USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
The first homestead under the act of Con- gress authorizing their entry was taken and filed by Samuel Taylor in 1863; this was located upon the south half of the southeast quarter of section 4, in the town of Darwin, and was first claimed by Richard Poole.
The first term of the district court held in the county was in October, 1859, with Ilon. E. O. ITamlin upon the bench, and met in the office of A. C. Smith, in Forest City. The first case before the court was that of John Peiffer rx. Peter Stearns, and was a sin- gular one. They were brothers-in law, and had erected one cabin on the line between their farms, so as to cover both with their residence. After a time they quarreled, and Peiffer shot Stearns as the latter was attempt- ing to carry off his share of the lumber of the house, and to settle the shooting case Peiffer gave the other a chattel mortgage on two yoke of oxen, but on the maturity of the claim refused to give up the cattle, as the mortgage had been given to compound a fel- ony. During this trial, as to who was the owner of the cattle, was impaneled the first
509
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
petit jury in the county, which consisted of the following named : George S. Sholes, Sr., foreman : Azro B. Ilovt. J. C. Scribner, Alex- ander Lee, T. R. Webb, Thos. Dougherty, A. C. Maddox, Samuel L. Getchell, George W. Baird, Edward Brown, John Black well and Charles Duffy. The verdict was found for the plaintiff, three cents damages. U. S. Willie appeared for Stearns, and A. C. Smith for Peiffer. These two were the sole mem- bers of the bar, but at this term William Richards was admitted to the bar, the first in the county so honored.
The first gristmill in the county was erected at Kingston. Its construction was com- menced in 1856, by A. P. Whitney, and finished the following year. This was the pioneer mill of the region lying west of the Big Woods, and was a great advantage to the early settlers, as all their flour, previons to its completion, had to be hauled here by teams from St. Paul. This mill is still in operation. Mills were built shortly after this, one at Greenleaf and one at Forest City.
The pioneer postoffice of the county was established in the spring of 1857, at Forest City, with James B. Atkinson as postmaster. He had the office in his store, but there was no regular mail until the fall of the same year, when a mail route was established be- tween that point and St. Cloud, and a man by the name of Evans became mail-carrier. He covered the thirty-five miles between the two places on foot, and frequently got into Forest City by 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
The first hotel in the county was a log building, where entertainment of a primitive character was dispensed in 1856 and 1857, by Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Taylor.
CHAPTER III. OFFICIAL MATTERS.
T IS intended, that grouped together under this general head, will be given all that pertains to the official life of the county, those who have represented it
and its citizens in office, property valuations, educational statistics and all other kindred matter that is drawn from official records, and worthy of preservation in a volume of this character. The first point taken up, therefore, will be
ORGANIZATION.
The Seventh Territorial Legislature which met in the spring of 1856, ordered the crea- tion and organization of a county to be called Meeker, in honor of Hon. B. B. Meeker, of St. Anthony, and to contain within its boundaries all that is now defined by them, except what is now the townships of Cosmos and Cedar Mills. This act of creation is dated February 23, 1856. Pre- vions to that time, this territory had been considered a part of Kandiyohi county, but was almost without any definite boundaries. Under this act, the Governor appointed Thomas H. Skinner, Dr. Frederick N. Rip- ley and J. W. Huy, as commissioners to complete the organization.
Accordingly, on the 5th of May, the first board met at the house of Mr. Skinner, in Forest City, where the seat of justice had been located, and appointed Milton G. Moore, register of deeds, Thos. H. Skinner, clerk of the board, and Abijah Bemis, sheriff. At the same time they made into one election precinct the whole county, to be named Forest City precinct. Thus was born the county of Meeker. No assessments or levy of taxes were made in the county that year, nor were there any bills presented or paid by the board. The latter simply started the machinery and held their seats until the due qualification of their elected successors. The following is the record of the succeed- ing
BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
At the second meeting of board, January 5, 1857, the county was divided into three assessment districts, as follows: The town-
.
