USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 8
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Article I. The territory embraced under this constitution shall be Cottonwood county and the northern tier of townships in Jackson county, state of Minnesota.
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Article Il. Any person, after having resided in the territory described in Article I for twenty years, may become a member of this association by signing this con- stitution.
Article III, Section 1. The officers of this association shall be a president and one vice-president for each commissioner district in Cottonwood county, and one for the northern tier of townships in Jackson county; a secretary and Treasurer. who shall hold their offices for one year. or until their successors are elected.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings, 10 appoint standing committees, unless otherwise provided, to call special meetings, to provide a place for holling all meetings of the association, and fill by appointment any office that may become vacant, except that of president.
In case of a vacancy in the office of president. the oldest vice-president shall till the unexpired term.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep the minutes of the associa- tion and a record of its membership in a book provided for that purpose.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive all moneys of the asso- ciation and to pay out the same on an order of the secretary, signed by the president. and to take a voluntary contribution at any regular or special meeting.
Section 5. It shall be the duties of the vice-presidents to preside in the absence of the president. in the order of seniority, to solicit membership and to inform the seere- tary of any deaths that may occur in the association.
Article IV. Section 1. This association shall meet semi-annually in Windom, Cot- tonwood county, Minnesota, on the first Saturday in June and on the second Saturday in October of each year.
Section 2. The officers of the association shall be elected by ballet at the semi- annual meeting. hell on the first Saturday in June of each year.
Article V. This constitution may be changed or amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting.
A regular meeting was held on June 7, 1902, at which a bountiful dinner was enjoyed, after which came the election of officers and then a short pro- gram. Mr. E. Savage related some reminiscences and E. C. Huntington gave a talk on "The South."
On October 11, 1902, the association met at the court house, where an enjoyable program was rendered. Experiences of the early days were toll by Doctor Allen, Dewain Cook, I. E. Pierce and J. G. Redding. Music for the occasion was furnished by Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Stedman and Messrs. Churchill and Gillam. October, 1903, marked another happy meeting of the old settlers in the court house. The old and familiar song, "Home, Sweet Home," was sung with great spirit and enthusiasm by everyone. Such men as Arthur Johnson, Mr. Lewis, E. C. Huntington, M. T. DeWolf and H. M. Goss delighted the audience with their reminiscences of the early days. Mrs. Fred Weld read a very interesting story.
At the regular meeting held on June 3, 1905, an elegant dinner was served after which a splendid program was rendered. The three oklest per- sons, each above eighty-two years of age. led the way out to the dinner table.
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These were S. Hanson, S. S. Gillam and Mrs. E. M. Peterson. Short talks were made by E. D. Mooers and S. S. Gillam, the former speaking on the first postoffice and mail route established in Cottonwood county. and the latter giving his experiences in building a claim shanty. The meeting closed by singing "America."
One of the enjoyable features of the meeting held on October 12, 190,7, was the song, "The Old Red Cradle." and also another song by the old settlers quartette entitled, "A Home on the Prairie." Talks were made by I. E. Pierce on his travels ; by F. M. Dyer on the prairie fires, and Ole J. Finstad on the grasshoppers.
On October 10, 1908, and also on October 9, 1909, the old settlers were given a rare treat in having with them the Hon. W. S. Hammond, who de- livered two stirring addresses. His address on the "Legacy," was especially well received. At the regular June meeting Mr. R. H. Jefferson related many experiences of the early settlers and at the close of his remarks suggested that a fund be started to build an old settlers monument. This idea was well received.
Mr. F. F. Ellsworth, of Mankato, addressed the meeting in October. Mr. Ellsworth's mother formerly lived in Windom during the early days and was a daughter of Nelson Manning, the first representive in the state Legisla- ture from Cottonwood county. Mrs. C. W. Gillam read an original poem "Up and Down the Old Des Moines." that touched the minds and hearts of the pioneers as few things ever have, In her closing remarks she also suggested that a monument be erected in memory of the old settlers and that a very fitting place to erect such a monument would be in the city park overlooking the Des Moines river. This idea met with the hearty approval of all and committees were appointed to investigate the matter and report later.
