USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 54
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INTERESTING EVENTS.
THE YEAR 1870.
Brownsville had 1,500 inhabitants, with about forty stores, four churches, a printing office, va- rious manufacturing establishments, warehouses, boat yards, a theater, and other accessories to a thriving town.
A most daring attempt was made on the night of September 10th, to rob the safe in the store of Sprague Brothers & Co. For a few days previous two men had been noticed about . town making small purchases, and one of them represented that he was about completing a model for a patent right he was about to send to the patent office. It was afterwards learned that they had made their head- quarters in a log cabin not far from town. D. G. Sprague, one of the proprietors, slept in the store in a bed made up each night on the counter, and about midnight, having been asleep, he found himself on his feet with two men making a vig- orous assault upon him, which, realizing the sit- nation, he resisted as best he could, and succeeded in tearing away from his assailants. Reaching the door, he unlocked and opened it, when he was seized by the collar of his shirt, but he broke away, or rather tore himself out of the only garment he had on, except his stockings, and ran across the street to the hotel where he boarded. Not suc- ceeding in effecting an entrance, he headed for his uncle's, A. D. Sprague, shouting as he ran. As he passed the house of Wm. D. Giles, who, it seems, had not yet retired, as he had seen a suspicious man around late in the evening. Mr. Giles rushed out with his gun and fired into the air, which acceler- ated young Sprague's movements as well as the departure of the ruffians. When the house was finally opened to the bloody hero of the encounter, his uncle did not recognize him in his sanguinary dress. On examination, five severe scalp wounds were found, which were of a serions character, and, although he recovered, he will always carry the scars, as mementoes of the murderous fray. It was found that the robbers had gained admission through the hardware store adjoining, by applying nippers to the key left in the front door, and then passing through the side door into the store. A dark lantern, lighted, was found, a club and a hat. On the counter in the other store was found a two ounce vial of chloroform, and some oil for lubri- cating the bits. In the morning their kit of tools was found under the steps; there were two jim- mies, seven skeleton keys, five small wedges, a
brace, and two drills. It seems they had hitched up a horse and buggy belonging to M. M.Wooden, and left it tied up town, ready to carry away their plunder, and they at once jumped in and drove to La Crescent, where, leaving the team, they crossed the river, and no trace of them was ever found, although parties were out on the various roads in pursuit. They were met several miles out of town by some parties who had been coon hunting, but who of course did not know what they had been doing. The affair created great excitement at the time.
About this time there was another robbery in Hokah, in the Valley House, which a gang of robbers went through one night, from cellar to garret, and obtained $98 in money. They also were in Caledonia the same night, visiting the. Barnes House and procuring $30 from Mr. Barnes' vest, and also going through the boarders. The De Soto House also received a visit. At Mr. Reves his wife heard them in the room and pulled his pants into the bed, thus saving the cash. James Smith's house was also entered, but noth- ing of value taken.
THE YEAR 1873.
In November the first meeting was held to see about building a railroad from Caledonia. The projectors took the name of the Caledonia and Mississippi Railroad. Joseph Till was employed as engineer, and an organization was effected.
The number of births and deaths in Houston county during the year ending December 31, were: Births, males, 208; females, 233; total, 441. Deaths, males, 87; females, 73; total, 106.
THE YEAR 1874.
In April Mr. Thomas Cady, a resident of Cale- donia, found a pocket book in the cellar from which the building had been removed: it had contained $50, mostly in greenbacks, which were found in a a disintegrated condition. It had been lost twenty years.
Early in June, the work of grading the Cale- donia and Mississippi railroad was commenced. On Tuesday, the 9th, a picnic was held in honor of the turning of the first sod, near the house of John Molitor. Dr. Gates was president of the day, A. D. Sprague and Thomas Abbotts headed the procession with spades on their shoulders, which had been turned as trumps for the railroad game about to begin. Capt. W. H. Harries delivered
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an appropriate address. Father Charles Koebrel followed with a speech in German. Refreshments were served, and a dance in the evening closed the festivities of the occasion.
In September, P. W. Wagner erected a brewery in Caledonia.
As late as the autumn of this year, grand wolf hunts were organized in Houston county.
Blackman & Son, Decorah, Iowa, proposed to bore for water in Caledonia.
THE YEAR 1875.
