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 44
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"Grandma" Bailey, almost ninety-six years of age, was one of the really old settlers of the county. She was born Oct. 13, 1803, and went to her final sleep about midnight, August 25. 1899. She was a New Yorker and resided near Utica. Her husband died in 1854, and she came West with her daughter, afterwards Mrs. West, in 1857, where she joined her son, Hon. P. C. Bailey, at Wilton. Since that time she always made her home with him. Physically she was a very remarkable woman, having enjoyed good health nearly all her life. For a number of years prior to her death, except for a few months immediately preceding her death, she made regular calls upon her old ac- quaintances to whom she would tell over and over some of her life experienees. She was always a welcome caller. She was "short" on professions but "long" on good works all her life.
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The old Wilton settlers, with many others, will cherish her memory.
Mr. H. H. Sudduth, partner of Mr. S. II. Preston, of Waseca, in the drug business, died suddenly Oct. 7, 1899. He was ap- parently in his usual health all day, and about 10 o'clock in the evening called at the residence of F. A. Roth, by appoint- ment, as Mrs. Roth had arranged to go over to stay with the Sudduths that night, Mr. Roth being absent. As he entered, Mrs. Roth noticed that he looked very pale and, in surprise, asked if he was sick. He faintly replied, "Just tired out," and fell to the floor. Mrs. Roth called in the immediate neighbors, sent for Mrs. Sudduth and Dr. Swartwood, and all was done that could be done, but to no avail. He breathed his last about 1 o'clock Sunday morning. His wife, a son and a daughter sur- vived him.
From the Herald: "A dispatch of Nov. 1, brought the heart-rending news that a head-end collision between a passenger and a freight train occurred a mile and a half west of Courtland village about 6 o'clock. The locomotives of both trains were ditched, a number of cars were derailed, and Charles Hanson, engineer on the passenger train, was fatally injured, dying about four hours after the accident. The freight train, going west, was in charge of Conductor Chapman, with Engineer Lindell and Fireman Williams. The conductor and engineer both live in this city. Williams, we learn, is of Winona, Con- ductor Moses Gage, of Winona, had charge of the passenger train com- ing east, with Charles Hanson engineer and Wm. Cleary fireman-the two latter being residents of Waseca. Mr. Hanson was an old resi- dent of this city, one of the oldest railroad employes on the North- western system, and was well known throughout the Northwest."
Mrs. Annie Rebstein, of Waseca, died Nov. 13, 1899, in her eighty-first year. She had been ailing for a year or more with physical disabilities incident to old age. She came from near the city of Baden, Germany, about 1858 and settled in Otisco. Some years after this, she married Mr. Rebstein. After living on the farm for many years they sold it and removed to Wa- seca. Mr. Rebstein died a few years prior to this, and since then she had resided alone most of the time. Mr. Joseph From- lath, of Otisco, looked after her business affairs.
Another old settler suddenly joined the great majority on the Eternity side of the River of Death, Nov. 28, 1899. Mr. Thos. Brady, an early settler in Byron, on that day, about 4 o'clock
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p. m., while walking on the street in New Richland, near New- gaard's corner, suddenly fell, dying almost instantly without a parting word. li seems that he had been a sufferer from heart trouble for several years, but on this occasion he had no warn- ing of the sudden change. Only a few seconds before he had been talking with friends, and appeared to be in the enjoyment of his usual health. He was abont fifty-two years of age and had been a resident of Byron about thirty-two years.
Mr. John Dalton, a prominent farmer of losco, died of par- aylsis Dec. 8. 1899. lle was one of the pall bearers at the fit- neral of Mr. Patrick Moonan, and at that time contracted a cold which, it is elaimed. resulted in progressive paralysis. He was a man highly respected among his neighbors and acquaintances.
Near the close of the year a very sad death oreurred. Mr. Al- bert Elton, about twenty-five years old, son of Angust Elton, of Woodville, was accidentally shot, Der. 27, 1899. by Gnstof Zies- man, aged about thirty years, while they were hunting rabbits. The accident happened about noon and Albert died about five hours afterwards. Drs. Cummings and Blanchard were called, but the unfortunate young man was beyond the help of surgical aid. It appears, from all that can be learned, that Ziesman was trying to put a cartridge into his gun, that Elton was standing some eight or ten feet away, and that, in some way. the cartridge exploded, driving the charge through Elton's right arm and into his body. The shot penetrated his lungs and caused his death in a few hours.
A GOLDEN WEDDING.
