USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 19
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Judge of Probate-L. M. Lange38 (rep), 2103.
Attorney- Thomas E. Davis (rep), 1469; E. B. Johnson (ind), 1025.
Clerk of Court-A. G. Bumford (rep), 2115.
Superintendent of Schools-H. R. Painter (rep), 1263; Mrs. Dell W. Forbes (non partisan), 1973.
Surveyor-W. A. Hawkins (rep), 2056.
Commissioner Second Distriet-C. K. Melby (rep), 240; O. J. Wignes (ind), 171.
Commissioner Fourth District-Levi S. Kiel (rep), 523.
The contests in the Republican pri- mary election of 1904 were decided as follows:
Representatives-Gustav Erickson. 883: Marcus Lauritsen, 689; John Mc- Kenzie, 843; H. W. Ruliffson, 995.
Treasurer-C. J. Berdan, 847; A. H. Dunton, 1054.
Sheriff-Andrew A. Christensen, 1251; H. O. Clark, 694.
Judge of Probate-E. C. Patterson, 937; Walter Wakeman, 935.
Commissioner Third District-J. N. Jones, 215; L. E. Peterson, 179.
At the 1904 general election 3134 ballots were cast, the largest number in the history of the county, before or since. For president Theodore Roose- velt received a record breaking majority
38Resigned and was succeeded by E. C. Patterson June 1, 1903.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
over Alton B. Parker. The vote for the several nominees was as follows:
President Theodore Roosevelt (rep), 2394; Alton B. Parker (dem), 331; Thomas Watson (pp), 52; Swallow (pro), 107: E. V. Debs (pub own), 50.
Governor-Robert C. Dunn (rep), 1658; John A. Johnson (dem), 1268; Charles W. Dorsett (pro), 82; J. E. Nash (pub own), 15; A. W. M. Anderson (soc lab), 14.
Congressman-A. J. Volstead (rep), 2611.
Representatives-Marcus Lauritsen (rep), 2285; Gustav Erickson (rep), 2317.
Auditor- Thomas McKinley (rep), 2704.
Treasurer-A. H. Dunton (rep), 2691.
Sheriff -- Andrew A. Christensen (rep), 2751.
Register of Deeds-M. E. Drake (rep), 2656.
Judge of Probate- E. C. Patterson (rep), 2449.
Attorney Thomas E. Davis (rep), 1460; Bjorn B. Gislason (ind), 1674.
Superintendent of Schools-Mrs. Dell W. Forbes (non partisan), 2580.
Coroner-J. B. Robertson (rep), 2250.
Surveyor-W. A. Hawkins (rep), 2449.
Commissioner First District-O. H. Hatlestad (rep), 504.
Commissioner Third District-John N. Jones (rep), 382; S. W. Galbraith (ind), 240.
Commissioner Fifth District- J. M. Wardell (rep), 488.
There were many candidates for the Republican nominations in 1906 and the results were as follows:
Judge District Court-L. G. Davis, 506; Joseph A. Eckstein, 519; I. M. Olsen, 1140; B. F. Webber, 320.
Senator Robert Faulds, 103; Marcus
Lauritsen, 753; Ole Ostensoe, 186; V. B. Seward, 1800.
Representatives-H. M. Hanson, 1359: I. L. Kolhei, 964; C. K. Melby, 1476.
Auditor- Thomas MeKinley, 782; Ernest S. Shepard, 2019.
Treasurer-A. H. Dunton, 544: J. H. Dahl, 707; Elmer E. Foster, 498; R. M. Neill, 1089; F. S. Purdy, 81.
Sheriff-Andrew A. Christensen, 1407; M. E. Grannan, 1527.
Register of Deeds-M. E. Drake, 2010; George D. Fitch, 669.
Judge of Probate-Walter Wakeman, 1381; O. F. Woodard, 1432.
Clerk of Court- C. J. - Berdan, 596; A. G. Bumford, 1515; Frank C. Whitney, 737.
Surveyor -- W. A. Hawkins, 1059; O. H. Sterk, 1562.
Commissioner Second District-Ole E. Rye, 203; T. K. Thompson, 224.
