USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 46
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District No. 25. 21
District
HIGH AND GRADED SCHOOLS.
Madelia independent district had ten departments and seventeen teachers. Madelia independent district had 193 males and 226 females.
Butterfield ( district No. 46) had two departments and five teachers.
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Butterfield ( district No. 46) had So males and 67 females.
St. James ( district No. 20) had twelve departments and twenty-five teachers.
St. James ( district No. 20) had 311 males and 337 females.
RURAL, INCLUDING SEMI-GRADED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Total number children of school age in county 1,670
Average number to each district 29
Total number teachers-males, one; females, sixty-one 62
Average wages paid for males per month $65.00 Average wages paid for females per month 49.00
The high and grade schools of this county have the following: Inde- pendent district No. 1, five male and twelve female teachers, each paid $112.00 and $60.00 per month, respectively.
Independent district No. 20, has five male teachers, each at $129 per month and twenty female teachers at an average of $59 per month.
SCHOOL-HOUSE LOCATIONS BY TOWNSHIPS AND SECTIONS.
With the exception of any recent changes, the following table shows the geographical location of the school houses within Watonwan county, the same having been taken from a map of the county prepared a year or two ago:
Madelia township-at the village. Riverdale township-sections 23-25-21-7. Nelson township-sections 7-11-18-24. Adrian township-sections 8-12-20-26. Butterfield township-sections 2-17-26-29-and at village.
St. James township-sections 2-8-29-35 and at city. Rosendale township-sections 8-11-26-28.
Fieklon township-sections 1-7-10-16-23-30. Antrim township-sections 4-22.
South Branch township-sections 11-17-22-31. Long Lake township-sections 2-8-18-26-29. Odin township-sections 8-11-26-29.
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EARLY SCHOOL SCANDAL.
On March 23, 1874, there appeared an advertisement in the Madelia Times of a select school to be taught by Prof. . A. C. Harrison, as principal, and Miss C. I. Mead, as assistant and teacher of music. According to the advertisement the first term of this school was to begin in Madelia on Mon- day, April 20, and to continue three months; that the aim of the teachers was to make it a first-class school in every respect and that no pains would be spared to make the school pleasant and profitable to scholars. The tuition rates were as follows: Primary studies, two dollars and twenty- five cents; intermediate, three dollars; higher branches, four dollars and fifty cents: instrumental music, twenty-four lessons, including the use of the organ, ten dollars. Tuition was to be paid half in advance and the remainder at the end of the half term. The advertisement stated that as he had a family he would accept produce in payment of tuition from those not having the ready cash; also that there would be no personal call for soliciting pupils and all desiring to attend to please be present on the morn- ing of commencement.
In the same advertisement appeared a recommendation signed by Prof. E. C. Payne, superintendent of the schools of Blue Earth county. Parents having children of school age, thought that this chance to give their poster- ity an education was a great opportunity and as a result, on the morning of April 20, there was enrolled a goodly number.
On May 16 there appeared the following headline in the Madelia Times, "A rascal and a dead beat," which read as follows: The quiet of our village was somewhat ruffled the latter part of last week by a disgrace- ful matter coming to light. A little over a month ago a young man calling himself .A. C. Harrison came to town and advertised that he and a lady acquaintance would begin a private school on April 20. He had a family of a wife and two children and in due time they came and took rooms at the Flanders llouse. In two weeks Harrison sends his wife and kids to Ohio, stopping on the way at Winona. Harrison, who had been very gal- lant toward his assistant, was noticed to be more so. Letters were obtained to show that he was tampering with the affections of the young lady under the pretense of love. He declared to the girl that since meeting her his love for his wife had grown cold; that he was going under an assumed name, his right name being Arthur Morris.
Colonel Vought did not admire these proceedings and promised to
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expose Harrison. At first all of the charges were denied, but when letters were produced that he had written to Miss Mead, he considered it time to leave and made his exit by the rear door of the hotel, taking with him the tuition money which many of the patrons had already paid. This was the last ever seen of him. In a few days the young lady school teacher was called home by her mother's illness, which the scandal had caused.
CHAPTER X.
THE BAR OF THIS COUNTY.
