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 46
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
twin sister, Nellie. She was one of the daughters of the late Daniel Ballard.
Mr. Edward Moylan, another prominent old settler, passed to the Great Beyond Wednesday morning, May 1st, 1901. Mr. Moylan, of St. Mary, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in the year 1818. He was a wagon maker by trade and remained in Ire- land until he was thirty-three years of age. He then came to America, and landed in New York on the last day of July, 1851. He worked his way to Rochester, N. Y., where he was employed at wagon making for five years. He married his first wife, Miss Mary Burke, from County Galway, Ireland, in the spring of 1852. In the fall of 1856, he removed with his family to Galena, HII .. and thence to Dubuque, Iowa, where he worked during the win- ter at his trade. In the spring of 1857 he took the first boat up the river to St. Paul, and then back to Hastings, where he landed. He hired a team and went as far as Faribault with his wife. Then he left her and came on foot to the then new and promising village of St. Mary, where he bought a lot, intending to open a wagon shop. Ile was in better shape financially than many oth- ers, having saved up some $500 in gold. He bought a cow for $50. and hired a man for $13 to move the family and goods from Faribault to St. Mary. Ilis experience in getting settled was like that of all pioneers in this then new country. Soon after St. Mary began to decline, he went to farming. Ilis first wife died in 1869, Angust 29. He married his second wife, Miss Hannah Gorman, in 1872. He left a nice farm of one hundred and sixty acres besides personal property. He was one of our best citizens, prompt and honorable in all his dealings, a peace- able man, a good neighbor, a kind husband and father. Ile was always a rugged, robust man and was seldom sick until the day of his death. The morning before he died he did his chores about the farm. He died of pneumonia, being ill only one day. He left surviving, besides his widow, Mrs. Charles MeLoone, Mrs. Charles MeCabe, Richard Moylan, of St. Paul, married, and Wil- liam and Edward, of St. Mary, single.
Mr. Joseph Manthey, of Waseca, after a long and painful illness, died May 10, 1901, in his seventy-seventh year. He was born at Adamsheim, Prussia, March 15, 1825. He came to the United States in 1853 and lived first, in Wisconsin, near Prince-
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
ton, where he married Miss Minnie Krassin, daughter of Mrs. Augusta Krassin, in December, 1855. Mr. Manthey was a black- smith by trade, and in 1856, in company with Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., and Christian Krassin, came to this state and settled in St. Mary, on the farm where his son now resides. There he built a rude blacksmith shop, the first in St. Mary township, and also opened a farm. He was the father of nine children, eight of whom, with their mother, survived him. Samuel, the eldest son, was killed on the railroad, at the Otisco gravel pit, some years ago, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. Manthey was one of the most genial of men. He excelled as a conversationalist in his native language, and was always kind and generous to his family and neighbors. He had troubles enough of his own, yet he was always cheerful and hopeful.
Mrs. Peter Beck, of Waseca, died Thursday morning, July 5, 1901, at an early hour, of heart disease. She had been feeble all winter. She was born in Germany. She came to this country thirty-four years before her death and lived in Steele county. She and her husband afterwards settled in Waseca. Her hus- band died some months before she did. She left surviving her a son, Mr. Henry Beck, of Meriden, and three daughters.
Mrs. John M. Wollschlaeger, of Waseca, after an illness of three weeks, died at 7:45 o'clock, Wednesday evening, July 17, 1901. Louisa Ida (Neidt) Wollschlaeger was born in Waseca January 18, 1876. Her mother died while Louisa was very young, and her father, Mr. Christian Neidt, died about 1884. She mar- ried Mr. John M. Wollschlaeger, our popular register of deeds, April 18, 1900. She had an attack of cholera morbus, followed by inflammation of the bowels. Abcesses formed which caused much suffering and, finally, death. Her trouble assumed a ma- lignant form at the start, and defied medical skill. She left sur- viving her husband, a brother and a sister.
The people of Waseca were painfully shocked upon hearing of the sudden death of Mrs. Eri G. Wood, which occurred about 1:30 o'clock p. m., July 23, 1901, her age being sixty-six years, five months and sixteen days. She had been indisposed for a week or more, but had been pronounced by her physician much improved. She ate her dinner with a relish and was able to be about the house. Her death, therefore, came as a surprise to
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WANNA COUNTY
her family and many friends She evidently shed with little or no pain passed quietly away like one falling asleep Mary Lovejoy Stevens was born at Haverhill, Grafton County. & # .. January es. 183. With her parents and a colony of friends, she engrated overland to Media, Ohio, about the year 1810, where she grew to womanhood. In September, But, she came to thay fon County, lown, and for a year made her home with her was ter, Mrs Charles Watkins October 2'. ... she was married to Ery G Wood. Seven children were born to them, st of whom survive four sons, Loren, Summer, Lamunn and Robert, and two daughters, Isabel and Florenes Mr. and Mrs Wont moved to the home where she died at 1Sat, and were among the very curly settlers of the county.
