school teachers of the county and one of the best and most successful. Her father was a Scotchman and one of the early settlers of Freedom, afterwards removing to California. MR. BARNEY McANANY, of Iosco, born in Milwaukee county, Wis., Jan. 9, 1841, came to this county March 21, 1866. Rochester was then the terminus of the railroad, and from there on the stage fare was ten cents a mile. Mrs. McAnany's maid- en name was Ellen Dyson, and she was bom in Milwaukee county August 16, 1848. They are the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters. Mr. McAnany owns a fine farm and is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. 772 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. MR. FRANK H. MINER. This gentleman was one of the early settlers of New Richland, and started in as a "granger." He was born in the year 1840, in the state of New York. The family came as far west as Wisconsin when Frank was a lad. In 1863, they settled upon a farm in New Richland. In 1867 Frank moved to Waseca and formed a partnership with A. W. Jennison in the machinery business. When the W. & St. P. railway was extended to Janesville, they were among the first to open a general stock of mer- chandise there. He remained with Mr. Jennison for fourteen years, when Mr. S. F. Shepherd bought the Jennison interest. Mr. Miner was married to Miss Addie Wookey in 1869. He has accumulated a competency and is a Die to take life easy. MR. CHARLES GUTFLEISCH, a native of Germany, born in 1856, came to Waseca in 1872, where he worked at tailoring until 1878, when he moved to Janesville and carried on business for himself. He suffered from the 1887 fire, but soon after formed a copartnership with R. L. H. Britton. They erected a brick building and opened a stock of men's clothing, Mr. Gutfleisch having charge of the tailoring department. He is a popular man and served one term as president or chief magistrate of the village. MR. ROBERT McDOTJGALL, whose early settlement is elsewhere noted in this book, was born in the Highlands of Scotland March 26, 1820, and came with his parents to Amer- ica when a small boy. They settled near Guelph, Canada, where he endured the hardships incident to making a home in a heavy timbered wilderness. In 18.54 he and his brother Hugh came West to Iowa, and in the fall of 1855 to what is now Otisco. Here they took land. About 1858, Hugh re- turned to Canada, but Robert packed his "traps" and, with his faithful horse, traveled over prairie and mountain to the gold mines of the west- ern mountains and the Pacific coast. In 1861 he returned, stopped for a few weeks in Otisco and then went back to the old home in Canada. There he remained until 1S66. On the 6th of April of that year, he married Anna McKersie, of Rockwood, Ontario, and they immediately came to their farm in Otisco where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 15, 1SS7. Nine children were born to them: Catharine L., Nov. 7, 1866, now Mrs. Jos. S. Root, of Wilton; Anna R.; Mrs. Frank Erfurth, deceased, born July 22, 1868; Janett C, born March 26, 1S70, now Mrs. Eugene Turnacliff, of Otisco; w'm. W., born August 12, 1S72; Robert B., born June 15, 1S74; Margaret G., born May 6, 1S76, now Rlrs. Walter Brisbane, of Stevens county; Bessie C, born March 1, 1S7S, now Mrs. Aldis Brisbane, of Stev- ens county; Isabelle M., born Nov. 4, 1880, now Mrs. Walter Johnston, of New Richland; and Hugh P., born April 27, 18S2. The sons are all CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 773 single and live (except Hugh) at or near Malta, Montana. Catharine has five children; Anna left surviving two sens and a daughter; Janett C, has two girls; Bessie has two children living, one dying in infancy; Margaret has three children and Isabella has three. Mr. Brfurth and his children live at Malta, Montana. Mrs. McDougall is with her aged parents in Rockwood, Ontario. Hugh McDougall, the elder, resides at Guelph, Canada, and has never visited Minnesota since his early settlement here. MR. JOSEPH S. ROOT, son of James Root, was born in Wilton, April 16, 1865, and was married to Miss Catharine L. McDougall Sept. 24, 1891. With their five children, four girls and one boy, they reside on the old James Root homestead, one of the best farms in Wilton. James Root, born Feb. 26, 1832, in Catta- raugus county, N. Y., came to Wilton in 1859, settling on section 34. He married Miss Hannah Brisbane, daughter of Hon. William Brisbane, Dec. 12, 1859. They were the parents of eleven children: Charles E., Grin E., William L., Joseph S., Cora B., Hattie M., James A., Maggie J., Freddie, deceased, Dora E. and Marvin L., deceased. Joseph was chairman of the town board of Wilton for several terms and has held other ofiBces. In 1900 he was democratic candidate tor county commissioner in the Fifth district and lacked only eight votes of an election. MR. EDGAR CRONKHITE, was born Jan. 26, 1826, at Glens Falls, N. Y. He entered Williams col- lege in 1845. From 1848 to 1852 he traveled extensively in the South, making headquarters in Washington, D. C. He studied law at Buffalo and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He then came West to Neenah, Wis., where he practiced law and was register of deeds one term. He came to Rochester, Minn., about 1860. He served as lieutenant in Company L, Second Minnesota cavalry during the Indian war and from Dec. 18, 1863, to May 4, 1866. He enlisted as a private and was promoted to sec- ond lieutenant Oct. 11, 1864. After his discharge, he returned to Roches- ter where he practiced law to some extent. In 1867 he went to live in Alma City on a farm, which he has since made his home. In 1870 he was elected coimty auditor of this county and served ten years by re-election, although a democrat, the county being largely republican. He has always been a generous hearted man without show or parade. He is a man of education and of much ability and refinement. He has lived a single man, and has no relatives in this section of the country. Some years ago his eyesight became impaired and of late he has been nearly blind — not able to read at all. MR. C. N. SMITH, son of J. R. Smith, was born in Blooming Grove, Jan. 25, 1857. He married Miss Mary A. Simons, daughter of Orlando Simons, of Janesville, Aug. 17 1878, and they live on their farm in Janesville, a mile and a half south- 774 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. west of Elysian. They have had three children: Bessie C, born Aug. 12, 1879; Prank J., born Mar. 27, 1888, died Mar. 22, 1889; and Dessie A., bom Aug. 10, 1893. Joshua R. Smith and wife were early settlers, both Ameri- can born. Joshua was born Jan. 26, 1833; Almeda Smith, daughter of Simeon Smith, was born July 5, 1836. They were married at West Union Iowa, in 1854, and went to live in Blooming Grove, on what is now known as the James Bowe place, in June, 1856. They were the parents of six children: Agnes, born at West Union, Iowa, Jan. 21, 1855; C. N. Smith, born Jan. 25, 1857; Clara Smith, Nov. 20, 1859; John, Feb. 12, 1861; Ida Dec. 30, 1863. The last four were born in Blooming Grove. Etta, tne youngest, was born in Elysian, LeSueur county. Mr. Smith served in the Union army at the time of the Rebellion, and after the close of the war, in 1865, sold his farm in Blooming Grove and engaged in the sawmill business at Elysian for two years. He then sold the mill and bought an Elysian farm on which he lived until 1891, when he removed to Delano, Cal., with all his children except C. N. Mrs. Smith died there Oct. 20, 1895, and Mr. Smith, July 31, 1900. MR. GOTTLIEB GRAMS, born in Germany, Sept. 7, 1828, came to America in 1853, and settled on a farm in Janesville township in 1857. October 16, 1855, he married Miss Louisa Wandrie, who was born in 1833. Four children were born to them: Charles, Ottila, Eliza, and Pauline. THE REVEREND GEORGE W. MORSE. George Warren Morse was born at Williamstown, Yt., April 23, 1847. His wife's maiden name was Lizzie J. Baker, and she was born in Erie county. Pa., Dec. 22, 1847. They were married at Deerfield, Minn., April 5, 1868. They have one son living, Orwin A. Morse, who is director of the music department of Stetson University, DeLand, Florida. He is married. In June, 1856, Mr. Morse, with his parents, moved to Steele county. Territory of Minnesota, in what afterwards became Deerfleld township. At the age of seventeen, he began teaching school, and continued this work for twelve years. His wife was likewise a school teacher, and at one time taught in the McKune district, Waseca county. In 1876 Mr. Morse purchased the Mantorville Express and engaged in the newspaper business. In 1880 he purchased the Waseca Leader. At the same time his former foreman, S. M. Rose, bought the Waseca County Herald, into which the leader was merged. Mr. Rose died in 1S83, and Mr. J. F. Murphy bought Mrs. Rose's interest in the business. In 1885 Mr. Morse sold his interest in the business to J. E. Child and removed to Battle Creek, Mich., his present place of residence, to engage in editorial work with the Review and Herald Publishing company. Three years later he was sent by that company to Toronto, Ont., to establish and conduct a large book publishing business. He remained in this work nine years. MRS. ANNA CARMODY. HON. JOHN CARMODY. CtI114>'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 775 He then accepted an invitation of the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent association to go to Australia to superintend a sanitarium enterprise. He remained in Australia three years and then returned to Battle Creek where he Is now pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist church at that place, with a congregation of about three thousand people. THE HONORABLE JOHN CARMODY. John Carmody, Jr., attorney-at-law, living at Hillsboro, N. D., is a man whose public spirit and excellence of character have never been ques- tioned. He is a life-long Jeffersonian Democrat and total abstainer. Mr. Carmody was born in Granville, Milwaukee county, Wis., on Jan. u, 1854, and moved with his parents to Waseca county, in the spring of 1868, to the old Lincoln place on the banks of the LeSueur river in Wilton township, where his father, brother, and two sisters still reside. He received his education in the common and public schools of Waseca a: J. Faribault, teaching school for several years thereafter. He next studied law in the office of James E. Child, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1880. He held the office of municipal judge and city justice of Waseca. In August, 1885, he removed to Hillsboro in the ter- ritory of Dakota, now North Dakota, entering into partnership in the practice of law with Hon. L. E. Francis, a boyhood friend. On July 12, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Madden, eldest daughter of the late Malachi Madden, of Waseca county. Three children have been born to them: Winifred M., now a student at Villa Maria, Montreal, Canada; Irene Frances and George Christie, in attend- ance at the Hillsboro schools. Mr. Carmody is widely known in fraternal society circles and holds membership in the American Order of United Workmen, Independent Or- der of Foresters, Knights of Columbus, Brotherhood of American Yeo- man, and the Elks. For twenty-five years he has been an enthusiastic fireman, having been a member of the department while in Waseca and also taking an active part in the Fireman's Association of North Dakota. He is now president of the state organization. He has held the office of city attorney of Hills- boro for fourteen years, has served as mayor of the same city, and as prosecuting attorney of Trail county. North Dakota. Mrs. Carmody was born in Blooming Grove, June 29, 1862. She received her education in her home district, in Professor Carman's select school, and Waseca's public schools. She taught in the various schools of the county for a number of years. MR. MALACHI MADDEN, lately deceased, was born in Ireland, near the city of Tuam, on Nov. 3, 1828. He came to America when but a youth of sixteen years and took up'^hls residence at New Orleans, La. From this city he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he lived for twenty years. Sept. 9, 1861, he was married 77G CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. to Miss Mary Loftus, of the same city, and came North to Waseca county, settling on the old Isaac homestead, in Blooming Grove. There were but few people save Indians in the vicinity at that time, but this young pio- neer had most abundant faith in the future of Minnesota. Always sober and industrious, he labored faithfully for forty-one years to subdue the wilderness that surrounded his home and saw Waseca county surpass even his fondest dreams of her future greatness. During the latter years of his life a complication of diseases fastened themselves upon him, against which he fought with indomitable courage, until January 29, 1902, when in his seventy-fourth year, he arose at the call of the Master and journeyed forth into the shadows. Mrs. Malachi Madden was born in Galway, Ireland, June 29, 1842. In 1851 her parents came to America and made their home in St. Louis. Mrs. Madden has borne and reared four sons and six daughters. Three daughters are married — Mrs. A. E. Paulson, of Kenmare, Ward county, N. D. ; Mrs. John Carmody, of Hillsboro, N. D. ; and Mrs. Richard Maloney, of this county. Mrs. Madden is a woman of refinement and has performed well her part in life. She deserves well of her kindred and neighbors in her declining years. MR. MARK POMEROY LESLIE, now of Wheatland, Wyoming, is the son of Samuel Leslie, of this county, and was born in this county June 6, 1871. He married Miss Laura Jor- genson, of Steele county, in 1898, and they have three children, two sons and a daughter. They moved to Wyoming three years ago where they are engaged in farming. MR. OMER H. SUTLIEF, born May 2, 1836, in Warren county, Pa., came to Waseca county in IS 56. Dec. 11, 1860, he married Mary Holbrook, daughter of Zachariah Hol- brook, who settled in Otisco in 1856. They have one son and four daugh- ters. Mr. Sutlief volunteered in the old First Minnesota regiment in April, 1»61, served three years and three months, taking part in twenty- one battles, and having one thumb shot off. He owns a farm near New Richland, but lives in the village with his family. MR. HARRY A. READ, born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1846, came to Iowa with his parents In 1S56. He enlisted in the Union army in 1863, and served until 1865. He com- menced railroading as fireman and engineer in 1869. He has run an en- gine on the W. & St. P. division of the C. & N. W. railroad for over twenty years, and is one of the oldest engineers on the road. MR. H. W. BLUHM, son of Henry Bluhm, born in Meriden. Steele county, Sept. 20. 1856, is a prominent farmer of Vivian. His father, who was born in Germany in MALACHI MADDEN. MRS. MALACHI MADDEN. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 777 1S32, came to America in 1854. He married Margaret Beck, also a native of Germany, in 1855, at Guttenberg, Iowa. They settled in Meriden early in the summer of 1856. In 1880 H. W. Bluhm married Mary Remund, dauguter of John Remund, an early settler. Mary was born Sept. 2, 1857, in Blooming Grove. They have one son and two daughters. The son and elder daughter are married, the younger daughter being at home. They settleu on their present farm in 1880. Mr. H. W. Bluhm was town clerk for eight years, assessor for several years, took the United States census in 1900, and the state census in 1905. He was county commissioner from 1892 to 1896. His father and mother own a farm in Freedom, are still living and reside with him. MR. PATRICK CAMPION, son of Malachi Campion, was born in Ireland, In October, 1842, and came to America with his parents in 1849. They landed in New York and pro- ceedea thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where they lived three years. They then came as far West as Wisconsin and lived near Watertown. In 1858 they came to Minnesota and resided near Winona. Some time after, the family moved to near Rochester, Minn. In 1865, Patrick invested in lands in Waseca county and the next year broke thirty-eight acres. His brother John came at the same time and lives a single life. Patrick was married in 1871 to Miss Margaret Mahoney, at Rochester, Minn. They are the parents of four sons and three daughters. Mr. Campion has seven hun- dred twenty acres of land all under a high state of cultivation, except forty acres of timber. His father died August 31, 1885, and his mother, Aug. 11, 1894. He was chairman of the town board for seven years and was a school officer of his district for many years. He is one of the wealthiest farmers of the county, and enjoys the confidence of all his neighbors. He takes an active interest in public affairs — not as a poli- tician but as an independent citizen desiring the welfare of his country. MR. JAMBS McGUIGAN, residing in Iosco, is the son of the late Christopher McGuigan. He was born in Wisconsin, May 13, 1865. His father, Christopher, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1822, and came to America when twenty years of age arriving in the month of September. He landed in New York and soon after went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he remained two years. He then went to St. Louis, Mo., where he resided several years. We next find him in LaFayette county. Wis., where, in 1855, he married Miss Rose Bradley She was also a native of Ireland. They settled on the farm in Iosco In 1867. They were the parents of three children, two of whom, James and Susan, are living. Mrs. McGuigan died Nov. 1, 1868, and Christopher died April 10, 1900. "Christie" McGuigan made his money and property by strenuous labor, • sober living and sensible economy. He met with a hard loss in 1888, on account of the defalcation of Charles McKenna, county treasurer. He 778 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. was on the bond of that smooth rascal, and suffered a loss, all told in the way of costs, expenses, attorneys, etc., of close to $4,000. Some of the bondsmen slank out of their share, and Tim Sullivan, of Janesville, and Mr. McGuigan, had to bear the heavy part of the loss. James and his sister have a fine estate and they seem to enjoy life. They have traveled quite extensively. James has indulged moderately in local poli- tics, not on his own account, but for the benefit of others. He was an enthusiastic supporter of W. J. Bryan. MR. JOHN T. JORDAN, of St. Mary, farmer and dealer in cattle and horses, was born in St. Mary June 22, 1862. His father was Martin Jordan, who settled in St. Mary as early as 1857. Martin, son of James and Mary Jordan, was born in Ire- land Nov. 12, 1824, and came to America in 1844, landing at New York. He remained in the New England states until 1846 when he went to the South spending three years at St. Louis, Mo., in railroad employ, and some time in Illinois at the same business. He followed the building of the railroad from Chicago to Milwaukee and thence to Watertown, Wis. He then returned to New York state and in 1852 married Mary Gallagher, who was also born in Ireland. Her mother's name was Shanley and she was a relative of Bishop Shanley of North Dakota. John's parents then came to Illinois where they remained until they came to Minnesota. For a number of years, Martin was yard master in the employ of the Illinois Central railroad, and was a brakeman on one of the first trains run by that road. He was well acquainted with young Guiteau, the murderer of President Garfield and with Guiteau's father, who worked for the same railroad company. Martin, after a well-spent life, died Jan. 8, 1904, re- spected by all who knew him. John T. was married to Miss Elizabeth Brady, of St. Peter, Oct. 12, 1896. She was born Oct. 15, 1S72. John T. has been in the cattle and horse buying and selling business, more or less, for the last ten or twelve years, and is a prosperous farmer. MR. EDGAR C. TROWBRIDGE, son of the late Ira C. Trowbridge, founder of the city of Waseca, was born at Woodstock, 111., about 1854, and came to Waseca with his parents in August 1866. He is president of the Peoples State bank of Waseca, and an extensive owner and dealer in Waseca real estate. He was for many years engaged in the hardware business. On May 29, 1901, at Sac- ramento, he married Miss Stratton, daughter of Judge Stratton, of Cali- fornia. She is a native of Santa Barbara, Cal. Mr. Trowbridge has been an efficient member of the board of education of Waseca for eleven years. MR. JOHN A. JOHNSON, born in Otisco, in this county, July 25, 1801, is the son of Charles and Christine Johnson, early settlers in this county. His father, Charles John- son, was born in Sweden Dec. 11, 1829, and came to America about 1S52. B. S. LEWIS, ESQ. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 779 He married Miss Cliristine Anderson, also a native of Sweden, about 1856, wliile living in Indiana. He remained in that state until 1860, when he came to Otisco with his family and made his home on section 16. Here he purchased one hundred sixty acres of land, which he still owns. Some fifteen years ago Charles became so afflicted with rheumatism that he quit his farm and bo'ught him a home in Waseca where he has since re- sided with his family. John A. Johnson married Miss Anna Larson, of Idaho. She was born in Sweden in 1869, and came to America while young. They are the parents of six children, two sons and four daugh- ters. He owns one hundred sixty acres of land in section 16, and his residence is surrounded by one of the finest groves in the state. He has been town supervisor for a number of terms and is prominent in the pub- lic affairs of his town. MR. BENEDICT S. LEWIS. This gentleman was born in Courtland county, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1839. He was of Welsh descent, and his father was a clergyman. His parents came West to Columbia county, Wis., in 1851, and he came with them. He received his education after leaving the public schools, at Union col- lege, N. Y., and at the State University of Wisconsin in Madison. He read law with Gregory & Pinney, of Madison, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He came to Waseca in 1868, where he practiced law the re- mainder of his life very successfully. In addition to nis local business he was the retained attorney of the M. & St. L. railway company from 1884 until the close of his life. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Eaton, of Wisconsin, July 7, 1869, and four children were born to them, one son and three daughters — Harlow E., Esther, Irma, and Mary B. (deceased). Esther is the wife of Mr. Guy W. Everett, of the firm rf Everett, Aughenbaugn & Co., of Waseca. Irma is the wife of James M. Hanley, Esq., a prominent attorney of Mandan, N. D. Harlow E. is con- nected with the milling business of Mapleton, Blue Earth county, Minn., and is doing a prosperous business. He married a daughter of Hon. M. R. Everett, a lawyer and banker, and for a number of years a state sena- tor, of Waterville, Minn. Mr. B. S. Lewis died of bronchial consumption May 16, 1891, after many years of suffering. Judge Buckham and all the members of the bar of Waseca county attended his funeral in a body. Mr. Lewis was a very thorough student of law and an able attorney, always true to the inter- ests of his" clients. He was public spirited and took an active interest in the welfare of his adopted city. MR. W. F. ROURK, born at Beechwood, Ontario, Canada, came to Minnesota with his par- ents when he was nine years of age. His parents settled on a farm in Watertown, Carver county, which they still own and reside upon. W. F. married Miss Mary Suel, at Credit River, Scott county, Minn., in 1882. 780 CHILD'S HISTORY OF W'ASECA COUNTY. She was born at Dayton, Ohio, and came to Minnesota with her parents when she was a babe. They settled on a farm in Credit River township. In 1882 Mr. Rourk engaged in the construction of cement wallis at Min- neapolis, and carried on the business in the Twin Cities for eighteen years. In 1900, he came to Waseca and established a factory for the man- ufacture of cement stone especially for sidewalks, crossings, curbs, gut- ters, hitching posts, etc. He also owns a neat residence property in Waseca, although he does a great deal of work in other places. Thus far his work has been highly satisfactory, and cement-stone walks are taking the place of lumber walks. His address is Waseca, Minn. THE HONORABLE S. P. CHILD. Simeon Potter Child, son of Zabina and Orrilla (Rice) Child, was born Nov. 16, 1835, in Medina county, Ohio. His boyhood days were spent in Ohio, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and in Wisconsin. He lived in the latter state from 1844 to 1855. He came to Waseca county in January and February, as elsewhere detailed in this book. At the age of twenty- one years, he claimed and pre-empted a quarter section of land on sec- tions 23 and 24 in Wilton township. In 1855, as soon as he was able to walk, after freezing his feet so badly, he entered the employ of the Unit- ed States as chief cook for the employees of the government at the Win- nebago Indian Agency. In 1856, he was put in charge of a large number of breaking-team crews engaged in breaking lands for the Winnebagoes. Soon after he commenced improving his own claim. On the eighth of August, 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Clarissa Armenia Northrup, daughter of Caleb Northrup, one of the pioneer settlers of this county. She was born in the town of Horner, Steuben county, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1841, and came to Wisconsin a babe in arms, and to Waseca county with her parents in 1856. With the exception of one winter which S. P. spent as clerk in a, Wilton store, he remained upon his farm until the Sioux Indian massacre in August 1862. Upon receiving news of the Indian outbreak, he at once tendered his services to the government, and was formally mustered in as a corporal of Company B, First regiment of Minnesota mounted rangers, Oct. 17, 1862. Hon. Horace Austin, after- wards governor of our state, was captain of the company. His company went into winter quarters at St. Peter, after having performed patrol duty on the frontier from the time of enlistment. Mr. Child was detailed for hospital duty at St. Peter during a portion of the winter, but was with the company at the hanging of the Sioux at Mankato, Dec. 26,*1S62. Noth- ing otner than the execution of the Indians transpired during the winter worthy of note. He kept a diary while following the Indians of which extracts are here given, as follows: "Tuesday, June 16, 1S63.