The legal profession is no longer looked upon as one in which trickery and deception are practiced in order to gain a large retainer fee. It has for more than a century been looked upon as among the highest of the professions. Indeed, a large majority of our greatest statesmen and law- makers have been lawyers at the bar at one date in their career. We only have to refer to Webster. Everett, Lincoln, Seward or Sumner, to find truc examples of noble. talented attorneys, whose influence became world-wide.
Here in Minnesota persons may be admitted to practice law upon an examination before the board of law examiners. No person but an ad- mitted attorney-at-law may commence or conduct any action or proceeding in a court of record to which he is not a party, but this does not prevent a private person from commencing or defending an action in his own behalf. Any graduate of the college of law of the State University may be admitted to practice law upon presentation of his diploma and proof that he is an adult citizen and resident of the state and of good moral character; also the graduates of other colleges of law established in the state. Every attor- ney shall :
First-Observe and carry out the terms of his oath.
Second-Maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers.
Third-Counsel or maintain such causes only as appear to him legal and just : but he shall not refuse to defend any person accused of a public offensc.
Fourth-Employ, for the maintenance of causes confided to him, such means only as are consistent with truth, and never seek to mislead the judges by any artifice or false statement of fact or law.
Fifth-Keep inviolate the confidence of his client: abstain from of- fensive personalities. and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or repu- tation of a party or witness, unless the justice of his cause requires it.
Sixth-Encourage the commencement or continuation of no action or proceedings from motives of passion or interest ; nor may he, for any con-
(33)
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sideration personal to himself, reject the cause of the defenseless or op- pressed.
An attorney in Minnesota may be removed or suspended by the supreme court, on the following grounds : Upon his being convicted of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; in either of which cases the record of conviction shall be conclusive evidence. Or upon showing that he has knowingly signed frivolous pleadings, or been guilty of any deceit or wilful misconduct in his profession; or for wilful disobedience of an order of the court requiring him to do or forbear doing an act connected with, or in the course of, his profession.
LIST OF ATTORNEYS IN THIS COUNTY.
Among the well-known attorneys who have from time to time prac- ticed in Watonwan county may be recalled the following: J. W. Seager, J. J. Thornton, Ashley Coffman. W. S. Hammond, Frank Ellsworth, R. H. Burns, Ed. C. Farmer, Albert Running, J. L. Lobben and W. E. Allen.
Concerning these lawyers it may be said that the oldest now in prac- tice in the county is J. W. Seager, still in active law practice at St. James. He was born in Bath county, New York, September 16, 1845. He received his education at Mora Academy, graduating from the law department of Ann Arbor (Michigan) University; was admitted to the bar in Rochester, New York, in December, 1866. After practicing there three years, he came to St. James, Minnesota, where he ever since has been engaged in law practice. He has had for partners both J. L. Lobben and his son, G. W. Seager.
J. I .. Lobben was born in Norway, August 1, 1862, in the parish of Ecker. He accompanied his parents to America when he was yet a mere child. The family settled in Wisconsin. He was graduated from the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa: came to St. James with his parents in 1870; read law and was admitted to the bar in January, 1896. soon after forming a law partnership with J. W. Seager.
W. E. Allen was born in Marysville, Kentucky, July 1. 1855. His parents moved to Ohio during his youth; in 1876 moved to Iowa, where he resided four years and there read law. In 1880 he returned to Ohio and was admitted to the law practice and followed his profession there a num- ber of years. He came to St. James, Minnesota, in the fall of 1884: taught school one year, and was soon thereafter admitted to the bar in Minnesota. He then taught school at Gordinville, Minnesota, one year and was county
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school superintendent two terms in Freeborn county. In 1892 he was elected county attorney. serving one term.
Hon. W. S. Hammond, attorney-at-law, congressman and governor of Minnesota, now deceased, was born in Southboro, Worcester county, Mas- sachusetts, November 17. 1863. He was educated in the East, graduating from Dartmouth College in 1884. He came to Minnesota the same year to accept a position as principal of the Mankato city schools, which place he filled for one school year. He then went to Madelia, Watonwan county, to accept the position of superintendent of the village schools there. He held this position five years, after which he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his profession at Madelia in 1891. He com- menced as a member of the firm of Hopkins & Hammond. In 1895 he came to St. James, where he built up a profitable law practice. In 1888 he was a candidate for presidential elector, and in 1892 was the Democratic candidate for congressman in the Second district. In 1894 he was nom- inated for county attorney on the Democratic ticket and elected. In 1898 he was again nominated for congress by the Democrats, but declined to accept. He held many school offices in the county and state, and was elected governor in 1914, after having served in Congress from 1907 to 1915, and served until his death, in 1916. He made a splendid executive, but was cut down in the prime of his manhood. He was indeed an exceptionally good type of American citizen. As an attorney he was both shrewd and hon- orable with all with whom he had legal and personal dealings.
