USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 6
USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 6
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MORRISON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, LITTLE FALLS
CARNEGIE LIBRARY, LITTLE FALLS
· CHAPTER V.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
ORGANIZATION OF MORRISON COUNTY.
Morrison county was organized by an act of the territorial Legisla- ture, approved February 25, 1856. It was named in honor of Hon. Allen W. Morrison, who came to Minnesota in the twenties and was prominent in the early history of the territory of Minnesota. The first election was held on April 14, 1856, when the following officers were elected: William Trask, Elliott J. Kidder and W. W. Stebbins, county commissioners; Nathan Richardson, register of deeds; James Fergus, judge of probate; Jonathan Pugh, sheriff; W. B. Fairbanks, district attorney; W. W. Tuttle and John Fry, assessors.
The territory comprising Morrison county has been divided, and sub- divided, into many civil townships or precincts. Among these changes may be named, in brief, the following: First it was divided into three townships, Little Falls, Platte River and Swan River. In the spring of 1858, the county commissioners organized the county into four civil town- ships, Belle Prairie, Granite, Little Falls and Bellevue. In 1881 the county had townships as follows: Belle Prairie, Bellevue, Buckman, Culdrum, Elmdale, Green Prairie, Little Falls, Motley, Oakwood, Parker, Pierz, Swan River and Two Rivers. By 1888 the townships were increased by four more sub-divisions, Agram, Morrill, Pike Creek and Ripley.
As now constituted ( 1915) the civil townships are as follows: Agram, Buh, Belle Prairie, Bellevue, Buckman, Clough, Cushing, Culdrum, Dar- ling, Elmdale, Granite, Green Prairie, Hillman, Leigh, Little Falls, Lakin, Mt. Morris, Morrill, Motley, Pulaski, Platte, Pike Creek, Ripley, Rosing, Rail Prairie, Swanville, Swan River, Scandia Valley, Two Rivers, Rich- ardson, Pierz and Parker.
Originally, that portion of Morrison county to the west of the Mississ-
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ippi river, belonged to Todd county, but by a popular vote of twenty to eighteen, in 1864, it was attached to Morrison county.
COURT HOUSE HISTORY.
Unlike many other counties in Minnesota, Morrison county has never had any difficulty over locating its county seat. The act providing for the organization of the county also stipulated that Little Falls should be the seat of justice, and it has never been removed. At the first meeting of the board of county commissioners, in May, 1856, they divided the county into three separate voting precincts, Little Falls, Swan River and Platte River. At the November meeting, that year, the commissioners voted to pay Will- iam Sturgis eight thousand dollars, to erect a court house, and on the 24th of the same month bonds were issued and delivered to said Sturgis. These bonds were eight in number, each calling for the sum of one thousand dol- lars, the first falling due in three years, and each subsequent year one fell due. The rate of interest was twelve per cent. per annum. Sturgis pro- ceeded to erect the court house and, after having it roofed and enclosed, but far from completion, failed, leaving the structure in an unfinished con- dition. He had disposed of the bonds to a banker in Washington, D. C., who demanded payment as the bonds became due, but was refused by the county commissioners, because the building had not been completed as called for in the contract. The matter engaged the attention of commissioners and the courts for a number of years, and finally, in July, 1869, a compro- mise was effected by which, under the administration of Commissioners William Butler, William Harrison and Richard L. Trask, the old bonds were taken up and new ones issued to the amount of eight thousand dollars, bearing seven per cent, one thousand dollars falling due each year until all should be paid for. It was in this manner that the first court house in this county was secured and paid for. It was a frame structure, which stood on the site of the present temple of justice. When the new building was to be built, the old frame building was moved to another place and now stands facing the south on First avenue south, nearly opposite the Buckman hotel, a little to the cast. It was a well-constructed building, for now, after all these eventful years and exposure to the elements, it is still in good repair and is used for private business enterprises. The front only has been changed; it had large columns in front when used as a court house, but this has been changed and the old portico has been enclosed, giving more floor space within the building. It is now owned by the Maurin estate.
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE.
