USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 70
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 70
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George E. Sloan was elected in the fall of 1886.
COUNTY TREASURER.
David Sanborn, the first treasurer of Steele county, was appointed by the governor in 1855, and elected at the October election in 1856. He was born in Sanbornton, N. H., on July
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27, 1809. For many years he followed the trade of a mason and builder, erecting several huge blocks in Lowell, Mass. In 1853 he came west and the following year settled in Steele county, remaining here until the time of his death, which oc- curred April 6, 1885.
It seems that Mr. Sanborn only served until January 1, 1858, as county treasurer, and, in fact, during that time there were scarcely any official duties to perform. In October, 1857. J. W. Morford was elected treasurer, and in 1858 and 1859 he was re- elected. Mr. Morford was originally from Wayne county, New York, but came to Owatonna in 1856 from Wisconsin, where his people had settled at an early day. He and John Odell came together and the two were engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Morford, from the first, took a prominent part in all public matters, and this characterized his life all through the many years that he lived in Steele county. He put up the building, which was the first public hall in Owatonna.
On October 8, 1861, Dr. W. W. Finch was elected county treasurer to succeed Mr. Morford and served two years. . \t that time the only safe in Steele county was owned by W. R. Kinyon, who was then practicing law at Owatonna, and Mr. Kinyon became deputy treasurer and the books and funds were kept in his office. Dr. Finch was originally from Vermont. He came west at an early day and settled in Clinton Falls, where he engaged in farming. He had been a practicing physician before coming to Steele county, and during his entire residence here he attended calls and took care of a practice which his neighbors forced upon him. He remained in the county for a number of years after the expiration of his term of office as treasurer, and finally removed to Santa Barbara, Cal., where he died. He had accumulated a comfortable fortune before leaving Steele county. Dr. Finch was a man of a good deal of both natural and acquired ability ; a man who was esteemed and respected, and justly, by all who knew him.
B. G. Melvin was elected treasurer in 1863, and was re-elected in 1865, 1867, 1869 and 1871, serving ten years. Mr. Melvin was a native of the state of Maine, but had come west at an early day, settling in Medford township, Steele county. Some time after his election to the office he removed to Owatonna and made that his home until the time of his death. Mr. Mel- vin was an efficient officer and held the respect of all.
Thomas Thompson succeeded Mr. Melvin as treasurer. He held the office for two terms-from January 1, 1874, until Jan- uary 1, 1878. Mr. Thompson was originally from Ohio. He came to Steele county at an early day and settled upon a farm southeast of Owatonna. When the war broke out he enlisted
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and went into service in a cavalry brigade. After his discharge he returned to his Steele county farm and a few years later was elected county treasurer. He again returned to his farm upon the expiration of his term of office and a year or two later removed to the then Dakota territory, where he died.
In 1877 John A. Cansdell was elected treasurer and in 1879 and 1881 he was re-elected, serving until January 1, 1884. Mr. Cansdell came to Steele county before the war and settled upon a farm near Rice lake. When the war broke out he enlisted and during his service lost one leg. He returned to Steele county and moved to Owatonna, where for several years he ran a grange general merchandise store. In this he was not suc- cessful and came out of it somewhat involved. Then he was elected to office and a short time after the expiration of his third term he removed to Minneapolis, where he lived for some time.
Soren Peterson was elected in 1883 and re-elected in 1886.
COUNTY AUDITOR.
When Steele county was organized in 1855, the office of county auditor had not yet been created, and the duties were per- formed by an officer termed the clerk of the board of county com- missioners, who was appointed by the board. Charles Ellison was the first to fill this office, being appointed by the board at their first session, in August, 1855.
In October, 1856, Z. B. Moore was elected to the office of auditor and apparently held it for two years, whether he per- formed the duties or not. Not much is remembered of Moore except that he was a smart and active young man who came here at a very early day and remained about Owatonna for a few years.
There appears to have been some dispute or difficulty re- garding this office during the winter of 1858-59. The election records show that A. Mckinney was elected to the office in October, 1858, but M. A. Dailey contested, claiming that the election, at that time, of this officer was vested in the board of county commissioners. Mr. Dailey had succeeded Mr. Ellison as clerk of the board, which was really the same as county auditor, and the result of the matter was, that in February, 1859, the board settled the matter by formally electing Mr. Dailey.