At the 1906 general election 2293 votes were polled and the results were as follows:
Governor-A. L. Cole (rep), 815; John A. Johnson (dem), 1288; Charles W. Dorsett (pro), 112; O. E. Lofthus (pub own), 19.
Judge District Court-I. M. Olsen (rep), 954; Albert Steinhauser (dem). 100; M. E. Mathews (non partisan), 1181.
Congressman-A. J. Volstead (rep). 1840.
Senator-V. B. Seward (rep), 1798.
Representatives-HI. M. Hanson (rep), 1536; C. K. Melby (rep), 1452.
Auditor-Ernest S. Shepard (rep). 1956.
Treasurer -R. M. Neill (rep), 1909.
Sheriff-M. E. Grannan (rep), 1607. Register of Deeds M. E. Drake (rep), 1907.
Judge of Probate-O. F. Woodard (rep), 1858.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Attorney-N. J. Robinson (rep), 1849. Clerk of Court-A. G. Bumford (rep), 1910.
Superintendent of Schools-H. R. Painter (rep), 1622; Mrs. Dell W. Forbes (non partisan), 1512.
Coroner J. B. Robertson (rep). 1767. Surveyor-O. H. Sterk (rep). 1817.
Commissioner Second District-T. K. Thompson (rep), 300.
Commissioner Fourth District Levi S. Kiel (rep), 430.
Only a few contested for the Repub- lican nominations in 1908 and the results were as follows:
Representatives- John N. Johnson, 1169; C. K. Melby, 1109; Thomas Stringer, 640.
Judge of Probate-John E. Regan, 596; O. F. Woodard, 1274.
Commissioner First District-O. H. Hatlestad, 166; Ludwig E. Larson, 153.
Commissioner Third District- Claus G. Johnson, 81; Evan M. Jones, 139; John N. Jones, 132; George A. Tate, 151.
Commissioner Fifth District-H. J. Cain, 131; J. M. Wardell, 203.
The general election of 1908 brought forth 2987 voters. The vote in detail:
President-W. H. Taft (rep), 1618; W. J. Bryan (dem), 1043; Eugene W. Chafin (pro), 146; E. V. Debs (pub own), 46; Thomas L. Hisgen (independence), 1.
Governor-Jacob F. Jacobson (rep). 1530; John A. Johnson (dem), 1209; George D. Haggard (pro), 106; Beecher Moore (pub own), 19; William W. Allen (independence), 3.
Congressman -- A. J. Volstead (rep). 2054.
Representatives- John N. Johnson (rep), 1424; C. K. Melby (rep), 1589; W. C. Gaugh (pro). 583; Alfred Soder- lind (ind), 915.
Auditor -- Ernest S. Shepard (rep), 2280.
Treasurer-R. M. Neill (rep), 2236.
Sheriff- M. E. Grannan (rep), 2157.
Register of Deeds-M. E. Drake (rep), 2254.
Judge of Probate-O. F. Woodard (rep), 2283.
Attorney- N. J. Robinson (rep), 2152.
Superintendent of Schools-H. R. Painter (rep), 2229.
Coroner-J. B. Robertson (rep), 2043.
Surveyor-O. H. Sterk (rep), 2163.
Commissioner First District -- O. H. Hatlestad (rep). 285; Peter T. Dahl (ind), 252.
Commissioner Third District-George A. Tate (rep), 302; C. E. Etrheim (dem). 396.
Commissioner Fifth District-J. M. Wardell39 (rep), 392.
The results of the Republican primary election of 1910 for the offices sought by more than one candidate were as fol- lows:
Senator-Olai A. Lende, 1351; V. B. Seward, 1273.
Representatives-J. H. Catlin. 1044; Edwin F. Whiting. 1419.
Sheriff-M. E. Grannan, 1390; R. A. Mitchell, 1161.
Register of Deeds-Boyd Champlain. 947; M. E. Drake, 1513.
Judge of Probate- John Michie. 774; O. F. Woodard, 1709.
Superintendent of Schools-Lucy A. Mercer, 794; II. R. Painter, 1878.