510
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ships in range 29, and the east half of the townships in range 30, were designated as district No. 1; the west half of the town- ships in range 30, and all the townships in range 31 were to be distriet No. 2; and the townships in ranges 32 and 33 were to con- stitute district No. 3. The assessors elected in October, 1856, having failed to present themselves, or to qualify, the commissioners appointed A. P. Whitney to assess No. 1 ; John B. Kimball to assess No. 2, and Lyman Baker to assess No. 3.
At a meeting on the 6th of April, 1857, the county was divided into four election pre- cinets, which were designated as Kingston, Forest City, Round Lake and Union Grove preeinets. At this meeting nine petitions for roads were presented to the board, the first business of the kind to come before it.
At the meeting on the 20th of July, 1857, the office of sheriff having become vacant by the removal of Abijah Bemis from the coun- ty, T. C. Jewett was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In October, 1857, a meeting of the board was held, at which the county was divided into four school districts, with boundaries the same as the election precints.
On the 5th of October, 1857, the first bill audited and ordered paid by the board was presented by John W. Goodspeed, for ser- vices in assessing district No. 3.
The following is a complete list of the gentlemen who have composed the board of county commissioners for each year since the county was organized, as complete and correct as it is possible, at this late day, to make it:
1856. Thomas H. Skinner, John Huy and Frederick N. Ripley.
1857. J. T. Kinnison, John Wigle and J. W. Griswold, and later T. G. Gould.
1858. A. P. Whitney, John Wigle, Mark Warren, Peter Ritchie, Ziba Caswell, and J. V. Branham Sr.
1859. Peter Ritchie, Mark Warren, John Wigle, Charles Low, Robert Lang and J. W. Dame.
1860. E. M. Whitney, Mark Warren and Linus Howe.
1861. J. C. Whitney, Peter Ritchie, and J. V. Branham, Sr.
1862. Charles E. Cutts, E. B. Kingsley, E. A. Chapin, E. II. Whitney, James B. At- kinson and Samuel Taylor.
1863. George S. Sholes, Sr., II. Ilall and Moody Caswell.
1864. George S. Sholes, Sr., II. Hall, Michael Johnson and F. McCusker.
1865-6. G. S. Sholes, Sr., II. Hall, and Ziba Caswell.
1867. M. J. Flynn, II. Hall, and Ziba Caswell.
1868. W. H. Dart, S. Y. Gordon, and A. N. Fosen.
1869. W. E. Graham, J. B. Atkinson, and A. N. Fosen.
1870. J. B. Atkinson, W. E. Graham, and H. Halvorson.
1871. J. A. C. Waller, Even Evenson, H. C. Bull, Patrick Flynn and N. C. Hines.
1872. E. Evenson, N. C. Hines, Patrick Flynn, H. C. Bull, and Channeey Butler.
1873. C. Butler, N. C. Hines, E. Evenson, Patrick Flynn, and Henry Clay.
1874. C. Butler, E. Evenson, Henry Clay, B. F. Spaulding, and Joseph Hubbard.
1875. E. Evenson, II. Halvorson, HI. Clay, Joseph Hubbard and B. F. Spaulding.
1876. Even Evenson, H. Halvorson, Jo- seph Hubbard, Louis Rudberg, and B. F. Spaulding.
1877. Even Evenson, chairman ; Joseph Hubbard, Henry Halvorson, J. Il. Pender- gast, and Isaac Lloyd.
1878. Even Evenson, chairman ; Joseph Hubbard, Isaac Lloyd, V. II. Harris, and C. A. MeCollom ..
1879. C. A. McCollom, chairman ; Joseph
51I
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Hubbard, V. H. Harris, O. M. Linnell, and Isaac Lloyd.
