USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 13
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 13
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The state was admitted May 11, 1858. After that date the boundaries of the counties could not be changed except by a majority vote of the electors of the counties affected. (See Sec. 1, Art. II, State Constitution.)
Since 1857 there has been no effort to change the boundaries of Rice county.
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Meeting of Appointed Commissioners Held at Cannon City- First Meeting of Elected Commissioners-School Districts Formed-Township System-Commission System Again- Yearly Work of the Board-Poor Farm Planned-County Court House and Jail Erected-County Officers-County Poor Farm.
So far as can be learned, no records have been preserved of the meeting of the county commissioners of Rice county, se- lected by Governor Gorman, though such a meeting was held at Cannon City. Halsey M. Matteson was chairman of the board. Isaac N. Sater was probably a member also, and possibly Luke Hulett. In after life, it is said, Mr. Matteson declared that although the governor located the county seat temporarily in Cannon City and the board met there, the county seat was actually moved to Faribault by that board. If this is true, then the selection of Faribault as the county seat antedates the election of 1855.
The first elected board of county commissioners of Rice county held its first meeting January 7, 1856. in the office of Berry & Batchelder, in Faribault. There were present at this meeting F. W. Frink, Andrew Storer and George F. Pettit, with the register of deeds, Isaac Hammond, acting as clerk. Nothing was accomplished except the organization which was effected by the election of F. W. Frink, chairman, for the ensuing year, and the board, which in those days was dignified by the title of "court," adjourned until the following day, January 8, 1855. The court convened as per adjournment, on the morning of the eighth, and began disposing of such business as should come before it. The first business to be laid before the court was the organization of school district No. 1, the first organized in the county. The board declared that it should consist of sections 19, 30 and 31, in township 110, range 20, and sections 24, 25, 36, and the cast half of section 35, in township 110, range 21. This embraces most of the incorporated limits of the city of Fari- bault. They also granted a petition for school district No. 2, to embrace territory in township 111, ranges 19 and 20. School districts Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were formed at this meet-
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ing, and their territory placed upon record, and much of the time was consumed by road petitions. The first road business entered upon record was in the form of a petition, and is as follows: "A petition for a road by Luke Hulett, and twenty- two others, beginning at the quarter post on the north line of the town of Faribault, running thence due north to the center of section 19, township 110, range 20; thence in a direct line, as near as may be, toward St. Paul until it shall intersect the Dodd road; and Charles Wood, Levi Nutting and A. H. Bullis are hereby appointed examiners to view said road and report to the board of commissioners at their next regular session." Numerous roads were established by the board. July 8, 1856, the board, in summing up the assessment rolls from the three assessors' districts in the county, found the aggregate assessed valuation $613,364.95.
Of the historic first meeting of the board F. W. Frink has said: "Among those present at this meeting were Luke Hulett, Norbert Paquin, John B. Davis, Dr. Charles Jewett, Michael Cook, and Levi Nutting. The office was in front with a bedroom in the rear. For nearly a year that office was at our disposal for county business, while the office of the register of deeds was first opened in Crump's hall, lower story. Isaac Woodman judged cases at his farm house in the town of Walcott, while I carried the office of clerk of the court, as deputy for H. M. Mat- teson, in my trousers' pocket. Matteson was the first clerk of the court elected, E. J. Crump having held the office by appoint- ment." May 13, 1856, George F. Pettit resigned as county com- missioner and his place was taken by Levi Nutting. February 9, 1856. County Order No. 1 was drawn to the amount of $25 to H. M. Matteson, county treasurer, to purchase books and stationery for the district clerk's office.
The board met as required by law. January 5. 1857, the members comprising the body being Levi Nutting, Franklin Kelley and Andrew Storer. The board organized by electing Levi Nutting as chairman for the ensuing year, and then engaged in routine business. At the session of the court on February 17, reports were received from the various school districts in the county, showing the number of scholars in attendance in each district. The several reports are given below, the number of the district, the name of the clerk and the number of scholars in each being recorded:
One, R. Thayer, 268; 2, Daniel Bowe, 34; 3. D. B. Turner, 44; 4, 11. M. Matteson, 36; 6. T. H. Willis, 41 ; 8, James Anderson, 30; 11, T. B. Van Eaton, 30; 12. Ezra Carter, 41; 13, E. S. Drake, 44; 14, William Burbeck, 74; 16, Nathan Colestock, 22; total number of scholars in the county, 664. The board then
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ordered that the sum of $2 be appropriated from the county funds for each scholar, and apportioned to the various school district for school purposes. The list of districts was then made out, showing the amount due cach district, as follows: 1, $536: 2, $68: 3, $88: 4, $72; 6, $82 ; 8, $60 : 11, $60; 12, $82; 13, $88; 14, $148; 16, $44; total, $1,328. The board then took into consid- eration assessor's reports from the different districts, and found the total assessed valuation $2,107,770. District No. 1 reporting $722,865 ; district No. 2. $1.143,353; and district No. 3, $241,552. The total amount of tax raised for territorial, county and school purposes, in 1857, was $15,810.42.
