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 19
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crowd that any man that should attempt to force an entrance or that should aid and assist in disturbing the peace, would be arrested and punished to the full extent of the law. He appealed to their love of law and good order and implored them to dis- perse and resort only to lawful means for the punishment of crime. Every man of the reseners presented a bold front, and the excited erowd soon discovered that Smith and Waters would not be given up without a struggle in which some men would get hurt. The cooler heads and more reasonable ones in the crowd soon prevailed upon their companions to disperse. It certainly was a time of mueh exeitement, and had the men been armed with guns or revolvers, there might have been very seri- ous results. As it was, about a half-dozen determined men pre- vented what might have been a double murder. Smith and Waters, although the latter indulged in some drunken bravado the next day when there was no danger, undoubtedly realized the seriousness of the situation. Smith sold his property here, and both he and Waters soon after left this portion of the state. This episode, too, served the purpose, no doubt, of frightening thieves from this section; for it was generally believed that there would be a hanging bee should any more horse thieves venture this way for some time to come.
FOURTH OF JULY.
Waseca celebrated the Fourth of July, 1870, in a formal and enthusiastic manner. It was then considered the great day of days in this republic. It was seldom that a Fourth of July passed without appropriate public exercises during which the great, underlying principles of the equal and inalienable rights of all men to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were rehearsed and emphasized. This year, Hon. Gordon E. Cole, of Faribault, delivered a very able address.
THE FIRST BANK ROBBERY.
After the Baldwin-Kittredge bank failure of Jan. 29. 1869, Kin- von Bros., of Owatonna, opened a bank in Waseea. On the 24th of August, 1870, some burglars broke into the bank, blew open the safe by means of gunpowder, and stole the sum of $3,000 in cash, besides valuable papers. They left, as momentos of their visit,
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a linen coat, some whisky in a bottle obtained from a druggist, a piece of bologna sausage, and a variety of tools used in their burglarious operations.
Sheriff Toher, of Steele county, with D. L. Whipple, who was sheriff of this county, organized a detective force and soon found one of the burglars, tracking him to St. Peter, and back to Mankato, thence to Janesville, and back through Waseca, to Owa- tonna. The evidence upon the examination disclosed the follow- ing facts in connection with the arrest of John T. Howard, alias Thomas Gale, charged with the robbery of the bank :
Ile first came to the Arnold House, at Owatonna, on Sunday evening, August 21, and remained over night. The next morning he left, and returned in the evening with a span of horses which he put into Hastings' livery stable. On the next Tuesday morn- ing, by depositing $200 with Mr. Hastings, he obtained a team and carriage and drove to Waseca, arriving here about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. He got a ten dollar bill changed at Kinyon's bank, reconnoitering the premises, and then drove on to Janesville, arriving at the Baldwin House about noon, where he took dinner. The same evening he arrived at Mankato and put up at the Clifton House. He ordered his team to be ready the next morn- ing at four o'clock. In accordance with this order the team was ready, but the accused man was not there. After waiting half an hour, the team was again put into the stable and fed. About this time Howard came to the barn considerably out of breath, with perspiration on his face, as though he had been exercising violently. He then remained until after the early breakfast, and finally started away at 5.30 alone. Abont 10 o'clock in the fore- noon of Wednesday he again appeared in Janesville, in company with another man designated as the "gray-bearded man." The two drove to the express office, and the latter took a valise into the office and expressed it to one Hubbard, of Osage, Iowa. They then went to the Baldwin House and took dinner-the gray- bearded man paying the whole bill. They left Janesville about noon together, and were next seen and noticed by Mrs. Julius Ulrich and Mrs. Pat. MeCarthy, of St. Mary, a few miles west of Waseca, with another stranger, there being three in the ear- riage when the women saw them. Dr. Brubaker saw them the
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same afternoon near W. II. Gray's farm, about a mile west from Waseca. A short time after this, Mr. Ed. Bennett saw the team, with Howard alone, pass his slaughter house, west of town, coming towards Waseea. Howard was next seen by Mr. Terwilliger near Clear Lake, gong towards Owatonna with the Hastings team, which was well known to many of our people. Soon after passing Mr. Terwilliger, he was seen to stop near the Woodville cemetery, and a man came up to the buggy. Howard was next seen at Owatonna that evening, where he delivered the team and put up at the Arnold House. He went to bed about 8 o'clock, remarking that he was very tired.