On the 22d of January, the Brownsville and Root River Improvement Company was formed for the purpose of diverting the waters of Root River by way of Brownsville, to create a water .power. The capital was placed at $100,000. The incorporators were Job Brown, Th. McMichael, I. Larsen, A. McMichael, C. Aslesen, J. M. Riley, C. Keogh, H. Post, J. Cluss, C. Clark, O. T. West, J. B. Le Blond, and H. Bell. The officers were : T. McMichael, President; H. Post, Vice President; Iver Larsen, Secretary; and A. McMichael, Treas- urer.
A catholic Fair in Caledonia, in the winter of this year, realized $4,800.
The Methodist Church had quite a revival in Caledonia during this winter.
Work was commenced on the jail on Wednes- day, the 21st of April.
On Saturday, the 22d of May, John Sheehan, of Brownsville, was killed by a runaway accident.
In June, Caledonia contained 900 inhabitants.
At the fall election for state officers, D. L. Buell, of Caledonia, was the Democratic candidate for Governor.
The census of Houston county in 1875, were: Black Hammer 911
Brownsville
725
66
Corporation 806
Caledonia 1,003
Village.
873
Jefferson 480
Hokah 461
Village 1,023
Houston. 581
Village. 927 La Crescent.
981
Money Creek 768
Mound Prairie 649
Mayville 614
Sheldon 908
Spring Grove 1,410
Union 480
Wilmington 1,262
Winnebago 905
Yucaton 798
THE YEAR 1876.'
The Houston county jail at Caledonia was com- pleted on the 6th of January. Mr. A. W. Gage was the contractor, and Mr. C. G. Mayberry, archi- tect. It was officially inspected the next day, and found to be in accordance with the plans and specifications. The rear wing, in which the cells are located, is 40x60 feet, and is bricked upon the inside. It has two tiers of interior cells of ten each, with modern appliances for simultaneously closing the doors. The building contains a resi- dence, offices, and a mens' prison room, is heated by a furnace, and supplied with cisterns, tanks, and pumps, with hose and other conveniences. When first built, it was claimed to be the best jail in the State.
Ernst Wiegand, of Union, was instantly killed on the the 25th of January by being thrown from his buggy; the horses having given a sudden start throwing him over the backboard and dislocating his neck. He left a wife and two children.
On Sunday, the 16th of February, at Mound Prairie, a daughter of Thomas Murry, who was fifteen years of age and had been a cripple from birth, in the absence of the rest of the family at church, was burned to death, with the residence, which was found in ashes on their return.
THE FLOOD.
The greatest freshet known for years followed the rapid melting of the snow and the rain storms in the second week in March. Root River was higher than ever before, and the smaller streams and ravines in the interior were filled with water, making travel very dangerous everywhere, and in some places impossible. Several fatal accidents occurred in this county, two in the immediate vi- cinity of Caledonia.
DEATH OF MRS. HILL.
Mr. Peter Hill and wife were driving home from town in their sleigh, and attempted to cross a ravine well filled with water, and running at a rapid rate. In the middle of the stream the sleigh was carried away, and Mrs. Hill was drowned. Mr. Hill was dragged ashore by the horses, he hold-
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ing tightly to the reins. Mrs. Hill's body was not recovered until about ten o'clock in the even- ing-four hours after the accident.
DEATH OF LEARY'S CHILD.
Mr. Cornelius Leary, who lives a short distance north of Caledonia, lost a little boy aged nine years, under very distressing circumstances. Three of Leary's children were coming home from school, all mounted on the same horse in order to keep dry while crossing the stream. When in the swiftest of the current the horse got beyond his depth, and the boys were thrown off together into the stream. The oldest boy caught one of his brothers and succeeded in dragging him to the bank, but the youngest was borne down by the current into a pile of driftwood, where he became entangled. Mr. Leary hastened to the rescue of the child and succeeded in getting him out of the water after he had been in about fifteen minutes. The child was still alive, but soon died from the effects of the exposure in the icy stream.
A STRANGE ACCIDENT.
Mr. Peter Benson, who lived about two miles north of Houston, was walking along the top of a steep bluff the day after the storm. The water had frozen as fast as it fell on the side of the bluff, making it a smooth sheet of ice from top to bot- tom. Mr. Benson lost his footing while on the verge of the hill, and was precipitated with fearful velocity to the bottom, striking trees, rocks and other obstacles in his course, but was unable to cling to anything and arrest his fall. His skull was fractured in two places, his jaw broken, his leg broken, and he was severely injured in other parts of the body. He lived but a short time af- ter the accident.