An old settlers' picnic was held at Cadwell's grove in Amo township, in the summer of 1913. At the noon hour a bountiful dinner was served by the okl settlers' wives and daughters in the good old country style, with- out any frills or decorations or any foreign names attached to the victuals. This meeting was conceded by all to be one of the best ever held and every- one anxiously looked forward to the next annual picnic.
The old settlers' choir opened the October meeting of 1915 by the singing of "America." Reverend Norman gave a very interesting and stir- ring address that delighted the hearts of the pioneers. Mr. E. D. Mooers made some very appropriate remarks.
The following is a list of the presidents of the Old Settlers Association
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in the order of serving: F. M. Dyer, J. G. Redding, D. C. Davis, W. A. Peterson. D. A. Noble, W. W. Hunter, Mrs. LeTourneau, E. D. Movers.
Among the numerous "memorials" found recorded in the books of the Old Settlers Association of Cottonwood county, the following is a fair sample of the tributes paid to the departed dead of the Association :
MEMORIAL.
A memorial to J. H. Clark, as prepared by Jens J. Jackson, for the Old Settlers Association :
James H. Clark was born on the 24th of April, 1830, in the town of Hollowell, Maine. His boyhood days were spent with his father in the lumber industry, but when the young man became of age he packed his be- longings into a little bundle and walked to the city of Bath, where he secured work in a ship yard. He remained at this place until 1856, when he left and started for the state of Minnesota and landed in Taylor's Falls the same year. After staying there for several years he became acquainted with Miss Carrie Jeelosen, to whom he became engaged to marry. When the time came for them to be joined in wedlock, Mr. Clark suggested that they go before a justice of the peace as there was no minister in the place, but Carrie said: "No, James, I want a minister of the gospel to communi- cate to us the blessing of God that may accompany us on the journey of our married life." So they drove thirty miles to the city of Stillwater, where they found a minister, who pronounced them to be lawful man and wife, on the 16th of April, 1864.
They resided at Taylor's Falls for a period of fourteen years and then came to Windom in 1878, where Mr. Clark engaged in the lumber business and occupied the lumber yard for a short time where the Struck-Sherwin firm now holds forth. Trade was scarce over there, he said, and many a lonesome day did he spend in that hovel as he called his office, for want of anything to do, for he was an industrious man and longed for the time when trade would call him to manual labor as well as mental activity. He was a fearless man and he would never shrink from responsibility so long as he entertained an idea of being in the right. An incident, that some may remember, occurred in the winter of 1881, will show that he feared not even the consequences of a lawsuit when his merciful heart dictated to him to alleviate the suffering of humanity. Many may remember the long blockade of 1881, but the road was open once, when a car of coal that be- longed to the railroad company was shipped in and found Windom destitute
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of fuel. On Sunday morning Mr. Clark shouldered a shovel, marched to the car, which was quickly opened and he assumed the authority of dealing out the contents to those in need. He also assumed the responsibility of being prosecuted for the act.
Mr. Clark was not generally known to have been a philanthropist, yet there are many who remember his philanthropic deeds. An instance was when Christmas eve dawned upon the village of Windom, he sat at his desk with a little notebook in his hand and he would say that Christmas was near at hand and God have mercy upon the poor. He would write a few names and hand the book to me and say, "John," as he was in the habit of calling me, "do you know of any other poor widow that may be in need?" When the list was complete the names were copied on a slip of paper and handed to a drayman, with instructions to deliver to each lady one-half of a ton of coal. He furnished the fuel, paid the drayage and the matter was kept quiet. He did not publish such facts to the world at large, he would not tell the recipients, because such aets he considered a part of his duty. Noth- ing gave him more satisfaction than to offer a little comfort to the lonely widow and others in distress.
