USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 56
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" Resolved, That the members of this board be instructed to call the attention of their constitu- ents to these financial embarrassments, in order, if possible, to elicit from the mass of the popular mind, a remedy which shall be equal to the emerg- ency.
" Resolved, That 'in the multitude of counsel- ors there is safety,' and that township meetings should be called for the purpose of talking over our affairs and electing delegates to attend a county convention, whose sole business shall be to devise ways and means of escape from the shame- ful bankruptcy which is now threatening us with ruin."
It seems that the county had in its expenditures exceeded its receipts, and the problem, as to the means by which the one should be curtailed and the other increased, did not eventually prove very difficult of solution, as the county finally recovered from the depression, as all communities eventually do. There was, however, another chapter in this episode, which was developed the next year and will be found here recorded.
John Dorsch was Chairman of the board the last part of the year.
1861 .- The board assembled on the first of Jan- uary, and elected John A. Anderson as Chairman. T. B. Neff was Auditor after March 4th. In March, an examination of the financial condition of the Treasury showed outstanding county orders to the amount of $17,369.37; the amount in the Treasury not appropriated, $3.42. The salary of A. V. Pierce was fixed at $800 for the year ending March 4, 1861, whereupon Mr. Pierce donated $70 for the use of the public schools. A bounty of $3.00 each on wolf scalps was continued. On the 17th of May, 1861, a special meeting of the board was convened, to examine into the condition of the Treasury. The County Treasurer, Mathew Wil- liams, had disappeared. The air was heavy with
rumors. The fact that there was a defaulting Treasurer spread over the county, and the country for that matter, on the wings of the wind, and sadly and silently the board got together to see
"What reinforcement they could gain from hope, Or what resolution from despair."
They were met by a petition from the bondsmen of the absconding fiscal agent of the county de- manding an instant investigation of the condition of affairs, that the extent of their liabilities could be ascertained. E. P. Dorival was deputy Treas- urer, and rendered every assistance in trying to reach the bottom facts. When the defalcation was established, the board offered a reward of $200 for his apprehension. W. H. Lapham was appointed to fill the vacancy, and he promptly gave bonds in the penal sum of $20,000, and entered upon the dis- charge of his duties. After a session of eight days, during which the deficiency in the accounts of the late Treasurer was found to be $3,890, they ad- journed.
The board again got together on the 3d of June, and continued the investigation into the condition of the affairs of the Treasury department, until the 7th, when the examination was finally closed. On the 27th of July, the board again convened, and among other things, ordered instant suit to be brought against the late Treasurer and his se- curities, to recover the sum of $4,000; also, at the same meeting, a committee consisting of John A. Anderson, L. D. Selfiridge, and Isaac Thompson, was appointed to receive any proposition the bondsmen of Mr. Williams had to make, with a view to a final settlement. Early in July of this year, O. T. Gilman, the County Attorney, moved out of the county, and George F. Potter was ap- pointed to fill the vacant position. In September, the attorney was instructed to prosecute all vio- laters of the liquor laws. The expense for extra clerk hire to investigate the late Treasurer's ao- counts, was $150, and the Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Lapham, was allowed $160 for extra work in the same line.
It is claimed by some of the bondsmen that a subsequent examination showed that the loss by Williams was over estimated. The bondsmen of Mathew Williams, who assumed the duties of his office in January, 1860, were about thirty in num- ber, so that the loss, if equally divided, was small for each one. Since that time the number going as sureties has largely increased, and Mr. Russell,
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
who retires in 1882, had a bond, when he qualified, with a string of sureties as long as one of the peti- tions John Quincy Adams used to present to con- gress for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Williams' bondsmen were as follows: Da- vid L. Buell, Embrick Knudson, E. D. Kelly, D. T. Dameron, Mathew McGinnis, John J. Dun- bar, John Oleson, Patrick Fitzpatrick, Peter Ol- son Quale, D. C. Jefferson, Alexander Stapleton, Henry S. Allen, John Hurley, John Brenner, Wil- liam McGinnis, John Murnane, E. Bell, E. Griggs, E. S. Rollins, James H. McDonald, John Stanguin, Knud Nelson, Lars Torgesen, Ole Tor- gelson, Anders Nelson, John Nelson, Embrick Nelson, Lars Oleson, and Ole Christiansen.
1862. - The first meeting of the board was on the 7th of January.