In October, 1859, Frank L. Melvin was elected county auditor, but in February, 1860, he resigned and Mr. Dailey was reap- pointed.
E. J. Crandall was elected county auditor to succeed Mr.
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Dailey, in November, 1860, and the office was shortly afterward merged with that of register of deeds.
Succeeding Mr. Crandall in 1862, Walter Morris was elected county anditor and register of deeds, and held the offices jointly until November 5, 1863, when he resigned and C. S. Crandall became register of deeds, and A. N. Stoughton became county auditor by appointment of the board of county commissioners.
A. N. Stoughton was elected in November, 1864, and re- elected in 1866, 1868 and 1870, and after the expiration of his term, he served as deputy auditor for about six years. Alvin N. Stoughton was one of the pioneers of Owatonna. He was born in Weathersfield, Vt., in 1814; came to Ohio in 1819 with his parents, and in 1856 came to Steele county. He was engaged in the mercantile business until 1864. In 1865 he was appointed auditor and was elected four successive terms as stated. In 1885 he was elected city justice and again in 1886; in the spring of 1887 he was elected city treasurer. He was twice mayor of Owatonna, having been the second one elected.
In November, 1872, L. S. Padgham was elected county auditor; in 1874 and 1876 he was re-elected and served until January 1, 1879.
M. B. Chadwick succeeded Mr. Padgham. He was elected first in the fall of 1878, and being three times re-elected served until January 1, 1887.
John C. Burke was elected in October, 1886.
COUNTY SHERIFF.
William F. Pettit was the first sheriff of Steele county. He was appointed by Gov. Gorman at the time the county was organized, in the summer of 1855. For some reason the record shows that Mr. Pettit was elected in October, 1855, although it does not appear that any other county officer was voted for at that time. Mr. Pettit's settlement, and the fact that he became one of the town proprietors of Owatonna, is detailed elsewhere in this volume. lle first came here in the fall of 1854 and took a claim, upon which he settled during the following year, and began improvements. In the fall of 1855 he erected the first frame house upon the present site of the city. He remained in Steele county until after the war, and finally removed to California, where he died. A few years previous to his leaving Steele county he bought a farm northwest of the city a short distanec, and lived upon it until he left. The major part of his time, however, during his residence here was devoted to real estate and townsite interests. He was also for a time in- terested in a dry goods store and a sawmill. He represented
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Steele county in the state senate one term, and stood well among his colleagues during one of the most important sessions held in early days. A man of remarkable force of character, generous to a fault, and always willing to do his full share in building up the town and country. Of course being a town proprietor these enterprises all tended directly to benefit him and his interests, yet the fact that he always took his part of the work and ex- pense should be set down to his credit. Energetic and active, he was a prominent man in early days, and his name is indissolubly connected with the development of Steele county, and its history as an organization.
David Lindersmith succeeded Mr. Pettit as sheriff, and was the first to fill the office under a legal election. He was chosen at the October election in 1856 and served for two years.
W. H. Wilsey succeeded Mr. Lindersmith as sheriff of Steele county. Being elected in October, 1858, he served from January 1, 1859, until January 1, 1861.
In November, 1860, S. C. Williamson was elected to succeed . Mr. Wilsey as sheriff. He was elected for a term of two years, but it appears did not serve out the full term. Mr. Williamson came from Malone, N. Y., and must have settled in Steele county as early as 1855 or 1856, locating first in Clinton Falls township. Later he removed to Owatonna and while there operated a stage line and was also interested in the livery business with a partner under the firm name of Williamson & Cotter, the last named being a brother of the clerk of court in 1887. After a residence of a few years in this county Mr. Williamson disposed of his interests here and returned to New York state.
Seth H. Patterson was elected sheriff in November, 1862. In 1864 he was re-elected, but in May, 1865, he resigned. He came to the county at an early day and located upon a piece of land east of the city, where he engaged in farming. After re- maining in the county for a number of years, being interested in various enterprises, he finally sold out and left the county.
Upon the resignation by Mr. Patterson of the office of sheriff the board of county commissioners, in May, 1865, appointed William Scriby to fill the vacancy, and he served until the fol- lowing general election in November. Scriby was an English- man who settled in Steele county during the latter part of the war, locating upon a farm in Havana township. He remained there until after the war when he sold to Gordon Watson and left the county.