That night the bank at Waseca was robbed; and the next morning about 5 o'clock, he was seen on the sidewalk near the Arnold House. About one o'clock in the afternoon he was arrest- ed on suspicion and searehed by Sheriff Toher, who found upon his person about $230.00, in cash, some pistol cartridges and some other minor articles. In his satehel was found a book descriptive of banks and safes, a revolver, and a peculiar cap. Shortly after this arrest, Toher went to Dubuque in pursuit of the valise which had been expressed from Janesville to Osage, Iowa. On opening it, he found a kit of burglar tools, a very strong and peculiar brace, two bits or drills for boring steel or iron, a steel punch, two steel wedges of peculiar shape, some powder, a coil of fuse, a cap similar to the one found in Howard's satchel, and a peculiar instrument for fastening to and turning a door key from the out- side when the door is locked and the key left inside in the lock.
Some of the paper wrapped around the bits in the valise cor- responded in quality and color with pieces of paper found in the bank in Waseca the next morning after the robbery. The two steel wedges found in the valise corresponded exactly with the two wedges left in the Kinyon bank by the burglars. Experts testified that they must all have been made by the same man about the same time, and, probably, from the same bar of steel. He was examined before a justice of the peace, and held to await the action of the grand jury.
Afterwards two other men were arrested, and Howard, to save himself from state prison, turned state's evidence and sent an old man and one other to the penitentiary, his only punishment being
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about one year in the county jail awaiting trial. He was an accomplished scoundrel and liar, and ought to have been sent to prison for at least ten years.
COUNTY SEAT CONTEST OF 1870.
The year 1870 was one of the most exciting, in a political way, of any in the history of the county since 1857, when the county seat question was first voted upon. As heretofore stated, Waseca built a court house early in the season, at a cost of $5,000. The Wilton advocates, for some time, contended that the offer of the court house, by Waseca, was a fraud; but this contention was not successful before the people, and the managers at Wilton themselves, at last, pretended to make an offer of $5,000 in. bonds for the building of a new court house, provided the people of the county should vote to retain the county seat at that place. But as there was no authority in law for the issue of such bonds, the people gave no heed to their offer.
As the season advanced, the canvass for the removal of the county seat increased in interest and intensity. Waseca, as never since, stood solidly together, shoulder to shoulder, and worked most effectively. Every man in the county was "sounded" and for some time prior to election day, the work for that day was planned, and every man was alloted his position in the ranks of the workers. Two men were sent to every polling place in the county on election day, to work for Waseca, and especially to bring in, as soon as possible, on the night of election, the exact returns of the vote cast on that question. The writer well re- members the day. He, in company with Mr. John Crain, then a blacksmith of Waseca, was detailed to attend the polls in the town of Byron. Each man at Waseca voted early and started for the several stations assigned. A few days before election there had been several days of heavy rain storm which closed with a very light fall of snow and freezing weather. The day was cold and the roads very rough. We could drive only on the walk, and much of the way a slow walk at that. The election that year, in Byron, was held in a small house, in the western part of the township, near the Christy McGrath place. The polls were held open until a late hour, and the canvassers seemed provokingly slow in counting the ballots; but as soon as we had the figures we
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started for Waseca, arriving about 11 o'clock that night. Only one town more was then to be heard from (Vivian) and every man in Waseca then knew that the county seat contest had been decided in favor of Waseca.
Those who had faced the storm and cold of the day and been jolted over thirty miles of rough, frozen road, were excused from further service, but there was a select company of "secret ser- vice men" that had been chosen to carry out the will of the people by an actual removal of the property and of the offices of the connty from Wilton to Waseca before daylight the next morn- ing. And sure enough at daybreak, the sound of music by the cornet band, the huzzas of the people, and the shouting of boys announced the arrival of the register of deeds and his office furniture, the clerk of the district court and his office records, and the county treasurer with the furniture and books of his office. The county auditor and others came over during the morning, and before noon, the day after election, the county seat was fully established and the officers all doing business at the new court house. The Waseca News announced the arrival of the offices the next day after the election and said :
"The thing 'is did.' That big lawsuit over the removal of the county seat will be held at Waseca-when it comes off. Any one having business at the county seat will find the 'machine' in full blast at the court house. The struggle is over. The billing and cooing, the coaxing and hiring, the drinking and treating, the threatening and flattering, the work and excitement on both sides are at an end. The question is set- tled-forever settled. The matter has been thoroughly discussed and fairly understood, and the result is the untrammeled voice of the people. Politics is over, too, for this year, and now let us bury the hatchet, renew personal friendships, and devote our energies and strength to the build- ing up of our material interests and to the cultivation of fraternal feel- ings and good fellowship."