The love of kindness that he exhibited toward his family was note- worthy of example. His watchful care for their comfort unlimited. He truly complied with God's ordinance in performing the duty of husband and father and the perfect confidence that existed between himself and wife was due to the amiable nature of both.
Mr. Clark left Windom in the fall of 1895 and settled in Minneapolis. He disposed of his business interests in the winter of 1896 and shortly after moved to the city of Los Angeles, California. Here he engaged in the wholesale paper business, but only for a short time as his health was failing and with it his ambition for active life.
His life had not been one of leisure. His holdings were acquired through constant labor and study and he relinquished his hold upon mannal exertion, only when the tooth of time exerted its influence upon that mortal structure that had withstood the tempests of time for more than three score years and ten. He died on the 5th of February, 1904, at the age of seventy- three years, nine months, and twelve days, leaving a widow and two daugh- ters to mourn his death.
EARLY HARDSHIPS OF A MAIL CARRIER.
Among other interesting reminiscences related at the first meeting held by the Old Settlers' Association at Windom, was the following:
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Orris Nason, known as "Tip," was called upon and gave some inci- dents of real pioneer life. He came to Minnesota in 1856 and worked near Mankato. Mr. Nason carried the mail-he literally carried it as he had to walk much of the time-from Mankato to Sioux City, Iowa, for four years. The first round trip, a distance of four hundred and fifty miles, was made in fourteen days. Probably the howling of the wolves urged Mr. Nason to make the trip in so short a time, as those wild beasts were plentiful and ferocious in the days from 1856 to 1861. Mr. Nason took a claim near String lake. He and his wife, "Lib," managed to get along in some small quarters, a tent answering for a dwelling. At one time a room about seven by nine feet, answered for parlor, bedroom and kitchen. An ox team furnished motive power for traveling and breaking up the prairie sod. Mr. and Mrs. Nason had many hardships to endure with storms and grass- hoppers, but they now enjoy the well-earned fruits of their labors.
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION OF COTTONWOOD COUNTY.
Cottonwood county, Minnesota, was created, May 23, 1857, with the county seat at Windom, and is one of second tier of counties north of the Iowa state line, and the third county from the state of South Dakota. This county has a length of five townships, and a width from north to south of four, except that on the northeast corner, two of the townships which would be included in this county if it were a complete rectangle, belong to Brown county, Minnesota.
This leaves the county eighteen townships, each six miles square, an area of six hundred and fifty and thirty-nine one hundredths square miles, or equivalent to 416.250 acres, of which some eight thousand acres are covered with water. In 1914 the county had fifteen hundred and eighty farms. The villages of the county are: Windom, Mountain Lake, Bing- ham Lake, Delft, Jeffers. Storden and Westbrook. Windom, the county seat, is situated in Great Bend township on the banks of the Des Moines river.
The county has numerous lakes within its borders, the chief of which are: Bingham lake, one mile long; Bean lake, Augusta, Three, Swan. Clear, Long and Willow or Fish lakes, ranging from one-third of a mile to over one mile long, and some more scattered over the county. The sur- face of the county is made up of really beautiful rolling prairie, diversified by the lakes and numerous streams, while health groves planted by the hands of the sturdy pioneers, enhance the beauty and value of the domain of the entire county. Some of these artificial groves now tower from twenty to fifty feet in height and afford a splendid. cooling shade for man and beast in summer-time and a perfect wind-break during the roaring blasts and occa- sional blizzards of the long severe winter months. These groves include soft maple, cottonwood, willow, ash, box elder, ehm and other varieties common to this climate.
SOIL.
The soil of Cottonwood county has been treated in the chapter on geol- ogy and hence need not be here enlarged upon, more than to add that it is of a rich make-up and produces corn and grain, with all the common grasses
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of Minnesota. It withstands great drought as well as excessive rainfall. The grasses of the county make it an ideal location for the dairymen and stock growers.
The total assessed valuation of Cottonwood county in 1912 was $8,523,- 570, of which $1,215,274 was personal property. The county has, of late years, come to be known as among the "corn counties" of the commonwealth of Minnesota. The farmer now calls corn his staple crop.