About 1890 it was found wise and necessary, in order to preserve the county records and furnish a place in keeping with the growth of the coun- ty, to erect a new, larger and more satisfactory place in which the county officers and courts could be accommodated in the performance of their sev- eral duties. Consequently the county bonded itself in the sum of forty thousand dollars, issuing bonds running as long as thirty years and none payable within ten years. They drew five per cent. per annum and were, by bidding, struck off to the First National Bank of Little Falls at forty thousand one hundred and six dollars, on July 14, 1890. In July, 1891, another set of bonds were issued for fifteen thousand dollars, with which to furnish and equip the new court house and its various offices, making the total cost of the present structure about sixty-five thousand dollars. The county commissioners, at the time of the letting of the contract for this building, were, John Stumpf, Peter Medved, N. Gravel and Dennis Sheedy.
In July, 1898, the commissioners ordered a United States flag to be erected on the court house and appointed a committee to procure a suitable staff and flag, which provision was soon carried out and "Old Glory" was unfurled to the breeze.
In October, 1891, the court house was first lighted by electric lights, the contract being that the county should pay the sum of three hundred dol- lars per year for lighting both the court house and county jail.
This court house is an ornament to the county and a monument to the wisdom and good sense of the officers and taxpayers of Morrison county. It is a yellow brick structure, with a tall tower surmounting the superstruc- ture, in which there is soon to be placed a handsome clock, the same having been provided for in the will of the late Josiah Page, who left for such pur- pose the suni of two thousand dollars.
The court house has ample rooms for all the officials and a spacious court room and jury rooms. It is both heated and lighted by modern methods-steanı and electricity.
COUNTY JAIL HISTORY.
The first regular jail in Morrison county was the one situated on the public square, built of square timbers; it was sixteen by twenty-four feet,
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
two stories high. It still stands opposite the court house, being clapboard- ed, however.
The present jail is situated on the southeast corner of the court house square. It is a yellow brick building, erected in 1888, at a cost of seven thousand five hundred dollars (original contracts) and was improved in 1897, by the addition of three new steel cages, which were thought to be safe as against the escape of prisoners. However, several prisoners have been able to make good their escape since then. For various reasons, the building has been condemned by general public opinion and will doubtless ere long be replaced by a more attractive and up-to-date building. Prior to the building of the old log or timber jail mentioned, all prisoners were kept at St. Cloud, or guarded at Little Falls by the sheriff.
CARING FOR THE POOR.
Every county has to contend with and provide for the maintenance of her unfortunate poor. Some counties in Minnesota have their poor farms and find that to be the most economical method by which the poor can be cared for. Morrison county has tried both plans and neither is without fault. Up to 1887, no attempt had been made to have a county farm, but in August of that year the commissioners leased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at two hundred and fifty dollars per year, and apppointed Mar- tin Wenzel and wife as keepers of the same. This was in the neighbor- hood of Belle Prairie, but, after experimenting with such a plan until the autumn of 1889, it was abolished. It was not until June, 1890, that the commissioners changed from the county to the township plan of caring for the paupers of the county. The vote by the board on this question stood, four for the township and one for the county plan. Since then the various townships have looked after and maintained their own poor.
TAX LEVY OF 1857 AND 1876.
It may be of interest to note what taxes were levied more than a half century ago in Morrison county, when it had only been organized a short time. The total tax levy that year (in 1857) was on $466,487 worth of property. The annual tax levy amounted to $3.965.15. only eight and one- half mills on the dollar. Property then consisted mostly of wild land that had been entered at three dollars per acre.
In 1876, the total valuation was placed at $800,222 and a levy of eleven
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
mills was made, two mills being for state tax, and one mill for special school tax. The average value of wild land was then three dollars per acre.
PROPERTY VALUATION IN 1914.
According to the county auditor's statement for 1914 the following were the assessed valuations of property in Morrison county at that time :
Agram township, $158,859; Belle Prairie township, $314,115; Buh township, $315,351; Buckman township, $468,085; Bellevue township, $314,- 891; Clough township, $161,922; Cushing township, $142,502; Culdrum township, $296,486; Darling township, $200,286; Elm Dale township, $499,- 326; Granite township, $211,496; Green Prairie township, $79,440; Hillman township, $113,276; Lakin township, $154,461 ; Little Falls township, $240,- 955; Leigh township, $165,242; Mt. Morris township, $119,417; Morrill township, $155,065; Motley township, $132,277; Pierz township, $345,655; Pike Creek township, $278,863; Pulaski township, $141,357; Platte township, $161,794; Parker township, $231,298; Rail Prairie township, $173,287; Rosing township, $73,434; Richardson township, $143.703; Ripley town- ship, $324,697; Village of Swanville, $79,347; Scandia Valley township, $272,419; Swan River township, $311,740; Two Rivers township, $308,727; Royalton village, $122,119; City of Little Falls, $1,677.597; Village of Ran- dall, $46,309. Total. $9,025,108.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT-1914-15.