UNITED STATES CENSUS.
The United States census was taken during the months of June and July this year. The north half of the county was enumerated by James E. Child, and the south half by S. J. Willis. The fol- lowing statement was published at that time. The increase in population was shown by the following figures :
June 1, 1855, number of people
June 1, 1860, number of people 2,601
70
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June 1, 1865, number of people 4,786
June 1, 1870, number of people 7,857
These figures show an annual increase from 1865 to 1870 of 614. Comparing the wealth of the county, the result was equally satisfactory. The amount of wheat produced in 1864 was 61,050 Inishels; while the product of 1869 reached 393,811 bushels. In connection with this subject, we find that 28,000 bushels of wheat were marketed in Waseca during the month of August, and 28,136 bushels in the month of September, for which the farmers receiv- ed $41,947.00.
The number of horses in the county increased from 825, in 1865, to 2.055 in 1870. Horned cattle increased from 4,565, in 1865, to 6.263. in 1870. In 1865 there were 533 cultivated farms, and in 1870. there were 1,028. The census value of all the property of the county was estimated at $2,205,284, in 1870.
THE FIRST COUNTY FAIR.
The first county fair was held in Waseca, at the new court house, October 6 and 7. Among the exhibitors that drew pre- miums, the following names appear : J. W. Hosmer, of Janesville, finest honey ; Mrs. B. F. Weed and Mrs. R. R. Howard, then of Wilton, fine dairy butter; Daniel Pierce, then of Freedom, ap- ples and vegetables; Hon. Joseph Minges, of Otisco, and Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, best potatoes; R. R. Howard, of Wil- ton, fine Chester White swine . The display of horses was quite large while the number of cattle was small in comparison. The Misses Gallagher, Riegel and Landers displayed much skill in horseback riding on the race course. In classes A and B, horses, Ole Everson, J. A. Wheeler, A. Dewing, W. H. Young, S. S. Phelps, Wm. Byron, Jas. A. Root, W. L. Wheeler, H. Vincent, Henry Behne, Albert Remund and P. O. Houg received pre- minms. In class C, cattle, Martin Hackett, Patrick Healey, R. M. Middaugh, S. H. Talbut, and C. W. Hensel were the premium takers. In class D, sheep, swine and fowls, the lucky ones were .J. A. Claghorn, Peter Eckert, Patrick Healy, J. A. Root, J. G. Greening and R. R. Howard. In class E, there were twenty en- tries and those who won prizes were Daniel Semple, Daniel Pierce, E. G. Wood, and J. Erno. Class F, vegetables, ten en- tries, gave premiums to Patrick McDermott, Wm. Brisbane,
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Daniel Pierce, S. H. Talbut, J. W. Altenburg, and Jas. A. Root. In class G, B. F. Weed got the premium on sorghum syrup, and John Buckhout on flour. Among the other premium takers ap- pear the names of Valentine Butsch, G. A. Roland, A. Wert, Mrs. O. Powell, Mrs. M. S. Gove, Mrs. G. P. Johnson and Mrs. Myrick.
Hon. Wm Brisbane delivered an excellent address.
He dwelt upon the wholesome and honorable calling of the farmer, and eloquently urged the importance of a more liberal education for farmers' sons and daughters, and especially in regard to their own calling. He said the trouble was that too many persons were farming who knew little or nothing of the business. Farms were poorly cultivated-machinery was allow- ed to rust and rot-cattle died for want of proper food and care, and in many ways farmers lost money and time, more because they did not understand the business than for any other cause.
THE GRANGER MOVEMENT.