Jesse & Wood, one of the early settlers of Byron, ched Amount 2. 1901. Elsewhere in this volume is given an account of his carly settlement.
Mr Edward Esame Scholer, who was born July no. frtil, in Wabasha county, this state, shed August 31, 1901, of cancer of the stomach the was married to Caroline Fall, daughter of John Felt, of this county, March to, 18SS the left with his wife wit children, the elded being a son twelve years of age He also left five brothers and five sisters do mour his early departure His discuss had been of long standing, although he was not made aware of the nature of the troulde till about a year prior to his death. Early in the year he was treated at the Mayo hospital, in Rochester The doctors removed the draused portion of the stomach, as they thought, and for a time he gained afrougth and appeared to be improving; But without a few weeks the old fool ing returned, and further examination by the doctors duclosed the fact that there was no help for him
The long dinews of Mra O T Hagan, of Blooming Grove, for minated in a pe ath Sunday evening, Angird 18, 1901 She was the victim of that dread disease. comumption Mra Hagan was the da tor of Mr. and Mrs Gullick Knudsen, and was born in loses florty three years before her death She left three small garis with her stricken hunband
Mr Gultick knutsen, one of the oldest settlers and best citizens of' Warren county, died on Sunday, the 11th of August, 1901, at his residence in Blooming Grove, of diabetes. He was born at.
CHILD'S THATORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
Koldat, Bergenstift, Norway, May 25, 1810; came to America with hus parents in 1861, living in Dane County, Wisconsin. His pa route remained there until the spring of 1856 when they came to Minnesota, and in the latter part of June settled in Blooming Grove. At the time of the Indian massacre, in 1869, he enlisted in Company B, Wirst Mumesola Mounted Rangers. His comrades from this county were Iton. S. P Child, Lieut. T. F. West, Jotina Cunningham, J. H. Elliston, Eglo Oleson, W. M. Way, I. W. Kras sin, John Murphy, and Jordan Smith. He was a brave and faith I'll soldier and participated in alt the hardships of the campaign against the red skins. He served his full form and was mus. fored out at Fort Snelling. In 1866, he was married, June 25th, to Miss Martha Johnson, of Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin, who was born in Hangs, Bergenstift, Norway, August 20, 1811. and onme to Amorion with her parents in 1800. Eight children were born to them, seven daughters and one son. After their marriage they settled in losco, where they lived until 1878, when they sold and returned to section 18 in Blooming Grove. For many years he held town oflees, being supervisor, treasurer, and town clerk. He was town clerk at the time of his death. Ile loft surviving him Mes. Kontson and seven children. All of the children were present at the funeral except Martha, Mrs. Stolve. who is in Madagascar her husband being a Lutheran missionary in that far away land
Mr T K Alland, whose death occurred September 13, 1901, of consumption, was born thirty four years before and brought up on the old Alland homestead, in section 30. Blooming Grove He received a good common school education in the school district in which he resided, and of which he was director at the time of his death, About eleven years ago he was united in marriage with Miss Alter Jameson, who, with five small children, the oldest mme years old, survive him
Mr Roger Garaghty, of Blooming Grove, first cousin of Mr Roger Garaghty, of St Mary, expired at his home. October 1. 1901, of old age He was a native of Ireland, came to America when a young man, food for some time in St Louis, Mo. and came to this county about 1863, softling in Blooming Grove. He was about ninety years of age, and his death was peaceful, like one falling asleep He was an honorable, fair dealing, quiet city
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
zen, a good neighbor, and highly respected by all his aequaint- anees.
Mr. Ferdinand Holz committed suicide Nov. 29, 1901, at his home in Otisco. Mr. E. H. Holz, his son, reported the following facts: Deceased had complained of ill health for some time. On the morning of the 29th of November, he complained to his wife that he felt ill and desired to go to Waseca for treatment. He was assured that he would be taken to Waseca by his wife and son Paul. His son, E. H. Holz, and Mrs. E. H. Holz were milk- ing the cows at the time. After the talk with his wife and son, he went out of the house as usual, there being nothing unusual in his manner or actions. Soon after, before 7 o'clock a. m., he was found dead in the granary, having hanged himself with a strap. It is believed that his mind had been affected, more or less, since the death of his brother the preceding February, and that his disease became suddenly aeute that fatal morning. De- ceased was born in Germany, June 14, 1826. He came to America about 1847. He enlisted in the Union army in 1864, came to this county in 1869, and has since resided here. He died at the age of seventy-five years, five months and fifteen days. He left sur- viving a widow and eight children.