Cottonwood county is bounded on the north by Redwood and Brown counties ; on the east by Brown and Watonwan counties; on the south by Jackson county and on the west by Murray county.
THE TWO "STOLEN" TOWNSIIIPS.
Much has been said and written in times past concerning the two civil townships that should have been left as a part of Cottonwood county, but which, through trickery, were stolen and added to Brown county. The younger generation knows nothing of this, and in fact few know that town- ship 108, ranges 34 and 35 ever belonged to Cottonwood county. To make this clear to the reader of this history the following able article from the pen of Attorney Emory Clark, the pioneer attorney of Windom and Cotton- wood county, will be given, as copied from the Windom Reporter, in which paper it appeared in 1873:
At the request of the county auditor of this county I have investigated the matter of county lines between Cottonwood and Brown counties, and will gladly give to the public the facts as I have discovered them by this research.
The legislative assembly of the Territory of Minnesota, February 20, 1855. passed an act entitled "An act to define the boundaries of certain counties," and in and by section 19 of said act provided "that so much of the territory as was formerly included within the county of Blue Earth, and has not been included within the boundaries of any other county, as herein established, shall be known as the county of Brown."
By this act all the territory west of range 28 and south of township 100. which embraced what is now the counties of Martin, Jackson, Nobles, Rock, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood and Watonwan, the south tier of townships in Brown county, and the west tier of townships of Blue Earth county, was established as the county of Brown.
On February 11, 1856, the legislative assembly passed an act entitled, "An Act to organize the county of Brown, section i, of which reads: That
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the county of Brown is declared to be an organized county, and is entitled to all the privileges and immunities, and subject to all liabilities of other organized counties of this territory."
Section 2 locates the county seat at New Ulm. On May 29, 1857, the legislative assembly passed an act entitled: "A bill to establish certain coun- ties, and for other purposes."
Section 7 of this act reads: "That so much of the Territory of Min- nesota as lies within the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby established as the county of Cottonwood; beginning at the southeast corner of township 105, north of range 34 west; thence due north to the north line of township 108, north of range 38, east ; thence due south to the south- west corner of township 105, north of range 38, west; thence due cast to place of beginning."
This description would embrace twenty townships, and include the two Congressional townships in township 108, ranges 34 and 35 which have here- tofore been deemed a part of Brown county.
Previous to the year 1857, when our state Constitution was adopted, county lines were subject to change at the will of the Legislature, but section I, article 2, of the Constitution requires that "all laws changing county lines already in counties already organized, shall before taking effect be submitted to the elections of the county or counties to be effected thereby, and be adopted by a majority vote of such electors."
In 1864 the Legislature passed an act entitled : "An act to change the boundary line of Brown county," by which those two congressional town- ships theretofore in the northeast corner of Cottonwood county, would become a part of Brown county, and in the same act changing the county line between Brown and Redwood counties.
The proposition was submitted to the electors of the three counties at the annual election of 1864, but as Cottonwood county was not yet organ- ized no vote was cast by her, and Redwood only cast fourteen votes in all, that being her first election. Brown county cast two hundred and eighty- seven votes in favor of the change and none against it.
Now it is contended by some, that as the act provided for a vote of the three counties on the proposition and one of these counties was then unor- ganized, the result of the election in 1864 did not effect a change of the county lines ; and moreover that the law itself was unconstitutional, as it endorsed more than one subject which was not expressed in the title. Be this as it may, we still find in the General Statutes of 1866, chapter S. sec-
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tion 16, that the boundary line of Cottonwood county is the same as estab- lished on May 29, 1857.
The interests of Cottonwood county requires an early determination of this state of doubt as to the county line. The assessed valuation of the lands alone in these two townships amounted to $15,000, besides it embraces one-tenth of the whole territory of the county. The tax and benefit of these townships are now being enjoyed by Brown county. The authorities of Cottonwood county should be as vigilant of the county lines as a farmer is of his farm boundary lines.
