USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 35
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MILITIA OFFICERS APPOINTED.
On May 19, 1863, the county commissioners met for the purpose of appointing officers for the state militia. In balloting for captain, P. D. Rutledge received a majority of the votes. For first lieutenant, W. C. Farnesworth received the entire vote and was declared elected. For second lieutenant, Jens Torson was elected. Jens Torson and H. P. Gilbert were authorized to go after the guns, ammimition and accouterments for the military company. The day fixed for the meeting of the company was Thursday, June 4, 1863.
October 5, 1863 .- AAt the meeting of the county commissioners on this date, there was a large amount of business relating to school and road districts; much of these items were in a tangled and unsatisfactory condi- tion and had to be adjusted as best they could be by the board. The pay- ment for county record books was brought up but laid over for the reason that no taxes had been levied for that special purpose and the record says it was deferred until "a more convenient season."
At the same meeting claims against the county were audited as fol- lows: May 5, 1863, Jens Torson, services as county commissioner, $2; May 29, 1863, one-half day organizing Watonwan county, ȘI; May 30, 1863, going after arms for state militia, $4; May 31, 1863, team for carry- ing arms, $2; June 19, one-half day presiding at election, Și ; total, $10.
Similar bills were presented and allowed to Henry Schwrables, C. G. Millen and H. P. Gilbert. At this session the county auditor handed in his resignation, but it was not accepted by the county commissioners.
February 25, 1804-This seems to have been the next board meeting
385
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
after the one noted above. This time they met at the house of John Travis. J. L. Stark was appointed. to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the county auditor, and H. P. Gilbert was elected chairman of the commissioners.
A motion was made to allow a bounty of fifty dollars be paid to vol- unteers who had enlisted in the services of the United States since the 15th of December, 1863, in Watonwan county. Another motion was made to give a bounty of seventy-five dollars to volunteers who may enlist in the services of the United States and be credited to Watonwan county, Minne- sota, on or before March 5, 1864.
Josiah L. Stark was appointed school examiner for that year at this session of the board of commissioners. The resignation of County Com- missioner Joseph Flanders was accepted and it was ordered that he be ap- pointed as county auditor until the next annual election.
On August 13, 1864, a motion was made and passed as follows: "That provided enough would enlist to the credit of Watonwan county to free the county from the draft to be made on September 5, 1864, that a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars be given."
August 25, 1864-Present, H. P. Gilbert and William Busser, and they passed an act striking out the conditions in an act passed August 13th and amending the act so as to read as follows: "That a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars be paid anyone entering the service credited to Watonwan county."
September, 1864-Commissioners met at office of county auditor. Members present, H. P. Gilbert, J. T. Furber. At this session it was or- dered that the salary of the county auditor be fixed at fifty dollars per year. Ordered that a mill and a half tax be levied to pay for books purchased for the use of the county. Ordered to raise $650 to pay the county orders issued to the United States volunteers.
February. 1865-Members of the board present, H. P. Gilbert, J. T. Furber and Chandler Farnsworth. Not having the funds with which to pay for the county record books purchased in 1862, the bill had run until 1865 at ten per cent. interest, making the bill when paid $99.19 instead of $77.25, as originally invoiced at. The county auditor's salary was raised at this meeting to $175 per year, he to furnish his own stationery and postage.
May 6, 1865-Board of commissioners met and consisted of the fol- lowing members: Gilbert, Furber and Farnsworth. At this session Hart Montgomery was elected judge of probate.
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386
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
September, 1865-At this session E. M. Sprague was appointed school examiner. A two-mill tax was levied at this meeting for county school pur- poses. Also a tax sufficient to raise $200 was levied with which to pur- chase bloodhounds for the county's use.
January, 1860-Members present: Bernard O. Kempfer (chairman), John C. Sprague and Torson C. Levey. Bonds were furnished by P. D. Rutledge, county surveyor. Hart Montgomery furnished his bonds as judge of probate and one from E. M. Sprague, as sheriff. Ordered that the bloodhounds belonging to the county be sold for whatever they will bring and the proceeds applied to the special dog tax. Ordered that the auditor's salary be raised to $200 per year, he to find all postage and stationery.
June 26, 1866-The county commissioners were still meeting at Ma- delia. Members present : Bernard O. Kempfer and John C. Sprague. They appointed Chancelor Farnsworth and A. J. Nicholson as appraisers of the school lands for and on behalf of the people of the county of Watonwan.
