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 18
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Ward, W. G., income $1,065, tax 3 25
"One a civil engineer for the Winona & St. Peter Railroad company: the other a scrub of an editor on a country newspaper!
"What a tremendous loss there must have been in business circles for less than a thousand dollars a year! Heavy men laboring for less than a thousand dollars a year! !
"Where is Hunter with his bonds and farms and merchandise? and Bailey and Watkins with their hardware? and Libby with his United States bonds and liquor profits? and Addison & Everett with their tre- mendous sales? and Wadsworth with his salary and lands? and the Smiths, and Johnsons, and McCues, and Castors, and doctors and law- vers, and hosts of other equally worthy gentlemen in this county? Are they dying in poverty and obscurity? What have they been doing the past year? Have they been gnawing at their original capital?
"It is a glorious thing, Brother Ward, to have an income; but it is excruciating to look upon the poverty (?) of our friends around us! Only two persons, in Waseca county pay income taxes-poor, degraded, 'Black Republicans,' at that!
"Brother Ward, let us call a meeting and get the Democrat Whang- doodle to deliver a speech of condolence."
The man that has an income ean and ought to pay his propor- tion of the taxes; the man that, on aecount of misfortune or otherwise, in any year, has no ineome ought not to be called upon to pay taxes. The farmer that has a good crop can afford to pay taxes. The farmer whose erop is totally destroyed by a tornado or drouth is not able to pay taxes and ought not to be called upon to pay any for that year. There is no other plan of taxation so fair and so equitable as taxation based upon income.
BASE BALL OF YEARS AGONE.
Perhaps it will interest some of the people of to-day and of the future to read and learn something of the first prominent base- ball organization of Waseca county. It was christened the "Clear Lake Base Ball (lub," and was organized Wednesday evening,
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May 5; the following officers were elected : B. S. Lewis, president ; W. M. Murfin, vice president ; W. O. Nanscawen, secretary : Lewis Brownell, treasurer; J. W. Johnson, P. P. Smith and M. H. Helms, directors. It was organized with a membership of 18-afterwards increased to 27. The next Saturday evening, at a regular meet- ing, the following were chosen as the first nine, viz : Mike Murphy, captain ; M. H. Helm, piteher; Win. Wood, catcher; I. W. John- son, short stop; M. Murphy, first base; B. S. Lewis, second base ; Dan. Haines, third base ; W. M. Murfin, center field; Charles Vin- cent, right field; Roger Wood, left field. The members met every evening, Sundays excepted, upon the grounds now occupied by the court house and jail, for practice. It was little more than an amateur club until it absorbed the "Blooming Grove nine," and made Martin Healy captain and pitcher. It finally became the champion club of the state and won the silver bat. The base ball excitement about that time became almost universal throughout the country, and even aged men would leave their business to broil in the hot sun while they watched the ups and downs of the game. But, like every other fad, it had its day; and our Waseca people, after one year of excitement, loss of time and cash outlay, concluded to give the game over to less practical men and hoys.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
On the 11th of May, 1869, members of the Congregational church met in what is now the Baptist church building of Waseca, and adopted articles of incorporation in accordance with the laws of the state. The following gentlemen were chosen trustees: Ezra Wood, A. E. Dearborn, Austin Vinton, J. II. Stevens. L. Hummiston, Ed. Bennett and G. A. Rowland. Ezra Wood was elected president and A. E. Dearborn secretary. At this meeting there was considerable discussion regarding the erection of a church edifice at an early day, but nothing decisive was accom- plished until the following September. About the 22d of that month the committee had secured $1,700.00 for the purpose, and about October 1, D. L. Whipple and Maj. Young commenced work on the construction of the edifice. The building was com- pleted the next spring, and constitutes the main part of the pres- ent church.
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TOTAL ECLIPSE-THE DARK DAY.
There was a total eclipse of the sun on the seventh day of August, 1869, at 3.43 p. m. This eclipse of the sun was one of the most awe-inspiring sights ever beheld. Long prior to the ob- scuration, almost everyone had prepared his smoked glass and was watching intently for the phenomenon that astronomers had foretold years and years before. Exactly on time the moon was seen to intrude between the earth and the sun. Slowly and surely darkness covered the face of the sun, the obscuration growing more and more, and then was seen the approach of the moon's shadow in the air. The heavens were darkened. The stars and planets shone forth as in the night. The air grew sensibly cooler. Animals became strangely agitated. Birds seem- ed bewildered and fluttered in the treetops. A strange gloom covered the earth. Buildings, trees, animals, and all other ob- jects had a peculiar and unnatural appearance. The human face assumed a pallid, ghastly shade, and as the eclipse reached totality or near it, all grew silent and meditative; and a feeling of pro- found awe, not to say dread, took possession of the beholder.
