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 21
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THE HANGING OF EASTON.
A good deal of excitement was raised in and about Alma City the last week in June on account of a hanging affray which came off at the farm of John Hoffer, situated near Bulls Run, in Free- dom. John Hoffer missed $20 in money and acensed one Easton, known as the "Old Diteher," of stealing it. Easton, an old man, abont seventy years of age, stoutly denied the accusation. Hoffer and wife and two hired men, named Brooks and Singer. seized the old man and threatened to hang him. The evidence on the examination showed that they put a rope around his neck and hanged him to a tree for a few seconds, and then let him
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down, he still protesting his innocence. As soon as he could get away, he disappeared entirely; very soon thereafter it was discovered that a nephew of IToffer had stolen the money. An investigation was instituted by the neighbors, but the old man, although traced into lowa, as two witnesses testified, was never found. The Hoffers admitted that they tried to seare the old man, but did not intend to hang him. Mrs. Hoffer, a young and vigorons woman, also admitted that she whipped him with "a little whip no bigger than her finger." Many of the good citizens of the western part of the county considered the assault upon Easton and the result of the examination an outrage upon justice and the publie welfare.
THE STORM OF AUGUST 6TH, 1872.
On Thursday evening, August 6th, a very heavy rain storm visited all Southern Minnesota. In the southern part of Wa- seca county, the wind blew a gale. Grain shocks were blown apart and scattered in every direction. Fences were blown down and a number of buildings unroofed. Several substantial build- ings were moved from their foundations. The German Evangeli- cal church building, at. Wilton, was moved from its foundation, and Sam Prochel's blacksmith shop at the same place was un- roofed.
Mr. Theodore D. M. Oreutt, then a farmer, of Freedom, wrote of the storm as follows.
"it commenced to rain about 9 o'clock p. m., with a strong wind from the north, when, suddenly, the wind shifted to the west and the storm came with terrific violence. Houses, heretofore waterproof, afforded but little protection to their occupants or contents. It took the strength of two men to close a door or hold a window if unfastened. The roof and a portion of Mr. Helwick's house were carried away and badly torn to pieces. The roof of Mr. Straub's residence was taken off, and the roof and upper part of an unoccupied log house on the farm of Wm. E. Heath were carried about six rods and completely demolished. A chamber window in the frame house occupied by Mr. Heath and his family was blown in and the house inside deluged with water, Mr. Heath and family having taken refuge in the basement. The next morning was gloomy enough-cloudy, with a drizzling rain at intervals, all the forenoon. Look in any direction you might, and fallen trees, un- roofed buildings, dilapidated hay stacks, great gaps in fences, battered and almost leafless cornfields, one or all would mar the landscape. But the worst feature was the total demolition of the grain shocks and the
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uncut grain. The latter was flattened to the earth, involving a great amount of extra labor in cutting and a loss of at least twenty per cent of the grain."
Damage by the storm was extensive throughout the county, but the southern half of it suffered more than the northern por- tion.
THE ELECTION.
The contest for local offices in this county attained fever heat. Hon. W. G. Ward, "Liberal Republican," became the candidate of the demoerats and railroad interests for state senator. On the ticket with him were Patrick Kenehan, of Wilton, and J. O. Chandler, of Janesville, for representatives, and Edgar Cronk- hite for auditor. The republicans nominated A. W. Jennison, of Janesville, for state senator, John Thompson, of New Richland, and J. L. Saufferer, of Blooming Grove, for representatives, and T. D. M. Orcutt, of Freedom, for auditor. The contest resulted in the election of W. G. Ward by a vote of 802 for Ward to 778 for Jennison, and 835 for Cronkhite to 748 for Orcutt.
Saufferer and John Thompson, republicans, were elected to the house.
NOTES MISCELLANEOUS FOR THE YEAR.
A number of deaths occurred this year. Mr. David L. Whipple, an early settler and sheriff of the county from 1860 to 1866. died on the 4th of February of lung fever. He was well known throughout the county and highly respected by all conditions of men. His remains lie buried in the Wilton cemetery. His wife survived him, but he left no children.
P. Brink Enos, a young lawyer of much native ability, but with an unfortunate appetite for strong drink, was one of the early settlers in Wilton. He removed to North Platte in 1865, where he died of convulsions April 7th.
