USA > Minnesota > Martin County > History of Martin County, Minnesota > Part 15
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Lake on the 17th of July. He with others went bathing in the lake, and they undertook to swim across the lake, when we went down, and it was a number of days before his body was recovered.
The railroad excitement was at fever height. The company as organized was unable to make payments to the men or to procure any iron for the road, on account of the town refusing to give bonds until a certain portion of the work was completed. Eric Olsen, who was the chief contractor, lost considerable money. A good many people censured him, but we be- lieve Mr. Olsen acted in good faith, be- lieving the company would be able to pay him, but as he received no pay, he was unable to pay his employes. The coolness and good judgment of some of our business men prevented some acts of personal violence, as some of the laborers were very much ex- cited.
We had no frost until October 4th. County fair was held October 4th and 5th, being the first fair held on the present society grounds. The daily -stage line from Fairmont to Winne- bago City which had been previously controlled by Hyatt & Plaisted, now changed hands, Lieut. Royds buying a half interest. Plaisted and Royds were new accessions to the English colony. H. M. Serle was their route manager, and the line was changed so as to go through Rutland and by way of the postoffice kept by I. N. Stone. Munger & Viesselman sold their drug store to E. P. Gould. F. C. Diehl also opened a new harnese shop. This fall the Southern Minnesota Railway Ex- tension Company's surveyors run a line between Winnebago City and
David Adams was drowned in Fox Fairmont, but we had had so much
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foolishness with the railway companies and bonds, no attention was paid to. the matter. Christmas Day, there was no frost in the ground. We had a warm damp fall and the roads were very muddy and almost impassable. The improvements for 1877 in Fair- mont were valued at $37,000, the prin- cipal items of which were the store and mill of P. Wollaston before men- tioned and postoffice building built by J. A. Everett, being the building now occupied by Peterson & Paterson.
January, 1878, the Grange held its meeting at C. H. Bullard's. January 2d the commissioners met, present: C. T. Andross, G. S. Fowler, T. M. Hall, Eric Olson and C. T. Anderson. J. A. Armstrong was auditor; C. H. Bullard, court commissioner; A. Fancher, clerk of court: A. Bowen, register of deeds; Wm. H. Budd, coroner, and|Geo. Dale, county attorney. The commissioners made the following dates for the- treasurer to collect taxes: Baker's store in Nashville; G. L. Garrish's resi- dence in Waverly; E. F. Wade's store in Cedarville; J. P. Farmer's store in Tenhassen and at the Lake Belt post office. The members to the legisla- ture were: Senator C. H. Smith and Representative F. A. Day.
The adjourned term of court this year was held in Wollaston's hall, E. St. Julian Cox, of St. Peter, presiding, Judge Dickinson being unable to at- tend. Senator Wilkinson, of Mankato, was one of the attorneys in attend- ance. It was our longest session of court up to this time. There was con- siderable talk about it, as it was claimed that the length of the term was caused by the inebrity of Judge Cox, who later had articles of im- peachment filed against him and sus- tained by the legislature for inebrity
on the bench. Our annual railroad excitement again commenced. At this time the Martin County Railroad . Company. had reorganized. J. A. Armstrong and Eric Olson, of this county, H. W. Holly and A. C. Dunn, of Winnebago City, and George Kings- ley and others of Blue Earth City were the promotors. A proposition was submitted to the legislature that the company would build the road on con- dition that the land grant to the Southern Minnesota . Railroad Com- pany, which had expired by limita- tion, should be turned over to them. This started up the Southern Minne- sota Extension Company to a move, and they submitted a proposition to our people, and sent parties to see them. . Frank A. Day came home from the legislature, and a meeting was called at which the claims of both parties were heard. The result of this meeting was that a committee of twelve from different parts of the county was appointed to go to La- Crosse to obtain information and defi- nite offers from the officers of the Ex- tension Company. At this time the Southern Minnesota Company was in the hands of a receiver, and it was be- fore its purchase by the Milwaukee Company. W. C. Van Horn, now pres- ident of the Canadian Pacific, was general manager, and J. C. Easton financial agent. The committee re- turned and reported the proposition received, which was in writing, and the meeting unanimously resolved to accept the proposition of the South- ern Minnesota Extension Company, as being the one most likely to get us a road. A. L. Ward was appointed to go to St. Paul to assist F. A. Day in getting the transfer of the land grant to the Extension Company, which if
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accomplished, the company agreed to take and build the road without bonds. There was a stubbornly contested fight in the legislature over this mat- ter by the conflicting railroad inter- ests, but it resulted in the grant be- ing transferred to the Southern Min- nesota Extension Company and of our obtaining the road through here the next season, of which mention will be made at the proper time.
