History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 59

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 59

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All the bunting at command was thrown to the breeze. At an early hour the roads were crowded with teams of every variety bringing the country

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people to participate in the festivities of the occa- sion.

The indispensable procession was the first item on the programme, and it was led by the Lanes- boro Cornet Band. The most charming feature of the line was the Union Car, containing a precious load of the beautiful young ladies of the village to the number of thirty-eight, representing the States of the American Unoin. Arranged as they were in white, as an emblem of purity and inno- cence, it was indeed a lovely scene to inspire all hearts with a patriotic devotion to our country, the home of loveliness and beauty, of which these captivating girls were the representatives. The Nord Glee Club was along, and quite a cavalcade, with people in carriages and on foot, who marched to Thompson's Grove, where the usual formula was presented.

Rev. Mr. Kemper invoked the divine blessing. The Declaration of Independence was read by S. Gilbert, the oration was given by James O'Brien, and a poem was read by Clarence Gibbs. The duties assigned to these several gentlemen were well performed. In the afternoon the Fair Grounds were the place of resort. There were at least three thousand people present, and the exer- cises here were in the form of amusements.

Among other things there was a Lancer's tour- nament, a base ball match, a foot race, a sack race, a slow horse race, a prize fight of a harmless char- acter, and other attractive sports, into which the people entered with zest until toward evening, when a storm dispersed the crowd, and the fire- works which had been prepared were not visible that night.

This account of a fourth of July celebration is given, not because it will be very interesting read- ing now, but that years hence, when these leaves may have become mouldy with age, when, as we are assured "old things shall pass away, and all things become new," it may be of interest to look back upon the methods, the peculiarities, and what may then be considered the idiosyncrasies of the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

It may not be improper to add that the festivi- ties continued over into the fifth, when there was a horse race, a boat race, a supper and other at- tractions, such as the Rushford Guards, with their gay uniforms and intricate evolutions.

DEATH OF REV. EZRA A. TERWILLIGER .- Mr. Terwilliger was born in Prince Edwards county,

Canada, on the 9th of March, 1835. He received an education at Pictou and Bellville. He first joined the Niagara Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and about 1869 came to Minne- sota, his first charge being in La Crescent, where he remained two years. He then came to Fillmore county, and was in Hamilton, Fillmore, Granger, and Lenora, where he died, and was buried in Preston. Rev. A. B. Bishop attended the funeral. He passed away on the 21st of August, 1876. He was mar- ried to Miss Margaret J. Wilsie at Malahide, On- tario, on the 12th of January, 1863. Two chil- dren were the result of this union, Jestina ( Jessie) and Effa May. The widow now resides in Preston. Mr. Terwilliger was an earnest christian worker, beloved by all who knew him, and he died in the blessed hope of immortality.

DEATH OF MRS. GEORGE E. DEXTER .- This lady, whose maiden name was Conkey, came to Preston with other members of the family, when twenty-seven years of age. She was a native of Plattsburg, New York. In February, 1865, she was married to George E. Dexter, and was well known and esteemed for her christian deportment, and as a devoted wife, an affectionate sister, and a kind neighbor. She passed away on the 31st of August, 1876, at the age of 44 years.

DEATH OF DR. SYLVANUS EVERTS .-- This gen- tleman, an early settler of Rushford, some years ago, after having removed to Porter county, In- diana, celebrated his ninetieth birthday. He was the father of Dr. Orpheus Everts, and grandfather of S. E. and Daniel Grover, making three genera- tions of Doctors. He was said to be the oldest Mason in the State, was a prominent man in In- diana, and for a number of years a member of the State Legislature.

On the 9th of August the iron bridge in Lanes- boro was finished.

FIRES .- The mill of Thompson & Williams at Lanesboro was destroyed by fire on the 29th of September. The loss was $35,000 or $40,000, with an insurance of $27,000.

In October the granary of John Sonther, to- gether with the stables, three miles northwest of Lanesboro, were destroyed by fire, the work of an incendiary. Mr. Souther lay sick at the time.

FOUND DEAD,-In Lanesboro, on the 7th of No- vember, Ole Knudson, who had been at work in Harmony, was found dead on the banks of the river near Mr. Demeray's machine shops. He had

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learned of the death of a brother in Wisconsin, and came to take the cars, which he missed, and so he took in a saloon, and was then taken in by the MAN with an hour glass and scythe.