During the year 1858. in which the territory of Minnesota was admitted as a state, little of special interest or note was accomplished by the board. It met on January 5 and organized by electing Levi Nutting, chairman, the other members being Franklin Kelley and Andrew Storer. Charles Wheeler, the sheriff elect, presented his official bond and it was approved. John Hoover presented his bond as assessor, and other county officers presented bonds, which were duly approved.
Reports were received from the various schools in the county. and it was found that in the thirty schools reported there was an attendance of 1,489 scholars. The apportioned school fund of this year was 65 cents for every scholar entered upon the rolls. A new book in which to record the proceedings of the county commissioners was purchased.
The division of the county into townships is treated elsewhere in this volume.
TOWNSHIP SYSTEM.
In 1858, with the admission of the state into the union, began an era which in Minnesota continued but a short time, that of county government by a board of supervisors consisting of the chairmen of the various townships, which in the meantime had been created with practically their present names and almost their present boundaries. September 14, the first meeting of this board was held in the city of Faribault, and was called to order by J. A. Starks. The roll was called and the following gentlemen, representing the townships following their names, answered: G. L. Carpenter, Webster ; L. Barlow, Rich- land; WV. A. Pye, Wheeling; Daniel Bowe. Northfield; Isaac Woodman, Walcott; J. A. Starks, Cannon City; B. Lockerby. Bridgewater: Miles Hollister. Sargent; Thomas Kirk, Wells : E. F. Taylor, Forest ; Isaac llammond, Morristown ; J. Hagerty. Shieldsville; John Conniff, Erin : G. W. Batchelder, Faribault. They then proceeded to elect a chairman and the result was one vote for Isaac Woodman and eight for J. A. Starks, the latter
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being therefore declared elected, and was escorted to the chair. John C. Gilmore was appointed clerk of the board and was required to give bonds to the amount of $500. The board then proceeded to business by appointing eight or nine committees to attend to the various matters that should come before it. September 15, the committee appointed to consider a petition for assistance in building a bridge at Dundas reported that it did not consider the county finances in such a shape as to war- rant assistance in the building of bridges. The petition was therefore tabled. At the same meeting a note was presented by Nicholls & Buckley, which had been given by the board, but could not be paid. The interest for the same was at a rate of 21/2 per cent a month. An apportionment fund of 95 cents per scholar was made from the county fund in favor of the school districts. Licenses were registered, regulated at $50 for liquors and $25 for beers. September 27, the board appropriated $100 for the upper and $100 for the lower bridge at Faribault over Straight river. During the session G. C. Albee took his seat as successor to G. F. Pettit, the second supervisor of Faribault. Peter O'Brien also appeared from Wheatland.
In 1857 the same board still held office. January 8, reports were received from thirty-seven of the school districts, and showed an attendance of 1,939 scholars. At a session of the board, February 17, the first coroner of the county was appointed, in the person of J. B. Wheeler. He afterward resigned and E. J. Crump was appointed in his stead. February 17, it was de- clared by a resolution that all county orders issued by the former board of county commissioners were void and repudiated, and forbade the county treasurer paying any of the same. This reso- lution, however, after investigation of the matter, was rescinded, and the former chairman of the board, Levi Nutting, was re- quested to deliver up all notes and matters pertaining thereto into the hands of the board.
At the annual election in the fall of 1859 a new board was elected, and the newly elected commissioners took their places and the oath of office at a meeting held September 13, the fol- lowing being present : A. Anderson, J. D. Hoskins, Isaac Wood- man, L. Hulett, J. H. Winter, I. N. Sater, Benjamin Lockerby, E. Roberds, J. H. Bartlett, James McCabe, R. M. Norton, and Henry Conary. Later came G. W. Frink, L. Barlow, Joseph Hagarty and L. Y. llatch. N. Paquin contested Luke Hulett's seat, but was unsuccessful. It would appear from the minutes that while the other townships were represented on the board by their chairman, Faribault was represented by its chairman and one other supervisor.