The following is a copy of a part of the financial statement made by the county auditor of Morrison county, for the period between November I, 1914, and March 1, 1915 :
Receipts.
Balance in treasury $168,262
From tax collections
91,044
Collected on public lands
5,065
Collected on fines and licenses
8,278
School apportionment and state aid
1
24,276
Hunting and fishing licenses 255
Other items disbursed
2,976
Total
$300,156
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Disbursements.
Orders on reserve funds
$9.237
Road and Bridge fund
18,625
Interest fund
1 1
4,48I
Town fund
23,150
School district fund
66,618
State tax
10,242
Wolf bounty
750
Other items
169,053
Total
$300,156
BANK DEPOSITS OF COUNTY, 1914-15.
The following is a list of banks and amounts of the county's funds deposited for the year 1914-15:
First National Bank, of Little Falls. $46.545
German-American Bank, of Little Falls 43,404
Merchants State Bank, of Little Falls. 43334
German State Bank of Pierz
1,090
First National Bank of Royalton 3,121
State Bank of Randall
1 1,032
Peoples State of Swanville 1,039
Farmers and Merchants of Royalton 1,037
Morrison County Bank of Bowlus 4,875
First State Bank of New Pierz (Genola) 1,037
First State Bank of Swanville.
1,034
1
1
1
I
1
1 !
I
1
Total funds deposited by county_ $163,21I
CHAPTER VI.
COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION.
The following is a list of the various persons who have served as repre- sentatives of Morrison county, either in county, state or national positions :
GOVERNORS OF MINNESOTA.
1857-Henry H. Sibley.
1888-W. R. Merriam
1859-Alexander Ramsey
1890-W. R. Merriam
1861-Alexander Ramsey
1892-Knute Nelson
1863-Stephen Miller
1894- Knute Nelson
1865-W. R. Marshall
1896-David M. Clough
1867-W. R. Marshall
1898 -- William H. Eustis
1869-Horace Austin
1900-Samuel R. Van Sant
1871-Horace Austin
1902-Samuel R. Van Sant
1873-C. K. Davis 1875-J. S. Pillsbury
1904-John A. Johnson
1906-John A. Johnson
1877-J. S. Pillsbury
1908-John A. Johnson
1879-J. S. Pillsbury
1910-Adolph O. Eberhart
1881-L. F. Hubbard
1912-Adolph O. Eberhart
1883-L. F. Hubbard
1914-Winfield S. Hammond.
1888-A. R. McGill
CONGRESSMEN.
The congressmen who have served the people of Morrison county since the 1872 apportionment are as follow :
Apportionment of 1872 (Third District)-John T. Averill, Repub- lican. March, 1872, to March, 1875: William F. King. Republican, 1875- 1877: Jacob H. Stewart, Republican, March, 1877, to March, 1879; William D. Washburn, Republican. March, 1879, to March, 1883; Henry Poehler,
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Democrat, March, 1879, to March, 1881; H. B. Strait, Republican, March, 1881, to March, 1887; John L. McDonald, Democrat, March, 1887, to March, 1889; Darwin S. Hall, Republican, March, 1889, to March, 1891; O. M. Hall, Democrat, March, 1891, to March, 1895; Joel P. Heatwole, Republican, March, 1895, to March, 1903; Charles R. Davis, Republican, March, 1903, to March, 1907.
Apportionment of 1881 (Fifth District)-Knute Nelson, Republican, March, 1883, to March, 1889; S. G. Comstock, Republican, March, 1889, to March, 1891; Kittel Holverson, Alliance, March, 1891, to March, 1893; Loren Fletcher, Republican, March, 1893, to March, 1903; John Lind, Democrat, March, 1903, to March, 1905; Loren Fletcher, Republican, March, 1905, to March, 1907; Frank M. Nye, March, 1907, to March, 1913; George R. Smith, March, 1913, to March, 1917.
Apportionment of 1891 (Sixth District)-M. R. Baldwin, Democrat, March, 1893, to March, 1895; Charles A. Towne, Republican, March, 1895, to March, 1903; Page Morris, Republican, March, 1897, to March, 1903; C. B. Buckman, Republican, March, 1897, to March, 1907; Charles A. Lind- bergh, March, 1907, to March, 1917.