VALUE OF CHURCH PROPERTY .-- A careful in- ventory of the church property in Fillmore county in this year gave an aggregate of $93,950, divided as follows : Baptist, $2,000; Catholic, $21,100; Congregationalist, $6,800; Episcopal, $1,800; Ger- man Reformed, $4,000; Friends, $1,200; Lutheran, $38,750; Methodist, $3,800; Presbyterian, $14,500- This is exclusive of Preston which had an esti- mated church valuation of $20,000, which is probably a little high.

DEATH OF PHILIP ONSTINE .- This pioneer was gathered by the REAPER, on the 26th of March, 1877, ot Lenora, at the ripe age of 73 years. Uncle Philip, as he was uniformly called, came from Canada to the States in 1812, and located in Penn- sylvania, afterwards in Ohio, and finally in Minne- sota. He was the last of seven brothers.

THE YEAR 1877.

RAILROAD ACCIDENT .- On the Southern Minne- sota railroad, on the 16th of February, Mike Welch, a brakeman, was killed by falling between the cars at Peterson.

STOCK FARM .-- In this year Mr. M. T. Grattan, of Preston, had his stock farm well supplied, and as an institution of value in any farming com- munity, it is still kept up.

THE BOND QUESTION .- On the 10th of April, a public meeting of the citizens of the county was held at the Court House in Preston to discuss "the old bond swindle," as it was called in the notice for a meeting. At this meeting the sentiments of the people of the county, as there represented, were expressed in several resolutions insisting that the constitution ought not to be violated, and that the proposition of the Legislature to submit the ques- tion to a vote of the people at a special election is "a reckless violence perpetrated upon our consti- tution," and recommending a vote against the proposition. A proposition was, however, sub- mitted to the people of the State, and an election held on the 12th of June, in relation to the pay- ment of the railroad bonds. The project was de- feated by a large majority. Fillmore county voted, 178 for the payment, and 3,155 against. Some of the towns did not furnish a single vote in the affirmative.

BURGLARY .- An attempt of this crime on the 21st of June at Fountain was successful. The drug store of Case & Halverson was entered, and the safe forced by demolishing the look with a sledge hammer and punch, and $150 taken. Ou the night of the 22d, it is supposed that the same expert went through the office of White & Beynon, of the Carrolton mills, and breaking the safe lock, secured $75.

At the store of Helly & Distad the next visit was made, but here the cash had been taken home, and a card left hanging in front of the safe, "She is wide open, go in boys." From pure malice they broke the lock, but of course realized nothing. They were probably two men who had been seen about, one of them purporting to be a safe agent, who would enquire about the safe, and offering to sell or exchange, and the other was a mendicant with green goggles.

DR. JOHN A. Ross, a well known, esteemed, and valuable citizen of Preston, died on the 20th of June, 1877, of heart disease. He was noted for his kindness and liberality. He was honest, plain spoken, open-handed and just. His funeral rites were attended by the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and Rev. Mr. F. S. Drew officiated as chaplain. He had been a great sufferer for two years or so, but finally died suddenly, having been on the street up to within a few hours of the change.

About this time the people along the railroad began to use Iowa coal, at a cost of about $5 a ton.

At Lenora, in June, a little son of David Reed . was fatally poisoned by tasting some strychnine procured for poisoning vermin.

DROWNED .-- Two children of Peter Johnson were drowned in Lanesboro near the upper trestle work.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT .- On Wednesday the 8th of August, a most distressing event occurred at the flouring mill of Dickson & Co., in Chatfield. A very promising young lady, Miss Eva Warriner, while in company with two other young ladies and Mr. Fred. Wilson, was caught by the hair of her head, by a revolving vertical shaft, her scalp completely torn off, and her clothing stripped from her body while she was rapidly whirled around and round, her feet striking two posts at every revolution, until young Wilson could run down into the basement and have the mill stop-

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ped. On his return she was sitting on the floor in a sensible condition, and no bones were broken.

She received every attention that kindness and medical skill could suggest, but finally the angel of death mercifully came to her relief.

In August, Dr. D. F. Powell was bitten by a rattlesnake at the Big Spring, two miles from Lanesboro. On his return, Dr. Luke Miller pre- ecribed the formula which has kept in fashion so long as a panacea in such cases, R. spiritus fru- menti, ad lib., and the Doctor recovered.