The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bishman was duly celebrated by a large family reunion, Sept. 2, 1899. Aside from the children and grandchildren there were present Capt. John Brandt (brother of Mrs. Bishman) and wife, and Capt. John Knapp and wife, the latter being a sister of Mrs. Bishman. These relatives reside near Syracuse. N. Y. The occasion was one of much pleasure to all the participants.
CHAPTER LXIX, 1900.
NEW BRIDGES-COUNTY AFFAIRS-SUNSHINE AND STORM- SEVERE DROUTH-TERRIBLE STORM, NINE PERSONS KILLED -RATTLESNAKE IN WASECA-NEW PRINTING BUILDING- BURNING OF UNITED STATES MAIL-DIED: CHARLES GORMAN, ANN J. TAYLOR, JOACHIM HECHT, MISS MARGARET MCGUIGAN, P. LAVELLE (KILLED), MICHAEL MADIGAN, E. P. LATHAM, JOHN BYRON, AIKEN MYCUE (SUICIDE), DR. H. J. YOUNG, MYANDA E. HILL, MRS. JOHN MORGAN, MRS. CHRISTIAN KOESTER, MRS. HARRIET E. IDE, THOS. BURNS, ALLEN GOOD- SPEED, STEPHEN McBRIDE, MRS. J. K. MEYERS, MRS. THOMAS MALONEY, CHRISTY HEFFERON, W. F. CARROLL (KILLED), W. KREUZER, MRS. B. F. WEED, WM. GIBBS, SON OF B. D. ARM- STRONG (SHOT), ANDREW LYNCH, ANDREW R. HENDERSON (KILLED)-ELECTION.
The county commissioners met this year Jan. 2. Mr. From- lath was again elected chairman and purchasing agent. The board designated the Waseca County Herald as the paper in which the delinquent tax list and all other official matters and proceedings of the county should be published during the year, at the rates established by law.
The board met again March 20, 1900, but transacted nothing more than the usual routine business.
On May 4, 1900, a contract was entered into by and between the Gillette-Herzog Manufacturing Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., and the board of county commissioners for the construction and completion of six steel bridges for the sum of $3.025.00, said
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bridges to be completed and ready for travel on or before the 1st day of August, 1900.
At the meeting or May 24, 1900, it was ordered that $350.00 be appropriated from the county road and bridge fund to each of the 1st, 3d, 4th, and 5th commissioner districts.
At the board meeting Aug. 22, 1900, the contract for placing a steam heating plant in the county jail building was awarded to The New Prague Manufacturing company, for the sum of $545.00, they being the lowest bidders.
SUNSHINE AND STORM.
As a rule, the people of Waseca county enjoyed favorable weather during the season. Although it was an unusually dry season, the wheat crop was very fine. The Herald of June 22 said :
Never before, since white men settled in Waseca county, has there been at this time of year, such a drouth. Everything green, except the trees, has been seriously injured in growth. The grass crop except on the wet sloughs, is almost a total failure. The upland pastures at this writing, June 18, are as bare as we ever saw them In October. We are glad to hear of copious showers all around us, but so far, since the first of April, we have not had in Waseca, all told more than an inch of rainfall. Our wisest farmers are putting in corn and millet for feed, and it behooves every man to prepare for the worst. If we get rain this week or within a few days there may be some crops to save, but a few more days of hot, dry weather will wither everything. Let every one who has tillable land put in root crops, late corn and millet. Every one should save everything eatable for man and beast.
Fortunately the country was visited by a few light showers, and fairly good crops were produced.
A DESTRUCTIVE STORM.
One of those unaccountable atmosphere disturbanees that oe- casionally destroy life and property made its appearance in Ioseo, Sept. 24, 1900, about 5 p. in. It first demonstrated its power at the farm of Wm. Mittelstead, where it tore down his new barn. It next visited the residence of Mr. Wolter, tearing off a portion of the roof. It moved toward the northeast, doing more or less damage. At Superintendent Remund's farm, in Blooming Grove, the barn was injured and the roof taken from his machine shed. A little further northeast, at the Goar farm, a young man was killed and much property destroyed. It made
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straight for the village of Morristown, where it tore down a brick building, occupied as a saloon, and killed eight men. Mr. Jack- son's barn, at Palmer, was blown down, and there were other losses.
A RATTLESNAKE IN WASECA.
Killed a rattlesnake! That is what Mrs. E. A. Everett did September 4, 1900, at her residence, at the corner of Lake Avenue and Tenth street, in the yard near the house. As she was walk- ing in the yard she heard a peculiar rattle, and discovered the snake not far from her feet. She lost no time in getting a stick and killing the serpent. It had five rattles and was well developed.