STATE SENATORS.
Since 1860 the state senators representing Morrison county have been as given below. The year noted indicates the session of the Legislature in which serving: 1861, Seth Gibbs; 1862, S. B. Lowry; 1864, J. P. Wilson; 1865, J. P. Wilson; 1866, R. M. Richardson; 1867, Louis A. Evans; 1868, C. A. Gilman; 1869, C. A. Gilman; 1870, H. C. Wait; 1871, H. C. Wait; 1872, R. J. Chewning; 1873, R. J. Chewning; 1874. Ignatius Donnelly; 1875, Ignatius Donnelly; 1876, Ignatius Donnelly; 1877, Ignatius Donnelly; 1878, Ignatius Donnelly; 1879, C. P. Adams; 1881, C. P. Adams; 1883, C. A. Pillsbury ; 1885, C. A. Pillsbury ; 1887, L. Swenson ; 1889, L. Swenson; 1891, George Geisel; 1893, George Geisel; 1895, W. M. Fuller; 1897, W. M. Fuller; 1899, C. B. Buckman; 1901, C. B. Buckman; 1903, A. F. Ferris; 1905, John T. Frater; 1907, S. F. Alderman; 1909, S. F. Alderman; 1911, C. D. Johnson; 1913, C. D. Johnson; 1915, George H. Gardner.
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
Since 1860 the men who have represented the district in which Morrison county has been situated have been as follows (years given are sessions) : 1861, Thomas Cathcart, Levi Wheeler, P. S. Gregory; 1862, R. M. Richard- son, Peter Roy, John Whipple; 1864, R. M. Richardson, W. T. Rigby, C. A. Ruffee; 1864, Oscar Taylor, Louis A. Evans, W. T. Rigbee; 1866, N. F. Barns, Thomas Cathcart, B. Overpeck; 1867, H. N. Miller, N. Richardson; 1868, N. H. Miller, D. G. Pettijohn; 1869, Ludwig Robbers, William H. Hicks; 1870, John L. Wilson, Isaac Thorson; 1871, W. S. Moore, Luke Marvin; 1872, N. Richardson; 1873, John O. Haven; 1874, Moses Lafond; 1875, C. H. Chadbourne; 1876, F. X. Goulet; 1877, John Stumpf; 1878, Nathan Richardson; 1879, A. M. Fridley; 1881, C. B. Buckman; 1883, A. J. Demeules, G. G. Hartley, J. T. D. Sadley ; 1885, J. B. Howes, J. T. D. Sad- ley ; 1887, L. E. Lum, J. C. Flynn, W. E. Lee; 1889, R. C. Dunn, J C. Flynn, W. A. Fleming; 1891, H. C. Stivers, Werner Hemsted, J. H. Sheets, E. E. Price; 1893, W. M. Fuller, Robert C. Dunn, W. A. Fleming, William E. Lee; 1895, J. D. Jones, B. F. Hartshorn, H. R. Mallette; 1897, A. F. Fer- ris, J. D. Jones, B. F. Hartshorn, H. C. Head; 1899, A. F. Ferris, H. C. Stivers; 1901, A. F. Ferris, Werner Hemsted; 1903, I. W. Bouck, H. A. Rider ; 1905, I. W. Bouck, H. A. Rider; 1907, I. W. Bouck, M. N. Young; 1909, Elmer A. King, L. D. Brown; 1911, L. D. Brown, C. W. Bouck ; 1913, C. W. Bouck, Louis W. Vasaly; 1915, C. W. Bouck, Louis W. Vasaly, Edward R. Syverson.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Only one reason can be given for the following list of officers who have served Morrison county not being complete, namely, the fact that for more than a dozen years after the organization of this county the election returns were not turned over to the secretary of state, as prescribed by law, or not preserved by the county officers. It is to be regretted that the counties of Minnesota are not required to make a permanent record of the elections, as do nearly all other states in the Union. Aided somewhat by the Historical Society at St. Paul, the author has been able to compile the following list, which is as complete as it can now be made from records :
(6)
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
AUDITORS.
J. D. Lachance, 1876 to 1885; Frank Ellenbecker, 1885 to 1895; V. E. Kasparek, 1895 to 1897; James A. Nichols, 1897 to 1901 ; H. N. Harding, 1901 to 1903; William A. Butler, 1903 to 1911; B. Y. McNairy, 1911 to 1919.
