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 17
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
the elite. "Sets" and "pushes" and "classes" were then un- known, and pure, Ameriean 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 was 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 by the jolliest crews that ever sailed the lake, and, just as old Sol was disappearing beyond the west- ern hills, the happy company reached the village in condition to enjoy a night 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- deneies, and ealeulated 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 Waseca 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 August 5, 1868, contained an obituary notice of the death of C. O. Norton, 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 large eirele 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 cast, 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 ent off and a piece of the scalp was missing. The boy belonged to the family of Mr. Fetterly, a brother-in-law of Mr. A. Wert, of Waseca. Ile was abont 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.
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
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 MeIntosh, living in an old house 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-
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF 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 for 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 hut 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 September, 1868, was 11 .- 0721% bushels; the amount shipped ont was 10,560 bushels, and the price was $1.25 per bushel. The total receipts of wheat at the railroad elevator, during the month of September, amounted to 53,326 bushels-the receipts of the last week in that month were 18,558 bushels.
THE WHEAT YIELD IN WASECA COUNTY.
This year, 1868, was one of the great wheat seasons for Min-
1
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
nesota. Mr. H. W. S. Hinkley, who was then a noted thresher- man of the county, reported yields as follows: John Byron, of St. Mary, threshed 440 bushels 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 yield 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
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
Otisco, and Mr. 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 load of wood, returning safe and sound. Upon coming back with the second load, when near the center of the lake, one horse broke through the ice. Mr. Jones unhitched from the sleigh 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 horses 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 Waseca for help, Mr. Jones remaining with the horses to keep their heads above water. 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 up as lost and left upon the ice, the men returning to town. The next morning Mr. 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 horses had been blanketed no doubt both could have been saved. It was a mys- tery to all why the horses broke through the ice where they had three times before the same day passed safely over. It was a sad loss for Mr. Jones, who depended much on his team to earn his living. Our people, however, with their accustomed liberality and goodness of heart contributed somewhat to his relief.
THE FIRST BRASS BAND.
The new town 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 funds to help the boys get started. The receipts of the two evening entertainments, December 25 and 26, amounted
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
to over $100. The entertainments were well received and highly enjoyed. S. H. Preston and his sisters, Mrs. Young and Mrs. Mc- Intosh, took leading parts in the entertainments, and Mr. Preston became leader of the band, sacrificing both time and money for which he has never received proper consideration. Messrs. Pres- ton, Willsey and Bennett were elected as financial committee, and H. D. Baldwin as treasurer.
ROUND UP OF THE YEAR.
The year 1868 elosed 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 products. Very soon the business men of the country commenced to fail. The commercial failures which had number- 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 1866, 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 drop 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
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF 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 sinee learned that the supply of money has more to do with prices than the supply of any other one artiele in the commerce of the country. Henec 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
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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 $31,000. One-half of the assets consisted of real 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 eitizens in very bad shape finaneially. The failure took with it the bank at Blue Earth City, conducted by S. P. Child under the firm name of Baldwin & Child. That failure, in turn, caused financial distress to many people in Faribault 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 Mr. Wm. Everett was appointed assignee, in the bankruptcy proceed- ings, and managed the estate to the satisfaction of all concerne:l.
A SECOND NEWSPAPER.
W. D. Palmer and A. J. Clark started a paper at Wilton, called the "Conrant," which continued some six months and then failed. Palmer remained only two weeks. Mr. Clark having charge of the paper the remainder of the time. Clark recently died, in Texas, we think. Ilis last newspaper enterprise (and he started many) was at Rosean, in this state. He was a very congenial, compan- ionable man, but whisky was his bane and kept him in the slough of poverty and despondeney.
SEVERE WIND STORM.
There was a very severe wind storm on Friday, March 5, 1869. Al. Long, then one of Burbank & Co.'s stage drivers, between here and Mankato, 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- jured, although he asserted in language strong that the stage roach rolled over twenty times.
DEATH OF A BRAVE SOLDIER.
The death of William Bliven occurred on the Sth of March. He was one of the boy settlers of the county. Ilis marriage to the
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
only daughter of W. H. Young, against the wishes of her parents, was somewhat romantic. Mr. Bliven enlisted at the mustering-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 contracted 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 mnight live as the home of free men.
THE COLDEST MARCH DAY ON RECORD.
Waseca News, March 17, 1869.
"We give it up! We stand corrected! We have always stood hy 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.
On the 17th of March, '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 it belonging to merchants in Mankato 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 May 10th following.
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF 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 G. 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, 1869, 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 Miss 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 finally 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 deeline 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, which led from the jail stove to the chimney, or was set fire by a prisoner, named Shea. The fire was not discovered until about eight o'clock, when it had reached the roof and spread far and wide on the inside, between the roof and ceiling over the adjoining conrt room. Heroic work was done to save the building, while men, women
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
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. Meyer'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 arrange 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, was rescued without serions 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
W. S. Libby, same 50 00
50 00
G. Liek, same
50 00
John Maloney, same 15 00
50 00
W. S. Libby, billiard license
T. E. Marshall, same 15 00
A. Wert, dray license 5 00
5 00
De Castro, show license
Fines Collected 6 00
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
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
control of the Republican party, the supreme court, and the gov- ernment, there was an income tax-and a very just tax it was too, although there were some queer pranks about taxpayers then as now. Here is a little article which went forth from the sanctum of the Waseca News, May 12, 1869, viz:
"Ward, Child-Child, Ward!"
"INCOME TAX FOR WASECA COUNTY FOR THE PRESENT YEAR." Child, J. E. income $1,547, tax $17 35
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