Reports to the board of supervisors from forty of the fifty-
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four school districts in the county showed a total of 2,046 scholars in attendance. January 7, 1860, the last meeting of the board was held and adjourned sine die, as a change had been made in the governmental principles and the commissioner system was again inaugurated.
COMMISSION SYSTEM.
In January, 1860, Rice county was divided into five commis- sioner districts, each being entitled to one representative on the county board. District No. 1 comprised the towns of Richland, Wheeling and Cannon City; district No. 2, Northfield and Bridgewater; district No. 3, Faribault; district No. 4, Walcott, Sargent, Morristown and Wells ; district No. 5, Shieldsville, Erin, Wheatland, Webster and Forest.
The newly elected board met May 15, 1860, the following gentlemen representing the various districts : J. H. Parker, G. H. Batchelder, S. Webster and William Thorp. They organized by electing J. H. Parker chairman for the ensuing year. The board then appointed G. F. Batchelder county auditor to serve until the next election, fixing his bond at $5,000. It also decided that his salary should be $400 per annum. Nothing more of impor- tance came before the board and the balance of the time was spent among the road and school districts, together with other routine business.
In 1861 the board met January 5, with the following members in attendance: G. H. Batchelder, William Dunn, W. M. Thorp, G. Woodruff, James McCabe and John Conniff. G. H. Batchel- der was elected chairman for the year and the board proceeded to business. They next raised the salary of the county auditor from $400 to $600 per year.
At a session on January 15, from reports sent in to the board from the clerks of school districts it was found that there were 2,287 scholars in Rice county entitled to apportionment. The total apportionment fund for this year was $3,458.46.
In 1862, the board consisted of the same gentlemen as did the last, except J. B. Wheeler, who was elected chairman. They fixed the salary of the county auditor at $600 for the ensuing year, and that of the county attorney at $400 per annum. The balance of the year was spent in routine business.
At the beginning of the next year, 1863, the board met Jan- uary 6, and the records state that the full board was present, but as to the personnel of the body the records do not give any information. The commissioners passed a resolution raising the auditor's salary from $600 to $800 per year. A considerable portion of the commissioners' time in this year was devoted to issues arising from the war, and making appropriations for filling
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the quota. An account of their proceedings with regard to this will be found in the military history published elsewhere.
In 1864 the county commissioners met January 5 for organi- zation, and the record of the meeting says Messrs. Jackson. Adams, Wheaton and Wilson were in attendance. The board organized by electing H. Wilson chairman. A special meeting was held April 16 for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of appointing a county superintendent of schools. under authority of an act of the legislature to provide for a gen- eral system of schools. After consideration they appointed Thomas S. Buckham and fixed his salary at $500 a year.
Nothing of particular importance transpired the following year, 1865, the time being consumed by routine business. The commissioners met in the early part of January, substantially the same board being present. They organized by electing Hudson Wilson to the chair. January 5 the board raised the salary of the county attorney from $450 to $500. On September 6 $400 was appropriated to take care of the county poor, that amount having been deficient in the former year's report. The board closed the year's labors by allowing bills of commissioners for service, mileage, etc.
In 1866 the newly elected board met January 2, and was com- posed of the following gentlemen: Joseph Hagerty, C. A. Wheaton, Hudson Wilson, C. D. Adams and John Close. The board organized by electing Hudson Wilson chairman. At the January session the matter of a county poor farm was before the board, and the following is entered upon the records: "The board having in discussion the propriety of procuring a farm in support of the county poor, and as the demands upon the county treasury will not leave sufficient funds to purchase such a farm, in case we should deem it advisable to provide for the poor in that way at a subsequent session. The county attorney was re- quested to prepare a bill to present to the legislature at this ses- sion, anthorizing the board of Rice county to issue bonds in their discretion to an amount not exceeding $15,000, for the purchase of a county poor farm and the erection of the necessary buildings thereon." The county superintendent of schools, Thomas S. Buckham, resigned his position as such, and the board appointed Myron Wheaton to fill the place. At the same meeting the salary of the auditor was increased to $1,800 per year. At a later session of the commissioners. in September, 1866, the board issued bonds. under authority of an act approved by the legislature March 1. 1866, entitled "An act to authorize the county commissioners of Rice county to issue bonds to provide for the purchase of a county poor farm." Forty-three bonds, or denominations vary-
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ing from $50 to $500, were issued, payable within eight years, with interest at ten per cent.