Of R. H. Burns it may be stated that he practiced here many years, removed to Oregon and died in that state.
Ashley Coffman practiced in St. James until about 1900, when he removed.
Albert Running has been engaged in law practice in St. James since 1906.
J. J. Thornton is deceased.
PRESENT BAR.
In July, 1916, the members of the Watonwan county bar were as fol- low: At St. James-J. W. Seager, G. W. Scager, Albert Running, J. L. Lobben, Ed. C. Farmer. At Madelia-A. C. Remele, C. J. Eide. At Lewisville-Joseph Davies.
CHAPTER XI.
PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY.
Hand in hand with the vanguard of civilization and the tread of the earliest pioneers, in almost every country, is the physician, who is as essen- tial to the building up of a community as any other class of men-in fact, he is vastly more needed than anyone of the other professions in the first settlement of new countries. The family doctor, be he learned or unlearned, be he of what school of medicine he may, when the fevered brow and parched lip of the fever-stricken sufferer languishes on the sick bed in some humble cabin or sod house, is always a welcome visitor. With all that men may say, in time of full, robust health, of doctors and their medicine chests, there comes a time when his presence is needed and his services appreciated. This was the case away back in the homestead days of Watonwan county, when the little band of settlers was far from civilized life and from rail- roads, towns and cities of any considerable importance.
With the passing decades the science of medicine has made very marked advancement, until today the methods employed are far less to be dreaded in the sick chamber than years ago. The remedies are more effectual and less nauseating, and the percentage of deaths much less than in former years. Especially, has surgery made rapid strides and what was once con- sidered almost impossible, is now performed with comparative ease and certainty.
The earliest doctors in this part of Minnesota had their hardships and were not paid in proportion to their services. Many bills were never paid and many physicians died poor. They waded sloughs and unbridged streams, by day and at night. They faced the storms of our cold, long winters, and endured the bad roads and burning suns of many a weary summer season, until the county was more improved and conditions were generally more comfortable. They made history, as they made their weekly rounds among their patients, but had no time to make a record of their goings and com- ings. Hence, it is with no little difficulty that the writer has been able to secure even as much as he has on this topic.
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PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE REGISTERED HIERE.
The following physicians have registered in Watonwan county, under the various state requirements :
Charles O. Cooley, Madelia, graduated in 1877 and registered here in 1883.
Thede Kirk, St. James, Rush Medical College, graduated in 1881.
Charles R. Bacon. St. James, Eclectic Medical College, Ohio, grad- uated in 1877. He registered in this county in 1884.
W. H. Shaver, Madelia, McGill University, Canada, graduated and came to Watonwan county in 1883.
Henry H. Herring, Miami Medical College, Ohio, 1873, registered here in 1884.
Henry H. Grosbach, St. James, Eclectic Medical Institute, January, 1 885.
James M. Smith, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Des Moines, Iowa. 1886.
William H. Rowe, St. James, Rush Medical College, class of 1882; came here in 1884.
Perry H. Munger, St. James, came here in 1891.
Lawson L. McCurdy, Madelia, 1893.
Abram Siemunds, Butterfield, 1895.
William J. McCarthy, Madelia. state diploma, 1897.
Knud M. O. Leigen, St. James, City of New York, 1874.
Fred E. Franchere, St. James, 1895, diploma.
Iven S. Runstad, Madelia, 1876, diploma.
Edwin Martin Johnson, St. James, registered in 1898.
James B. Lewis, St. James, University of Pennsylvania, 1894.
John Edward Doran. St. James, state diploma, 1898.
B. H. Haynes, St. James, state diploma, 1902.
Joseph N. Flynn, Madelia, state diploma, 1901.
Ole Elland Hogen, Butterfield, registered in 1903.
M. F. Christian Jellstrop, registered in 1903.
Ola Andrew Kabrick, registered in this county in 1908.