The winter was a very mild one; very little sleighing. Wheat was sown in the middle of March. This year the Village of Fairmont was incorpor- ated and the following officers were elected: P. Wollaston, president; C. H. Viesselman, recorder; G. S. Liver- more, H. N. Rice, and O. P. Chase, trustees; O. C. Cole, treasurer; Charles Pratt, justice of the peace; H. H. Bon- ney, marshall, and J. F. Daniels, street commissioner. As this was the year the railroad was built through here the marshall had fair employment.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton lectured at Fairmont this winter. J: A. Sinclair purchased an interest in the hardware business of J. Houghtaling. A great many settlers came this year, among whom were: Jas. McHench, C. L. Campbell, Col. Fellers and others and took land under the grant to the ex- tension company, D. D. Bunn came as representative of Mr. Campbell, and E. B. and D. W. Feller representing their father, Col. Feller. The Exten- sion Company were offering their lands to actual settlers on the basis of crop cultivation as follows: They al- lowed $3 per acre to actual settlers for wild land broken; $2 per acre for the first crop and $1.50 per acre for the second , crop, and a large amount of land was sold on these terms. George Dresback, of Winona, was
agent of the company in connection with C. H. Bullard. J. C. Pratt came here this year and took land of the Extension Company. The com- pany began work on their line from Winnebago. It had been hoped they would be able to use a portion of the grade of the old company, so as to give some pay for the work done pre- viously, but their surveyors reported that it would be impossible for them to use that line without extra expense. and that it would cost a number of thousands of dollars more to use the line. The work was rapidly pushed forward from Winnebago City west, and the company were also grading west of Fairmont, they building from Winnebago City to Jackson this post This year the village council granted saloon license, it being the first li- censed saloon in Fairmont. We do not intend to say that it was the first intoxicating drink sold here, as there had previously existed what was known as cinb rooms, sometimes called blind pigs.
Our people watched with interest the progress of the railroad building, and many would drive down the line to see them at work. When the first passenger train reached this place, the depot was a box car, and the first depot was located on the North side of the track opposite Rippe's warehouse. There was no particular celebration on the arrival of the first train, but a large number of people gathered, the band played and the imitation cannon was fired. It was a bright day for Fairmont; for years expecting railroad communication, but financial embar- rassment had overtaken the company at Winnebago City and for seven years it remained there. No more staging; teamsters were obliged to seek other
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avocations. Communication with the outside world was established, and a new Fairmont was born and has stead- ily since that time forged to the front. While weary years were passed in wait- ing, one benefit was derived. No bon- uses or bonds were paid and no in- cubus of debt was on our people. The road did not tarry with us, but went on and the village of Sherburn fourteen miles west was created, and Jackson was reached that fall.
Gideon Smales this year had a small brewery on lots now owned by W. F. Edwards near the Congrega- tional church, and license was granted him to manufacture beer. He after- wards built what is now known as the brewery building near the boat land- ing.
The East Chain grist mill was doing a good business run by Swearingen & Follett, as there was plenty of water.
The 4th of July celebration this year was intended to be what the western people call a "hummer," not only on account of celebrating the national day but also to celebrate the arrival of the railroad. C. L. Colman started his lumber yard, C. M. Sly be- ing his resident agent and manager. Joseph Ramsdale this year bought of Wm. H. Budd the land in what is now Ramsdale's addition and platted the same. Arthur Pearson ran a first class hotel and boarding house on Main street. On September 10th, 11th and 12th we had heavy frosts which did a good deal of damage to corn. G. U. Chapman built a jewelry store, be- ing the building now occupied as the Cook hotel. J. L. Higgins formed a partnership with H. M. Blaisdell in the law business under the firm name of Blaisdell & Higgins, and they did a successful business. A good many
new settlers came in this year. Our English friends continued to have enjoyable times and gatherings.