Augusta A. Fratzke, daughter of Mr. John Fratzke, of Free- dom, aged nine years, was instantly killed in her father's house on April 21st by the accidental discharge of a gun. Her head was blown off by the discharge and the walls of the room were literally covered with her brain and pieces of her skull. It ap- pears that on the day previous her father had been ont hunting and was unable to discharge one barrel of the gun. When he
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came home in the evening he put the gun into an open closet, be- hind a lounge. At the time of the accident, Augusta, a brother a little older and a girl named Bade, together with a cat and a dog, were at play, when suddenly the gun was thrown over against the lounge and discharged with the terrible result noted.
Mr. B. F. Hanes, one of the very early settlers of Vivian, an edu- cated, bachelor reeluse, died the last week in June, of fever.
Mr. E. J. Hurd, of Janesville, while at work in his sawmill June 28th, was caught by one of the belts and thrown against a post with such violence as to cause almost instant death.
DRAINING CLEAR LAKE.
It was during the month of October, 1872, that eertain persons in Rice county that owned mills along Straight river commenced ditching with the avowed intention of draining the lakes of Woodville into Crane Creek, hoping thus to supply water for their mills. This movement aroused a strong feeling of indig- nation and opposition in Waseca, and an injunction was issued to prevent the work. During the legislative session of the ensuing winter an act was passed prohibiting the draining of the lakes- more especially Clear lake.
OTHER MATTERS.
The first snowstorm in the fall was very severe. The Waseca News then remarked that the "oldest inhabitant" never before saw such a day, so early in the season. "Old Winter" howled and screamed and spit snow and made people uncomfortable gen- erally. About five inches of snow fell. The roads and railroads were blockaded, and business was almost suspended.
Mr. Simeon Smith, of Blooming Grove, one of the settlers of 1855, died on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the advanced age of sev- enty-eight years.
Frank McKune, son of Capt. Lewis MeKune, who was shot and killed at the first battle of Bull Run, died at the residenee of his sister, in Lake City, Dec. 16, at the age of twenty years, of hemorrhage of the lungs.
The prices of wheat during the months of November and De- eember ranged from 80 to 98 cents. Sales of wheat at the elevator in Waseca during the last six weeks of the year ranged from 4,500
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to 12,000 bushels. The crop was a good one throughont the county, although in some places there was considerable loss on account of the August storm.
THE "EPIZOOT."
This peculiar horse disease made its appearance in this section in the month of November and soon became epidemic. The ill- ness commenced with a half-suppressed cough, which soon be- came more violent. A fever set in with intense heat of the mouth and a discharge from the nose of offensive mucus, in large quan- tities. The horses attacked refused all food, would not lie down, and, in a few days, became very weak. Many died. The best veterinary surgeons deseribed the disease as acute catarrh and influenza. The distemper, or disease, originated in eastern Can- ada where thousands of horses died. It next appeared in the Eastern States and thence eame West. The large cities seemed to suffer the most. In some cities the horses would all be taken in one day, as it were, and all business would be brought to a standstill. That was before the introduction of electric cars, and when horse ears were being used in all large cities. During the latter part of December nearly all business was brought to a stand-still in this eounty by the "epizooty." During the week ending December 28, only 358 bushels and 40 pounds of wheat were marketed in Waseca, while during the first week in that month 11,580 1-2 bushels were received by the same elevator. Not very many horses died in this seetion, but nearly all were affected by the disease more or less.
This December was one of the very coldest in the history of the county. In many places, the day before Christmas, the thermometers registered as low as 25 and 30 degrees. Fortunately, during the coldest days, there was no wind and the atmosphere was dry and crisp. In Chicago the thermometer said 20 degrees below, and at Fort Scott, Kansas, 18 degrees below.
CHAPTER XLI, 1873.
THE NEW YEAR-THE GREAT BLIZZARD-MANY PERISH-GREAT LOSSES-THE MURDER OF MRS. BUSER AND CHILD AND THE SUICIDE OF ANTON RUF-SIXTY-EIGHT DAYS IN A SNOW DRIFT -PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY-ACCIDENTALLY SHOT-CHAM- PION BASEBALL TEAM-BIG SNOW STORM OCT. 24-THE ELEC- TION-RAILROAD DISCRIMINATIONS-THE PANIC OF 1873 AND ITS CAUSES-DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS-HON. WM. BRISBANE VISITS SCOTLAND.