Other doctors known to have practiced in this county were: Doctors Cottrell, Putnam, Neel, O'Connor, W. H. Rowe, Jr., Decaster, a surgeon who divided his time between this county and Mankato; Thompson, and the present massage doctors of St. James, Doctors Strinberg and Beckstrom.
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Other carly physicians arc referred to in the records of the county as being Dr. William D. Smith, of Madelia, who was county physician in 1870: Dr. George Christopherson, in 1868; Doctor Stoddard, the records show, was allowed twenty dollars for medical services for this county in 1870.
Dr. F. E. Franchere, physician and surgeon, located in St. James in 1895. He was born at North San Juan, California, July 14, 1866. His parents came to Minnesota in 1869. He graduated from the medical de- partment of the state of Minnesota in the class of 1890; spent the next three years as house physician in the Minneapolis city hospital. He was then appointed on the regular staff of the Rochester hospital for the insane, where he remained for two years; then went to Europe, studying at Paris and London, after which he was appointed to the chair of nervous diseases and insanity in the Sioux City College of Medicine, and also clinical instruc- tor of medicine. On account of ill health he soon after came to St. James. Minnesota. In the spring of 1895 he was married, and soon after came to St. James, Minnesota. In the spring of 1898 he was appointed general surgeon for the Chicago, St. Paul. Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad Com- pany; in 1899 he was appointed surgeon for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company at St. James, and was also coroner of Watonwan county.
Dr. J. B. Lewis, physician and surgeon, was born in December. 1855. at York, Pennsylvania; graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania: practiced in that state for six years; came to St. Paul in 1885, and engaged in practice there until 1893, when he moved to Waseca, where he practiced seven years. He came to St. James in the spring of 1901. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Minnesota Medical Association.
Dr. P. H. Munger, physician and surgeon, was born in Ohio; grad- uated from the medical department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor. He commenced practice in 1893.
Dr. D. F. O'Connor, physician and surgeon, was born in Washington county, Minnesota, December 23, 1864. He was reared to farm labor and educated at the country district schools and at St. Croix Valley Academy, graduating from the medical department of the University of Minnesota in 1800. Two years later he opened an office at Grand Meadow; in Novem- ber, 1899, he came to St. James. While at Grand Meadow he served two terms as mayor of the city.
Dr. W. H. Rowe, physician and surgeon, was born at Madison, Wis- consin, July 4. 1858: educated at the University of Wisconsin and Rush
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Medical College, Chicago, soon after engaging in the practice at Minnesota Lake, coming to St. James about 1890. He is a member of the American and State Medical Associations.
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The Watonwan County Medical Society was organized January 10, 1900, with the following officers: Dr. C. O. Cooley, president; Dr. F. E. Franchere, vice-president ; Dr. J. A. Prim, secretary and treasurer. The charter members were as follow: Dr. C. O. Cooley, Dr. W. H. Rowe .. Dr. F. E. Franchere, Dr. W. J. McCarthy. Dr. L. L. McCurdy. Dr. S. S. Reime- stad, Dr. O. E. Linger, Dr. J. A. Prim, Dr. J. Williams, Dr. A. F. Hunte and Dr. C. C. Donaldson.
The purpose of this society is to bring into one organization the phy- sicians of Watonwan county, so that by frequent meetings and full and frank interchange of views they may secure such intelligent unity and har- mony in every phase of their labor as will elevate and make effective the opinions of the profession in all scientific, legislative, public licalth, mater- ial and social affairs, to the end that the profession may receive that respect and support within its ranks and from the community to which its hon- orable history and great achievements entitle it: and with other societies to form the Minnesota State Medical Association, and through it, with other state associations, to form and maintain the American Medical Asso- ciation.
Every legally registered physician residing and practicing in Waton- wan county, who is of good moral and professional standing and who does not support or practice, or claim to practice, any exclusive system of medi- cine, is eligible for membership.
Following is a list of physicians, and a short sketch of cach, who have practiced in this county during the last ten or twelve years, but who have since moved away or died: Charles P. Bissel. Lewisville, born in 1852, graduated from Iowa University, 1875, and licensed by act of 1877. Charles O. Cooley. Madelia. born in 1850, graduated from Maryland. 1876. licensed in 1883. later attended Washington College of Delaware. Thor- wald J. Jensen. Madelia, born in 1881, graduate of Hamlin, Minnesota, 1907: licensed 1907. James B. Lewis. St. James, born in 1855, graduate of Pennsylvania, 1878, licensed in 1885. William H. Rowe. St. James, born in 1858. graduate of Rush College. 1882, licensed in 1884. died on February 4. 1915.