COUNTY POLITICS.
The Republican county convention was held at Wilton, Sep- tember 2. 1869. At this convention Waseca secured the nomina- tion of Maj. W. C. Young, who was well known to favor the re- moval of the county seat to Waseca. The nominees were as follows : Maj. W. C. Young for representative; J. B. Hill, sheriff; J. A. Canfield, judge of probate; Lewis Brownell, eounty attorney ; C. E. Crane, surveyor; P. C. Bailey, court commissioner; Dr. M. S. Gove, Coroner.
The Democrat county convention was held September 18. 1869, and put in nomination the following candidates: Kelsey Curtis for representative; B. S. Lewis, county attorney ; H. A. Mosher, register of deeds; Philo Hall, treasurer; S. W. Long. sheriff; Dr. R. O. Craig, coroner; John Bradish, judge of probate. The result of the election gave certificates to W. ( Young, S. M. Long, J. A. C'anfield, B. S. Lewis, C. E. Crane, P. C. Bailey, H. A. Mosher and Dr. M. S. Gove. Ilence, as will be seen in the result, honors were divided between the parties oven at that day. when party feeling ran high.
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SHOCKING DEATH BY ACCIDENT.
One of those shocking accidents that sometimes oceur, happen- ed September 24, 1869. Mr. John Murphy, an early settler of Byron, accompanied by one of the Messrs. Linnihan of the same town, in returning home from Waseca in the evening, and while crossing a bridge over a runway on the Geo. T. Dunn farm in Wilton, met with a fatal accident. While erossing the pole bridge, the off horse slipped one hind foot through the bridge. The horse commenced to struggle, and Mr. Murphy, as was supposed, took the near horse by the bridle and tried to quiet the team. The off horse, however, struggled and plunged about until Mr. Murphy and both horses were thrown from the bridge, on the east side, the man falling underneath and both horses on top of him. It was so dark at the time that nothing could be seen any distance. Linnihan, who was in the wagon, called to Murphy but got no answer. He then got out of the wagon and felt around until he discovered Murphy beneath the horses. Linnihan ent the har- ness from the horses and the off one got out. Murphy was fast under the other horse and under water, and Linnihan found it im- possible to extrieate him. He then mounted the live horse and aroused the neighbors, who came with lanterns. They drew out the body of the horse in the creek under which they found the lifeless form of Mr. Murphy. It was a very sad affair.
SHOOTING DEER AND CHICKENS ON THE RAILROAD TRACK.
Among the railroad ineidents of that day, we reeall the story of Conductor Denny Keeler, and Engineer Nichols. It was the first week in December, 1869, when going east, that they had a novel experience. Just after pulling out of Dover Center, they discovered a fine deer upon the traek some distance ahead Crowding on steam they gave ehase. The road at this place was fenced on both sides of the track, so there was little ehance of eseape for the frightened animal but to outrun the fiery horse be- hind him. The train gained steadily and rapidly upon the deer, and, when within gunshot, both Keeler and Nichols fired, both shots taking effeet and disabling the deer, but not killing it. The train was stopped and Denny, with knife in hand, cut the deer's throat, and took the carcass aboard without even a pass
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or the payment of fare, and proudly landed it in Winona as in- disputable evidence of their prowess as hunters.
It was not unusual in those days. when Waseca was the western terminus of the road, for the boys to stop a train between Owa- tonna and Waseca long enough to bag a few chickens.
RAILROAD EXTENDED TO JANESVILLE.