Samuel W. Myriek died December 24, 1901, after a short ill- ness, at the residence of Mr. L. A. Bullard, in Waseca, of pneu- monia, at the age of eighty-one years, three months and fourteen days. Deceased was born in Vermont, September 10, 1820. He married Miss Fidelia Grover, in the state of New York, in 1843. They eame West at an early day and resided near Horicon, Wis- consin. It is said that he came to Minnesota in 1854, stopping for a time in Fillmore county. Ile moved to Minnesota Lake about 1857, being one of the first to settle in that locality. He afterwards lived in Morristown where he and his wife owned a millinery store. They came to Waseca about 1870, where they opened a millinery store which they conducted for many years. His wife died some years before. The writer's first acquaintance with him was while Mr. Myrick and his wife kept a pioneer hotel at Minnesota Lake, in 1858, where "many a weary traveler found refreshment and sleep."
The New Richland Star, Dee. 20, 1901 :
Anthony Callahan, one of the pioneer residents of Byron, died sud-
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
denly at his home in this village Saturday afternoon. He had been complaining of not feeling well, having contracted a cold and left church Wednesday before services were over because of his feebleness. Thurs- day he was stricken with paralysis at his home, losing entire control of his body and limbs; two days later death came, peacefully and pain- lessly. Mr. Callahan was born in Ireland nearly sixty-six years ago and came to this country in 1857 first living in Illinois, then moving to Wiscon- sin, and after his discharge from the army, thirty-five years ago, settling in this county. About two years ago he moved from his farm in Byron, where he had spent the previous twenty-six years, and made his home in this village.
Mrs. Amos N. Roberts died Monday afternoon, Dec. 30, 1901, at her home in Waterville, after a lingering illness of Bright's dis- ease. She was born June 2, 1832, her maiden name being Mary A. Christman. In early childhood she moved with her parents to Illinois, where she was married to Amos N. Roberts in 1854. They . came to Minnesota in 1855, and to Waterville in 1877. Eight ehil -. dren survive her. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Roberts kept the Okaman hotel, and during the years of the Buckhout milling business many an old settler made his home with them while waiting for his grist. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were well and favorably known to all the pioneer settlers of the county.
CHAPTER LXXI, 1902.
WORK OF THE COUNTY FATHERS-MURDER OF PHILIP BISHMAN -BOY ACCIDENTALLY HANGED-DEATH AND DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY TORNADO JULY 5-ELIZABETH AND ADAM BISH- MAN, JR., KILLED-OTHER TORNADOES, JULY 15 AND AUG. 30- SHERIFF COLLINS SHOOTS A DESPERADO-GASOLINE EXPLO- SION-DIED: "JOKER" JONES, GOTTLIEB KRASSIN, SAMUEL KNUTSEN, THOS. BOWERS, JOHN G. FELL, C. HOOVER, MRS. G. BUCHLER, MRS. L. W. CONCANNON, MRS. C. J. BLUHM, F. HOL- LANDER, MRS. FRANK ERFURTH, BENNY SIMONS, GEO. WOSKIE (KILLED)-THE ELECTION.
The board of county commissioners met in annual session Jan. 7, 1802, and organized by re-electing Mr. Herman Ewert chair- man. The Waseca County Herald was chosen the official paper of the county for the year. The board this year consisted of Her- man Ewert, H. J. Hanson, M. H. Helms, Herman Weckwerth, and Fred McKunc.
At the March session of the board only routine business was transacted.
CHARIVARI AND DRUNKEN BRAWL; FOUL MURDER OF PHILIP BISHMAN, JUNE 18, 1902.