January, 1867-The commissioners resolved to look into the poor ques- tion of the county, and finally appointed the county auditor as a committee to handle the relief for this class of citizens.
At another meeting that month the members present were: Commis- sioners Kempfer, Levey and J. K. Webster. A petition was presented the board for the organization of a new civil township; also a remonstrance against such new organization. It was asked that such proposed town- ship be named Bloomington. The board agreed to leave this to Joseph Flanders and B. O. Kempfer. The township was ordered organized and the name was fixed as "York." This subsequently became Antrim town- ship.
January, 1868-The commissioners who met were A. J. Nicholson, Ole Howe and Jolin K. Webster. Bonds of the various county officials were presented and accepted by the commissioners at this session.
March, 1868-The board met and gave out the following financial statement of Watonwan county as follows: Total amount of county fund, $214,12; special county fund, $88.69; county poor fund, $131.63; total, $434.44. Liabilities, $232.25. Balance in favor of county, $202.19.
In March, 1868, township 105. ranges 32 and 33, was created into Long Lake civil township; also township 106, range 30, was created into Wakefield township.
387
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
TROUBLES OF A TREASURER.
March, 1868-In session the commissioners passed this resolution : "Resolved that the interests of the county require that the office of county treasurer shall be removed to the Yates building. Therefore, be it resolved that the county treasurer be instructed to remove his said office to the above mentioned place, and that the auditor serve a copy of the above resolution on the said county treasurer." At this meeting of the board it was ordered that eight copies of the Minnesota code be purchased for the use of Waton- wan county.
April 15, 1868-The proceedings show that County Treasurer G. W. Yates, who had been elected, failed to qualify in the legal time limit pro- vided, so the old county treasurer, Thomas Rutledge, refused to give up the office. The minutes show the following concerning this affair: "Resolved, that the interests of the county require that Thomas Rutledge, county treasurer, should give additional bonds and that the auditor be instructed to serve a copy of these resolutions on said county treasurer." On motion this resolution was adopted at a special session on April 15, 1868: "Be it resolved that we recognize George W. Yates as the rightful and legally qualified treasurer of Watonwan county. And furthermore, that we de- nounce and disapprove of the willful attempt of Thomas Rutledge, late treasurer, to retain possession of the books and papers and moneys pertain- ing to said office, against the express will of the people of Watonwan county, and the manifest injury of said George W. Yates and in opposition to law and justice. And furthermore, to save time and expenses convening another special session of the board to appoint to fill vacancy, be it resolved, that if, by any technical construction of law, the said G. W. Yates be not entitled to such office of county treasurer-then the office is vacant and to fill such vacancy we do hereby by the power vested in us by the statutes in such cases provided. as board of county commissioners of Watonwan county, appoint G. W. Yates to fill such vacancy and that Thomas Rutledge be requested to immediately transfer to him all books, papers and moneys, etc., belonging to this county of Watonwan as pertaining to the' office of county treasurer."
September, 1868-At the session of the board of county commission- ers, the name of "Wakefield" township be changed to "Fieldon." At this meeting, under a new state law, the county commissioners organized three commissioners' districts in this county. Madelia township was to be dis-
388
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
trict No. 1; Antrim and Fieldon in district No. 2; and Long Lake township in district No. 3.
January, 1800-A new civil township, known as "Drewsville," was created out of congressional township 105, range 31. This was later changed to South Branch. At this session of the board the commissioners ordered the construction of a home-wood ferry-boat for the Watonwan river at the village of Madelia. The same was not to exceed in cost two hundred dol- lars. A seven-mill tax was levied at this time, to be payable in 1870, for the purpose of building county offices.
November, 1869-The board organized a new civil township out of congressional township 107, range 33, and on petition of George A. Brad- ford it was called "Riverdale." Bonds of the various county officers were approved at this session.
January, 1870-The commissioners fixed the ferry-boat fees at Ma- delia at: Passengers on foot, five cents each way; teams, ten cents each way, if living in the county; teams outside the county to be charged twenty- five cents.
March, 1870-The board of commissioners created the civil township of "St. James." It constituted congressional township 106, ranges 32 and 33. At the same session of the board of commissioners, the register of deeds was authorized to procure of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Company, a deed record book at a cost not exceeding twenty dollars. The county auditor was also given authority by the commissioners to procure a fire- proof safe for the county, providing the expense did not exceed four hun- dred and fifty dollars. At this session the board made the following public statement of the county's finnaces :
RESOURCES.
Cash on hand March 8, 1869
$ 223.73
Amount collected for year 920.09
Total
$1,143.82
DISBURSEMENTS.