Mr. Nicholas Smith narrowly escaped death by drowning in the Crooked Creek valley just below Caledonia. He was caught by the rush of water with his team in a deep gulch, where it was im- possible to escape on either side. By the efforts of Mr. John Prieve, Smith and the horses were saved, but the wagon went down with the water, and all that was ever seen of it again was a por- tion of the wheels, which landed in the driftwood a mile below. In Hokah the damage was not very great, but people were badly frightened for a time.
The several large ravines and gullies that are tributary to Thompson's Creek and the mill pond
belonging to the Southern Minnesota Railroad com- pany, at Hokah, contributed immense volumes of the aqueous fluid, and well grounded fears were en- tertained that the substantial dam wonld give way under the terrible pressure, and had this calamity taken place, it would have been the means of des- troying an incalculable amount of property, and besides this, the loss of life would have been simply fearful. The splendid machine shop of the Railroad Company, Fisher's mill, White Bros. mill, Thomp- son's mill, the furniture factory, cooper shops, depot, lumber yard and half a dozen or more dwellings would have been totally destroyed or rendered unfit for use for a long time, had the dam given way, but the town was spared that dire calam- ity by the superhuman efforts of the railroad em- ployes and other citizens, who worked like beavers all the latter part of the night, in raising the em- bankment or dam. It was estimated by good judges that the water in the mill pond raised about four feet higher than ever known before.
The upper bridge across the pond was moved down stream some three or four rods, and the bridge across the creek near Fisher's shared the same fate.
Garrett's lumber became suddenly movable and started for La Crosse, but was rescued before go- ing far. His loss was slight.
Root River had by this time become restless and dissatisfied with her narrow channel, and taken to the whole bottom, carrying before it multitudes of drift and cord-wood, and destruction of property. Thompson's dam stood' the crucial test admirably, thus putting aside the fears of many who pre- dicted that it would be swept away by the oncom- ing tide. Reports came from Lanesboro and other places up the track that the river was four or five feet higher than the highest water mark, but these rumors were unreliable, as the wire was down and there was no means of getting the news, but the times were just suited for exaggeration, and the opportunity was well improved.
The Southern Minnesota Railroad came in for a good share of damages, and through trains were obliged to suspend business during the week.
Pine Creek seems to have taken in a considera- ble amount of inflating fluid, and seized the oppor- tunity for getting on a "big bender," thereby causing a considerable amount of damage between Hokah and Grand Crossing, and the Howe truss bridge at Cushing's Peak was entirely swept away.
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James Couley, of Brownsville, was accidentally drowned on the 18th of July, in the river, having undertaken to swim across, he suddenly sunk to rise no more of his own volition.
On the 20th of July, a Mr. Wilcox, of Riceford, was shot while handling a gun by the muzzle, and died a few days afterwards.
ANOTHER DISASTROUS FLOOD.
On the 6th of August there was a sudden fall of rain, and what was popularily supposed to be a water spout, burst upon Riceford Creek, and the South Fork of the Root River. In the south part of Yucatan so sudden was the rise, that the water came down in an overwhelming wave from six to ten feet high. It struck the Dedham mill between two and three o'clock in the morning, and that, with the distillery, a store started a short time be- fore by Herrick Persons, and a saloon kept by Mr. Carrier, were swept away. Several dwellings were destroyed and considerable stock was drowned. The calamity would have been much greater, so far as life and stock is concerned, but a man on horse back rode as Phil Sheridan rode, giving the alarm. The lower part of the town was not reached until daylight by the impetuous waters, and the stock and human life was thus saved. In all this deluge seventeen persons, according to the local papers, lost their lives.
The following mail routes in the county were in existence, the railroad system, of course has, in a great measure superced them:
BROWNSVILLE TO CALEDONIA -- Daily. Leaving Cal- edonia at eight o'clock, and arriving at Browns- ville at eleven o'clock, A. M. Leaving Brownsville at three o'clock, arriving in Caledonia at seven o'clock P. M.
CALEDONIA TO HOUSTON-Tri-Weekly. Leaving Caledonia at seven o'clock, arriving in Houston at ten o'clock A. M. Leaving Houston at one o'clock, arriving in Caledonia at six o'clock P. M., Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
CALEDONIA TO NEWBURG-Tri-Weekly, via Spring Grove. Leaving Caledonia at seven o'clock, ar- riving in Spring Grove at ten o'clock A. M., and in Caledonia at seven o'clock P. M., Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
CALEDONIA TO WAUKON-Bi-Weekly. Arriving at Caledonia at twelve o'clock, Tuesdays and Fri- days, and departing at one o'clock the same day.