TREASURERS.
Jonathan Taylor, 1876; W. T. Lambert, 1879 to 1885; S. Stoll, 1885 to 1893; Joseph L. Meyer, 1893 to 1901 ; Lyman Signor, 1903 to 1907; Frank Renick, 1907 to 1919.
SHERIFFS.
T. J. Hayes, 1876 to 1883; Henry Rasicot, 1883 to 1891 ; Leon Houde, 1891 to 1895; H. A. Rider, 1895 to 1901; E. S. Tanner, 1901 to 1907; Frank Long, 1907 to 1909; Frank Armstrong, 1909 to 1913; Paul Felix, 1913 to 1919.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
L. Signor, 1876 to 1889; Henry Goulet, 1889 to 1897; L. Gaudet, 1897 to 1901; W. H. Hall, 1901 to 1907; Charles E. Vasaly, 1907 to 1911; F. X. Bastien, 1911 to 1919.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
G. G. Kimball, 1876 to 1879; Peter Neuman, 1879 to 1881; A. F. Story, 1881 to 1885; Nathan Richardson, 1885 to 1893; Donat Trettel, 1893 to 1895; N. Richardson, 1895 to 1903; E. F. Shaw, 1905 to 1917.
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
A. J. Clark, 1879 to 1881; Nathan Richardson, 1881 to 1883: D. T. Calhoun, 1883 to 1885; R. M. Worthington, 1885 to 1887; E. B. Breble, 1887 to 1889; Frank W. Lyon, 1889 to 1891 ; C. A. Lindbergh, 1891 to 1893; Frank W. Lyon, 1893 to 1895; J. H. Rhodes, 1895 to 1897; Frank W. Lyon, 1897 to 1901; F. A. Lindbergh, 1901 to 1907; Don M. Cameron, 1907 to 1913; C. Rosenmier, 1913 to 1919.
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Nathan Richardson, 1876 to 1879; W. L. Dow, 1879 to 1883; R. J. Batzer, 1883 to 1885; W. L. Dow, 1885 to 1887; H. S. Clyde, 1887 to 1895; Nels Peterson, 1895 to 1897; H. S. Clyde, 1897 to 1899; Nels Peterson, 1899 to 1901 ; A. J. Fenn, 1901 to 1913; P. S. Randall, 1913 to 1915; Nels Peterson, 1915 to 1919.
CORONERS.
Henry Armstrong, 1876 to 1879; J. O. Simmons, 1879 to 1881 ; A. J. McMannus, 1881 to 1887; G. M. A. Fortier, 1887 to 1895; O. C. Trace, 1895 to 1897; N. Dumont, 1897 to 1899; O. C. Trace, 1899 to 1903; N. W. Chance, 1903 to 1909; P. H. Brown, 1909 to 1911; N. W. Chance, 19II to 1919.
CLERK OF THE COURT.
Leon Houde, 1876 to 1887; I. E. Staples, 1887 to 1895; Lyman Signor, 1895 to 1899; S. P. Brick, 1899 to 1913; A. M. Stoll, 1913 to 1919.
COURT COMMISSIONERS.
W. Rasicot, 1876 to 1879; C. Hayes, 1879 to 1883; R. M. Worthing- ton, 1883 to 1885; I. J. Wright, 1885 to 1889; S. P. Fuller, 1889 to 1893; E. F. Shaw, 1893 to 1901; E. W. Collins, 1901 to 1905; E. A. King, 1905 to 1909; Lud Gaudet, 1909 to 1913; Nels N. Bergheim, 1913 to 1917.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
A. Guernon, 1879 to 1887; John McDonald, 1887 to 1889; J. H. Seal, 1889 to 1905; Crawford Sheldon, 1905 to 1907; M. E. Barnes, 1907 to 1919.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Since the Australian ballot has been established and the record is kept better, it shows the election of the following county commissioners: John Stumpf (chairman), W. M. Jones, George La Fond, Marcus Kobe, D. Sheedy, 1893; N. Hennen, J. J. Jacobson, W. M. Jones, George La Fond,
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
D. Sheedy, 1895; Martin Enke, George La Fonde, J. J. Gross, N. Hennen, J. J. Jacobson, 1897; Martin Enke, George La Fonde, J. J. Gross, F. H. Lakin, J. J. Jacobson, 1899; E. W. Sullivan, R. Tedford, J. J. Gross, F. H. Lakin, J. J. Jacobson, 1901; E. S. Sullivan, R. C. Tedford, J. J. Gross, F. H. Lakin, C. P. Smith, 1903; Ole L. Wahl, Andrew Johnson, Peter Virnig, F. H. Lakin, C. P. Smith, 1905; Ole L. Wahl, Andrew Johnson, Peter Ver- nig, J. J. Jacobson, 1907; A. Herun, D. Rocheleau, Peter Virnig, J. J. Jacob- son, F. H. Lakin, 1909; A. Hennen, D. Rocheleau, H. Gassert, F. H. Lakin, M. Viechoek, 1911; the present board is composed of the following mem- bers: First district, Andrew Herum; second district, D. Rocheleau, Henry Gassert, F. H. Lakin, Herman Vanselow. The first three named go out of office in 1917 and the others in 1919.