In January, 1867, the board met upon the 2d of the month, and consisted of the following members: Hudson Wilson, C. S. Hulbert, C. D. Adams, John Close and Joseph Hagerty. The organization was effected by the election of H. Wilson, chair- man. They then increased the salary of the auditor to $2,000. At the September session the following resolution was passed by the board: "Resolved, That three members of this board be a committee to purchase, and are hereby instructed to negotiate for and purchase lots 1. 2 and 3, of block 43, town of Faribault, for Rice county, as an addition for the site for county buildings. The committee to consist of Hudson Wilson, John Close, C. S. Hulbert, and the county auditor." The said committee were also authorized to draw orders on the county treasury in payment for the samc.
At the next session of the board it was "Resolved, That the chairman be instructed to present to the next legislature a bill authorizing the commissioners of Rice county to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding $50,000 for the erection of county buildings."
In 1868 the board met as usual, in the early part of January, and organized by electing Hudson Wilson chairman. The men- bers present were: Hudson Wilson, John Close. C. S. Hulbert and Richard Browne. This year was spent entirely with routine business, attending to school districts, tax abatements and allow- ing bills.
The year 1869 was spent by the commissioners in much the same manner as the previous year. The board met January 5 and organized by electing Hudson Wilson chairman. The mem- bers present were: P. Filbert, Hudson Wilson, R. Browne and Dr. Coe.
The board elected for 1870 met on January 4 and organized by electing Hudson Wilson chairman, the members being E. Lathrop, R. Browne, P. Filbert and Dr. S. B. Coe. Nothing of importance transpired this year.
The members elected for 1871. as a board of county commis- sioners, were as follows: First commissioner's district, Peter Filbert : second district, E. Lathrop; third district, H. Wilson ; fourth district, C. D. Adams ; fifth district. Richard Browne. The seat of Peter Filbert was afterward declared vacant by the board on the ground that he was not a resident of the district at the time of election, and O. Osmandson was made his successor.
At a meeting of the board January 2, 1872, Hudson Wilson was re-elected chairman, the members for the year being J. C. Closson, E. Lathrop. C. D. Adams and Richard Browne. At this
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session the salary of the county attorney was fixed at $700 per year. It was also decided that all the county buildings should be insured.
The following year, 1873, the board met on January 7, com- posed of the same gentlemen as was in the last board, with the exception that Hudson Wilson was dropped out and T. B. Clement appeared in his place, and the board was organized by electing the latter gentleman chairman. They then spent some time in burning redeemed county orders. The next matter taken into consideration by the board was the erection of a court house and jail, and a bill was drawn up for presentation to the next legislature, to authorize the county commissioners to issue bonds for the crection of those buildings, not exceeding $50,000 in amount, and the same to be submitted to a vote of the people. This was the same. in substance, as the resolution passed in 1867. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was fixed at $1,000 per year.
At a session of the board in May the building committee was authorized to purchase lots six and seven in block forty-four, of Patrick McGreevy, at a cost not to exceed $5,000, also to advertise for bids on the court house. In July, the contract of completing the stone work on the basement of the court house was let to Pfeffer & Co., for the sum of $9,615. The bid of Babcock & Woodruff was accepted. They agreed to do car- penter work in the basement, also to furnish everything and com- plete the building from the water tables up, according to certain plans and specifications, for the sum of $26,515. At the session of the board in August of this year it was resolved as follows: "That the board of county commissioners of Rice county acknowledge themselves and the citizens of Rice county under great and lasting obligations to the Hon. Henry M. Rice, of St. Panl, from whom our county takes its name, for a large and valuable collection of books and documents, consisting of up- wards of 200 volumes, recently presented by that gentleman, the same being the first contribution to our county library."
At the August session of the board the building committee reported that it had let the contract for building the jail onto the McGreevy house, according to plans and specifications made by C. N. Daniels, architect to Messrs. Sibbald. Hatch, Johnson and MeCall, to be completed by October 1, 1873. A contract was also made with Henry Peltier for brick at $8.25 per thousand. Bradey & Greenslade contracted to furnish the iron work on the jail for $2,300. July 1, 1873, the county commissioners issued fifty bonds of the denomination of $1,000 each, and pay- able from ten to twenty years from date, with interest at 9 per cent, in payment of the county buildings.