It was during this year, 1870, that heavy railroad extortions had called forth a strong protest from the farmers of the coun- try as well as from every justice-loving citizen. The cost of shipping a bushel of wheat from Waseca to Chicago was then from 25 to 30 cents. Discriminations of the most outrageous character were practiced throughout the West. The doctrine of government control was stoutly and strenuously denied by all the railroad corporations, their agents, attorneys and hireling editors, and especially by their dupes all over the country. On the other hand, intelligent and independent attorneys and editors, and intelligent and independent men of common sense in all callings claimed that the state, the government, had the right and the power to fix reasonable rates of transportation for pas- sengers and commodities. This issue, for the time, overshadowed all others, notwithstanding the efforts of corporations, then as now, to prevent the question from becoming a party issue. The daily papers of both parties, all over the country, were employ- ed to denounce the true friends of the masses as "demagogues." "ignoramuses," "fanaties," "blatherskites," "socialists" and "anarchists." The corporations even tried to enlist the efforts of priesthood to break up the grange organizations and, in some
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localities, succeeded to some extent. Nevertheless, the work of education and organization went forward rapidly in this section, and the Grange became a great, non-partisan, political power that finally gave the country what was known as the "Grange laws," and forced into the courts the question of the right and the power of the government to control the railroads. The supreme courts of the states and the nation deeided in favor of the people, and it was learned, among men capable of learn- ing, that the "demagogues," "ignoramuses," "socialists," "an- arehists" and "fanatics" knew more about law and fundamental rights of man and property than all the corporations with their paid attorneys, their agents, their boodlers and their hireling editors. And yet there are mullet heads to-day that will tell us that to regulate the transportation rates on railroads so that every person and every locality shall enjoy just and equal rates would destroy the railroads and bring anarchy to the whole country. What fools we mortals are in this world !
It was in this year that a Grange was organized in almost every neighborhood in the county. There was one in Waseca. But, as it does in all great and popular organizations, the spirit of rivalry and jealousy crept in. Men of small ealibre, little intelligence, and narrow jealousy sowed the seeds of diseord by. insisting that none but actual farmers-men who tilled the soil with their own hands-should be members. This narrow view of the organization drove from it mueh of the intelligence necessary to direct any movement successfully. This, together with the fact that I. Donnelly managed to disrupt it for his own personal ends, soon destroyed one of the best and most useful educational agencies ever introduced into our farming communi- ties. The organization still lingers in some places, but its power for good is broken.
Hon. C. K. Davis was nominated and eleeted by Granger senti- ment; a law to control rates was enacted the first year of his administration ; the next year the railroads seeured control of the legislature and repealed the law. And the singular part of it all was that the very men who would be the most benefited by the government control of roads were the mullet-heads in the community to vote with the corporations. No wonder that Cush Davis, when the law was repealed, exclaimed-"I am sick of
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the people. They desert their best friends. I am done with them. As soon as I am through with this governor business I shall go back to my office and my law books. As Vanderbilt said, 'the people be damned,' for they don't appreciate honest, self-sacrificing men who work to save them from the slavery of modern feudalism."
FALL ELECTION OF 1870.
Party lines were loosely drawn at that time. Major Wm. C. Young, Republican candidate for senator, received a majority of 402 over James Jones, his opponent; Hon. Wm. Brisbane, Democratic candidate for representative, received 233 majority over Mr. S. C. Dow, his opponent, who was a very good citizen and a Republican ; E. Cronkhite, Democratic candidate for auditor, was elected over Fred. Kittredge, Republican, by a majority of 324. The democrats elected Wm. Lee, of Iosco, and H. G. Mosher, of Otisco, county commissioners. The major- ity in favor of the removal of the county seat to Waseca was 215.
SHORT NOTES OF 1870.
January 19, 1870, No. 1 wheat brought only 48 cents per bushel.
The creditors of the defunct bank of Baldwin & Kittredge realized only 25 cents on the dollar.
May 2, the house of Mr. Chas. San Galli was consumed by fire. It was fully insured.
On June 2, 1870, under the auspices of the Farmers' club of Blooming Grove, the first monthly fair was held in Waseca. The fairs were held on the first Thursday of each month, a few times, but were finally discontinued.
On July 29, 1870, the village board of Waseca made a deed of the then new court honse to the county of Waseca, to become absolute upon the removal of the seat of justice from Wilton to Waseca.