On the 11th of August, Major Fifield, a well known citizen of Preston, was found dead on a bye road several miles from town, having been dead several days. From appearances he had fallen in a fit while riding along, and getting caught in the spokes of a wheel, his limbs were broken and he was otherwise mangled. He was about eighty years of age, and a bachelor who had accumulated considerable property. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

GOLDEN WEDDING .- At Chatfield, on Thursday the 16th of August, Rev. S. Jones and wife sol- emnized the semi-centennial anniversary of their marriage. Three children, John R., Richard A., and Mrs. Forress, were present; also a brother-in- law, eighty-one years of age, and his wife, seventy- one years old, came eighty miles in a carriage, from Iowa, to be present on this joyous occasion and participate in its inspirations.

Mr. Jones had been a successful minister for forty-six years, and was held in high respect and esteem.

On the 25th of August occurred a fearful thun- der storm with copious rain. Considerable dam- age was done by both kinds of fluid.

EARTHQUAKE .- There was an earthquake in Southern Minnesota on the 15th of November which was felt very sensibly in Fillmore county. According to most of the observers the motion was north and south, and lasted several seconds. One of the local papers remarked, "We did not notice it, but the fact is we have made it a rule not to notice anything for less than ten cents a line."

CAPTAIN JAMES C. BRADEN died at San Antonio, Texas, on the 9th of December, 1877, of consump- tion. He had gone south for the benefit of his health, accompanied by his wife and children.

His native place was Ohio, and he was 42 years of age at the time of his death. In 1854, he came to this county. At the breaking out of the war

of 1861, he went to the front as Adjutant of the 10th Minnesota Regiment, and was at one time detailed as Assistant Provost Marshal of the Mis- souri Department. On returning from the field he was elected Clerk of the Court, and afterwards was appointed Receiver of the land office at Litch- field, and subsequently Register, which position he held at the time of his death. At one time he was the Grand Master of Masons in this State.

His wife was Miss May C. Edwards, of Chat- field. He was a man highly respected and loved for his many noble qualities of head and heart.

The winter of 1877 was so mild that the wild geese were deceived and actually passed over the county going north in January. Flocks were particularly noticed on the 27th of the month.

JAMES CROWLEY died at the age of 55 years on the 30th of December, 1877, at Lanesboro. He was one of the pioneers of the county, ener- getic and industrious, with a generous and kind heart, that prompted him to deal fairly and squarely. and secured the friendship of all who knew him.

SWINDLE .- In the fall of this year a new and exasperating swindle broke out in Fillmore county, and many farmers were cheated before they could be warned. The farmers would receive a visit from a man, well dressed and apparently a gentleman who was in quest of a farm, and wanted to buy out the farmer. The farmer was willing to sell for a certain sum; the man would agree to take it, in case a survey would prove everything all correct, and would offer to advance five dollars to pay for the survey, at the same time offering the money. This would convince the farmer that the man's intentions were all right, and he would immediately change the twenty dollar bill which the stranger invariably offered, and keeping five dollars give him fifteen dollars in money. When he came to use his twenty dollar bill to pay for the survey, he found it to be counterfeit. By this. time the stranger had sought new pastures, and appeared no more on the scene.

These swindlers were finally circumvented, by a warning which was issued to farmers, and sub- sided, but not until after many farmers were duped.

THE YEAR 1878.

SILVER WEDDING .- On the 11th of January about thirty persons, among the elite of Spring Valley, met at their residence to celebrate the

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twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Hunt. The occasion was a most enjoyable one, and will long be remem- bered by those who participated in it. After a pleasant evening and sumptuous banquet, the guests presented the worthy couple with an ele- gant tea set of nine pieces, wort'i about $100, and repaired, well pleased, to their homes.

SUICIDE. -- On the 14th of September, Wm. J. Pennington, at his home midway between Wykoff and Chatfield, committed suicide by shooting him- self in the ear with a pistol, killing himself almost instantly.

MRS. BENJAMIN DOBEL, at the age of 70 years, passed away on the 19th of March, 1878. She was an English woman, coming to this country in 1830. She was a member of the Congregational church, of which her husband was a deacon. They had one son and a grand-daughter, and were a worthy couple.

GILBERT B. O. BARRETT. - Mr. Barrett was born in Middleton, Vermont, on the 19th of February, 1817, and died on the 8th of June, 1878, having been sixty-one years in his earthly pilgrimage.