1880. V. H. Harris, chairman ; C. A. Mc- Collom, W. II. Wilcox, O. M. Linnell, and Isaac Lloyd.
1881. Peter E. Hansen, chairman ; Ras- mus Nelson, Claus Anderson, Isaac Lloyd, and W. H. Wilcox.
1882. Peter E. Hansen, chairman ; Isaac Lloyd, Rasmus Nelson, C. Anderson, and W. H. Wilcox.
1883. Peter E. Hansen, chairman; C. Anderson, R. Nelson, F. F. Phillips, and C. H. Atkinson.
1884. Andrew Nelson, chairman; F. F. Phillips, C. A. McCollom, C. II. Atkinson, and R. Nelson.
1885. Andrew Nelson, chairman ; F. F. Phillips, C. A. McCollom, C. H. Atkinson, and John Blomberg.
1886. Andrew Nelson, chairman ; F. F. Phillips, C. H. Atkinson, John Blomberg, and C. A. McCollom.
1887. V. H. Harris, chairman; John Blomberg, N. C. Caswell, Peter Sangreen, and William M. Abbott.
1888. V. H. Harris, chairman ; John Blomberg, Peter Sangreen, William M. Abbott, and N. C. Caswell.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Upon the formation of the State Constitu- tion, July 13th, and its subsequent ratification, October 13, 1857, the State was divided into twenty-six senatorial districts. These dis- tricts were subdivided into representative districts and many were entitled to two Sen- ators, and from one to six Representatives in the Lower House.
Under this apportionment, when the First State Legislature convened, on the 2d of De- cember, 1857, the body was composed of thirty-seven Senators and eighty Representa- tives. According to the provisions of the Constitution the newly created county of
Meeker became a part of the Twentieth Sen- atorial District, being associated with the counties of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns. The district was entitled to one Senator and three Representatives. The first Senator to represent this district was Hon. Reuben M. Richardson, of Stearns county. The first Representatives were IIon. J. B. Atkinson, of Meeker county; John L. Young, of Benton county, and Joseph B. Carpenter, of Sher- burne county.
When the Second State Legislature con- vened, December 7, 1859, Meeker county was still a part of the Twentieth Senatorial Dis- trict which at that time was represented in the Senate by C. C. Andrews, of Stearns county, and in the House by U. S. Willie, of Meeker county; G. W. Sweet, of Benton county, and M. C. Tolman, of Anoka county. The "apportionment of 1860" was made by this Legislature, and by the re-arrangement of districts Meeker county was associated with the counties of Carver, Wright, LcLeod, Kandiyohi and Monongalia in constituting the Sixth Senatorial District, the district be- ing entitled to elect one Senator and three Representatives.
The Third Legislature assembled on the 8th of January, 1861, and adjourned on the Sth of March. In this session the newly-formed Sixth District was represented in the Senate by Hon. Samuel Bennett, of Wright county, and in the Lower House by Hon. V. P. Ken- nedy, of Meeker county; Hon. T. D. Ken- nedy, of Kandiyohi county, and Hon. William R. Baxter, of Carver county.
On the 7th of January, 1862, the Fourth Legislature convened, and in this body the Sixth District was represented by the same delegation that had served it in the preced- ing Legislature except that Hon. John H. Stevens, of McLeod county, had succeeded W. R. Baxter in the House.
In the Fifth Legislature, which convened January 6th, 1863, Charles A. Warner, of
512
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Carver county, represented the Sixth Distriet in the Senate, while in the House it was served by C. F. Davis, of Meeker county; W. G. Butler, of Wright county, and B. G. Lee, of MeLeod county.
The Sixth Legislature assembled on the 5th of January, 1864. Charles A. Warner was still in the Senate. In the House were Henry Ilill, of Meeker county; W. G. Butler, of Wright county, and John S. Letford, of Carver county.
The Seventh Legislature convened January 3, 1865. The Sixth Distriet at that time was represented by the following gentlemen- G. D. George, of Wright county, Senator ; and Henry Hill, Frank A. Renz and C. F. Davis, Representatives.
In the Eighth Legislature, which assembled January 2, 1866, G. D. George was still in the Senate. The Representatives were-Danna E. King, of Meeker county ; L. Harrington, of MeLeod county, and Chauncey W. Griggs, of Carver county. The "apportionment of 1866" was made by this Legislature, accord- ing to which there were then to be twenty- two Senators and forty-seven Representatives. Meeker county still remained in the Sixth distriet, which was then formed of Meeker, Wright. MeLeod, Kandiyohi and Monongalia connties.
When the Ninth Legislature convened, Jan- nary 8, 1867, H. L. Gordon, of Wright county, took his seat as Senator from the Sixth District. The district was only entitled to two Representatives in the House-Dana E. King, of Meeker county, and P. W. Sav- age, of MeLeod county, being the members.
