USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 19
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In 1859 the commissioners took a determined stand against the detestable and criminal practice of furnishing liquor to the Indians. Under date of September 15, of that year, a reward was offered of twenty-five dollars to any person who would furnish proof of violations of the law prohibiting the sale of spirits to the Indians as would lead to their conviction. The officers at the agencies and at Ft. Ridgely were also notified that the people of Brown county were determined to carry out the provisions of a law en- titled "An act to extend the laws of the state over all the Indian tribes within the boundaries of the state, and to confine them to their own lands." To make this thoroughly understood it was ordered published in the New Ulm Pio- neer, the only newspaper in the county at that time.
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COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED.
In June, 1860, the board divided Brown county into three commissioner districts, as follow: First, consisting of the township of New Ulm; second, consisting of the townships of Madelia, Linden, Cottonwood and Leaven- worth; third, the townships of Milford, Redwood and Yel- low Medicine.
On January 1, 1861, the board assembled according to section 2, of the act to provide fro county organization and government. There were then seventeen townships organ- ized in the county. At that date the register of deeds was William Pfaender; Charles Roos, sheriff; E. St. Julien Cox, attorney; Mr. Brockmann, surveyor; J. W. Young, chairman of the board of commissioners.
On January 7, 1862, the board cut down the territory embraced in New Ulm civil township, leaving only the in- corporated town of New Ulm within a township by itself, and attaching the old territory to adjoining townships, same as it is today. But this had to be ratified by an elec- tion by the voters of the township, which was done that fall. This brings the transcript of commissioners' records up to the Civil War period, so far as any important enact- ments were concerned.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
Not until the fall of 1858 had there been any action taken to provide for county buildings. In November, that year, three plans for a jail were submitted to the commis- sioners: J. Berndt produced two, the cost of erecting the
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first plan was to be five hundred and eighty dollars; of the second, three hundred dollars. J. Pfenninger handed in a plan and an estimate of cost at about four hundred dollars. On motion, it was resolved to accept the first plan of J. Berndt. No contract, however, was entered into until the next autumn. In March, 1859, it was resolved to authorize the chairman to "issue a proclamation about the building of a county jail as resolved by the board in November." Soon after a contract was entered into and the jail ordered built, the same being accepted as a jail, September 14, as being constructed according to contract. This jail was a log building situated in German Park and was the only county building of any kind until the fall of 1865, when a brick building was provided, at a cost of four thousand dollars, in which the county officers were kept until the present structure was provided. Another jail, however, seemed necessary for the county in 1872, so the commis- sioners ordered one erected and the same cost almost ten thousand dollars, but this was a combined court house and jail. Prior to that time the various county officers held their offices at different places in the town, in leased rooms. The court house and jail just mentioned stood on the east side of the present court house. The present court house was erected in 1889 at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars of which had to be raised by the people of New Ulm, as the citizens at Sleepy Eye wanted the county seat removed to that place, and offered to be liberal in the matter of making the change not cost the taxpayers much. Bonds were then issued to pay for the remainder needed for the present court house.
The present jail and sheriff's house, just to the west of
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the court house, was erected in 1915-16, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. This is among the handsomest jail build- ings in southern Minnesota, and is modern in every parti- cular. These two public buildings are indeed a creditable monument to the wisdom and good sense of the people of the county.
When first erected the court house was upon a hill with high banks sloping off on either side, and was hard of ac- cess. The banks were then protected by high stone retain- ing walls, and twenty-odd steps had to be descended upon going from the pavement to the court house door. In 1913 this huge bank was all leveled to grade, or nearly so, and now the park-like appearance of the square is indeed beau- tiful.
COUNTY FINANCES.