At the next election, in November, 1865, Willard Wheaton was elected sheriff and served out the unexpired term. Mr. Wheaton was a carpenter by trade, and an old settler in Steele county, having located at Owatonna in 1855. Some time after
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
his term expired, he left the county, having lost his first wife here, and was married again, this time to a Rice county lady. A few years later he returned to Owatonna temporarily and met his death while here. It was caused by a runaway.
In November, 1866, Michael J. Toher was elected sheriff and at that time served one term.
The records show that in November, 1868, Frank Borchert was elected sheriff. When Mr. Borchert came to file his bond it appeared that his name was Ferdinand Borchert, and the board refused to accept it. So to cover any possible technical difficulty M. J. Toher, his predecessor, resigned the office, and the board proceeded to appoint Ferdinand Borchert sheriff of Steele county. He served one year.
Succeeding Mr. Borchert in November. 1869, Michael J. Toher was again chosen to fill the office. He was re-elected in 1871 and 1873, serving until January 1, 1876.
In November, 1875, Clark Chambers was elected sheriff. As he was re-elected in 1877, 1879 and 1881, he served for eight consecutive years. Mr. Chambers is still a prominent resident of Owatonna.
HIugh Murray was elected in 1883, and re-elected in 1886.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
The first county superintendent of schools for Steele county was Ezra Abbott, who was elected in October. 1856. The edu- cational system underwent many radical changes in early days, although when Mr. Abbott was elected the system was very similar to that of 1887. After the election of 1856 we do not find any record of the election or appointment of a superintend- ent until 1862. In the spring of this year the system was changed and the county was divided into districts for the super- vision of schools. In September of the same year the board of county commissioners appointed a school superintendent for each of these districts as follows: First district, R. G. Lincoln ; second district, Harvey Chapin ; third district, Dwight Gordon.
In a short time another change was made in the educational system by an act approved March 3, 1864, and in accordance with this the board of commissioners appointed A. A. Harwood superintendent of schools for the entire county and fixed the salary of that officer at $200 per year. Mr. Harwood is noticed at length elsewhere.
Hon. A. C. Hickman succeeded Mr. Harwood as superin- tendent.
F. J. Stevens succeeded Mr. Hickman and served for several years.
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O. A. Tiffany was the next superintendent of schools.
Succeeding him Rev. G. C. Tanner was appointed and held the office until January, 1887, when he resigned.
J. D. Brown was appointed to succeed Mr. Tanner.
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
The first judge of probate of Steele county was Smith John- son, Sr., who was appointed by the governor in the summer of 1855.
Franklin B. Davis succeeded Mr. Johnson and served a por- tion of one year.
Bazil Meek succeeded Mr. Davis as judge of probate. He was elected in October, 1856, and re-elected in 1857. Mr. Meek came here in the spring of 1866 from Jo Daviess county, Illinois, bringing his family and locating upon a claim just west of the present business portion of the city, but within the city limits. He remained there engaged at farming for several years and then left the county.
In November. 1860. R. G. Lincoln was elected judge of pro- bate, and in 1864 he was re-elected. Mr. Lincoln was an early settler at Medford, where he had been engaged in the mercantile business. He was an intelligent and capable business man, and was closely identified with the early history of the northern part of the county. He remained at Medford until the time of his deatlı.
J. J. Aiken succeeded Mr. Lincoln and served a portion of one term.
In November. 1866, A. A. Harwood was elected judge of probate and served two years.
Hon. A. C. Hickman was the next judge of probate, by virtute of the November election, in 1868, and two years later was re-elected. He was a resident of Owatonna for some time and was one of the most able and prominent lawyers in this part of the state.
In November, 1872, Hon. L. L. Wheelock was chosen judge of probate, and being re-elected in 1874 served three years, re- signing before the expiration of his term. Judge Wheelock was also one of the leading members of the bar of southern Min- nesota. Having for twenty years been identified with political and legal matters, he was widely known throughout the state. A history of his life is presented in connection with the history of Steele county's bar.
Upon the resignation of Judge Wheelock the governor ap- pointed Judge Amos Coggswell to this office, and he served out the balance of the term.
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Hon. Lorenzo Hazen succeeded Judge Coggswell by the election in November, 1876. In 1878, 1880, 1882, 1884 and 1886 he was re-elected.
CLERK OF COURT.
