History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 964

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Twenty-third Legislature-1883. Assembled January 2; adjourned March 2. Senator, Henry C. Waite. Representatives, L. W. Collins, St. Cloud; Alex- ander Moore, Sauk Centre; Alexander Chisholm, Paynesville; Casper Capser, St. Joseph.

Twenty-fourth Legislature-1885. Assembled January 6; adjourned March 6. Senator, Henry C. Waite, St. Cloud. Representatives, B. Rein- hard, St. Cloud; Casper Capser, St. Joseph; D. E. Meyers, Maine Prairie ; J. H. Bruce, Sank Centre.

Twenty-fifth Legislature-1887. Assembled January 4; adjourned March 4. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre. Representatives, Martin Heisler, Spring Hill; George Engelhard, Munson; Daniel H. Freeman, St. Cloud; Kettel Halvorson, North Fork.

Twenty-sixth Legislature-1889. Assembled January 8; adjourned April 23. The length of the session was extended to ninety days, exclusive of Sun- days and holidays. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre. Representatives, W. Merz, St. Joseph; Joseph Capser, Sauk Centre; Martin F. Greely, Maine Prairie; Frank E. Searle, St. Cloud. The apportionment of 1889 increased the number of districts to 54, with one senator to each and 114 representa- tives. Stearns and Benton counties and the Seventh Ward of the City of St. Cloud in Sherburne county composed the Forty-fifth district, with one senator and four representatives.

Twenty-seventh Legislature-1891. Assembled January 6; adjourned

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

April 20. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre. Representatives, Frank E. Searle, St. Cloud; Joseph Capser, Sauk Centre; J. H. Linneman, St. Joseph; Joseph H. Coates, Sauk Rapids.

Twenty-eighth Legislature-1893. Assembled January 3; adjourned April 18. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre ;. Representatives, P. B. Gor- man, St. Cloud; J. H. Linneman, St. Joseph ; Frank E. Minette, Sauk Centre ; C. H. Hunck, Duelm.

Twenty-ninth Legislature-1895. Assembled January 8; adjourned April 23. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre. Representatives, John J. Boobar, St. Cloud; Fred Schroeder, St. Joseph; Alexander Chisholm, Paynesville; W. L. Nieman, Sauk Rapids.

Thirtieth Legislature-1897. Assembled January 5; adjourned April 21. Senator, Henry Keller, Sauk Centre. Representatives, J. G. Hayter, Fair Haven; Fred Schroeder, St. Joseph; Joseph Kraker, Melrose; E. S. Hall, Minden. A new apportionment made by this legislature created 63 senatorial districts, with 119 representatives. Stearns county was made a part of two districts-the Forty-seventh, which comprised Benton county, the Seventh ward of St. Cloud in Sherburne county, the City of St. Cloud, and the town- ships of St. Cloud and Le Sauk in Stearns county, with one senator and one representative ; and the Fifty-fourth district, comprising all of Stearns county except the City of St. Cloud and the townships of St. Cloud and Le Sauk, with one senator and two representatives.

Thirty-first Legislature-1899. Assembled January 3; adjourned April 18. Forty-seventh district-Senator, Ripley B. Brower, St. Cloud; representa- tive, Oscar Daggett, Sauk Rapids. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, Valentine Batz, Holding; representatives, Frank Benolken, Oak, and W. F. Donohue, Melrose.

Thirty-second Legislature-1901. Assembled January 8; adjourned April 12. Forty-seventh district-Senator, Ripley B. Brower, St. Cloud; repre- sentative, Oscar Daggett, Sauk Rapids. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, Valen- tine Batz, Holding; representatives, Frank Benolken, Oak, and Edward C. Hogan, Sauk Centre. An extra session of the legislature was called by Gov- ernor Van Sant for the purpose of considering the report of the Tax Commis- sion created at the regular session. This session convened February 4, 1902, and adjourned March 11.

Thirty-third Legislature-1903. Assembled January 6; adjourned April 21. Forty-seventh district-Senator, Ripley B. Brower, St. Cloud; representa- tive, J. J. McGregor, Minden. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, Val. Batz, Hold- ing; representatives, Frank Minette, Sauk Centre, and Chris. H. Block, Fair Haven.

Thirty-fourth Legislature-1905. Assembled January 3; adjourned April 18. Forty-seventh district-Senator, Ripley B. Brower, St. Cloud; repre- sentative, P. C. Lynch, Glendorado. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, Val. Batz, Holding; representatives, William J. Stock, Melrose, and H. C. Block, Fair Haven.

Thirty-fifth Legislature-1907. Assembled January 8; adjourned April 24. Forty-seventh district-Senator, John E. C. Robinson, St. Cloud; repre-

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

sentative, Otis F. Doyle, St. Cloud (Benton county). Fifty-fourth district- Senator, John J. Ahmann, Munson; representatives, John R. Howard, Sauk Centre, and Joseph Friedman, Eden Valley.