BROWNSVILLE TO FREEBURG-Weekly. Leaving Brownsville Saturday morning at seven o'clock, and returning in the evening at six o'clock.
HOUSTON TO WINONA-Bi- Weekly. Leaving Hous- ton Tuesdays and Fridays, at eight o'clock A. M., via Money Creek to Winona. Arriving in Houston at seven o'clock P. M., Wednesdays and Saturdays.
RICEFORD TO HOUSTON-Weekly. Leaving Rice- ford Saturday mornings, arriving in Houston at eleven o'clock A. M. Leaving Houston at one o'clock, and arriving in Riceford at seven P. M.
COUNTY MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.
Those interested in the formation of a musical society met at the Court-house in Caledonia on Thursday afternoon, September 28th, and effected an organization, with the following officers: Pres- ident, Robert Sawyer; Vice Presidents, one from each town; Treasurer, G. C. Turner; Correspond- ing Secretary, W. D. Gibson; Recording Secre- tary, Fannie E. Dunbar. Executive Committee, M. C. Bunnell, Mrs. F. M. Goodrich, Dr. Castle, Miss Mary Clark, and W. B. Bacon.
THE YEAR 1877.
The silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Gluck took place on the 7th of February, at their home in Brownsville. It was an immense time, a reg- ular old settlers gathering.
In this year there were 24 flour mills in the county, with 68 run of stones, furnishing 124,000 barrels of flour a year. There were seven custom mills. All of these mills were driven by water and they employed 88 persons.
There were six saw and lumber mills, running sixteen saws, and turning out annually 720,000 feet of lumber. One of them was run by steam, and fifteen men were employed.
There were five carriage and wagon shops, and one woolen mill employing thirteen persons.
There were three wheat elevators, with a capac- ity of 45,000 bushels.
There were then three newspapers, with 1,200 aggregate circulation, and one Bank.
A lot of enthusiastic Blackhillers, as they were called, left Houston county for that new found Eldorado.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Portland Prairie was dedicated on the 20th of May, Rev. J. F. Chaffee officiating.
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INTERESTING EVENTS.
In the spring, the magnificent church at Spring Grove was completed, it could be seen for miles around.
Ou Monday night, June 3d, a most persistent attempt was made to rob the safe in the County Treasurer's office. Nothing was known of the affair until 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when the Auditor, Mr. Trask, went down to the office and was surprised at being able to enter without a key, but he was thunder-struck on get- ting inside to see the condition of things. He immediately notified Sheriff Hargreaves of the sit- uation of affairs, then made hasty strides for Treasurer Russell's residence, and informed that gentleman that the strong-box, over which he was the county's chosen sentinel, had been tampered with. Of course Mr. Russell took two or three steps and a jump or two, and was at his office, and on stepping inside and observing the many tools, not altogether necessary in the County Treasurer's office, he was somewhat bewildered, and did not exactly understand whether he was in his own place of business or in a blacksmith shop. The tools scattered about, such as sledgehammers, chisels, etc., did not strike him as being very ap- propriate for the collection of taxes, giving re- ceipts, etc. However, this sort of feeling didn't linger long with John F., for it was too apparent to him that there was something wrong; and that devils incarnate had broken loose from their Satanic dominions for the purpose of robbing him of the cash he had been so laboriously engaged in collecting, and had so securely hoarded for the people. He soon took in the situation, an im- mediately began to inspect things to see to what extent he had been robbed.
On the previous evening Mr. Russell and his clerk, Mr. George Rippe, had been engaged until 11 o'clock settling up the business of the day, preparatory to the coming settlement, and, as was his custom when retiring, Mr. Russell securely locked the door of the safe, then the heavy. iron door of the vault, and finally the outer door of the building. The burglars were evidently on the watch for Mr. Russell's departure, and in all probability effected an entrance shortly afterwards. They burst the outer door open, breaking away a portion of the lock, and afterwards it appears that two of them, and possibly three, commenced work on the inside, while one was stationed on the outside o watch. They then commenced their night's
work, first, by smashing the lock of the vault door, and afterwards devoting all their time and inge- nuity to the work of getting into the ponderous burglar-proof safe. The outer combination of the safe they burst by the use of powder and the muf- fled blows of a heavy sledge-hammer; and after ransacking the papers of the outer compartments, they directed their attention to demolishing the inner combination, wherein the funds of the county were deposited, and no doubt they worked hard, and brought to play all their ingenuity as ama- teur cracksmen, to gain ingress, until the approach of day warned them to "git," for every instrument they had used was left as if they had dropped them after using them as long as they dared. At three o'clock Sheriff Hargrave's hired girl got up and commenced washing, and in all probability, the burglars, while loth to leave their unfinished work, thought it prudent to desist, and get away from the early risers of Caledonia.