The first clerk of court of Steele county was J. H. Catlin, who was appointed by Governor Gorman in 1855. It does not appear from record, however, that he ever performed a single official act.
F. Wilbur Fisk was the second clerk of court, serving by appointment. He held the office during the greater part of 1856.
George Oulton was the first clerk of court to hold the office by virtue of an election. He was chosen in October, 1857, and apparently held the office for two years. Oulton was a native of Vermont, who came here as early as 1855, locating at Owa- tonna and working at whatever he could find to do. He was a smart, active fellow, what would be termed a society man with no bad habits or vices. After a year or two he was engaged most of the time in assisting M. A. Dailey. About the time the war broke out, or possibly a short time before, he left here and finally brought up in California, where he made a fortune in different enterprises. He became one of the most powerful and influential men in the state, was connected with the Union Pacific Railroad at one time, served in various official capacities, rode in his special car, and at one time was considered as power- ful and influential as any man in California. It may truthfully be said that he made as complete a success of life as any man who has ever gone from Steele county.
On October 20, 1859, WV. F. Drum was elected to the office of clerk of court and served one term. Mr. Drum was a native of New York state and a graduate of the West Point military school. Hle came West at an early day and settled upon a farm in Meridian township. He remained in Steele county only a few years and then went to Washington, where he secured an ap- pointment in the regular army and has been in the service ever since. He was an educated and intelligent man, and was quite prominent in public affairs during early days.
John N. Kelley succeeded Mr. Drum by the election in Octo- ber, 1861, and served four years. Kelley was also a New York man. He came here in July, 1855, and located at the county seat. He was an active and capable young man, single at the time, although he afterward married, and was well known in carly days. He was postmaster at Owatonna for several years and for a time was one of the proprietors of the Eureka hotel. About the close of the war he got a position as messenger with
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an express company and moved out of Steele county. He re- mained in the express business for some time and moved to St. Paul.
In November, 1865, Anson M. Kinyon was elected and served one term, which was then four years.
I. W. Burch succeeded Mr. Kinyon. He was elected in No- vember, 1869, and was re-elected in 1873 and 1877, serving twelve years.
James A. Cotter was elected in November, 1881, and was re-elected in 1886.
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
The following is a list of the gentlemen who early occupied the position of prosecuting attorney for Steele county, as shown by the records. Nearly all of these gentlemen receive extended notice in other chapters, so that it is unnecessary to refer to their history here, further than to give the date of the election of each :
Simeon Case was the first county attorney. He was not a lawyer, but was appointed by the governor in 1855, not so much for the duties to be performed-for there was nothing to do then-as for the mere purpose of filling the office.
George W. Green (district attorney), 1856; O. F. Perkins (district attorney), 1857; S. M. Yearly (county attorney), 1858, 1860 and 1862; A. A. Harwood, 1864; J. B. Searles, 1866, 1868, 1870; J. M. Burlingame, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1880; W. F. Sawyer, 1882, 1884; W. A. Sperry, 1886.
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
John W. Park was the first surveyor of Steele county, ap- pointed by the territorial governor in 1855. A number of the early settlers also claim that Mr. Park was elected to the office in the fall of 1856; but the records state that H. W. Peck was elected surveyor at that time. It is certain, however, that Park was the first, and attended to most of the work during the following year.
In October, 1857, O. W. Pollock was elected surveyor and appears to have served one year. Pollock was a young Penn- sylvanian who came to Steele county in 1856 and located at Owatonna. He was a civil engineer, and followed surveying for an occupation. He remained for a number of years, when he left. An incident is related of Pollock's election which is worthy of a place here. Pollock ran as a Republican candidate, and Luther Bixby, a Democrat, was his opponent. Mr. Bixby con- tested the election and it was carried to the Supreme Court,
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where Judge Flandrau decided that Pollock had not been here long enough to gain a residence. By the time the decision was rendered he had been here the time fixed by law and the board at once appointed Mr. Pollock to the office.
A. Ingerson succeeded Mr. Pollock, being elected in the fall of 1858, and re-elected in 1859. Mr. Ingerson was an early set- tler in Berlin township, where he had located upon a farm. After a few years he secured an appointment to a government clerkship in Washington and moved there. He afterward moved to Hennepin county, Minnesota.