With his family he located in Iowa while it was a Territory, and in 1853 in Forrestville. In 1866, with part of his family he went to Helena, Mon- tana. In 1871, he moved on to Walla Walla, Washington Territory. He had recently returned to this county and died at Carimona. He was a good man and was sincerely mourned.

CRIPPLED .- A little son of Charles Johnson, of Lunesboro, lost his leg by the cars on the 8th of June.

DEATH .---- On Sunday the 9th of June, Mr. and Mrs. John Hayes were at the Catholic Church in Lanesboro, when Mrs. Hayes was taken suddenly ill, and on being taken to the American House, expired.

A FATAL MISTAKE. . - Mrs. Niles Carpenter, of Rashford, on the 21st of August, was given a teaspoonful of strong solution of strychnine in- stead of a harmless solution, by a substitution of the wrong bottle, and she expired almost instantly. This seems to have been the result of one of those mysterious dispensations beyond the reach of hu- man foresight, and for which no one ought to be held responsible. It was one of the saddest of sad events.

In August, at Lanesboro, a rattlesnake actually climbed up the stairs between the brick buildings

of Nelson & Cook and S. A. Nelson, and finding the door open, entered the rear suite of rooms, oc- cupied by the family of Mr. H. Anderson. Of course Mrs. Anderson was somewhat exercised on seeing his snakeship thus unannounced present himself. He was soon dispatched, but how he could have thus got into the center of the town is most marvelous.

At Fountain, on the 23d of October, three tramps assaulted, beat, and robbed Mr. C. H. Ichealson, rifled his pockets of $45, and left him for dead in his saloon, where he was found the next morning in a deplorable condition. The scoun- drols also stole some horses in the neighborhood, and then decamped. They were afterwards cap- tured.

FIRE .-- On the 20th of December, White, Nash & Co.'s mill, at Lanesboro, was burned. The property was owned by Allen F. Nash and Sey- mour Gilbert, Mr. White being interested in oper- ating the mill. The loss was $30,000 with an in- surance of $16,000.

SILVER WEDDING .- Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rob- erts celebrated their silver wedding on Saturday the 21st of December, at their residence in Lanes- boro. Many of their friends were present to con- gratulate them on having arrived at the quarter century post in the great race of life. Many sub- stantial testimonials were brought, in the form of fine gifts, and one party had their presents crys- tallized in the form of a beautiful tea set of silver, and Mr. C. F. Easton presented an elegant silver water set.

Rev. Mr. Williams was present and retied the nuptial knot in a happy manner. This respected couple were thus started on the journey toward the golden stopping place twenty-five years away.

THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. - As a matter which will grow more and more interesting as time goes on, and really be of more value in an exact ratio with the lapse of time, a full account of the organization of the "Old Settler's Associa- tion" is here given :

"Pursuant to call the old settlers of the south- ern tier of counties assembled in this place on the 21st of October, 1878, and organized "The Old Settler's Association of the Southern Tier of Counties of Minnesota." The meeting was called to order at 3 p. m., and a committee on permanent organization appointed, consisting of J. D. Far- mer, Thos. H. Armstrong, W. T. Wilkins, W. F.

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Dunbar, H. R. Wells. A committee on programme, consisting of Dr. L. Miller, Edward Thompson, und O. G. Wall, was appointed, after which the meeting adjourned until 4:30 p. m. Reassembling at the appointed hour, the committee on perma- nent organization made the following report:

To the Old Settlers of the Southern Tier of Counties of the State of Minnesota in Council Axsembled :

Your committee, to which was referred the mat- ter of permanent organization, beg leave to re- port --

1. That this association shall be known and called "The Old Settlers' Association of the South- ern Tier of Counties of the State of Minnesota."

2. That the officers of the association shall con- sist of a president, one vice president from each county, a secretary, one assistant secretary, and a treasurer.

3. That said officers shall be elected by the mem- bers of the association at their annual convocation in each year, and shall hold their offices respec- tively for the term of one year, and until their successors are elected.