The village of "East Janesville," as the present Janesville was then called, was surveyed and platted by S. H. Mott in August. 1869. The people of the "Old Village of Janesville," which was situated on the west side of the outlet at the south end of the beautiful Lake Elysian, had anticipated the building of the road to that point and the new village was well under way before the first train reached that point. J. W. Sprague, general manager of the W. & St. P. Ry. at that time, was proprietor of the new town and reaped a harvest of shekels. The first building was erected by Judge Baldwin, who went from Wasera. It was built in August, "Jim" Cummins hauling the first load of lumber for it. This building was opened as a boarding house and hotel. It was afterwards known as the "Johnson House." Hon. J. O. Chandler rame over from the old town and opened a stock of general mer- handise. A. W. Jennison and Frank A. Miner from Waseca also opened a store with a general assortment of goods. Hon. D. J. Dodge, from Waseea, opened a hardware store under the firm name of D. J. Dodge & Co. J. D. Andrews, also from Wasera. opened a drug store in the new town. Hon. R. O. Craig came over from the old town and opened a doctor's office. Other buildings followed in rapid succession and when the first train arrive.l. Oct. 10th, 1869. East Janesville was a bustling little town.
As soon as regular trains made Janesville, the daily stages of Burbank & Co. ceased to arrive at Waseca from the west. but made their headquarters at Janesville. For ten years the Bur- bank stage lines had been our sole dependenee for mail facilities on the main thoroughfares, and when these stages ecased their daily visits it seemed much like the death of an old friend in the commmity.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Mrs. E. Fisk, one of the very early settlers of Wilton, and highly respected, died June 20, 1869.
.
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The first Mrs. Peter Lindsay, who had been ill of cancer of the breast for three years, had it removed about the first of February, 1869, by Drs. Coe, Gove and Brubaker. She died not long afterwards.
The "News" of March 31, 1869, contained a four column legal notice of application for right of way through Waseca county by the W. & St. P. R. R. Co. It had to be published six weeks and was what printers call a "fat take."
The Fourth of July was duly celebrated this year on July 5th at Waseca. Rev. E. II. Alden was the orator of the day. Capt. M. H. Helms acted as marshal, Hon. Sam. B. Williams served as presi- dent, and Lewis Brownell read the Declaration of Independence. The base-ball ground was the center of attraction during the afternoon. There was a big dance at McChe's hall in the even- ing and a display of fireworks was made by the village. The day was very pleasant and passed off without an accident.
September 17, 1869, Wm. W. Casey, of Elysian, stole a pair of oxen from Erick Larsen, of Iosco, traded them to a Mr. Wilson residing on the Des Moines river, for a horse, and then sold the horse to one Scott, of Morristown. Casey was soon after arrested and later convicted of the crime. The oxen were recovered through the efforts of Hans Hanson.
September 22, 1869, Henry Willyard shot a pelican which was sailing over Waseca. It measured eight feet from tip to tip of its wings It was sent to a taxidermist at Winona and mounted, and for a long time stood in one of the drug stores of Waseca.
For the year ending September 1, there had been received and shipped from Waseca 480,000 bushels of wheat-almost a half- million bushels. The receipts of June amounted to 43,381 bushels, and for July, to 32,189 bushels. During the year, there was a large trade in agricultural implements. The sales for the year ending Sept. 1 amounted to $86,935. The wheat erop of that year, although mostly No. 2, amounted to 300,882 bushels, as returned by the assessors. The erop was fair but prices ruled low.
In the fall of 1869, Mr. John Bierwalter, since deceased, was made night watchman of Waseca-the first ever employed in the place.
C. A. Wright came to Waseca from Winona in December of
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this year, and succeeded Henry Willyard as manager of the grain elevator of the W. & St. P. R. R. Co.
There was a meeting of prominent Catholics at the house of Thomas White, October 24, to devise ways and means for erecting a church building. This was the beginning of efforts which culminated in the erection of the first Catholic church in Wascea. This building has since given way to the present magni- ficent edifice, the largest and most costly in the county.
CHAPTER XXXVIII, 1870.
COUNTY SEAT CONTEST-ATTEMPTED HANGING BEE-M. & ST. L. RY. NEW COURT HOUSE IN WASECA -W. B. MORRIS DROWN- SSD -BANK BURGLARY COUNTY SEAT REMOVED-UNITED STATES CENSUS-FIRST COUNTY FAIR-GRANGE MOVEMENT- C. K. DAVIS FOR GOVERNOR.
The year 1870 was an exciting one in Waseea county. The county seat contest-a bank robbery -- the attempted hanging of "Date" Smith and Frank Waters, suspected of horse-stealing- the first county agricultural fair held in the county, and the Grange organizations kept the people of the county on the qui vive.