In the Tenth Legislature, which assembled on the 7th of Jannary, 1868, II. L. Gordon was still in the Senate, and in the House the district was served by J. B. Salisbury, of this county, and Lewis Harrington, of MeLeod county.
The Eleventh Legislature convened Janu- ary 5, 1869. The Sixth District was repre-
sented in the Senate by Dana E. King, of Meeker county, and in the House by D. Pile and W. W. Patterson.
On the 4th of January, 1870. the Twelfth Legislature assembled, with Mr. King still in the Senate. In the House the Sixth Dis- triet was represented by E. Abbott, of Kan- diyohi county, and A. Il. Reed, of MeLeod county.
The Thirteenth Legislature convened Jan- mary 8, 1871. The representatives of the Sixth District at that time were as follows- W. T. Bonniwell, of MeLeod county, Senator, and W. H. Greenleaf, of Meeker county, and Andrew Railson, of Kandiyohi county, Rep- resentatives. The apportionment of 1871 was made by this Legislature, the State being divided into forty-one senatorial distriets, and the Ilouse to be composed of 106 mem- bers. Under the division of territory then made, Meeker county constituted Distriet No. 35, and was entitled to elect one Senator and one Representative.
In the Fourteenth Legislature, which con- vened January 2, 1872, Meeker county was rep- resented in the Senate by Charles E. Cutts, and in the House by William H.Greenleaf.
The Fifteenth Legislature assembled Jan- nary 7, 1873. Meeker county was repre- sented by the same delegation as in the preceding Legislature.
The Sixteenth Legislature convened Jan- nary 6, 1874. Charles E. Cutts was still the Senator from Meeker county, and Andrew Nelson took his seat as Representative.
In the Seventeenth Legislature, which cou- vened January 5, 1875, Meeker county was represented in the Senate by Andrew Nel- son, and in the House by N. C. Hines.
The Eighteenth Legislature assembled January 4, 1876. Andrew Nelson was still in the Senate from Meeker county, and C. E. Cutts took his seat as Representative.
The Nineteenth Legislature convened Jan- nary 2, 1877. Meeker county's delegation at
513
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
that time was composed of J. M. Waldron, Senator, and L. Rudberg, Representative.
The Twentieth Legislature assembled Janu- ary 8, 1878. Meeker county was represented in this Legislature by J. M. Waldron in the Senate, and W. M. Campbell in the House.
The Twenty-first Legislature began its work on the 7th of January, 1879. The Represent- atives from Meeker county at that time were, C. E. Cutts, Senator, and W. M. Campbell, Representative.
The Twenty-second Legislature convened January 4, 1881. Meeker county's delega- tion at that time was composed of William Campbell, Senator, and O. M. Linnell, Repre- sentative. The apportionment of 1881 was made by this Legislature. According to the provisions of the act, Meeker county was made District No. 34, and was entitled to the same representation as under the preced- ing apportionment. By this act the Legisla- ture consisted of forty-seven Senators and 103 Representatives. It was also provided that sessions of the Legislature should be held biennially instead of annually.
The Twenty-third Legislature convened January 2, 1883. At that time Meeker county was represented in the Senate by W. H. Greenleaf, and in the Ilouse by O. M. Linnell.
The Twenty fourth Legislature assembled on the 6th of January, 1885. Meeker county's representatives were W. H. Green- leaf in the Senate, and Michael J. Flynn in the House.
The Twenty-fifth Legislature assembled January 7th, and adjourned March 4th, 1887. Meeker county was ably represented in this session by J. S. Shields in the Senate, and Even Evenson in the Lower House.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The following is believed to be a com- plete record of the gentlemen who have rep- resented the people of Meeker county in the
various offices in the gift of the electors thereof:
REGISTERS OF DEEDS.