May, 1873.
(Signed ) E. CLARK.
It appears that the good advice given by the above writer was not properly heeded, for Brown county still retains the two townships in ques- tion. It will be remembered that the vote was taken on this question in 1864-a time when Cottonwood county had been depopulated by the Indian uprising of 1862. and many of the settlers in Redwood and Cottonwood counties had not yet returned to their claims.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Counties, like states and nations, have their own peculiar form of gov- ernment. While each county has its own local laws and rules, and no other county can dictate as to the management of affairs, yet all county govern- ments are in perfect harmony with the general state laws under one common constitution. Then, the townships in a county have still other rules that its people make and abide by, which may or may not be like any other township in the county; yet, in a general sense, all townships must be governed so as not to interfere with the laws of the county in which they may be situated.
In Cottonwood county the offices in both township and county govern- ment have been held generally by representative citizens who have sought only to do the will of the people in a lawful manner, as they have understood the laws. There have been a few exceptions to this rule, but not more so here than in any other township or county in Minnesota.
It has been the general policy of this county (and was so from the very beginning) to live within its means, and while bonds have at certain times been issued, it was in order that the small warrants against the county might be paid in full when presented. However, such bonds have usually been issued for the purpose of making internal improvements from which the
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succeeding generations, possibly, may reap the greatest benefits; hence. it is no more than right that they should pay a share of the amount called for in these bond issues, whether it be for county buildings, roads, drainage or other improvements which are demanded by a progressive people. All of the later improvements made in Cottonwood county have been made with a view to the future-the bridges and public buildings, etc., having all been constructed of the best materials and by skillful workmen, who have not been allowed to slight their contract in the least.
NO HARD COUNTY-SEAT CONTESTS.
At first the seat of county government was at a point about four miles above present Windom, on the Des Moines river, and was known as Big Bend. There the first county business was transacted, but in November, 1872, the entire set of county officials were removed to quarters provided at the new village of Windom, which, being on a railroad, was the logical place for the county seat to be located. Here it has remained ever since, although there was a time when the people in and about the village of Jeffers thought they were entitled to the county seat. They were very near the exact geo- graphical center of the county and had secured a branch railroad, which made their argument all the stronger, but the seat of justice was not moved and the fine, expensive court house that stands in Windom today will no doubt house the county offices for many long years to come.
So sure were the good citizens of Jeffers that they could induce the voters to remove the county seat to their place, they donated what is known as the "court house square," but the ground has always stood unoccupied. Had the center of the county had a railroad at the date of its organization, it would doubtless have secured the county seat, but at that early day the settlements were far from the center of the county and the nearest railroad point was naturally taken.
COUNTY'S CONDITION IN 1884.
The following article was taken from the Windom Reporter, June 12. 1884: "The tax collection of Cottonwood county at the settlement of the anditor and treasurer, June 1, 1884, amounted to $14,591.58, leaving a less amount of unpaid taxes on the books than ever shown before. The court house is paid for and Cottonwood county is entirely out of debt. We doubt if there is another county in the state with such a clean record.
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"These are facts for the homeseekers and land buyers to consider. If you locate in Cottonwood county you have no old taxes to pay, no court house to build and you have the finest land the sun shines on and as low taxes as are to be found in any civilized country."
ORGANIZATION.
Cottonwood county was organized in 1870. The first meeting of the county commissioners was held on July 29. 1870, and the members of the board were Allen Gardner, J. W. Benjamin and I. L. Miner. They ap- pointed the first set of county officials and their selection were as follows: Charles Chamberlain, auditor ; H. M. MeGaughey, treasurer ; Ezra Winslow, register of deeds; E. B. Sheldon, sheriff; T. C. Imus, judge of probate; J. W. Shofer, county attorney; L. L. Miner, court commissioner ; Orren Nason, surveyor ; J. A. Harvey, coroner.
At the August meeting in 1870 Great Bend was organized, and the first election for township officers was held at the residence of Charles Chamber- lain, August 27.
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