Whitney L. Wheeler, about forty-eight years of age and one of the very early settlers of the county, died November 4, 1870, after a somewhat sovere illness. Ile and his family settled first in St. Mary, afterwards moving into Wilton. He was a staunch, prominent republican, who was active in every campaign. Ile was the owner of some valuable horses and practiced as a veter-
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inary surgeon. At the time of his death he was treasurer and captain of riders of the Waseca County Horse-thief Detectives. The society at its next meeting passed resolutions to his mem- ory, commending him for his "zeal, efficiency, capability and honesty."
CLOSE OF THE YEAR.
The year 1870, on the whole, had been one of prosperous condi- tions for the county. The weather had been mild. There was a heavy snow storm on the 14th, 15th and 16th of March, the snow remaining until the last days of the month. Seeding commenc- ed about April 8. The last three days of June were excessively warm and closed with a cyclonic storm of not very heavy pro- portions. A similar storm of July 19, was much heavier and more severe, especially southwest of this county. In this county much of the grain was injured, and some light buildings were unroofed, but there was no wide-spread damage or fatalities.
The season had been reasonably productive, and the fall weather was the finest in the history of the state, before or since. Our grand, salubrious, and charmingly beautiful Indian summer continued long into December, and gave the farming community ample time to clean up all the fall work. In the Waseca News of December 6, appeared the following :
"Plowing and grading in December! Was there ever hefore anything like the present weather in Minnesota? So warm, so mild, so pleasant! From our office window we notice several plows running on the farms adjoining this village. At this date, December 3, men are engaged in plowing and grading Lake Avenue, east from our office. Just think of it, away up here in Minnesota, men plowing with their coats off- houses being built and plastered-house plants growing in the open air-all in the state of Minnesota, during the month of December. Is this the result of building the Pacific railroad, or of removing the county seat?"
The first hard freezing of the ground was Dec. 18th, and the first heavy snow storm of the season was on Christmas day. The year closed with a "Merry Christmas," followed by a "Happy New Year."
LAST SESSION OF OFFICIALS AT WILTON.
The county commissioners of 1870, Wm. Byron, Robt. Earl, O.
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Powell, John Buckhout, and R. F. Stevens, held their last ses- sion at Wilton Sept. 10, and their first session in Waseca Nov. 17, at the new court house.
CHAPTER XXXIX, 1871.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-STATE R. R. BONDS, $5,000,000 SWIN- DLE-LOREN G. WOOD SHOT-YEAR OF STORMS AND FIRES- CHICAGO CREMATED-WASECA COUNTY FIRES-FIRST LI- BRARY ASSOCIATION-ELECTION RETURNS-DEATH OF FIRST SETTLER, A. G. SUTLIEF.
The Sabbath day, bright and still, with blue skies and a balmy atmosphere, ushered in the New year, 1871. It was one of the very few years in the history of civilization when the year began and ended on Sunday or the Sabbath day; for, whether properly or improperly, both names are used interchangeably.
Amidst the earthiness of life,
Vexation, selfishness and strife;
Sabbath! how sweet the holy calm, Comes o'er the soul like healing balm.
We digress a little to remark that, aside from all religious views or creeds, Sunday should be observed as a day of rest; not, per- haps, for the sake of the Sabbath, but for the sake of man. For years past, the nation has recognized the fact that laboring men engaged in publie work and for great corporations have no Sab- bath-no day of rest that they ean eall their own. It is pretty well settled that the day of rest, preseribed by the law of Moses, was based upon the fact that such rest, as a rule, is essential to, and promotes health. The day ought to be kept quietly, rever- ently, studiously, and thoughtfully. Always remember that "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."
The year opened auspieiously so far as the weather bureau was concerned. The first heavy snow storm of the year eame on
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the eleventh of January and continued two days. With the ex- ception of this rather severe storm, the winter was comparatively a mild one, and favorable to farm work and general business.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
At its annual session in January the Waseca County Agricul- tural society held an interesting meeting and elected the follow- ing officers : president, J. B. Smith; vice president, P. C. Bailey ; treasurer, J. W. Johnson; secretary, B. S. Lewis; executive com- mittee, O. Powell, Simon Smith, H. Vincent, James A. Claghorn and MI. H. Helms.
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