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In 1874 the commissioners met January 6, with the following in attendance: T. B. Clement, H. H. White, J. G. Scott, J. F. Healey and J. C. Closson. The board organized by clecting T. B. Clement chairman. At a session in March $400 was voted to improve the buildings on the county poor farm. Considerable time was spent in discussing county buildings.
The board elected in 1875 consisted of T. C. Adams, H. H. White, T. B. Clement, J. F. Healey and J. G. Scott. At the first meeting, January 5, T. B. Clement was elected chairman. Messrs. Scott and Adams were appointed by the commissioners as a com- mittee to borrow for the county the sum of $5,000, payable in one year.
In 1876 the commissioners were L. W. Denison, J. G. Scott, T. C. Adams, H. H. White and M. Hanley. The board held its first meeting Jannary 4 and organized by electing L. W. Denison as chairman.
In 1877 the board consisted of A. P. Morris, Charles Sweetzer, T. C. Adams, M. Hanley and L. W. Denison. They met for organization January 2 and selected L. W. Denison for chairman. The board spent considerable time this year in discussing and attending to bills from pursuers of the Northfield bank robbers.
In 1878 the board met January 2 and was attended by Chris- tian Deike, A. P. Morris, L. W. Denison, Charles Sweetzer and M. Hanley. The chairman was L. W. Denison. At a subsequent meeting the board authorized the chairman to provide a suitable bookcase for the library presented by the Hon H. M. Rice.
In 1879 the county commissioners were D. Cavanaugh, A. P. Morris, M. Hanley, Charles Sweetzer and C. Deike. D. Cav- anangh was elected chairman. In July a petition was received for aid in building a bridge across Straight river, between Rice and Steele counties. A committee was appointed to meet the commissioners of Steele county and pursuade them to bear a share of the expense.
In 1880 the commissioners were D. Cavanaugh, chairman ; John S. Way, Charles Sweetzer, M. Hanley and C. Deike.
In 1881 the commissioners were the same as the previous year.
In 1882 the commissioners were Charles Sweetzer, chairman ; T. O'Grady, E. J. Healy, C. Deike and John S. Way.
In 1883 the commissioners were J. W. Huckins, J. B. Buck. E. J. Healey, T. O'Grady, C. Dieke.
1884-Auditor, S. L. Crocker; treasurer, E. J. Healy ; regis- ter, M. H. Cole; sheriff, Ara Barton; judge of probate, John Mullin; surveyor. George M. Andrews; coroner, George M. Coon; attorney, A. D. Keyes; superintendent of schools, S. B. Wilson; county commissioners, E. F. Oliver, J. W. Huckins, E. J. Healey, J. B. Buck.
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1885-Auditor, L. S. Crocker; treasurer, E. J. Healy ; regis- ter, M. H. Cole; sheriff, Ara Barton; judge of probate, John Mullin; surveyor, George M. Andrews; coroner, George M. Coon; attorney, A. D. Keyes ; superintendent of schools, S. B. Wilson ; clerk of court, Charles T. Palmer ; county commission- ers, E. F. Oliver, J. W. Iluckins, H. P. Sime, J. B. Buck, T. O'Grady.
1887-Auditor, I. N. Donaldson; treasurer, E. J. Healy ; sheriff, Oscar Lockerby ; register, James Hunter ; attorney, H. M. Keeley; county surveyor, Sterne Faribault; judge of probate, John Mullin; court commissioner, C. W. Pye; coroner, F. M. Rose; superintendent of schools, S. B. Wilson ; county commis- sioners, T. C. Adams, David Ames, A. W. Stockton, T. B. Owings, F. Benjamin, Jr.
1889-Auditor, I. N. Donaldson; treasurer, John Grant; sheriff, C. N. Stewart ; register of deeds, James Hunter; judge of probate, R. A. Mott; county attorney, A. L. Keyes; county surveyor, S. A. Faribault ; coroner. G. M. Coon; clerk of court, C. O. Kleven ; superintendent of schools, S. B. Wilson ; county commissioner, John S. Petteys, David Ames, A. W. Stockton, T. B. Owings, F. Benjamin, Jr.
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