— Left Camp Pope, marched about seven miles and camped on the bank of the Minnesota river; called it Camp Crooks. "Wednesday, June 17. Infantry inarched about thirteen miles and camped at Wood Lake. We called it Camp Miller. On Thursday, June IS, we CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 781 made only seven miles and camped at Camp Baker, on the Minnesota river where there is plenty of good water and grass for stock. "Friday, June 19. — Lay in camp all day. Weather cold and threatened rain. "Saturday, June 20. — Moved above Camp Release, making about fifteen miles. Weather very cold; a little rain. The camp is on the river. We call it McPhail. "Sunday, June 21. — Remained in camp. Weather continues cold. "Monday, June 22. — Broke camp early, made about fifteen miles, crossed the Lac Qui Parle river and camped near a small lake. Weather warm and ground very dry. "Tuesday, June 23. — Traveled fifteen miles. The ground is so dry the grass is all dead or has not grown any this season. There are no -lakes of clear water in this section — only nasty frog ponds. There is occasion- ally a spring, but, as a rule, water is very scarce and of poor quality. Camped by a little lake — called it Camp Averill. "Wednesday, June 24. — Broke camp at 5 a. m., crossed the Yellow Earth river. Earth completely parched, and almost all the lakes dry. No timber along the river near which we camped. "Thursday, June 25. — Made ten or twelve miles. Country more hilly; uplands bare; some grass in marshes. Stone on the surface. Camped at a beautiful lake two miles west of Big Stone lake. Named the camp 'Jamison.' "Friday, June 26. — Traveled about ten miles. Ruble's company killed a buffalo to-day. Five buffaloes were seen on left fiank. Camped on the Minnesota river. "Saturday, June 27. — Remained in camp— also over Sunday. Plenty of good water by digging ten or twelve feet, and plenty of grass. "Monday, June 29. — Major Buel, with two companies of Rangers, while reconnoitering. found signs of Indians to the southwest. "Tuesday, June 30. — A portion of our command was dispatched for Fort Abercrombie for supplies under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Averill. Here a mule driver broke his leg. Moved about ten miles and camped at a small lake July 1.— Made about twelve miles more. Lakes more numerous; water clearer, no timber July 2.— Scouts saw signs of Indians but no redskins. Traveled about ten miles. Vegetation all dead except around margin of lakes. Camped at Skunk lake— water shallow— plenty of fish. July 3. — Made about fifteen miles. Weather hot; ground stony; grasshoppers in great numbers; water very poor; grass scarce July 4_ Marched about twelve miles. Grasshoppers very thick; no grass ex- cept in sloughs; camped on' the Cheyenne river. This has a little timber along its banks July 5.— A detachment of twenty-five mounted men was sent to Fort Abercrombie, a distance of forty miles. Land in this section is of the poorest kind, very little grass and no water. There are 782 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. elks and buffaloes here. Two buffaloes were killed to-day. We arrived at Fort Abercrombie that evening where we stayed over the 6th and into the 7th until the mail arrived from the east. On the evening of the 7th we started on our return to the Cheyenne and camped at Rice river. Here Latowell got lost. I took Fay and started back to hunt for him; got back to the fort about 2 o'clock next morning. On the 8th and 9th we returned to camp on the Cheyenne July 10. — Remained in camp; on the 11th we moved up the river twelve miles where we found plenty of hay and wood and springs of good water. ... July 12. — Sunday; re- mained in camp all day. Found fresh signs of Indians in vicinity July 13. — Moved ten miles and camped between two small lakes. Found plenty of grass, but no wood, and no water except lake water. Fresh buf- falo tracks numerous. . . .July 14. — Traveled about fifteen miles. Camped on bank of river. Plenty of wood and water. Weather cold and windy. ....July 15. — Marched about ten miles. Found many small lakes, grass better. Camped near a good sized lake; water very poor — too much alkali July 16. — Made about ten miles, crossing the Cheyenne at Fisk's ford. Here Colonel McPhail killed an elk. Camped on a muddy lake. Grasshoppers not so thick and grass better. Ground rolling and stony July 17. — Made another move of about ten miles over a broken country with many small lakes, ponds, and marshes, most of them nearly dry now. To-day the boys killed an elk, and two half-breed Indians came into camp. Camped on the shore of a pond; plenty of grass, but very poor water— no wood July 18.— The expedition moved about nine miles and camped on the shore of a beautiful lake. Here a man of Company L was accidentally shot by a lieutenant of Company G. Re- mained in camp over Sunday July 20.— We made a long march, some eighteen miles, over a broken and stony country. Water poor — has a brackish taste. Weather cold for time of year and no wood. In the evening another man was accidentally shot and wounded. Here several half-breed Indians reported war-like Sioux on the James river July 21.— Made only about ten miles and camped at a lake where there is a little timber... July 22.— The expedition made about twenty miles and went into camp near a large grove of timber. Grass rather poor, water not very good. Here an Indian came into camp July 23.— Marched about fourteen miles over a broken, stony, rolling country with some lakes. Camped near a long, narrow lake; had good grass and water, but no wood! Found spring water strongly impregnated with sulphur July 24.— Was an exciting day. Got an early start and made about ten miles when we came within sight of a large body of Indians camped about four miles from our army. We went into camp about 1 o'clock to await results The train was brought into corral by a shallow lake under the shadow of a high hill, called Big Mound. The Indians appeared in large numbers on this mound and in larger numbers still at the west of it. They asked to have a personal conference with General Sibley, but he, having been CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 783 warned of treachery, declined. Doctor Weiser, surgeon of the mounted rangers, however, ventured to go among the Indians, many of whom he linew personally, and returned to the Sibley camp saying that they only wanted peace. He was permitted, at his own request, to return to the top of Big Mound, with two or three other rangers, and was almost im- mediately shot and killed. His companions escaped by fast riding and the poor marksmanship of the murderous Indians. General Sibley immedi- ately ordered the Minnesota mounted rangers to attack the Indians. They did so, followed by companies of the Sixth and Tenth infantry regiments. The ground was so rough and steep that the rangers had to dismount and fight their way up the hill on foot, driving the Indians before them. A terrific thunder storm occurred during this battle, and John Murphy, of Waseca County, was killed by lightning v-ithin a few yards of me. One section of the battery was brought into action and did most effective service. The Indians had a dread of artillery and soon began to retreat. The battery and the mounted rangers followed them closely until the artillery horses tired out and could go no further. The rangers continued the pursuit, following the Indians closely for about fifteen miles. The Indians were completely routed and demoralized. They threw away everything that would impede their retreat. Several Indians were killed and many wounded. The horses were tired and the pursuit ceased about sundown. Besides Murphy, who was killed by lightning, a man named Stark was killed by being shot in the abdomen. Lieutenant Freeman, while hunting in the morning, had been waylaid and killed, and his body badly mutilated. Wm. Hazlep, was shot in the shoulder, and Andy Moore was shot in the thigh and bowels. A sergeant of Company L received a wound in one leg. We had no ambulance, and carried our dead and wounded in buffalo robes for some distance, and finally loaded them into an ammunition wagon. We traveled all night in returning to camp." Captain Wilson, in his account of the expedition, says the mistake of the campaign occurred at the close of the battle that day. Lieutenant Beaver brought an order to Colonel McPhail to "return" to camp. Gen- eral Sibley said his order was to "go into camp." As Lieutenant Beaver soon after died, the mistake or blunder rests with him. No doubt the mistake was made either by Beaver or McPhail, for General Sibley had started the infantry out in the morning to support the rangers before the latter reached the camp. The cav- alry should have camped upon or near the battle field and awaited the arrival of the infantry. The Indian squaws and children were close by. They could not have escaped if they had been pursued the next day. But, on account of the blunder, they got two days the start. On the 26th of July, at Dead Buffalo lake, the Indians made a dash for some men and mules that were out gathering hay. The mounted rangers at once went to the rescue and charged upon the Indians. It was 784 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. a smoky day, and the horses of whites and Indians made such a dust that it was often difficult to distinguish friend from foe. The fight lasted for half an hour when the Indians made a hasty retreat. The savages were led by Grey Eagle, who fought bravely but was soon killed. The Indians left several of their number dead on the field. The last battle was at Stony Lake. As the train was moving along on the morning of July 28, the Indians appeared in great numbers, mostly mounted warriors, and attacked with great boldness. They made fre- quent charges but were easily repulsed. The artillery was too much for them, and they soon abandoned the field and made haste to cross the Missouri river." This terminated the campaign and the troops soon after commenced the homeward march. Mr. Child was mustered out November 9, 1863. He returned to his farm for a few days and then went into the quartermaster's department and went South with the Federal army. He was placed in charge of the Little Rock & Memphis railroad, where he encountered more dangers than when in the ranks. He was engaged in the transportation of men and supplies and in keeping the road in repair. He returned home in the spring of 18G4, with his health much impaired. He remained ill for nearly two years, but finally got better, sold his property in Waseca County, and removed to Blue Earth City, where he engaged in private banking, real estate and collections. He also opened a brick yard and manufactured brick for a number of years. He served in the state legislature as a member of the house from Fari- bault county in the years 1872, 1873, and 1877, and as a member of the senate in 1874 and 1875. He was appointed assistant postmaster to the United States senate in 1875, and held the position until June 29, 1878, when he was appointed postoflice inspector. He held this position con- tinuously until June 30, 1886, when he resigned. He was requested by Postmaster-General Vilas to serve in the Department of Justice to aid in the prosecution of the star-route thieves and he remained in that capacity until January 14, 1887. The latter years of his service as Inspector were largely devoted to the work of detecting and bringing to trial the star- route rascals, and In that work he traversed large portions of New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Indian Territory, and California. In New Mexico he drove one pair of horses over one thousand miles in searching for witnesses and looking up evidence. In 1887 he came home and gave attention to his private affairs, remain- ing until July 27, 1889, when he was again appointed postofflce inspector. This time he held the position until April, 1893, when he resigned to accept the agency of the American Surety company of New York, with headquarters at St. Paul. This position he held for ten years, resigning November 30, 1903. While holding this position he had supervision of portions of Wisconsin, Iowa, all of Minnesota and all of the two Dakotas. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 785 Since that time he has devoted his attention to the management of his large farm, five miles east of Shakopee, known as the Harden farm. Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Child have been the parents of six children, four of whom are living. Ruth, now Mrs. Forrester, of St. Paul; Eugenia, Mrs. John McLoughlin, of Blue Earth; Edith, Mrs. Andrew Bottleson, of Blue Earth; and Hugh Child, mail route agent between St. Paul and Omaha. MRS. EMMA A. (MOORE) RBIBELING was born in Wilton, December 13, 1857. She married Theodore J. Reibeling July 5, 3 880. Theodore was born in the town of St. Mary, April 1, 1859, and died March IS, 1903. Mrs. Reibeling is a daughter of Mr. Robert Moore, one of the early settlers of Wilton. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reibeling, six of whom are living: Robert T., born April 27, 1881; Wm. H., born November 30, 1884; Elmer S., born April 6, 1887; Martha I., born September 9, 1890; Theo. J., born March 22, 1896, and Leland R., born April 21, 1898. Mrs. Reibeling, with the aid of her children, is bravely carrying on her farm in St. Mary and making a comfortable living. MR. HENRY KROBGER, of Iosco, was born in Schleswick-Holstein, Germany, February 28, 1832. His wife, Anna (Sommers) was born in the same country August 22, 1842. They came to America In the early spring of 1866, and settled in Iosco, May 8, 186G. They have been the parents of eight children, four of whom- are living: John, Henry W., Herman O. and Louise. HENRY W. KROEGER. Henry resides in Wilton on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Iosco, February 7, 1870. October 30, 1895, he was married to Miss Ida Manthey, of Iosco, who was born October 30, 1869. They are the parents of two girls. Henry W. is one of the prosperous farmers of his township. THE REVEREND ALVIN KETCHUM. This gentleman, a Baptist minister, came from Ohio to Rice county, Minnesota, in 1856. He moved to Blooming Grove in 1857, on the "Bliven's Hill," near where John Diedrich now lives. He afterwards moved to Morristown where he died in 1863. While living in Blooming iQrove, Rev. Ketchum and Joshua Smith carried on a shop, the first in the county, for the manufacture of chairs, bedsteads, stools, spinning wheels, wooden- ware, etc. They had a turning lathe run by foot power. Rev. Ketchum preached in what is known as the Bowe school house up to the time of his death in 1863. His wife died some years before he passed away. They left surviving them, Rosalia, now Mrs. W. H. Gray; Orrilla, now Mrs. D. A. Erwin; Charles F., then a young lad; Alvin, since deceased; Wm. K. now a resident of Wisconsin, and Luman, now dead. Charles was 786 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. about a year old when his parents came to Minnesota, and he Itnows a good deal of the hardships of pioneer life. He is married to Alice Luceba Smith, daughter of the late A. C. Smith. They now live within forty rods of where Mrs. Ketchum was born. MR. THOMAS McHUGO. This gentleman was among the honest, sturdy farmers that settled in Janesviile in 1S56. He was born in County Galway, Ireland, In 1825, and came to America in 1845, landing in New York. He went thence to the state of Vermont where he worked on a farm seven years. In 1852 he came West, stopping in Wisconsin four years, and then coming to the town of Janesviile, where he made a fine home, and where he lived until his death, which occurred November 2G, 1896, of paralysis. He married Miss Hannah Kelly, of Faribault, in 1866, who survived him. THE HONORABLE JOHN L. SAUFFERER. Hon. John L. Saufferer, one of the 1856 settlers, is a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, and was born January 20, 1821. At the age of twenty-four years, he came to America, landing in New York; from here he made his way to Lawrence county, Ohio, where he found steady employment as a farm laborer, thus fitting himself for the calling in which he has been so successful. He then went to Clay county. 111., and purchased a farm of his own. At the age of thirty-one, needing a housekeeper, he returned to his native land, married Miss Henrietta Miller, and again sailed for the "land of the free" where they arrived safely without any incident of note. After some five years, he sold his Illinois farm and came to Blooming Grove. They are the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are living. He was elected a member of the lower house of the legislature in 1872, where ne served with fidelity to his constituents. He is one of the wealthiest men in the township, and, in politics, is a Populist or free- coinage advocate. He has always been popular with the people of his town, having held some town oifice nearly every year since the town was organized. He is at this writing in his eighty-fifth year and re- markably well preserved. The following named children were born to them: George, born Octo- ber 25, 1852, deceased; Henrietta, born November 14, 1853; Charles John, born March 19, 1855; Maria Anna, born January 26, 1S57; Caroline, born April 9, 1859; Matilda W., born December 1, 1860, deceased; Henry, born October 12, 1862; Amelia J., born September 19, 1864; Lydia, born October 23, 1866; John G., born February 25, 1869; Benjamin, born Jan- uary 6, 1874; and Louis, born June 27, IS 76. MR. FRANK ERFURTH. This gentleman was born at Madison, Wisconsin, April 13, 1863. He came to Minnesota in 1884, and married Miss Annie R. McDougall, Jan- uary 1, 1886. She was born in Otisco, Minn., July 22, 186S. They resided MR. AND MRS. FRANK ERFURTH. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 787 in this county until 1898, wlien they emigrated to Malta, Montana, where Mr. Erfurth still resides. Mrs. Erfurth while here on a visit in 1902, was taken ill of typhoid fever and died October 25, 1902. Three children were born to them: Mary A., February 10, 1887; Robert F., February 25, 1888; and Ronald E., April 19, 1890. Mr. Erfurth carried on a sheep ranch for a number of years, but is now engaged in the grocery and confectionery business. He was at one time elected sheriff in the county where he now lives, but declined to serve. His children are with him in his Montana home. MR. SAMUEL DODGE. was among the early settlers of this county, having moved near Wilton in 1856. His family came the next year. He was born in the state of New York about 1823. He married Myra Azuba Dix, who was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1827. They were the parents of eleven children live of whom are living: Hon. D. J. Dodge, of Janesville; Mrs. P. C. Bailey and Mrs. N. Garland of Waseca; and Mrs. Myers and Mrs. Draper of California. Mr. Dodge started from this county to Missouri, but died before reaching his destination. There has always been some suspicion that he was murdered on the road, although no official inves- tigation was ever made. MR. SETH W. LOISG, one of the most popular sheriffs Waseca county ever had, was born in the state of New York, June 29, 1821. He married Sarah Broughton December 6, 1842. She was a native of England, born June 23, 1821, and died at Janesville, March 8, 1876, of congestion of the lungs. Nine children were born to them — three sons and six daughters — four of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Long resided upon a farm on the east shore of Lake Elysian, afterwards kept a hotel at Okaman, and in 1863 moved to Wilton where they kept hotel. Mr. Long was elected sheriff in 1868 and held the office for ten consecutive years. He was not a money-getter, but he was an honest man and a good neighbor. MR. GEORGE WILFRED STRONG is a son of Nathan B. Strong, one of the very early settlers of Waseca county, who now resides in California. The maiden name of G. W. Strong's mother was Sarah Ide. She was one of the 1855 settlers of Minnesota. G. W. is one of the "Wilton group" of four boys, and was born in Wilton May 31, 1867. His parents came to Waseca soon after and remained here until about 1885 v/hen they removed to Pomona, California, where they still reside. George W. returned to Waseca in 1897, and entered the mill of Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co. He and Miss Jennie Aughenbaugh were united in marriage February 8, 1898. They are the parents of one son, Harry. Mr. Strong is still in the milling business as miller. He is 788 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. also president of the ..Water and Light commission of Waseca and is well qualified for the position. MR. JOSEPH CLAYTON. This gentleman is one of the pioneers of Woodville, having come to the romantic shores of Gaiter lake in April, 1857. He was born in England, July 24, 1830, and came to America in 1852. His father Matthew, came over to America in 1851, and they made their home at North Lee, Mass., where Joseph engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth. He afterwards resided at Uxbridge. In 1856 there came to the New England residents glowing accounts of Minnesota as a very paradise, and Joseph and his father decided to come West and get land. They left their Massachusetts home April 7, 1857, in company with ten others. Three days after they started, a number of the company got homesick and returned. The others came on and reached Lake Pepin, which was still closed by ice. There they were compelled to transfer from Reeds Landing to Red Wing by stage. At Red Wing they met posters issued from the Pioneer oflBce calling for volunteers to fight the Ink-pa-du-tah band of Sioux Indians that had murdered over forty people near Spirit Lake and carried four women into captivity — Mrs. Marble, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Thatcher and Miss Gardner. Of these, Mrs. Thatcher and , Mrs. Noble were killed and Mrs. Marble and Miss Gardner were afterwards released. This report of Indian fighting was too much for all the company except the Messrs. Clayton, and all save them re- turned to Massachusetts. The Messrs. Clayton came on and took a half section of land, less that portion of Gaiter lake included in the half section. They arrived here the latter part of April. They did some early breaking and planted corn, potatoes, etc. The elder Mr. Clayton re- turned in the fall, leaving Joseph to bachelor housekeeping and pioneer life. Joseph knew little or nothing of farm life or farm work. Every- thing went awry. The oxen that he bought would run away on slight provocation and he was obliged to lead them with ropes. He had never done any chopping timber or felling trees, and when he went to "hooking" government timber with the other fellows, on the island, the "Yankees" had some sport at his expense. His trees wouldn't fall where they ought, and when he came to loading his first load of logs, he lost all patience. After finally getting the logs on he went only a short distance when his sled broke down, and he was compelled to leave his load. It was only by the most persistent perseverance that he accomplished his farm work. The winter of 1857-8 was a very cold one— nobody knows how cold. Along about the first of March, Mr. Clayton greased his shoes and put them under the stove to dry when he went to bed. The next morning he found them burned .to a crisp. He had no other shoes and was obliged to go without for a time. When at work out doors he used to draw his pantaloons down over his feet and tie them over his toes with a cord. On one occasion, in March, 1S5S, he had nothing but potatoes to eat. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 7S9 They soured in his stomach, so he and his neighbor, McKinstry, tools some seed corn to one of their neighbors and ground it in a coffee mill, thereby enabling them to indulge in corn bread made of water, salt and meal. But soon, after, two of his cows commenced to give milk, his hens pro- duced some eggs, and he lived off the fat of the land. In the fall of 1858, having enjoyed batching alone for over a year, he concluded to return to the land of steady habits. There he again engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. He was superintendent of woolen mills at Lowell, Mass., for eleven years. He then took a trip to Europe, visiting his old home in England. He came to Minnesota again _in 1875, spent a short time here and then went to Rhode Island where he accepted the position of superintendent of the Carolina mills, owned by Roland Hazzard, a very wealthy man whose wife was an Indian woman. He remained there until 1877. He then spent some six months in Laconia, N. H., and three months in Philadelphia, working at his trade. In 1878 he returned to his land in Woodville and began improvements on it. C. I. Woodbury, a nephew of Mr. Clayton's second wife, came out with him. They cleared and broke a quantity of land ready for a crop for the ensuing year and erected a large farm house and other farm build- ings. Soon after, Mr. and Mrs. C. I. Woodbury were married and moved to the farm here. Mr. Clayton then accepted the position of superin- tendent in the Lawrence, Mass., woolen mills where he remained until 1881, when he came West to Jacksonville, 111., and took charge of the Jacksonville woolen mills. He was in charge of these mills until 1886, when he bought an interest in a large grocery store with his son-in-law, Mr. Wm. A. Jenkinson. They soon after changed it into a wholesale establishment and are now running it as such. Mr. Clayton married Miss Urania Taft, his first wife, March 31, 1857, by whom he had two daughters— Mrs. Susan Woodbury, of Waseca, and Mrs. Ellen Jenkinson, of Jacksonville, 111. His first wife died in May, 1865. He married his second wife. Miss Harriet Ann Chase, at Pelham, N. H., January 1, 1872, by whom he also has two daughters, Annie Urania and Maud, both of whom are at home. John Taft, who works his Woodville farm, is a nephew of his first wife. For a number of years Mr. Clayton has spent his summers in Minnesota and occasionally rehearses the experiences of his first two seasons on his farm in Woodville. He tells a story of a kingbird that lived during the winter and spring in an old treetop that he had hauled up in front of his cabin. The kingbird, as is well known, is a great fighter, and Mr. Clayton took great satisfaction in watching^is pet pitch into the hawks that hovered around watching for chickens. Mr C I Woodbury, who married Susan Clayton, is a nephew of Mr. Mr Clayton's second wife. Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury have purchased one hundred acres of the original half section, and Mr. Clayton has added to it fifty-two acres. 790 CHII.D'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. MR. AUSTIN VINTON AND SONS. Austin Vinton, whose life, public services and death are noted else where, was born in 1816. He settled in Woodville, September 29, 1856 He had two sons. Wilfred Vinton was born in Ellington, N. Y., Decern ber 11, 1843. He married Ada M. Beebee in 1874. She was bom at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1849, and died in 1892. One son was born to them Herbert W., in 1879. Wilfred enlisted in Company F, First Battalion Minnesota Volunteers, March 22, 18G5, and was mustered out July 14 following. W. H. Vinton was born at Ellington, N. Y., in 1847. He married Emma Garver in 1872. She was born in Billingsville, Ohio, in 1845. They have one daughter, Julia, born in 1874. Both the Vinton "boys" are now residents of Owatonna, W. H. being engaged in the drug business. MR. CHARLES N. NORTON. of the "Wilton group of four," was born in the village of Wilton, Novem- ber 2, 1865. He is the only son of Mr. H. P. Norton, who built and operated the first blacksmith shop in Wilton. The family came to Waseca in 1868. Charles was reared in Waseca and educated in our public schools. Upon leaving school he entered the service of the American Express company and continued therein for twenty years. The last twelve years of this service he was traveling auditor in Western Minnesota and South Dakota, with headquarters at Mankato, Minn., and Huron, S. D. He married Miss Mattie Simpson, of Mankato, March 28, 1894. She was born in December, 1871. They have been the parents of two children, the older of which died some years ago. Mr. Norton has retired from the express business entirely, and devotes his attention to the management of the large estate belonging to his father and himself. THE HONORABLE CHARLES A. SMITH. This gentleman was born in Wilton, June 12, 1866, and came to Waseca with his parents in the fall of 1870. He received his education in the public schools of Waseca, and finished with a business course at Min- neapolis. He worked for some time in the Waseca coffin factory, but had to abandon it on account of his health. He worked off and on at the printer's trade in the Radical office for several years prior to his fath- er's death. Since then he has been engaged in the management of his own and his sister's estate. He held the office of mayor of Waseca for six consecutive terms from 1898 to 1904 inclusive. He was deputy county treasurer from 1889 to 1901 under Dieudonne, and for six months under Krassin. He is one of the four boys that were born in Wilton and are now living in Waseca. CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 791 MR. WALTER S. BROWN, manager of the extensive dry goods, grocery and boot and shoe store of H. A. Brown & Son, of Waseca, is a native Minnesotan. He was born at Rochester, Minn., May 10, 1S70, and received his education In the public schools of that city. His father, H. A. Brown, was one of the very early settlers at Rochester, Minn., having invested in property there in 1855, and settled there permanently in 1856. H. A. Brown built the second frame building erected in that town, and engaged in the mercantile business. Walter, upon leaving school, entered the mercantile business. In 1889 he married Miss Maud A. Toogood, of Rochester, who died at Waseca in 1896, leaving three children. Walter came to Waseca in 1891, and with his brother, R. W. Brown, commenced business under the firm name of H. A. Brown & Sons. They erected the large, double store where they have since done busi- ness. Some years ago R. W. withdrew from the firm and since then Walter has managed the business. Walter married his second wife. Miss Mary Kurkowski, of Waseca, in 1900. Her parents were among the early settlers of the city of Waseca and highly respected. The name of the present firm is H. A. Brown & Son; it enjoys a, lucrative trade. MRS. VIOLA PATCH. This lady and her husband were residents of this county for a number of years, but now reside at Motley, Minn. The parents of Mrs. Patch — Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Pease — came to this county in 1862. Mrs. Patch writes that Mr. Pease was born in Ohio, May 1, 1813, and from there moved lo Illinois at an early day. Her mother, whose maiden name was Mary J. Turner, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Nov. 9, 1829. Mary J. Turner first married Oscar P. Baton, with whom she lived in Chicago until his death. Soon after his death, she removed to DeKalb county. 111., where she met and married Mr. Pease in 1859. In 1862 Mr. and Mrs. Pease moved to this county by horse team and lived in St. Mary, not far from Wilton. Mrs. Pease had at that time two chil- dren, Wm. Eaton, now a resident of Woodville, and Mrs. Patch, who was born in Illinois Aug. 27, 1860. Soon after their arrival here, Mr. Pease's horses were stolen, but subsequently he recovered them. At the time of the Indian outbreak, in 1862, the family went to Faribault, but shortly afterwards returned to this county. About 1865, they settled on a farm on the township line between, Otisco and Woodville, where Mr. Pease died Feb. 10, 1894, and where Mrs. Pease died Feb. 20, 1903. There was one little .incident in their lives worthy of note. It was while all the country was flooded with water in the early part of 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Pease made a trip from their farm to Wilton, having Viola with them. When they arrived on the east side of the Le Sueur river they found the bottom lands covered with water and water running 792 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. over the road, but they made an attempt to cross. When well out into the water, the oxen went with the current a short distance and finally the wagon struck a snag, and there was danger that the family and the oxen would be drowned. A number of men, among them Buel Welsh, who saw the accident, went to the relief of the persons in peril and finally saved them and the oxen from drowning. Mr. Pease was unable to get his wagon out until the waters subsided some weeks later. Mr. Patch is of New England parentage, and came to Waseca county about 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Patch removed to Morrison county about 1884. CAPTAIN R. MILLER. This gentleman was born in Burg, near Trarbach, on the Mosel, Rhine Province of Prussia, July 17, 1843. His parents came to America in 1848 and made their home in Fond du Lac county. Wis., where they resided until the breaking out of the Rebellion. R. Miller was one of the first of our patriotic young men to enlist for the defense of the Union. He joined the First Michigan Vojunteer cavalry June 15, 1861, and served until Sept. 13, 1865, when he was mustered out. He was a member of Company B, and served in the Army of the Potomac under Generals Banks, Geary, Pope, McClellan, Burnside, Jnooker, Meade, and Grant, and under Corps Commander P. H. Sheridan, Brigadier Command- er Custer, Division Commander Kilpatrick. He was wounded in the cavalry fight at Buckland Mills, Va., Oct. 19, 1863, and was taken prisoner at Trevillion Station, Va., June 11, 1864. He was paroled Feb. 24, 1865, and mustered out of the service in September, 1865. After the Rebellion he opened a retail store at Lomlra, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and continued the business until 1872, when he came to Waseca, arriving in February. Here he engaged in the sale of general merchandise, and followed the business for twenty-seven years. He was the efficient cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Waseca from the time of the death of Mr. Swenson, in 1898, to the close of the year 1902. Mr. Miller and Miss Julia A. Snider were united in marriage Feb. 26, 1867. Mrs. Miller is a native of West Virginia, born in 1848. Her parents and grandparents were born in Virginia, and at the time of Mrs. Miller's marriage her parents resided at Grafton. Captain and Mrs. Miller are the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Of the daughters, two are married — Mrs. E. A. Everett and Mrs. E. W. Ward. John Miller, the eldest son, has charge of the New Rich- land flouring mill. The second son, Harry, is an active partner in the Lakeville flouring mills at Lakeville, Minn. Hugo, the youngest son, is with his father in Louisiana. Since the first of the year 1903 Captain Miller has had charge of the business of the Sabine Canal Company, with headquarters at Vinton, R. MILLER. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 793 La. This company furnishes water for the irrigation of thousands of acres of rice lands and receives its income from a share of the rice crop produced. James Quirk and E. A. Everett are largely Interested in the enterprise. Captain Miller aided in organizing Company K of the Minnesota National Guards and served as captain and drill master of the com- pany for some time. MR. EDWARD CASTOR, son of Mr. Jacob Castor, was born at New Ulm, Sept, 26, 1S57. His father was born in Germany, Oct. 6, 1831, and settled in New Ulm in 1856. At the time of the Indian massacre, in 1862, his father was mis- taken for an Indian and killed by his friends. It was at the second battle of New Ulm, August 23, in the evening. Jacob had been fight- ing Indians all day. Towards night, while the rain was falling, he took a basket of bread from his bakery, and, throwing a blanket over his shoulders, started to carry the provisions to some people whose houses had- been burned and who had no provisions of their own. It was just twilight, the rain was falling, and some of the armed men in a building with port holes mistook him for an Indian and fired upon him while he was trying to make himself known to them. He was wounded and fell, but arose and was about to enter his own house when he was again shot. He died the next morning of his wounds. It was indeed a sad death. In 18G7, Edward's mother married Conrad Zeller, since deceased. Mrs. Zeller and one daughter still reside in New Ulm. Edward came to Waseca in the fall of 1875. Having learned the trade of jeweler, he was employed by John F. Preston, of Waseca, for whom he worked two and one-half years. In 1878 Mr. Castor opened a jewelry establishment of his own. He married Miss Rose M. Wollschlaeg- er, Jan. 2, 1882. She is a daughter of Mr. August Wollschlaeger, and was born Feb. 20, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Castor have three sons and one daughter. Robert J., who Is in the jewelry business with his father, was born Oct. 12, 1882; Florence C, was born July 9, 1884; Arthur E. J. was born Aug. 26, 1888; and Harry A., Feb. 26, 1895. Mr. Edward Cas- tor is an expert workman and a reliable business man. He keeps a good stock of jewelry and musical instruments. MR. MICHAEL SHEERAN, of St. Jlary, one of the prominent men of that township, was born In Ireland in the year 1840. He came to America in 1860, and to Waseca county in 1862, after having lived in Michigan about two years. He made an extensive tour of Minnesota and returned that fall by way of Ash- land on Lake Superior, to Michigan. He worked in the copper mines of Michigan until 1865 when he again came to Minnesota. This time he bought land on the Winnebago reservation, section 18, St. Mary, 794 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. paying therefor $2.60 per acre. He later worked for some time in Faribault. Feb. 19, 1867, he married Miss Mary Dardis, of Blooming Grove, daughter of Mr. John Dardis of that township. She is also a native of Ireland and was born in 1843, coming to America in 1859 with her parents and settling in Blooming Grove in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Sheeran have four sons and five daughters living, one daughter having died. Mr. Sheeran and his sons have taken up a large tract of land in North Dakota to which they have already secured title. He is still living on the old farm where he settled in 1867. THE REVEREND O. A. MELLBY. Pastor O. A. Mellby was born in the parish of Hurdale near Chris- tiania, Norway, Jan. 9, 1843. He worked on his father's farm and at- tended the parish school until his eighteenth year, when he entered a Latin school in Christiania. After having finished the college course, he went to the Royal University, where he graduated as bachelor of theology in 1872. Already having as a student received a call as pas- tor of Le Sueur river and northern Waseca congregations in this county, he was ordained in the cathedral as a minister of the gospel by Rt. Rev. J. L. Arap, archbishop of Christiania, in October; in November of the same year he started for America. Arriving at New Richland in De- cember, he found everything in a primitive state, — a small log church and no parsonage. He had to live with a farmer in a very small house the first winter, which was a very severe one. For many years he served seven congregations in Waseca, Steele and Blue Earth counties. He had to be on the road much of the time and experienced many hardships. Three pastors are now working in the same field. His present charge consists of Le Sueur river, New Richland and Berlin churches. The progress of these churches is marked by magnificent church buildings, supplied with fine bells and pipe organs, and a very convenient and commodious parsonage for the free use of the pastor. In 1867 he was married to Miss Sigrid Grunot of Christiania. They have had eight children, of whom five are living: Carl August, doctor of philos- ophy and professor at St. Olaf college, Northfleld; Agnes Theodora, precep- tress at the same institution; Oscar Fredrick, M. D., of Warren, Minn.; Marie Elizabeth, music teacher at home; and Gisle Bernhard, pho- tographer, of Waseca, Minn. MR. HARVEY S. SMITH. Both the father and grandfather of this gentleman settled in this county in 1855, and Harvey was born in Woodville, March 7, 1X59, his father being Alfred C. Smith, deceased. He attended his district school, is a graduate of the Waseca high school and of the Mankato State Normal school. He taught in the public schools of the state twelve years. He commenced carrying the United States mail on route No. 3, from Waseca, July 20, 1903, and is still so employed. He owns his CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 795 grandfather's old farm in Blooming Grove, and one of his brothers is carrying it on. The buildings — house and barn — are among the old- est in the county. The frame barn was built as early as 1858, and the frame house as early as 1863. The frames of both are made of heavy timbers put together by mortise and tenon and fastened together with wooden pins. The buildings on the farm, though aged, are well pre- served, and Harvey is justly proud of the old homestead with its his- toric surroundings. Harvey held the office of justice of the peace for several years and is now school district clerk. He married Miss Eugenia Owens, of Man- kato, August 28, 1900. She was born in Steuben county, N. Y., March 5, 1872, and came to Minnesota with her parents in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son a year and a half old. Mr. Smith's father and mother were the parents of fourteen children, ten of whom are living, namely: Mary, Lovica, Harvey S., Willis, Luceba, Nellie, Jennie, Clara, Celia, and Jasper. DOCTOR FRED A. SWARTWOOD. Dr. F. A. Swartwood is a native of Minnesota, born at Cannon City, Rice county, Minn., Dec. 8, 1860. His father, Hon. Henry A. Swartwood, is a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Minnesota in 1857, settling at Cannon City. Dr. Swartwood attended the public schools of his dis- trict, took a four-year elective course at Carleton College and graduated from th3 medical college at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1886. He and Miss Ida M. Poe were joined in marriage Nov. 20, 1886. They moved to the city of Waseca the same fall, where they have since resided. Mrs. Swartwood was born in Rice county in 1863. They have two children: one daughter, Madeline, and one son, Harold. The doctor has had an extensive practice since his first year and has been interested mean- while in other business enterprises. He was the first president of the Waseca Savings and Loan Association; is president of the Waseca telephone company; is a stockholder of the W. J. Armstrong wholesale company of Waseca; owns a farm of seven hundred and twenty acres in Kandiyohi county; was for one term a member of the Waseca board of education; served as president of the Waseca Commercial Club in 1903, and took an active part in securing the paving of Second street. He has been postmaster of Waseca since the first year of President McKinley's administration. For many years he has been very active in party politics, and has often furnished -inspiration" for the local papers of his party. He is temperate in his habits and capable of per- forming an immense amount of labor. MR. JOHN J. ISKER. This gentleman was born in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, Dec. 30, 1878. His father. Rev. Herman E. Isker, was born in Holstein, Germany, Aug. 796 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 6, 1847, and came to America about the year 1865. His mother was born in Saxony, Germany, Sept. 22, 1852, and came to America when about seven years of age. John's parents were married in Buffalo county. Wis., in 1872, and came to Minnesota about 1881. The father, being a clergyman of the German Evangelical church, has moved from place to place since. From 1886 to 1900 the family resided at Mankato, and John J. attended the Mankato high school from which he graduated in 1899. After graduating he taught school in Cottonwood county three winters. The family came to Waseca in 1900, and soon after John commenced the study of law with ex-Mayor Moonan, of Waseca. He took the state examination and was admitted to the bar in September, 1903. He at once commenced the practice of his chosen profession in Waseca. He was appointed city clerk of Waseca in the spring of 1904, and elected to the same office in the spring of 1905. MR. SERENAS HOWARD FARRINGTON. Editor Farrington, of the Waterville Advance, was born Oct. 31, 1859, in Otisco, Waseca county, Minn. He was reared on a farm, but learned the printer's trade on attaining his majority. He has been editor and publisher of the Advance for twenty years. He married Miss Nellie Berner, at St. Charles, Minn., Oct. 15, 1884. She was bom at Manches- ter, Wis., Feb. 25, 1862. They have living one son, William S., and two daughters, Mary Helen and Minnie Etta. One daughter. Myrtle, died in infancy. Mr. Farrington was school director at the age of twenty-one, in Waseca county. Since residing in Waterville he has been village recorder four years, member of the school board six years and for three years president thereof; was appointed postmaster Jan. 19, 1899, and served five years. He is a member of the Waterville lodge. I. O. of O. F.; of the K. P. lodge, being past C. C; of the Sakatah Masonic lodge No. 32, now serving as its Master; and is King of Royal Arch Chapter No. 56. Mr. Farrington owns the only paper published in the village and is doing a good business, and serving well the village of his choice. MR. JOHN FAIRLEY. This gentleman hails from Scotland, being a native of Lanarkshire. He came to America in 1862, and lived near Janesville, Rock countj', Wis- consin. He spent five years in that state and then came to Wilton, in this county, in the spring of 1867. He was accompanied by his brother, Hugh, and settled on what was known as the Baker claim, in section number 15. He served as clerk of school district No. 91 for twenty years. He married Miss Bessie Henderson, April 1, 1869. She is also a native of Scotland, having been horn in Sterlingshire. They have two sons and four daughters. A few years ago they retired from their farm and have since lived in Owatonna where their children CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 797 may enjoy the advantages of Pillsbury Academy. Their son Andrew carries on the Wilton farm and is also town clerk of Wilton. JAMES ERWIN CHILD. The family name of Child, or Childs, as some write it, is English with- out any doubt. History agrees with tradition in that respect. Josiah Child, born in 1G30, was for many years at the head of the East India Comijany. Charles II. made him a baronet and his son became Earl of Tylney, but with him the peerage expired and the name sank to the com- mon level. Since then every Child has been called upon to "paddle his own canoe." According to the family record as handed down from father to son, Elijah Child stands at the head of this branch of the Child family in America. He, in company with two brothers, came from Old England to New England in Colonial days, some years prior to the American Revolu- tion. It is said that he married a Welsh woman, but the writer has never been able to get her father's name. Elijah first settled in Connecticut on the banks of the river of that name, and engaged in the flour or grist- mill business. He afterwards moved to Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, where he again engaged in the milling business on White river. Elijah served for a time in the Continental army, but was obliged to return home on account of illness. Shortly after the War of the Revolution, he lost nearly everything by a flood, his mill dam giving way, and he and his fam- ily were reduced to moderate circumstances in his declining years. Elijah's children, seven in number, were all boys: Stephen, David, Abner, Artemas, Daniel, Simeon , and Blias. Daniel, J. E. Child's progenitor, was born Nov. 10, 1777, In the state of Vermont. There he grew to manhood and was bred a miller. When twenty years of age he married Rebecca Howe, who was seven- teen. She was born April 13, 1780, of Irish parents. Daniel followed his trade as miller at Royalton, Vt., until about 1824, when he moved to the town of DeKalb, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Here he bought a small farm which he carried on until his death, which occurred in 1849,' his age being seventy-two years. Daniel and Rebecca had eight children whom they named fts follows: Delani, Avery, Hannah, Zabina, Clarinda, Martha, Simeon and Eliza. Zabina, father of James E., was born Nov. 22, 1808, in Vermont, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to learn the carpenter and joiner trade. At the age of twenty, having one year more to serve, he bought his time of "Boss" Dustin, and went to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he worked as contractor and builder. He married Miss Orrilla Rice (originally Rolce), of Jefferson county, N. Y., Beb. 14, 1833, and they settled in the town of DeKalb. Orrilla was a native of Jefferson county and was born March 2, 1810, being one of the younger children of Eneas Rice by his second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Parmenter., 798 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Both Eneas and Sarah were natives of Connecticut. Eneas was of Scotch parentage and Sarah of English stock. Rice was a Revolutionary soldier and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777. He was the father of nineteen children and died at the age of seventy-five years. Grandfather Parmenter was also a soldier of the Revolution. Zabina and Orrilla were the parents of seven children: James Erwin, born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1833; Simeon Potter, born in Medina, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1835; Sarah Minerva, born in Ohio, Aug. 23, 1837; Reuben Parmenter, born in DeKalb, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1840; Julia