John J. Dunbar, Treasurer elect, was required to furnish bonds in the sum of $25,000, but it was afterward changed to $20,000.
Liquor licenses were fixed at $50 for spirits and $20 for malt liquors.
Instructions were given to the Sheriff, not to allow the Court House, about to be completed, to be used, except for county and religious purposes, at his discretion.
The cost of the county government between January 1, 1861, and January 1, 1862, appears, from the Auditor's report, to have been $3,996.60.
On the 15th of January the board met in the Court House in Caledonia.
A new committee was appointed to prosecute the Treasurer case, as the matter was still unset- tled, and it was not until December 6th, 1862, that an understanding was arrived at and a final settle- ment made. At a meeting of the board on this date, the bondsmen of Mr. Williams were present, and made a proposition to pay in full satisfaction for all demands by the county, $2,400 in county orders; one-half to be presented within six months, and the other half within a year, and to pay $100 in cash before the 13th of January, 1863, and so this affair was adjusted on a liberal basis on the part of the county officials.
It was not for a considerable time after this that the sureties and county officials finally passed re- ceipts and closed the whole business. In the month of December, the county board, in accord- ance with a legislative act, inspired by the Sioux massacre, divided the county into military dis-
tricts, which will be alluded to in the military his- tory of the county. An election for company officers was ordered for the 24th 'of [ December. On account of the limited notice a few districts failed to elect, but most of them selected a Cap- tain and First and Second Lieutenants.
In September, 1863, when the draft was im- pending, various parties petitioned the board for exemption from the terrible chance of drawing prizes in that lottery where the blanks were dis- tressingly few. They were referred to the military committee, which reported that the board had no authority in the matter, and" the petitioners were permitted to withdraw.
In September, 1864, the amount of funds in the Treasury was reported at $14,693.08. In January, 1865, the proper committee reported that there was in the Treasury $3,494 in currency, and three cents in "specie." In March of this year a vault was contracted for.
It appears that Charles H. Eaton, of La Crosse, in 1865, had accumulated a large amount of county orders, which he was pressing for payment through his attorney, who was threatening, if he had not already commenced an action against the county, and the board had considerable trouble in arrang- ing the matter, but it was finally adjusted by the payment of $300 in cash on the one side, and an agreement to enter no suit for the balance previ- ous to May, 1866. Other parties were compro- mised with by partial payments.
In 1866, the liquor licenses were placed at $20. Wm. D. Gibbs sued the county, but withdaew the suit on the offer of a favorable proposition by the board.
Sixteen licenses were issued in 1877, to sell spirituous liquors.
The Court House vault was completed in 1867, at a cost of $500.
The Court House was finished in September, 1867. It was a two-story structure, the lower rooms being eleven feet in the clear, and the up- per ones twelve feet. The board voted that the building should only be used for county or chari- table purposes without the payment of a fee of · $10.00.
The years 1868, 1869, and 1870 seem to have been uneventful in the history of the county gov- ernment.
Some time in May, 1871, the board made a proposition that if the town and village of Cale-
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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.
donia would raise $10,000 for the purpose, an appropriation of $30,000 would be made to build a new Court House and jail. This was the start- ing point of the present jail building.
I. H. Cooper, the County Auditor, was author- ized to receive bids to put the vault in a "more fire proof condition."
At the March meeting of 1873, steps were taken to receive proposals for building a jail.
In September, the amount of money in the Treasury was $20,104.85.
In 1874, the board voted to give the Narrow Gauge Railway Company the right of way on any road it might be desirable to occupy.
In response to an advertisement for bids to sup- ply 225 cords of dimension stone, and 125 cords of building stone to be used in the construction of the jail, numerous offers were made, ranging as high as $16.00 a cord for dimension stone, which was to be 8x12, and 18 inches long, to $9.20 for the common building stone, the contract was awarded to John' Dorsch, at $10 for the one kind, and $7 for the other.
During March, 1875, proposals for the construc- tion of a jail and residence were invited through various papers, to be in accordance with certain plans and specifications. On the day of opening the bids, the following competitors presented the figures set opposite their names, as what they re- spectively considered an equivalent for the work required:
S. Drake. $28,075
B. J. Grimshaw 27,600
N. Koob. 80,451
S. E. Smith. 32,843
T. W. Burns 34,750
C. Bohn 27,822
N. H. Delop 28,015
Kirsheimer & Co 26,800
John Klick 28,439
W. F. Heath 28,900
Shaw & Joy 27,435
A. W. Gage & Co 26.514
Bids were also put in for the masonry and car- pentry, and for the iron work alone.