LEGISLATION FOR THE COUNTY.
The legislature in 1870 convened Jan. 4 and adjourned March 4. The constitution then limited the pay of legislators to sixty days.
At the beginning of the session of the legislature in 1870, a. bill was introduced by Maj. Young, our representative, to submit the question of the removal of the county seat from Wilton to Waseca to a vote of the people.
At an early date in the session, he also introduced a bill author- izing the village of Waseea to issue bonds in the sum of $5,000.00 for the erection of a court house to be donated to the county of Waseca, in case the county seat should be removed from Wilton to Waseca ..
'The question of the removal of the county seat was the all ab- sorbing subject of discussion during the year. As early as Feb-
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ruary, in a discussion of the question, the "News" of Waseca said :
"It has become almost an axiom in this state that every village or city must bleed or die, and Waseca can not expect to escape entirely the lot of others. In order to obtain the county seat, it will be necessary for this village to offer a bonus to the county. A bill has already passed the legislature authorizing the people to issue honds for this object.
"Harmony among ourselves is essential to strength, and passion should have no place in the considerations of matters pertaining to local in- terests. So far as we are able to learn, it is generally conceded that the county seat will be removed to this place, this fall, by a large ma- jority.
"It is much better for the farmers of this county to settle this ques- tion now, than to have it hanging in the balance of uncertainty for several years to come, with the certainty of its removal to this place eventually."
On the 7th of March, 1870, the board of trustees of the village of Waseca ordered a special election for the voters of the village to be held at Bennett's hall on the 19th day of March to vote upon the proposition to issue the bonds of said village in the sum of $5.000.00. bearing interest at the rate of 12 per cent, for the pur- pose of ereeting county buildings in said village for the use of the county of Waseca, as authorized by an act of the legisla- ture approved February 24, 1870. The resolutions to be voted upon read as follows:
"Resolved, that bonds of the village of Waseca, with interest coupons attached. be issued for the purpose named in the act, in the sum of $5.000, bearing annual interest at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum.
"That the denominations of said bonds, and the time or times when the same shall be payable, be such as the board of trustees may here- after direct, provided that no bond shall be issued running more than 10 years from the date thereof; and the faith and credit of the village are pledged to the punctual payment of the interest and principal of said bonds."
The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and, early in the season, a brick court house was erected.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS RAILWAY.
During the early months of this year the question of the build- ing of the Western railroad, now known as the M. & St. L. rail- road, was very thoroughly discussed. At that time the writer in the Wasera Nows said :
"To the people of this place this road is of the utmost importance,
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and anything that they can do to assist in its early completion will be cheerfully done. The city of Minneapolis by a vote of its people has decided to issue bonds to aid in the construction of the road to the amount of $300,000.00. The business men of that city have also sub- scribed $100,000.00, making a total of $400,000.00 from Minneapolis. The whole stretch of country through which this road will pass is unsur- passed in richness and fertility of soil, and is as densely populated by thrifty farmers as any portion of the state. By means of this road, Minneapolis, with her large flouring mills and manufacturing establish- ments, may command a larger trade than any other city in the state, and we are glad that the people of that city so view it. Take, for in- stance, the matter of pine lumber, the villages along this road can get lumber transported from Minneapolis to Owatonna, for $16.00 per car load, but from there to Waseca, a distance of 15 miles, we must pay $20.00 a car load, virtually driving the Minneapolis lumber from our market, and, for that matter, driving our lumber dealers out of business. Besides, the wheat market is far behind what it would be if this north and south railroad were built.
"We again urge the people of this place to take united action to pro- mote the interests of Waseca."
In connection with this railroad matter, the citizens of Waseca met at Bennett's hall, March 11, 1870. H. P. Norton was called to the chair and Esquire Bennett was chosen secretary. Hon. S. B. Williams stated the object of the meeting, and made some remarks upon the great importance of the road to this locality. Short speeches were also made by Messrs. Latham, Brownell, Lewis, Bennett and others. Messrs. Williams, Everett, and Trow- bridge were appointed a committee to confer with the officers of the railroad company in regard to the location and building of the road. Mr. Latham then offered the following resolution which was unanimously adopted :
"Resolved, that we, the citizens of the village of Waseca, consider that this railway, running from Minneapolis to Albert Lea, through this village will be of great benefit to us, and we are willing to do every- thing in our power to further the interests of said road."