Maria, born in DeKalb, N. Y., Oct. 26, 1842; Stephen Rice, bom in Trenton, Dodge county. Wis., July 2, 1848; and John Benton, born near Appleton, Wis., Aug. 14, 1S54. John B. died in his native town Nov. 21, 1861. Zabina moved with his family in 1834 from his New York home to Medina, Ohio, by horse team. Ohio was then a new country. There was a severe drouth and extremely hard times about 1836-7, and the family returned to DeKalb, N. Y., in the fall of 1837. They remained there on a farm until ±844 when they again moved to Ohio — this time to the town of Perry, Lake county. The next spring, leaving his family in Perry, the father pushed on to Wisconsin, where he worked during the season and sent for his family in the fall. The mother and children, late in the fall, took boat at Pairport and after a stormy passage landed in Sheboygan, the last days of November, 1844. The father had already selecteda claim, in Dodge county. Wis., five miles south of Waupun, and in January, 1845, moved his family thither. He remained in Dodge county — a part of the time in the town of Herman — until 1853, when he removed with his fam- ily to Outagamie county, near Appleton, Wis. James E. taught school in Herman, Dodge county, In the winters of 1851-2, 1852-3 and 1853-4. In October, 1854, he made a trip into the Oconto pineries where he worked on the river and in camp until Dec. 19, when he returned to Dodge county and there made arrangements for a winter trip to Minnesota, as elsewhere related in this work. He married Miss Justina Krassin April 19, 1856. She is the youngest daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Gadske) Krassin, deceased, and was born near Posen, Prussia, March 3, 1834. She came to America with her* married sister, Mrs. Gottlieb Prechel, in August, 1853. Her parents and brothers followed soon after. Her family owned a small farm in Posen, but con- cluded to sell it and come to a coimtry where they could get more land for less money. Nine children have been born to James and Justina, three of whom died in infancy. The living are Capt. Walter Child, of Superior, Wis.; Ste- phen M., of Jackson county, Minn.; George E., of Kenmare, North Dakota; Annie E., now Mrs. Prank A. Wood; Orrilla Justina, now Mrs. George H. Goodspeed; and Dora M., now Mrs. Mark D. Ashley, of Jackson. Minn. James E. carried on his farm in South Wilton from 1S55 to ISt;:!, when CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 799 he entered upon the practice of law in Wilton. In the fall of 1863, he commenced newspaper work, and with the exception of about four years spent on a farm in Jackson county, from 1881 to 1885, has made newspaper work his ^ principal business. He was chairman of town supervisors, school district clerk, county attorney, member of the legislature in 1861, and justice of the peace while on his farm in Wilton. He was deputy United States marshal in 1863-4, and had charge of the draft in several towns of the county. After that he served as county attorney, judge of probate, superintendent of schools, municipal judge of Waseca from 1890 to 1892, member of the state senate in 1872, member of tne house of rep- resentatives in 1874, and again in 1883. The latest work of his life thus far is ihe production of this history — labor more pleasant than profitable. He has served as president of the Waseca charter commission since its appointment and organization in 1902. MR. FRED W. MAHLER, senior member of the hardware firm of Mahler and Habein, of Waseca, was born In Neinburg, Province of Hanover, July 27, 1857. He landed at New York May 6, 1874, and arrived at Meriden on the 11th of the same month. For seven years he worked as a farm hand in Steele and Waseca counties. He then purchased what was known as the old Par- melee place in W^oodville. He married Miss Sophia Beese, of Deerfield, March 11, 1881. She was born in Waukesha county, Wis., Jan. 6, 1861, and came to Minnesota with her parents when she was five or six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mahler at once made their home on their farm, which they improved and cultivated until March, 1898, when Mr. Mahler bought the half interest of Mr. W. H. Roesler in the hardware business of Goodman and Roesler. In 1900 he bought Mr. Goodman's interest also, and carried on the business alone until 1903, when Mr. William Habein bought a half interest. The firm name Is now Mahler and Habein. They do an extensive business. Mr. and Mrs. Mahler are the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters. The elder son, George B., was bom August 1, 1884, and is now clerk in the store. Mr. Mahler was town assessor of Woodville for three years and is a member of the charter commission of Waseca. HARLOW S. LEWIS. Mr. Lewis, a Waseca boy, son of the late B. S. Lewis, Esq., was born July 10, 1872. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the milling business and has followed that business ever since with the exception of two years when he was engaged in the banking business at Madison Lake, Minn. While at Madison Lake he was mayor from January, 1898, to July, 1898, the only public office he has ever accepted. He married Miss Grace L. Everett of Waterville, Oct. 12, 1898. She was born in Waterville, Minn., Dec. 19, 1874. They have two sons: one born April 4, 1901, the other 800 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. May 15, 1904. In 1903, Mr. Lewis bought an Interest in the Mapleton mill, and since April of that year, has been general manager of the business of the Mapleton Milling Company. Recently the capital stock of the company was increased to $100,000, and Mr. Lewis Was chosen president and general manager. He is a young man of marked business ability. THE TIMLIN GROUP. This group, published in this work, is the only one of five generations of which the author has a record. Mrs. Patrick Burke, Mrs. Michael Haley, Mrs. John Timlin, Mr. F. J. Timlin and Master A. Donald Flaig, constitute the group. The first three came from Pennsylvania to Min- nesota in 1858 and have since resided in Iosco. John Timlin, with his parents, brothers and sisters, came to Minnesotafrom "Wisconsin in 1868, and settled in Iosco. F. J. Timlin was born and reared in Iosco, and A. Donald Flaig, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Timlin, was born in Seattle, state of Washington. HERBERT CLEVELAND HOTALING, editor and proprietor of the Blue Earth County Enterprise, was born at Mankato, Minn., Aug. 5, 1865. He received his education in the public schools of Mankato and at the Mankato state normal. At the age of sixteen years, he entered the employ of the late John C. Wise, publisher of the Review at Mankato, as "printer's devil." At the age of twenty, he performed his first journalistic work in the publication of the "Third District Messenger," a monthly paper devoted to temperance. Always an active temperance worker, he Joined the Prohibition party, and at the age of 23 years, attended the state convention and had the honor of being chosen its secretary. As a journejman printer he worked in the follow- ing offices for a time: the Janesville Argus, the North Star, at New Rich- land, and the Waseca County Herald. He also edited and managed the North Star at Lake Mills, la., for a short time. In 18S8, he founded the Mapleton Enterprise, one of the successful county papers of the state. June 26, 1889, he married Miss Janie L. Mann, an educated and ac- complished lady of Brownton, McLeod county, Minn. Mr. Hotallng is at present clerk of the Mapleton board of education, president of the public library association, a director of the Mapleton bank, of the Maple- ton Milling Co., of the Mankato Citizens Telephone Co., president of the Euclid Avenue Land Co., of Seattle, Wash., and was for a long time village recorder of Mapleton. He attributes his success in life to the fact that he nas never used intoxicants or tobacco and has attended strictly to the work he found to do. PROF. V. 6. PICKETT, now at the head of the Waseca public schools, was born on a farm near Albert Lea, Minn., June 20, 1874. His parents, located there in 1860. HON. I. C. TROWBRIDGE. CHILDS HISTORY OP ^YASECA COUNTY. 801 He attended country school at first, graduated from the Albert Lea high school, took a course at the state university and graduated therefrom in 1896. He commenced teaching as principal of the fatewartville, Minn., schools; taught one year at Long Prairie and six years at Janesville. He took charge of the Waseca schools in September, 1904. He married Miss Zada McMillen of Albert Lea, in 1898. She died at Janesville in. 1903 without issue. Professor Pickett has traveled in America quite ex- tensively. Last year he visited many of the Southern states, Northern Mexico and also Western Canada. During his vacation In 1905 he trav- eled in Eastern Canada and through many of the Eastern states, spend- ing considerable time in the large cities. He is enthusiastic in his work as an educator and seems to be very successful in his chosen vocation. HON. IRA C. TROWBRIDGE. The most prominent figure in the early history of Waseca was Mr. Ira C. Trowbridge, who, according to his own statement, was born in Lyle, Broom county, in the state of New York, March 16, 1823. He was the son of Henry and Betsey (Lockwood) Trowbridge; they being among the early settlers of that section. He learned the tanner's trade with his father, and remained in his native state until he was of age. About that time he came west as far as Chicago, and engaged as clerk in a boot and shoe store. There "he remained until the spring of 1846, when he located in Woodstock, 111., and opened a boot and shoe store of his own. In the early fall of 1846 he returned to Lyle, and was mar- ried to Miss Judith Church, who was born Sept. 28, 1826. He did an extensive business both as a merchant and real estate dealer in Woodstock; but after a time, as we are informed, he met with some reverses of fortune, and in 1866, made a trip to this county and secured an option on the farm of Mr. Meyers, the present city of Waseca. He came here with his family early In 1867. He labored un- ceasingly for everything that he thought would build up Waseca and promote his own interests. To say that he was sometimes mistaken as to methods is no more than to say that he was human. That he met with fair business success is evident from the large property interests which he left to his family at the time of his death, which occurred Oct. 3, 1893. He was a man of nerve and iron will and allowed no man to thwart his plans without suffering for his temerity sooner or later. Many of his plans were wise and many of his public acts were highly praiseworthy. As soon as the cars arrived in 1867, Mr. Trowbridge obtained lumber and erected a large temporary hotel for the convenience of the incoming throngs that were to build Waseca. In this enterprise, Mrs. Trowbridge will be remembered with a kindly feeling by the many who found her a kind and obliging hostess, although suffering from ill health. In the early days of Waseca, Mr. Trowbridge was ably assisted by Hon. W. G. Ward and J. H. Jenkins, Esq., the former being chief civil 28 802 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. engineer of the W. & St. P. railroad, and the latter his first assistant, both of whom became scns-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge, the first year of the city's growth. He died suddenly of heart failure Oct. 3, 1893. [This sketch of Mr. Trowbridge was mislaid by the author, and that is why it does not appear in its appropriate place among biographical sketches.] MR. CHARLES LEUTHOLD, resident manager of the extensive clothing store of Leuthold Brothers, of Waseca, was born in Kasson, Minn., August 16, 1868. His life business has been that of merchant clothier. He is one of five brothers, all of whom are engaged in the same line of business. The Leuthold Brothers now own fourteen clothing stores, located in different towns, and their joint custom is sought for by all wholesale dealers and manufacturers. Their joint purchases constitute a valuable asset in their business. Mr. Charles Leuthold married Miss Josie E. Preston, daughter of S. H. Pres- ton of Waseca, Nov. 30, 1894. They have a very fine home in the eastern part of Waseca, and are the parents of three daughters and one son. In 1887, Charles carried on a store in Winnebago City, and in 1888 came to Waseca with his stock of goods. He has never sought or held any office but accepted a membership on the charter commission of Waseca and has been an able and efficient member of that body. DR. M. M. DAVIDSON. Matthew McDougall Davidson was born in Breckville, Canada, Dec. 19, 1857, anl came to Waseca July 23, 1884. He attended school in his native town and took a dental course in Milwaukee, Wis. He has practiced dentistry constantly since he became a resident of this county. His father, Alexander Davidson, was born in Coldingham, Scotland, June 3, 1822. His mother, Ellen McDougall, was a native of Moffit, Scotland, born May 13, 1825. She died some two years ago. His father is still living. Dr. Davidson married Miss Minnie Howard, of Tomah, Wis., Sept. 17, 1890. They have had two children: a daughter that died in in- fancy, and a son, Howard McDougall, born August. 15, 1S97. They are members of the M. E. church and prominent in the social life of Waseca. JOHN M. WOLLSCHLAEGER, register of deeds, was born Sept. 19, 1858, at Lichtenau, Germany, and came to America with his parents in 1871, locating in Waseca the same year. The next year while playing on a horsepower with other boys, he nad one foot injured so severely that he has been crippled for life. He was a faithful student at our public schools and learned harness making of his father. In the spring of 1890 he was elected city assessor of Waseca, and in the fall of 1890 he was nominated by the Democratic party for register of deeds and elected by a large majority. He has been CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 803 elected at each subsequent election by large majorities. At the last election his majority was 672, while the majority against his party averaged 625. Mr. WoUschlaeger married Miss Louisa Ida Neidt, of "Waseca, April 18, 1900. She died of cholera morbus July 17, 1901, with- out issue. He is very correct as a copyist and keeps his records in fine shape. A. LINCOLN, of Morley, Michigan, who was born in that state Oct. 10, 1853, came to Minnesota in the fall of 1875, arriving in this county October 17. He resided in Waseca county until July 4, 1883, when he married Miss Matilda Hol- lander, of Wilton, and settled in Mankato where they resided until 1897, when they moved to Morley, Mich., where they bought a farm upon which they now reside. Mrs. Lincoln was born in Indiana in 1856, and came to Wilton with her parents about 1860. She is a daughter of the late Florian Hollander. WILLIAM H. TAYLOR, one of the early settlers in Blooming Grove, was born in England, Feb. 12, 1845, and came to America with his parents when eighteen months old. Tne family first settled in New Orleans where they remained until 1850 When they moved to Missouri. Soon after they located in Illinois and in 1857 came to Waseca county when the father bought a farm in Blooming Grove. William H., upon attaining his majority, bought a farm in Byron. Soon after he married Miss Emma E. Barnes, whose parents were among the early settlers in Wilton township. Mrs. Taylor is a native of Nunda, McHenry county. 111., and was born Nov. 8, 1849. They spent several years farming in this county and then sold their farm here and moved to a sheep ranch near Saco, Montana, where they have met with good fortune and are meeting with marked financial success in sheep farming. They reared a family of children some of whom are married. GOVERNOR JOHN A. JOHNSON. There was an uprising of the people in 1904 — not an organized, per- manent movement, but an intuitive, spontaneous protest against machine politics. The gold and corporation combines that manipulated the so- called Democratic national convention drove many Democrats from the polls and others to the support of the Republican candidates. The lum- ber barons and boodlers of the Republican party of Minnesota controlled the state convention and the masses repudiated them by going to the support of Hon. John A. Johnson, of St. Peter. Democrats in Wisconsin supported Republican LaFollette, Republicans in Missouri voted for Democratic Folk, and Republicans in Massachusetts elected Democratic Douglas. All over the country there was an unorganized, independent movement in repudiation of the party slavery which for years had held 804 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. the masses enthralled" to combined greed and dishonesty. The people of Minnesota made no mistake. Governor John A. Johnson is a native son of Minnesota, born in the midst of poverty in pioneer days. By the efforts of his brave, noble mother and his own exertions, he arose from the depressing surroundings of his infancy and made for himself a bright home, with a fairly lucrative business. With every surrounding influence to induce him to join the dominant party of the state, he re- mained loyal to the honest sentiments of his own brain and conscience and attained local prominence in a community where his chosen party was in a hopeless minority. The people recognized his honesty, his ability, his devotion to fundamental principles, and more than all else, they expressed their condemnation of the timber and other thieves of the state. To American boys the life of John A. Johnson is an object lesson. Born one of the poorest of the poor, deprived from infancy of a father's protection and care, he arose to the highest official position In the state. What he has done another American boy may do. And the spirit of the American people in conferring honors upon men like Abraham Lincoln and John A. Johnson is admirable and commendable and speaks volumes for our nation notwithstanding the demoralizing influence of "graft" which works from everlasting to everlasting in all countries and among all peoples. All honor to John A. Johnson and to the independent Re- publicans who thus rebuked their unworthy leaders. May Governor John- son forever remain worthy of the confidence of the American people. MISCELLANEOUS MENTION. Christian Melchior, of St. Mary, is one of tnose who made early settle- ment m this county. He came from Germany and landed in New York. Soon afttr he came to this county where he worked as a farm hand two or three years when he married Caroline Arndt, who came to Waseca county in 1855 with Mrs. Krassin. They at once settled on a farm in section thirty where Mr. Melchior now owns a farm of 235 acres. They are the parents of two daughters, one of whom, with her husband, Mr. Oswald Baer, resides on the farm and keeps house for the family. The other daughter, Mrs. C. Dobberstein, resides in Waseca. Mrs. Mel- chior was very unfortunate. She beca'iie ill some time after her marriage and finally became blind and insane and has for years been ^n inmate of the Rochester asylum. John Sell, a native of German>-, arrived in Waseca county in 1S57, first working as a farm hand and afterwards purchasing a quarter section of Indian Reservation land on section 31, in St. Mary, which he still owns. He married Miss Amelia Arndt, who came to Waseca county with her sister, Mrs. Martin Krassin, in 1S55. They remained on their farm ■until a few years ago when they rented it to their son, Rudolph, who still carries it on, and they moved to Waseca where they have a nice home in Broughton's addition. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 805 Edward Schmitt is one of the early settlers of Otisco and settled on sections 17 and 20 about the year 1857. His worthy wife died many years ago and his only child is the wife of Mr. Rudolph Jacoby. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Jacoby, their sons, and Mr. Schmitt, live on the old homestead adjoining the villase plat of Otisco. Dr. Fred W. Frail, dentist, is a native of Waseca county. He is mar- ried, has no children, and is the second oldest dentist in Waseca. He is the only son of Sam Proechel, the well known blacksmith of Wilton, for a number of years, and later of Waseca. Mr. O. S. Bagne, on section 12, town of Iosco, settled in this county in 1856, as a boy. He is prominently connected with the Palmer creamery. Carl, Frank and J. F. Bauman, residents of Otisco, settled in this county '.n 1871-2. They are of German birth. C. J. Bluhm, proprietor of the Waseca Marble Works, settled in this county in 1859. The Bowe brothers, John, T. R., E. J., and J. D., settled in Blooming Grove in 1866-7. Nels O. Breck and Ole O. Breck, located in Blooming Grove in 18t)4, an I. are prosperous farmers. C. J. Brush, of Blooming Grove, located there in 1868, with his parents who were German born. The Collins brothers, Thomas, Frank and Robert, settled in Woodville with their parents in 1868, Chariss Clement, of Waseca, settled in Waseca county in 1866. He is a farmer and has reared a large family of girls. J. T. Crow, settled in the town of Janesville in 1804, and Nathaniel settled there in 1867. The Dardis brothers, Michael, Andrew and Thomas, located in Bloom- ing Grove in 1S57. The Davidson brothers, of Freedom, John D., and William, came to this county in 1864. John Diedrich, of Blooming Grove, came to this county as early as 1870. Carl Dobberstein, a very extensive Byron farmer, located there in 1874. The Albert Domy family settled in Woodville as early as 1858. The Hagen brothers, of Blooming Grove, Ole T. and Sivert, located in the county in 1805. George Irvine, now manager of the Farmers Elevator at Waseca, lo- cated in Woodville in 1886. Mrs. Irvine, his wife, came to the county with her parents in 1862. Julius Sell settled in St. Mary at an early day and married Miss Julia Krassin. He was thrown from a sleigh while driving home in the winter of 1886-7 and killed. His wife died a short time after, leaving three daugh- ters, Emma, Edith and Lizzie. Emma married Henry Kuk, Edith married John Kuk and Lizzie married Herman Hillman. The three families now reside near Redwood Falls, Minn. 806 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Mr. Ed Hayden, an old resident of Alton, is one of the prominent farmera of the county. He was an active member of the Farmers Alliance, and a strong advocate of the Peoples party movement. He has a farm of 160 acres on section 13. Hon. Hial D. Baldwin was one of the early settlers of the county. He located at Empire (Iosco) about the year 1858, and opened a law office. He was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of Iosco in 1859 and was ex-officio a member of the county board. In the fall of 1859 he was elected county attorney, and was re-elected for two terms more, serving until Jan. 1, 1864. He was defeated for judge of probate in 1864 by seven votes, and as a candidate for representative in 1866 he was defeated by Hon. Wm. Brisbane by five votes. He located in Wilton with his fam- ily in 1860 and remained there until 1868 when he settled in Waseca. When East Janesville was platted in 1869 he built the first hotel there. He soon after sold it to "Uncle" Frank Johnson and removed to Redwood Falls where he now resides. His life has been a checkered one financially, ranging from extreme poverty to affluence. His liberality and generosity have been proverbial. His love of speculation has been his besetting error. As elsewhere related he was one of the first to open a bank in Waseca and one of the first to fail In business; At Redwood Falls he has been successful. He served a term as judge of the district court and has ac- cumulated quite a property. He and his family are successfully engaged in the banking business at that place. Hon. S. M. Owen, editor of the Farm, Stock and Home, though not a resident of Waseca county, is so well and so honorably Imown by his writings to our people, that his name is worthy of mention in this con- nection. Though not an ofl;ice seeker or an office holder, his influence for good government in this state is wide spread. His honesty, sincerity and wide range of information on all subjects make him and his journal great factors in the educational uplifting of the people. His labors in behalf of agricultural residents of Minnesota entitle him to high standing in the affections of all our people. George Tallon is one of the substantial men of Waseca. He is a native of Ireland, and in early life became a seafaring man. In that capacity he visited very many portions of the world. Early in the history of this state he located in Winona where he engaged in wheat buying. He located with his family in Waseca more than a quarter of a century ago and has been employed as a grain buyer ever since he located here. For over twenty years he was prominent as one of the school directors of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Tallon are intelligent and highly respected resi- dents of Waseca, and prominent and influential members of the Catholic church. Mrs. Eliza Sutlief, widow of the late Asa G. Sutlief, departed this life at 11 o'clock Sunday forenoon, Sept. 10, 1905, at the age of seventy-nine CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 807 years. In February, 1904, she fell and broke her hip bone. She remained almost helpless from this accident till death came to her relief. As this volume, already much larger than the author at first anticipated, draws to a close, the writer cannot resist the desire to mention the merits of Hon. Frank A. Day, of Martin county, who recently brought honor to Minnesota by ably representing its governor at the launching of the war ship Minnesota, at