A. W. Gage & Co., of Winona, being the lowest bidders, and responsible parties, received the con- tract.
The architect was Mr. . Maybury.
On the first of January, 1876, the building was completed in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr.
E. P. Dorival, of the board, had the general su- pervision of the work, and when it was completed he received the substantial thanks of the board in a vote giving him $100 as a token of their appre- ciation of his services.
Mr. Bagley, of Milwaukee, who did the iron work, was officially commended for the character of the job. During the board session of 1876,the roads and school districts seemed to have occupied considerable attention. From this time to 1880, the county savans seem to have had little but routine business.
Saloon licenses in 1880 were $100 each.
Dr. H. D. B. Dustin was appointed County Physician, to furnish remedies and appliances for $250 a year.
The jail was insured for $20,000. The sum of $42.50 was appropriated for postage for the County Superintendent of schools, and the salary of the turnkey was fixed at $35 a month.
In May, 1881, the judge of the district court was authorized to employ a stenographer for the general and special term at as reasonable rates as could be secured.
Dr. Wm. McKenna was appointed County Cor- oner in place of Dr. Bjornson, deceased.
Isaac Thompson was appointed County Sur- veyor.
Funds on hand in the county treasury October 3,1881:
Cash. $993 51
Town orders. 253 50
School orders 6 00
Vouchers 285 00
Money orders
608 89
Bank checks and drafts
20,550 25
State drafts
15 00
Total $22,712 15
REGISTRY OF DEEDS .- The first document re- corded in the office of the Register of Deeds, was that of a bond for a deed, executed by Job Brown and his wife, Mary Ann, stipulating that in the event of John Montgomery's paying $300, to con- vey to him by "Warrant E. Deed" a certain de- scribed tract of land in Brownsville; O. W. Streeter was the witness. The second was an agreement by Job Brown and Charles Brown to convey & certain tract of land to William D. Childs, in con- sideration of $150; Franklin Millerd was the wit- ness. James A. McCan was the initial Register of
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COUNTY FINANCES.
Deeds, and Fred Fisher was Deputy Register. A. S. Hay was an early Notary Public.
W. B. Beeby was the next on the list as deputy. In the early years of the county history, Wm. V. VanDorn, Elisha Hunt, and John H. Smith, fre- quently appeared in their official capacity as Jus- tices of the Peace.
James A. MoCan continued as Register until 1859, when D. L. Buell was elected to the position, retaining it four years.
D. N. Gates, now of Albert Lea, was then Regis- ter until 1865, when J. W. Cook was inducted into the place, which he held up to 1871, when he was elected County Judge. E. S. Bugbee was the Register of Deeds from January, 1871, to July 30, 1873. Mr. Bugbee died while in office and was suc- ceeded by N. E. Dorival, who filled the unexpired term, making his last entry on the 7th of January, 1874.
P. H. Rosendahl occupied the place for one year, when, in January, 1875, James McMahon appears to sign the papers recorded. In January, 1877, P. H. Rosendahl again succeeded to the office, but he died in 1880, and John Aiken was Register up to January, 1881, when the present incumbent, Mahlon Farmin, was qualified and en- tered upon the discharge of his duties.
COUNTY FINANCES.
To show the financial condition of the county, a consolidated statement of the income and pay- ments in 1880, is here presented:
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand October 1, 1879 $10,087 90
Taxes of 1879.
49,322 16
Taxes of previous years 3,822 27
Penalty and interest. 1,736 14
Sales of public land and interest 18,022 48
Private redemptions :.
4,601 96
County revenues for fees, etc.
371 94
State school apportionment for Octo- ber and March.
6,367 82
Fines, licenses, and estrays.
377 50
State text books.
1,277 29
Interest on bank deposits
2,166 50
Miscellaneous. 42 07
Total to be accounted for. $91,029 58
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid State Treasurer, text books. $ 1,335 19
Other items. 16,496 83
County revenue fund. 15,296 10
Town fund .. 8,007 48
City and village funds 701 62
School District Funds 23,100 92
Private redemption. 4,347 77
Taxes refunded. 98 24
Balance on hand. 21,645 64
Total accounted for
$91,029 53
TAXABLE PROPERTY.
The value of the taxable property of the county from 1862 to 1880 inclusive, is here presented, and it shows the progress of the people toward wealth, although it must be remembered that during a few of the latter years the valuation is on a specie basis, which accouts for an apparent depreciation.
In 1862, the valuation was $1,091,904; in 1863, $1,157,020; in 1864, $1,400,234; in 1865, $1,417,- 395; in 1866, $1,681,199; in 1867, $1,803,227; in 1868, $1,976,500; in 1869, $2,038,636; in 1870, $2,298,345; in 1871, $2,286,151; in 1872, $2,411,- 054; in 1873, $2,537,975; in 1874, $4,589,784; in 1875, $4,813,756; in 1876, $5,240,666; in 1877, $5,232,873; in 1878, $4,441,020; in 1879, $4,580,- 186; in 1830, $4,293,676. It will thus be seen that the highest valuation was reached in 1876.
To show the cost of the county government, a statement embracing an abstract of the Auditor's report for March, 1881, is here presented:
RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.
Collections $18,197 70
From costs and interest. 1,494 62
From Probate fees. 70 00
From auctioneer's license 10 00
From ferry license
30 00
Costs, Fines, etc. 458 52
Miscellaneous 22 00
Total receipts.
$20,283 04
DISBURSEMENTS.
Salaries, including books and sta- tionery . $ 7,602 58
Commissioners' pay, etc.
558 08
Poor farm, including interest.
958 93
Paupers off poor farm. 1,428 45
District court expenses. 1,370 72
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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.
Justice court expenses 298 32
Insane expenses .
201 14
County roads, bridges and damages. . .
1,680 29
Printing, eto
281 00
Inquests.
31 09
Wood and sawing
367 32
Election returns
48 05
Births and deaths returns
162 75
Reform school.
136 02
County tax refunded. 43 04
Wolf bounty
42 00
Merchandise for county
128 66
Repairs of buildings
47 00
Miscellaneous
35 00
Total
$15,420 30
COUNTY POOR FARM.
This institution is located in the town of Union. The farm was bought in the fall of 1878, of Mr. Butterfield, for the sum of $2,500. It was placed in charge of Mr. E. J. Evans. The largest num- ber of inmates at any one time was thirteen, and the whole number cared for, thirty-five. During this time there have been but two deaths: Nicholas Roland, February 2d, 1878, and Jens Jenson, July 28th, 1879. The burials were in the Freeburg cemetery.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
A list of the county officers for each of the past ten years is herewith presented.
1872.
Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Samuel Aiken; Sheriff, John Phelps; Register of Deeds, E. S. Bugbee; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, F. N. Good- rich; Coroner, J. M. Riley; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen.
1873.
Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Samuel Aiken; Sheriff, S. W. Walker; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, John H. Smith; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen.
1874.
Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Elias Velo; Sheriff, S. W. Walker; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, E. L. Com-
stock; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, Joreph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask;
1875.
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, E. Velo; Sher- iff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, J. McMa- hon; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, I. Thompson; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask.
1876.
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Rus- sell; Sheriff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, James McMahon; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, I. Thompson; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask. 1877.
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Rus- sell; Sheriff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, Wm. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the Court, Joseph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask.
1878.
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Rus- sell; Sheriff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, J. O'Brien; Surveyor, Wm. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. C. Cameron.
1879
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, J. F. Russell; - Sheriff, Walter Goergen; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; At- torney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, W. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. C. Cameron.
1880.
Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, J. F. Rnssell; Sheriff, Walter Goergen; Registers of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl, John Aiken; Judge of Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attorney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, L. Thompson; Coroner, P. Bjornson; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Commission-
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JUDICIAL.
er, W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. C. Cameron;
1881.
Auditor, E. K. Roverud; Treasurer, J. F. Rus- sell; Sheriff, W. Goergen; Register of Deeds, M. Farmin; Judge of Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attor- ney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, I. Thompson; Coroner, Wm. McKenny; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Cmmissioner, W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. C. Cameron.
1882.
Auditor, E. K. Roverud; Treasurer, H. H. Snure; Sheriff, W. Goergen; Register of Deeds, M. Far- min; Judgeof Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attorney, J. O'Brien; Surveyor, E. L. Comstock; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Coroner, H. D. B. Dustin; Court Commissioner, E.W. Trask; Super- intendent of Schools, D. C. Cameron.
NOTARIES PUBLIC.
