USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 15
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The twelfth annual meeting was held at Rushford, June 14, 1904. The addresses were delivered by Burdett Thayer, S. J. Iverson, A. D. Gray, H. C. Bassett and others. Officers were elected as follows: President, C. H. Conkey ; first vice-president, John McLeod; second vice-president, Hans Gunvalson; secretary, F. E. Titus; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; historian, M. J. Fellows.
The thirteenth annual meeting was held at Preston, June 29, 1905. The addresses were delivered by N. P. Colburn, H. R. Wells, A. D. Gray, Warren Colburn, H. S. Bassett, G. W. Rock- well, Niles Carpenter and others. The following officers were elected : President, C. H. Conkey ; first vice-president, John Mc- Leod; second vice-president, John S. Weed; secretary, F. E. Titus; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; historian, M. J. Fellows.
The fourteenth annual meeting was held at Harmony, June 27, 1906. Addresses were delivered by Rev. D. L. Kiehle, H. R. Wells, William Willford and others. Officers were elected as fol- lows: President, C. H. Conkey; first vice-president, John Mc- Leod; second vice-president, John McNeely; secretary, F. E. Titus; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; historian, William Willford.
The fifteenth annual meeting was held at Mabel, June 27, 1907. Addresses were delivered by Hon. W. H. Harris, William Willford, F. E. Titus, Mrs. Loomis and others. The officers were elected as follows: President, H. R. Wells; first vice-president, John McLeod; second vice-president, John McNeely; secretary, F. E. Titus; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; historian, William Willford. The sixteenth annual meeting was held at Spring Valley, June 2, 1908. Various addresses were delivered, and the former offi- cers were re-elected. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Association held a meeting at the same time, united their organization with the Old Settlers' Association, and delivered their books to the latter organization.
The Old Settlers', Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Fill- more County. A special meeting of the old settlers was held at the courthouse, May 10, 1910, a merger having been perfected between the Old Settlers' Association and the Old Soldiers' and Sailors' Association, and appointed officers. Henry Nupson was chosen president and M. H. Onstine secretary. Those present at this meeting were: M. H. Onstine, John McLeod, Jerome Utley, H. S. Bassett, D. K. Michener and Henry Nupson. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Rushford.
June 29, 1910, the meeting of the association was held at Rushford. Addresses were delivered by various members. The officers were elected as follows: President, John McLeod; first vice-president, Marvin Eggleston; second vice-president, James Donald; secretary, M. H. Onstine; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; his- torian, M. H. Onstine; assistants, Mrs. Mary I. West, L. H. Pros-
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ser, H. S. Bassett, D. W. Bacon; executive committee, Peter Milen, J. J. Henesy, J. T. Brokken, W. W. Beers, S. A. Nelson.
May 3, 1911, the executive committee met, and appointed H. C. Bassett, S. A. Nelson and M. H. Onstine a committee to solicit funds for the erection of a monument to the old sailors and soldiers of Fillmore county.
June 8, 1911, the regular meeting of the association was held at Preston. An address was delivered by W. H. Harris. The following officers were elected: President, John McLeod; first vice-president, Thomas J. Meighen; second vice-president, L. H. Prosser; treasurer, Jerome Utley ; secretary and historian, M. H. Onstine ; assistants, H. S. Bassett, D. W. Bacon, L. H. Prosser and Mrs. Mary I. West ; executive committee, D. D. Ayers, Peter Milne, William Montague, W. S. Henry, Peter Mckay.
June 20, 1912, the regular meeting of the association was held at Preston. The address was delivered by Hon. L. C. Spooner, and the following officers were elected : President, John McLeod; vice- presidents, T. J. Meighen and L. H. Prosser; treasurer, Jerome Utley; secretary, M. II. Onstine; historian, Thomas Duxbury ; executive committee, Henry Nupson and Alexander McKay. An interesting paper was read by Thomas Duxbury ("Old Peda- gogue").
Members. The following is a list of the charter members of the Old Settlers' Association, the name and the place and date of settlement being given: William Willford, Canton, 1854; F. E. Titus, Lenora, 1857; C. H. Conkey, Preston, 1859; S. B. Murrel, 1854; R. G. Millet, Hamilton, 1856; Jerome Utley, Carimona, 1856; Hulda Burnham, Bristol, 1856; E. Burnham, Bristol, 1856; P. Mc- Cracken, York, 1855; John Mulverhill, Carrolton, 1856; John McLeod, Rushford, 1854; James Taylor, Preston, 1857; C. C. Onstine, 1853; Henry R. Wells, 1857; John Kingsbury, 1852; M. O. Conner, Bristol, 1856; R. M. Foster, 1853; Ole Arneson, York, 1856; N. A. Graves, Holt, 1856; Mrs. M. A. Graves, Holt, 1856.
The following is a list of others who have been connected with the Old Settlers' Association and the Old Settlers', Soldiers' and Sailors' Association, the place and date of their settlement being given when such appears on the association records: Chr. Hellick- son, Newburg, 1854; George W. Hard, Preston, 1865; Jeremiah Shook, Preston, 1856; F. W. Bartlett, Fillmore, 1856; Christian Peterson, Amhert, 1854; Tallak Brokken, IIarmony, 1854; Halvor Erikson, Norway, 1854; S. J. Overland, Norway, 1854; John Bate- man, Bloomfield, 1853; A. J. Nagel, York, 1856; S. H. Bateman, Bloomfield, 1854; A. Daniels, Harmony, 1858; John Olson, Pres- ton, 1855; John Cathcart, Elliota, 1853; James Healy, Fountain, 1856; L. H. Prosser, Fillmore, 1856; K. O. Wilson, York, 1856; Peder Sandersen, Amherst, 1854; Albert Weiser (Winneshiek
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county, Iowa, 1856), Preston, 1866; P. A. Loughrey, Jordan, 1855; Henry Nupson, Harmony, 1857; James McConville, Jordan, 1856; E. V. Farrington, Jordan, 1858; T. G. Moore, Harmony, 1860; S. R. Ayer, Carimona, 1854; Mrs. Frank Day, Carimona, 1856; Mrs. T. H. Morgan, Newburg, 1855; Mrs. J. M. Kingsbury, New- burg, 1853; F. H. Day, Carimona, 1857; Mrs. J. Cathcart, Preston, 1857; Mrs. C. R. Mack, Preston, 1857; Mrs. P. J. Hart, Harmony, 1856; Mrs. E. V. Farrington, Jordan, 1858; E. M. Rolfe, Har- mony, 1860; George Andrus and wife, Louise; L. L. Humble and wife, Sophia, Norway, 1856; N. Hanson and wife, Margaret, Preble, 1861; Hans Gunvalsen, Amherst, 1855; Tollef A. Harstad, Harmony, 1866; M. Scanlan, Carrolton, 1856; Ole O. Blagsvedt, Amherst, 1854; Andrew Thompson, Holt, 1859; Thomas Oleson, Preble, 1861; T. Tousley, Amherst, 1862; Charles A. Graves, born at Highland, 1856; his wife, Ada M., Rushford, 1857; C. E. Hunt- ley and wife, Sarah A., Spring Valley, 1853; H. C. Gullickson and wife, Bloomfield, 1856; D. K. Michener and wife, Ida, Etna, 1857; L. W. Allen, Spring Valley, 1856; D. W. Rathburn, Spring Valley; his wife, Jane C., Spring Valley, both 1855; J. M. Thresher, Kedron, July, 1856; Charles Graling, Forestville, 1855; D. C. Hancock, Spring Valley, 1856; S. C. and W. L. Kellogg, Spring Valley, 1856; George McNier and wife, Caroline, Spring Valley, 1853; B. F. Farmer, Spring Valley, 1857; William Degroot, Spring Valley, 1863; Mrs. Maggie Furgerson, Amherst, 1861; B. F. Langworthy and wife (Mower county, 1856), Spring Valley, 1881; W. W. Wall and Helen, Chatfield, May, 1855; John McCollum and wife, Barbary, Scotland, 1856; R. G. Smith and wife, Margaret, 1859; W. W. Beers and wife, Caroline, Rushford, 1855; J. S. Weed and Emeline, his wife, Highland, 1859; Ole Gilbronson, Carrolton, 1856; C. H. Robbins, Jordan, 1859 ; his wife, R. E. Robbins, Jordan, 1855; W. B. Hutchinson, Granger, 1854; his wife, A. Hutchinson, Granger, 1853; German Johnson, Har- mony, 1856; his wife, Julia Johnson, Harmony, 1859; Osten Nelson, Harmony, 1854; his wife, Carrie Nelson, Harmony, 1855; Mrs. Susan Boice, Harmony, 1856; John Iverson, Rushford, 1856; his wife, Rushford, 1856; Kate Little, Preston, 1856; Mrs. O. E. Wheeler, Preston, 1856; C. P. Fowler, Preston, 1855; N. P. Col- burn, 1855; his wife, Ruth Colburn, 1855; V. Lefevre and wife, Sarah, 1855; D. A. Sullivan and wife; W. W. Parkinson and wife, Augusta M., Pleasant Grove (Olmsted county) ; Martin Blagsvedt, Amherst ; Carl Blagsvedt, Amherst; Christian Blagsvedt, Am- herst ; Gilbert Gullickson, Amherst ; J. C. Mills, Preston; Willard Boice, Preston, 1856; his wife, Margaret E. Boice; H. J. Eddy, born Canton township, 1857; Emma, his wife; O. R. Strand and C. S. Strand, his wife, 1855; John Manuel and Phoebe Manuel, his wife, 1855; D. W. Bacon and Hattie, his wife, 1866; D. P.
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Bacon and Anna, his wife, 1860; Sam Duxbury and Ann, his wife, 1854; L. S. St. John and A. M., his wife, 1853; David Hut- ton, Fountain, 1860, and Mary E., his wife; Peter Mckay and wife, Margaret, Amherst, 1862; S. S. Dunn and wife, Preston, 1864; Andrew Gray, Newburg, 1854; his wife, Kate, Riceford, 1854; W. T. Stevens and wife, Lenora, 1859; W. N. Gilmore; John Milen ; Carl Knudson; S. A. Nelson; O. E. Langum; Edwin A. Pickett, born in Carimona, 1860; Mrs. Joseph Pickett, Carimona, 1858; W. B. Hines; Mrs. Emily Finny, John McNeelye, Cari- mona, 1854; Duncan McConochie, Arendahl, 1856; George J. Mc- Masters, born in Caton, 1862; John Sumer, Amherst, 1858; Garnet Workman, Carimona, 1858; Sarah Workman, his wife; Henry S. Bassett; Gullick Johnson, Rushford, 1854; Ole Knudson; Elling Knudson ; H. E. Glassoe; R. C. Sacket; Owen Mohan; L. A. King; John Reihl; Alex Long; Ole Tollefson; Gotleib Busse; Mrs. H. C. Vial; W. J. Stuart; Mrs. Terwilligar; S. F. Miner; Mrs. Rosalie Day; Mrs. Mary L. Barnes; E. M. Stork; O. H. Case; Halvor Johnson; John Johnson; J. C. Russell and wife, Mary Russell; Mrs. Arnold Rose; Mrs. Alice Hunt; Mrs. Pat Conley; Robert Knox (born in county) ; R. Rush (Canton, 1856) ; George Milne and wife, Orilla; T. L. Hegland and wife; John N. Johnson and wife; Charles H. Brightman and wife, Sarah; W. D. Hurlbut ; J. H. Roberts; Thomas Johnson; Gilbert Butler; Mrs. Etta Hark- ness; Mrs. Elmira Hyatt; Mahlan Newell; his wife, Julia Newell; J. O. Beach ; his wife, Sarah Beach ; Ella Adams; Mrs. Edna East- man; J. C. Rice; his wife, Katherine; Mrs. C. S. Haines; Mrs. Sarah Miner; B. J. Tabor; Lottie C. Tabor; Mrs. L. C. Monroe; Mrs. L. Woodle; Mrs. Mary Boice; Nels H. Nelson; Mrs. John Stahl; Peter Milne; J. G. Miner; James Donald, 1852; Alice J. Sprague, 1858; W. H. Abro, 1857; Mrs. W. H. Abro, 1858; Willis Hall Farmer, 1858; James A. Sample, 1854; J. S. Lee, 1868; Mrs. J. S. Lee, 1868; L. N. Nash and wife, 1854; Jacob Gasper, 1856, and wife; John C. Halbkat, 1855; Anton Larson, 1870; Mrs. Anton Larson, 1866; C. W. Ackley and wife; S. M. Wilder, 1855; B. G. Westgate, born in county, 1866; P. Mangan, 1866; W. W. Bontique, 1870; Martin Tuims, 1863; Morris T. Armstrong, 1858; Mrs. S. A. Derby, 1856; Martin Carlson; John Miller; W. J. Emmons; Erick Nupson and wife, Oline; W. B. Patterson and wife, Maria S .; E. R. Willford and wife, Mary; George Johnson and wife, Elizabeth L .; John Milne and wife; Ole Hanson and wife; Mrs. Caroline Truman; J. T. Elliot; Mrs. Jessie A. Gest- ness ; Mrs. C. C. Horton; Mrs. Anderson ; Mrs. A. O. Afseth; Mrs. Thomas Wilson; Mrs. John Gilbrandson; T. J. Meighen; Mrs. Sarah A. Mills; Alex Mckay and wife; L. T. Tollefson; A. Nel- son; Owen Mohan; T. A. Harstad; George Andrus; Nels H. Nelson; A. N. Huff; J. C. Miller; Charles Schultz.
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Those who have joined since the consolidation of the two socie- ties are : D. D. Ayers, 1854; H. W. Barnes, 1853; Jacob Anstett, 1856; J. T. Brokken and wife, 1856; T. T. Felland and wife, 1854; Gunder Berge and wife, 1874; William Loftus and wife, 1861; George Milne and wife, 1862-1863; Mary A. Duxbury, 1855; F. C. Wood and Margaret, his wife, 1867; E. S. Holton and wife, Augusta, 1861; W. M. Roberts and wife, Julia, 1862; Austin Jacobson, 1854.
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CHAPTER XII. COMING OF THE RAILROADS.
General Summary of Fillmore County Railroads-First Railroad Project-Mississippi & Missouri-Root River Valley - Land Grant Roads-Five Million Dollar Loan-Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Southern Minnesota - Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul-Reno-Preston Branch-Preston-Isinours Branch-Chicago, Great Western-Chicago & Northwestern.
Fillmore county is served by five railroad routes, operated by three companies, and cutting into thirteen of the twenty-four townships. The Southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul crosses the county from east to west, passing through Rushford, Arendahl, Holt, Carrolton, Fountain, Fillmore and Spring Valley townships, with stations at Rushford, Peterson, Whalan, Lanesboro, Isinours Junction, Fountain, Wykoff and Spring Valley. The Preston-Reno division owned by this com- pany extends from Preston in a southeasterly direction toward Prosper, and then in an easterly direction until it leaves the county. It touches Preston, Harmony, Canton and Newburg town- ships and has stations at Preston, Harmony, Canton, Prosper and Mabel, and a flagging point at Hutton. The Preston-Isinours divi- sion, owned by this company, is located in Carrolton and Preston townships, with stations at Preston and Isinours Junction and one or two flagging points at crossroads.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Osage division of the Chicago, Great Western crosses the eastern portions of Spring Valley and Bloom- field, with stations at Spring Valley and Ostrander.
The Chatfield-Eyota branch of the Chicago & Northwestern extends north from Chatfield.
These roads have been built at different times and under vary- ing circumstances.