The history of finances in Brown county has been var- ied in its character, owing to the seasons of "good" and "hard" times. In 1857 the whole amount of taxes in the county was $2,296.19, of which $830.42 was paid. The county borrowed money, at the rate of two per cent. per month, to meet the expenses until money could be raised by taxation. The rate of taxation, however, was not fixed high enough to raise a sufficient amount to meet liabilities, for on Sep- tember 4, 1861, it was reported by the auditor that the in- debtedness of the county was five thousand dollars. The rate of taxation was then increased and the auditor instructed to exchange county bonds not issued, for those outstanding, then due. Authority was also given him to issue county bonds due in five years, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent. In 1862 the special tax was fifteen cents on a
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dollar, and property destroyed by the Indians was exempt- ed from tax for that year. The next few years were marked by a slight improvement in finances, and in 1872 a condi- tion of soundness was attained, and ever since has been maintained. Other bonds had to be issued many years since for the building of bridges, etc., but all have been met and no taxpayer has been really burdened by reason of high taxes.
In 1880 the books of the county showed that the assessed valuation of property then was $3,240,500. The bonds issued up to that date had all been paid off, except seven or eight hundred dollars.
In 1881 the total receipts of the county from all sources was $14,137, and after meeting all expenses there was left in the treasury about five hundred and seventy dollars. The auditor's books for the year ending Janu- ary 1, 1916, show the following concerning the finances of Brown county for the year 1915:
ABSTRACT OF TAX LIST.
For state revenue, etc. $ 38,803.16
For state school
16,429.13
For state teacher's pensions 667.85
For interest and principal state loans
18,035.01
For county purposes
83,381.97
For city and village purposes.
47,963.74
For township purposes 47,651.15
For school purposes
90,849.76
Total
$343,881.77
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VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Real estate $11,652,070
Personal property (less the one
hundred dollars exemption) .... 1,714,944
Money and credits 1,137,190
Total
$14,504,204
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
The total amount of taxes and money received from licenses in the county in 1915, from the various cities, vil- lages and townships was as follows:
New Ulm
$16,901.18
Sleepy Eye
12,684.40
Springfield
6,395.72
Comfrey
2,160.96
Hanska
1,187.38
Evan
439.79
Cobden
47.54
Albin
2,014.22
Bashaw
2,991.35
Burnstown
3,069.99
Cottonwood
2,141.07
Eden
3,481.77
Home
4,045.82
Lake Hanska
4,117.66
Leavenworth
5,376.33
(19)
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Linden
7,076.41
Milford
2,889.03
Mulligan
3,683.21
North Star
3,106.90
Prairieville
1,000.93
Sigel
2,871.37
Stark
3,099.76
Stately
Total
$94,366.90
The above was paid out in the ordinary channels to and by the various township treasurers and the county treasurer for running expenses of the county. A refund of only fifty-nine dollars and seventy-six cents was reported as having to be paid back by the treasurer on over-assessed property.
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CHAPTER VII.
COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION.
Brown county has been represented by the following men, who have held either county, state or national posi- tions during the county's history.
The county has furnished one governor-Hon. John Lind, who assumed office January 2, 1899.
As secretary of state, Francis Baasen, of New Ulm, assumed his duties May 24, 1858.
As state treasurer, Emil Munch, of New Ulm, assumed his duties on January 10, 1868. William Pfaender, of New Ulm, held the same office from January 5, 1876, and was succeeded by another resident of New Ulm, Joseph Boble- ter, who assumed his duties as state treasurer on January 5,1887.
The second congressional district, in which Brown county has always been situated, has been represented in Congress as follows: 1858-59, W. W. Phelps, Democrat; 1859-63, Cyrus Aldrich, Republican; 1863-69, Ignatius Don- nelly, Republican; 1873-79, H. B. Strait, Republican; 1883- 87, J. B. Wakefield, Republican; 1887-93, John Lind, Re- publican; 1893-1907, James T. McClary, Republican; 1907- 15, W. S. Hammond, Democrat; 1915-17, Franklin F. Ells- worth, Republican.
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BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
STATE SENATORS.