S. B. Beach was the next surveyor of Steele county. He was elected in November, 1860, and served one year.
In October, 1861, J. M. Finch was a native of New York. He had located at Clinton Falls at an early day, where he had engaged in farming. and remained there until the time of his death. Several of his sons are still residents of the county. Mr. Finch was prominent among the old settlers, belonging to a family that were closely identified with all public matters in early days. His death was regretted and mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
John H. Abbott succeeded J. M. Finch as surveyor. He was elected in November, 1862, and served the full term of two years.
Luther Bixby came next, by virtue of the election in Novem- ber, 1864. Mr. Bixby was a native of Vermont. He came west at an early day and located in the village of Owatonna. Being a surveyor he followed that occupation at first, and after a few years opened a drug store. While engaged at this he discov- ered and began the manufacture of a patent medicine called "Bixby's Death to Pain," and toward the latter part of his mer- cantile career here he purchased a newspaper. After selling out his store he removed to Minneapolis, and began the publication of the "Temperance Review." at the same time manufacturing and placing his medicine upon the market. He has since sold both these interests and moved to Chicago.
Succeeding Mr. Bixby, in 1866. J. M. Finch was again elected to the office, and held it for two years.
M. E. Billings was elected in the fall of 1868, serving the same length of time.
By the election in November. 1870, Charles Dennijes became surveyor.
B. S. Wheeler was the next surveyor. He was elected in the fall of 1871 and re-elected in 1873. 1875 and 1879. Mr. Wheeler was an early settler in the town of Summit, where he had been engaged in farming. He remained there for some years, and then removed to southeastern Dakota, where he lived for some time.
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In the fall of 1881 John H. Abbott was again elected surveyor. A. M. Mitchell was elected in November, 1883, and re-elected in 1886.
COUNTY CORONER.
The following is a list of the various gentlemen who up to 1887 had been elected to the office of coroner of Steele county, together with the date of election of each, as shown by the records. Many of these named never qualified : Thomas Kenyon, 1856-58: Anton Shimek, 1860; Thomas Kenyon, 1861; G. W. Watson, 1862-64; John Austin, 1866; J. G. Gilchrist, 1858-70; L. L. Bennett, 1871-73; H. S. Hill, 1877; L. L. Bennett, 1879; Dr. H. S. Hill, 1881 ; Dr. E. E. Aukes, 1883 ; Dr. J. L. Harrington, 1884; C. Peterson, 1886.
COURT COMMISSIONER.
The following named, up to 1887, held the office of court com- missioner by election : P. J. Nordeen, 1860; R. G. Lincoln, 1861- 1864; A. A. Harwood, 1866; J. M. Burlingame, 1869; M. B. Chad- wick, 1872; L. Hazen, 1881-86.
RECENT OFFICERS.
Since 1887, the officers of Steele county have been as follows : 1889-Auditor, J. C. Burke ; treasurer, Soren Peterson ; sheriff, J. Z. Barncard; register of decds, George E. Sloan; county attorney, W. A. Sperry ; county surveyor, A. M. Mitchell; cor- oner, J. H. Adair ; superintendent of schools, Edward J. Adams ; judge of probate, L. Hagen; county commissioners, Theodore Chambers, first district; J. L. Johnson, second district; Frank Carlton, third district; G. W. Kinyon, fourth district; H. Schmidt, fifth district.
1891-Auditor, J. C. Burke : treasurer, W. E. Martin ; sheriff, J. Z. Barncard ; clerk of court, G. W. Peachey : register of deeds, G. E. Sloan ; county attorney, J. A. Sawyer ; county surveyor, A. M. Mitchell; coroner, J. H. Adair ; superintendent of schools, William E. Williams ; judge of probate, L. Hagen ; county com- missioners, Theodore Chambers, first district ; Fred Ahrens, sec- ond district; Frank Carlton, third district: Robert Crickmore, fourth district ; H. Schmidt. fifth district.
1893-Auditor, A. G. Leick ; treasurer, W. E. Martin ; sheriff, J. Z. Barncard : register of deeds, George E. Sloan ; judge of pro- bate, M. B. Chadwick ; attorney, J. A. Sawyer; surveyor, A. M. Mitchell; coroner, J. H. Adair; clerk of court, G. W. Peachcy ; court commissioner, H. Hazen ; superintendent of schools, W. E. Williams ; county commissioners, H. Schmidt (chairman), fifth
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