Newport News, April 8, 1905. On that oc- casion he made a splendid address of which the following are short ex- cerpts. He opened by saying: "The first object which meets the eye of the visitor in the doorway of Minnesota's state historical library is the steering-wheel of the old United States frigate Minnesota, launched on the Potomac just fifty years ago. That was three years before Minnesota was admitted into the Union as a state. The territorial delegate, Henry M. Rice, who had persuaded congress to give the name Minnesota to one of the six new frigates then being constructed, carried water all the way from the Minnesota river with which to give the new vessel a proper baptism." Continuing he further said: "The engines and boilers and small screw propeller, considered somewhat of an innovation in those days, constituted one-fourth of the vessel's entire cost. Not content to rely upon steam for power, the vessel spread 2,400 feet of sail, and by the combined aid of steam' and sail was able to attain a speed of twelve knots an hour. On the day of its launching it was pronounced by the leading Washington newspapers as a very leviathan upon the waters; its displacement was just one-fifth that of the vessel we have launched today. Its armament was the heaviest of any battleship of any nation up to that time; its guns showed a tonnage just one-sixth that of the batteries which the new Minnesota is to carry. * "The old Minnesota had a history which the new Minnesota may well emulate Its first commander was the famous Dupont, commander of the East India squadron. It bore the first tidings of American civilization to China and Japan, and was mown as the greatest war vessel that had yet visited the Eastern world. When the Civil war broke out in 1861, the Minnesota became the flagship of the Atlantic squadron under com- mand of Flag Ofilcer Stringham. On May 13 it was anchored down your harbor here at Fortress Monroe. On May 14 it participated in the capture of three schooners. Inside of ninety days it took part in the capture ot ten vessels, one of which, the Savannah, bearing a commission from Jeff Davis was the first war vessel captured from the Confederate forces. "On August 26 1861, from your harbor here out through Hampton Roads the old flagship Minnesota led the Atlantic squadron, bearing the troops and artillery of Gen. Ben Butler, south of Hatteras and Clark. In that two days' bombardment the Minnesota stood on the inside finng line at the head of the squadron, and its heavy main battery, consisting of two 10-inch guns and fourteen 8-inch guns, was the prime factor in compellmg 808 CHILD S HISTORY OB" WASECA COUNTY. those forts to raise the flag of surrender — the first Confederate forts to surrender to Union arms. * * * "But the greatest engagement in which the old frigate Minnesota took part — indeed, the greatest naval battle of the Civil war, If not the most epochal naval engagement in the world's history — you yourselves wit- nessed here in your own harbor on May 8 and 9, 1862. On the 8th you saw the famous ironclad "Virginia, formerly known as the Union frigate Merrimac, emerge from Norfolk, across the bay, and, steaming directly into the fire of the Union batteries, attack the Cumberland and Congress off your shore; and you saw the Minnesota hasten to the rescue of the doomed vessels. "You know, also, why it was that on the morning of the 9th the fate of the Minnesota was not that of the Cumberland. You saw the ancient 'cheese box on a raft,' the little historic Monitor, product of that patriotic genius, Capt. John Ericsson, steam to the rescue of the Union flagship Minnesota and go out to meet the ponderous Virginia, five times her size, and you witnessed the greatest naval duel of ancient or modern times — that which sealed the fate of the Confederate cause on the sea and changed the naval armaments of the world. "The new battleship Minnesota which you launched into Hampton Roads to-day could easily meet and vanquish single handed the combined Union and Confederate squadrons of 1862. What more significant tes- timony to the industrial, commercial, maritime and political transforma- tion of America in the brief period of forty years! * * » "From the battleship Minnesota of 1855 to the battleship Minnesota of 1905 is a lar cry. It marks an era in the history of the state, nation and world. In shipbuilding, it marks the transition from the age of wood to the age of steel. In Minnesota, the half-century records the growth from a frontier territory of 20,000 souls to a great commonwealth of 2,000,000 people." Hon. Frank A. Day was born in Wisconsin, 1S55; settled at Fairmont, Minn., in 1874, and entered upon newspaper business; was elected to the house of representatives, in 1878; to the senate in 1886, 1890, 1894; dele- gate to republican national convention in 1S92; was a bimetallist and supported W. J. Bryan in 1896; is married and has four children, and is at this writing private secretary to Governor John A. Johnson, and chairman of the state democratic central committee. THE CLOSE. It Is said that all things must have an end and certain it Is that all history writing must come to a stop somewhere, and hence the close of this last life-work of the autnor. In going over the printed pages, as I have been compelled to do, many matters of some interest are found to have been omitted for want of space. Soon after the work of type- setting commenced it became evident that I had prepared more "copy" CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUXTY. S09 than could be crowded into six liundred pages, and tlie work of copy pruning and condensation commenced; and, like tlie poor woman whom the Angel of Death called upon to designate which one of her twelve should he taken, it was difficult to choose which items should go into oblivion. Suffice it to say that no effort has been spared to make the work as complete and perfect as possible with the means at command. Some people, it has been learned, fail to appreciate the value of a correct history of their county, and therefore neglected to furnish facts peculiarly within their own knowledge. It is not for me to say how well or how imperfectly the work of writing the history has been done. The book must speak for itself. A sincere effort on my part has been made to make it a truthful and impartial history. In looking back over the history of this grand county one can but feel pride and satisfaction at the great progress made and the high standing it has attained. The first settlers found an inland wilderness, without habitation, without navigable waters or railroads, and surrounded by savages. What a change! Many, very many, of the old and honored pioneers have passed away, and it is not egotistical to say that there may remain no record save this history that they ever lived and labored here to help make this county what it is. Let it be remembered that it was in our day — the fifty years covered by this record — that the greatest battles were fought for ure preservation of self-government and the perpetuity of civil and religious liberty, and it will be for those who follow us to perpetuate the great heritage of the revolutionary fathers. The revelations of the last fifty years are as miraculous as any recorded in biblical history. Electricity, now the greatest force known to man, has wrought wonders in the last fifty years, and is destined in the near future to revolutionize the industrial and commercial activities of the world. To the unknown people who shall come after us and who, in their great advancement in the methods of government, the sciences, the arts, inventions, discoveries. In the mastery of the powers of nature, in virtuous and happy living, may look back upon us, perhaps, as a rude, ignorant, semi-barbarous peo- ple, we bid a genial, kindly welcome to our "happy hunting grounds" — to a county that for fifty years has never suffered a total loss of crops. "And now, dear friends, farewell for many a day; If e'er we meet again, I cannot say. Together have we traveled o'er long years. And mingled sometimes smiles, sometimes tears; Now droops my weary hand and swells my heart, I fear, good friends, we may forever part; O'erlook my many faults, and say of me, 'He hath meant well that writ this history'." JAMES E. CHILD. DIRECTORY. DIRECTORY. Atwood, E. M. Anderson, Charles Anderson, Olaf Anderson, Anton Anderson, Andrew J. Anderson, Andrew Adams, H. J. Asmundson, Ole Atkinson, R. E. Abraham, Wm. Andrews, F. B. Armstrong, W. J. Anderson, Richard Aughenbaugh, J. W. Anderson, Magnus Brown, Hugh Bennett, B. M. Blowers, James Blanchard, H. G., M. D. Beck, Anna Bennett, G. T. Bullard, L. A. Bartelt, Robert Brubaker, G. E. Bane, J. O. Blatchley, A. Blaeser, Henry Buckman, W. A. Belding, E. E. Billiard, Paul Brisbane, W. R. Brisbane, Arthur Brisbane, Clarence Buck, H. M. Breen, Tom Breen, John Brauhen, Louis Bailey, P. C. CITY OF WASECA Bluhm, C. J. Breen, Francis Bartelt, Albert Bythen, Aug. Byron, Miss B. Buchler, L. T. Buchler, Ed Bishman, Clara E. Buckman, I. A. Barden, Thos. Boucher, John Brown, Walter Bailer, C. H. Beauleau, Rev. C. H. Bergeson, Nick Blair, S. H. Bivens, C. Clayton, P. A. Clayton, Fred Conway, Ed Cunningham, G. B. Chapman, H. H. Cunningham, James Clement, W. A. Crough, Wm. Colwell, R. P. Carroll, W. F. Crimmins, Patrick Castor, Ed Clement, Chas. Cobb, A. G. Callahan, John C. Conkwright, W. T. Chamberlain, H. P. Coyle, J. B. Coleman, J. J. Cummings, D. S., M. D. Courtney, John Colligan, Ed Collins, Frank Chamberlain, W. A., M. D. Comee, S. S. Child, James E. Collester, E. B. Cleary, William Cawley, Jos. Colwell, R. P. Crandall, Martin Cashman, T. A. Castor, Robert Degnan, John Dolan, James L. Deverell, Ralph Dalton, Robert Davidson, M. M. Berth, C. G. Donovan, Tim Donovan, Dan Davis, T. J. Devine, D. D. Dean, Mat. Day, F. T. Dunn, J. H. Deverell, Wm. Drysdale, E. C. Davis, H. V. Dahl, D. O. Dobberstein, Chas. Durigan, Patrick Didra, H. C. Degner, John Dunn, Roy Dye, J. B. Dean, Matt Dinneen, John 814 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. English, Ed Eriokson, John Everett, E. A. Everett, Guy W. Engstrom, Charles Fitzgerald, Thos. Paes, Robert Foster, A. S. Fuller, A. S. Fahmer, Henry Ford, Pat Fitzpatrick, James Freemore, A. E. Gasink, Albert Gottschalk, P. E. Guyer, Anthony Gutfleisch, John Gallien, W. G. Grapp, A. Gallagher, P. P. Gallagher, B. M. Grunwald, August Gutileisch, Henry Gunderson, Iver Grunwald, Martin Gunn, E. S. , Gormley, Terry Greener, Oscar Grant, M. C. Geist, Henry Garrett, F. W. Gatzman, Mike Garland, R. D. Goodsell, E. E. Gehring, Phil Gallagher, John H. Goodspeed, E. C. Goatz, John E. Garlick, D. B. Gongoll, Rev. J. Goodspeed, Leslie Grant, Charles Garrett, L, Gillis, W. H. Garland, Ralph Gasink, Albert ■Glines, Tom 'Gratz, John Hemmingway, G. L. Hayes, Mike Hayden, J. B. Hawkes, C. M. Hallgren, A. Hutchinson, E. A. Holtgren, A. Hanson, Andrew Herbst, W. L. Herter, E. O. Habein, Wm. Hagen, Andrew Helms, M. H. Hartson, C. Habein, Henry Herbst, Adolph Hartson, A. H. Henkle, H. Hagerty, Thos. Hartson, C. L. Hartson, H. C. Hemmingway, M. Johnson, Frank Johnson, John Johnson, C. J. Johnson, Bank Johnson, C. Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Elling Jenkins, Augusta Jenson, A. F. Johnson, Nels Johnson, T. H. Johnson, C. P. Johnson, Charles James, G. L. Johnson, J. W. Kempin, Henry Krassin, John A. Kawfelt, Geo. Korbitz, G. C. Keeley, James Keeley, John Kerr, Thos. J., Sr. Kerr, Thos. J. Jr. Krassin, Gust. Krassin, G. J. Kelley, P. J. Kennedy, Patrick Keeley, JI. B. Krassin, E. R. Kinn, Andrew Kenehan, P. H. Kempin, Wm. Keefe, D. O. Kletschke, Emil Kromrei, Emil Knutson, Martha Kakuschke, Fred Koechel, Daniel Koechel, H. F. Keil, L. E. Klohe, Otto Kramer, Martin Knutson, G. E. Kaible, August Lortis, W. C. Leuthold, Charles Long, Emil Leeland, A. Lynn, J. P., M. D. Lohren, A. J. Lynch, Thos. Larson, L. J. Lindell, P. G. Lang, Thomas Lawin, Fred Lawin, Siegfried Linnehan, Tim Lossman, Simon Lawson, O. J. Lawson, Guy Lilly, Barney J. Lochte, Rev. Pred Lewis, Mrs. B. S. Lynch, A. Magner, B. Martin, Zack Madden, J. E. Miller, R. T. Murphy, Henry Maguire, John Mahler, P. W. Moore, J. A. Murphy, J. P. Moore, P. A. Meyer, W. F. Murphy, John D. Merrill, S. Madden, John Moen, G. Marquardt, Emil Madden, Pat Monroe, H. C. Murphy, J. C. Minske, August Mellor, A. J. Moonan, John Murphy, James H. Miller, Prank Meyer, Robert Mix, L. E. McLoughlin, D. Miller, R. Messerloiecht, Chas. Menke, Ernest Moonan, M. P. Main, N. Mitchel, J. K. Massowick, Anton CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 815 Maloney, W. F. Maloney, Barney Maloney, Vinz McCarty, Pat McLoone, John McLoone, Mike McWaide, F. J. McLin, J. M. McCarty, T. F. McMahon, Frank McDonnough, Mike McLoughlin, T. F. McCleary, O. L. McDermott, John McGovern, Peter McCarty, Joe McLin, John McCall, G. McLoone, Charles McDonald, Anthony Madden, Patrick Madden, Will Minske, Paul Mahoney, D. Nerbovig, H. H. Nissen, Nis Nelson, Alfred Nelson, Geo. B. Norton, H. P. Norton, C. N. Nelson, N. M. Nelson, Eiler Nelson, Nels Neidt, Albert Nelson, Henry C. Nelson, Andrew Olson, O. C. O'Brien, Peter Olson, Abraham Olson, John Odekirk, Ed. Peterson, Axel Peterson, Theo. Perrin, D. E. Priebe, W. J. Price, Thomas Prail, F. W. Preston, L. F. Popple, A. Parker, James E. Proxel, Frank Poster, John Pierce, Daniel Proxel, Ludvig Pancerewski, B. C. Proechel, C. Preston, S. H. Papke, Julius Peterson, C. A. Parker, A. H. Pfaff, Rev. Daniel Pfaff, L. W. Place, J. H. Phillips, Frank Phillips, Louis Pickett, V. G. Plowman, Louis Quinn, Thomas Roesler, R. F. Ryan, M. W. Rothke, Wm. Ranney, E. C. Ringer, H. Reynolds, Henry Remund, F. J. Roedecker, Chris Rudy, Christian Reigel, Charles Reibold, John Rogers, H. U. Ryan, T. R. Rourk, W. F. Records, T. F. Roth, , F. W. Reinschmidt, Wm. Roesler, R. J. Rhode, John Ryan, Hugh Riley, John Reinschmidit, Ernest Reinschmidt, Wm. Robbins, Geo. L. Swensonf D. A. Santo, August Shaver, C. H. Sterling, L. W. Sandretzky, E. C. Smith, Frank Smith, E. H. Schank, W. F. Swift, W. A. Skocdopole, P. J. Smith, F. M. Smith, Mary Smith, C. A. Sell, John Shorten, G. Schultz, A. J. Schlicht, Chas. Snyder, A. M. Schaacht, Wm. F. Swartwood, F. A., M.D Stucky, A. Stevens, E. R. Shaw, D. J. Smith, Geo. A. Scott, W. B. Smith, C. P. Seastrand, H. D. Simons, B. Stoltz, Louisa Sutter, S. C. Sullivan, J. B. Sotebeer, Ernest Sotebeer, Olaf Smith, Mike Seismer, Charles Strong, ,G. W. Severson, Martin Snyder, Frank Simpke, Wm. Santo, Aug. Snyder, A. L. Sweet, Al Senske, Geo. Treanor, Rev. J. J. Tisdale, J. B. Turnacliff, D. Turnacliff, Cleve Tallon, George Turnacliff, J. Taylor, John Turnacliff, P. J. Torkelson, Nels Thompson, Nathan Thompson, Wm. Trowbridge, E. C. Thoreson, Andrew Teis, And. Ungerman, J. B. Ross, Ed. Ross, B. A. VonSein, Geo. VonSein, Ed Vondrashek, C. Wollschlaeger, J. M. Wollschlaeger, A. Weckwerth, Ed Wood, L. G. Wobschall, W. C. Woskie, F. T. Whipple, R. P. WoUcott, A. T. Witte, W. P. Weckwerth, H. Walter, L. Weyrauch, C. , Wobschall, Aug. 816 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Wright, C. A. Wert, Lindsay Wallroff, H. H. Wert, A. Wolf, W. R. Wolter, L. H. Walter, A. O. Wheelock, Wm. Wobschall, G. E. Werner, Michael Washotten, Rev. Wohschall, J. F. Watscn, C. H. Ward, R. P. Wightman, G. R. Webber, E. C. Winters, H. V. Wyman, G. N. Wilson, G. A. Wamsley, J. H. Weller, Michael John Wyman, S. F. Wolf, Ernest Webb, George Westerfleld, A. Wolterm, O. Wood, Frank A. Wobschall, Ernest Wright, Will Young, J. D. Young, D. L. VILLAGE OF NEW RICHLAND Anderson, S. T. Anderson, H. A. Adams, P. J. Adams, D. E. Bruzek, W. Batchelder, E. J., M. D. Berg, S. A. Byersdorf, A. Brown, C. W. Christensen, E. E. Christianson, C. A. Grain, Andrew Christensen, C. E. Drake, F. D. Dinneen, Daniel Ferguson, A. Gilbertson, J. O. Gilbertson, C. O. Gorgen, Gile Gardson, M. 0. Gorgen, J. H. Hunt, J. F. Huseby, G. Hanson, Torger Heckes, Fred Holgrimson, Ole Harrington, Fred Harrison, A. J. Hagen, H. O. Haugen, M. H. Johnson, Nels Johnston, Archie Johnson, C. B, Jaehning, Henry Jeddeloh, H. E. Johnson, F. W. Kreuger, John Kingsley, F. T. Kreuzer, John Kelleher, John Laudert, filartin Laudert, F. W. Lange, C. G. Lofty, M. P. Lynch, J. C. Lutze, Theo. Luff, Phillip Michaelis, L. E. McGannon, T. J. Michaelis, Wm. Martinson, A. O. Morgan, John Newgard, A. J. Newgard, C. A. Peterson, L. P. Reynold, J. A. Rogstad, Moren Rodegard, K. O. Ryan, Michael Ryan, Pat Ritchie, A. Spillane, Charles W. Schindler, Max Swift, John Sunde, O. O. Scott, Samuel Samuelson, Martin Sybelrud, A. C. Sunde, P. O. Sievert, Ed Steinhaus, W. Schwenke, E. M. Tyrholm, J. A. Tyrholm, X. O. Thompson, Ole Vilsmeyer, H. E. Wickman, X. H. Wagner, C. A. Witcher, C. A. Wagner, F. J. Wightman, J. H. Wightman, Samuel Wightman, E. R. Zenk, R. A. VILLAGE OF JANESVILLE Abraham, Albert Anderson, Jens Ash, John Arnold, Ferd Ash, Richard Ayers, H. D. Ayers, P. C. Amberg, Joe Bratz, John Boeke, W. C. Barden, John Bengtson, Fred Borland, W. E. Banker, A. A. Beske, John Byron, J. M. Berndt, August Benson, B. Banker, Z. Chandler, J. O. Coughlin, Will Converse, C. Cahill, Will Coughlin, Ed Cook, Geo. Crystal, Rob Cummins, Jas. Cordry, J. E. Craig, R. O. Cahill, W. R. Clark. H. A. Cahill, Richard Canfield, M. CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 817 Crippen, Sam Comstock, H. A. Cameron, H. D. Curtiss, K. Carpenter, D. D. Burke, Will Dane, Salma Dunham, Oliver Dieudonne, Emil Devereaux, Ruth Dunham, Charles Davidson, Mond Dunham, C. H. Dane, B. B. Dalton, Mary H. Dooley; John Day, Mary J. Don, Fred Donder, August Davis, A. B. Dodge, O. J. Dalton, Chris. Davidson, J. L. Eustlce, Thos. Eustice, J. D. Empey, P. K. Fratzke, Gust Fetzloff, Otto Finley Bros. Fratzke, Fred Finley, Joseph Fischer, Dorotha Goodrich, Joe Graham, Anton Gordon, J. W. Grapp, W. L. Gayer, Ed Gayer, Christ Glunn, D. Gutfleisch, Chas. Gottschalk, Aug. Harrington, M. B. Hennesey, J. E. Holmichel, L. Hagen, F. L. Hellebo, A. S. Henry, J. A. Janke, John Jennison, A. W. Jennison, J. W. Joyce, James Kruger, A. F. Krause, Fred Krause, Ayers Keeley, M. W. Kee, James V. Knopf, Wm. Krimheuer, W. E. Krimheuer, Frank King, James Ketzback, J. F. Kreuger, Christ Kelling, Christ Lau, W. F. Laase, John Lang, Theo. Lynch, John Lange, Herman Lang, August Lang, Emil Moonan, Thomas Miner, H. I. Manthy, Chas. Miner, F. H. McGinness, .John Miller, Ernest Montgomery, S. G. McCracken, James McCuUough, J. P. Norton, W. H. Nyquist, M. O'Grady, A. J. O'Toole, Martin Paddock, Ed Price, A. L. Priem, Frank Peschl, John Quast, August Quade, F. H. Rahmel, L. Rickerman, Chas. Rogers, L. D. Roberts, P. C. Strassen, Henry Strunk, Will Stevens, S. M. Shepherd, Frank Santo, Will Stewart, C. R. Slider, H. C. Secor, Alta E. Santo, Gust. Smith, Henry Stewart, Burt Schaffer, C. H. Schraeder, Aug. Sackett, A. D. Singer, Anton Sacharias, F. -Severson, S. B. Springer, R. B. Scheerschmidt, Aug. Scheerschmidt, Albert Schmidt, H. Stewart, L. J. Taylor, M. J., M. D. XJlrich, Julius Volz, F. B. TOWN OF NEW RICHLAND Name -Address Anderson, Albert. .. .New Richland Anderson, Olaus Hartland Burtness, O. H New Richland Brix, Gust R. 6, New Richland Brechtel, A New Richland Breilein, Fred. .R. 4, New Richland Bomengen, Ole O.R.I, New Richland Berg, M. A New Richland Bjorklund, J. A. R. 4,New Richland Bettner, Fred, Jr.,.. New Richland Bettner, Fred New Richland Name Address Bakke, Ole R. 1, New Richland Balduan, Herman, R.3,N. Richland Belling, John. . R. 4, New Richland Betz, Herman.. R. 6, New Richland Berg, Edward A Hartland Burtness, O. H. R.6, New Richland Burtness, Olaf R. 6, New Richland Berg, A. N R. 1, New Richland Christensen, Chris New Richland Christensen, Andrew B R. 6, New Richland 818 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Crandall, G. W Hartland Christiason, Mathias R. ], New Richland Christensen, Nels.R. 1, N Richland Discher, J. H.. .R. 4, New Richland Engen, Ingeborg R. 6,New Richland Echternach, Jacob . . New Richland Echternach, W. P. R. 4,N. Richland Finseth, K. A.. .R. 1, New Richland Finseth, T. K New Richland Foslein, Andrew. .. .New Richland Foelz, Adolph New Richland Franklin, A. ... R. 4, New Richland Hanson, H. J. ..R. 6, New Richland Haugan, H. H New Richland Hendrickson, T..R. 1, New Richland Hendrickson, H New Richland Hagen, K R. 6, New Richland Halverson, M. O New Richland Hendrickson, Carl O R. 1, New Richland Hendrickson, C. F. ..New Richland Heckes, L R. 5, New Richland Heckes, W. B.. .R. 5, New Richland Heckes, Herman R.5, New Richland Hoelz, A. P New Richland Herbst, Paul R. 6, New Richland Herbst, Joe...R. 6, New Richland Hagen, Martin K. R. 6,N Richland Hammar, Chas. R. 6, New Richland Hast, Carl New Richland Hendrickson, Ole R. 6,N. Richland Hendrickson, Ole C. R.6,N. Richland Holen, Andrew R. 6, New Richland Hagen, Knute C....New Richland Halverson, Ole K.R.6,New Richland Hagen, K. O. R. 6. New Richland Hagen, Ole C. .R. 4, New Richland Halverson, Ole.... New Richland Johnson, A. W New Richland Johnson, C. A. . .R. 6, New Richland Johnson, James. .. .New Richland Johnson, Edward B Ellendale Johnson, John A. R. 6, N Richland Johnson, Alfred M. R.I N. Richland Johnson, A. D. R.6, New Richland Johnson, Ernest R., R.4,N. Richland Kreuger, Albert. .. .New Richland Klessig, Louis New Richland Kroeger, John New Richland Kittleson, Carl. .R.l,New Richland Knutson, Knute R. 6,New Richland Kopstad, Peter R. l,New Richland Kopstad, John.R. 1, New Richland Kin, C. J R. 6, New Richland Name Address Liane, Sam New Richland Liane, Olaf New Richland Liane, A. O New Richland Liane, Amund .R. 6, New Richland Lund, Mrs. T New Richland Lund, Alfred New Richland Larson, Knute New Richland Langlie, Segar New Richland Loken, Jens J New Richland Lindberg, C. O New Richland Lee, Thomas. . .R. 6, New Richland Loken, Martin J. R.6,New Richland Loken, A. J R. 1, New Richland Larson, Nels..R. 6, New Richland Lange, William. .. New Richland Midgarden, O. N. R.4,New Richland Mathies, Albert. .. .New Richland Michaelis, John..R. 2, N. Richland Mathwig, G. B.. .R. l.New Richland Mellby, Rev. O. A. R.6,N. Richland Nelson, Charles P. R. 4, N. Richland Nelson, Gotfried R. 4,New Richland Newman, Gust New Richland Newman, Wm New Richland Nelson, Aug. C. R. 6, New Richland Nelson, Andrew R. 4, New Richland Nelson, Walfred. . . .New Richland Nelson, A. W. R. 4, New Richland Olsen, Fred R. 4, New Richland Olsen, Charles. .R. 4, New Richland Peterson, Victor. R.4, New Richland Peterson, Alfred O. New Richland Peterson, F. O New Richland Paulson, Peter New Richland Peterson, Levi New Richland Pofahl, Albert New Richland Peterson, C. A New Richland Peterson, John S. R.4, New Richland Quarna, P. New Richland Ruth, S New Richland Rotegard, Andrew.. New Richland Rukke, Ole K. R. 1, New Richland Rugroden, Mathias.. New Richland Randall, ivfiles R. 4. New Richland Rasmussen, James.. New Richland Samuelson, Anna. . New Richland Swenson, Andrew P. New Richland Sampson, A. A..R. 1, New Richland Sunde, S. O New Richland Sunde, Ole H New Richland Sunde, Jonas O New Richland Shurson, S. O.. . R. 1, New Richland Sommerstad, T. K.. . New Richland Swenke, Henry New Richland Schlosser, B. H New Richland CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 819 Name Address Siverson, Knute Hartland Strenge, Henry E, R.6,N Richland Swift, M. J R. 4, New Richland Schwartzkop, C. R. -1, New Richland Swenson, A. A. R. 4, New Richland Swift, R. O. . . R. 4, New Richland Sybelrud, C. C...R. l,New Richland Stearns, H. K,. .R. 1, New Richland Sybilrud, E. E., R. 6, New Richland Sunde, Paul H New Richland Strand, John . . R. 1, New Richland Swenson, John A., R.4,N. Richland Strenge, Even O New Richland Thompson, O. N New Richland Name Address Thoreson, Hans H.,R.6,N. Richland Verplank, W. E New Richland Verplank, Edwin.. New Richland Verplank, Albert. . New Richland Verplank, E. E New Richland Wilson, J. M New Richland Weckwerth, Stephen R. 5, New Richland Weed, Adelbert, R.4,New Richland Whiting, A. L New Richland Wilson, Calista J. . . New Richland Wagner, C. A New Richland Wagner, Christopher New Richland TOWN OF BYRON Name Address Anderson, Peter.... New Richland Adams, Joseph New Richland Betchwars, W. J... New Richland Brix, Adolph New Richland Bumgardner, Mat. . . New Richland Bumgardner, Wm. . . New Richland Bumgardner, M. . . . New Richland Bumgardner, John, New Richland Breilein, P. D New Richland Berg, Nels New Richland Brisbane, John Y . . New Richland Buck, I. D New Richland Briese, Rudolph.... New Richland Cummings, Wm New Richland Concannon, L. W. . . New Richland Concannon, Lary....New Richland Casper, P. H New Richland Chrlstlanson, Hans New Richland Collins, Martin New Richland Dobberstein, C New Richland Dinneen, Nick New Richland Dlnneen, John W., New Richland Fischer, A. D New Richland Geary, M. F Kew Richland Grau, Albert New Richland Gahloff, Wm New Richland Greenwood, Grant. . New Richland Greenwood, Herman New Richland Greenwood, Osmer. . New Richland Heffemon, M New Richland Hausauer, Henry. . . New Richland Hatch, Dwlght New Richland Hanson, Chris New Richland Haas, John New Richland Horn, W. J New Richland Haas, Julius New Richland Name Address Ivers, Thomas.... New Richland Johnson, Erlck. . . . New Richland .Johnson, Prank. . . . New Richland Johnstone, Archie . . . New Richland Johnstone, Walter.. New Richland Kreuger, Frank New Richland Kreuger, William.. New Richland Korman, Fred.... New Richland Korman, John New Richland Ladd, W. J New Richland Loranson, Ernest . . New Richland Lee, James E New Richland Luff, W. J New Richland Linnlhan, J. J New Richland Llnnihan, Henry . . New Richland Linnlhan, T. W New Richland Linnlhan, John .... New Richland Linnlhan, M. H New Richland Linnlhan, J. W New Richland Linnlhan, T. F New Richland