The following have served in the senatorial district of which Brown county has constituted a part: 1857-58, Rich- ard G. Murphy ; 1859-60, J. F. Baldwin; 1861, James W. Linde; 1862, Henry A. Swift; 1864, Henry A. Swift; 1865, Henry A. Swift; 1866, Charles T. Brown; 1867, Adam Buck; 1868, C. T. Brown; 1869, C. T. Brown; 1870, Will- iam Pfaender; 1871, William Pfaender; 1872, William Pfaender; 1873, J. S. G. Honner; 1874, J. S. G. Honner; 1875, John W. Blake; 1876, John W. Blake; 1877, S. A. Hall; 1878, S. A. Hall; 1879, K. H. Helling; 1881, S. D. Peterson; 1883, S. D. Peterson; 1885, S. D. Peterson; 1887, T. E. Bowen; 1889, T. E. Bowen; 1891, S. D. Peterson; 1893, S. D. Peterson; 1895, E. D. French; 1897, E. D. French; 1899, George W. Somerville; 1901, George W. Somerville; 1903, George W. Somerville; 1905, George W. Somerville; 1907, Frank Clague; 1909, Frank Clague ; 1911, Frank Clague; 1913, Frank Clague; 1915, L. E. Potter.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
Fred Rechfeld, 1857; E. E. Paulding, 1861; Adam Buck, Jr., 1862; W. Tennant, 1863; William Huey, 1864; Henry Poehler, 1865; J. S. G. Horner, 1866; C. T. Brown, 1867; J. C. Rudolph, 1868; J. C. Rudolph, 1869; P. H. Swift, 1870; J. S. G. Horner, 1871; C. C. Brandt, 1872; Charles Hansing, 1873; K. L. Helling, 1874; William Skin- ner, 1875; E. P. Bertrand, 1876; C. C. Brandt, 1877; J. P. Bertrand, 1878-79; J. C. Zieske, 1880-81; J. Bobleter, 1882- 83; William Skinner, 1884-88; C. W. H. Heidman, 1889.90;
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C. Ahlness, 1891-92; William Skinner, 1893-94; Nels Chris- tensen, 1895-96; H. Heimerdiner, 1897-1901; S. D. Peter- son, 1901; A. W. Mueller, present representative.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE FROM BROWN COUNTY.
Since 1860 the following has been the vote for Presi- dent of the United States, as cast in and for Brown county, Minnesota :
1860-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 408; Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat, 91; J. C. Breckenridge, Southern Democrat, 10.
1864-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 326; George B. McClellan, Democrat, 58.
1868-U. S. Grant, Republican, 654; Horatio Sey- mour, Democrat, 162.
1872-U. S. Grant, Republican, 802; Horace Greeley, Democrat and Liberal, 437.
1876-Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, 932; Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat, 688.
1880 James A. Garfield, Republican, 1,293; W. S. Hancock, Democrat, 708.
1884-James G. Blaine, Republican, 1,159; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 1,169; John P. St. John, Prohibition, 34; Gen. Benjamin Butler, Greenback, 160.
1888-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 1,285; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 1,489.
1892-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 1,080; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 1,174; Gen. J. B. Weaver, Populist, 1,457.
1896-William Mckinley, Republican, 1,807; W. J. Bryan, Democrat, 1,462; Joshua Levering, Prohibition, 52.
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1900-William Mckinley, Republican, 1,695; W. J. Bryan, Democrat, 1,471; John G. Woolley, Prohibition, 50. 1904-Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, 2,073; Alton B. Parker, Democrat, 869.
1908-William H. Taft, Republican, 1,518; W. J. Bryan, Democrat, 1,536; E. W. Chafin, Prohibition, 98.
1912-William H. Taft, Republican, 472; Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive, 943; Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, 1,359.
VOTE ON THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
In 1864 the vote in Brown county on the question of giving colored men the right of suffrage, equal with white men, stood two hundred and fifty-one for and forty-five against the measure.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
A. H. Wagner, 1857; J. C. Rudolph, 1860; E. G. Koch, 1867; H. B. Constans, 1877; E. P. Bertrand, 1885; Lewis B. Krook, 1890; E. P. Bertrand, 1894; Louis G. Vogel, 1896 to present date, 1916.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
H. Vajen, 1857; A. Westphal, 1861; L. Fuller, 1867; N. C. Rukke, 1871; Franz Schubert, 1877; Rich Pfefferle, 1883; Frank Burg, 1888; A. Schwerdtfeger, 1896; John Schneider, 1900; Henry J. Berg, 1907, still treasurer.
