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 42
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Ar. Cornelius MeGonagle, of St. Mary, passed to his last rest .July 19, 1897, after an illness of about two weeks. He died about 10:30 o'clock of stricture of the bowels. He was born in this county 38 years before, being the son of Mr. Michael Mc-
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Gonagle, Sr., one of our oldest settlers. He was a communicant of the Catholic church, a member of the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians and of the Foresters of America, and an honorable, upright citizen, held in high esteem. He left surviving his wife, an in- fant daughter, and numerous other relatives to mourn his early departure.
Mr. Thomas Cawley, of Blooming Grove, who came to this coun- ty in 1866, after a long illness, died Sunday night, Aug. 15, sur- rounded by his family. His funeral, which was very largely at- tended, took place at the Catholic church in Waseca, and his remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, south of that city.
Mr. C. M. Read, the aged father of Conductor Harry A. Read, died suddenly Sept. 18, 1897. He had been in his usual good health. and was coming in from his carpenter shop, when, as he opened the screen door to his son's residence, he fell dead upon the floor. He undoubtedly died of heart disease. He was born in New Haven, Conn., October 20, 1813. At the age of twenty-two years, he came as far west as Cleveland, Ohio, where he resided for many years. He was one of the aldermen of that city in 1848. In 1854, he came to Tama county, Iowa, where he lived until he came to Waseca, about 1883.
Mr. Matthew Coleman, for many years a resident of this coun- ty, died at his home in Waseca, Sept. 26, 1897. at an advanced age. He first settled on a farm in the south part of the county in 1862, and about 1868 came to Waseca and opened the "Waseca House," where the electric light plant now is. He and his son con- ducted this hotel for several years. He was in poor health for more than a year prior to his death.
Mr. W. H. Ivers, of New Richland, met a sudden death on Wed- nesday, Nov. 3, 1897. He had carried his milk to the New Rich- land creamery and had nearly reached home when he suddenly fell from his buggy and broke his neck, dying almost instantly. It is supposed that he fell in a fit, as he was subject to such spells. Mr. Ivers was among the early settlers of the county. and owned a fine farm on section 6. The farm has a flowing well and an artificial lake well stocked with earp.
DECORATION DAY.
The thirtieth day of May, held sacred to the memory of the
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
brave men and the devoted women that served this country dur- ing the days of the wicked Rebellion of 1861-5, was duly ob- served in 1897. The day in Waseca was observed more appro- priately and with greater propriety than on any previous oc- casion. There was an earnestness and thoughtfulness quite commendable on such an occasion. The addresses were good. Mayor Moonan voiced the patriotic sentiments of the younger generation, while Rev. S. G. Updyke re-kindled the fires of patriotism that burned in every loyal heart during the "sixties," when the traitor horde, led by that arch couspirator, Jeff Davis, assailed the national life and, with traitor hands, attempted to destroy personal liberty throughout the world. While neither address was partisan, Mr. Updyke's side statement that, al- though corporations and trusts seemed now to be uppermost, still he believed that the people would yet triumph and hand down to future generations our glorious government unimpaired, was thoughtful, truthful, and appropriate. Such words from a veteran of the War of the Rebellion-a man of education, of extensive historical research, of conscientious convictions, of un- selfish love of humanity-give us hope for the future, hope for our country, hope for the great brotherhood of toiling humanity in the days to come when, regardless of wealth, "A man is a man for a' that."
SHORT CROPS.
The crop of wheat this year was a partial failure in yield, and was considerably injured by the heavy rains of July. The hay crop was also injured by heavy rains. The wheat crop of India being also a failure that year caused a rise in the price of wheat so that our farmers received about as much this year from their poor crop as they did the year before from a much better crop.
HOG CHOLERA.
Hog cholera was brought into this county from Iowa in 1896 by the importation of a few carloads of hogs to be fed and fat- tened. The importation proved to be a calamity. Nearly half the hogs in the county died of the disease in 1896-7-8. In fact the disease still lingers in some neighborhoods, and the utmost
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
care is required to prevent its spread. The importation of hogs and cattle at any time from the South is a great mistake on the part of Minnesota farmers.
CHAPTER LXVII, 1898.