NEW PRINTING HOUSE.
During the summer of 1900, Mr. J. E. Child erected a new brick building especially for the Herald newspaper and job printing business. It is 24x75 feet, built of brick, with stone basement, one story above basement. It was occupied Sept. 21, 1900.
BURNING OF UNITED STATES MAIL.
From the Herald of Nov. 9, 1900 :
"Last Friday evening, November 2, 1900, one of our postoffice clerks, a young man, was seen burning a quantity of papers in the rear of the postoffice, near the alley. Some lads, at play near by, gathered up some of the papers, which were partly burned, and took them to Judge De- vine's house. Glancing at them the judge discovered that they were marked 'Sample Copy,' that they were addressed to some of our well- known citizens. Each of the papers was a copy of 'The Evening Dem- ocrat,' of Winona, October 29, 1900, containing a fac simile of the West Hotel register, of Minneapolis, of Saturday, December 26, 1896, where- on was registered the name of J. A. Tawney, as well as the names of some of the lumbermen then and there present.
"This paper, thus destroyed, contained, among other matter, Mr. Taw- ney's statement at Lanesboro, to-wit:
"'That I attended a meeting of the lumber barons of Minnesota at the West Hotel immediately after my election in 1896, or that I at- attended a meeting of lumbermen there or at any other place where the lumber schedule was discussed or prepared, or taken by me to Washington to be incorporated in the Dingley tariff law, is a lie from the beginning to the end.'
"It also contained, in addition to the fac simile of the West Hotel
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register, extracts from the 'Mississippi Valley Lumberman,' showing that his (Tawney's) statement, as quoted at Lanesboro, was wholly false. There was much other matter of importance bearing upon the politi- cal issues of the day. -
"We are informed that three hundred copies of the paper (the Demo- crat) were mailed to persons here. How many were wholly destroyed we do not know.
"On Saturday morning, Judge Devine, Tony McDonald, and the writer visited the remains of the bonfire of newspapers, in the rear of the post- office, and found the remains of several other papers, not wholly con- sumed. Among the charred remains we found packages addressed to the following well known names: P. F. Gallagher (firm of Boucher & Gallagher), Wm. Oestrich, McMahon, Wm., T. R. Bowe, J. O. Neff (of the Round House), T. B. Ryan, Edward Remund, Louis Rabe, Wm. Von (remainder of name gone), James Bowe, Gallo Bros., Anton Oswaldson, John Crawley, and Peter Featherman.
"On the next train north, Messrs. P. F. Gallagher, of Waseca, who was one of those who had his mail hurned, and J. T. Jordan, of St. Mary, went to St. Paul, for the purpose of making a complaint before a United States commissioner and securing a warrant for the arrest of the accused party.
The United States officials refused to act.
The St. Paul Globe of Sunday morning said:
"On reaching here last night, Messrs. Gallagher and Jordan, in charge of a big bundle of half charred papers, hunted up United States Commis- sioner Spencer, and were courteously received by that official, but he informed them that he could do nothing, as District Attorney Evans, who had been informed of the matter, left instructions that no warrant should be issued for the present.
"A visit to Chief Postoffice Inspector Kimball, who was found at the Windsor hotel, after a long search, was less fruitful of results, accord- ing to Messrs. Gallagher and Jordan, that official giving them anything but a civil reception.
"They were informed, so they say, by Mr. Kimball, that it was too near election for such a proceeding. They were told that no warrant could be issued at present, and that unless they saw fit to await the going through of the customary red tape they might as well go home.^
Postoffice Inspector Lance, who investigated the matter, said that the information taken by him showed beyond a reasonable doubt that copies of the Evening Democrat were properly mailed at, Winona and received at the Waseca postoffice that day, No- vember 2, and burned by one of the clerks the same evening.
But for some reason, known only to government officials, the matter was never prosecuted.
Politics, Polities, how many erimes thou art guilty of!
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MANY OLD SETTLERS PASS AWAY.
From the Herald: A sad and fatal accident befell Mr. Charles Gor- man, an old settler of St. Mary, last Monday afternoon, Jan. 8. We are informed that he was engaged in hanling wood, wagon length, and had just hauled a load into his yard. He stepped in between his horses and the front end of his wagon to throw off the wood. It appears that one of the horses must have kicked him, as there was a mark just back of his right ear. The horses then ran and one wheel of the wagon passed over his chest crushing in the bones, and another wheel evidently passed over his abdomen. He was insensible when found, and died about five hours afterwards. He leaves a family and numerous rela- tives to mourn his untimely death. He was a brother of Anthony Gor- man, Esq., of the same town.