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REGISTER OF DEEDS.
F. Baasen, 1856; Henry Behnke, 1857; William Pfaen- der, 1860; E. A. Hausman, 1861; R. Fischer, 1862; E. A. Hausman, 1864; A. F. Walton, 1877; A. J. Grimmer, 1885; Fred Pfaender, 1894; W. C. Miller, 1899; Albert J. Schramm, 1905; Fred Christensen, 1915, still serving.
CORONERS.
H. Winkelmann, 1857; J. Flick, 1861; C. Weschke, 1869; J. Landenschlager, 1877; T. R. Humphrey, 1885; J. C. Rothenburg, 1892; L. A. Fritsche, 1900; E. W. Bayley, 1905; L. A. Fritsche, 1909; Dr. G. F. Reineke, 1911 to present.
CLERK OF THE COURT.
Henry Behnke, 1857; Charles Roos, 1867; Albert Blanchard, 1874; S. A. George, 1886; John Larson, 1896; Carl P. Manderfeld, 1907 to present date.
SHERIFF'S.
H. Meyerding, 1857; George J. Jacobs, 1861; J. A. Brandt, 1867; William Gieseke, 1868; George Bickenhaupt, 1874; John Manderfeld, 1878; Edward Casey, 1880; John B. Schmid, 1886; Louis Schmelz, 1890; Nels Anderson, 1892; August L. Matter, 1898; William J. Julius, 1902 to 1916.
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PROBATE JUDGES.
J. C. Rudolph, 1857; R. Fischer, 1860; Charles Wag- ner, 1862; J. Newhart, 1872; A. Westphal, 1874; E. Brandt, 1880; E. P. Bertrand, 1892; J. Landenschlager, 1894; S. A. George, 1898; George Ross, term expires in 1917.
DISTRICT JUDGES.
A. G. Critchfield, 1856; Louis Brannon, 1864; M. G. Hanscome, 1869; E. St. Julien Cox, 1878; D. Baldwin, 1882; B. F. Webber, 1883; I. M. Olsen, present judge.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
Frank Bassen, 1857; E. St. Julien Cox, 1860; J. J. Thornton, 1862; E. St. Julien Cox, 1863; S. A. Buell, 1867; William Pfaender, 1868; J. Dorrmann, 1869; E. St. Julien Cox, 1870; William S. Bassford, 1871; Alfred Wallin, 1872 ; Charles T. Clothier, 1873; B. F. Webber, 1874; Charles T. Clothier, 1875; B. F. Webber, 1877; Frank Baasen, 1882; G. W. Somerville, 1884; M. C. Robertson, 1890; L. G. Davis, 1894; Albert Steinhauser, 1896; George T. Olsen, 1898; Einar Holdale, 1902; August G. Erickson, 1907; Adolph Frederickson, 1913 to present date.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Since 1879 this office has been held by the following: John Lind, 1879-80; D. C. Clary, 1880-83; J. B. Vallikanj,
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1883-91; L. G. Davis, 1891-95; William F. Runck, 1895- 1901; John Cutting, 1901-11; Robert B. Kennedy, 1911 to present date. The records show that an early superinten- dent, possibly the first, was August Westphal, appointed by the commissioners in 1865.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Since 1879 the county surveyors have been: Julius Brandt, George Buck, Charles W. Robertson, F. Minium.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The record is not clear in the county archives as to who have served in Brown county on the board of county commissioners. From 1893 to date the members have been elected as follow :
1893-Jesse Palmer, E. G. Koch, Hans Sigurdron, Hubert G. Hillesheimer and J. B. Augustin.
1895-Clement Halvorson, P. D. Haverty, E. G. Koch, H. G. Hillesheimer, J. B. Augustin.