COUNTY PRINTING-ROAD AND BRIDGE APPROPRIATIONS- DEATHS: HELENA CLARK, PETER BECK, FRED D PROECHEL, MRS. MARTIN KAISER, L. F. PETERSON, S. SWENSON, GOTT- LIEB PRECHEL, C. KELEHER, WILLIAM BURKE, O. W. FRANCIS, S. W. FRANKLIN, WARREN GATES, JOHN BAILEY, J. F. PRES- TON, AUGUSTA KRASSIN, FRED REDESKE-WEATHER AND STORMS-NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH-FRED METZLER'S LEGS CUT OFF-ELECTION.
The board of county commissioners of Waseca county, Minn., met in regular session, at the office of the county auditor, of said county, on the 4th day of Jan. 1898. Members present: H. F. Lewer, Joseph Fromlath, P. C. Bailey, Herman Ewert, and Ray- mond Doyle. Commissioner H. F. Lewer was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Only the usual routine of business was transacted, except the following: It was ordered that $50 be appropriated to the town of Wilton for graveling the Wilton bridge grade. For the first time in the history of the county all the county printing was let to the lowest bidder. The Herald was awarded the publishing of the financial statement, the county commissioners' proceedings, the proceedings of the board of equalization, and the official ballot of the next general elec- tion. The Radical got the tax sale notices, and also all the sta- tionery printing and the court calendars, and the Journal was awarded the tax list, the official blanks, and the printing of the official ballots.
At this meeting the county commissioners accepted the offer
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of MeKune Post Grand Army of the Republic to plant its cannon on the courthouse grounds.
At the session of March 15, 1898, it was ordered that the ap- propriation made to the town of Freedom, July session, 1896, be used for grading between seetions 28 and 33 and between sec- tions 27 and 34, of said town. Also ordered that the appro- priation to the town of Freedom, made at the June session of 1897, be used for a stone culvert on county line road on seetion 7 of said town. Appropriations were made to the town of Wilton, $20,60, for repairing the Turnacliff bridge in said town; and to town of Otisco, $50, for grading county line road on section 12 of said town.
At the meeting of May 20, the following appropriations were made :
To the town of Byron, $35 for repairing bridge between sections 13 and 24. $25 for a new bridge between sections 29 and 30, and $40 for new bridge and grading between sections 25 and 26, all in the town of' Byron; to the town of Vivian, $40 for grading and repairing bridge between sections 22 and 27, and $40 for grading and repairing bridge between sections 6 and 7 all in the town of Vivian; to the town of St. Mary, $150 for a stone or steel bridge on section 16 and $46.63 for replanking the Kerr bridge, all in the town of St. Mary; to the town of Alton, $75 for a stone culvert on section 17, and $25 for grading new road on section 27, all in the town of Alton; to the town of Bloom- ing Grove, $30 for grading road between sections 10 and 11, $30 for grading county line road on section 25, and $40 for grading road be- tween sections 17 and 18, all in the town of Blooming Grove; to the town of Iosco, $15 for grading road between sections 7 and 18, $40 for grading road between sections 24 and 25, $20 for ditching road be- tween sections 22 and 27, and $15 for grading road on section 13, all in the town of Iosco."
At the session of July 12, 1898, it was ordered that $315.00 be paid to the Gillette Herzog Manufacturing Co. on contract for the new St. Mary bridge. It was also ordered that the expense for placing the cannon on the courthouse grounds to the amount of $185.96 be paid from the county revenue fund.
At the July meeting, it was ordered that the new St. Mary bridge, built by the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing Co., of Min- neapolis, be accepted, and that the balance of the contract price. $1,000.00, be paid.
At the meeting of October 20, 1898, it was ordered that the pay roll presented by Commissioner Fromlath in the sum of
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$237.00, for grading the approaches to the MeDougall, Holz, and Weed bridges, be approved ; that the pay roll presented by Com- missioner Doyle for grading at the St. Mary bridge, in the sum of $90.80, be approved, and that the pay roll presented by Com- missioner Ewert, for grading approaches to the Lamb bridge, in the sum of $23.25, be approved. There was allowed to Mr. Peter MeLin, for material and work on the Shaughnessy bridge, $20.40.
On motion, it was ordered that $75.00 be paid to one Mrs. Gleason, of Alma City, for a strip of land at the Alma City bridge to be used for road purposes. At the same meeting appropriations were made as follows : to A. Bird for a strip of land for road pur- poses, near the St. Mary bridge, $5.00; to the Gillette, Herzog Manufacturing company, on contract for bridges, $2,000; to Mr. Ramble, for two piles for Markham bridge, $6.00; to town of Wilton, as aid in repairing the Carmody bridge, $92.39.