THE THEN NEW COURT HOUSE.
The contract for building the court house was let to Marble & Dresser of Owatonna early in the spring, and the management of the business, at the election of May 3rd, was somewhat in issue. Wm. Everett and S. B. Williams were elected trustees, who, with H. P. Norton, elected in 1869, constituted the board of trustees for the ensuing year. At the first meeting of the trustees, after 10
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election, it was "Resolved, that the bonds of the village, (to be) issued for the building of county buildings, be issued so as to be payable, one thousand dollars in three years, and one thousand dollars in each year thereafter until the whole $5,000 shall be- come payable, and that they be issued in denominations of not more than $1,000, nor less than $100 each." The same day the board issued "Bond No. 1" due three years after date, for $1,000, bearing interest at 12 per cent. Bond No. 2, for $500, due four years from date, and bond No. 3 for $500, due in five years, with coupons attached, were issued to Marble & Dresser, of Owa- tonna, who had entered into contract to construct the court house for $5,000. But before the bonds were delivered, Bond No. 1 was surrendered or rescinded and bonds numbered 4 and 5, for $500 each, were issued in lieu thereof, May 10, 1870. At the same time, bonds numbered 6 and 7, for $500 each, were issued to the same persons. On July 1, the third installment of bonds was issued-the same being bonds numbered S and 9 for $500 cach. On July 12, the court house being completed, the last two bonds were issued, the same being for $500 each, and due in seven years from the date thereof.
DROWNING OF W. B. MORRIS.
Mr. Morris was one of the early settlers of Alton township and an energetic, enterprising citizen, highly respected by all who knew him. He was drowned May 25, 1870. It was a time of high water and he attempted to swim his horse across the Le Sueur river, near Mr. Markham's place. But when the horse reached the north bank and attempted to ascend it. he fell back into the boil- ing flood, throwing Mr. Morris into the stream, where he soon drowned. He was an upright man, and his loss was deeply felt. His widow, a highly respected lady, still resides on the farm at this writing, 1904.
ATTEMPTED HANGING BEE.
There was great excitement in the county about the first of June, 1870, in regard to horse-stealing. Two horse thieves from Winneshiek county, Iowa, had been traced through this county and "rounded up" at Waterville, where two of the horses were also found. Many of the people of the county suspected that "Date" Smith and Frank Waters were connected with the gang
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of horse thieves which operated in Iowa and Minnesota. It was of frequent occurrence prior to that time for men with stolen horses to congregate in Waterville where for many years these two men resided. But at the time we speak of, "Date" Smith and family had resided in Waseca for about a year. At the time of the arrest of the two thieves from Iowa, near Waterville, both these men fell under suspicion, and a large number of farmers from the northern and western portions of the county got together in a body and visited Waseca with the avowed intention of hang- ing Smith and Waters to the nearest tree or telegraph pole. Whether the crowd really intended to hang them, or only to give them a scare, has never been determined to this day. But certain it is the crowd caught both men and took them out on the rail- road track, near the old round house, east of the depot, and had rope enough to hang half a dozen men. James E. Child was at the time justice of the peace and knew nothing of the mobbing until a lady friend of Mrs. Smith went to him with much anxiety and implored that he do what he could to save the men-especially Smith. Mr. Child did not find it an easy matter to get citizens to face the mob and release the prisoners; but he finally secured the volunteer assistance of H. A. Mosher, M. H. Helms, Asa Mosh- er, C. A. Wright and Henry Willyard, and proceeded to the place where the crowd had assembled. Without saying a word, these men elbowed their way through the excited crowd until they reached the accused men who were entirely surrounded. Mr. Child, as justice of the peace, then ordered the crowd, in the name of the state of Minnesota, to fall back and allow the men to pass out. The crowd at once fell into a hubbub, some being in favor of law and order, and others demanding that the men should be hanged. One farmer of giant frame, flashing black eyes, and a fog-horn voice, said: "We ought to hang the whole d -- d outfit."
The rescuers, without parleying or awaiting the action of the excited masses, at once pushed through the crowd with the trembling men to Second street, thence down Second street to what was then the Vincent hotel, where Smith and Waters were rushed upstairs, and guards placed at every door and stair- way. Mr. Child, as justice of the peace, warned the excited
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