1897-Frand Schubert, Clement Halverson, Anton Richartz, P. D. Raverty and Joseph B. Augustin.
1899-Frank Schubert, Ole Synsteby, Anton Richartz, J. C. Peterson, J. P. Augustin.
1901-Andrew Hoffman, Ole Synsteby, A. J. Eckstein, J. C. Peterson, P. J. Miller.
1903-Andrew Hoffman, Hans Frederickson, Andrew J. Eckstein, J. Palmer, P. J. Miller.
1905-Andrew Hoffman, Hans Frederickson, Andrew J. Eckstein, Jesse Palmer, George Ross.
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1907-Andrew Hoffman, Ole Jorgenson, Andrew J. Eckstein, Hans J. Knudson.
1909-George A. Tener, Ole Jorgenson, Andrew J. Eckstein, Hans J. Knudson, Herman Polkow.
1911-Nels Erickson, Andrew J. Eckstein, W. C. Steinke, Herman Polkow.
1913-J. P. Graff, Nels Erickson, John Henle, Will- iam C. Steinke, Herman Polkow.
1916-C. Roland, C. L. Palmer, John Henle, J. P. Graff, Andrew J. Eckstein.
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CHAPTER VIII.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY.
Townships are classed as congressional and civil town- ships. The former are the six-mile-square tracts as shown by government survey, while the latter are sub-divisions in the county, and may, or may not, conform to the six-mile- square tract of land included in the government surveyed township, and are termed "towns," or "civil townships." Brown county has sixteen civil townships, with the terri- tory included in the city of New Ulm, which really con- stitutes another civil sub-division of the county. These civil townships are: Albin, Bashaw, Burnstown, Cotton- wood, Eden, Home, Lake Hanska, Leavenworth, Linden, Milford, Mulligan, North Star, Prairieville, Sigel, Stark and Stately townships.
TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED.
At a meeting of the county commissioners held on April 12, 1858, the matter of township organization came up, as required by on Act of the Legislature, and it was re- solved that "Whereas, Minnesota has not been admitted to the Union as a state, and the said Legislature had acted under the authority of the state of Minnesota, which not being in existence yet, and, whereas, the organization of townships as proposed is very expensive for a new coun- try, the following resolution was adopted by the board:
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'Not to take any steps in regard to the township organiza- tion until Minnesota is admitted as a state and the benefit of Brown conuty will require it.'"
On June 28, 1858, notwithstanding the above resolu- tion, a session was held for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the township organization act. There were only two of the commissioners present, Jacob Brust and P. Roebbecke. It was resolved "that the board has now a legal right to organize the county into towns, whereas Min- nesota is admitted into the union as a state." The follow- ing towns were established, which shows that Brown coun- ty township history has all been within and under the state and not under the territorial form of government, as many Minnesota counties were. The civil townships formed by the board at the last named meeting were: New Ulm, Lud- wigs, Lower Sioux Agency, Yellow Medicine, Leavenworth and Cottonwood. The remaining portion of this county was attached to Leavenworth. Elections were ordered held the second Tuesday in July, 1858. The clerk was ordered to make out a record of the proceedings of the board con- cerning the township organization and to give notice to the different townships, and also to cause the proceedings to be published in the New Ulm Pioneer.
The elections were duly held and the first meeting of the board of what was then known as the county super- visors was held on November 8, 1858. Those present were Jacob Barbier, representing New Ulm; Jacob Brust, Cot- tonwood; John Doster, Milford; John Armstrong; Linden; Mr. Rutledge, Medelia; the other townships had not yet been perfected, but the board went ahead and commenced the business of the county, electing Jacob Brust as their
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chairman. The original townships have all changed in form and size and many in name.
ALBIN TOWNSHIP.
Albin township is formed of congressional township 108, range 32 west. On June 23, 1870, a primary meeting was held to organize a township, which was finally effected by the election of officers as follow: E. J. Root, chairman; Charles Armstrong and John Teas, supervisors; E. T. Jones, clerk; W. H. Sweet, treasurer; O. I. Owens and John Egbert, justices of the peace. By appointment, the offices of assessor and constable were filled by Caleb Foot and E. Hammond, respectively. The first township meet- ing was held at the house of Mrs. S. Rima, and when a name for the township could not easily be agreed upon she was allowed to name it, and called it Albin.