At the meeting of the board, Dec. 28, 1898, it was ordered that the pay roll for grading at the Alma City bridge in the sum of $179.38 be approved and that said amount be paid from the county road and bridge fund. It was also ordered that $13.35 be appropriated to the town of Janesville for the straightening of a bridge on the county road.
CALLED HENCE DURING THE YEAR.
Mrs. Helena Clark, wife of Wm. Clark, residing on section 4, Janesville, a short distance from Elysian, died Jan. 10, 1898, after a long and painful illness. The funeral was held on Wed- nesday, Rev. Father Sullivan, of Waterville, officiating.
From the Herald, Jan. 14, 1898: "The funeral of Mr. Peter Beck, of Waseca, took place from the Catholic church, last Saturday, and was largely attended by sympathizing friends and neighbors. He was born in Prussia, May 26, 1830, and came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he married Miss Anna Lehnertz, in 1856. They came to Minnesota in 1867."
Mr. Frederick Proechel, of Waseca, died of inflammation of the bladder Monday night, March 21, 1898. He was born near Posen, Prussia, Dec. 18, 1826, and came to America about the year 1852-3. He spent some time working in St. Louis and then went to Princeton, Wis. From there he came to Waseca county in June, 1855, in company with Martin Krassin, and others. He then made a claim in St. Mary where he resided alone until the
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breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Co. B, Brackett 's Battalion, Nov. 24. 1861, with which he served until Nov. 24. 1864-just three years. He then made a trip to Germany and soon after married. He sold his old home, after a time, and bought other lands until he became quite wealthy. The liquor habit got the better of him, some years ago, and he was finally sent to the Rochester asylum, where he remained until about a year ago, when he was discharged. He left surviving a worthy widow and several children. He had many good qualities, and will be remembered by many of the old settlers as "Big Fred" to distinguish him from Fred Wobschall and Fred Krassin, who came to Minnesota with him in 1855.
Mrs. Martin Kaiser. of Freedom (nee Jane Connor. daughter of widow Simon Connor) died April 23. 1898. of grippe. She had, only a short time before. recovered from the effects of hay- ing one leg amputated on account of caneer from which she had long suffered. She left surviving seven children with her hus- band to mourn her departure. She was a sister of Mr. Simon Connor, and was highly respected by her neighbors. Her father was one of the pioneers of Wilton.
Mr. L. F. Peterson, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere. died April 25, of this year.
From the Herald: The announcement of the sudden death of Mr. S. Swenson, Tuesday morning, May 10, 1898, was a great shock to every one in this community. He was so well and so favorably known to almost every person in this county that his sudden demise was felt as a personal bereavement.
He was born in Fredericksvoern. Norway. Sept. 3, 1849, where he enjoyed the advantages of the high school of his town. At the age of fifteen years, he sipped as a sailor lad and visited nearly all lands. He was at one time shipwrecked off the coast of Africa.
After following the sea for four years, he came to America, and lived at Rochester, Minn., where he worked at blacksmith work. He came to Waseca about 1865, and entered the employ of the C. & N. W. Ry. Co., at the roundhouse. During all these years of toil, at the black- smith trade, he spent his spare moments in studying the English lan- guage and those branches which qualify a man for business and official duties, In 1881, he was appointed deputy auditor of this county, and so well did he perform his duties that he was elected county auditor in 1884. This position he held for four successive terms. He was one of the most popular officers of the county.
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
In 1893, he became the efficient cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Waseca, the position which he held at the time of his death.
In 1882, he was married to Miss Julia Anderson, who survives him. He had two adopted children, Clara, now grown to womanhood, and a young girl adopted last year.
He was a Master Mason and had also attained the most excellent degree in the Chapter. He filled the Master's chair of Tuscan lodge very acceptably for several terms. He was a most courteous and ex- emplary citizen, an honorable and upright business man, a true hus- band, kind and affectionate toward his family, charitable to the needy, and a favorite in the social circles, to which he gave considerable time.
Gottlieb Prechel, of St. Mary, about seventy-one years of age, died May 24, about noon, of inflammation of the bladder-hay- ing been ill some months. Deceased was one among the first settlers of the county, having located in St. Mary June, 1855. He was a native of Prussia and came to this country about 1853- first stopping in Wisconsin, where he remained until the spring of 1855. when he came to Waseca county in company with Fred Proechel, Fred Wobsehall and others, and settled where he has since resided. Deceased was an industrious, frugal man and a peaceful citizen. IIe left surviving him two sons and two daugh- ters-Lewis Prechel, of Woodville. Emil H. Prechel, of St. Mary. Mrs. Julia Montei, of Deerfield, and Mrs. Dora Grunwald, of St. Mary.