Surveyor-J. D. Lanoue, 616; O. H. Sterk, 1662.
Commissioner Fourth District-E. E. Davis, 312; Levi S. Kiel, 255: S. W. Orr, 110.
At the last general election before the publication of this volume-that of
39Mr. Wardell resigned in the spring of 1912 on account of ill health and died a few weeks later. H. F. Seiter was chosen to complete the term.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
1910 the total vote cast was 2507.40 The vote was divided among the several nominees as follows:
Governor A. O. Eberhart (rep), 1158; James Gray (dem), 1091; J. F. Heiberg (pro), 90; George E. Barrett (pub own), 24; C. W. Brandborg (soc lab), 33.
Congressman-A. J. Volstead (rep), 1844.
Senator-Olai A. Lende (rep), 1867.
Representative-Edwin F. Whiting (rep), 1745; Cain (ind), 311.
Auditor -- Ernest S. Shepard (rep), 1944.
Treasurer-R. M. Neill (rep), 1983.
Sheriff-M. E. Grannan (rep), 1266; John Munroe (dem), 1192.
Register of Deeds-M. E. Drake (rep), 1945.
Judge of Probate-O. F. Woodard (rep), 1929.
Attorney-James H. Hall (rep), 1220; James Von Williams (dem), 1178.
Clerk of Court-A. G. Bumford (rep), 1953.
Superintendent of Schools-H. R. Painter (rep), 1942.
Coroner-J. B. Robertson (rep), 1839. Surveyor-O. H. Sterk (rep), 1911.
Commissioner Second District-T. K. Thompson (rep), 167; James McGinn (dem), 176.
Commissioner Fourth District-E. E. Davis (rep). 398; Levi S. Kiel (ind), 267.
And now the political history of Lyon county is brought to a close. It covers a period from the time in 1870 when the first official took the oath of office- when there were less than one hundred voters in the county-up to and in- cluding the last general election before the publication of this volume. A brief
40The vote of the county at the first election, in 1870, was 78, and in 1873, while the present Lincoln county was included in it, it was 502. The total vote cast at each election since that time was as follows: 1874, 453; 1875, 238; 1876, 606; 1877, 399; 1878, 698;
summary of conditions during this time may not be out of place.
The county has always been normally Republican and in the early days was overwhelmingly so. Although the party of Jefferson polled fair sized votes at several elections, it has never carried the county for the national ticket; at three elections it carried the county for its nominees for governor.
During the entire early history of the county, the Republican was the only party maintaining an organization. But during that time there was a strong independent movement, kept alive by one faction of the Republican party and the Democrats, which opposed the Re- publican organization and on several occasions gained partial control of county politics. With the later settlement of the county came the organization of the Democratic party, and since that time it has been a factor in county polities, although always as a minority party. Since primary election days it has participated in local politics only to a limited extent.
In the free silver days of the nineties the Alliance, succeeded after one cam- paign by the Peoples Party, came into existence, carried the county for gover- nor and congressman at one election, and became a power in local politics. Fusion between the Peoples Party and Democrats was accomplished and for some time the combined forces furnished opposition to the dominant party.
The Prohibitionists have never been strong in Lyon county. In a few cam- paigns they placed nominees; for county offices in the field. Socialists and other minor parties have little or no strength in the county.
1879, 536; 1880, 1336; 1881, 601; 1882, 1118; 1883, 748; 1884, 1608; 1886, 1528; 1888, 1826; 1890, 1795; 1892, 2256; 1894, 2721; 1896, 3066; 1898, 2285; 1900, 3033; 1902, 2494; 1904, 3134; 1906, 2293; 1908, 2987; 1910, 2507.
CHAPTER IX.
MARSHALL-1872-1912.
M ARSHALL, the capital of Lyon county, is the largest and old- est existing town in the county. It is located at the Big Bend of the Redwood river, and its elevation above sea level is 1174 feet. It is a station on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and the Great Northern railroad. Other- wise described, Marshall is on section 4, Lake Marshall township, and the busi- ness center of the city is only three miles, in a direct line, from the geo- graphical center of the county.