Llnnihan, Daniel. . . . New Richland Linnlhan, M. J New Richland Michaelis, Henry . . New Richland McGrath, C New Richland Munch, Chris.... New Richland Munch, John New Richland McDonnough, Ed... New Richland Murphy, John New Richland Moore, John New Richland Ivioen, John New Richland McArdle, John.... New Richland McGovern, Chris. . . . New Richland Matson, Albert.... New Richland McGannon, Michael New Richland Neary, Ira New Richland Paul, Julius New Richland 820 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Peters, W. D New Richland Pick, Herman New Richland Patschke, Martin.. New Richland Partridge, P. S . . . . New Richland Partridge, U. G New Richland Partridg-e, Z. M New Richland Partridge, Wm New Richland Pierce, C. A New Ricnland Pierce, A. M New Richland Pierce, Clarence... New Richland Pierce, J. W New Richland Reh, John New Richland Ryan, Tom New Riculand Ryan, Patrick New Richland Rice, Albert New Richland Root, C. B New Richland Seaton, A. J New Richland Name Address Shannahan, John. . . . New Richland Stenson, John New Richland Schwenke, Robert.. New Richland Turner, B. W New Richland Van Selus, Geo New Richland Volz, Joe New Richland Weed, C. S New Richland Westerlund, John.. New Richland Westerlund, Nels.. New Richland Winnegar, Wm New Richland Winnegar, Prank. . . New Richland Winnegar, W. P. . . . New Richland Whiting, Prank. . . . New Richland Weise, Frank New Richland Yerks, August New Richland Yopka, August. . . . New Richland Zahalka, Joe New Richland TOAYN OF VIVIAN Name Address Name Address Abrahamson, A. . . Minnesota Lake Allis, Amos... . Minnesota Lake Brandt, Ernest... Minnesota Lake Beck, Henry Wells Brandt, Wm Minnesota Lake Buschow, John R.2, New Ricaland Brandt, Herman.. Minnesota Lake Buschow, Albert B. New Richland Beyer, Wm. Jr... Minnesota Lake Bohm, Chas... R. 3, New Richland Bartelt, Wm. , . R. 3 New Richland Bluhm, F. A... R. 5, New Richland Bluhm, H. W.. . R. 3, New Richland Bluhm, J. H... R. 3, New Richland Baker, Perry. . R. 3, New Richland Bluhm, Aug... R. 5, New Richland Buttner, Wm. R. 3, New Richland Bleck, Henry .... R. 1, Minn. Lake Bleck, Aug R. 1, Minn. Lake Barges, Christ... R. 1, Minn. Lake Beyer, C. W R. 1, Minn. Lake Burmeister, Mrs. Wm R. 1, Minn. Lake Burmeister, Aug. E R. 1, Minn. Lake Burmeister, Aug R. 3, New Richland Brecht, F. P... R. 1, New Richland Cook, Herman R. 5, New Richland Cook, Chas. ..R. 5, New Richland Christianson, Olar R. 3, New Richland Degner, Wm. A. ..R. 1, Minn. Lake Deneffe, Joe R. 1, Minn. Lake Degner, Wm. M. R. 1, Minn. Lake Degner, Wm. C. R. 1, Minn. Lake Eichorst, P. W. R. 5, New Richland Elchorst, Herman, R. 5, N. Richland Engel, Wm R. 5, New Richland Eichorst, Chas..R. 5, New Richland Ewald, Wm. Jr. R. 5, New Richland Ewald, William, R. 5, New Richland Erickson, Knute . .R. 1, Minn. Lake Ewert, William, R. 1, Minn. Lake Ewert, Bruno . . R. 1, ilinn. Lake Fennert, Albert R. 3, New Richland Fennert, ^iugust, R. 3, N. Richland Fauchald, Anton. . R. 1, Minn. Lake Fahlbush, Adolph. .Minnesota Lake Fletchenheuer, Herman R. 1, Minesota Lake Fritsche, Albert, R. 3,New Richland Fritsche, Chas., R. 3, New Richland Foesch, Caroline, R. 1, Minn. Lake Foesch, August.. R. 1, Minn. Lake Fratzke, Herman, R. 3 N. Richland Fry, Samuel R. 4, Wells Groskreutz, August R. 4, Wells Groskreutz, Herman R. 1, Minn. Lake Groskreutz, Gotleap, R. 1, Minn. Lake Groskreutz, Otto, R.3,N. Richland Gentz, Henry Minnesota Lake Gebauer, Gustav Wells Gadient, G. L., R. 3, N. Richland CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 821 Name Address Gadient, Joe, R. 3, New Richland Gadient, Joseph, R.3, New Richland Hamburg, Cryas . . Minnesota Lake HaDick, Wm. R. 1, Minnesota Lake Hinz, Herman, R. 1, Minn. Lake Hoechst, Wm., R. 1, Minn. Lake Jeddeloh, John, ll.3. New Richland Jeddeloh, J. B., R. 3,New Richland Krause, Henry, R. 3, New Rlcmand Kaiser, Mrs. C R. 4, Wells Kunz, Math,... R.5 New Richland Klender, Robert, R. 1, Minn. Lake Klender, Frank, R. 1, Minn. Lake Klender, Carl, . . R. 1, Minn. Lake Kamrath, Albert, R. 1, Minn. Lake Linnihan, D. J., R.5, New Richland Lewer, Wm. . . R. 3, New Richland Leifermann, F. G., R.l, Minn. Lake Lechner, Wm., R. 3, New Richland McArdle, James R. 3, New Richland Miller, Wm. A R. 4, Wells Miller, F. A R. 4, Wells Miller, Wm. F R. 4, Wells Mickelson, Thomas,R.3,N. Richland McGuinnes, Wm., R.5, N Richland Miller, Wm. C, R. 1, Minn. Lake Miller, H. L., R. 4, Wells MuUer, Wm Minn. Lake Neitzel, Herman, R.l, Minn. Lake Neitzel, Wm R. 4, Wells O'Brien, Thomas, R.5, N Richland O'Brien, Wm. R. 5, New Richland Pick, Ernest. . R. 3, New Richland Pofahl, Wm. F. F., R.3, Minn. Lake Puetz, C. J R. 3, Minn. Lake Putz, Herman Minn. Lake Putz, Joseph, R. 1, Minnesota Lake Name Address Pieper, Chas. R. 1, Minnesota Lake Pieper, Wm., R. 1, Minnesota Lake Pick, John,.. R. 3, New Richland Pieper, Herman, R. 3,Minn. Lake Ryan, John, . . R. 3, New Richland Radke, Wm R. 3, Minn. Lake Roesler, A. P R. 4, Wells Ryan, Michael, R.5. New Richland Ryan, Patrick, R. 1, New Richland Radloff, Ed.,.. R. 1, New Richland Radke, Carl ... R. 1, New Richland Radloff, John.. R. 1, New Richland Rusch, Herman, R. 5, New Richland Kadloff, Fred. . R. 3, New Richland Schultz, Otto,.... R.l, Minn. Lake Sumnicht, Fred,. . R. 3, Minn. Lake Schultz, C. E R. 4, Minn. Lake Schultz, A. C R. 4, Minn. Lake Stiernagle, Fred, R.4,N. Richland Schroder, August, R.3, N. Richland Syring, Otto, . . R. 5, New Richland Schwarz, Wm. R. 1, New Richland Schultz, Herman, R. 4, Minn. Lake Tolzmann, Wm Minn. Lake Tolzmann, Herman, R.l, Minn. Lake Tolzmann, Walter, R.4,Minn. Lake Tolzmann, Otto,.. R.5, Minn. Lake Thompson, Edward, R.3, N Richla'd Veum, Thos... R. 3, New Richland Vocks, Julius. . R. 3, New Richland Vogelsang, Wm. R.2, New Richland Wuest, Henry. . R. 3, New Richland Wuest, Bd... R. 3, New Richland Wobschall, Reinhart,. .R. 4, Wells Weise, Carl, R. 3, New Richland Weise, Ed R. 4, Wells TOWN OF OTISCO Name Address Abell, Irving R. 2, Waseca Amley, Ole Ellendale Anderson, Albert.. R. 2, Waseca Anderson, Wallfred Waseca Anderson, Alfred Waseca Anderson, L. M Otisco Anderson, E. O New Richland Anderson, John Otisco Bredshall, .John, R. 2, Waseca Blowers, John R. 2, Waseca Branwald, T. H R. 2, Waseca Branwald, T. O R. 2, Waseca Branwald, Guro Waseca Name Address Branwald, L. H.... R. 2, Waseca Bahr, Otto Waseca Bauman, Ernest R. 7, Waseca Brunken, Fred Waseca Bauman, Arnold R. 7,Waseca Bauman, Otto Otisco Bigham, C: W Otisco Bauman, Carl Otisco Bishman, Adolph R. 7, Waseca Bishman, Ben P Otisco Bishman, Alfred R. 7, Waseca Bishman, Henry R. 7, Waseca Bauman, John P R. 7, Waseca 822 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Chapman, O. E., R. 4, New Richland Chapman, B. J., R. 4, New Richland Carlson, Emil F R. 2, Waseca Carlson, Gustav Waseca Bsplng, John H R. 2, Waseca Baton, W. F R. 2, Waseca Erlckson, Charles Lemond Eklund, Peter R. 2, Waseca Elton, O. M R. 4, Waseca Elton, O. M R. 4, Waseca Fette, Wm. H Lemond Fette, Conrad R. 2, Waseca Fette, Wm. J Waseca Geese, Andrew R. 2, Waseca Grasshoff, Chas.... R. 2, Waseca Houg, L. G.,.. R. 1, New Richland Hanson, C. N New Richland Hanson, Olaf T. R.4, New Richland Haugan, H. K. R. 4, New Richland Hanson, Knute New Richland Hedquist, Andreas | . . Otisco Hultgren, John, R. 4, New Richland Helms, Deidrich.... R. 2, Waseca Halland, Timand, R.4, N. Richland Halland, Ole New Richland Helle, Peter O., R.4, N. Richland Hanson, John L., R. 4, N. Richland Hanson, Otto R. 2, Waseca Henkenseifken, Fred, R. 2, Waseca Hokanson, Carl Otisco Holtz, B. H R. 7, Waseca Hause, Henry R. 6, Waseca Harguth, John Waseca Irwin, James R. 2, Waseca Johnson, Edward L., R.4,N. Richl'd Johnson, John F Otisco Johnson, August. . . . New Richland Johnson, Moses Otisco Johnson, O. R Otisco Johnson, E. W R. 2, Waseca Johnson, C. A R. 2, Waseca Johnson, Alfred C Otisco Johnson, Alfred New Richland Johnson, Hedda Otisco Johnson, Otto C Otisco Johnson, E. V R. 2, Waseca Johnson, John A R 2, Waseca Jacoby, R Otisco Kroll, Emil R. 2, Waseca Kugath, Wm Waseca Kugath, Fred Waseca Koerner, Aug R. 2, Wusgca Kampen, C. A Otisco Kreuger, Gust Waseca Lindberg, C R. 2, Waseca Name Address Larson, Gustav Otisco Larson, Johnny R. 2, Waseca Larson, John L Otisco Larson, C. A R. 2, Waseca Larson, Alfred J Otisco Leslie, Sam R. 2, Waseca Leslie, Ralph. ....*... R. 2, Waseca Leslie, John R. 2, Waseca Larson, Charles O Otisco Lewer, Fred..R. 4, New Richland Mattison, Mathias...R. 2, Waseca Monson, Brick New Richland Monson, Trond O R.l, NewRichland Munson, L. R R. 1, BUendale Minges, Joseph R. 2, Waseca Minges, Edward R. 2, Waseca Monson, Edwin Otisco Neugebauer, J. B R. 4, New Richland Nelson, Charles Otisco Nelson, Alfred G Otisco Nelson, Aug. P. .R.4, New Richland Nelson, E. C Otisco Orman, A. J. ...R.4, New Richland Olson, Andrew B R. 4, New Richland Palm, Victor P R. 2, Waseca Peterson, Otto New Richland Peterson, Theo Waseca Peterson, Ole C R. 2, Waseca Priebe, Theo R. 2, Waseca Priebe, Henry R. 2, Was3ca Pommerening, Theo. . R. 7, Waseca Peterson, Aug. J Otisco Palm, Gust R. 2, Waseca Peterson, B. A R. 4, New Richland Peterson, David R, 2, Waseca Prechel, L. C R. 2, Waseca Peterson, Alfred. .. .New Richland Palm, Albert R. 2, Wascca Peterson, P. J Otisco Poplow, Fred Otisco Priebe, Herman R. 2, Waseca Porath, Fred R. 1, Waseca Priebe, Edward R. 2, Waseca Radtke, Richard Meriden Roeglin, Robert R. 7. Waseca Rudolph, Carl Otisco Roslund, John.. R.4, Ncw Richland Rudolph, John A Otisco Runnerstrom, G. R Otisco Redeske, C. W R. 2, Waseca Rudoliili. Gotfred Otisco Rick, F R. 2, Waseca CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 823 Name Address Swenson, John E Lemond Swenson, Peter R. 2, Waseca Schultz, Adolph R. 2, Waseca Swenson, Aaron Otisco Swenson, August Otisco Swenson, C. O Otisco Sotebeer, B R. 2, Waseca Stearns, G. B Otisco Swenson, A. K Otisco Swenson, Carl R. 2, Waseca Smith, H. W New Richland Schultz, John.. R. 4, New Richland Swenson, Charlie Otisco Sommers,J. P R. 2, Waseca Spoonberg, A. F Otisco Name Address Thamert, J. B Otisco Tollefson, Gustav. .R. 1, Ellendale Tolin, John A R. 2, Waseca Turnacliff, Eugene... R. 1, Waseca Wik, O. N New Richland Wetterbom, Otto R. 2, Waseca Wetterbom, C. J R. 2, Waseca Weed, B. S New Richland Wood, R. B New Richland Wallstrom, J. A.... New Richland Youngberg, Carl O R. 4, New Richland Youngberg, John R. 4, New Richland TOWN OF WILTON Name Address Atwood, George R. 7, Waseca Arndt, Arnold R. 1, Waseca Allen, M. H. C Otisco Allen, H. B Otisco Below, Paul ....R. 2, Waseca Briese, Herman Otisco Bartz, Fred R. 1, Waseca Bartz, Richard R. 1, Waseca Burns, James R. ,1, Waseca Bathke, Albert R. 7, Waseca Brisbane, Walter Otisco Bird, Eugene R. 1, Waseca Bartels, Fred R. 1, Waseca Burns, Geo R. 1, Waseca Burns, Martin R. 1, Waseca Byrne, Owen R. 1, Waseca Barden, Henry Waseca Bird, Isaac R. 1, Waseca Bird, Abraham R. 1, Waseca Bartz, Gotlieb Waseca Borchert, Ernest Waseca Byron, Thomas Waseca Burns, Barney.. R. 1, Waseca Conway, Richard R. 1, Waseca Courtney, James R. 1, Waseca Curley, Tom R. 1, Waseca Conner, Mrs. Alice... R. 1, Waseca Carmody, Tom.R. i, New Richland Doran, Geo .New Richland Englehardt, Aug R. 1, Waseca Ewest, Ferdinand Waseca Ewest, Herman Waseca Fox, Peter R. 1, Waseca Fox, M R. 1, Waseca Foels, Wm R. 5, New Richland Name Address Frederick, George Waseca Fairley, Andrew R. 1, Waseca Foels, Adolph..R. 5, New Richland Frank, A. A. ...R. 4, New Richland Gabert, Wm R. 7, Waseca Gearin, John R. F. D., Waseca Gregory, Joe R. 1, Waseca Gehlof, Max Waseca Grunwald, R R- 1, Waseca Gehring, G il. 7, Waseca Gehring, Mike R. 7, Waseca Gehring, Ed R. 7, Waseca Gehring, Henry R. 7, Waseca Gehring, Julius R. 7, Waseca iiOUander, Amos R. 1, Waseca Hope, Pat R. 7, Waseca Holtz, Bmille R. 7, Waseca Henkenseif ken, Aug Waseca Hoelz, A. P... R. 4, New Richland Jacobs, N R. 7, Waseca Kroeger, Henry R. 7, Waseca Kugath, Fred Waseca Kelleher, John R. 7, Waseca Klug, Peter R. 1, Waseca Krewatt, Otto Waseca Krause, Paul R. 1, Waseca Krause, Charles R. 7, Waseca Kroeger, Hans.R. 5, New Richland Krause, Frank R. 1, Waseca Koechel, August Otisco Klinger, Frank R. 7, Waseca Koechel, Silas R. 7, Waseca Krumrie, Bmil Waseca Lang, Mike R. 1, Waseca Lipke, C Waseca 824 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Lipke, K Waseca Lechner, William Otisco Lenz, Gotlieb R. 7, Waseca McLin, Pete R. 7, Waseca McLin, Mike R. 7, Waseca McLin, Andrew R. 7, Waseca Madden, Joe R. 7, Waseca Miller, Henry R. 1, Waseca McDonough, Pat, Jr R. 5, New Richland Metzler, Theo R. 1, Waseca Metzler, Henry R. 1, Waseca Mulkentine, John R. 5, New Richland Mann, Michael R. 1, Waseca Morig, Carl New Richland Munch, Wm. . . .R. 5, New Richland McDonough, James R. 5, New Richland McGannon, Mike....R. 1, Waseca Matthews, Geo., R. 5, New Richland Matthews, M..R. 5, New Richland Nelson, R R. 5, New Richland O'Brien, John R. 1, Waseca O'Brien, Will R. 7, Waseca O'Brien, Mike R. 7, Waseca Poplow, William. .. .R. 1, Waseca Poplow, Herman R. 7, Waseca Price, August. .R. 4, New Richland Pugh, John New Richland Raetz, Wm....R. 5, New Richland Roesler, Bmil R. 1, Waseca Riley, R. R R. 1, Waseca Roesler, Ferdinand. . .R. 1, Waseca Name Address Ruehl, Carl R. 1, Waseca Reick, Fred R. 7, Waseca Randall, Alfred . R. 5, New Richland Reitsfort, Geo R. 7, Waseca Ramming, Albert.... R. 7, Waseca Root, W. L R. 4, New Richland Root, Joseph. . . R. 5, New Richland Roesler, A. A R. 1, Waseca Schultz, Charley. . . .R. 1, Waseca Schlaack, Gustav. . . .R. 7, Waseca Schlaack, Wm..R. 5, New Richland Schlaack, Herman R. 5, New Richland Sutlief, Delancy R. 5, New Richland Sutlief, Austin New Richland Sutlief, B. G R. 4, N€W Richland Scott, Chas R. 4, New Richland Schultz, Chas. .R. 4, New Richland Schauer, Wm R. F. D., Waseca iSchauer, Herman.... R. 1, Waseci Stageman, Carl R. 1, Waseca Suemnick, Herman. .R. 7, Waseca Sheeran, Martin R. 5, New Richland Turnaclifte, Walter Otisco Turnacliffe, Ralph Otisco Tetzloff, Wm..R. 5, New Richland VanLoh, Wm . . R. 1, New Richland VanLoh, Fred. .R. 7, New Richland Weckwerth, Albert Otisco Weller, John R. 7, Waseca Wierzbiscke, Otto. . . .R. 7, Waseca Wussow, Wm Waseca Weckwerth, Emil....R. 7, Wa:eca Zell, Charles Waseca TOAVN OF FREEDOil Name Address Armstrong, B. D. . . .R. 1, Waseca Amberg, M. A . . . . Alma City Amberg, M. P Alma City Adams, Joe . . . R. B, New Richland Adams, T. W..R. 5, New Richland Boetcher, Charley. , .R. 4, Janesville Boetcher, Herman R. 1, Minn. Lake Bentson, Andrew Cream Bathke, Robert. . Waseca Born, Gust .R. 2, Janesville Bromaghin, M. J . .R. 3, Janesville Bromaghin, W. C. .R. 3, Janesville Barsch, Ernest. . . .R. 2, Janesville Brandenberg, H, . R. 4, Janesville Bluhni, Henry. .R. 5, New Richland Blaisdell, G. L . .R. 3, Janesville Name Address Brown, Wm Alma City Behrnes, Wm..R. 5, New Richland Bronson, G. W Alma City Convey, Pat R. 2, Janesville Coffin, Ed R. 3, Janesville Courtney, Hugh. . . .R. 2, Janesville Courtney, Frank... R. 2, Janesville Cronkhite, Edgar Alma City Connor, Simon R. 1, Waseca Corry, Dr. J. P Alma City Dixcn, Thomas Cream Davidson, J. D R. 2, Mapleton Davidson, Wni....R. 4, Janesville Dittberner, H. C. .R. 4. .lanesville Dcyle, Raymond, R, 5, N. Richland Daviilson, R. E R. 2, Mapleton CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 825 Name Address Elmore, J. H Alma City Ewert, Wm R. 5, New Richland Eustice, Chris R. 5, New Richland Engel, Wm R. 5, New Richland Field, Rob R. 4, Janesville Fratzke, Carl Alma City Ford, Edward.. R. 5, New Richland Fox, Joseph R. 1, Waseca Fesselt, C Alma City Fratzke, Julius ... R. 4, Janesville Fratzke, H. F R. 4, Janesville Fratzke, Wm Alma City Flemmlng, Michael. .R. 7, Waseca Gerdts, Adolph....R. 2, Janesville Geary, Geo. E R. 3, Janesville Geary, J. E R. 3, Janesville Geary, A. J R. 3, Janesville Gehloff, Herman... R. 2, Janesville Garlich, S. O R. 3, Janesville Gunsolus, Fred Alma City Gottschalk, Edward R.2, Janesville Griffith, Wm. M R. 4, Janesville Gerdts, Borthof . . . .R. 2, Janesville Graham, B. W R. 3, Janesville Grawander, Wm. G....AIma City Gra wander, Herman C. .Alma City Graham, A. W....R. 3, Janesville Hydorn, S R. 2, Mapleton Hass, M R. 1, Waseca Heath, J. C R. 4, Janesville Heath, W. E R. 2, Janesville Heath, R. L R. 2, Janesville Hodges, Geo. F Cream Hofeld, Geo Alma City Hofeld, H. C Alma City Holmes, John.. R. 5, New Richland Hickey, John F., R. 5, New Richland Hawkins, Pat..R. 5, New Richland Hodgkins, D. H., R.5, N. Richland Hodgkins, Sam, Jr. . . New Richland Hoverson, Theo Alma City Janike, Fred R. 1, Minn. Lake Jacobs, Xick Alma City Kaiser, Ferdinand. .R. 2, Janesville Kaiser, Anton R. 2, Janesville Kaiser, Martin R. 2, Janesville Klempe, Gust R. 2, Janesville Koplen, F. C R. 4, Janesville Kelling, Edward... R. 2, Janesville Kelling, Ernest. . .R. 2, Janesville Kelling, Wm R. 4, Janesville Koplen, Wm R. 2, Janesville Kroiling, Martin Alma City Koplen, Wm R. 2, Janesville Krause, Wm....R. 1, Minn. Lake Name Address Kopischke, Gustav..R. 2, Janesville Kopischke, A. F. .R. 2, Janesville Krueger, B R. 4, Janesville Knutson, K. A. .R. 1, Minn. Lake Krause, Fred . Alma City Kleeman, Louis ... R. 2, Janesville Lassell, B R. 4, Janesville Lynch, Mat R. 2, Janesville Lau, Gustav R. 4, Janesville Lyksett, Ole R. 2, Mapleton Linkesh, Joe.. R.5, New Richland Linnihan, Michael R. 5, New Richland Larrabee, B. F Alma City Lienke, Wm R. 4, Janesville Moore, James R..R. 2, Janesville Moore, C. P R. 2, Janesville Moore, R. B R. 2, Janesville Man they, John R. 2, Janesville Manthe, F. W R. 2, Mapleton Man they, Carl R. 4, Janesville Man they, P R. 2, Mapleton Miller, Carl R. 2, Janesville Miller, B. H R. 2, Janesville Miller, H R. 4, Janesville Myers, J. H R. 1, Waseca Mackey, M R. 5, New Richland Maurer, Christ.... R. 2, Janesville Marquardt, Gustav.. R. 2, Janesville Marquardt, Carl. . .R. 4, Janesville McCracken, R. C..R. 1, Minn. Lake Miller, Aug R. 4, Janesville Norman, Matt. . . .R. 1, Minn. Lake O'Brien, Ed R. 5, New Richland Prechel, J. A R. 1, Waseca Possen, Fred R. 2, Janesville Priem, A. J Janesville Priem, Herman.... R. 2, Janesville Petrie, W. J R. 3, Janesville Remmington. P. F Cream Roeker, Charles. .. .R. 2, Janesville Rollins, H. C R. 3, Janesville Schroeder, C. P R. 1, Waseca Schroeder, Wm Alma City Smith, F. M R. 2, Janesville Stindt, Carl R. 4, Janesville Schonrock, Gilstav.R. 4, Janesville Sandsmark, Thomas . . . Janesville Sheeran, Ed R. 2, Janesville Sheeran, M. J. .R. 5, New Richland Schultz, Fred Alma City Schultz, A. C R. 4, Janesville Schultz, H. W. R. 3, Janesville Seaman, E. B. '. R. 4, Janesville Schrieber, L R. 3, Janesville S26 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Tesch, Carl R. 5, New Richland Vogler, Gust R. 2, Janes ville Vandawaker, Mrs. D R. 3, Janesville Werth, Fred R. 4, Janesville Name Address Wolf gram, H Alma City Witts, W. G R. 4, Janesville Witts, S.N R. 4, Janesville Waknitz, Thos Alma City Wagner, J. P Alma City TOWN OF WOODVILLE Name Address Abbe, Fred R. 2, Waseca Abbe, Wm Waseca Abraham, John R. 2, Waseca Anderson, Martin Waseca Born, Wm Waseca Beede, Gerhard Waseca Block, Fred Waseca Brown, Elizabeth Waseca Bivens, David Waseca Bartelt, Wm Waseca Bathel, Wm Waseca Bethke, L Waseca Broughton, T. T Waseca Brandt, Wm Waseca Buker, Wm Waseca Buker, John R. 2, Waseca Buker, H. F R. 2, Waseca Buker, Henry R. 2, Waseca Born, Walter Waseca Coats, Wm Waseca Cleland, Mrs. A. C Waseca Collins, Robert Waseca Collins, Thomas Waseca Curran, James Waseca Curran, John Waseca Curran, Arthur Waseca Curran, John B Waseca Cortis, H Waseca Cook, Chas Waseca Davi.s, Orin Waseca Donovan, John Waseca Donovan, Dennis Waseca Dierks, H Waseca Domy, Frank Meriden Domy, Albert Waseca Debarr, James W Waseca Damn, F .' Waseca Domy, Chas Waseca Draheim, Aug Waseca Draheim, Julius Waseca Drum, Harry Waseca Drum, S. H Waseca Erno, Andrew Waseca Fette, H. C Wnsoca Fette, Wm Waseca Name Address Frahm, Dick Waseca Fell, Charley Waseca Gray, Fred Waseca Glines, Thomas Waseca Gage, L. A Waseca Gerts, E. H Waseca Goodspeed, Geo. H Waseca Hanson, Chris Waseca Hawkes, Allen Waseca Harshman, Vinton Waseca Honhouse, G Waseca Irvine, Geo Waseca Johnson, Ed Waseca Jerks, Theo Waseca Jackson, Andrew Meriden Kuss, Paul Waseca Kreutz, Wm Waseca Kennedy, Wm Waseca Kennedy, Thos Waseca Keeley, John Waseca Ketchum, C. P Waseca Kanthack, Herman Waseca Kanthack, Fred Waseca Kinney, D. A Waseca Kugath, Carl Was:ca Lueck, Chas Waseca Lueck, Herman. Waseca Landers, Morris Waseca Lee, Henry Waseca Lewer, H. F Waseca Noeske, Albert Waseca Naporra, Adolph Waseca Olson, Tarron. \\'aseca Oswaldson, Antcn Waseca Oswaldson, Halvor Waseca Olson, Castin Waseca Olson, Fritz Waseca Priebe, Lewis. Waseca Prechel. Fred Waseca Powell, R. B Waseca Powell, Mary J Waseca Powell, Hiram Waseca Rockney, John Waseca Roesler, F. W Waseca Roesler, L. J Waseca CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. SZ7 Name Address Ruedy, Valentine Waseca Ruedy, F Waseca Ruedy, John Waseca Rieck, H Waseca Ross, August Waseca Scholer, Caroline Waseca Sander, Christ Waseca Suemnick, August Waseca Sell, H Waseca Scholljegerdes, Geo Waseca Schendel, Wm Waseca Schmidt, Fred Waseca Spillane, D Waseca Spillane, W Waseca Spillane, F. M Waseca Sahler, Emil Waseca Spies, Wm Waseca Smith, O. L Waseca Schippel, Herman Waseca Schuck, Aug Waseca Name Address Taylor, C. B Waseca Taft, John Waseca Thompson, William Waseca Wood, Alfred Waseca Wood, Geo. H Waseca Woodbury, C. I Waseca Webber, C. L Waseca Weber, H Waseca Wendt, Adolph Waseca Wickman, Carl Waseca Willock, H. W Waseca Ward, C. D Waseca Ward, Arthur Waseca Wheelock,L. C Waseca Wheelan, W. H Waseca Wheeler, A Waseca Wilken, D Waseca Zimmerman, Chris Waseca Zimmerman, John Waseca Zimmerman, David Waseca TOWN OF ST. MARY Name Address Andriole, Wm Janesville Born, August Janesville Bisson, Alex Waseca Baer, Oswald R. 6, Waseca Bartels, Wm Waseca Ballard, Isaac Waseca Bowe, Mary E Waseca Byron, Wm Waseca Barden, Richard Waseca Byron, James Waseca Baldwin, Tim. Waseca Baldwin, Tom Waseca Baldwin, Mary Waseca Burke, Michael. Waseca Conway, John Waseca Conway, Mrs. Thos Waseca Conway, Frank .jr Waseca Conway, Frank Sr Janesville Conway, J. W Waseca Conway, J. H Waseca Conners, Frank Janesville Culliton, James Waseca Culliton, Thos Waseca Conway, Richard Waseca Dimmer, Gust Waseca Erwin, D. A Waseca Foley, James Waseca Farley, Mrs. Patrick Waseca Fritz, Theo Waseca Foley, Thos Wasica Name Address Fischer, C Janesville Fischer, Herman Waseca Plynn, Michael Waseca Frank, William Waseca Geraghty, Thos Waseca Grunwald, William Waseca Gallagher, Michael Waseca Gorman, Anthony Waseca Geese, Hugo Waseca Gilhart, Robert.. Waseca Gorman, James Waseca Holmes, Michael Waseca Henderson, William Waseca Henderson, Joe. Waseca Henderson, John Waseca Johnston, William Waseca Johnston, Mrs. Jane Waseca Krassin, Steve Waseca Krassin, John F Waseca Krinke, H. D Waseca King John Waseca King, Frecl Waseca Kahnke, George Waseca Keeley, Mrs. "Mike .-Waseca Keeley, John Sr Waseca Kahnke, Frank Waseca Keeley, James C Waseca Krassin, Emil Waseca Lannon, James Waseca Lynch, Marguerite Waseca 828 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Lechner, Adolph Waseca Lambert, Samuel Janesville Lambert, Michael Janesville Lannon, John, Sr Waseca Lanuon, John, Jr Waseca Lannon, Richard Waseca Leick, Deidrick. ; Waseca Matz, Joseph Waseca Mittelsteadt, Wm Waseca Murphy, John Waseca Matz, I Waseca Minske, H. C Waseca Mittelsteadt, Gust Waseca McBride, Matt Janesville McGonagle, Mike Waseca McLoone, Anthony Waseca Millerllle, Herman Janesville Madden, Thos Waseca Magner, John Waseca Myers, Wm Waseca Miller, Fred Waseca McDonough, Mrs. John. . Waseca Mulcahy, Henry Waseca Moylan, Mrs. Ed Waseca Manthey, Wm Waseca Matz, Andrew Waseca Norton, James, Sr Waseca Norton, James, Jr Waseca Norton, Daniel Waseca Norton, Richard Waseca Name Address Oestreich, Mrs. H Waseca Paulson, Mrs. Hans Waseca Pofahl, Herman Waseca Priebe, John Waseca Papke, Julius Waseca Phelps, Joseph Waseca Prechel, Emil Waseca Priebe, Stephen Waseca Papke, John Waseca Phelps, Geo Waseca Priebe, August Waseca Roseneau, Henry Waseca Reibold, Thos Waseca Ryan, Thomas Waseca Reibeling, Mrs. Theo Waseca Sheehan, James Waseca Sheeran, Michael Janesville Sheehan, Dennis Waseca Stoltz, Henry Waseca Schroeder, Gust Waseca Sheehan, Garrett, Jr Waseca Sheehan, Garrett, Sr Waseca Sommers, Gust, Jr Waseca Sommers, Gust, Sr Waseca Wobschall, Robert Waseca Wolter, Wm A Waseca Wobschall, E Waseca Wagner, H. A Waseca Weckwerth, Godfrey Waseca Wobschall, Ben Waseca TOAA'N OF ALTON Name Address Brown, Thomas Alma City Brooks, Lewis.... R. 3, Janesville Britton, R. H. L. .R. 2, Janesville Baker, Geo. A....R. 3, Janesville Burke, Rosetta. . . .R. 2, Janesville Burke, W. E R. 2, Janesville Borne, Julius Alma City Bevins, Edward. Janesville Bush, C, A Alma City Bush, W. J Alma City Bevins, W Alma City Burns, John. Janesville Born, Reinhold Alma City Bradlow, Otto Alma City Crump, C. W Alma City Campion, John R. 6, Waseca Cahill, T. J lanesville Cody, Owen Janesville Campion, Patrick .... R. fi, Wa?eca Cody, James B R. G, Wa: cca Name Address Cassidy, Wm Janesville Correy, J. P Alma City Campion, Wm R. 6, Waseca Clausen, J. W Alma City Campion, James.... R. 6, Waseca Dimmel, William. R. 5, Janesville Dimmel, Emil R. 3, Janesville Dollman, Wm Alma City Eustice, James.... R. 2, Janesville Ewert, Herman R. 6, Janesville Ewert, Charles R. 6, Janesville Fanning, Charles Janesville Foley, Patrick R. 6, Janesville Foley, John R. 6, Janesville Fol,->-. Thomas R. 6, Janesville Flemrains, August. .R. 3, Janesville Gallagher, John H Janesville Gales, H. E Janesville Griffith, Edward H .