The New Year's Day of 1873 was very fine indeed. After the terribly cold week about Christmas time the sunny, pleasant ushering in of the new year was very acceptable. The Waseca News of that day contained the following:
"The old year, with its hardships, wrongs, crimes, wickedness; with its joys, pleasures, successes, advancement, and plenteous harvests, passed into historical eternity last night. To-day we commence anew.
"Has the experience of the past given us brighter hopes of the future? Life is what we make it. Each can help to make it a heaven or a hell. Each individual must advance. No one can stand still. One's progress is either for better or worse. To-day many will degrade their manhood and disgrace their families. Many a father will set a bad example be- fore his sons. On the other hand, many sons and daughters will com- mence the new year in a manly, womanly, and sensible way. They will not get drunk themselves nor give drunkenness to their friends. The 'coming man and woman' will not drink wine nor any other intoxicating beverage.
"How many of our readers will to-day resolve to inaugurate a new fashion, one which shall do away with the damning effects of the bar- barous, useless, and expensive custom of tippling? Let the wealthy and those high in office set an example worthy of imitation. Wishing our
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readers, one and all, a 'Happy New Year.' we close our 'forms' and say goodnight."
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The county commissioners this year met on the 7th of January and organized by electing Mr. O. Powell chairman for the third time. Little business outside of the ordinary routine was trans- acted.
The county auditor was directed to procure field notes of sur- veys and meanders from the surveyor general. The auditor was also "authorized to record in the road calendar the plats, field notes, and road orders of all county and state roads in Waseca county legally laid out during the last five years, and to employ an assistant to do the work, if necessary."
STORM ON THE 7TH AND 8TH.
The 7th of January opened warm and pleasant. In the after- noon the wind came strong from the northwest and before dark a blinding snow storm raged over the whole of Minnesota. It continued through the night and during the following two days and nights. The cold was rather severe and a number of people in the state lost their lives. Seventy persons were reported frozen to death in the entire state, and thirty-one badly injured by frost. The loss of live stock in the state was reported as fol- lows: horned cattle 250, horses 25, sheep and hogs 10, mules 3. No doubt the loss of stock was larger than was reported.
We copy the following from the Waseca News of Jan. 15, 1873: "A man named Avon Aleckson was chopping in the woods near Lake Watkins, in Woodville, Tuesday. When the storm came on he started for home, got lost, was out all night and all the next day, till near even- ing, before he found a house. His feet were so badly frozen that they are black, and it is feared they must be amputated. Otherwise he was not badly frozen. But the poor sufferer was so weakened by exposure that he died some three weeks later of hemorrhage of the lungs.
"Mr. J. G. Greening, of OtIsco, who came from Blue Earth City, last Friday, informs us that a Mrs. Suitz, living near Wisner's Grove, Fari- banlt county, was found dead after the storm, about half a mile from her house. It appears that her husband went to Delavan that morning, and that the woman let one of her children go to a nelghhor's house. When the storm came on she went to her neighbor's place to get the child, leaving her other child in the house. The neighbor prevalled upon her to return, bring her other child and remain over night. The poor
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woman started for her home, lost her way in the blinding storm and perished. The child left at home-about three years of age-was found in bed alive."
Mr. James Ivers, of Byron, lost fifteen sheep out of twenty- three. Mr. Bevans of the same town lost an ox. Mr. Mayne, of Wilton, also lost an ox. Several head of cattle perished on H. J. Wadsworth's farm in Wilton.
Mr. Rodney Hanks, then a resident of Vivian, was returning home from Janesville on the afternoon of the 7th, with a span of mules. He had great confidence in his mules, and believing that they would take him home in due time, gave them their own way. They finally got tired of tramping snow and stopped short on the prairie, refusing to go further in such a storm. Mr. Hanks had on a small load of wood which he piled up on the windward side as a protection, and turned his wagon box bot- tom side up as a protection. Here he sheltered himself as best he could from the howling, pitiless storm until Friday morning, when he made his way home. Although considerably frosted he was not permanently injured. But the wonder is that the man and the mules did not all perish.
