USA > Minnesota > Waseca County > 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 > Part 15
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 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
THE ASSASSINATION.
But alas! What a sudden transition from the most heartfelt joy to the deepest gloom !
While the loyal people everywhere were expressing the utmost joy-while they were willing to forgive and forget-there flashed to every hamlet in the land the appalling announcement- "PRESIDENT LINCOLN IS ASSASSINATED !! "
The civilized world stood aghast! In the very hour of the final triumph of Liberty over Oppression-of Law and Order over Anarehy-he, the chief actor, the ablest, the most revered and beloved, the purest, the wisest, the best, had fallen by the hand of the dastardly, drunken assassin, J. Wilkes Booth.
The murder of Lincoln by the rebel assassin was the crowning sacrifiee of the war. It was the final culmination of that de- moniac spirit of Slavocracy which sought to destroy the nation by organizing murder everywhere-murder upon land, murder upon the lakes and rivers, piracy and murder upon the high seas, murder by burning our cities, murder and highway robbery by
179
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
organized guerillas, murder by starving thirty thousand help- less prisoners in Southern pens. Let us hope that the world may never again be disgraced by the production of another spirit so demoniacal.
Probably no man's death, in the history of the world, was ever so universally mourned by all classes of people as was that of Abraham Lincoln.
"His faculties so meek hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking off -. "
THE INDIANS AGAIN.
Notwithstanding the defeat of the Indians in 1862-3, the red- skins kept up a desultory war upon the western plains, and small bands of them occasionally ventured into sparsely settled neigh- borhoods for the purpose of murder and robbery. Their last raid into Minnesota was made this year. Judge Buck, in his "Indian Outbreaks," says: "On the second day of May, 1865, Andrew J. Jewett and wife, his father and mother, and a hired man named Charles Tyler, were murdered in the town of Rapidan (Blue Earth county) by Indians and a half-breed, named John Camp- bell, frequently called Jack Campbell. He was a brother of Bap- tiste Campbell, who was one of the thirty-eight hanged at Man- kato, Dec. 26, 1862. Jack was at one time in the Union army and did some good service while there. But after his brother Bap- tiste was hanged he swore vengeance, and stated that he would burn Mankato. He had a comrade in the army by the name of Marshall Fall, who he knew had sent money to Jewett, and hence he had two objects in view, one the robbery of Jewett, and the other the burning of Mankato. With him were several Indians. Dr. Welcome, then of Garden City, hearing of the murder, visited the place and found Jewett and wife, father and mother and young Tyler dead, and young Jewett, who recovered, badly wounded."
After the murder, Jack left the Indians, the latter going in another direction, and started for Mankato. He was caught on his way by an armed citizen named Dodge, who took him to Mankato, where he was put in jail. It was soon discovered that
180
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
he had on Mr. Jewett's eoat and pantaloons and a pair of shoes belonging to the Jewett family. The next morning Campbell was tried by a de facto court composed of a jury of twelve men, Lawyer Barney as judge, J. H. Willard prosecuting attorney, and O. O. Pitcher as defendant's attorney. He was found guilty and summarily hanged by the neck until dead. Before his death he confessed to the priest that he had robbed the Jewett family of $300, which he had put in his jail bed. This was found and returned to Marshall Fall, who had sent it to the Jewett family for safe keeping. The Indians, though hunted by soldiers and eitizens, killed a soldier named James Jolly and a boy named Frank York, and made their way west, where they were finally killed by the patrol seouts under the command of Major Robert H. Rose.
This was a great year for Waseca 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 tended to make times prosperous and business good.
ELECTION OF 1865.
There was no change of county commissioners. The following county officers were elected : Hiram A. Mosher register of deeds. Capt. E. M. Broughton sheriff, Geo. R. Buckman treasurer, James E. Child judge of probate, H. D. Baldwin county attorney, and O. S. Canfield county surveyor. Broughton, Mosher and Buek- man were returned soldiers.
CHAPTER XXXIV, 1866.
BIELA'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 OF 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 office 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 office 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, Minn. 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 1865-6 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 twenty-four
.
MRS SARAH M.NEWELL
MRS JULIA M. WILLIS
JULIA KRASSIN
COL.W.W.ROBINSON
JOSEPH CLAYTON
COL.J.C.IDE.
ZABINA CHILD
ADAM BISHMAN
S.A.FARRINGTON
183
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
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. Many 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 Rev. 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, E. 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 majority of 54 votes. The acceptance of Mr. Isaac, upon such a
184
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
vote, was a surprise to many; but Mr. Wood, who never sought office, refused to contest for the position, and Mr. 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 Waseea 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 commeneed 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 statc. 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 1854.
186
CHILD'S HISTORY OF 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- triet court each year; but the time had come, so the board thonght, when two terms instead of one should be held each year. So the commissioners petitioned Hon. N. M. 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
ยท
187
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
Orders redeemed
6,189.24
County bonds redeemed
289.38
Total $6,478.62
Total receipts $8,745.38
Balance in treasury $2,266.76
Amount due on tax duplicate
$3,908.86
Estimated amount due on taxes of previous years. $1,600.00
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 Mr. 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 OF 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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 oeeupied on the first floor by Lord, Ad- dison & Co., dealers in general merchandise. The front part, up stairs, was used by Mr. Everett's family as a temporary resi- denee, while the rear end of the building, up stairs, was occupied by the printing 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 became 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 Waseca, the same being surveyed and platted by H. G. Mosher. Mrs. Justina Child was the first to construct a building on the First Addition.
From the time of the survey and platting of the town until long into the winter, the work of building went rapidly forward. The first week in December, 1867, the "Waseca News, " published by the writer, contained the following:
"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.
189
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
"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. 1. C. Trowbridge, original proprietor of the village. The Vincent Hotel (now known as the Priest Block) is 60 feet on Wood street and 55 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 office 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, 16x40 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. Eckenbeck. 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 OF 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: Mr. Wm. Harding and Mrs. Eliza Reibling, Nov. 20, 1867, in St. Mary ; Mr. F. H. Harding, son of Hiram Harding, and Miss Mary Green, daughter of M. S. Green, Esq., of Iosco, Nov. 26, 1867; Mr. Wm. Davidson and Miss Mary E. Vars, in the town of Medo, Dec. 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 Miss Melissa E. Freelove, of Manchester, 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 FALL 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
191
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
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.
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.