\lnia City (Jallasher, .Vnna M Janesville CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 829 Name Address Gallagher, Martin, Jr R. 2, Janesville Gahler, Herman Alma City Gallagher, Owen..R. 2, Janesville Glynn, John R. 6, Janesville Giise, Ludvig R. 2, Janesville Gvmn, Alexander Janesville Gleason, John Alma City Graminske, M Alma City Glynn, Wm R. 6, Janesville Gahler, Otto R. 4, Janesville Gallagher, Martin L R. 2, Janesville Gerdts, Bmil R. 2, Janesville Gates, Emerson Alma City Gallagher, Jas....R. 2, Janesville Gerdts, Emil R. 2, Janesville Gotschalk, A. C. L R. 4, Janesville Hinto, Sarah A. . . .R. 2, Janesville Heatherman, James Janesville Hammel, J. E R. 3, Janesville Hogan, Andrew Janesville Heatherman, Michael. . .Janesville Hammel, Terrence. .R.3, Janesville Hay den, Edward Janesville Hogan, Thomas.... R. 6, Janesville Jennlson, J. W Janesville Joyce, Martin. Janesville Keso, Emma Janesville Kelling, W. H Janesville Kopischke, Aug R. 4, Janesville Krahn, August R. 2, Janesville Kopischke, Henry.. R. 3, Janesville Kreinke, Julius Janesville Kreinke, Herman.. R. 2, Janesville Kreinke, Aug Janesville Kreinke, Gustav...R. 2, Janesville Kopischke, Ferdinand. . .Janesville Kraske, Wm Janesville Kaiser, Theo R. 2, Janesville Kukuk, John R. 3, Janesville Lau, Ludvig Alma City Lachelt, Julius Alma City Lachelt, Reinhart Alma City Lilly, Owen R. 6, Janesville Lau, Richard R. 4, Janesville Lilly, P. A R- 6, Janesville Lau, Fred R- 4, Janesville Lundquist, Ole R. 3, Janesville Larkin, Michael R. 6, Janesvills Lau, August Janesville Land, Andrew Janesville Lamphere, Lyman.. R.3, Janesville Lau, Julius C AL-na City Markham, J. A Alma City Name Address McFarland, D. D. Alma City Morris, S. W R. 2, Janesville Meyer, Henry R. 2, Janesville Morton, F. E Janesville Marshman, Robert.. R. 3,Janesville McWhorten, C. B Janesville Myer, August A Janesville Morrill, James L..R. 3, Janesville Murphy, John H . . R.F.D, Janesville McDonough, Thomas R. 3, Janesville McBride, Terrence.. R. C, Janesville Mulcahy, Patrick Janesville Morrill, F. M R. 3, Janesville McBride, James . . . . R. 6, Janesville Morrill, Frank D..R. 3, Janesville O'Harra, J. J Janesville Proechel, Wm . . . .R. 2, Janesville Priem, Wm R. 4, Janesville Paddock, B. L Janesville Pogle, Herman.... R. 2, Janesville Priem, J. C R. 3, Janesville Peters, Charles. .. .R. 3, Janesville Priem, Christian. .R. 2, Janesville Porker, Theo R. 5, Janesville Quadde, Charles.. R. 2, Janesville Quadde, John Alma City Quadde, Herman Alma City Quadde, William Alma City Roecker, Robert Alma City Ryan, Michael R. 4, Janesville Rux, Daniel R. 4, Janesville Resenberg, Aug. .R. 2, Janesville Ryan, Thomas.... R. 4, Janesville Rudolph, Wm R. 2, Janesville Rcsethal, Chas R. 3, Janesville Risto, Adolph R. 3, Janesville Rutz, Wm R. 2, Janesville Reycraft, Joe R. 6, Janesville Sievert, Geo R. 2, Janesville Schunke, Paul... R. 2, Janesville Santo, Edward... R. 3, Janesville Scheerschmidt, C. F R. 2, Janesville Schmitz, Nicholas. .R. 4, Janesville Stankey, Albert... R. 5, Janesville Smitz, Peter Alma City Seaman, F. D R. 3, Janesville Schnepf, Frank R. 3, Jancsvills Schrceder, Henry.. R.3, Janesville Smith, C. H Alma City Tew, W. E Alma City Tannar, M. T R. 2, Janesville Trahras, W. F R. 4, Janesville Trahms, Julius R. 2, Janesville 830 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Tanner, Geo. M Janesville Underwood, J. D Alma City Vaughn, J. J R. 2, Janesville Vaughn, Dennis.... R. 2, Janesville Vaughn, J. L Janesville Vaughn, Edward... R. 2, Janesville Name Address Vaughn, James.... R. 2, Janesville Vaughn, Martin L..R. 2, Janesville Werdin, H. L Janesville Werdln, E. J R. 4, Janesville Waggoner, John Alma City Witts, Nelson Alma City TOWN OF BLOOMING GROVE Name Address Alland, Mrs. T. K Waseca Bosshart, John.. R. 1, Morristown Brusch, Charles R. 4, Waseca Beisner, Edward.... R. 3, Waseca Bowe, Thos Waseca Blaeser, John Waseca Bahr, G. E R. 3, Waseca Bahr, J. L R. 3, Waseca Breck, Ole R. 4, Waseca Broughton, Thos R. 3, Waseca Breck, Nels R. 3, Waseca Boucher, G. L R. 4, Waseca Bagne, N. S R. 3, Waseca Bonnin, Albert... R. 1, Morristown Beisner, Henry R. 3, Waseca Bird, Albert R. 3, Waseca Bowe, J. K R. 5, Waseca Behne, A. J R. 3, Waseca Behne, Geo. C R. 3 Waseca Bonnin, W. H R. 3, Waseca Curran, J. B R. 3, Waseca Curran, A. J R. 3, Waseca Cawley, Thos. F. .R. P. D., Waseca Cawley, John R. 3, Waseca Carlson, Bernhart Waseca Dahle, J. T R. 3, Waseca Dardis, Thomas R. 3, Waseca Deiderich, John Waseca Evenson, Edward.... R. 3, Waseca Engebritson, E. O. . .R. 3, Waseca Eichorst, G R. 3, Waseca Pingerson, W. K R. 3, Waseca Pell, Wm R. 3, Waseca Fait, Vincent R. 4, Waseca Flatz, Fred R. 1, Morristown Fretham, L. L R. 3, Waseca Geisler, P. C R. 3, Waseca Garity, Thos R. 4, Waseca Geisler, Fred R. 3, Waseca Garske, Lorenz R. 4, Waseca Hackett, Anna R. 4, Waseca Hecht, J. C R. 3, Waseca Halverson, Hans .... R. 5, Waseca Hand, Steven R. 3, Waseca Name Address Hand, George R. 3, Waseca Hanzbeck, F R. 3, Waseca Hackett, Pierce R. 4, Waseca Healy, Frank, R. 4, Waseca Hagen, O. T R. 3, Waseca Hagen, Slevert R. 3, Waseca Iverson, Iver Waseca Janke, Minnie Waseca Johnson, Alfred H Waterville Jameson, Knute .... R. 3, Waseca Johnson, Thos R. 5, Waseca Jackson, Segar R. 5, Waseca Jackson, John R. 5, Waseca Jameson, Albert R. 5, Waseca Johnson, John E R. 3, Waseca James, George R. 4, Waseca JelUim, Ole N R. 3, Waseca Jellum, M R. 3, Waseca Johnson, John R. 3, Waseca Kanne, R. H R. 3, Waseca Kanne, G. E R. 3, Waseca Krienke, F. W R. 4, Deerfield Karsten, Henry R. 4, Waseca Knutson, Sam, R. 5, Waseca Keene, O. A R. 5, Waseca Kanne, F R. 3. Waseca King, Wm. R R. 4, Waseca Knauss, J. C R. 3, Waseca Knauss, C. W R. 3, Waseca Knauss, Ben R. 1, Morristown Knauss, C. J R. 1, Morristown Kahlscheuer, John...R. 3, Waseca Kalek, O. H Waseca Larson, Martin Waterville Lorenz, F R. 4, Waseca Lee, A. K R. 3, Waseca Lorenz, Carl R. 4, Waseca Leverson, John Waseca Larson, Joseph M Waseca Martinson, Ole Waseca McGuire, Thos R. 4, Waseca McGuire, Martin R. 4, Waseca McGuire, Frank R. 4, Waseca Madden, Geo R. 4, Waseca CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 831 Name Address McGuire, Mrs. Mary R. 4, Waseca McGuire, James.... R. 3, Waseca McGuire, John B. R. P. B. Waseca Moore, Jolin R. 3, Waseca Marti, Fred R. 3, Waseca Moe, Claus R. 3, Waseca McKune, Fred . . . .R. 1, Morristown Matz, Joseph Waseca Maliler, Adolpli R. 3, Waseca Nordmeier, Wm R. 3, Waseca Nordmeier, Ed R. 3, Waseca Nelson, Peter Waterville Nelson, W. O R. 3, Waseca Oleson, Nels R. 3, Waseca Papke, Fred R. 4, Waseca Papke, Adolph R. 4, Waseca Paveck, Wm. H R. 4, Waseca Polsfuss, L R. 3, Waseca Petrich, J. G Waseca Remund, Albert... R. 3, Waseca Remund, Sam A R. 3, Waseca Reinke, Edward R. 3, Waseca Reineke, F. C R. 4, Waseca Reinhart, J R. 4, Waseca Reinhart, Wm R. 4, Waseca Remund, Wm. A R. 3, Waseca Reinhart, Louis H. . . .R. 3, Waseca Reinhart, Arthur R. 4, Waseca Reineke, Albert Morristown Reineke, W. D Morristown Name Address Reineke, H. W R. 4, Waseca Remund, G. H R. 3, Waseca Remund, Edward B. R. 2, Waseca Sutter, Charles R. 3, Waseca Sutter, Albert R. 3, Waseca Schuette, A. H R. 3, Waseca Schuette, J. F R. 3, Waseca Saufferer, C. J. . . R. 1, Morristown Seljeskog, Louis .... R. 3, Waseca Schlossein, Herman ....Waterville Seljeskog, Martin Waterville Saufferer, Henry . .R. 1, Morristown Saufferer, Louis . .R. 3, Morristown Saufferer, George R. 1, Morristown Saufferer, J. L. . . R. 1, Morristown Schuette, Wm. E. ... R. 3, Waseca Sampson, Albert R. 3, Waseca Sampson, Edward . . R. 3, Waseca Swift, Kyes R. '3, Waseca Swift, Clarence Waseca Sutter, Christ R. 3, Waseca Smith, H. S R. 3, Waseca Tyrell, Edward R. 4, Waterville Tanner, C. J Waseca Tanner, B. A Waseca Wendt, Charles B Waseca Wilcowske, Julius . . R. 3, Waseca Whelan, George R. 5, Waseca Whelan, J. P R. 5, Waseca Wad, F. C R. 3, Waseca TOWN OF IOSCO Name Address. Alland, Hans R. 5, Waseca Ballard, Chandler . . . R. 5, Waseca Ballard, Benj R. 5, Waseca Bagne, O. S R. 3, Waseca Bathke, A. P Janesville Bathke, Herman . . R. 1, Janesville Barbknecht, Wm. . .R. 6, Janesville Broadbent, Tobias R. 4, Waterville Crippen, Wm Janesville Carlson, Martin R. 5, Waseca Chamberlain, Edward . . Janesville Dreever, Geo Janesville Dawald, Frank Waterville Devine, John, EJysian Devine, Dan R. 4, Waterville Devine, Thomas Elysian Dusbabeck, Henry Waterville Dolan, Prances Waterville Dahl, Ole R. 4, Waterville Name Address Donate, Anton Elysian Fischer, August R. 5, Waseca Flitter, Lewis R. 6, Janesville Fell, David R. 5, Waseca Fell, Emil R. 6, Janesville Fell, Henry R. 6, Janesville Fell, Lewis R. 6, .Janesville Guse, Ludvig R. 1, Janesville Guse, John R. 1, Janesville Gerdts, Otto R. 6, Janesville Grubish, Peter Waterville Halverson, Con R. 5, Waseca Huriska, Anton Waterville Haley, Mark R. 1, Janesville Haley, A. H Elysian Hayes, Joseph Janesville Hayes, Richard . . R. 1, Janesville Huble, Joseph R. 1, Janesville Hoffman, E. H. . . R. 1, Janesville CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Jameson, Thomas Waseca Jackson, S R. 5, Waseca Johnson, Ole Waseca Johnson, John S. R. 4, Waterville Johnson, S. S. ...... R. 5, Waseca Johnson, B. S R. 5, Waseca Jones, Geo R. 5, Waseca Jones, Frank R. 5, Waseca Kinn, Ben R. F. D. Waseca Kinn, John G R. 5, Waseca Kroeger, Anna .... R. 6, Janesville Kroeger, John ... R. 6, Janesville Kroeger, Herman O., R.6, Janesville Kane, James Waseca Kane, John R. 4, Waterville Knish, Wenzel . . R. 4, Waterville Kaiser, Herman R. F. D., Janesville Kaiser, George ....R. 1, Janesville Kahnke, John R. 5, Waseca Kahnke, John L R. 5, Waseca Kahnke, Theo Waseca Koester, William . .R. 6, Janesville Koester, Christian R. 6, Janesville Kanna, Gottlieb . .R. 4, Waterville Kuhn, August ....R. 1, Janesville Koentopp, August R. 6, Janesville Lee, James Elysian Lee, William Elysian Larson, Hans R. 5, Waseca Larson, David R. 5, Waseca Larson, Nels R. 5, Waseca Loftus, S. A Waseca Miller, Henry.... R. 4, Waterville Miller, C. P R. 4, Waterville Miller, Joseph .... R. 4, Waterville Miller, Martin ....R. 4, Waterville Miller, M. J R. 5. Waseca Marxahan, Robert Waterville Mulcahy, Con Waterville Morgan, J. C R. 4, Waterville Marzahn, Robt. ... R. 4, Waterville Manthey, Herman R. 6, Janesville Manthey, Ed R. 6, Janesville Manthey, Charley R. 6, Janesville Myer, Martin R. 4, Waterville Murray, Geo R. 1, Janesville Murray, Hugh Janesville Minske, Tjewis R. 5, Waseca Minske, Ed R. G, Janesville Mankey. John .... R. C\, Janesville McBride, Patrick.. R. 1, Janesville McHugo, Patrick . . .R. 5, Waseca McGuire, Henry .... R. 5, Waseca McAneny, Ambrose. . R. 5, Waseca McAneny, Barney.. R. 5, Waseca Narre Address MittUstcadt, Julius K. 6, Janesville Mariska, F. F Waterville McShane, Thomas . .R. 5, Waseca Wurphy, Frank Elysian Maloney, Richard ...R. 5, Waseca Maloney, Thos R. 5, Waseca McGiiigan, James. ... R. 5, Waseca Monson, Charlie.. R. 4, Waterville McWaide, John Vv'... R. 5, Waseca Olson, Nels Waterville Olson, Andrew AVaseca Osmundson, Ole Waterville Oestreisch, Wm R. 5, Waseca Prail, Ernest R. 6, Janesville Plath, Ed R. 5, Waseca Plath, Herman Waseca Pfeifer, John R. 4, Waterville Pt'eifer, Joseph. ... R. 4, Waterville Herlugson, Aslag Waseca Roeske, Mrs. Wm. R. 4, Waterville Roach, Wm Waterville Ristau, John... R. F. D. Janesville Kistau, Herman... R. 1, Janesville Ristau, J. R R. 6, Janesville Roesler, Sam R. 1, Janesville Rudolph, Fred Janesville Schwenke, Gust. . R. 4, Waterville Schwartz, Vinz Waterville Slattery, John R. 5, Waseca Slattery, Albert R. 5, Waseca Slattery, Andrew.. R. 1, Janesville Slattery, James... R. 1, Janesville Stangler, Frank... R. 1, Janesville Schmidt, Adolph Waterville Stussy, Fred R. 1, Janesville Scewald, Henry... R. ti, Janesville E;iringler, Geo R. 6, Janesville Schatzke, Ernest. . R. G, Janesville Stiller, F. G R. 4, Waterville Sheldon, M. A Waterville Spletstosser, Fred, R.4, Waterville Stevens, F. A R. a, Waseca Seewald, Herman R. 4, Waseca Sill, Geo R. 0, Janesville Timlin, James.... R. 1, Janesville Timlin, John R. 1, Janesville Trahms, W. E R. 5, Waseca Thorson, Erick R. 3, Waseca Thorson, Thor R. F. D. Waseca Wc-ndland, Henry.. R. 1, Janesville Wondland. P. A R. 5, Janesville Wood, David A\aterville Wood, R. Y Waterville Welter, Albert R. 1, Janesville Wesley, Emil R. 4, Waterville CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 833 Name Address Witt, Robert Waseca Yanke, Otto R. 1, Janesville Zanke, August Waterville Name Address Zanke, William Janesville Zell, Ed Waseca TOAVN OP JANESVILLE Name Address Abraham, August Janesville Ash, Joseph Janesville Ayers, P. G Janesville Ash, John Janesville Abraham, G. J Smith Mill Adams, S. R Greenland Burnett, Wm Jan-esville Born, C. F Janesville Blaesing, Othea Smith Mill Brox, John Janesville Burke, Mrs. Wm Janesville Barbnecht, Fred Janesville Cahill, R Janesville Carpenter, James Elysian Crow, J. F Smith Mill Crow, Nathaniel Smith Mill Cummings, Chas Smith Mill Chadwick, C. G Elysian Clark, J. F Elysian Campbell, Henry Smith Mill Chew, John Smith Mill Cahill, Pat Janesville Cahill, M. J Janesville Crandall, Geo. W Madison Lake Cahill, John Janesville Cahill, W. R Janesville Cahill, T. E Janesville Cahill, Walter, Janesville Cunningham, John Janesville Costello, John '. Janesville Chase, B Janesville Eustlce, John Janesville Ewert, R Janesvilte Flitter, Wm Janesville Frank,' Gust Janesville Felska, August Janesville Grams, Charles Janesville Gultz, E. J Janesville Gordon, J. Monroe Janesville Gehrke, F Janesville Grams, Gust Janesville Grams, Christ Smith Mill Gehloff, Herman Elysian Galagan, J. F Elysian Garlick, Edward Janesville Haskell, A. W Elysian Hogan, J. F Janesville 29 Name Address Hogan, J. M Janesville Haskell, Waldow. . . Madison Lake HoUmichel, Wm Elysian McHugo, P. J Janesville Hogan, Pat Janesville Higgins, Geo. E Madison Lake Huginnin, Holland Janesville HoUmichel, J. W Janesville Jewison, J. H Janesville Jewison, Wm Janesville Jewison, Chris Janesville Kotz, Rudolph Smith Mill ^ Koabneck, Wm Madison Lake Kukuk, Bdw Janesville Knopf, Gus. J Janesville Knopf, Wm. Jr Janesville Keyes, Frank Janesville Kaupun, Joseph Janesville Lane, A. L Smith Mill McNeil, Donald Elysian Marquardt, F. G Janesville Miller, O. A Janesville McGinness, Abraham Janesville Mulcahy, John Janesville Mohr, Mark Smith Mill Miller, August Janesville Mohr, Henry Janesville Manke, Wm Janesville Mittelsteadt, Adolph... Janesville Miller, Joseph Janesville Nicholson, Thos Janesville Nesbitt, James Smith Mill Novotny, John Madison Lake Newendorf, Wm Elysian Orcutt, Hiram Smith Mill Orcutt, Ernest Smith Mill Penn, Gust Smith Mill Paupert, Margaret Smith Mill Pelleberg, Herman Janesville Popham, John Greenland Peska, Michael Smith Mill Popham, Wm Madison Lake Pfeifer, Julius Janesville Pfeifer, Ignas Elysian Quadde, August Janesville Quast, Herman Smith Mill Rimmer, R Greenland ?34 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Name Address Randall, M. B Smith Mill Ryan, M. J Smith Mill Roeske, Fred Janes ville Roeske, Chas Janesville Schnoor, Joseph Janesville Schramske, Anton, Jr. .. .Janesville Stangler, Lewis Elysian Shepherd, Geo Smith Mill Simons, H. C Elysian Schramske, Michael Janesville Smith, C. N Elysian Simons, Orlando EJysian Simons, P. R Elysian Schumaker, Wm Janesville Sullivan, Tim Janesville Sullivan, J. J Janesville Slbert, G. W Madison Lake Savage, Joseph Janesville Schramel, Eberhart. . . . Smith Mill Sanasac, J. B Janesville Seifert, Peter Elysian Spoor, A Elysian Name Address Savage, Thos Janesville Sexton, Wm Janesville Seha, Chris Elysian Stangler, Edward Elysian Suhs, Joseph Elysian Sexton, Martin Elysian Sexton, John Janesville Schramske, Anton Janesville Tetzloff, August Janesville Tetzloff, Julius Janesville Teitz, Henry Smith Mill Thwing, Nelson Elysian Thrall, M. A Smith Mill Voegel, Albert Janesville Williams, John Greenland Willis, Edward Smith Mill White, Pat Janesville • Wilson, A. P Janesville Zimpke, Adolph Smith Mill Zell, Michael Janesville Zimbrich, Frank Janesville INDEX. Abbott, John H 55, 60 Abbott, W. D 600, 687 Abell, Hon. John S 263, 332, 348, 648 , Ackerman, William 284 ■J Acton, Indian Massacre 127 Adams, "Billy" 183 Agricultural Society 240, 429, 456 Aleckson, Avon 258 Alland, T. K 537 Allen, John 67 Allen, William 44, 67 Alma City 615 Alton, Town of 181, 619 yAmount of Money in Circulation 209 ^Anderson, horsethief, 125 Anderson, Michael,.. 35, 297, 410 Andrews, P. B., 600, 722 Andrews, J. D., 98, 297, 301 Arentsen, G. W., 569 Argus, Janesville, 579 Armstrong, Hon. Augustus . . 592 Armstrong, W. D., 263, 294, 297, 348, 353, 357, 365 Arrest of Early Settlers 57 Arrival of Chris Scott and fam- ily 23 Assassination of Lincoln 178 Assault of Indians on New Ulm, 128 Attempt at Suicide 205 Auburn, Turkey River, la., 46 Aughenbaugh, J. W., 347, 364, 702 Babler, Rudolph, 710 Babler, Mrs. Rudolph, 710 Bagne, O. S., 805 Baer, Oswald, 804 Bahr, E. P., 542 Bahr, John L., 760 Bailer, C. H., 721 Bailey, John, 81, 88, 92, 93, 98, 499 Bailey, Hon. P. C 321, 332, 348, 448, 723-4 Bailey, Mrs. Olive, 512 Bailey & West 80 Baker, Mrs. Clarissa, 454 Baker, Ozias, 246 Baker, William 282 Baker, William S., 68, 84, 87, 88, 400 Baker & Paige, 80 Balduan, Herman 761 Baldwin, Judge H. D., ... 98, 102, 110, 125, 193, 314, 806 Baldwin, Milo, 562 Ballard, Benj. L 769 Ballard, Daniel T 696 Ballard, Ella J., 533 Ballard, Isaac, 348, 350, 661 Ballard, John, 270, 392 Ballard, Mrs. L. A., 32, 332 Bank Failure 211 Bank Robbery in Waseca .... 228 Barden, Thomas, 250, 264, 299, 348, 659 Barnard, C. M., 85 Barrett, Luther, 12, 3 5, 19, 21 Baseball, 216, 265 Battle Against Monopoly, .... 273 Bauman, Carl, Frank and J. F. 805 Beaman, I. D 263, 299, 332 Beatty, horsethief, 125 Beck, Peter, 535 Behne, Henry 760 Bell, A. J 39, 45 Bender family 310 Bennett, Edward, 225, 230, 244, 252, 323, 702 836 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Bently, Mr., 141, 154 Bevans, David, 68 Bevans, William 68, 424 Biela's Comet, 181 Bierman, H. F 35, 45, 355 Bierwalter, John, 221 Big Boot Creek, 13 Big Mound, Battle of 167 Big Shipments of Wheat 206 Billings, "Josh", 246 Bird, Abram, 32, 45 Bird, Isaac 283 Bird, Joseph 32, 45, 345 Bishman, Adam 68, 263, 347, 514, 544, 571 Bishman, Philip, 348, 540 Bishop, C. H., 93 Bishop, Thomas, 67 Blanchard, Dr. H. G., 721 Bliven, J. M., 40, 45, 58, 77, 84, 94, 99 Bliven, William 212 Blizzard 16, 17, 170 Blooming Grove, Town of 94, 620 Bluhm, Mrs. C. J., 552 Bluhm, H. W., 445, 776 Board of Supervisors, 94 Board of Trade 460 Bohen, Michael 336 Bonds for Court House, 226 Bond Swindle, 240 Boucher, Mrs. John, 298 Howe Bros 805 Bowe, John 264-5 Bower, Thomas, 366, 551 Bradish, John C8, 85, 91, 98 Brady, Thomas, 513 Brass Band 208 Breck, Ole O. and Nels 805 Breen, N. J 347, 709 Bribery, Attempted 241 Bridge Appropriation, First ... 96 Brink House, 50 Brisbane, Janet 365, 411 Brisbane, Nettie 270 Brisbane, Hon. Wm ... 67, 100, 130, 193, 233, 234, 236, 245, 285, 297, 301, 303, 314, 330, 343, 345, 365, 427, 640 Brisbane, W. R 271, 346, 347 Bromaghin, F. W 767 Brown, C. W., 581, 746 Brown, Mrs. John 466 Brown, "Old John," 112 Brown, Simon 565 Brown, Walter S., 791 Brownell, L 225 Brubaker, Jacob, 67 Brubaker, G. E., 67 Buchler, Hon. G 717 Buchler, Mrs. G., 552 Buckhout, W. N., 93, 98 Buckman, G. R., ... 80, 82, 245, 295, 340, 511, 675 Buckman, Hannah, 476 Buckman, Silas, 392 Building Statistics 394 Bull Run, Battle of 115 Bundschu, B 36, 68 Bunnagle, John 444 Burbank & Co., 212, 220 Burke, Honora, 393 Burke, Mrs. Michael, 770 Burke, William 285, 288, 497 Burns, Barney 568, 748, 749 Burns, "Jimmie," 176 Burns, Peter, 299, 462 Burns, Thomas, 523 Buser, Alexander 260 Buser, Mrs. Alexander, . 260 to 263 Business Failures, 199 Butler, Gen. Ben 807 Byron, John, . . 348, 520, 738, 739 Byron, John M., 598, 734 Byron, Mr. and Mrs. William,.. 99, 233, 237, 247, 272, 285, 348, 738 Byron, Town of 95, 606 Cahill, John, 574 Cahill, Thomas 99, 770 Cahill, William, 770 Callahan, Anthony 538 Callahan, Patrick, 358 Campbell, Jack 179, 299 Camping on the Prairie in Mid- winter, 18 Camping Without Fire or Shel- ter in December, 1855 50 Campion, John 777 Campion, Patrick 619, 777 Canfleld, Judge J. A., 68, 87, 88, 125, 193, 245, 266, 297, 301, 303,377 Carleton, E. K., ... 62, 68, 98, 419 Carleton, Mrs. H. J 298 Carleton, H. N., 40, 332 Carmody, John, Jr., . . 359, 382, 775 Carmody, John, Sr., . . 348, 757, 758 Carmody, Mrs. John, Jr., 775 Carpenter, Adna, 511 Carroll, W. F., 524 Casey, W. W., thief 221 Castor, Edward 333, 364, 793 Castor, Jacob 793 Catholic Church of St. Mary, 82, 383 Catholic Church of Waseca, 222, 500 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 837 Cawley, Thomas 490 Census Returns, 232 Centennial Year 306 Chamberlain, ,H. P., 67,98,299,663 Chamberlain, W. H., 80, 82, 85, 94 Chandler, Hon. J. O., . . 254, 771 Chapman, B. J 348, 722 Chapman, Calvin, 85 Charter Commission of Waseca 557 Charter of Waseca, 359, 431, 567 Chase, Henry C, 415, 445 C. & N. W. Ry 362 Chicago Fire, 243 Child, J. B., 15, 25, 47, 85, 88, 98, 249, 273, 797 to 799 Child, Justina 31, 4G Child, Orrilla Roice 451 Child, S. P Child, Walter, 333, 348, 583 Child, Zabina 401 . . .15, 21, 28, 106, 325, 780 to 785 Christensen, Matthew, Suicide of 718 Christensen, Mrs. Nels 312 Christie, Bishop George, . . 372, 762 Church Buildings, 291 Churchill, Joseph, 68, 99 Citizens State Bank 446 Claghorn, J. L 460 Claim Jumping 56, 70, 79 Clark, Byron 92, 95 Clark, Mrs. William, 495 Clayton, Joseph, 98, 788, 789 Clear Lake 255 Clear Lake City 183 Clear Lake House Burned ... 194 Cleland, J. W., 348, 564 Cleland, Rev. W. J., 688 Clement, H. S 747, 748 Clement, W. A., - • 748 Clipper, Waseca, 582 Coggswell, Hon. Amos, 87, 116, 275 Coldest March Day, 213 Cole, Hon. Gordon E., 228 Coleman, Matthew, 490 Collester, Hon. E. B., 364, 594, 737 Collester, Hon. M. D. L 264, 288, 301, 303, 304, 343, 344, 350, 359, 364, 380, 402 Collins Bros., Frank, Thos. and Robert 805 Collins, John, 427 Comee, Capt. C. C, .... 347, 570 Comee, G. W 189, 737 Comee, S. S 745, 746 Comet of 1861, 120 Commissioner Districts 194 Concannon, Mrs. L. W., 552 Congregational Church, . 193, 217 Conner, E. R 67, 98, 299, 757 Connor, Asa 85 Connor, Matthew F 264, 299, 303, 375, 435 Conrad, Jacob 647 Conway, Prank 304, 420 Conway, James, 394 Cook, Mr. and Mrs., 137, 157, 161 Cooke, Jay & Co 268 Cooley, J. G 379 Cornell, A. B 13, 55, 60, 73 Cotton, A. A 67 County Borrows Money at 72 per cent 92 County Borrows $3,000 at a Dis- count, 95 County Depository 429, 430 County Division 72, 76 County Finances, 91, 194 County Legislation, 396, 404, 420,425, 429, 438, 445, 458, 464, 470, 480, 493, 503, 515, 528, 540, 555, 567. County Officers, the first 84 County Orders at 90 per cent, 103, 173 County Supervisor System, . 109 County Seat, 85, 86, 193, 198, 223, 231 Courant, The Waseca, 212, 579 Courier, The Waseca, 579 Court House 225, 250, 285, 465, 470, 482 Craig, Hon. R. O., 245, 247, 266, 288, 321, 363, 367, 771 Crane, C. E . . . 299, 301, 303, 353, 365, 367 Crane Creek, 382 Crawford, J. W 87, 92 Crawford, W. H., 42, 68 Creameries 472, 475, 501 Crop Statistics, 233 Cronkhite, Edgar, 236, 244, 250, 254, 955, 321,, 329, 332, 773 Crumb, A. E .-... 297, 332 Cuddigan, William 102 Culver, Page & Hoyne 103 Cummings, Dr. D. S 344, 363, 364, 375, 448, 740 Cummins, James 636 Cunningham, John, 42, 45, 99 Curran, James, 348, 765 Curran, John 347, 765 Curtiss, Hon. K 245, 248, 266, 299, 301, 303, 752 838 CHIi^D'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Cyclones 359, 372, 386, 408, 439, 484, 486 Dahle, Jens T 340, 758 Dairymen's Convention, 455 Dalton, John, 514, 719 Dane, Capt 156, 299 Davidson, Dr. M. M., 802 Davidson Bros., John and Wm., 805 Davis, Hon. C. K., 234, 266 Davis, Daniel C, 42 Davis, Jeremy 42 Davis, John, 41, 94 Davison, J. R., 467 Day, Hon. Prank A 807 Dayton, Mary B., 328 Dead Buffalo Lake, Battle of . 167 Dean, George, 67 Debts of County, 92 Decoration Day, 490 Deficit of Eighteen Cents, . . . 104 DeGraff, C. A., 252 Depot at Waseca Burned, 213 Destructive Ploods of 1858 . . 97 Dickenson, Sam and Luther, . . 40 Dinneen, Daniel 753 Dinneen, Mrs. Mary 562 Discher, Anna M., 389 Dodge, Hon. D. J 353 Dodge, Samuel, 324, 787 Dolan, Doctor, Tragic Death of, 718 Dolan, Patrick, 559 Domy, Charles 469 Donaldson, Hon. N. M 186 Donaldson, William C7 Donnelly, Hon. Ignatius, . 248, 273 Donovan, Mrs. Mary, 478 Donovan, Timothy, 742 Doran, John, 693 Douglas and Hughes 41 Doyle, James 564 Drake and Donnelly ZT6 Dreever, George 68, 687 Drouth 516 Drum, Col. W. P., 444 Drum, S. H., 674, 6S5 Duly, Belle 161 Duly, Emma 140 Duly, Mrs., 142, 157 Duly, Willie, 144 Dunham, George W 765 Dunn, James M., . . 347, 733, 764 Dunn, John 313 Dunn, Joseph T 34S, 533 Dutch Charley, 140, 146 Dyer, J. B., 394 Dynamite Explosion, 461 Eaco Mill, 430, 474, 475 Earl, Capt. Robt . . . 237, 294, 301, 303, 401, 632 Earliest Settlement, 9 Eastlick, Merton and Johnnie, 145 Eastlick, Mr 142 Eastlick, Mrs., 137, 160 Baston, Hanging of 252 Eckenbeck, Charles, 312, 376 Eokenbeck, Sylvester C 313 Eclipse of Sun, total, dark day. 218 Editorial Convention 390 Eldredge, John, 98 Election, Pirst in Village of Wa- seca 194 Elections in County 44, 58, 120, 168, 175, 180, 183, 190, 236, 244, 254, 265, 332, 344, 363, 367, 375, 393, 461, 47S, 502, 527, 554, 575 Election to Locate County Seat, 231-2 Blk, Drove of, 48 Elton, Albert 514 Elysian 85 Emancipation Proclamation, . . 164 Emerson, John, 443 Empire 72, 77, S4, S9, 653 Eno, Horsethief 125, 177 Enos, P. B., Esq 110, 173, 254 Episcopalians of Waseca Organ- ize 196 Epizoot Epidemic, 256 Erfurth, Prank 786, 787 Erfurth, ' Mrs. Frank, 553 Brno, Joseph, 233 Ervirin, Mr. and Mrs. D. A 270, 299, 697 Erwin, Prudin A., 343, 375, 419, 697 Brwin, W. A., 263, 299 Everett, E. A 34S, 703 Everett, Guy W., 703 Everett, Lily 133, 148 Everett, William 132, 141, 154, 225, 443. 