The population of Marshall in 1910 was 2152, but there has been an in- crease since that time and a census today would show a population of about 2500. It is one of the progressive and prosperous towns of Southwestern Min- nesota. All lines of business that are to be found in the towns of agricultural communities of the upper Mississippi valley are represented. It is noted for its beautiful homes, schools, churches and social organizations, and in these respects it is the peer of any city of its size in the state.
Considered in its natural state, the location of Marshall is one of unusual beauty; Southwestern Minnesota has not a more lovely spot. Through the eastern part of the city flows the Red- wood river, skirted by a growth of natural timber, which forms a series of
pretty little parks. In its natural state and with the embellishments added by the hands of man, Marshall ranks as one of the prettiest little cities in a state distinguished for its pretty towns. Especially is one charmed with its loveliness in summer. Then the broad avenues and parks are clothed in bright- est green : trees are everywhere.
One can hardly realize that less than a half century ago this spot was an uncharted wilderness, practically un- known to white men; yet such is the case. Time was when the dusky red man pitched his tepee where now Marshall's churches are located; vast herds of bison inhabited the surrounding country and made their wallows, per- haps, where now our courts are held; timid deer browsed where at present the pupil studies his natural history; elk in countless numbers roamed the adjacent prairies and saw their antlers reflected in the clear waters of the Redwood as they bent down to drink.
When the first white man set foot on the site of the city is not known. Pos- sibly he was some adventurous trapper who had pushed out beyond his asso- ciates to locate new grounds in which to ply his trade, and, having come to the Redwood river, proceeded up the stream to the point where was later founded the city. Maybe Joseph La
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IHISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Framboise in the thirties or James W. Lynd in the fifties, in their operations in Lyon county, visited the Big Bend of the Redwood and were the first to stand upon the site. Possibly the first was a member of one of the exploring parties that visited Southwestern Min- nesota in an early day.
History records that wherever the North American Indians were in the habit of gathering for purposes of residence, council, worship or barter, those spots have invariably been selected by white men on which to locate their centers of population. There is scarce an instance to the contrary, and. indeed, it would have been remarkable had a city not been founded where Marshall now stands. For the Big Bend of the Redwood was a well-known spot to the aborigines; there they were wont to gather and make their camps while on the warpath or hunt, and it came to be a popular assembling ground. Trails extended from it in four directions: northward to the Lae qui Parle country; southward, past Lake Marshall, to the Cottonwood river country and Lake Shetek; southwestward, up the Red- wood river, to the Lynd woods and the famous Pipestone quarries; northeast- ward, down the Redwood, to the present site of Redwood Falls and the Minnesota river.
The land on which Marshall was later built (section 4, Lake Marshall town- ship) was without a claimant until the summer of 1869. At that time C. H. Whitney and C. H. Upton, accompanied by others, came to the county and located claims thereon, Mr. Whitney taking the southeast quarter and Mr. Upton the northeast quarter. They
broke a little land on each of those claims and also on the northwest quarter of the same section, which was reserved as the claim of Mrs. Ursula Stone, mother-in-law of Mr. Upton and a soldier's widow. These gentlemen de- parted from their claims on June 15, and on the eighteenth made their filings in the land office at New Ulm.
Messrs. Whitney and Upton returned on June 1. 1870. Mr. Whitney built a sod shanty on his claim-the first build- ing erected in Marshall, though not the first in the village as originally platted -and Mr. Upton put up a sod shanty on his claim, both being on the east side of the river and not in the original platted portion, but in additions later made. Although there was no prospect of the founding of a village at the time, Mr. Whitney, on October 17. 1870, secured the establishment of a post- office, which was located on his claim and of which he became postmaster. The office was named Marshall' and was operated as a country postoffice until the village was founded.