This township is without railroad and has no villages within its borders. The long, narrow lake known as Lake Hanska extends from the east over into this township al- most four miles, touching parts of six sections of land.
The population of Albin township has been for the last thirty or more years as follow: In 1890 it was six hun- dred; in 1900 it was six hundred and twenty-nine, and in 1910, according to government reports, it was six hundred and sixty-two.
The pioneer settler here was S. G. Edsell, who located in 1866, in section 2, and was followed in 1867 by William Harrison and Anton Katen. Other early settlers included these: Burton Armstrong, C. E. Armstrong, Frederick Koenig, W. W. Minor, of Vermont; L. D. Rice, of Massa-
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chusetts; Solomon Rima, of New York; William Rossbach, of Prussia; Lorens Schneider, of Indiana; A. E. Somer- ville, of Pennsylvania; William Sweet, of Vermont; John Teas, of Indiana; George Troxel, of Pennsylvania.
EARLY EVENTS.
Gunder, a son of Martin Johnson and wife, was born on August 19, 1869, and was the first to see the light of day in this township.
The first to die was Mr. Upson, in 1868. E. J. Root and Mary Armstrong were the first to unite by marriage in this township.
BASHAW TOWNSHIP.
Next to the east of Stately and on the southern line of Brown county is Bashaw township; at its north is Burns- town township and to the east is Mulligan township. Bashaw comprises congressional township 108, range 34 west. Among the lakes in the township is Reed lake, in section 6, which once covered nearly half of that section. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs through the southwestern portion of the township, with a station point at the village of Comfrey, in section 34. The population of the township has been as follow: In 1890 it was four hundred and ten; in 1900 it reached seven hun- dred and fifteen, and in 1910, as shown by census reports, it had fallen back to five hundred and eighty-five.
The township was named for the first settler, though incorrectly spelled. The settler was Joseph Baschor, who
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came in the spring of 1869, settling in section 2. The fol- lowing year several families arrived and located. Those who aided in developing and opening up to civilized life here were J. H. Barber, of Delaware; G. L. Grek, of Sweden; H. C. Mallette, of Ohio; Christine Pedersen, of Denmark; and H. C. Pedersen, of the same country.
The first township meeting was held in April, 1874; officers elected: John Johnson, chairman of board of supervisors, of which John Quick was a member; William Lampen, clerk ; Henry Kimmelie, assessor; Charles Krause, treasurer; O. H. Alback, justice of the peace; Ira Bonner, constable.
The first school was taught by Maggie Keegan in 1877, in section 26.
A postoffice known as Comfrey was established in 1877, with A. W. Pedersen as postmaster.
VILLAGE OF COMFREY.
In 1910 Comfrey had a population of two hundred and thirty-eight. It was incorporated in March, 1900, and its first officers were: Eugene Fernholtz, mayor; Charles A. Nelson, recorder; C. H. Bradbury, treasurer. The fol- lowing have served as mayors to present date: Eugene Fernholtz, O. W. Cooley, Oscar Erickson, F. W. Renner, Martin Windschill. The 1916 officials are: Martin Wind- schill, mayor; G. W. Schaffer, recorder; C. E. Armstrong, C. H. Bradbury and A. M. Johnson, councilmen.
The village installed a waterworks system in August, 1907, costing six thousand dollars. There are now about twelve hundred feet of water mains, conveniently located.
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In 1914 an electric lighting plant was installed here, cost- ing nine thousand dollars. A volunteer fire brigade guards well the village fire interests, with the aid of six hundred feet of hose and a cart. Water is furnished from the fifty- thousand-gallon tank surmounting the one-hundred-foot tower. The Catholic church bell is used for fire alarm pur- poses. Aside from the eight-thousand-dollar electric-light bonds issued by the village, it is out of debt.
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