Abatements of tax collections $ 1.60
Redeemed county orders
791.72
County treasurer's fees
41.88
Tax receipts
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2.50
Total
$ 837.70
389
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
ASSETS.
Cash on hand
$ 306.12
Amount due on duplicates of 1869
631.68
Amount due on duplicates of 1868
129.57
Amount due on duplicates of 1867
15.02
Amount due on duplicates of 1866 1
2.60
Total
$ 984.99
Liabilities in outstanding orders
794.92
Assets over liabilities $ 190.07
At the August term in 1870, the bill of Doctor Stoddard for medical fees for the month of July was twenty dollars and it was ordered paid from the poor fund.
September, 1870-The commissioners created the civil township of' North Branch, out of congressional township 107, ranges 32 and 33, from the west portion of Riverdale township. Later in the same month the name was changed by the commissioners to "Dexter." It was at this meeting that the official bonds of the various newly elected county officers were ap- proved by the board.
March, 1871-The board present consisted of the following mem- bers: H. Morrill, William S. Addsmond and Morris Bradford. At this session the commissioners made a new civil township, "Springfield," out of congressional township 106, range 31, and in April, that year, it was changed to "Rosendale."
June, 1871-The commissioners made Adrian township ont of con- gressional township 107, range 33, and the first election was to be held on July 13, 1871, at the house of Volney DeWitt. County officers' bonds that had not already been approved by the county board, were attended to at this session.
January, 1872-Othier county officers' bonds were approved by the board at this meeting and a new township created out of congressional township 106, range 33, the same being named Butterfield. Also another made out of township 105, range 33, and styled Odin.
The commissioners that year were Messrs. Morrill, Bradford and Pick- ler. The records disclose but little of general interest in the business trans- acted that year, outside the usual routine of school and road affairs. The same was true of the year 1873.
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390
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
January, 1874-With the meeting of the county board in 1874 we find Commissioners Morrill, Lambert, Toothaker, Marvin and Pona present. They proceeded to approve of the bonds furnished by the various newly elected county officers. \ resolution regarding mixing in the "county seat fight" reads as follows: "Resolved, We will not defend the county seat contest at the expense of the county." They also ordered a supply of wood for county use, not to exceed twenty-five dollars in value. The exhibit made at that date of the county's financial condition showed cash on hand, February 28. 1873, $55.51 ; county orders redeemed during the year ending March 1, 1874, $2,662.01 ; cash on hand, February 28, 1874, $14.76; assets for that date, $5.174.61 ; liabilities, at that date, over assets, $3.065.74.
In 1874 the valuation of assessed property was given out by the board to amount to $582,518. The total number of persons assessed in the county was eight hundred and forty-five. Six mills on the dollar on all property was levied for general county purposes. In the autumn of 1874 the board of county commissioners appropriated money with which to purchase two hundred bushels of corn, or its equivalent in corn meal, for the unfortunate poor of Watonwan county.
January, 1875-At the commissioners' meeting in the first week of this year, the commissioners were Messrs. Morrill, Lambert, Toothaker, Corbin, Mellgren. The county treasurer gave bonds amounting to twelve thousand dollars. Another resolution of this month's session was as fol- lows: "Whereas, we have reason to believe that there will be a small amount of business liable to come before the district court at the term to be held in Watonwan county next February; therefore, in view of the destitution of the people by reason of the grasshopper raid, be it resolved that the judge of the said court adjourn the term for one year.
"( Signed )
JOSEPH FLANDERS, County Auditor."
March, 1875-The minute book of the commissioners and county audi- tor has this entry about the date just given: "The annual session of the board of county commissioners, which should have been held this day, went by default in consequence of a fearful snow storm, so much so that there was no one of the commissioners present."
July, 1875-The commissioners sitting as a board of equalization in this session gave out the following as the assessed valuations to obtain dur- ing that year: Class No. 1-Horses under three years of age, twenty dol- lars; horses over three years of age, fifty dollars. Class No. 2-Cattle mitder two years of age, five dollars; cows over two years of age, twelve
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
dollars; other cattle, eighteen dollars. Class No. 3-Mules, fifty dollars. Class No. 4-Sheep, per head, one dollar. Class No. 5-Hogs, per head, two dollars and sixty cents. Class No. 6-Wagons and carriages, twenty dollars. Class No. 7-Sewing or knitting machines, twenty-five dollars. Class No. 8-Watches and clocks, three and a half dollars. Class No. 9- Organs and melodians, fifty dollars. Class No. 10-Pianos, one hundred dollars. Class No. 30-"Homestead property." in Long Lake, South Branch, St. James. Riverdale, Rosendale, Antrim and Fieldon, at $1.75 per acre; in Odin, Butterfield, Adrian and Nelson, at $1.50 per acre.