No weather can suppress some newspaper men. The next week after this storm the following appeared :
"When the cold wind blows, take care of your nose, that it doesn't get froze, and wrap up your toes in warm woolen hose.' The above, we sup- pose, was written in prose by some one who knows the effect of cold snows, and the further this goes, the longer it grows, each telling what he knows about writing in prose, when it snows and it blows, as it so often does."-Ex.
To which the Winona Republican added :
"Ere the ditty we close we must tell of our Mose, who indignantly rose, and proceeded to expose the substance of our woes, where the Mississip' flows. He positively knows that the river is froze, without regard to zero's from its head to its toes."
And the Waseca News continued :
" 'Pat' don't propose to favor those who read this prose with what he knows of wind and snows, and frosted toes, and tattered clothes, and all the woes that follow those who won't repose at home and doze when it snows and blows."
A BLOODY TRAGEDY.
One of the most terrible crimes known in the history of the county came to light on the 17th day of February, 1873. On that
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fatal Monday morning, Anton Ruf, residing in the eastern part of Woodville, deliberately murdered Mrs. Alexander Buser and her youngest child, evidently with Mrs. Buser's connivance and con- sent. The evidence showed that he first cut the child's throat, then killed the woman and laid the lifeless form of the infant upon its mother's arm on the bed. Ruf then cut his own throat and lay down beside them, but, in his death agony, turned over and fell upon the floor face downward. A large butcher knife had evidently been sharpened for the occasion as such a knife was found near the bed.
The history of this affair if fully written, would fill many pages and rival the awful stories of the romances of the last century. The facts are revolting enough and are given here as they were brought out at the time of the awful tragedy.
Anton Ruf, a German by birth and a single man, several years before the tragedy, bought a piece of land in the eastern part of Woodville, and erected a house. He then wrote to an acquaint- ance in Wisconsin, Mr. Alexander Buser, a married man, and invited him to come with his family and live with him. Mr. Buser accepted the invitation, and came on from Wisconsin in April, 1869, bringing with him his wife and three children. Mr. Buser bought a half interest in the farm and moved into the house with Ruf. For a time matters went along smoothly, but after a few months, Mr. Buser suspected that Mrs. Buser was at least dividing affections with Mr. Ruf. Quarreling ensued, and mat- ters went from bad to worse until in October 1871, Buser attempt- ed to expel Ruf from the house. A fight ensued in which Buser came out second best and was driven away entirely. Ruf and Mrs. Buser remained on the premises, and, so far as known, lived agreeably together, the children remaining with them, until district court convened Feb. 11, 1873. At this term of court, information was placed before the grand jury accusing the par- ties of criminal intimacy. The Waseca News of February 19 and 26 contained substantially the following account of the bloody tragedy :
"The history of the affair, as near as we can learn is as follows: Mr. Alexander Buser, lawful husband of the woman, moved into the house with Anton Ruf, a single man, In April, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Buser had three children at that time, two boys and a girl; the eldest, a boy, being
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ahout thirteen years of age at the time of the murder. A fourth child was born to the woman about two years before the tragedy. In October, 1871. as Mr. Buser claims, he was driven away by Ruf, and after this time the latter and Mrs. Buser lived together in undisputed possession of the premises, the children remaining with them.
"On the morning of the fatal day, when the children started for school, the mother told them that she was going to Waseca. The chil- dren remained at school throughout the day, and when they returned home in the evening, found the door fastened. Supposing that their mother had not yet returned from Waseca, they went to the house of Mr. Michael Spillane, Sen., about a quarter of a mile away, and remained over night. The following morning, the elder boy and T. Tynen, another lad, went to the Ruf house, and, finding the door fastened, looked in at the window when they saw Ruf lying on the floor, covered with blood, dead. These boys, frightened at the awful sight, hurried back to Mr. Spillane's place and got Michael Spillane, Jr., to go over to the house with them. Messrs. Waldo and Whitman also visited the house but no one broke open the door or entered the house at the time. One of the Spillane boys then drove to Waseca and notified the coroner, Dr. Mc- Intosh, who summoned a jury and proceeded to the house where they found the woman and her youngest child dead on the bed, with their throats cut square across, and Ruf dead, lying upon the floor with his throat also cut across almost from ear to ear. The bed and the room presented a horribly bloody appearance.
"It appeared that the triple murder was committed with the utmost deliberation. Both Ruf and Mrs. Buser wrote letters which they left upon the table in the room.