Thirty-sixth Legislature-1909. Assembled January 5; adjourned April 22. Forty-seventh district-Senator, John E. C. Robinson, St. Cloud; repre- sentative, Otis F. Doyle, St. Cloud (Benton county). Fifty-fourth district- Senator, John F. Ahmann, Munson; representatives, Joseph Friedman, Eden Valley, and Henry J. Emmel, Melrose.

Thirty-seventh Legislature -- 1911. Assembled January 3; adjourned April 19. Forty-seventh district-Senator, John D. Sullivan, St. Cloud; representa- tive, L. Wisniewski, Foley. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, John J. Ahmann, Munson; representatives, Frank E. Minette, Sauk Centre, and August M. Utecht, Munson. An extra session of the legislature, called by Governor Eber- hart, assembled June 4 and adjourned June 18, 1912. This session passed the so-called state wide primary law, the special object for which it had been con- vened, but little other legislation being attempted.

Thirty-eighth Legislature-1913. Assembled January 7; adjourned April 24. Forty-seventh district-Senator, John D. Sullivan, St. Cloud; representa- tive, Joseph H. Coates, Sauk Rapids. Fifty-fourth district-Senator, John J. Ahmann, Munson; representatives, Frank E. Minette, Sauk Centre, and J. A. Henry, Albany.

At several successive sessions of the legislature prior to that of 1913 at- tempts had been made to secure a new apportionment. The last had been in 1897 and a great change in the population had taken place in the meantime -the northern part of the state having increased while in the southern part the gain had been slight, in some counties an actual loss having taken place. But all attempts at a fair and equitable apportionment, based on population, as required by the plain provisions of the constitution, were frustrated by the southern senators, who realized that a readjustment of representation on a constitutional basis would materially reduce their numbers, leaving a bunch of ambitious politicians to cool their heels at home instead of warming them in the legislative chambers. But at the last session, after a protracted struggle, a compromise bill was agreed upon, by which the number of senators was increased to 67 and the number of representatives to 130, although the legis- lature was already one of the largest in the United States and altogether out of proportion to the population. The increase, however, was a sop to the southern senators, and was necessary in order to secure re-apportionment on anything even approaching a fair basis.

By the apportionment of 1913 the former Thirty-eighth and Fifty-fourth senatorial districts became the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth. These districts are composed as follows :

Forty-fifth District. The Forty-fifth district shall be composed of the County of Benton, the Seventh ward of the City of St. Cloud situated in the County of Sherburne, and the City of St. Cloud and the villages of St. Joseph, Rockville, Sartell and Waite Park, and the towns of St. Joseph, Brockway, St. Wendel, Le Sauk, Rockville, St. Cloud, St. Angusta and Lynden situated

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

in the County of Stearns, and shall be entitled to elect one senator and two representatives.

The representative districts shall be divided as follows: The County of Benton and the Seventh ward of the City of St. Cloud in Sherburne county shall constitute one district and shall be entitled to elect one representative.

The First, Second, Third, and Fourth wards of the City of St. Cloud and the villages of St. Joseph, Sartell, Rockville and Waite Park, and the towns of Brockway, St. Wendel, Le Sauk, St. Joseph, St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Rockville and Lynden situated in the County of Stearns shall constitute one district and shall be entitled to elect one representative.

Forty-sixth District. The Forty-sixth district shall be composed of the villages of Holding, Freeport, Albany, Eden Valley, St. Martin, Cold Spring, Richmond, Kimball Prairie, Avon, New Munich, Meire Grove, Brooten, Bel- grade, Paynesville and Spring Hill, and the towns of Holding, Millwood, Oak, St. Martin, Krain, Albany, Farming, Munson, Eden Lake, Avon, Collegeville, Wakefield, Luxemburg, Maine Prairie, Fair Haven, Ashley, Sauk Center, Mel- rose, Raymond, Getty, Grove, North Fork, Lake George, Spring Hill, Crow Lake, Crow River, Lake Henry, Zion and Paynesville, and the cities of Sauk Centre and Melrose situated in the County of Stearns and shall be entitled to elect one senator and two representatives.

The representative districts shall be divided as follows: The villages of Meire Grove, Brooten, Belgrade, Paynesville and Spring Hill, the towns of Ashley, Sauk Centre, Melrose, Raymond, Getty, Grove, North Fork, Lake George, Spring Hill, Crow Lake, Crow River, Lake Henry, Zion and Paynes- ville, and the cities of Sauk Centre and Melrose shall constitute one district and shall be entitled to elect one representative.

The villages of Holding, Freeport, Albany, Eden Valley, St. Martin, Cold Spring, Richmond, Kimball Prairie, Avon, New Munich and the towns of Holding, Millwood, Oak, St. Martin, Krain, Albany, Farming, Munson, Eden Lake, Avon, Collegeville, Wakefield, Luxemburg, Maine Prairie and Fair Haven shall constitute one district and shall be entitled to elect one representative.