704 Everett, Mrs. William and Chil- dren 142 Exodus of Grasshoppers, 282 Extensive Mail Robberies, . . . 175 Pair and Pair Grounds 439, 456, 458 Pair, county 233, 440 Pairley, John, 796 Parley, Patrick 571, 698 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 839 Farmers' Alliance 389 Farmers' Institute, 408 Farrell, Patrick, . . 347, 755, 756 Parrell, Peter, 67, 89 Farrington, Minnie 298 Farrington, Serenus, 410 Farrington, S. A.,.. 101, 299, 638 Farrington, S. H., 796 Fell, John G 67, 551 Fence Tool Co., 755 Fetterly, Mrs., 297 Field, Frank, 767 Finances, 186-7, 194, 215 Financial Panics, 267-8 Fire Company 364 Fires in Waseca County, 244, 361, 398, 508 First Arrest for Crime, 71 First Election, 58 First Minnesota Mounted Rang- ers, 131 First Minnesota Volunteers, . . 336 First Murder 89 First National Bank of Waseca, 556 First Permanent Newspaper, . . 169, 577 First Town Site 55 First White Settlers, 646 Fisk, Mrs.' E 220 Fisk, Uncle, 44, 5S, 79 Fiske, E. W.,.. 333, 359, 364, 761 Flandreau, Hon". C. E., . . 60, 89, 91 Fletcher, General 22 Floods in July and August, 1858 96, 97 Fort Ridgely 127 Foster, J. Ellsn, 327 Fourth of July, . . 202, 228, 242, 264, 307, 314, 330, 341, 371, 378 Francis, Dr. Asa, 468 Francis, Hen. O. W 498 Franklin, S. W 98, 109, 190, 299, 498, 666 Fratzke, Augusta, A 254 Fratzke, Gust J., 711 Fratzke, John, ^ ■ 711 Freedom, Town of, 172, 613 Fretham, Lewis L 730, 731 Fromlath, Jcseph 503, 716 Fuller, Shooting of, 310 Gallagher, M., 347, 699 Gallien, W. G 372, 749 Garaghty, Roger, 374, 421, 537, 574 Garland, N., 81, 84, 87, 88, 92, 741 Garland, R. D 612 Gasink, Mrs. Jennie 476 Gates, Warren 498 Gearin, James 271 Geary, John E 768 Gehring, Gottfried, 348 Gehring, Henry, . . 348, 750, 751 Gehi-ing, Julius 348, 754 Gehring, Philip, 754 Gettysburg, Battle of, 167 Gibbs, William 526 Gibson, Thomas 67 Gifford, Uncle Ben, 67, 657 Goetzenberger, Edward 36, 364, 388 Goetzenberger, Franz L., . 68, 427 Goetzenberger, G., 36 Goodspeed, Allen C, ... 364, 523 Goodspeed, G. H., 348, 700 Goodspeed, Hon. Henry, 313, 701 Goodspeed, Mrs. Henry, 701 Goods Shipped via Crane Creek 190 Good Templar Lodge, 195 Gopher Day in Blooming Grove, 314 Gorman, Anthony, 67, 665 Gorman, Charles, 519 Gorman, Gen. Willis A., 117 Gove, Dr. M. S 102, 193, 248, 283, 345 Government Bonds Issued, . 209 Graham, C. E., 263, 569, 579 Graham, John L., 511 Grain, Monopoly of, 206 Grams, Gottlieb, 68, 774 Grand Army of Republic 196 Grangers 234, 266, 273, 294 Grant, Gen., Club, 196 Grant House 366 Grapp, August F., furniture deal- er, 719 Grasshoppers, 280-2 Gray, W. H 264, 299, 348, 662 Gray, Wm. M., ... 39, 45, 61, 662 Greeley, Hon. Horace, 251 Greeley Campaign, 250, 251 Green, Hon. George W., . . 9, 12, 74 Green, M. S 37, 67, . .74, 77, 84, 87, 98, 109, 171, 646 Greening, John G 31, 45, 71, 85, 233, 258, 347 Gregory, Mrs. Amanda, . . 33, 368 Gregory, B., 32, 45, 332 Gregory, Joseph B., .... 741, 742 Griffin 16 Grover, Daniel 85 Grover, Silas, 68, 85 Grover, Mrs. Silas 435 840 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Grunwald, William, 752 Gutfleisch, Charles, 771 Habein, John, 323 Hadley, Oscar 195 Hagadorn, Jacob, Murder of, 67, 89 Hagen, Mrs. O. T., 536 Haley, Martin, 264, 265, 332 Hall, Hon. A. R., 273 Halleck, Hon. Caleb, 301, 303, 436 Hammel, Terrence 765, 766 Hand, C, 67 Hand, James, 759 Hanes, Aaron, 38, 45 Hanes, B. P., 68, 9S, 255 Hanes, James 38, 84, 85 Hanks, Rodney 259 Hanley, James M., 751 Hansen, Chris 348, 762 Hanson, Charles 513 Hanson, Martin J., 448 Hanson, Hon. Otto, 594, 768 Harding, William, 190, 487 "Hard Times" 96, 97 Harmon, W. H 297, 532 Harvest, Favorable 104 Hatch, Charles, 133, 156 Hatch, Curtis 40, 45, 59, 77 Hawkes, Samuel 299, 303, 575 Hayden, Mary Healy, Indian War, 767 Hayden, Mrs. Ann 354 Hayden, Edward. . . . 348, 354, 805 Hayden, James B., 245 301, 303, 344, 354, 359, 598, 758 Healy, Hugh 347, 699 Healy, Patrick, 67, 84, 94, 98, 109, 233, 264, 301, 303, 742 Healy, Mrs. Patrick, 263, 743 Heath, Alonzo 87 Heath, W. E., 735, 736 Hecht, Joachim 519 HefEeron, Christie 348, 523 Helms, Hon. M. H., 324, 347, 761 Helms, Mrs 324 Henderson, A. J 760 Henderson, Andrew R 52C Henderson, William A., . 348, 769 Henry, J. A 5S0, 747 Herald Printing Office, 385, 517, 580 Harmon, Rev. Fr 70S Hicks, Mrs., 2S:! Hill, J. B 94, 9r., 98, 650 Hill, Mrs. .LB 521 Hinkley, H. W. S 264, 294 Hissing Hot Politics, ... 301, 314 Hocansen, Rev. and Mrs. and child, 283 Hodgkins, Samuel 294, 348, 768 Hofeld, George 245, 285, 301, 303, 766 Hotter, John, 252, 308 Hogan, Andrew, 766 Hogan Boys, 41 Hogan, Jerry, 45, 282 Hog Cholera 491 Hogs Sixty-eight days in a Snow Drift 263 Hollander, Florian, 553 Holmes, James 443 Holstein, Alfred, 41 Holz, Ferdinand, 538 Home Guards Wilton, 130 Home Views, Waseca, 122 Honnor, Hon. J. S. G., .. 173, 412 Hoover, William, . . . 297, 333, 722 Hopkins, H. M., 766 Hopkins, M. S., 766 "Hopperdozer," The, 281 Horsethief Detectives 345 Hosmer, J. W 38, 45, 67, 68, 233, 488 Hotaling, H. C 800 Houses Torn Down 56, 57 Howard, John T., alias Gale ..230 Howell, Henry 40 Howell, Jonathan, 39, 45 Hubbard, Prof. F.' V., killed suddenly 719 Hunter, John C 193, 244, 489 Hunters Kill Last Deer 207 Hurd, B. J., 255 Hurd, Mrs 136, 153 Hurd and Jones Lost 134 Hutchinson, David 67 Ice in May. 1899 508 Ide, Col. J. C, ... 40. 76, 78, S4, 94. 98, 126, 12S, 166, 182 Ide, M. P 40, 45, 60, 77 Ide, Mrs. Harriet 522 Income Tax 215, 216 Indians Hanged at Mankato ..131 Indians in 1S61 Ill Indians in 1S63 167, 7S0, 7S1 to 7S4 Indian Massacre and War 126, 643 Indian Massacre at Lake Shetek 132. 179 Indians Removed 172 Indian Reservation 172 Iosco, Town of 93, 622 Ireland, Thomas, 141, 145, 146, 160 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 841 Ireland, Mr. and Mrs 138, 152 Irvine, George; 805 Isaac, Captain, 121 Isaac, James, 192 Isker, John J 795 Ivers, W. H 490 Jackson, Andrew 282 Jackson, J. B 98, 171, 454 Jackson, Segurd 770 Jackson, Ttiomas B., 635 Jackson, W. H. H., 635 Jacoby, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolpli 285, 805 Jahn, Rev. J. C 759 Jail Breaking, 332, 379 Jail, County 107, 329 James, Anthony 285 Jameson, Albert 770 Jameson, Knute 730 Janesville, Town of 41, 93, 624 Janesville, Village of 206, 220, 626 Jaqua, Abram 85 Jaques, John 69 Jaques, William 69 Jenkins, David J. 35, 45, 55, 81, 98 Jenkins, John, 33, 35, 45, 54, 55, 59, 63, 71, 75, 77, 98, 315 Jenkins, J. H 183, 801 Jennison, A. W. . : 254 Jewett, Family Murdered 179 Johnson, Carl 759 Johnson, Charles 778, 779 Johnson, Blling 713 Johnson, George P. 98, 244, 293, 295 Johnson, Gov. John A 803 Johnson, Jim 265, 333 Johnson, John A 778, 779 Johnson, J. C 759 Johnson, John S., • 731 Johnson, J. W 82, 761 Johnson, Michael 39, 45 Johnson, Segurd .... 99, 679, 731 Johnson, Thomas H 729 Johnston, Alex 68, 93, 411 Johnston, W. C 94, 510, 696 Johnston, Jane C 696 Jones, James 236, 264, 550 Jordan, A. J 353, 357, 365, 375, 533 Jordan, John 67, 477 Jordan, John T 778 "Josh Billings" on the New Jury Lists 98, 99 Year 247 Kahnke, J. A Kaibel, Mrs. A. ... Kaiser, Mrs. Martin Kanne, Fred F. Journal-Radical, The Waseca . . 577 Journey From Dodge County, Wis., 570 565 496 67 Kanne, Gottlieb 67 Keeley, M. B 375, 394 Keeley, Philip 574 Keleher, Cornelius 497 Kelley in Tornado 373 Kellogg, Ambrose 66 Kenehan, Patrick 67, 254, 564 Kenehan, Mrs. Patrick 572 Kennedy, Thomas 765 Kennedy, W. G 177 Kerr, Thomas J., Sr 78, 99, 297, 348, 733 Ketchum, Rev. Alvin 785 Killed at Bull Run 115 Kimball, Mrs 366 Kin, Gilbert 566 Kin, Die 428 Kinney, Alvah 309 Kinney, Mrs. Michael 270 Kirste, Sam and Sisters 421 Kittredge, Fred W 129, 173, 236, 244, 288 Kittredge, Maj. W. T. 109, 110, 193 Kline, George 323, 340 Knauss, Christian 760 Knutsen, GuUick 68, 301, 303, 536 Knuteson, Sam 551 Knutson, Ole 40, 45, 84, 98 Koechel, H. F 743 Koester, Chris 699 Krassin, A. C 394, 436 Krassin, Christian 312 Krassin, Edward R 745 Krassin, E. W 745 Krassin, Gottlieb 348, 551 Krassin, Mrs. Gottlieb 499 Krassin, John A 348, 713 Krassin, John F 31, 45, 745 Krassin, L. W 468 Krassin, Martin 31, 45, 70, 323 Krassin, Mrs. Martin 31, 477 Krassin, Stephen J. ..31, 348, 730 Kreuzer, Wenzel 364, 525 Kroeger, Henry 785 Kroeger, Henry W 785 Kruger, A. P 894 Kujath, Fred 542 La Dow, Geo 190 Lambert, Sam 669 Lang, Andrew 571 842 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Last Session of County Board at Wilton 237 Latham, E. P., 193, 225, 244, 347, 520 Laughable But Disgraceful Scene in Waseca Court . . . 330 Lavelle, Patrick 519 Leader, The Waseca 580 Leavitt, N. J 764 Lee, A. K 731, 732 Lee, William 236, 247, 297, 670 Leonard, George 67, 84, 94, 98 Leslie, Mark P 745, 776 Leslie, Sam 207, 263, 299, 348, 744 LeSueur Precinct 44, 58 Leuthold, Charles 802 Lewis, B. S 225, 244, 245, 293, 314, 350, 779 Lewis, Harlow S 799, 800 Lewis, J. B 309, 348 Lewis, Prof. J. C, forger 200 Liane, Anders 348, 752, 753 Library Association 244 Lilly, B. J 754 Lilly, Owen 755 Lilly, Mrs. Terrence 530, 727 Lilly, Mr. Terrence .J 728 Lincoln, A 803 Lincoln, Noah G7, 98, 26:j, 313, 345, 692 Lindsay, Peter, 99 Lindsay, Mrs. Peter 221 Lindsay, William 348 Lindsay, Mrs 221 Linnihan, John 322 Liquor Licenses 108, 272 Little Crow 167 Little Crow's Son 16 / Lochren, Hon. William 340 Lockwood, Charles 765 Long, George 67 Long, S. W 67, 98 109, 175, 245, 266, 303, 453, 787 Long, Mrs. S. W 309, 787 Loomis, E. H 85 Lost on Prairie 28, 34 Lowell, Hon. B. A 109, 171, 301, 303, 345, 359, 375, 450 Lowell, Charles L 87 Low Prices of 1861 122 Lueck, Otto L 753 Lynch, Andrew 98, 526 Lynch, Mrs 2S3 Madden, Jerome 705, 713 Madden, J. E 359, 364, 705 Madden, Malachi 348, 374, 775-6 Madden, Mrs. Malachi 777 Madrew, Joseph 38 Mahler, P. W 799 Mail Burned 517 Mail Carrier 151 to 160 Mail Robbery 175 Maloney, A. S 736 Maloney, John 736 Maloney, Matthias 369 Maloney, Thomas 669 Maloney, Mrs. Ihomas 523 Mansfield and Callens 21, 28 Manthey, Joseph 67, 347, 534 Manthey, Samuel 424 Maplewood Park 369, 371 Marble & Dresser 225 Markham, Patrick 766 Marzahn, Robert 770 Marzahn, William 67, 453 Masonic Hall, Alma City.. 375, 474 Masonic Lodges 375, 474, 505 Ma-to-To-pa 157 Matz, Andrew 510 Mayne, J. K 259, 358 Mayors of Waseca 589 McAnany, Barney 348, 771 McBride, Stephen 523 McCarthy, Patrick 72 McCormick, Hon. R. L 337, 350, 725 McCue Brothers 42 McCue, John 42, 99 McDaniels, Daniel, of Iosco.... 37 McDougall, Hugh 36, 56, 63 McDougall, Robert 36, 56, 356, 399, 771 McDougall, Mrs. Robert 36 McDonough, Patrick 565 McDonough, Mrs. Rose 424 McElroy, Peter 467 McGonagle, Cornelius 489 McGonagle, M., Sr 67, 695 McGonagle, Mrs. M., Sr 509 McGovern, Hon. Peter .... 266, ..285, 288, 293, 314, 375, 394, 751 McGuigan, Christian 348 McGuigan, James 777 McGuigan, Miss M 519 McHugo, Patrick 724 McHugo, Thomas ... 68, 65S. 786 Mcintosh, Dr. L. D 245, 266. 2;i9, 303, 311, 441 Mcintosh, suicide 205 McKenna, Charles 333, 344, :!(;:;, 375, 393, 414 McKnne, Frank 2.''i5 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 843 McKune, Fred 709 McKune, John S 87, 192, 245 McKune, Hon. Lewis 67, 75, 84, 87, 98, 115, 118 McLaurin 80 McLoughlin, Dennis 359, 361, 364, 366, 743 McLoughlin, Thos 743 McVeigh, William 190 McWaide, John 264, 348, 699 Melchior, Christian 804 Mellby, Rev. O. A 30, 794 Metzler, Fred 501 Meyer, H. J 136, 271, 348, 707 Meyers family 145 to 155 Meyers, Mrs. J. K 523 Middaugh, Solomon 473 Military Officers, local 165 Miller, Capt. R 348, 792, 793 Miner, Frank H 771 Minges Brothers 729, 730 Minges, Joseph 233, 263, 285, 297, 729 M. & St. L. Ry..224, 321, 323, 324 Minnesota Infantry 121, 126 Minnesota Warship 807 Minske, August 67, 681 Minske, Fred W 67 Miscellaneous Persons 805 Mittlesteadt, Julius 37 Mittlesteadt, William 698 Monroe, A. D 412 Monroe, H. C 412 Moonan, Hon. John 42, 699 Moonan, Patrick 45 Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Robert... 32, 743 Morgan, John 530 Morgan, Mrs 522 Morrill, George 42, 45 Morris, W. B '. 220 Morse, G. W V74 Mosher, Henry G 68, 94, 98, 102, 125, 236, 248, 272, 297, 359 Mosher, Hiram A ...68, 227, 244, 245, 247, 266, 295, 297, 301, 303, 375, 680 Mosher, L. J . . . 115 Mosher, Mrs. Nancy 382 Mosher, Obadiah 377, 688 Mott, S. H 220 Moylan, Edward, Sr 534 Moylan, Edward, Jr 563 Munson, Mrs. Charles 717 Murder and Suicide at New Richland 389 Murder of Schiefner 362 Murderous Assault. . .260, 558, 568 Murphy, John, of Byron 219 Murphy, J. F. . 244, 364, 578, 746 Murphy, Mrs. Henry 571 Murphy, Patrick 67, 441, 727 Murphy, Robert 312 Murray, Miss, bitten by snake, 313 Mycue, Aiken 298, 520 Myrick, S. W 538 Myrick, Mrs. S. W 463 Near XJnto Death 22 Nelson, Andrew 67, 532, 640 Nelson, N. M 344, 357, 365, 367, 733, 734 Nelson, Nels 510 Nelson, Rezin 693 Newell, Frank A 245, 266, 350, 353, 407 Newell, Sarah M 182 New Richland Town and Vil- lage 95, 603, 631 Newspapers of the County 577 News, The Wilton Weekly 169 Norcutt, N. N 85 Northfleld Bank Robbers 317 North Star, The 581 Northup, B. G 68, 85, 98 Northup, Caleb 98 Northup, Mrs. Clarissa 511 Norton, Cole 99, 112, 204 Norton, Charles N 612, 790 Norton, H. P 67, 78, 88, 98, 225, 295, 714 O'Brien, John 348 O'Brien, Michael 56, 67 Official Record, Legislative and County Officers 591 to 602 Okaman 93 Old Oak Tree 19 "Old Pawn" 135 to 161 Old Settlers Organize 295 Old Settlers' Meeting in Free- dom 390 Oleson, Bergoff 35 Olson, Andrew 68 Oory, Jacob 67, 98 Orcutt, Theo. D. M. . . .253, 254, 299 Orcutt, William 767 Orcutt, Mrs. Wm 270 Osgood, Luke B 37, 45, 59, 77, 98, 646 Osgood, Mrs., in Prairie Fire. 647 Otisco 85, 94, 610 Owen, Hon. S. M 806 844 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. Paige & Baker 80 Panzram, Supt. H. A 720 Papke, Fred M 708 Papke, Julius 374, 697 Parker, Cliauncey 721 Partridge, Z. M 440 Parvin, B 42 Parvin, Miss Prances ■ . . 42 Patcii, Mrs. Viola 791 Patrons of Husbandry 263 Paving of Second Street, Wa- seca 558 Pease, Orrin 125, 345, 562 Pease, Mrs. Mary J 562 Peck, H. W 67, 84, 85, 87, 93 Peddler's Grove 172 Peoples State Bank 676, 761 Peterson, John 286, 477 Peterson, L. F 347, 496, 710 Peterson, Oliver 398 Petich, Gottlieb 68 Pettit, Hon. W. F 44, 60 Phelps, S. S 195, 233, 374, 377, 698 Philbrook, R. A 95, 665 Pickett, Prof. V. G 800 Picnic, First in Waseca 203 Pierce, Jacob W 689 Pioneer Clergymen 201 Plummer and Wife 15, 19, 25 Plum Valley, Old 37 Poisoned by Bating Roots 101 Potato Bugs by the Million 199 Potter and Wife 10 Powell, Obadiah, 68, 94, 98, 102, 238, 247, 286, 295, 347, 531, 677 Powell, Mrs. Obadiah 234, 258 Powers, Hon. John N., 67, 109, 716 Powers, Mrs. John N 560 Prail, Dr. F. W 805 Pream, Mr. and Mrs. August, 285 Prechel, B. H 701 Prechel, Fred 31, 45, 495 Prechel, Gottlieb, 31, 45, 70, 285, 497 Prechel, Lewis C 742 Presbyterian Church 207 Preston, John P 298, 499 Preston, S. H 733 Prices of Grain 197, 206, 209 Priebe, John and Wm 696 Priest, D. E 432 Printing Contests 404, 430, 480, 493 Proehl, Richard, Killed 563 Putnam, Tarrant 79, 84 Quiggle, Michael 101, 638 Quiggle, Phillip 639 Radloff, John 348, 723 Railroad Bonus 290-4, 321 Railroads Blockaded 357, 358 Railroad Discriminations 266-7, 275, 278-9 Railroad Legislation of 1874... 273, 277 Railroad Roundhouse and Ma- chine Shop 350, 351, 363 Ramsey, Gov. Alexander 115 Rattlesnake in Waseca 517 Read, C. M 490 Read, Harry A 358, 378, 776 Rebstein, Mrs. Annie 513 Reckless Shooting 39 Record, The 580 Redeske, C. W 729 Redeske, Fred 499 Reed, John 67 Reform Party Convention 298 Regan, Caesar D 68, 93 Regiments Minnesota Volun- teers 115, 121, 126, 131 Reibling, George H 67 Reibling, Mrs. Bmma Moore... 78 5 Reibold, John 739, 740 Reineke, Conrad 712 Reineke, H. W 712 Reminiscences of Judge Green 13, 14 Remund, Albert... 68, 233, 263, 299 Remund Brothers 68 Remund, Christian 39, 45, 75 Remund, John 68, 463 Remund, Mrs. Mary 531 Remund, Samuel 6S, 297, 561 Remund, Mrs. Samuel 509 Reynolds, Henry 348, 589 Rhodes, Mr 137, 139 Rice, Maj. E. A., 85, 88, 92, 95, 102 Rice, J. S 98, 103, 107 Riegle, Daniel 67, 99, 264, 683 Roads and Bridges 335, 386, :J8S. 397, 409 ■l.J9, 464, 471, 481, 494, 504, 516 Robbing, Asa 42S Robbins Brothers 28, 56, 72 Robbins, William 28, 45 Roberts, Mrs. A. N 539 Robertson, J. M., 333. 364, 370, 381 Robinson, Col. \V. W 78, 94, 95. 98, 715 Rockney. John 558 Roddle, William 345, 694 Roddle, Mrs. William 309 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. 845 Roddle, W. H 333 Roesler, William H 571 Rollins, S. S 762 Root, James 693 Root, Joseph S 771 Rose, S. M 369, 581 Ross, Cyrus 68 Rourk, W. P 779, 780 Rowley, John 45 Ruf , Anton 260 to 263 Runnerstrom, G. C 562 Ryan, Miss Alice 568 Ryan, Michael 407 Sahler, Emil 755 ^St. Mary, Town of.. 80, 82, 94, 619 Salary Grabbing 278 Salary of County Auditor 109 Salary of School Superintend- ent 271 Saloon Licenses 247 Saloon Troubles 289, 290, 432 Sampson, Hon. A.. 68, 270, 321, 631 Sampson, Samuel 604 San Galli, Charles, 236, 344, 363, 444 Satterlee, Rev. W. W 201, 441 Saufferer, Hon. J. L. and Fami- ly 67, 254, 786 Savings and Loan Association, Waseca 466 Schiefner, Christian 361 Schildknecht, Gustav, Jr 549 Schildknecht, Gustav, Sr 333, 364, 559 Schmitt, Edward 285, 805 Scholer, Edward J 536 School District No. 72, Waseca, 197 School House Contest in Wase- ca 214 School Superintendents 601 Schuette, Father 759 Schultz' Horses Stolen 317 Scott, Andrew 33, 45 Scott, Christopher 23, 45, 58 Scott, C. D 33, 45 Seaman, P. D 172 Sell, John 805 Selland, Lars 454 Settlers of 1855 37 to 45 Settlers of 1856 66, 67, 68 Shackles Worn by Eno 177 Sharp, B 68 Sheehan, Dennis 414 Sheehan, Garrett 706 Sheehan, Michael 266, 793 Sibley, Gen. H. H 167 Simons, B 723 Simons, Bennie 553 Simons, O. M 753, 754 Slngenstrue, Rev. H 760 Sioux Indians, Hanging of 131 Smith, A. C 40, 45, 62, 332, 441, 684 Smith, Mrs. A. C 40, 462 Smith, Albert M 270 Smith, Byron 462 Smith, Hon. C. A 589, 612, 790 Smith, C. N 773 Smith, Date 226 Smith, David 85, 87, 94, 98 Smith, E. A 88, 345, 346, 705 Smith, Elder E. S 125, 171, 310 Smith, George 392 Smith, Harvey S 794, 795 Smith, Henry 68 Smith, Josiah 68 Smith, Joshua 68 Smith, Hon. L. D., 266, 273, 294, 510 Smith, Miss Lovica 332, 689 Smith, Orson L., 344, 363, 375, 705 Smith, Samuel 44, 68 Smith, Simeon 40, 44, 45, 59, 62, 77, 98, 255 Smith, Simon 436 Smith, Susan E 707 Smith, Hon. Warren 82, 173, 243, 266, 297, 299, 301, 303, 359, 462, 690 Snowbound in 1880 357, 358 Snyder, George 92, 103 Sons of Temperance 309 Soule, George W., 298, 363, 365, 682 Soule, Jane 313 Spanish War, Chapter on ... 583 Spelling School 290 Spillane, C. P 756 Spillane, Michael 360, 509 Spillane, Patrick 477 Spillane, Mrs. Patrick 575 Sprague, J. W 220 Starvation Prices 100, 101 Steamboat on Clear Lake 371 Stearns, Charles 673 Stearns, E. B., 68, 79, 85, 87, 88, 92, 93, 94, 102, 346, 511, 672 Stearns, H. K 266, 286, 288, 297, 321, 706 Steams, Mrs. Jennie Weed 708 Stearns, W. H 673, 708 Steele County 73, 74, 76, 77 Stevens, E. R 756 Stevens, R. F 192, 238, 263, 489 Stevenson, Mrs. S. J 328 846 CHILD'S HISTORY OP WASECA COUNTY. Stewart, Hon. Jesse I. . . 85, 88, 103 Stoddard, J. M 85 Stopping Train to Shoot Game, 219 Storle, Gilbert 558 Storms.. 212, 242, 253, 258, 288, 304, 342, 354, 359,372,406,447, 450, 499, 508, 516, 543, 545, 547 Strong, Geo. Wilfred 612, 787 Strong, N. B 68, 84, 94, 98 Struggle of 1861 114, 115 Sudduth, H. H 359, 513 Suitz, Mrs 258 Sullivan, J. B 309, 704 Sullivan, Mrs. J. B 573 Sunday Mirror 273 Sunde, Hans H 68, 441 Sunde, Ole H 635 Supervisor System 94, 109 Supper of Raw Duck 135 Sutlief, Asa G 9, 10, 14, 15, 23, 246, 345 Sutlief, Mrs. A. G 9, 806 Sutlief, B. G 348, 737, 738 Sutlief, Delancy 9 Sutlief, Omer, H., 68, 340, 348, 776 Sutlief, Rhoda 9 Swartwood, Dr. F. A 348, 795 Swavesey Precinct, 44, 58, 61, 77, 84 Swede Church in Otisco 201 Swenson, S 364, 393, 496 Swift, Keyes 68, 759 Tallon, George ; 806 Tanner, Rev. Geo. C 6 Tarbell, Geo. L 193 Tax List of 1873 271 Taylor, Ann J 519 Taylor, Mrs. A. L 297 Taylor, B. H ,299, 311 Taylor, William 467 Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. . . 285 The First Murder 89, 90 The "New Year", 1873 257 Thomas, Rev. O. A 75 Thwing, Henry 67, 85 Thwing, Nelson 67 Timlin, Messrs 648 Timlin Group 800 Toner, Richard 67, 90, 331 Toole, John 270 Tornadoes 359, 372, 386, 408, 439, 484, 486 Tostenson, Tosten 271 Tower, Mr 32 Townships of County, Chapter on 603 to 627 "Town Talk" 581 Traverse des Sioux 74 Tremper, Geo. W 81, 85 Tried Roots on a Fool 101 Tripp, Daniel 94 Trip to Medford, Deerfield, etc., 60 Trip to Silver Lake, J. E. Child, 25 Trowbridge, Edgar C 761, 778 Trowbridge, Hon. Ira C. . . . 225, 293, 3G3, 365, 371, 372, 454, 801 Trowbridge, Henry A 270 Trowbridge, Mrs. Judith 801 Turnacliff, Ferdinand 173 Turnacliff, Jackson, 66, 263, 413, 692 Turner Hall Built, 1875 304 Tuttle, A 93 Two Men from Iowa Nearly Perish 25 Usury Laws, Their Value . . . 103 United States Census, 1870.. 232 Vaughn, Jas. A 52, 766 Verplank, B. B 297, 634 Vinton, Austin, and Sons ..68, 293, 297, 347, 380, 436, 790 Vivian, Town of 94, 608, 650 Voight, Mr 136 to 147 Von Sien, Wm 488 Vote on County Seat 86, 236 Voters, Names of the First 45 Waggoner, John 336 Waggoner, O. F 336 Wagner, Christopher 353, 572 Walker, John 67 Walker, James 67 Ward, Clarence T 313 Ward, John G 67, 125 Ward, R. P 714 Ward, Silas 67 Ward, Hon. W. G.. 183, 252, 254, 2(3, 292, 304, 314, 351, 393, 762 War of Rebellion 114, 121, 173 War Prices 166 Waseca Village, etc... 188, 193, 194, 196, 200, 202, 205, 215, 224 Waseca, County of. Organized, 83, 84, 85 Waseca County Bank Associa- tion 289 Waseca County Soldiers 115, 121, 126 Waseca, Olty, First Financial Report 215 Waseca Fence Tool Co 755 Waseca, First Picnic 203 CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY. 847 Waseca Home Views 122 Waseca House Burned 431 Waseca in 1867 188-9 Waseca issues Courthouse Bonds 224 Waseca One Year Old 205 Waseca News on the New Year 257 Waseca Schools 197 Waseca Water and Light Board 448 Waterlynn 28, 72 Waters, Frank 226 Watkins, Geo. W 98, 250, 676 Waverly Hotel 366, 432 Webber, Fred 438 Wedding, First in County 63 Weed, B. F 67, 233, 347 Weed, Mrs. B. F 525 Weed, Jesse R 536, 686 Well, Waseca Big 450 Wells, "Nucky" 66 Welsh, Buel 37, 98, 695 Wentworth, Shooting Affair.... 29 Werdin, Ferdinand 750 Werdin, Henry J 750 Werdin, John L 298, 749 Wert, Mr. and Mrs. Angus, 234, 559 West, Ichabod 102, 366 Westcott, Francis L 441 Western House Burned 250 Wet Years 185 Wheat Marketed in Waseca... 206 Wheeler, John H., 37, 45, 84, 90, 297 Wheeler, W. H 730 Wheeler, W. J 68 Wheeler, Whitney L 233, 236, 345, 686 Wheelock, J. A 303 Whipple, Bishop 529 Whipple, David L ..98, 103, 107, 109, 229, 254, 345 Whisky Spilled 17 White, Capt. George T....82, 103 White, John 32, 297 Wilkinson, Hon. John 767 Williams, Hon. S. B 225, 292, 297, 332, 382 Willis, S. J ^„ ....67, 98, 103, 107, 109, 245, 653 Willsey, A 67, 299 Wilson, Hon. G. A 599, 702 Wilson, "Uncle Jo" 47 Wilson, Judge Thomas 117 Wilton, 84, 94, 214, 612 Wilton Bridge Guarded 130 Wilton Weekly News 169, 577 Willyard, Henry 221, 227 Winnebago Agency 22, 172 Winnebago Indians 31, 111, 128, 172 Wobschall, Fred 31, 45, 442 Wollschlaeger, John M 802 Wollschlaeger, Mrs. John .... 535 Wolves 356 Wood, Alfred 546 Wood, David 38, 45, 263, 266 Wood, Bri G 68, 94, 98, 183-4, ^33, 297, 329, 345, 370, 560 Wood, Mrs. Eri G 535 Wood, Florence 528 Wood, George H 726 Wood, John 98 Wood, Loren C, 87, 92, 93, 98, 329 Wood, Loren G 241, 528, 560 Wood, Mrs. Loren G 528 Wood, Luman S 329, 347, 764 Wood, Luman L 528 Wood, Nathan 299, 423 Wood, Nathaniel 284 Wood, Mrs. Nathaniel 329 Woodbury, A. J., Wife and Sons 80, 84, 94, 98, 193, 413, 695 Woodrow, Robert 269 Woodruff. Hon. Philo 67, 94, 98, 102, 125, 263 Woodville, Town of 94, 616 Woskie, George 553 Wright, Mrs 139 to 157 Wright, Chas.. A 221, 227 Wyman, S. F 39, 45, 84, 85, 98, 263 York, J. C 85, 98, 310 Young, Mrs. Esther 488 Young, Henry 389 Young, Dr. H. J 367, 375, 521 Young, William 66 Young, Maj. W. C 236, 288, 293, 337, 382, 394, 423 Young, Hon. W. E 728 Young, W. H., 68, 84, 98, 233, 345 Zumbro Falls 16 INDEX TO PORTRAITS. Abell, Mr. and Mrs. John S . . . 648 Abell Residence, Old 593 Aughenbaugh, J. W 702 Bailey, Hon. P. C 723 Bank, First National 556 Barden, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 658 Bishman, Adam 182 Brown, C. W 577 Burke, Mrs. Patrick 800 Byron, John 732 Byron, Mr. and Mrs. William 738 Campion, Patrick 619 Carmody, Hon. John 775 Carmody, Mrs. John 774 Child Group 48 Child, James E 1 Child, Hon. S. P 21 Child, Mrs. S. P 20 Child, Zabina 182 Clayton, Joseph 182 Clement, W. A 577 "Eaco" Mills, Waseca 474 Brfurth, Mr. and Mrs. Prank. . 786 Everett, William 132 Farrington, S. A 182 Flaig, A. Donald 800 Garland, Nathaniel 30 Garland, Ralph D 612 Grapp, August F 720 Haley, Mrs. Michael 800 Henderson, Wm. A 30 Henry, John A 577 Ide, Col. John C 182 Johnson, Segurd 30 Krassin, August C 415 Krassin, Gottlieb 30 Krassin, Julia 182 Lewis, B. S., Esq 779 Madden, Malachi 776 Madden, Mrs. Malachi 777 McDougall, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. 30 Mellby, Rev. O. A 30 Miller, Capt. R 792 Moonan, Hon. John 700 Murphy, John F 577 Newell, Mrs. Sarah M 182 Norton, Charles N 612 Norton, H. P 714 Reineke, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad, 712 Remund, Christian 39 Robinson, Col. W. W 182 Sahler, Mr. and Mrs. Emil, farm buildings 756 Smith, Hon. Chas. A 612 Smith, Hon. Warren 690 Strong, G. W 612 Sutlief, Asa G 30 Sutllef, Mrs. Eliza 30 Timlin, F. J 800 Timlin Group 800 Timlin, Mrs. John 800 Trowbridge, Hon. Ira C 801 Ward, Hon. W. G 351 Waseca Fence Tool Co 754 Willis, Mrs. Julia M 182 Wilton Group 612 Young, Hon. W. B 728 '^ f^'t. '^r'*'i t- T "*» ' t J-^ -* *^ + ^\*/il^if if f + ♦ * * H- , it jt jt ^ I / 7=jfci/' f.-j j^ 1^4.- -^^' ^' ^ I ^ -^ f j,^-^' 1 ^" ^^ 4 ,1*- .^^ 4 * . f if'" ^ ^^%%f^/^^*'=^ I J Js