COUNTY'S PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.
1860-Lincoln, 53; Douglas, 93. 1864-Lincoln, 25; Mcclellan, 50. 1868-Grant. 68; Seymour, 139. 1872-Grant, 161 ; Greeley, 240. 1876- Tilden, 383; Hayes, 216. 1880-Hancock, 667; Garfield, 459. 1884- Blaine, 687; Cleveland, 1,010. 1888-Harrison, 1,042; Cleveland. 1,404. 1892-Harrison, 1, 135 ; Cleveland, 1,310; Weaver, 1,257. 1896-Mckinley, 1,960; Bryan, 1.734. 1900-Mckinley, 1880; Bryan, 1,081. 1904-Roose- velt, 2,498; Parker, 1, 129. 1908-William H. Taft, 1,936; W. J. Bryan. 1,5II; Prohibition candidate, 64. 1912-Taft, 699; Wilson, 1,341 ; Roose- velt, 1,327.
CHAPTER VII.
AGRICULTURE, STOCK RAISING AND DAIRYING.
Morrison county is located near the geographical center of the state, the Mississippi river flowing through it from north to south, dividing it into nearly equal parts. Two lines of railroad pass through the county, the main line of the Northern Pacific from north to south, and the Soo line from west to east.
The surface is rolling and partly timbered, the soil in some parts being dark sandy loam, while in other parts it runs to a heavy clay loam, both of which are rich and productive. Morrison county lays claim to being the ideal locality for diversified farming on account of the productive nature of its soil, ample supply of pure water, sufficient rainfall, good market, and the fact that a crop failure has never been known. With its great natural advan- tages, and located, as it is, on two direct lines of railroad leading to the great markets of the Northwest, the Twin Cities and Duluth, Morrison county, offers unparallelled inducements to those seeking a home.
GRAIN.
Wheat, oats, rye, barley, flax, etc., yield bountiful crops, and nearness to the great milling center of the world insures a price above those localities less fortunately situated. That Morrison county stands at the head as a grain-producing county there can be no question when the fact is known that, in competition with counties from all parts of the state, at the Minnesota state fairs of 1908 and 1909, Morrison scored highest on grains, with one hundred and forty-nine points out of a possible one hundred and fifty.
Corn is coming into its own as a profitable commodity in central Min- nesota, and is today one of the important crops grown in Morrison county. Both white and yellow Dent are grown, and a crop failure is not known in this section. No other proof of this need be given than the statement that Morrison scored ninety-six per cent. in the county competition at the state fair of 1909.
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MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
POTATOES AND VEGETABLES.
Potatoes are one of the leading and most profitable crops produced by the Morrison county farmer, the nature of the soil being particularly adapted to the production of potatoes of superior quality. The yield is heavy, and a ready market is always found for this crop, a considerable portion of which is purchased by the buyers and shipped to other states for seed purposes.
All kinds of garden vegetables are grown with success, and the crop is of superior quality. As an illustration of this we might mention that a Mor- rison county grower has taken first prize on celery each year he has exhibited at the state fair, in competition with the entire state.
FRUITS.
Do not get the idea that central Minnesota is outside the fruit belt, for many kinds of apples, plums, grapes and crabs are successfully grown, and Morrison county can show many fine orchards. At the county exhibit of 1909, thirty-six varieties of apples alone were shown. All kinds of small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, currants, etc., yield abundant crops. Wild fruit and berries are very plentiful in the timbered sections of the county.
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