Died. Jan. 19, 1900, at the residence of her son near Saco, Montana, Mrs. Ann J. Taylor, aged about eighty-one years, of pneumonia. . Mrs. Taylor was born and bred in England, and came to this county with her husband, Wm. Taylor, deceased, many years ago. They first lived in New Orleans, but owing to siavery in the South, at that time, they were not satisfied there and came North and settled in Blooming Grove on a farm at an early day. Mr. Taylor died some years before, but Mrs. Taylor continued to reside in Waseca until the fall of 1898, when she went to Montana with her son, Mr. W. H. Taylor. Her remains were brought to Waseca and buried beside those of her husband in Woodville cemetery.
Mr. Joachim Hecht was born in Germany, in 1825, and came to America about 1856, settling in Blooming Grove. He died after a well-spent life, Feb. 22, 1900, being at the time seventy- five years of age. He left surviving two sons, John and George, and three daughters, Mrs. Adolph Mahler, Mrs. Gus Eichorst, and Mrs. C. J. Voge. His widow is still living at this writing, 1905.
On Feb. 23, 1900, occurred the death of Miss Margaret Mc- Guigan, daughter of Mr. C. McGuigan, of Iosco. The lady had been ill for a long time, but her death was not expected so sud- denly. Deceased was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, in December, 1858. The family came to this county and settled in Iosco in 1867.
A fatal railroad accident happened in Waseca, Feb. 24, 1900, causing the death of Mr. Patrick Lavelle. He was yard master and had just received orders at the freight depot for the next day, when on his way to his home, which was east from the depot, and near the old round house, for some unaccountable reason, he stepped from one track to another immediately in front of a moving train, which ran over him, killing him instantly. Mr. Lavelle
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had been in the service of the company here some 20 years. His wife had died the previous November, and he left a family of six children.
Edward Payson Latham came to Waseca upon the completion of the road to this point, in the fall of 1867, and was station agent for two years. On Jan. 1, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary S. Banks, at Norwalk, Conn. After a time he resigned his position as railroad agent, and engaged in the drug business. He afterwards was engaged in the hardware business, a meat market, and various other enterprises. He had at va- rious times served as city assessor and in several other official positions, being at the time of his death court commissioner of the county, and contractor for carrying the rural mail over what is known as the Wilton and St. Mary route. Upon his return home the Tuesday evening prior to his death from delivering the mail, he was taken with a chill. Although ill, he went to the postoffice Wednesday and Thursday mornings to sort out the mail for his son, who took his place as carrier. On Thursday he grew rapidly worse, and it became evident that pneumonia had set in. Notwithstanding his strong and vigorous frame, he was unable to cope with the disease, and grew steadily worse until death came to his relief the following Wednesday morning. March 28, 1900. He was born Nov. 12, 1831, at Thetford, Ver- mont, and was one of a family of seventeen children. He was educated in the public schools of his native state, and came West as far as Winona, in 1866, where he served as paymaster on the W. & St. P. R. R. for some time. He was the father of eight chil- dren, six of whom survived him. For several years prior to his death he held the position of secretary of the Waseca County Horsethief Detective society.
Mr. John Byron, an old settler of St. Mary, a sketch of whose life is given elsewhere, died April 14, 1900, in the city of Waseca. mourned by all.
Mr. Aiken Mycue, of Vivian, died by his own hand April 17. 1900. It appears that he deliberately shot himself through the head with a revolver, in his cattle barn, at milking time. Two of his boys were near by and heard the report of the revolver. and soon after found their father dead. His wife died Septem- ber 16, leaving eight children ranging from two to eighteen years
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of age. It is thought that brooding over his situation brought on a fit of insanity. Deceased was born November 25, 1848, and came to this county with his father, Aiken Mycue, Sr., in 1864. They first settled in the village of Wilton. About 1866, the family moved to Vivian, where Aiken resided. His father died March 9, 1896.