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The roster of the physicians practicing in the county in 1916 included the following: Ole E. Hagen, Butterfield, born in 1871, graduate of Illi- nois University, 1903, licensed in 1903, attended the Physicians and Sur- geons College of Chicago. William J. McCarthy, Madelia. born in 1868, graduate of Illinois University, 1897, licensed in 1897, attended North- western University. H. B. Grimes, Madelia, born in 1877, graduate of Michigan, 1903, licensed in 1904. O. A. Kabrick, Odin, born in 1880, graduated from Keokuk, Iowa, 1906, licensed in 1909. Benjamin Hubert Haynes, St. James, born in 1874, graduate of Illinois University, 1902, licensed in 1902, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago. W. H. Rowe, Jr., St. James, born in 18844, graduate of Rush College, 1909, licensed in 1910. Albert Thompson, St. James, born in 1872, graduate of Minne- sota University, 1905, licensed in 1905.
The present officers of the Watonwan County Medical Society are as follow : Albert Thompson, president ; H. B. Grimes, vice-president ; B. H. Haynes, secretary-treasurer.
EARLY PHYSICIAN'S FEES.
A medical society in this county had fees advertised as follow: Visits in town, one dollar; visits in the country, one dollar and fifty cents per mile ; office practice, one dollar ; a complicated or obstinate case, ten dollars; ex- amination, one to five dollars.
CHAPTER XII.
NEWSPAPERS OF WATONWAN COUNTY.
The power of the press is not alone confined to the city, but in all intelligent communities where there is even a village of any considerable importance, one expects, and usually finds a local newspaper printed. Public opinion is largely moulded by the newspapers of a county. It is through the medium of the local paper that a community learn the news of their immediate vicinity and also get the most striking and, to them, the most important items of the news of the world. Any accident, fire, robbery, great battle or uprising in any remote part of the globe which may transpire today will be flashed on wings guided by electricity, to our section and the local printer has it for his issue tomorrow.
FIRST PAPER IN COUNTY.
Madelia has the distinction of having had the first newspaper and also the first banking institution in Watonwan county. The pioneer newspaper was the Madelia Times, which finally consolidated with the Messenger, forming the present Times-Messenger. The Times was established in 1871 by Benjamin C. Sanborn, who conducted it until 1899. after which his son, W. Y. Sanborn, conducted it until 1903. The Sanborn interests were sold to W. W. Cole in 1904, a few weeks after the consolidation of the two papers. Perry Bestor bought the interest held in the Messenger by Grant Riggle, and the firm was then styled Cole & Bestor, who subsequently sold to Hinchon and Guderian, the latter dropping ont, leaving the property in the hands of W. D. Hinchon, present owner. After selling out, Grant Riggle started another newspaper at Madelia. but this only existed for a few issues. The Messenger was established at an early date by Summer Brain- ard, of St. James, who conducted it for some time and sold the plant to C. F. Mallahan, who in turn sold to Benjamin Cole. From Cole it passed into the hands of W. R. Estes, who built it up more than any other man who ever owned it previously, or subsequently. The next change was when it was purchased by C. W. Higgins, who sold to Grant Riggle. He later took as a partner Perry Bestor, and they owned it until it merged with the Madelia Times, since it has been styled the Times-Messenger. The pres-
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ent owner and editor. W. D. Hinchon, purchased all other interests in the property.
The present paper is a six-column folio, but at one time was an eight- column quarto. Its subscription rate is one dollar and fifty cents per year. It has a good circulation in Watonwan and surrounding counties. Politi- cally, it is an independent Republican newspaper. The equipment consists of a four-page newspaper press, two good job presses, newspaper folder, paper cutter, stapler, perforator, linotype machine, a great variety of job type, and all other necessary equipment for the execution of first-class print- ing. The Times-Messenger is issued every Friday and is now in its forty- second year of publication. It is the official paper of Watonwan county, the village of Madelia and also of the village of Lewisville, for the present year-1916.
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