On the 18th of June, 1902, Charles Lipke and Mrs. Katie Han- son, of Wilton, were married in the forenoon by Judge Geo. A. Wilson, at Waseca. It appeared in evidence that Lipke invited Philip Bishman and Michael Mulcahy, of Waseca, to attend his reception that evening. These two men secured a keg of beer
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
and drove over to Wilton. At the coroner's inquest, Mulcahy testified substantially as follows:
"I am about thirty-seven years of age. Knew Philip Bishman in his life time-have known him from boyhood. Left Waseca with him Wed- nesday evening about 9 o'clock. We got a team and buggy from Gal- lagher, took a keg of heer from Meyer's saloon and drove to Wilton. Bishman drove the team. Stopped nowhere on the road till we reached the Kujath place, in Wilton. We took the beer and went out upon invitation of the man who got married (Lipke). When we got there we put team in harn. Bishman took keg of beer in house and we went in. We drank some beer. The groom drank with me and then I drank with the bride. There were several people there. They were social and drank beer lively. After staying about twenty-five minutes I wanted to go home; hut they were playing cards and called Bishman back. I went out into the barn and camped down. Don't know just how long I was there, but two or three men came to where I was and one of them said, 'Where are you, you
son of a -. ' One of them caught hold of me, and I said, 'What is up?' They said, 'We'll use you as we have your partner.' 'ne There were three of them. One knocked me down and dragged me to the buggy and I got in. Then they went toward the house, then they came back and pounded me with a club. Bishman was then in the buggy and said, 'Don't, boys, don't.' They knocked me out of the buggy and I took a northeast course to get away from them. As I left I heard loud talk. One man said, 'You --- son of a --- , are you dead? I will kill you.' Fred Kujath is the man that - swore he would kill me, and E. P. Bahr is the man that used the club on me.
Albert Sumnick was sworn and testified in substanee as fol- lows:
"I live in Wilton-have lived there five years. I knew Bishman anyway five years. I saw him there at Kujath's place Wednesday night. I met Bishman and the other man there. I was at the charivari that evening, at Kujath's with my brother. Some of the folks there had gone before I left. My brother and I left between 12 and 1 o'clock. I saw some of the fight. I saw E. P. Bahr knock Bishman down in the house with his fist, and when Bishman got up Bahr knocked him down again. Mrs. Kujath said they should stop and put Bishman in the buggy and send him home. I was outside, hut could see in. Fred Kujath and old man Kujath were outside, I think. Bahr dragged Bish- man out of the house to the buggy. They said they wanted to get the other man (Mulcahy). They went to the barn and got him, and about then my brother and I left. We heard the racket after we got away a short distance. I did not hear striking before I left, hut shortly after I heard striking as with a strap or board. I heard Bahr ask where Mulcahy was. I heard nothing from Bishman. After I got away I heard Bahr call 'Philip' three times, but I heard no answer. The moon
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
shone and the night was light. This was at Carl Kujath's, and Fred is Carl's son. Both the Kujaths and Bahr and the others had been drinking and were jaggy."
Ernest P. Bahr, one of the accused, at his own request, and after being informed by Mr. Moonan of his legal right not to make any statement, was sworn and made substantially the fol- lowing statement :
"I live in Wilton-am twenty-five years old in July, and a farmer. I have rented the Jack Turnacliff farm and my mother keeps house for me. I have known Philip Bishman since I was a boy. I have also known Mulcahy since I was a boy. Wednesday evening I was at a neighbor's and heard of the wedding-saw the Sumnick boys and we went over to Piehl's place-in front of Kujath's. There were some fourteen or fifteen of us. Services were being held in a church near by, and we waited with our charivari until meeting was out. That was about 10 o'clock. I was chosen captain. Then we went to Kujath's and charivaried the couple. As we were about ready to go, Bishman and Mulcahy drove up with a keg of beer. They asked us to come back and have some beer; and so we went into the house and com- menced to drink beer. We probably drank too much. Bishman and Mulcahy wanted to drink with the bride. Bishman followed her into the kitchen and when he came back in the room he and Mulcahy talked very vulgarly between themselves. They talked so we thought they ought to be whipped. Bishman sat by Mrs. Kujath. I told him he was a son of a -. I hit him several blows with my hands. Then Bishman came ont of doors. Fred Kujath' said I did just right. Fred's mother" said we should not hit him again, but put him in the buggy and send them away. Then the two Kujaths and myself went to the barn to get Mulcahy. We hit him a few blows and took him to the buggy and put him in. When we got to the £
buggy with Mulcahy Bishman had gone had got out of the buggy. While we were looking for Bishman, Mulcahy jumped out of the buggy and ran away. Both the Kujaths followed him, but he got away. When they came back, Fred said, 'Let's have another drink,' and we drank more. Then we found Bishman near the fence by the house. I lifted him partly up and about that time Fred Kujath hit him on the head with a water glass and afterwards with a club as I took him to the buggy.
"When we got to the buggy I put my ear down to his mouth and found he was dead. I said to Fred, 'He is dead.' Fred said, 'If he is dead we shall have to report him to the coroner.' First we thought to take him to the house, but Mrs. Kujath said we should not bring him in the house, so we took the body to the barn. The old man Kujath said we should make up a story that we found him in the barn dead in the morning. The old man also said he ought to be killed, and that he hit him himself.