During 1870 a number of settlers located in the vicinity of the village-to- be and the Marshall postoffice became a sort of social center for those living in the neighborhood. Late in May, 1871, Mrs. Ursula Stone and Milo Morse arrived and selected as their claims the remaining land on section 4, Mr. Morse filing on the southwest quarter and Mrs. Stone on the northwest quarter. In June Mr. Morse, assisted by his neigh- bors, built a sod shanty at a point on his claim which is about where the Van Dusen elevator now stands, close to the Northwestern tracks. 2
Not until early in 1872 was there
1The proximity of Lake Marshall doubtless suggested the name of the postoffice to Mr. Whitney. The lake was named in honor of Governor William R. Marshall. The village was not named after Lake Marshall or in honor of Governor Marshall, but after this postoffice.
2"I helped to build the first house on the original townsite of Marshall, in June, 1871. It was a sod house. The original homesteader, Milo Morse, held a 'bee' and the Bellinghams, Al Bean, myself and others attended."-G. M. Durst.
131
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
thought of a village at the Big Bend. Then came rumors of the proposed ex- tension of the Winona & St. Peter rail- road through Lyon county, and a little later came the surveyors who selected the route. The people at the Big Bend early put in a claim for a station on the proposed road, but their claim was opposed by the settlers at the point where the road would cross Three-Mile creek, close to the present village of Ghent. For a time the choice was in doubt. but the settlers at the Big Bend were triumphant, largely through the exertions of C. H. Whitney. He made a trip to the land office at Redwood Falls, secured data concerning the land filings in the two neighborhoods, and presented the matter to the railroad authorities in such light that they promised the Lyon county station should be at the point where the road would cross the Redwood river.
It was not long after the selection of the site was made before there were signs of a village. The first building erected, excepting the sod houses before mentioned, was put up in June, 1872. It was a little frame building erected by the railroad company for the use of its engineers and stood where the Lawrence furniture store is now. The second building was put up about the same time and stood in the middle of Third Street, facing Main, in front of the site now occupied by the Lyon County National Bank. Its dimensions were 13x16 feet. with a lean-to, and the lumber it contained was hauled from
3The sales at this store the day it opened were $2200, and they frequently were $2000 to $2500 per day. R. M. Addison and S. H. Mott succeeded to the business some time after the railroad came and a little later Mr. Addison became sole proprietor.
4"One day in July, 1872, Engineer John W. Blake dashed into the 'village' upon a sweat-dripping pony which he had ridden from Lamberton, starting at ten-thirty in the forenoon and arriving here at four- thirty in the afternoon. Ho stated to C. H. Whitney that the engineers and railroad officers had come to Lamberton by train and were then on their way by
New Uhn. The builders were William Everett. R. M. Addison and Charles A. DeGraff (the latter the head of the contracting firm which built the rail- road), who formed the firm of William Everett & Company for the purpose of engaging in business in the proposed town. A large stock of goods was carried and the firm did an enormous business from the start, most of the patrons being employes doing construc- tion work.3
At a time when the only buildings on the site were the engineers' office, the Everett store building and the sod shanties of the homesteaders, and before it was platted, in July, 1872, Marshall was named. The momentous event occurred at a supper served a party of railroad officials by Mrs. C. H. Whitney in the engineers' office.' There were present Vice President and Treasurer Sykes, General Manager Howe, General Superintendent Stewart, Attorney Gen- eral Smith, Chief Engineer W. G. Ward, Assistant Engineer J. W. Blake, Con- tractor DeGraff and his son, Charles DeGraff.
During the meal the naming of the station was discussed and the following names were proposed, all in honor of some member of the party: Ward City, Howeville, DeGraffton, Stewart ville and Blake City. No agreement was reached and W. G. Ward suggested that their hostess, Mrs. Whitney, name the station and the others assented. Having heard the discussion, Mrs. Whitney realized that the selection of one of the names
teams to Marshall and must have supper when they arrived. Mrs. Whitney levied upon whatever the country afforded and prepared the repast in her house, and upon the arrival of the party it was conveyed to the engineers' office, and there occurred the first public repast held in this place. Major Blake says it was a meal fit for princes, and the wonder of all was that such an extensive array of viands could have been collected and prepared upon such short notice and upon the open prairie. A large number of people came with the party, but only the 'high joints' sat down to the repast in the office."-News-Messenger, September 16, 1887.