Mr. Cornelius Keleher died July 13, 1898. in Minneapolis, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Crow, of heart failure, aged seventy-eight years, four months and fifteen days. He was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, and came to America in 1846. landing in Newburyport, Mass. He afterwards resided in Wis- consin and then came to St. Mary, in this county, in 1856. IIe was an industrious, hard working man, one who always paid his honest dues and kept his contracts. He was a man of strong will, and had a mind of his own on all subjects. He was at one time prominent in St. Mary town-site affairs, but for many years he had abandoned all ambitions and quietly spent his days with his children and grandchildren. He was the author of a book re- garding church affairs, compiled some fifteen years before. His remains were brought to Waseca, taken to the St. Mary Catholic cemetery, and there deposited beside those of his wife, who died many years before.
Mr. William Burke, of Alton, died August 13, 1898. of what is
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valled the "Hotchkiss" disease, which shows itself by inflamma- tory swellings on different parts of the body. The malady defies the skill of physicians. Mr. Burke was born in Oneida county, N. Y., February 15, 1844. He was the fourth son of Michael and Catherine (Kelly) Burke, both from county Roscommon, Ireland. At the age of seventeen, William enlisted in company E, Six- teenth Wisconsin infantry, in 1861. He was discharged in June, 1862, on account of sickness, but re-enlisted in the same regiment again as soon as he recovered, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Dalton, Resaca, and Corinth. He was discharged JJuly 16, 1865, and returned to Wiseonsin. Shortly after he went South and spent some time there, coming to Min- nesota, however, in 1867, and settling in Alton. Jan- mary 28, 1867, he was married to Joanna Quirk, born in Middletown, Connecticut, her parents being natives of Cork and West Meath, Ireland. Mr. Burke was chairman of the board of supervisors of Alton for several years, and in 1875, was elected a member of the county board, a position which he held for six years. He was at one time assessor and for many years he was school director. He was a man of decided opinions, but nevertheless charitable toward those who differed from him.
Hon. O. W. Francis, son of Asa ("Dr.") Francis, one of the early settlers of Byron township, died at Fargo, N. D., of appen- clicitis, Aug. 16, 1898. At an early age he studied law with Batchelder and Buckham, of Faribault. Soon after reaching his majority, he removed to Fargo, N. D., where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and was very successful. He was a member of the Dakota legislature at the time of his death. He invested largely in farming lands and other real estate, and is said to have become quite wealthy.
Mr. S. W. Franklin, early settler in New Richland, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this volume, died of erysipelas, af- ter an illness of two days, August 21, 1898. He was one of our best citizens.
Mr. Warren Gates, of Alma City, died suddenly, Sept. 5, 1898. Ile was taken with a cough which resulted fatally in a few min- utes. He was born in Bennington county, Vt., January 31, 1828. IIe was a wagon maker by trade and first opened shop in Erie county, N. Y. He came as far west as La Crosse, Wis., in 1864.
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Ile began his residence in Alma City, in the fall of 1865, being one of the first of her settlers. He married Miss Helen M. Canfield, of New York State, April 25, 1852. They were the parents of six children.
"Mr. John Bailey, of Medford, who died at Rochester, Wed- nesday morning, December 7, at 5 o'clock, was one of the old and respected settlers of Waseca county. Hle was born at Frank- lin, New Hampshire, and was about sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. In the spring of 1855 he came West and first located in Waseca county. He was one of the proprietors of the townsite of St. Mary which made a strong fight for the county seat of Waseca county. In September, 1862, he moved to Faribault, and later to the village of East Prairie, remaining at the latter place until 1865, when he moved to Medford. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster, which office he held about twelve years.
Mr. John F. Preston, at one time a prominent citizen of Wa- seca, and a brother of S. H. Preston, died suddenly of heart fail- ure, near his home in the suburbs of Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 14, 1898. Deceased was born in Pittsfield, Vt., about 1850, and came to Waseca county about 1869. Some time afterwards he married Miss Etta Taylor. He was engaged in the sale of musical in- struments and jewelry in Waseca until about the close of 1889, when he went to live near Knoxville, Tenn. His wife and two sons survived him, but the younger son has since died.