"I then went home and told my mother I had to go to Waseca. I
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
didn't tell her the truth. Then I went and got Verbitzky to haul my milk to the creamery, after which I hitched up my team and drove to Kujath's. Fred was going to Waseca, and the old man said we must both tell the same story, and he would clean up the blood and obliter- ate the tracks. Fred changed his stockings and we drove to Dr. Blan- chard's office in Waseca. We told him about the death, but didn't tell it all. We hitched the horses and pretty soon Sheriff Collins called to me and I went to Dr. Lynn's office where I saw Mulcahy, who said, 'That is the man who used the club.' I don't remember striking anybody with a piece of board-don't think I did. I know Fred Kujath hit Bishman with a piece of board and kicked him about the head as he was on the ground by the buggy, before we knew he was dead. When I first found Bishman was dead I called 'Philip' three or four times, but got no answer. When we found Bishman by the fence, near the house, he was alive and talk- ed, but when we got him to the buggy he was dead. I saw no blood on him at the fence. I was not at the buggy when Mulcahy ran away. When I was through with the charivari I started and intended to go home, but Fred Kujath urged me to stay and have some more beer. I am willing to tell all I know about the matter."
These statements at the inquest reveal substantially all the facts It was a drunken brawl, just such as may happen at any time among people indulging in intoxicating liquors. At the fall term of court, Bahr and both the Kujaths were eonvieted of manslaughter -the two Kujaths after trial and E. P. Bahr upon his own con- fession and plea of guilty. Carl Kujath, the elder, received a sentence of one year and six months in the Stillwater prison, and each of the others ten years. So far as Bahr was connected with the murder of Bishman, he no doubt was incited thereto by his drunken condition, and it is clear to the mind of the writer that, had there been no intoxication, there would have been no murder.
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION-WINDSTORMS, WIDESPREAD AND DE- STRUCTIVE OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, RAGED IN WASECA COUNTY SATURDAY NIGHT, JULY 5, 1902.
From the Herald, July 11 :
The whole county of Waseca was storm swept last Saturday evening. The tornado in many places destroyed buildings large and small, mak- ing a general wreck of windmills and killed two persons and a large number of horses, cattle, sheep, and poultry. It was one of the worst and most extensive storms in the history of this county. Its general direction was a little north of southwest to a trifle south of northeast, with cyclonic demonstrations here and there quite erratic. Everywhere the wind blew a gale and the rain fell in blinding sheets. The first
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CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
reports that reached us here were the sad and fatal results of the storm at the farm of Mr. Adam Bishman, of Otisco. Adam Bishman, Jr., his two sisters, Elizabeth and Clara, and a lad from the Owatonna State school, were in the basement of the large harn milking cows at the time of the storm. It appears that the two large barn doors on the west side of the barn were open, and when the storm came in all its death dealing fury, it blew out the east side of the barn and moved the structure off its foundation, letting the large quantity of hay in the harn fall down upon the people and animals in the basement. As we are informed, there were, besides the four persons named, nine horses, a large number of cows and some smaller animals in the base- inent of the barn at the time. All of these were caught fast beneath the hay, lumber and timbers. Miss Elizabeth was evidently killed at once, as she was found beneath a piece of timber with her chest crushed in and her collar bone and two upper ribs broken. Her death must have been almost instantaneous. The rescue required time and the herculean efforts of many neighbors. When the storm struck the farm, Mr. Adam Bishman, Sr., seventy-eight years of age, and his aged wife were in the house, and at first did not realize the force of the storm. Mr. Bishman first discovered that three large soft maple trees between the house and barn were broken off near the ground. He next looked to the harn and found it demolished. A glance revealed to him the horrible fact that his son and two daughters were buried beneath the crushing mass of hay and timber, and that he alone was powerless to rescue them. He and his aged and heart-stricken wife were alone in that terrible storm. What could they do? In a moment Mr. Bishman decided to call in his neighbors, as he alone was power- less. The rain was still coming in almost blinding sheets, accompanied by the fury of the wind, as he started for Otisco station, about a mile to the southwest, nearly facing the wind. He reached the station after much effort. There he called upon Mr. R. Jacoby, who, with prompt- ness and energy, aroused the neighborhood. In the meantime, a tele- phone message was sent to Dr. Swartwood, of Waseca, calling him to the scene of the fatal disaster. For four hours men with strong hands but tender hearts toiled in the storm and darkness before they were able to rescue the living and give aid to the wounded. They were compelled to remove most of the hay with their hands. They found Miss Clara Bishman and the Owatonna State school boy alive and un- harmed. Miss Elizabeth, as before stated, was dead. Adam Bishman, Jr., was fastened beneath the timbers of the barn, still alive, but so crushed and injured that he died Sunday evening.
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