Milton G. Moore, 1856 ; Thomas H. Skinner, 1857-8-9, and 60; T. C. Jewett, 1861-2; Thos. HI. Skinner, 1863, until August 20, when he died ; Hamlet Stevens, who was appointed to fill vacancy 1863-4; E. II. Whitney, 1865; J. M. flarvey, 1866; John Blackwell, 1867 to 1871; N. A. Viren, 1871 to 1878; August T. Koerner, 1878, to 1884; and N. A. Viren, the present incumbent, from January, 1885.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
Thos. II. Skinner, as clerk of the board, was ex-officio the county anditor, 1856 to 60; D. P. Delamater, 1860 to November, 1863 ; James M. Harvey, 1864, resigned in 1864; M. W. Piper, appointed by the board and serv- ed until 1865, when he, too, resigned , Charles E. Cutts was appointed to the office, but did not qualify ; Jesse V. Branham, Jr., 1865 (Nov.) to January, 1871; John Blackwell, 1871 to 1875; Hamlet Stevens, 1875 to 1879; G. B. Phelps, 1879 to 1886; Ambrose Wall, 1886, the present incumbent.
CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
J. A. Stanton, 1860 to 1863 ; J. M. Har- vey, 1863 to 1867; John Blackwell, 1867 to 1872; S. W. Leavitt, 1872 to 1884; J. E. Upham, the present official, since 1884, hav- ing been re-elected in 1886.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
J. A. Stanton was elected to this office in 1858, but, failing to qualify, the board in January, 1859, appointed Charles E. Cutts, who served that year ; W. II. Greenleaf was the next, 1860 to 1862 ; George C. Whitcomb 1862 to January 6, 1863, when he resigned and board appointed A. C. Smith ; Jesse V. Branham, Sr., served from 1864 to 1870;
$14
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Henry Hill, 1870-71; Hamlet Stevens, 1872 to 1873 : Amos Nelson Fosen, 1874 to 1880; August Palm, 1880 to 1884; and N. W. Hawkinson, the present treasurer, first elected in 1883, and re-elected in 1886.
SITERIFFS.
Abijah Bemis, appointed May 5, 1856, who served until fall of the same year, when Henry Averill was elected to this office ; the latter, having wounded Kennison in a fight, fled the country, and T. C. Jewett was ap- pointed to the office July 20, 1857, and was elected to the same office ; he served in this capacity until 1860, and was succeeded that year by E. S. Fitch, who served 1860 and 1861; John Wigle, short time in 1862 ; James B. Atkinson, 1862-3-4 ; George S. Sholes, Jr., 1865 to 1868 ; A. A. Sanford, 1868 and 1869; W. M. Campbell, 1870 to 1874; N. J. March, 1874 to 1878; P. Ekstrom, to 1878 to 1884; Daniel Flynn, 1884 to 1887 ; and H. M. Holm, the present incumbent of the office, elected November 2, 1886, and qualified in 1887.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
II. N. Baker, 1857 to 1860; A. C. Smith, 1860 to 1865; E. HI. Whitney, 1865 ; C. B. Jordan, 1866 to 1868 ; Harvey Wilson, 1868; John M. Waldron, 1869 and 1870; Charles B. Howell, 1871-2; F. V. DeCoster, 1873-4; John Blackwell, 1875 until his death, when he was succeeded by S. A. Plumley, who served the balance of that year and 1876 and 1877 ; N. C. Martin 1878 to 1887 ; and Charles H. Strobeck who occupies that oflice at the present writing, having been elected thereto in November, 1886.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
The following list of those occupying this position is believed correct, having been sub- mitted to those well posted in the county, although in several instances no record authorizes the insertion of the names : Will-
iam Richards, the first, qualified July 4, 1858, and served until 1861; Mark Warren, 1861-2; A. C. Smith. 1863 to 1867 ; Thomas Brown, 1867 until he resigned and was succeeded by Henry Wilson ; Henry Hill, 1869 and part of 1870 ; Charles B. Howell, the balance of that year; Francis Belfoy, 1871-2; C. H. Strobeck, 1873-4; E. A. Campbell, 1875-6 ; C. Il. Strobeck, 1877-8; S. A. Plumley, 1879-80; W. S. Van Enian, 1881; E. A. Campbell, 1882-3; E. P. Peterson, 1884-5-6; and J. M. Russell, the present attorney, who was elected in 1886, and qualified in 1887.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS .*
The first officer of this denomination, after it became elective, was J. W. Gordon, who was elected November 5, 1877, and served during the years 1878 and 1879; J. W. Wright, who served from 1880 to 1884; S. W. Gordon from 1884 to 1887, and was sue- ceeded by T. J. Soule, who was elected to that office in 1886, and is the present occupant of the position.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
M. M. Standish; William Richardson; W. II. Greenleaf, elected in 1866 and also in 1868; J. B. Salisbury, elected in 1870; L. E. Dudley, who occupied the office from 1873 to 1885; J. B. Salisbury, the present sur- veyor, since 1885.