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IIISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
proposed might prove embarrassing, and she selected the name Marshall, after the postoffice conducted by her husband. The name was instantly ac- cepted by the officials. With a libation of water sprinkled upon the ground, General Smith baptized the new town, accompanying the ceremony with a speech in which he urged upon Marshall's foster parents the duty of using their influence in the cause of temperance within its limits. The party remained in Marshall over night and then con- tinued their journey to Lake Kampeska.
But little progress was made in the building line before the railroad reached the town. Early in September Jesse Bagley built a little structure where the Watson hardware store now stands and used it as a boarding shanty. In Sep- tember also Captain Herrick and Major Filkins set up a large tent (to the rear of the site of John Schneider's store) and conducted a saloon, which was liberally patronized by the railroad workers. In this tent while it was so employed, the first religious services in Marshall were conducted by Rev. E. H. Alden.
October was a busy month in the new town. It witnessed the arrival of the railroad on the twelfth, the opening of
5A little more than a week after the hotel was opened, on October 20, an accident occurred which is well remembered by all who were present and is chronicled as an event in the history of Marshall. W. M. Todd, in correspondence to a Winona paper at the time of the accident, wrote of it as follows:
"Inside this hotel last Tuesday evening occurred an accident that is well worthy of notice, even in a metropolitan paper, and that published at a great distance away. The train from the east that evening was loaded with passengers and it contained all the railroad men employed by the company at this place. All took a bec-line for the hotel and demanded rest and refreshments. Charlie's eyes bulged out when he surveyed the multitude, but he yelled, 'Come in and we will do the best we can.' In went the throng, and as there was not room enough elsewhere, it pressed into the dining room. Supper being ready, all who conld surrounded the table and the rest stood up anywhere they could find room.
"The room was already full and commenced to pack when the weight caused the floor to break, and down went table, dishes, chairs, trunks, satchels, men, women, children, babies and all in one promiscuous mass into the cellar below. The author of this de- seription was sitting on a broom handle, play-horse- fashion, waiting for his turn at the coffee and boiled
a hotel on the same date, and the platting of the village on the twenty- second.
The hotel was erected by C. H. Whitney and was a substantial structure. It was located where the present Atlantic Hotel stands, was 35x40 feet and two stories high. Mr. Whitney had decided to build just one month before the hotel was opened to the public. On the twelfth of September he left for Winona to purchase the lumber. The stock was billed to "the end of the line," which proved to be near the present village of Amiret, and was hauled from that point by team. The structure was rushed to completion and was opened October 12, the day the first train was run to the town. Supper was provided for 275 men that evening.5
For the purpose of platting the Marshall townsite a partnership was formed by J. H. Stewart, superintendent of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company ; J. H. Jenkins, assistant super- intendent; W. G. Ward. chief engineer; J. W. Blake, assistant engineer; and C. H. Whitney. They purchased the southwest quarter of section 4 from Milo Morse and the south half of the north- west quarter from Mrs. Stone and laid out the town on portions of those tracts
beef, having taken a big dose of quinine and whisky to scare off a threatening agne chill, and as he saw everything begin to go down, he sprang across the 'bloody chasm' and landed in the kitchen. When he looked back into the dark eellar and saw the shadowy forms of the struggling vietims trying to extricate themselves and heard the shrieks of the sex which caused the downfall of man once before, he was, to say the least, sorry he had invested. In the dining room and office were nearly two hundred persons, and as the lower floor of the whole house except the kitchen went down, the most of this number went down with it. "Digging out the ruins, human and otherwise, began with a vengeance. ` It was found that no one was hurt in going down, but some were bruised in being 'snaked out.' A Miss Smith, manager of the dining room, who was under a trunk, was slightly injured. The fellow who lifts himself by his boot-straps was there and tried to pull her from under the trunk while bracing his feet on the top of it. Many complained the next morning of bruised shins, particularly 'Deacon' Knowles, the clerk, who jumped clear over a table to rescue a bull-dog. Another evidence of the way things are done here is the fact that this cellar was cleaned out and a new floor laid before four o'clock the next morning, and upwards of three hundred persons breakfasted there."
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