They cleaned out all the change drawers, etc., and in the aggregate secured about $90, about $75 of it belonging to Auditor Trask, and the balance to Mr. Russell, the county not being out anything except the damage to the safe and vault door.
For some time subsequent to the discovery of the deed there was considerable excitement, as it was not definitely known whether the county's money was safe or not, but after many futile at- tempts were made to open the inner door of the safe, the services of Mr. Heath and Wash Carr were obtained, and they opened the door in less than an hour, and handed the exultant treasurer all the funds of the county, nearly $22,000.
As soon as the robbery had become known, Sheriff Hargreaves dispatched men in all directions, telegraphed to all points, and made every effort possible to capture the thieves, but no clue has ever been obtained.
A brutal and cold-blooded murder was com- mitted on the 7th of June, between Brownsville and Hokah, by Joseph Marco, the victims being Mr. Joseph Ennis and his wife, who lived on a farm at the place above mentioned. Marco was at work for Ennis, and shot him and his wife through the head and set fire to the house, par- tially consuming their bodies. The murderer was soon apprehended and safely lodged in the Cale- donia jail.
In June there was a four days' session of a
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musical convention in Hokah, conducted by Prof. H. S. Perkins, of Chicago; Mrs. Mollie S. Tyler assisted as pianist.
The glorious 4th was celebrated in Caledonia in the time honored way. S. W. Walker was Chief marshal; E. W. Trask, President of the day; W. M. Bowdish, Chaplain; Capt. W. H. Harries, Orator; and Prof. W. D. Belden, Reader.
On the 18th of August, Miss Honorah Mead, in Caledonia, was fatally burned by her clothing taking fire at the house of Mr. Russell.
An accident occurred on the Southern Minne- sota Railroad east of Hokah, on the 27th of Au- gust, caused by a land slide. The fireman, Daniel Gates, was killed.
On July the 11th a new Norwegian Church was dedicated at Spring Grove. It was a Lutheran edifice, and it was said at the time that the church was the finest in southern Minnesota. The serv- ices were of an interesting character, and the event a notable one in the vicinity.
On Tuesday, the 28th of August, the citizens of Caledonia voted on the proposition to raise a special tax of $3,000 to sink an artesian well in the vil- lage, which was rejected.
FIRE IN CALEDONIA.
At 2 o'olock on the morning of October 14th, a fire was discovered in the rear portion of E. P. Dorival's store, which was the commencement of what proved to be an extensive conflagration for Caledonia. The building occupied by Hart & Norton, was soon in flames, a building occupied by Dr. McKenna, and owned by Thomas Ryan, were torn down to stop the spread of the fire in that direction, which, however, proved unavailing, as the next building to be lapped up was the Journal building, occupied above by the photo- graph gallery of D. W. Webb. The printing ma- terial was removed in front as the fire entered the rear.
Next came the post office building, occupied above as a law office by O'Brien, the owner, and his partner Smalley. With the post-office the fire stopped in that direction.
On Main street the fire destroyed E. P. Dori- val's old store building, filled with goods, Thomas Ryan's boot and shoe store, and the west wing of Cregan's building. The whole destruc- tion was accomplished in less than two hours.
The estimated losses were: E. P. Dorival, $4,- 000; McCormick Bros., farm machinery, $4,000;
Hart & Norton, $2,500; Thomas Ryan, $2,000; Dr. McKenna, $200; the Journal loss was slight; Mr. O'Brien, $700; N. F. Damron, $1,500; the Good Templars lost $100; and others, small amounts. There was some insurance, but only partially covering the value of the property de- stroyed.
On Monday, October 8th, during a quarrel in the store and saloon of Mr. Shipsted, in Houston, between one Carlson and another named Benson, the latter drew a pistol and struck forcibly on the counter as a menace, when it was discharged, the ball passing through the body of Randall Kane, who died the next day leaving a wife and child to mourn his sad end.
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