Died, on Sunday, December 18, 1898, Mrs. Augusta Rieck Krassin, wife of Gottlieb Krassin, of Waseca. Deceased was born in Germany, October 22, 1867, and came to Minnesota about the year 1882. The immediate cause of her death was blood poisoning.
Mr. Fred Redeske, of Otisco, passed away Dec. 28, 1898. He died of stomach trouble, having been sick a long time. He was a native of Prussia, sixty-one years of age, and came to Chicago in 1873, thence to this county in 1881. He left surviving him his wife, two sons, and three daughters. His funeral was held under the auspices of the "Deutcher Krieger Verein" of which he was an honorable member.
WEATHER AND STORMS.
The year as a whole was one of few storms and much pleas-
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ant weather. The winter of 1897-8 was especially free from se- vere storms. The following appeared in a local paper, Feb. 18. 1898 :
"This has been a wonderful winter for weather. From the middle of December to the 11th of February there was mild and pleasant weather, almost without a ripple of cold. Early on the morning of the 11th inst, there was a fall of some three inches of snow, nearly all of which disappeared the next day. The first of the week, Monday and Tuesday, there was a fall of more snow, but the temperature was very mild and not to exceed four inches of snow came."
April 29, 1898, the same paper sang the following :
"O, the mud, the terrible mud; in we go with a sickening thud. The horses shy and pull and plunge, as through our streets they heave and lunge. And then the sun comes out a-glint, and makes the mud as hard as flint. We all stand by with none to soothe, without a move the streets to smooth. A little wisdom, now and then, exerted by our councilmen, and duly used upon each street, would bring to all a glad heart-beat."
The first snow storm in the fall of 1898, was noted as follows. Nov. 21:
"That was a regular, old fashioned "northwester, " last Monday and Monday night. Six or eight inches of snow fell, we judge, and was blown into huge drifts as fast as it came. The weather became very cold Tuesday morning and the snow drifted badly during the day. The highways are in very bad shape-neither sleighing nor wagoning, with heavy drifts all along. especially where there are groves or fences. It is seldom we get so severe a storm thus early in the season. This was the beginning of real winter.
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NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This year plans were made for a new church building by the Catholics of Waseca. It was planned to be 50x134 feet-the architecture to be Romanesque in treatment : to be constructed of pressed brick the tower to be 125 feet in height, the total seating capacity 1,000, and to be one of the finest churches in southern Minnesota.
WASECA COUNTY CREAMERIES.
Waseea county, at a comparatively early day, organized a number of farmers co-operative creameries. In 1898 this county contained in proportion to its geographical size and population.
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inore creameries than any other county in the state. In 1898 the local papers published the following :
"Here is the list of the ereameries accredited to this county with location and number of patrons :
Freedom, (Cream P. O.) 120
Vivian 126
Alma City 135
Blooming Grove, (Morristown
P. O.) 42
New Richland, (private) 75
Otisco 100
Janesville 120
New Richland 90
Waseca 115
Oakwood, (Waseca P. O.) 50
Palmer 70
Hamburg, (Minnesota Lake P. O.) 60
St. Mary, (Waseca P. O.) 71
Smith's Mill 99
Byron, (New Richland P. O.) . 46
Plum Valley, (Vivian P. O.) . . 75 Waseca Co. (New Richland P. O.) 70
Plainview, (Iosco) 50
Southeast Otisco
60
Freeborn county, with twenty townships, then had twenty- nine creameries; Faribault county, with twenty townships, had twenty-eight ereameries; while Waseca county with only twelve townships, had nineteen."
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
From the Waseca Herald, Sept. 3, 1898: "About half past five o'clock, last Saturday afternoon, Fred Metzler, of Wilton, was thrown from his wagon, by an engine, on the C. & N. W. Ry., at the Second street cross- ing, and both his legs were cut off just below the knees. The bones were so badly crushed and mangled that both legs had to be ampu- tated above the knees. It was a fearful maiming!
It appears, from what we can learn, that Metzler had just unloaded liis grain at the Farmers' grain elevator, and was coming over to the business portion of the town. When he reached the crossing, he found a threshing outfit, with a steam engine, just south of the tracks, which made his horses a little shy and attracted his attention as he drove on to the right of way. Just as the wagon was on one of the tracks, the engine struck the front of it, throwing him ont, with the result stated. As the wagon was struck by the engine, the horses broke loose from it and ran astride an electric-light pole, breaking the neck yoke. They then ran down Second street as far as the Grant House near which they were captured.
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