Chicken and duck hunting was im- mense sport in those days. John Cross died in September aged 94 years. Hodges & Hyde and Cargill Bros., established a warehouse and began to buy grain. Ward & Cadwell also bought grain. Wheat was . of poor quality, and was graded in four grades; price from 30 to 80 cents per bushel; oats, 20 to 25 cents; potatoes, 20 to 25 cents. Beans which were a large item were $1.05 per bushel.
H. H. Bonney built the first house in Ramsdale's addition. Our first railroad agent was Cony Shields, who later was one of the managers of the Canadian Pacific, and is now, we be- lieve, with the Chicago & Great West- ern road as one of its managers. S. S. Hunting, proprietor of the original town plat built a house in which Mr. Shields lived. Mr. Hunting also built a building in our park. These build- ings, which were probably of the value of $1,000, was all the aid and assistance this place ever received from S. S. Hunting by building. We are glad to note that the present owners of the addition are residents and have an interest in the growth of the place. There was considerable interest in the selection of county officers, a number of the old ones be- ing left out. In November there was a robbery at the depot, and about $150 taken from the safe. The agent sus- pected a party who had been hanging around the depot. He was traced across the country to Madella and Mankato where he was arrested. IIe was tried, convicted and sent to states prison. It was the first conviction for a states prison offense in this county,
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and as the county had been in opera- tion for over 40 years, it speaks well for the class of settlers here.
Sherburn made a rapid growth. J. P. Farmer moved his store building from Tenhassen to that place and George M. Scott built a hotel. A syndicate, of La Crosse parties owned the town site, and put in some good hard work. Warehouses, residences and mercantile buildings to the value of from ten to fifteen thousand dollars were pat in this year. Lumber yards were established and a full fledged town started. Mr. Smales completed his brewery building be- fore mentioned at the boat landing, and it was thought to be one of the best breweries west of La Crosse. They only got in good operation when financial embarrassments overtook them, and they had to abandon it. The building was later used as a creamery building. B. F. Voreis came this year and formed a partnership with M. E. L. Shanks under the firm name of Shanks & Voreis.
In 1878 the Occidental Hotel was built by the Bank of Fairmont, the firm then being composed of Munger, Lyon and Smales Bros., and they were supposed to be very wealthy. It was an imposing edifice for a town of this size and was built at quite an expense.
January 1st, 1879, was quite cold, the thermometer standing at 32 degrees below zero. January 7th election of village officers was held. J. Hough- taling was elected president; J. L. Higgins, recorder; G. S. Livermore, William Viesselman and H. Pepper, trustees, and E. W. Bird. treasurer. County commissioners met, present: C. P. Andross, H. H. Holmes, T. W. Hall, T. C. Andersen and Erie Olson. George Gale was elected county at-
torney; George Lounsbury, county auditor; William Bird, sheriff; F. 8. Livermore, judge of probate, and D. W. Hunt, coroner. The court house being to small to hold the county officers, rooms were rented over Wol- laston's store. Our farmers at the present time make complaint about the price of hogs. In the fall of 1878 and the winter of 1879 they were lower than they are now, two cents being the very best price for hogs and $2.60 to $2.90 the very best price for dressed pork. The village council fixed the saloon license at $200. The members to the legislature for 1879 were Sena- tor A. D. Perkins and Representative M. E. L. Shanks.
Our people were much surprised on the 29th of January to learn of the failure of the Bank of Fairmont, who had assigned to A. L. Ward. Smales and Lyon also assigned their partner- ship property at the Lair and Gideon Smales his brewery and other busi- ness and Arthur Lyon his individual property. They were thought to be possessed of ample means, and they had with lavish hands aided the growth of Fairmont and shown great interest in the development of the county. A great deal of their money was expended in building, the Occi- dental Hotel, their last venture, crip- pling them financially. It was a further surprise that they should have selected Ward as assignee, on account of his being in opposition to them in business. District court was held in the Occidental Hotel. It was a long session, but the building came in very handy, as it furnished rooms for petit jury and trial court. After the in- ventory list of the Bank of Fairmont was filed and bonds approved, the Martin County Bank was moved into
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that building. The expense of this. January term of Court which extended into February, was $2,122.95, being the longest and most expensive term, tries to be the truth, but experience held up to that time.