4. That any person may become a member of this association who was on or prior to December 31st, 1858, a resident of this State, and at the time of application is twenty-one years of age, and a resident of the southern tier of counties, upon the payment of the membership fee of one dollar to the treasurer, and signing the roll of membership: and such persons as may receive a majority of the votes of the association may be elected honorary members thereof. [Before the adoption of the report of the committee this 4th section was amended by requiring that all honor- ary members shall be residents of the State, and shall possess the other qualifications of member- ship, except that of residence in the southern tier of counties. ]

5. That the annual meeting of this association shall be held on the first Wednesday of each year, at such place within the southern tier of counties as shall be fixed upon by the executive committee.

6. That the president, vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer shall constitute the executive com- mittee, a majority of whom shall constitute a quo- rum to transact business.

The committee on permanent organization recommended the following officers, and their recommendation was duly adopted :

President, Edward Thompson,

Vice-presidents, D. L. Buell, Houston county; H. A. Billings, Fillmore county; J. F. Cook, Mower county; Charles Kittleson, Freeborn county ; J. B. Wakefield, Faribault county; A. L. Ward, Martin county; Geo. C. Chamberlain, Jack- son county; Stephen Miller, Nobles county ; Lyman Haws, Rock county.

Secretary, O. G. Wall, Lanesboro. Assistant secretary, C. H. Davidson, Austin. Treasurer, B. F. Farmer, Spring Valley.

The committee on programme reported arrange- ments for the evening meeting.

The following committees were appointed : On poem and address, H. W. Holley, J. Q. Farmer, Dr. Thos. Everts. On obituary, M. S. Wilkinson, H. R. Wells, W. F. Dunbar. On finance, B. F. Farmer, Thos. H. Armstrong, W. W. Braden.

Adjourned to 7:30 in the evening, at which hour the meeting re-assembled at Nelson's Hall, which had been decorated with flours and flags for the occasion, To the large assemblage J. D. Farmer, Esq., introduced Minnesota's first Governor, Hon. Alex. Ramsey, who spoke for half an hour upon those historical achievements in Minnesota history which stand to-day as a monument of credit to the memory of those early settlers who iaid the foundation of so grand a commonwealth. Not only were Mr. Ramsey's remarks appreciated, but the privilege of sitting in the presence of Minne- sota's first Governor, who wielded the sceptre be- fore half the men and women of our State of to- day were born, was one to be especially enjoyed.

At the close of the veteran Governor's remarks, Hon. M. S. Wilkinson was introduced, who also delivered a half hour address, first reviewing Min- nesota as a Territory and then as a State. His perfect familiarity with his subject made his re- marks doubly interesting. He became a resident of Minnesota in 1847. He has served repeatedly in both branches of our Legislature, and in both the national House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In reviewing Minnesota's part in the war of the rebellion, he brought forth some very interesting facts, some of which were new to many people. When the rebellion broke out. Mr. Wilkinson was a member of the United States Senate, and Mr. Ramsey was Governor of our State. Mr. Ramsey was in Washington the day Fort Sumter was fired upon -- one of the most exciting periods of the rebellion -- and on the following morning, in company with Mr. Wilkin-

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son and Major Galbraith, of this State, went to the office of the Secretary of War and tendered the first regiment of troops offered by any State in the Union! The further fact was cited also that the first signal victory for the Union forces ( at Mill Springs ) was largely due to the Second Minnesota regiment, which was hurled against the enemy at a critical period of the contest, turning for the first time the tide of battle for the Union. Some slight reference was made to the patriarchs of Minnesota, but the subject was evidently too delicate an one for the modest speaker to dwell upon.

At the close of Mr. Wilkinson's address, the old settlers repaired to the spacious dining hall of the Lanesboro Hotel, where Col. Chase had in waiting for them a bountiful supper. Time had been active for nine hours in whetting appetites for this ample repast.

Having satiated his hunger, the old settler, col- lectively, gave great range and liberty to the organ of speech, as was developed in responses to a series of toasts, the first of which was (Captain Braden officiating as toast-master ), "Minnesota's First Governor." This was responded to by Sen- ator Wilkinson, who sat down gently on the com- mittee of arrangements, and then proceeded in his able manner to do honor and justice to the name and deeds of our good first Governor.

Toast No. 2 was: "The Pioneers of Minnesota;" response by Senator Ramsey, who alluded forcibly to the trials and perils of the hardy frontiersman who inclined the twig that has grown to be an honored and stately tree. He pointed with pride and eloquence to the record of the early settlers of Minnesota, whose works have matured into schools, churches, public institutions, society, &c.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 59

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: