USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 66
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On the 15th of March, a board of health was established, with Dr. A. M. Burnham, the Mayor. and president of conneil, as members. J. II. Par- ker was appointed City Attorney for the balance of the year
1881. The new government was organized on the 3rd of May. The Mayor was Frank Hall. The board of alder men were: John A. Anderson, President, O. F. Nelson, M. P. Ser- geant, Thomas H. Armstrong, William Morin, and Willam Fenholt; Clerk, John Anderson; Assessor, A. W. White; Treasurer, B. H. Skang; Sinking Fund Commissioner, D. G. Parker; City Attor- ney, J. H. Parker: Health Officers, A. M. Burnham, M. D., John A. Anderson, and Frank Hall.
"The city, on the question of "License" or "No License," voted aye, and the price fixed for a parchment conferring rights and privileges in this respect was fixed at $400 ..
1880 .- The officers this year were: Mayor. R. C. Van Vechten, who received 358 votes out of 390; Treasurer, N. H. Shaugh, who received 393 votes; Justice of the Peace, EC Stacy, who received 391votes, and Il A Haukness: Aldermen. Wm Morin The Secretary of the State Board of Health. Charles N. Hewitt, inspected Spring Lake. and reported what should be done in the interest of chairman. O. F. Nelson, J. A. Anderson, with those holding over: Clerk, John Anderson; Street Com- missioner, E. 1). Porter; Treasurer. W. A. Hig- ) the sanitary condition of the city, and his sugges-
373
CITY OF ALBERT LEA.
tions were carried into effect, not, however, without considerable frietion.
1882 .- There was what is called a dead-lock in the Board of Aldermen. It being understood that there was an equal division of parties, and as the President has no vote. except in case of a tie, a compromise was effected by the appointment of a President pro tem.
According to the index, there are eighty-two subjects for town ordinances, which are included in thirty-five separate acts. These regulations embrace the matters usually legislated upon by local authorities, and while in such cases there is a constant interference with individual freedom, of course upon the plea of the public good, this has not been of an unusual character, and honesty and economy have been the prevailing traits in the administration of city affairs.
Herewith is presented an abstract of the report of the City Clerk and Treasurer for the year end- ing on the 15th of April, 1882, which will be useful for reference or comparison :
"CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY OF ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA, April 16th, 1882.
To the Common Council:
I herewith submit to you a statement of the city's finances for the fiscal year ending April 15th, 1882:
ABSTRACT OF RECEIPTS.
Cash in treasury April 15,
1881
336 29
Liquor and brewery licenses 3,750 00
Miscellaneous licenses. 248 00
Poll tax 18 00
Justice fees. 208 80
General tax
1,615 75
Sidewalk.
182 77
Roads. .
789 04
Fire department
778 72
Bridge bonds. 2,990 00
$11,218 37
ABSTRACT OF EXPENDITURES.
Paid outstanding orders and
time orders, including en- gine and hose orders. . .$2,201 89
Poor 811 68
Salaries 2,592 10
Fire bell, freight and hang-
ing 252 88
Of road funds. 1,439 47
A. MeNeill on bridge con- tract. . 1,250 00
Court and jail expenses . : . . 51 60
Brought over to sinking fund. 937 50
Books for justice and sta- tionery 24 80
Wood and wood sawing . ..
63 55
Street cleansing, shoveling snow, etc. 65 82
Mill dam 225 00
Printing 163 80
Election expenses 73 00
Pound
10 00
Street lamps, oils. etc.
58 55 .
Spring Lake drain and cis- teru 739 61
Pest house and small-pox
patients.
736 07
Lumber and hardware. 980 84
Miscellaneous.
229 11
$12,007 30
GENERAL BALANCE SHEET.
Assets. Liabilities.
Taxes for 1881 and previ-
ous years. .$3,624 76
Sidewalks (to be levied). 94 52
Valne real and personal
city property, as per
last annual statement .. 7,909 00
Shed by engine house. 100 00
Fire bell .
250 00
Pest house, and furniture, &c., therein . 250 00
Bridge fund . 1,740 00
City Lake Park, owned by eity and valued at. ...
1,500 00
La France Manufacturing Company, non-interest bearing orders. $3,648 00
B. F. Goodrich & Co ..... 1,066 00
Other outstanding orders
3,530 30
Bridge bonds ( bearing 7
per cent. interest). 3,000 00
Balance 4,223 98
Total. $15,468 28 $15.468 28 Most respectfully submitted.
JOHN ANDERSON, City Clerk."
374
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
Report of Treasurer of City of Albert Lea, from April 15, 1881, to April 15, 1882:
"To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Albert Lea :
GENTLEMEN :- Pursuant to section 6, chapter 3, of the charter of the city of Albert Lea, I herewith transmit to you a statement of all monies received as City Treasurer, and all orders paid on the same.
RECEIPTS.
1881.
April 15. By eash balance in treasury . $ 882 51
By 9 liquor licenses, $400
each 3,600 00
By 1 beer license 150 00
By 14 billiard table licenses, 10 each. 140 00
By concert licenses 43 00
By circus license 35 00
By auction licenses 25 00
By poll tax. 19 25
By fines from city justices . .
208 80
By amount from county
treasurer. 3,666 03
By sale of bridge bonds. 2,990 00
$11,764 59
DISBURSEMENTS.
Orders on general fund paid. $ 4,547 48
Orders on road fund paid. . 1,739 50
Orders on fire department fund paid. 904 38
Orders on sinking fund paid 456 37
Orders on bridge fund paid
1,250 00
Orders on railroad bond in- terest paid. 210 00
April 15, 1882, balance in treasury at
at this date. 2,656 85
$11,764 59
BALANCE IN DIFFERENT FUNDS.
1882.
April 15. General fund 37 76
Road fund. 57 63
Fire department fund. 4 11
Sinking fund 481 13
Bridge fund 1,740 00
S. M. R. R. fund 336 22
$ 2,656 85
Respectfully submitted.
B. H. SKAUG,
City Treasurer."
PERSONAL TAXES IN ALBERT LEA.
In this list is presented those who pay a tax of this character on one thousand dollars and up- wards :
T. H. Armstrong $9,900
M. A. Armstrong 1,100
D. H. Brown & Co 5,550
Brigham & Co. 3,500
Brown & Skinner 2,000
C. Burtch 1,712
G. M. Crane 3,654
Conklin, Dwight & Co 2,625
Chicago Furniture Co 1,760
C. L. Coleman 1,750
P. Clauson
1,444
D. E. Dwyer. 2,473
Enterprise Printing Co
1,021
Gulbrandson Bros 1,395
I. O. Greene 1,092
Gulbrandson . 2,595
C. F. Hedenstad 1,067
C. M. Hewett. 4,005
Frank Hall. 1,579
W. W. Johnson. 2,501
Knatvold Bros 3,150
Ed. Murphy 1,313
McCormick Bros. 1,525
William Morin 2,072
Now & Soth 4,625
John Paul. 1,442
A. Palmer, Jr 1,095
R. N. Parks. 1,821
W. W. Powell & Co. 3,500
Ransom Bros 3,625
Raymon Bro. & Prentice. 3,535
Strauss & Schlesinger 2,100
G. O. Lundley. 5,481
W. P. Sergeant . 5,463
Smith & Gassett. 3,500
Wedge & Spicer 3,900
Williams & Drake 1,134
There is a large number coming well up toward like amounts.
The following table shows the value of improve- ments that have been made in Albert Lea since the year 1869, the smallest being in the year 1873, and the largest in 1878:
1869. $59,230
1870.
45,842
1871
70,959
1872 48,275
375
CITY OF ALBERT LEA.
1873.
34,310
1874
76,121
1875.
84,200
1876.
42,201
1877
89,689
1878
99,941
1879
62,700
1880
81,965
On the 18th of July, 1879, a public meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a fire company. Rev. J. R. Chalmers was chosen chairman, and J. K. Richards secretary. An organization was effected, with the subjoined officers: Chief, James Allen; Assistant, Ans. Peck; Chief of Hose, Charles Soth; Assistant, J. J. Bond; Treasurer, N. O. Narveson; Secretary, J. K. Richards. At this meeting a committee to draft a constitutian was appointed.
This is an efficient organization, supplied with modern apparatus. The othicers for 1882 are: Chief Engineer, William P. Sergeant; First As- sistant, J. J. Bond; Second Assistant, E. W. Murphy ; Foreman, James Allen; Assistant Fore- man, M. C. Mitchell; Hose Foreman, E. H. Ellick- son; Assistant, George Pratt; Secretary, Adam Wiegard; Treasurer, N. O. Narveson; Engineer, George Rutam; Second Engineer, A. Peck; First Fireman, Thomas Carney; Second Fireman, An- drew Peterson; Finance Committee, H. (. Brager, A. M. Anderson; Steward, Axle Brundin.
The department is a compromise between a paid and a volunteer institution. The skilled mechanics on the force receiving a salary.
The city officers for the year ending in May 1883, are as follows: Mayor, Dr. C. W. Ballard; Treasurer, N. O. Narveson; Assessor, Ang. Peter- son; Justices of the Peace, E. C. Stacy and H. O. Haukness; Aldermen:
1st Ward, W. P. Sergeant, Martin Olson;
3d Ward, Wm. Morin, T. H. Armstrong,
3rd Ward, Wm. Fenholt, John Thompson.
On the vote regarding the license question, there was 186 majority for license.
PERIODICALS.
citizens took ten copies, subscribing for them at the rate of $2 a year in advance, but it soon fell the victim of one of those diseases incident to juvenile newspaperdom, and which are so fatal. The press on which it had been printed, after lay- ing idle some months, was sold under a foreclos- ure, to satisfy a mortgage held by G. S. Ruble, and was bid in by him, who afterwards sold it to Alf. P. Swineford, one of the former proprietors. Mr. Swineford then commenced the publication of the "Freeborn County Eagle."
This paper commenced on the 11th of Septem- ber, 1858, and went on as a Democratic paper until the 26th of February, 1850, when the publishers retired and Isaac Botsford took the supervision, and from that time it was Republican. On the 19th of May, 1860, the Eagle made its last flight, and George S. Ruble, who held the greatest inter- est in the establishment, associated with him Joseph Hooker, and on the 20th of the same month came out with the Freeborn County Stan- dard.
This firm had an experience of just twenty- three weeks, when the office was sold at a great discount to A. D. Clark, who on the 21st of October, 1860, assumed the editorial chair and began to use the royal pronoun "we", until the 25th of July, 1861, when he divested himself of the editorial harness, and sold to A. B. Webber.
This gentleman kept distributing ink up to the 10th of October, when the concern passed into the hands of J. C. Ross, who conducted the paper up to the 20th of February, 1862, when he sold to William Morin and enlisted in the army. Mr. Morin kept the paper going until the 4th of July, 1864, and then his foreman and compositors leav- ing for the war, the paper was suspended.
In March, 1865, Mr. D. G. Parker bought the paper, and on the 6th of April recommenced the publication, which has been kept up ever since.
Mr. Isaac Botsford was again connected with the paper, which has always been a journal with considerable influence.
In April, 1878, George T. Robinson bought out Mr. Botsford's interest, and in May of that year W. W. Williams bought out D. G. Parker, and in February, 1879, T. W. Drake purchased Mr. Robinson's part of the establishment.
FREEBORN COUNTY STANDARD .- This paper was first issued on the 11th of July, 1857, by Swine- ford & Gray, under the name of the Minnesota Star." It was a Democrat paper and, it is said, was encouraged by the Damocratie Central Com- In 1878 the the paper was enlarged to its pres- mittee, to the extent of $500 in cash, and many : ent size and form, a six column folio. This estab-
376
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
lishment was burned on the 11th of April. 1882. entailing a heavy loss.
BANCROFT BANNER .- This was one of those county seat papers which, having failed in the object for which it was issued. there was no furth- er necessity for its existence, and so died a natur- al death. But Mr. Bleakely, who had brought it into existence, tells the story in such an admir- able way, that it would be a pity to mar its beauty, so the reader is referred to the extract from his speech before the Old Settlers' Assveia- tion.
THE ALBERT LEA ENTERPRISE-This is a weekly republican newspaper, which first appeared on th 25th of April, 1872, with James C. Hamlin, of Mason City, Iowa, as publisher. It was an eight column folio. At the end of a year, S. H. Cady, of Wisconsin, came and brought a job printing outfit, and the paper then appeared as published by the Enterprise Printing Company. On the 25th of September, 1873, Mr. Hamlin sold his interest to Mr. Cady, and on the 2d of October the paper came out with S. H. Cady as sole proprietor. Thus it remained until the win- ter of 1874-75, when Fred Cochrane became editor of the sheet. On the 26th of August, 1875, the establishment was purchased by the present pro- prietor, M. Halverson, who has been the sole owner, except in the spring of 1881, when an interest in the concern was sold to F. D. Pierce and A. E. Ellickson, who retained a share in the paper for nine months, until the present time.
In the spring of 1876, the paper was enlarged to a six column quarto. It is on a sound financial basis, with a local habitation, and a eirculation of 1,000 copies. There is a Babcock & Cottrell power press, with three job presses. knife paper cutter, 125 fonts of type, and in all respects a well appointed otlice. When purchased by Mr. Halverson the paper had a eirculation of 400. At present the press work of the other papers is done in this office. The building is 20x50 feet, of brick.
THE ALRERT LEA POSTEN was first issned on the 5th of July, 1882, by the Albert Lea Pub- lishing Company, the officers of which are: H. Erickson, President; H. G. Emmons, Viee-Presi- dent; J. P. Grimager, Secretary ; II. (). Haukness, Treasurer and general manager; and O. J. Hagen, Editor. It is a seven column folio. printed in
the Norwegian language, at $1.25 a year, and has a cireulation of 864.
This paper is the successor of the "Sanverke," of which N. Nelson was editor, published by the same company. Before this there was the "Sou- dre Minnesota," by Peterson, Anderson, and Mot- ezfeldt, and then there was the "North Star," by Jac. Elleston, and T. T. Pierce.
There have been several other papers in the city and county, which have had an existence more or less brief, and have passed away from inanition or some other disease. Some of them were preco- cious, and could not have been reasonably expected to live and thrive in this bleak and inhos- pitable world.
Among the various buds of promise may be mentioned the "Will of the Wisp," which launched upon the troubled sea of existence, breasted the waves for three months, and sunk forever beneath its waters. T. T. Pierce was at the helm of this well managed sheet.
THE HIGH SCHOOL JOURNAL was a sprightly, well behaved little entity, managed by W. W. Par- ker, Jerry Sheehan, and Willie Crane, high school students, and during the four months it survived was a credit to all concerned.
THE FREEBORN SPRINGS HERALD .- This was a campaign sheet, evolved by the county seat con- test in the interest of Itasea, where it was pub- lished, and Dr. Burnham was the Visu tergo that furnished tho power. Isaac Botsford was the editor and proprietor, and it was a battle ax wor- thy of a more successful cause. For thirteen Weeks the friction of its presence filled the air with electricity so that a good many heads of hair stood on end until after the election. The octa- gon from which it issued still stands, but the paper itself is a mere recollection.
During the county seat contest there was con- siderable fierceness between the rival sheets, and each one, of course, estimated the value of its utterances in moulding public opinion quite as high as they would bring in open market, and the Itasca concern, as was claimed at the time. sent a young man down, who purloined the "toggle joint" of the Albert Lea press, hoping thus to prevent the issue of its hated rival until the elec- tion was over, but Ruble and the boys were cqual to the emergency, and did not propose to let a little thing like that prevent the regular appear- anee of the paper. So they procured a long
377
CITY OF ALBERT LEA.
scantling for a lever, and, letting one end project out of the door, the form was run under the platen, when a man outside would heave down, and take the impression. Mr. F. W. Drake was a young man in the office at the time, and helped to work off the edition.
If there have been other newspapers or periodi- cals in the county, they will be mentioned in the towns where they existed.
FREEBORN COUNTY CANE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.
This association is in the interests of the syrup and sugar manufacture, and the raising of cane generally. Considerable attention has been paid to the cultivation of the amber cane, and there are quite a number of mills and evaporating pans, where small amounts of syrup are made. A mill was started a few years ago to manufacture on quite a liberal scale, but it was this season removed into the country. The President of the association is H. N. Ostrander; Secretary, George H. Prescott,
ANTI HORSE THIEF ASSOCIATION OF FREEBORN
COUNTY.
After a preliminary meeting an organiza- tion was effected at the Court House, on the afternoon of the 30th of September, 1882. A con- stitution was adopted, and the following officers elected: President, George S. Ruble; Vice Presi- dents, A. C. Wedge, T. J. Sheehan, and N. P. Howe; Treasurer, L. B. Spicer; Secretary, C. W. Levens.
The proposition is to appoint active riders, and make it exceedingly uncomfortable for the equine purloiners who visit this section.
THE GREAT ALBERT LEA ROUTE.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad was com- pleted to this point on the 10th of September, 1877. It makes a through route between the twin cities and Chicago, over the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, and the Rock Island & Pacific, railroads. The line to St. Louis is over the same line to Burlington, and then over the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road. These lines are called the "Great Albert Lea Route," which receives a large patronage. At this station there are, including the eight passenger trains, about forty arrivals each twenty-four hours.
The southwestern line runs to Angus, Iowa, and. there connects with the Des Moines and Fort Dodge line.
An account of the celebration of the arrival of the first train on this route, is given in the chap- ter on "Events," and need not be repeated here.
Although the difficulties of railroad building, when this road was constructed, were as nothing compared to those attending the construction and equipment of the Southern Minnesota, it must not be supposed that it did not require the highest order of talent and energy, and a liberal exchequer, to get them into running order.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first district school established in Albert Lea was number seven, whichi was soon after the organization of the county. Before this, how- ever, there had been private schools, which are elsewhere mentioned. The first appropriation was in the form of a district tax to the amount of $400. The schoolhouse builtwith that money lasted several years, and then another was built which still stands in the corner of the school grounds, which occupy a square west of the public square on Clark street. Messrs. Stacy, Tyrer, and Wedge were on the board when it was built, and Mr. I. J. Fuller, of Oconomowoc, furnished the plans.
On the organization of the district system in 1860, this became the Thirty-eighth, and so con- tinued until the winter of 1881, when an inde- pendent district was created by a special act of the Legislature, and the present fine schoolhouse was erected. Messrs. D. R. P. Hibbs, D. N. Gates, and W. P. Sergeant constituted the school board. The plans were furnished by Mr. Jones, of Madi- son, Wisconsin. The cost of the building, which is of brick, modern in style and well adapted for school purposes, was $20,000, and it was com- pleted on the 1st of January, 1881.
The school system of the county has been fos- tered here, as it has been all over the country, by "Teachers' Institutes," which, in addition to the knowledge as. to the science of school teaching imparted, serve to create and sustain the esprit du corps, which is so important in this profession. There have been other schools of a graded charac- ter, which did good work, but they are in exist- ence no longer, and the energies of the friends of education are concentrated upon the public schools.
When the new schoolhouse was ready for oc- cupaney, there were some formalities attending the tearing away from the old building, and among the other good things said was a poem by Miss 1
378
'HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
Lora Levens, which is given entire. It is entitled
FAREWELL TO THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.
"When an old friend, tried and true, We change for one unknown and new. It seems but meet to leave behind A tear for the old one, true and kind. Ten years ago last goneby spring, When Howers were in bloom and birds on wing,
I entered first this publie school,
(For, happily, 'twas free to wit or fool.)
The house then stood upon a spot, Remote from flower, or tree, or cot;
Just here in front of the "Public Square." With plenty of gravel, ard dirt, and air But 'twas not built in the ancient way, As was the Deacon's One Hoss Shay - "To last a hundred years to a day"- For the builders thought it "wouldn't pay." Soon the ceiling eracked, and then it fell And dropped on our heads and taps-pril mell. And theu the windows would rattle and shake. And the floor beneath would tremble and quake, And in and out all through its walls, In elusets and entries, and rooms and hails, The wind would whistle and rush and roar, And d'en come up through the cracks in the floor. In vain we've punched and knocked and poked. But still the old stove has smoked and smoked ; And many an hour have we stood and sat, With wrap and shawl and cloak and hat, While tears adown our checks would flow- But not the tears of grief and woe, But perhaps by these we'll value more The comforts that now for us are in store!
And everything else in this old room- From our teacher there to-even the broom, llas so long been subject to wear and tear They do with each other, most fitly compare. But the end has come. Let us take our last view Ere the old and the dear we change for the new, For so long they've been with us and cach is so old, l'laces, like living friends, in our hearts they hold, Many a year before us has stood
Numbering the hours for bad or good,
The big old clock, with its tiek, tick tick,
Keeping time to the peneils' click, click, click.
Full many an hour with listless look, The idler has kat with eyes off his book, With many a groan and many a sigh, Watching how slowly the hours went by. Upon the wall, with a deep, dark frown, Our "country's hero" has long looked down, Inciting us to strive for a station, Equal to his in affairs of the nation. Though none may tread the senate hall, Yeteach of us will heed some call :
And we'll all look back now and then with a sigh. To the happy hours that here passed by. Before the stove is the low front seat,
With little of room and much of heat. Where the wicked have got (I've heard some say.) A taste of the heat of a future day. We can never forget, though far away,
The old green curtains that, day after day. Have hung at the windows, slit and torn- Of all their former beauty shorn. And ever "green," in memory, will stand
The old ink keg, with bright red band ; And ne'er to be erased from our minds-or the floor Is that beautiful ink spot we made there of yore;
And as "bright" in memory as e'er it shown Will that little hell be with its silvery tone; And 'twill seem, on memory's wall to call Pictures of school days, gone from us all. And oh' what tales these walls conld tell Of the sad lots that have ns befell- Of the weary liotbs, and aching head, And real tears that we have shed.
And how, at times, have they echoed and swelled With cries and groans that could not be quelled,
At the fall of the stick, or wooden rule, When a enlprit has broken a law of the school.
Again, sounds of gay mirth and glee Are softly brought back on the air to me; And again the walls all seem to resound With a sort of stiffed, giggling sound.
They could tell of classes that have passed away.
Till now isleft the school of to-day.
Of some who have joined the fieree, weary strife,
And are fighting nobly the battle of life, And of a few who are lying, lying low, Under the sod and under the snow. But others come on, and in they pour. Till now no room is left for more. So now at last is built, complete, A new schoolhouse, with comforts replete,
Where all of the rising generation May be fitted to fill, in life, their station.
So farewell, old schoolhouse! We'll say good bye.
And away to the new we'll each of us hie.
We know all thy faults, they are before us in view,
But even by these yon are endeared to us, too. Soon will thy walls be covered with must,
The stove will be coated with dirt and with rust, Unmolested, the mice will come out to their play,
But finding no crumbs will soon hasten away. Around the corners, deserted and lone, The fierce winter wind will whistle and moan. In through the eraeks the snow will soon sift. And over the steps, unheeded, 'twill drift.
The spiders will weave their webs overhead.
And all will be silent and still aa the dead. But O! the lessons we've mastered here Will live with us all for many a year. Lessons of truth, and honor, and trust.
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