In February there was a prairie fire in Rolling Green. The wind blew in over the fire breaks and considerable hay was burned, and G. W. Smith bad his house burned. On the next day there was a snow storm. County com- missioners met in special session on February 11th to submit to the legal voters of the county at their annual town meetings in March a proposi- tion to vote $15,000 bonds to build a court house and jail. There was considerable interest taken in this, but the vote resulted in 449 against. and 375 for bonds. The Sherburn village election was held in April and the officers elected were: President, M. M. Jenkins; council, Geo. Scott, John Augustine, and J. P. Farmer, recorder, S. D. Talmadge, and treas- urer, J. D. Young. Sherburn was now but six months old, but it was a mov- ing hustling little town. In a few months it had obtained a size which it had taken Fairmont fifteen years to obtain, all the result of the age of the county and the advent of that great civilizer and builder of towns and wities, the railroad. This spring J. A. Armstrong moved back to his farm in Nashville. For a number of years.Mr. Armstrong had been a resident of this place, having been county auditor for the longest period held by any one man up to that date. Mr. Armstong was a public spirited, energetic citi- zen. He afterwards moved to Bath- gate, North Dakota, the only bad move he probably ever made. He now resides in Winnebago;City. Wealways notice that our best settlers return
after they have tried some other place. People in moving away believe the reports they read of other coun- proves them to be but the scum of the truth.
The spring of 1879 was very dry un- til the 10th of May, so dry that planted grain did not sprout. A great many were praying for rain. On the 10th .of May there was quite a general rain. A great many fish were caught this year. We have never said much about fi.b. Some of the old settlers can tell about the times they had catching fish in the spring in the high water. On the afternoon of the 16th of May there was a great light seen in the West, accompanied by à loud roaring seund and a shock that could be heard quite a distance. In- vestigation showed that a meteor hid fallen just over the line in Iowa, not far from Estherville and had buried itself deep in the ground. Parts of this stone were dug up and exhibited around the country. A part of it was brought to Fairmont and an admis- sion fee charged to see it. It was very heavy and resembled pure iron. If it came from some other planet there must be plenty of minerals where it came from. Some of our learned men stated that it formed in the atmosphere. This year, in June, Capt. Bird and others procured from the state authorities 25,000 young fish, trout and salmon, and put into our lakes. Henry Martin came andsvisited in the Fowler neighborhood. He had previously been here in 1857 and taken land on Lake Martin in Rutland town- ship. The county was named after him, not because he ever did anything for the county, but because he was in a position by reason of being fre-
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quently at Mankato to influence the naming of it for him. This year J. H. Ray rented the Occidental Hotel. The 4th of July was celebrated at Sher- burn in great style, it being their first, they made great efforts and it was a big success. Celebrations were also held at East Chain, Nashville and Rut- land. Fairmont's first circus came this year, Anderson & Co.'s. It was not a very heavy affair, but it drew a big crowd and they took away lots of money. A Belgian settlement was es- tablished in the Western part of the county, some of whom are now there Silas Mills had his barn struck by lightning and lost a number of horses. Harvest commenced about the 20th of July. The Odd Fellows formed a lodge at this place, J. A. Houghtaling V. G. Rol ert Hines built his store on the corner of First street" and North ave- nue, being the building now occupied by E. J. Edwards. There were a good many hunters came to hunt prairie chickens this year, and camped along the lakes. There was a great many sheep brought into the country, farmers thinking they paid the best of any branch of farming. Threshing began very early. Our first traction engine was owned by J. W. Fuller. It was quite a curiosity to see it. At their September meeting the com- missioners changed the boundaries of the commissioner districts so as to make Lake Belt, Lake Fremont, Man- Jaska and Jay district No. +, and Elm Creek, Fox Lake, Cedar and Galena district No. 5. There was a great many new farm residences put up this year and considerable improvements made in Sherburn and Fairmont. Both places feeling the benefit of a railroad.
The board of audit in session in
September in examining into the books of the treasurer and auditor found a large shortage in the county treasury. Samuel Hackett was treas. urer and had been for a number of years. He had been considered non- est, some even naming him "Honest Sam." He admitted to the board of having used some of the funds in building a hotel at Sherburn and in his store business here. A meeting of his bondsmen and the county com- missioners was called, and after they had investigated the matter Mr. Hack- ett made them the proposition that if they would allow him - to go Eust he could raise the money among his rela- tives and make the shortage good. By agreement F. S. Livermore took charge of the office and the bonds men of Mr. Hackett advanced him the money necessary to take him East, but he never returned. It appears from subsequent investigation that it Was questionable whether or not the bondsmen could be held as the defal- cation or at least a part of it had oc- curred during a previous term of office. A compromise was afterwards made with the bondsmen who finally paid the county, Mr. Hackett turning over to them what property he had here, but they did not realize very much from it as the property was badly mortgaged. Following is a list of the bondsmen of Mr. Hackett. J. M. Lasby, L. N. Drake, Wm. Suter, Frank Rodgers, J. A. Everett, Wm. Bird, Wm. H. Budd, F. S. Livermore, Josiah Smith, C. H. Bullard and G. F. Pixley. Geo. Wohlheter, who had previously come here and who was in the employ of Ward & Cadwell, was married on the 14th of August to Miss Minnie Peton, of Milwaukee.
On October 24th Jesse Packard, of
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Manyaska, while hunting wasaccident- O. P. Empey members of the council, ally killed. On November 4th the lakes John Augustine recorder and J. P. Farmer treasurer. were frozen over. At the November session of the commissioners Ceeil Sharpe was appointed coroner.
By formal resolution Samuel Hackettwas removed from office of county treasurer and F. S. Livermore was appointed in his place. There were very serious prairie fires during October. At the county fair this year there was sheh a downpour of rain that people were unable to go home. The grain elevator of Cargill & Van was burned on the 21st of Novem- ber and a large amount of grain destroyed. December was a cold month. The Fairmont Village council reported a balance of $238.57 in the treasury. The improvements for this year in building was $19,787. Number of births in the county for the year ending December 31st, 1879, was 167 and number of deaths 51. January 1880 the weather was very changeable. On the 1st it was warm and sloppy.
Commissioners met January 6th, present T. W. Hall. C. P. Andross, E. F. Wade, Thos. Patton and H. S. Holmes. Geo, Lounsbury was county treasurer, A. Bowen register of deeds, J. L. Hig- gins county attorney, D.P. Sackett su- perintendent of schools, C. H. Bullard cours commissioner and William Bird sheriff. The commissioner arranged for a loan of $1,000, money to be used for court expenses. The agricultural 80- ciety met on the 4th of January and J. F. Daniels was elected president, F. A. Duy secretary and H. A. Munger treas- urer. Sherburn this year granted saloon license, what would now be called low license, fixing it at $100. Some of our English friends began to get into embarrassed circumstances financially. They had spent their money lavishly for the good of the county, but the returns had not been what they expected. R. M. Cffiall, T. U. Smalles, Capt. Bellairs, Mr. Bishop and their families went to St. Louis, some others went to Australia and some to St. Paul.
Village election was heid on the 6th of January and considerabe effort was made on the license and no license question. The no license carried. J. Hougntaling was elected president, and Charles Ashton lost his wallet some time during the winter, said to contain about $250 in money and $1400 or $1500 in notes. Our term of court this year was not very long. At their March session the county commissioners de- cided to submit to the voters of the county the question of bonding the county for $12,000 for the purpose of building a court house and jail. The result of this election as canvassed by the board was for bonds 481 and against bonds 445. The total vote cast was against bonds, the township of Fox Lake casting 47 against them, but it Lounsberry, G. C. Chapman and Wm. H. Budd members of the council and J. G. Swearingen recorder. H. R. Rouse had a New Year's present in the shape of a baby but a few hours old left on his doorstep, with the follow- ing note attached: "Take care of this child until called for. If you won't be rewarded in this world, you will in the one to come." On the reverse side of the card was written "A New Year's gift. $2.00 enclosed for clothing." The Sherburn Village election resulted in the election of M. M. Jenkins presi- dent, W. C. Persons, T. D. Talmage and was thought there were some irregu-
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