At a further meeting, July, 1875, the board of county commissioners offered a reward of fifty dollars for the detection and final conviction of any person who should set a prairie fire between July, 1875, and July, 1876.
January, 1876-At a meeting of the board at this date the members were as follow: Messrs. Corbin, Toothaker, Mellgren, John Burns and Theodore Lambert. They approved the bonds of newly-elected county officials and selected a "county paper," in which contest the Record was successful. But it is found that in June this act was rescinded and the Madelia Times was made the official newspaper of Watonwan county. That year the delinquent tax list was published in the Madclia Times at five cents a description. and this made the amount of fifty-three dollars for the year.
The general county fund called for four thousand dollars in 1876; also one mill per dollar for general school fund purposes. The proceedings show that there was a balance on hand December 25, 1876, of $1,303.07, and assets and liabilities amounting to $8.320.97.
March, 1877-This was the period in which state and county aid had to be rendered those who lost everything by reason of the grasshopper scourge. The minutes of the commissioners show that seventy-odd persons received seed grain under a special act of the Minnesota Legislature.
COUNTY EXPENSES.
The published list of county expenses in this county in 1877 was as follows: Salaries, S2,400; fees, $60; grand jury, $88; petit jury, $250; justice of peace expense, $50; report of births and deaths, $48; blank books and blanks, $200; miscellaneous items, $364. The total was $4,000. The general school fund was covered by a one-mill tax on the dollar, levied that year.
That year this county received from the state, under the act of Febru-
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
ary, 1877, cash for the purchase of seed grain for the grasshopper sufferers to the amount of $798. The bill reads: "Bought five hundred and fifty- five bushels of wheat at $1.35 per bushel, equal to $749.25 ; freight on same to St. James, $16.65 ; loading car, $1.50; cash on hand not used, $3.00. The fees collected by the clerk of the district court in 1877 was $719; by the register of deeds, $424; by the sheriff, $426.
MORE AID TO FARMERS.
In February, 1878, the Minnesota Legislature passed an act for the immediate relief of farmers who were unable to secure seed grain in con- sequence of the grasshopper raid of 1877 through this section of the state. On March 5 the county commissioners of Watonwan county met to appor- tion out the seed grain purchased by the state for the farmers in this county. They each had to personally make a formal application and show their absolute needs before they could receive the coveted seed grain. This list of persons receiving seed is here inserted in the annals of the county, showing, as it does, to what straits the early settlers were put in the seventies. Many of the men and their descendants still live within the county and large numbers became well circumstanced after the county had settled up, after railroads had made their advent and after drought and grasshopper raids were things of the past. It should be understood that both wheat and oats were provided in amounts agreed upon by the destitute and the county board :
Applicants.
Bushels Wheat. Oats.
Wheat. Oats.
J. B. Backes
25
25
Applicants. John Johnson
20
Martha Halvorson
30
5
Peter Peterson, Sr.
40
50
Ole Hanson
50
15
Lewis Nelson
25
5
John Carlson
25
4
Thorston Thorston
30
50
T. A. Johnson
15
Andrew Anderson 20
Nels Halvorson
30
August Carlson
16
Cal. Halvorson
30
A. P. Anderson
10
--
Paul Ilalvorson
25
Erick Calson
1 30
1
--
Andrew Erickson 30
15
John Paulson
20
4
Martin Halvorson
50
Martin Jargenson
15
5
Peter Freeman
15
Jolın Cole
22
10
Casper Anderson
20
S. Johnson
10
10
Swan Martin
20
10
John Sjoquest
15
Swan Anderson 1
20
2
John Swanson
15
5
Siver Oleson
30
Jonas Lindquist
30
15
Andrew Knudson
10
-
Hans Oleson
60
20
Christ Hanson
10
5
1
1
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--
John Olson
25
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Bushels
393
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Bushels
Bushels
Applicants.
Wheat. Oats.
Applicants.
Wheat. Oats.