Dr. Henry J. Young was the first physician who located in Waseca-he having come here in the fall of 1867. He was born in Vermont, June 9, 1831, and remained in his native town until 1851. when he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. A. Knight, of Springfield, Vt. After two years' practice in Ver- mont and New Hampshire, he came as far West as Sheboygan, Wis., where he practiced until 1862, when he was commissioned as assistant surgeon of the First Wisconsin cavalry and went to the front with that regiment. At the end of a year, he resigned on account of sickness and returned to Sheboygan. In the fall of 1864, he received the appointment of surgeon in the Forty- seventh Wisconsin infantry. He served in this capacity until the regiment was mustered out, when he was placed in charge of the general hospital at Tullahoma, Tenn., where he served until the hospital was closed. He then returned to Sheboygan, where he remained until the fall of 1867, when he came to Waseca. As a physician and medical adviser he had few superiors. He was kind and considerate to the poor, always ready and willing to aid the distressed, even though there was no hope of reward for his services. Near 1898, he removed to Alabama, where he remained about a year, and then went to Lebanon, Oregon, where his life closed April 23, 1900, at 11:30 o'clock in the evening.
Mrs. Myanda E., wife of Mr. J. B. Hill, was born in Ridgebury, Pa., in 1826. She married Mr. Hill in August, 1846. They came West as far as Green Lake county, Wisconsin, in 1850. They came to Minnesota in 1857 and lived on the south bank of the Cobb river, in Vivian. Mrs. Hill had the honor of being the first white woman to settle in that township. In common with the pioneers of this county she endured many of the privations and hardships incident to the early settlement of this state, al- though she never experienced the pinching poverty incident to a large majority of the early settlers. When the writer first knew her, she and her husband kept almost an open house to all comers,
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and were very kind and obliging. About 1889 she had a stroke of paralysis which weakened both body and mind, and from that time to the day of her death she was a confirmed invalid. The family removed from Vivian to Minnesota Lake, in 1872, where she continued to reside until her death, April 26, 1900.
On May 21, 1900, Mrs. John Morgan, of Iosco, passed away. after a very short illness-the cause of her death being neuralgia of the heart. Mrs. Morgan was a sister of the late Mr. Christie MeGuigan, of this eounty, and was born in Ireland, in 1826. She came to America in 1848, first stopping in Philadelphia and afterwards living for some time in St. Louis, Mo. She after- wards, in 1855, married Mr. John Morgan, and, with him, became one of the early settlers of Ioseo, where they have since resided. She left surviving two sons and three daughters. namely: James B. and J. C. Morgan, Mrs. John Bruce, Mrs. John Devine and Mrs. Lige Wesley.
Mrs. Harriet E. Ide died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. N. E. Strong, in Pomona, Cal., June 19, 1900, aged eighty-nine years and ten months. She had lived in Pomona fourteen years. Col. John (. Ide and his wife, Harriet E., were characters in the early history of Minnesota and especially of Waseea county. Col. Ide and family came to Minnesota in 1855, first living at what is known as East Prairie, in Rice eonnty. He served as a mem- ber of the territorial legislature in 1856. In the fall of this year he and his family came to Wilton. He built the first saw mill in the county and did much in the way of upbuilding and im- proving Wilton, then a new village and the county seat. In the fall of 1857, he was a candidate for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket with Gov. Ramsey-both being defeated. Col. Ide afterwards met with financial reverses. He was appointed county anditor in 1863, holding the position until his death by heart disease in the fall of 1866. During all the vicissitudes of prosperity and adversity, Mrs. Ide remained devoted to her hus- band and family. She was a kind neighbor and full of charity. She was the last of a trio of "grandmas" who were the most aged of the old settlers of this part of the county-Grandma Bailey, Grandma Child, and Grandma Ide. They all lived be- vond the three-score-years-and-ten limit, and enjoyed the highest esteem of hosts of friends. If the spirits of mortals recognize each
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other on the other side of the Styx, no doubt there was a happy reunion of congenial souls as that of Mrs. Ide took its flight to the land of shadows on the 19th of June, 1900.
On the 23d of June, 1900, Mr. Thos. Burns, of Wilton, started up the stairway to Dr, Chamberlain's office, in Waseca, and when about half way up fell on the landing, gave a groan and breathed his last within a few moments. He was a long-time resident of Wilton and was a brother of B. Burns, now living, and Peter Burns, deceased.
Allen Goodspeed, a brother of Geo. HI. Goodspeed, of this county, died at his residence in California, July 8, 1900, after a prolonged illness. Ile was born January 21, 1860, came to Min- nesota with his parents at an early day in the history of Waseca, and moved to California some twelve years prior to his death.
Stephen McBride. of Iosco, died at his home, July 13, 1900, from injuries received in a runaway some few weeks before. The injuries resulted in dropsy and expert medical attendance failed to bring any relief.
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