"These letters showed some sentimental affection between the two, and accused others of their troubles. Neither one seemed to realize the moral depravity of the two as exemplified in their lives.
"The following are correct translations of the letters found in the house by Coroner McIntosh:
"Dear Mine :- Hear the last painful cry of your friend! By the time you receive this I shall be before the Heavenly Judge. He may judge me. I was hounded to death. I got one to ask Alexander (Buser) to save me. He did it not. I will not go to state prison.
"I pray you to make it possible to get my poor, dear Mina to you. I beg you to do it. You know that I wept when she was born, and that I had a sad presentiment of something bad. O, my time is short. I s"f- fer agonies for my children which are terrible. Judge not. You know that I love my children, that I would do so longer, but circumstances do not leave me in condition to do so.
"Thine, Anna."
The foregoing was folded and addressed to Salome Duerft, New Glarus, Green county, Wis.
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On another sheet of paper she wrote:
"Farewell, poor children. Your father ought to have saved me, hut he could not or would not do it. You, my dear, dear Mina, follow your mother as soon as you can. The world is a hard place.
"My soul entreats you, even after death, not to curse your poor, un- fortunate mother.
(Signed) "Anna."
On the same page, in Ruf's handwriting was the following :
"Dear Anna has fully determined to die rather than be dragged before a court, together with those horrible folks, and afterwards to be ridi- culed and despised."
Mrs. Buser again wrote as follows, signing her maiden name: "No man should ascribe the cause of this deed to Ruf, but to - and Alexander Buser. They wanted to hound Ruf to death. I follow him of my own free will that the world may see that our affection for each other was no misdemeanor (kein unfug.) All of you together shall not triumph. (Signed) "Anna Ritter."
Then in her writing was added :
"Here I write my last testimony." (then Ruf continues) "Alexander Buser and -
- -- are the murderers of dear Anna. We are willing to die. I swore I would follow her. Only God, the Judge, or the Judg- ment day can make all things right.
(Signed) "A. Ruf."
The following on the inside of the door was evidently written by Ruf after having murdered the woman and child:
"No one parts love save Death. I wanted to take Mina along too. A few words of sympathy would have saved the mother and her child from being murdered. I waited till 12 o'clock noon."
To make the letters and writing more intelligible in some re- spects it is proper to state that Ruf and the woman had been in- formed that their past conduet was being investigated by the grand jury. This information no doubt alarmed them. On Sat- urday Ruf visited Waseca and conferred with an attorney. It appears that his attorney made a written proposition to Buser, who was then in the neighborhood, asking him to consent to a divorce. Ruf and the woman probably expected that Buser, if willing to consent to a divorce, would write or call immediately and let them know his intention. As they received no word from him, they no doubt believed that they would be arrested and sent to prison.
The appearance of the vietims at the coroner's inquest was
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most shoeking and horrible. The child's head was nearly sever- ed from the body at one stroke of the knife. The woman re- ceived a severe gash across both shoulders and the throat-prob- ably from one powerful blow. It was evident that Ruf drew the knife twice across his own throat.
Mr. Buser soon after returned to Wisconsin, taking the children with him. So far as known, Ruf had no relatives in this eountry.
"SIXTY-EIGHT DAYS IN A SNOW DRIFT AND STILL ALIVE."
An article with the above heading appeared in the Waseca News of March 19, 1873, and read as follows:
"Two fat hogs belonging to Wm. Bevans, of Byron, that were lost dur- ing the snow storm of Jan. 7th, last, were found alive and healthy on the 14th inst., in a snow drift adjoining a straw stack. Sixty-eight days under a snow drift and yet alive is doing pretty well. Messrs. Carmody and Covell, of Wilton, who are responsible for this information, remark- ed that it was the 'cheapest way in the world to winter hogs.'"
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
This organization, which had been at work for several years among the farmers of the country, especially in the West, or- ganized a eounty grange in Waseca, May 3, 1873. It was run on the narrow-gauge plan, but it nevertheless accomplished a great deal of good. The eall for the meeting was signed "Wm. A. Erwin, secretary," by order of committee.
The temporary organization was effeeted by the election of I. D. Beaman, of Blooming Grove, temporary chairman; and W. D. Armstrong, temporary secretary. After the election of a committee on credentials and one on permanent organization, a recess was taken till afternoon.
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