The commission of Notaries Public in Minnesota extends for two years, and to give lists of the gen- tlemen who have held these commissions since the organization of the county would un necessarily encumber these pages, so the names of those who are recorded in the District Clerk's office as in com- mission in 1881 will be presented: Edmund Stevens, Winnebago; John H. Smith, Brownsville; James O'Brien, Caledonia; Richard Lester; E. A. Homer, Houston; W. H. Harries, Caledonia; Daniel Cameron, La Crescent; D. L. Buell, Cale- donia; John Aiken, Caledonia; F. N. Goodrich, Houston; Geo. D. Cole, Tosten Johnson, John F. Mullen, John H. Rippe, John F. Potter, David House, and there may be others that were not re- corded.
JUDICIAL.
THE TERRITORIAL COURT .- The first term of the United States District Court, Territory of Minnesota, convened in the First judicial district, was at Caledonia, on the 20th of August, 1855. William H. Welch, Chief Justice of the Territory, presided. The following persons were drawn by lot to serve as grand jurors, and severally answered to their names: Thomas Conniff, Harvey Gillett, John Campbell, John Montgomery, Eliakim Laf- lin, Embrick Knudson, Edwin Stewart, Henry Burnett, Levi West, Wm. F. Dunbar, Edwin But- terfield, James Weitz, Burton Andrews, Ralph L. Young, Eli Baker, John J. Dunbar.
The first venire being exhausted, another was ordered, and the following jurors reported in per- son: Samuel McPhail, Samuel Surface, Samuel Armstrong, Hugh Brown, Eugene Marshall, and Henry Parmelee. This being the required num- ber of twenty-four to constitute a grand jury, Sam- uel McPhail was appointed foreman.
The jury was then sworn, and after receiving their charge, retired for business.
At this session of the court the following per- sons answered to their names as petit jurors: William James, Daniel Herring, Knud Knudson, Lawrence Lynch, Enoch C. Young, James Hiner, John S. Looney, John Tripp, Anthony Huyck, Ole Anderson, Aaron S. Taylor, Gilbert Nelson, Thomas Dunbar, Peter Johnson, Jacob Webster, Charles W. Metcalf, David Lynn, John Brown, James J. Belden, S. R. Ball, Augustus Parmelee, M. B. Metcalf, William Oxford, Russell H. Thur- ber, William D. Gibbs, Charles Turner, Nelson Oleson, George Larson, Hagan Harverson.
At this term of the court, there were two cases for perjury, and one for selling spirituous liquor to Indians. The perjury cases were in relation to land titles, and thus it seems that the community at that time were certainly a law-abiding one.
The next term of the court was held June the 23d, 1856, and only three or four cases were then presented. Michael Burke applied for a certi- ficate of citizenship, and the necessary affidavits and witnesses appearing, the certificate was granted. So that this was the first naturalization in the county of Houston. Two others also made successful application for citizenship at that term of the court.
The next regular term was on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1856, but the chief justice, William H. Welch, not being present, after the grand and petit ju- rors were called, and several adjournments, the sheriff adjourned the court sine die.
On the 14th of September, 1857, another session was begun and holden, the Chief Justice being present, and it seems that quite a respectable docket had accumulated.
William L. Gibbs was appointed foreman of the grand jury. Seven regular cases were called.
There appears to have been four regular attor- neys present, M. S. Wilkinson, I. I. Moreland, Mr. Flint, and Mr. Dennison.
The following persons made application to be admitted as citizens of the United States: Patrick
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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.
Jennings, Theodore Fish, Nicholas Fish, Lewis Mahler, and Robert McCormick.
O. T. Gilman was sworn, and admitted to prac- tice in this court as attorney and counselor. The next term of court was held on the 1st of Novem- ber, 1858. The Hon. Thomas Wilson, District Judge, presiding. Charles A. Coe was appointed foreman of the grand jury. At this session some new attorneys appeared, among them Samuel Mc- Phail, and M. G. Thompson, and also W. Trask, Esquire Tucker, and J. H. Smith. A case of di- vorce was tried at this term, Alexis Durkee against Emily Ann Durkee. A decree was granted, the defendant being in default.
At this time, the State being organized, it had become the third judicial district. The court re- mained in session four days.
In 1859, the term of the court began on the 16th of May, Hon. Thomas Wilson presiding. On the empaneling of the jury, Edward Mackin- tire was appointed foreman. Several cases were tried, and several dismissed. A considerable part of the record is made up of evidence in relation to naturalization cases.
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