USA > Minnesota > Martin County > History of Martin County, Minnesota > Part 14
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
clothing, $1191 65. Total value of all contributions received by the county through its relief committee not in- clu ling amounts paid to ' others or distributed by the United States gov. ernment or private parties, $7826.82. On the 14th of June a heavy hail storm went through the northern part of the county, doing considerable damage to crops and buildings. M. E. L. Shanks this year obtained a con- tract to carry mail from Jackson to Blue Earth City, and was for a number of years a large mail contractor. T'he 4th of July came on Sunday and a number of local celebrations were held, some on the Saturday previous and some on the Monday following the 4th, thus giving all a chance to celebrate twice. A number of old settlers moved from Tenhassen to California, among them being John Kusig and J. N. Osman and family. On August 17th harvest was completed andsome thrsheing dcne.
There was a martial band organized this year at East Chain. Fairmont previously had a brass band. At the meeting of the county commissioners in July, a tax levy was made of 5 mills for county purposes, 2} mills for poor fund, 1 mill for bridge and 1 mill for school purposes, total 9} mills. How does that compare with our 4 per cent of this day. At this meeting the name of the township of Mouroe was changed to Galena. About this time Jehu Heyworth sold his tarm ly- ing between Hall and Budd lakes to T. C. Smales. Thomas S. Curtiss, one of the county commissioners, died this year. He came here in 1864 and al- ways took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. He was a father of Byron Curtiss and Mrs. D. P. Sack- ett. The returns of the assessors
show that the loss to crops in 1874 by reason of the locusts was as follows: Wheat, 153,810 bushels; oats, 187,116 bushels; corn, 152,698 bushels. This does not include flax, timothy, vege- tables, etc., which it is impossible to ascertain. The census taken this year gives the town of East Chain a popula- tion of 135, number of legal voters 22; Pleasant Prairie, population 299, legal voters 21; Center Creek, population 2f7, legal voters 32; Nashville, popula- tion 381, legal voters 38; Westford, population 152, legal voters 15; But- Jand, population 132, legal voters 18; Fairmont, population 512, legal voters 105; Silver Lake, population 224, legal voters 26, Tenbussen, population 200, legal voters 29; Rolling Green, popu- lation 191, legal voters 33; Fraser, pop- ulation 167, legal voters 26; Waverly, population 68, legal voters 9; Fox Lake, population 142, legal voters 32; Manyaska, popn'ation 139, legal voters *2; Lake Belt. population 164, legal voters 18; Lake Freemont, population 199, legal voters 15; Jay, population 119, legal voters 16; Eim Creek, pop- ulation 104, legal voters 8; Cedar and Gulena, population 285, legal voters 32. Total population 2.740, and total num- ber of voters 516. The population was divided among the following national- ities: Americans, 2,990; Canadians, 186: Irish, 73; Welch, . 8; Norwegians, 120; Germans, 115; Englisu. 128; Scotch, 17; Swedes, 74; Danes, 14; French, 2; Australians, 5, and all other national- ities, 9. I would here state that the population in 1860 Was 150; in 1805 was 143; in 1870 was 3,867, and in 1875 was 3,740. Thus it will be seen that in five years the population decreased 127, caused by the the locust raids. The assessor's re- turns in 1895 shows horses, 2,725;
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COWS, 2,119; other cattle, 1,164; sheep, 2,196 and hogs, 684. This will be in- teresting to compare with our pres- ent large droves of horses, cattle, and hogs.
The first state teacher's institute was held this year by Prof. Cook and Prof. Morris, assisted by Superinten- tend Richards, of Faribault county, and County Superintendent J. W. Tan- ner, of this county. There was a good attendance and considerable interest taken in this work. At their Sep- tember session the commissioners took action for the purpose of having fire brukes made around the different townships to prevent damage being done by the prairie tires in the high winds, which up to this time had been the means of the destruction of a great deal of property. The new firm in Fairmont this year Was Headley & Handy on North Avenue. P. V. Sargentson, of East Chain, one of our English colonists died this year.
The county fair was held October 1st and 2d in Ward's building on North avenue. It had a ladies' de- partment and floral hall which showed a fine display, and also a fine display of grain, vegetables, sheep, cattle, hogs, etc. There was a large yield of all kinds of grain and vegetables. We had no frost until the 10th of October. S. Hackett moved bis stock of goods to Main street south of the Martin County Bauk. This fall J. H. Older moved his family from Center Creek into the building he had purchased of A. L. Ward on North Avenuce. which he fitted up for a hotel and was for years known as the Older House. Election was held on November 2d and there was considerable excite- ment, and strife for county officers. The weather was cold in the fall, and
on the 20th of November the ther- mometer registered below zero, and on the 29th of November it registered 22 degrees below. A prairie fire in the township of Rutland on the 3d of December did considerable damage and burned up the house of Mr. Fra- zier and a large amount of hay.
Allison Funcher bought a half in- terest in the Hunt & Skinner drug store. Iu looking up the published list of improvements for 1875 I find them as follows: Munger & Viessel- mau addition to store, $560; D. W. Hunt addition to store, $400: Ward & Cadwell addition to store, $800; Ward' bank, 8700; J. P. Bird, house, $500; . Luther Ward, house, $500; J. H. Older, improvements on hotel, $600; W. S. Snow, improvements on hotel, $400; J. Houghtaling, improvements on store, $175; H. Viesselman and brother, barn. $375; E. M. Hyatt, improvements on hotel, $200; M. E. L. Shanks, im- provements on house, $200; Belden, house, $300; T. F. Goff, $500. Other incidental improvements, $600. Com- pare this with the published reports of these times. On December 22d the farmers were making tire breaks by mowing grass, and while the weather was very cold we had no snow. The ground was frozen 80 that it could not be plowed. At this time the country was thinly settled, and prairie fires ouce started with a high wind did fearful damage. and the ordinary fire breaks did not protect. On December 24th there was a great horse race on Budd Lake in which F. F. Harlow and Wm. Viesselman and our English friends took great interest.
The house of James N. Lasby was burned this year, 1875, 1088 was several hundred dollars A railroad meeting was called by onr people to consider
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the question of making some move to road to run south of the school house, get some railroad to build here. A and south of the shore of Lako Sisse- ton.
committee of five was appointed to c. pfer with the officers of the rail- This winter J. A. Armstrong bought a full-bloodedNorman Percheaon horse. road company. On January 1st, 1876, the Grange had public installation of: His name was Marshall Ney, and many officers, and a general good time, as it of the older settlers will remember him. Mr. Armstrong is entitled to the gratitude of our people for many of the best horses in the county, bred from that . horse. Arthur Lyons bought a half interest in the Smales farm, and they stocked it with fine race horses, cattle, sheep, etc. Percy Wollaston and wife came to Fairmont this winter. They had previously bought land in the western part of the county of Mr. Shearman. J'hey came here to see it and to look over the country before moving their family. Mr. Wollaston was pleased with the town but not pleased with his land ou the prairie, and he purchased of Wm. H. Budd 200 acres of land, part of which is now Mr. Wollaston's addition and the property where Mr. Wollaston lives, and the land sold by him to A. L. Ward. The consideration paid by Mr. Wollaston for this 220 acre tract was $4,4000. This land is to-day . worth from $30,000 to $40,000. Mr. Wollaston let the contract for his present residence and returned to England for his family. He came here with his family during the fol- lowing summer, and has been identi- tied with the business interests of the town and country ever since. James Mather came here and built on what is known as the Big Farm, which was once owned by Gov. Merriam on Cedar Lake. was an exclusively farmers institution they returned thanks for the bounti- ful crops received. On January 8th Cyrus Hill, father of W. H. Hill, and Mrs. G. S. Livermore died. The members to the legislature this year were J. B. Duffee, senator, and J. A. Everett, representative. Commis- sioners met in regular session, present: T. W. Hall, C. P. Andross, P. M. Den- nis, G. S. Fowler and R. W. Thomas. John W. Tanner was appointed super- intendent; Samuel Hackett, treasurer; 4. Bowen, register of deeds; C. H. Bullard tendered his resignation as sheriff, which was accepted, and Will- iam Bird, Jr. was appointed to fill the vacancy. The agricultural society held a meeting on the 14th of this mouth for the election of officers. My recollection is, that the constitution provides that the meeting shall be in January, but I now notice they are held in December. At this meeting action was taken to procure grounds. On January 17th a railroad meeting was held, and it was proposed to vote bonds for tem per cent of the assessed Valuation, depot to be located not more than one half mile from the court house. Other towns also, voted bonds in the same ratio. But the rail- road company never fulfiled their part of the contract and our people were never called upon to furnish the bouds. During the railroad excite- At the township meeting this year the question of license or no license was voted upon. The vote stood meut of this time, Eric Olsen first came to the public notice in this county. He surveyed a line for a rail- 'against license 82 and for license 24.
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Compare that with the present senti- ment as expressed by the votes. An- other effort was expressed for a rail- road by our people voting on a ques- tion of bonds. The vote on this stood 95 for and 15 against, and still no road. This year some of the settlers who had moved away during the loc- ust times began to come back, among whom were Geo. Lounsbury, Mr. Her- rick and others. G. S. Livermore sold his store to C. B. Dale, who con- tinued the business at the old stand. New buildings erected this spring were: T. A. Muffley, furniture store south of Feustel's building; H. Blais- dell, office north of Martin County bank building. The farmers were much encouraged and began to talk of getting stock, making improve- ments, etc.
The English additions this spring were: Percy Wollaston and family, Joseph Ramsdale and family, R. M. Ca- fall and family, C. Popple and family, Mr. Bishop and family, Mr. Holden and family John Thirwall and family, Mr. Jones, L. Burton, John Lock, F. Townsend, H. W. Sinclair, J. W. . Sin- clair, and Capt. Wherland and family and C. Royds. Our English friends this year made a great demand for teams and help, and quite a number of people came here to work from other counties. I think G. G. Mayne and Capt. Turner came later. They made a great demand and kept our carpenters busy all the time. All lumber and supplies had then to be hauled from Winnebago City. The roads were quite muddy and wet, and it made an immense amount of baul- ing for the new buildings. Ward & Cadwell hired a portion of the court house grounds und established the first lumber yard here and did quite
a large business. The English set- tiers were added to by G. D Moro, H. Perrin, Arthur Moro and others, and was at high tide and gave the town a very lively appearance. Fair- mont was noted for its English colony. We have no means of knowing the amount of money disbursed by them, but it certainly was very large. With a few exceptions they bought land and settled here on the lakes, prefer- ing to build close to each other rather than scatter on the prairies. This year our people arranged for a big blow-out on the 4th of July, and it was a very creditable affair in which our. English cousins took an active part. and it is doubtful if ever there has been a more enjoyable 4th of July celebration held here. There were two dances in the town, and in the evening we had fire works, races, ora- tions and a general big time. Rev. Adame Simpson took charge of the Congregational church here and took an active part in getting their church building built. Our English friends had already this year built the Epis- copal church, which was the first church building in Fairmont. The Fairmont Grange put in a set of scales for the farmers' use, which was the first set of stock scales in the connty. September 11th the commissioners met in special session, called to take action in the making of fire breaks. Each commissioner was alloted cer- tain territory in connection with the township boards. It was thought best not to burn off the prairie grass, so that in case of another locust raid the grass could be fired after they came. Cole & Estes came here this year and established a hardware store on North avenue.
In the fall there was considerable
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excitement occasioned by the North- ples ticket against P. M. Dennis the Republican nominee and E. Berry, In- dependent. Good crops were raised throughout the county this year. C. field bank robbery and the killing of some of the people by the Younger- James bandits. They were tracked in this direction, and were supposed to. H. and Wm. Viesselman this year be at bay in the big woods near Man- kato. Like the Indian soares of other days, nearly everybody had seen them, and there were scouts out around this county who at times reported them corralled in corn fields, which was kept up until their final capture this side and west of Madelia.
County fair was held October 12th and 13th at which there was a good display of stock. There was consider- able interest taken in political matters this fall. Both parties had candidates in the field, and there were also some independent ones.
Mrs. Preston, of Blue Earth City, started a dress-making establishment and millinery store this year, which was our first exclusive store in this line. During this year a great deal of in- terest and enjoyment was taken by our English cousins in fox and wolf hunting. The first hunt was started from the lair of Smales and Lyon, who kept fine hunting horses and a pack of trained hounds. This hunt was fol- lowed by others later, and was full of excitement and interest. A party of ladies and gentleman with their fine horses, riding habits, dogs and horns would start a wolf or fox and run him to his death or den, and our people of some of the excitement that they did. It was quite a sight at the lair to see the trophies of the hunt. They preserved the scalp of every wolf or fox killed, and kept it as a trophy.
The member of the legislature this year from this county was H. N. Rice who run on the Democratic and Peo-
built a building on North Avenue. D. F. Swearingen and Ross Livingood were now running a flouring mill at East "Chain. Munger & Viesselman built the Bank of Fairmont building which was part of the Occidental hotel, being the part now occupied by the News and H. M. Blaisdell's office. Wm. Viesselman disposed of his in- terest in the bank to Smales and Lyons, and the new firm continued to occupy the building until its assign- ment to A. L. Ward in 1879. Charles Platt established a jewelry store here in the Hunt & Fancher building.
The following is a roster of the business houses of Fairmont, January 1st, 1877: Three hotels, tour general stores, two hardware stores, one fur- niture store, two drug stores, two flour and feed stores, one jewelry store, two millinery stores, one harness shop, two banks, one newspaper, two doc- tors, three lawyers, one veterinary sur- geon, one restaurant, two churches, three church organizations, one lum- ber yard, one meat market, three blacksmith shops, one paint shop, two wagon shops, two livery stables. In secret socities we had the Masonic Lodge, two Granges and the Good Templars. The improvements made who witnessed the race would partake, in the way of building in Fairmont in 1876 were estimated at about $30,000. There was a general good time had on New Year's day. There were parties and dances in different parts of the county, and the different churches had services in their buildings and their places of holding meetings.
The Agricultural society had their
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annual meeting in January and made arrangements for the purchase of their present grounds.
Commissioners met, present: T. W. Hall, chairman; C. P. Andross, Eric Olsen and J. S. Fowler. J. A. Arm- strong, county auditor; M. E. L. Shanks, county attorney; Wm. Bird, Jr., sheriff, wers the new officers elected. E. F. Wade purchased the store of Mr. Dennis at Cedarville and succeeded him in business. Mr. Den- nis moved to the State of Washington. Annual term of court was held in Jan- uary, Judge Dickinson presiding. The Grand Jury brought in five indict- ments, and there were four court cases tried. The market price of wheat was $1 and oats 25 to 30 cents. and corn 40 cents. The Southern Minnesota Railroad Company's lands were sold this year at St. Paul under mortage foreclosure to A. P. Mann and others who were trustees for the first mortgage bondholders.
On the 23d of February another rail- road meeting was held, and it was de- cided to make another effort to get the railroad from Winnebago, west. H. F. Sherman took the initiative and organized what was known as the Mar- tin County Railroad . Company, and had for its directors: Joseph Rame- dale, Frank A. Day, T. Jarvis Ed- wards, F. A. Paterson and H. F. Sher- man living in this county, and they also had some stockholders at Winne- bago City and Blue Earth City. The inducements held out to them in the different towns in the way of bonds led them to believe they would be able to run from Blue Earth City to St. James. The officers of the company were: H. F. Sherman, president; F. A. Day, secretary; Joseph Ramsdale, treasurer, We shall speak of their
success in building the railroad later. Our people took a great interest and bonds were voted in this and a number of adjoining towns. A line was sur- veyed from Winnebago City through Center Creek and Pleasant Prairie and running into Fairmont. County com- missioners met in special session on March 20th .. The meeting was called to receive and act upon applications for seed grain. There were 60 appli- catione and the amount apportioned to each was $21.07.
The locusts had again visited the state, but were in the counties north of us largely. Some scattering bands alighted here, and fears were enter- tained of considerable damage. The day set for the burning of the prairies to destroy them was a stormy day, and it continued to rain for a number of days so that remedy could not be tried very thoroughly. By hard work, those which did hatch were prevented from doing damage, by drawing straw around the fields and gardens where the locusts gathered in the night and burning it. In the counties north of ne they paid $3 per bushel for hop- pers. They used a sort of sheet ifon pan which they hitched behind a horse and dragged it along, and it was 80 constructed that when the hoppers jumped in they could not get out again. Some also put tar on the inside of the pan so that when the hoppers once got in they were there to stay. The legislature appropriated $100,000 to aid in the destruction of the locusts, to be divided among 40 coun- ties. The law provided for the ap- pointment of officers in certain dis- tricts, who were known as measurers to whom the hoppers were taken and measured, and then paid for in cash at the rate the county was paying. The
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government failed to appoint these measurers and so the county took it market, and this took off a good share up locally.
[Our attention has been called to that portion of the history published last week in reference to the Bank of Fairmont assignment as being liable to the construction that Wm. Viessel- man was a member of that bank at that time. Such was not the case. Mr. Tiesselman having previously sold out, Smales and Lions and others hav- ing succeeded to his interest in the same.]
The Martin County Railroad Com- pany began active operations and graded their line from Winnebago well. into the town of Center Creek, and from Blue Earth City northwest ' to connect with the one running here, and it gave employment to a great number of men and teams. But be- fore they had progressed far enough to get their bonds which had been voted, they were obliged to lie down, and the men that did the work on the grade went without their pay. The men only got such pay as the contrac- tors had been able to give them, and the contractors themselves got nearly nothing. This had one effect, it was the means of getting the road we now have.
badly injured when it reached the of the profits. In the third year the farmers began to drop out and evince less interest. Ip the fourth year it almost ceased on account of internal strife, and it was later sold to F. S. Livermore and he has since occupied it as a machinery building. What might have been a source of profit was by the jealousies of farmers of each other and a lack of cohesion to hang on and stick together resulted in a loss to the stockholders.
Our English cousins this year were very much alive and rushed their farm work with additional men. There were a few additions to the colony. Some of them indulged a little too much in hunting. It was claimed that the best trained pack of hounds in the United States was at the Lair. Some of the farmers began to object to their running over their fields of grain, and as they could not always guide the course of the hunt, it resulted in some litigation. A boat club was also organized in which there was some trained boatmen. We shall have occasion to make mention of these parties as hunters and boatmen at the exhibition at the state fair later.
The locusts from whom great dam- age was feared this year left us hap- pily disappointed, with no particular damage committed by them. Harvest commenced early this year, and wages were $2.00 a day. Our people were very busy attending to their farms and taking care of their crops, and could hardly understand the reports that came in from Philadelphia and Baltimore riots in which merchandise was destroyed and cars burned on ac-
This year there was also a cheese factory built on the lots. where the Livermore machine office now is, be- ing the building now occupied by them. The farmers took a great in- terest in this, their first cheese fac- tory, and it was a great success and large profits were made the first year. The second year it was crowded to the capacity to which it could not receive all the milk offered. In the second year the shipments were made in very warm weather and the cheese was count of wages being reduced from
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$1 to 90 cents per day. Such always is history; rural districts -pay better wages than the cities. Here let us state that we never could understand why tramps could have any excuse for not obtaining work, as at no time since 1877 when able-bodied men, will- ing to work could net obtain employ- ment in this county. The fact of the matter is there has been a shortage of laborers, and while this place has been full of tramps begging, the farmers have been unable to get help to take care of their crops. This year P. Wol- laston built a store building and established a store. It is the building occupied and the business continued by Sinclair Bros. & Broun. Geo. Lounsberry was his chief clerk. This year Mr. Wollaston and others built a grist mill to be run by wind power on the present location of the Swearingen & Brown mill. The contractor was W. Z. Haight, and was an imposing edi- fice. Its big wheel was 60 feet in di- ameter, and had 20 arms and over 100 fans and could be seen for miles. It furnished sufficient power, but the trouble was to regulate it for steady work. It received a good patronage until the wheel was blown down in a heavy gale some time afterwards. There were a number of new school houses built in different parts of the county this year.
Among the people who left the country during the locust devastations were, Wm. Hoffman and Wm. Mitchell, of East Chain, who went to Albert Lea and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. Later Mr. Hoffman returned to East Chain and established his store there. Mr. Mitchell remained at Albert Lea, and is now sheriff of Free- born county.
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