Chaney Beal
25
J. D. Johnston
25
25
Andrew Larson 30
6
L. S. Lewis 20
D. H. Forsyth
45
37
Allen Rice
6
30
Nels Anderson 10 1 1
25
15
Andrew Johnson
15
Joseph Rice
15
J. M. Swanson 30 1
15
C. C. Waste
25
Joel Parker 24 I
14
F. Peits
I 30
W. H. Jenkins
18
Conrad Shafer
15
J. M. Travis
50
William Arnd
P. A. Gustavson
15
15
E. D. Miller
20
20
E. Lofgren
15
Tim Larkins
30
1 P. A. Kinney 1 1 1
30
20
1 John Sullivan 20 1
-
1 1 1 t Swan Englin 30
15
William S. James I
20
--
John Herneman 1 1
1 I 120
40
Henry Struss
40
40
Charles Warner 1 1 1
10
Robert Duvar
10
25
J. A. Peterson
20
William Sloan
20
Jonas Nelson
15
J. B. Rhoades
22
22
M. B. Foster 1
40
15
B. A. Town
15
15
Hans Anderson 1 1 20 1 I
45
Mike Gall
15
Fred Shumas 1
I
1
1 25
30
John Folley 15
Peter Rock
15
Lewis Nelson 18 1 1
5
H. H. Thompson
10
Martin Peterson
20
1 Thor Thorson 20
20
Andrew Currey
28
Ed Hewitt
20
40
Andrew Swanson
15
John Colman
25
10
Rasmus Johnson 20
Myron Curtis
30
A. E. Loper
37
William Barge
1 35
1 1 1 15
Abner Denman
37
30
James Hammil
50
Arthur Hart
1 20
25
Tim Tirney I
45
Hans Johnson
40
P. D. Rutledge
45
45
Andrew Peterson
18
Elif Ebror
15
A. A. Hovde
15
15
N. A. Melick
30
35
H. J. Halvorson
15
10
Andrew Anderson
40
20
J. P. Anderson !
15
10
Nels Nelson
75
30
Swan Anderson
25
Andrew Ordson
30
1 J. F. Oleson 1 1 20
--
Daniel Pedoin 1
20
25
N. T. Wethal
25
--
1 I Martin Cain 25 1
H. L. Rud
10
18
H. J. Juveland
25
Peter Carlson 1
20
12
"John Skarpohl 30
10
1 A. A. Nass 13
O. F. Birchard
40
Fred Peterson
30
10
William Birchard
60
O. S. Stenburg 1
1
1
1 20
-
Thomas MeNamara 1
40
M. M. Munson 1
12
C. C. Fisher
40
12
C. O. Wagner
15
10
Stephen Carney 25
Halvor Halvorson
18
William Hackney
20
--
J. G. Butterfield
225
90
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1 20
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William McMullen 1 20
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J. A. Lee.
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J. Davison 1
1
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1 1 1
-
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Swan Nelson
Herman Halvorson 13
Pat Currey
I
James Gelaspie 75 1 1
394
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
The amount appropriated by the state of Minnesota for this county was $2,453.50, and this purchased 2,067 bushels of wheat and 860 bushels of oats. The average paid for wheat was $1.05, and for oats, 35 cents. The seed grain was all delivered at either St. James or Madelia stations.
This donation on the part of the commonwealth enabled the farmers to sow and reap an abundant harvest in most cases.
In 1895 this county donated grain, goods and cash to the sufferers in the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas, thus reciprocating for favors as above mentioned-they were only too glad to thus donate.
RELOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.
After enjoying the county seat for thirteen years, Madelia commenced to fear that the seat of justice was to be taken from them to St. James.
The following is a copy of the legislative bill enacted in 1874:
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Minnesota :
Section I. That the county seat of the county of Watonwan, in the state of Minnesota, be and the same is hereby removed from the village and town of Madelia, where it is now located in said county, to the village of St. James, in said county.
Section 2. At the time of giving notice of the next general election it shall be the duty of the officers of said county of Watonwan required by law to give notice of said election, to give notice in like manner that at said election a vote will be taken on the question of adopting this act re- moving the county seat from the village and town of Madelia to the said village of St. James, as provided in section i of this act; but no failure or irregularity in such notice or in giving of such notice shall in any way vitiate the vote on such question.
Section 3. At said election the electors of said county in favor of the removal of said county seat, as provided in the act shall have distinctly written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, on their ballots, "For removal of county seat," and those opposed to such removal, "Against removal of county seat," and such ballots shall be received by the judges of election and canvassed at the same time and in the same manner and re- turned to the same office as votes for county officers.
Section 4. The county canvassing board of said county to whom said election returns are made, shall canvass the votes on said question at the same time and in the same manner as returns of votes for county officers,
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