First Railroad Project .- The first legislation concerning rail- ways which applies to Fillmore county was introduced in the Min- nesota territorial legislature of 1854 by Joseph Renshaw Brown. A bill to incorporate the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany, introduced by this pioneer, was passed on the last day of the session and contrary to expectation Gov. Willis A. Gorman signed it. The route designated was from some point on Lake
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Superior by way of St. Paul to the Iowa state line in the direction of Dubuque. This route, it will be seen, might be construed as crossing Fillmore county. June 29, 1854, congress passed an act to aid the territory of Minnesota in the constructing of the railroad over practically the route which had been designated for the Minnesota & Northwestern, and granted for the purpose of aiding such a railroad, every alternate section of land, six sections in width, designated by odd numbers, on both sides of the road. These lands were to be at the disposal of any future Minnesota legislature. The congressional act provided, how- ever, that the road should leave the Iowa state line somewhere between ranges 9 and 17, thus making the possibility that it cross Fillmore county still more definite. However, it was not until many years after that the county had a north and south road.
Mississippi and Missouri. Soon after Brownsville, in Houston county, was settled, a charter was obtained with the mouth- filling title of "Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company." That road was to start up the Wild Cat valley, but was never built.
The Root River Valley Railroad Company was organized under territorial auspices in 1854. Clark W. Thompson, of Hokah; T. B. Twiford, of Chatfield; and T. B. Stoddard, of La Crosse, and their associates were those interested.
The Land Grant Roads. By an act approved by the Minne- sota territorial legislature May 22, 1857, four railroad corpora- tions were granted alternate sections, designated by odd num- bers, six miles in width on each side of the roads and their branches, this being in accord with the liberal railroad land grant by congress. These four railroad corporations, viz: the Minnesota & Pacific Railroad Company (changed to St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company), the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley Railroad Company, the Transit Railroad Company (changed to Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company), and the Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad Company. The com- panies were to pay 3 per cent of their gross earnings in lieu of taxes and assessments, and the lands granted by congress were to be exempt from all taxation until sold and conveyanced by the companies. The corporations were generally given ten years to construct their respective roads. The financial embarrass- ments of 1857 retarded the progress of railroad building, and it also became evident that the parties who had obtained the rail- way charters mentioned had neither the money nor credit to complete these great highways of internal improvements.
The Bond Issue. The territory of Minnesota was admitted to statehood May 11, 1858. The constitution ratified and adopted October 13, 1857, provided, in article 10, section 2, that "no cor-
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porations shall be formed under special acts except for municipal purposes;" and it still further provided that "the credit of the state shall never be given nor loaned, in the aid of any individual, association or corporation." Notwithstanding the strong feel- ing worked up over the talk of getting bonds in the aid of rail- roads so badly needed in the state, the first act of the legislature, which was approved March 9, 1858, before the state was admitted, was to submit an amendment to the constitution, pro- viding for loaning the state's credit to the four land grant roads to the extent of $1,250,000 each, or $5,000,000 in all, provided $100,000 for every ten miles to be graded, and $100,000 for every ten miles when the cars were running regularly. In return it required the roads to pledge the net income to pay the interest on the bonds, and to convey the first 240 sections of land from the government grant to the state, and to deposit in first mort- gage bonds an amount equal to the loan from the state for security. This proposal occasioned much uneasiness among the most prudent of the citizens in the state; and though public meetings were held denouncing the measure, it was, however, upon being submitted to the people, on the appointed day of a special election, April 15, 1858, carried by a large majority, there being 25,023 in favor to 6,733 against the amendment. The measure afterward became known as the Five Million Loan Bill. The state bonds were of $1,000 denomination, had twenty- five years to run, with interest at 7 per cent, the railroad com- panies to pay the interest, and were to be delivered to the incor- porators of the companies when ten miles of the road was graded and ready for the superstructure. Owing to technicalities, it was extremely difficult to market these bonds. Times were hard and the companies were unable to pay the required interest.
On the assembling of the legislature in 1860 the interest on the state bonds having been defaulted, an amendment to the constitution was adopted and submitted to the people expunging the section sanctioned and approved by them April 15, 1858, reserving only the state's rights. The electors of the state, at the general election of November 6, 1860, with unanimity, by a vote of 27,023 to 733, approved of the amendment.
Of the subsequent history of the Five Million Dollar Loan Bill the Minnesota Legislative Manual says: "Along with the prosperity of the state, caused so largely by the rapid railroad building, the state pride began to assert itself with more force, and the prominent citizens continued to urge an adjustment of the dishonored railroad bonds. In 1877 a proposition setting aside the proceeds of 500,000 acres for internal improvement lands in settlement was by act of the legislature submitted to a vote at a special election called for June 12, and was voted down
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by the decisive vote of 59,176 against to 17,324 votes for the prop- osition. This vote was largely owing to the fact that the state at that time had almost an entire new population that had come into the state long after the bonds were issued and had no definite knowledge of the history of the original indebtedness.
In 1881 the legislature enacted a law providing for the adjust- ment of these bonds, and designating the judges of the supreme court as a commission to make the settlement. The constitu- tionality of this law was questioned, a writ of injunction was served, and the final determination of the supreme bench was that the law was unconstitutional, as also the amendment of 1860, prohibiting any settlement without a vote of the people. This latter act had previously been determined unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. An extra session of the legislature was called in October of the same year, when the final adjustment was authorized by act of the legislature, on a basis of 50 per cent of the amount nominally due, and, after a careful examination of all the claims presented the bond ques- tion was forever set at rest by the issue of adjustment bonds to the amount of $4,282,000 to parties entitled to receive them. For the payment of these bonds the proposition of setting aside the proceeds of the 500,000 acres of internal improvement lands was again submitted at the general election in 1881, and by a vote of 82,435 votes in favor and 24,526 votes against, the action of the legislature was ratified and the stigma of repudiation removed, which had been fastened upon the state by the popular vote of 1877."
A different version of this matter will be found in the bio- graphical sketch of William Meighen, which appears in this work.
The Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad was chartered by the territory of Minnesota March 2, 1855. The act to incorporate was passed on the above date by the territorial legis- lature. The charter granted the privilege of covering almost everything in the southern end of the state, provided the eastern terminus remained at Hokah, viz: "from the village of Hokah, in the county of Houston, and territory of Minnesota, westward by the most feasible and practicable route to some point between the south line of the territory and the point where the township line between 110 and 111 crosses the Minnesota river, thence west by the most direct and practicable route to the great bend of the Missouri river, with the privilege of a branch starting from Hokah and running to the west bank of the Mississippi, via Target Lake to Eagle Bluff in Winona county. Also the priv- ilege of building a branch from some point on the main line east of range 12, west of the fifth principal meridian, and west-
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ward through the counties of Mower, Freeborn and Faribault, to the west line of the territory; also the privilege of construct- ing a ship canal from the main channel of the Mississippi river to Target Lake."
On November 3 the officers met at their headquarters at Chatfield. The board then stood as follows: Clark W. Thomp- son, president; C. A. Stevens, vice-president; H. L. Edwards, sec- retary; T. B. Twiford, treasurer; H. W. Holley, chief engineer. The executive committee were T. B. Twiford, Edward Thompson, T. B. Stoddard, William B. Gere and T. J. Safford. Soon after this a survey was made by the chief engineer, H. W. Holley, from the Mississippi river to Hokah.
On December 8, 1856, a public meeting of those favorable to the construction of the road was held in Chatfield. The meeting was called to order by William B. Gere, who stated the objects of the meeting, and gave a brief history of the enterprise, stat- ing that it was chartered in 1854, and that $50,000 had been subscribed to the stock. G. W. Willis was appointed chairman of the meeting, and Edward Dexter was selected for secretary. Earnest speeches were made by several gentlemen. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to defray the expenses of an agent to Washington, to secure, if possible, congressional aid in the form of a land grant. It was understood that this committee succeeded in raising about $1,300 in Chatfield, and James M. Cavanaugh, afterwards member of Congress, was appointed to proceed to Washington and look after a land grant. The thanks of the meeting were voted to Col. Thomas B. Stoddard, of LaCrosse, for his untiring energy in the service of the enterprise.
The charter was amended February 27, 1857. In the mean- time the land grant had passed congress, as heretofore stated, and was signed March 4, 1857, by President Franklin Pierce, being one of his retiring acts. May 22, in accordance with this act, the Minnesota legislature passed the Land Grant act by which the territory of the road was extended, and all the land grants applicable to its route duly conferred. This was one of the original land grant roads bought in by the state of Minne- sota, which later re-issued its charter and loaned the credit of the state.
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