CORONERS.
John Heath, 1862-3; O. II. Ness, 1865; Johin Curran, 1866; S. Y. Gordon, 1867-8; O. H. Ness, 1869; William Matheny, 1870; John A. Quick, 1871-2-3-4; Oliver Raswick, 1875; L. E. Dudley, 1876-7; Nels Elofson, 1878-9; John A. Quick, 1880 to 1884; E. Kimball, 1884 and at present.
*NOTE .- It is impossible to give complete lists of those who have served in the offices of superintendent, surveyor, coro- ner and court commissioner, as the records do not show their names .- EDITOR.
RESIDENCE OF PETER E. HANSON, LITCHFIELD, TWP. MEEKER COUNTY, MINN
517
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
COURT COMMISSIONERS.
The record of these officers is very incom- plete in the books of the county, but the fol- lowing-named are known to have served in this office: James B. Atkinson, W. D. Stan- ton, O. II. Campbell, J. II. Bacon, II. L. Smith, Francis V. DeCoster and H. S. Mc- Gonagle.
MARRIAGES.
The following table shows the number of marriages recorded on the books of the county from 1858 to 1887, inclusive :
1858
1 1873 SS
1859
3
1874 85
1860
7 1875 65
1861
7 1876 S9
1862
3
1877
68
1863
1 1878
76
1864
4 1879
86
1865
S 1880
107
1866
17
1SS1
115
1867
27
1882
116
186S
42
1883
114
1869
78 1884
109
1870
S6
18SẼ
106
1871
72
1886
114
1872
65 1887
119
Total, licenses issued from 1858 to
1SS7, inclusive,
1,882
During the same time, from the date of the organization of the county until the beginning of the current year, there have only been granted some fifty-seven divorces, which, in a population which now numbers nearly 17,000, is a remarkable showing, as against the 3,700 people who have been joined in wedlock.
CENSUS.
A research among the volumes of the Cen- sus Bureau of the United States Government shows that the territory known as Meeker county had a total population in 1860 of 928, of which 572 were of American and 356 of foreign birth. In 1870 the inhabitants had
increased to 6,090, and in 1880 to 12,069, and it is safe to say that it has nearly 17,000 to-day (1888). About two-fifths of the entire population is made up of hardy Scandina- vians, who bring to the new New World the thrift and economy of their native land, and are very important factors in the develop- ment of this county and State.
COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.
The Meeker county court-house is one of the most substantial and serviceable struc- tures of its kind in this part of the State. It was built in 1885-6 at a cost of nearly $20,- 000, bonds for that amount having been issued by vote of the people. The building is of brick, made in the county, covers a ground space of 74x80 feet over all, and is two stories and basement in height, the two upper stories being fifteen feet in height, each. It is surmounted with a Mansard slate roof and a tower which reaches the height of seventy feet above the ground. It contains rooms for all the county officers, with capacious vaults and ample conveniences for each. The vaults are all situated so as to form part of the outside walls, and are pro- vided with outside windows, thus affording good light and insuring great safety in case of fire. On the upper floor is a commodions court room, 45x65 feet, with which is con- nected two jury rooms, an attorney's room, judge's room and the circuit clerk's office. Although the appearance of the building will compare favorably with others of its class, gaudy ornamentation and style is generally ignored, and every foot of available space is utilized for business purposes, thus affording larger and more commodious offices and apartments than are usually found in build- ings of its size.
The jail building, which is a substantial, comfortable and capacious structure, was built some three years previous to the erection of the court-house. It is provided with four
518
MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
large steel cage cells of the latest improved pattern, and the foundation of floor is of con- crete, three feet in thickness. G. B. Phelps, county auditor, was the architect of both buiklings.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.