Thirty-ninth Legislature-1915. Assembled January 4. Forty-fifth dis- trict-Senator, John D. Sullivan, St. Cloud ; representatives (in Stearns coun- ty), Charles A. Gilman, St. Cloud; (in Benton county) Edward Indrehuston, Glendorado, Foley, R. F. D. 4. Forty-sixth district-Senator, P. A. Hilbert, Melrose; representatives, Fred Minette, Sauk Centre; Henry Stoetzel, Mil- wood, Freeport R. F. D. 3.

CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.

During the period of its territorial existence Minnesota was represented in congress by one delegate, who while entitled to a seat in the house of repre- sentatives and to take part in debate had no vote, his duties supposedly being devoted primarily to caring for the interests of his territory. As has been stated, the first delegate was Henry H. Sibley, whose term extended from January 15, 1849, to March 4, 1853. He was succeeded by Henry M. Rice, who served from December 5, 1853, to March 4, 1857. W. W. Kingsbury was the

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

delegate during the brief succeeding period of territorial existence, from December 7, 1857, to May 11, 1858.

The state constitution adopted in 1857 provided that for the purposes of the first eleetion the state should constitute one congressional district and should elect three members of the house of representatives. This was based on the belief that the population at that time was 250,000. The election was held October 13, 1857, for state officers and congressmen. The three members elected were George L. Becker, William W. Phelps and James M. Cavanaugh. But the completed eensus showed the population to be only 150,037, and the act providing for the admission of Minnesota as a state allowed only two congressmen. It was agreed among the three gentlemen who had been for five months on the anxious seat, because they could not get any other, to decide by lot who should present their credentials. The long straws were drawn by Messrs. Phelps and Cavanaugh, the ill-fortune of Mr. Beeker, who was generally regarded as the ablest of the three, being generally regretted.

The legislature of 1857-8 divided the state into two congressional dis- tricts, Stearns county being in the second district, which comprised the more northern counties. Each distriet was entitled to elect one representative to congress.

A new apportionment was made in 1872, providing for three congressional districts, Stearns county being included in the Third, with Ramsey, Hennepin and the other counties in the state to the north.

The apportionment of 1881 divided the state into five districts, Stearns county, with Mille Lacs, Benton, Morrison, Pope, Douglas, Stevens, Big Stone, Traverse, Grant, Todd, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton, Wadena, Otter Tail, Wilkin, Cass, Becker, Clay, Polk, Beltrami, Marshall, Hubbard, Kittson, Itasea, St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties constituting the Fifth district.

The next apportionment, that of 1891, increased the number of districts to seven, Stearns county being in the Sixth distriet, with Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake, Mille Laes, Morrison, Pine, St. Louis, Sherburne, Todd, Wadena and Wright eounties.

By the apportionment of 1901 the state was divided into nine congressional distriets, Stearns county remaining in the Sixth district, with the counties of Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Hubbard, Meeker, Morrison, Sherburne, Todd, Wadena and Wright.

The national census of 1910 gave Minnesota an additional member of congress, who was elected at large at the election held November 4, 1912.

The legislature of 1913 divided the state into ten congressional distriets. The Sixth district is composed of the counties of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Morrison, Aitkin, Todd, Crow Wing, Wadena, Hubbard, Cass and Beltrami- a veritable "shoe-string" district, extending from south of the geographical center of the state to the extreme northern boundary.

Stearns county has been represented in congress since Minnesota beeame a state, as follows :

W. W. Phelps, Democrat (Goodhue county), May 12, 1858, to March 4, 1859. Cyrus Aldrich, Republican (Hennepin county), Mareh 4, 1859, to

N.T. Planke

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

March 4, 1863. Ignatius Donnelly, Republican (Dakota county), March 4, 1863, to March 4, 1869. Eugene M. Wilson, Democrat (Hennepin county), March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1871. John T. Averill, Republican (Ramsey county), March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1875. William S. King, Republican (Hennepin county), March 4, 1875, to March 4, 1877. Jacob H. Stewart, Republican (Ramsey county), March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1879. William D. Washburn, Republican (Hennepin county), March 4, 1879, to March 4, 1883. Knute Nelson, Republican (Douglas county), March 4, 1883, to March 4, 1889. S. G. Comstock, Republican (Clay county), March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1891. Kittel Halvorson, Alliance (Stearns county), March 4, 1891, to March 4, 1893. M. R. Baldwin, Democrat (St. Louis county), March 4, 1893, to Marchi 4, 1895. Charles A. Towne, Republican (St. Louis county), March 4, 1895, to March 4, 1897. Page Morris, Republican (St. Louis county), March 4, 1897, to March 4, 1903. C. B. Buckman, Republican (Morrison county), March 4, 1903, to March 4, 1907. Charles A. Lindburgh, Republican (Morrison county), March 4, 1907, to March 4, 1915. At the election in November, 1914, Mr. Lindburgh was re-elected for the term ending March 4, 1917.

CHAPTER IX.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW.

Important Incidents in the Lives of Several Men and Women Who Have Been Prominent in the History of Stearns County-Causes Which Have Con- tributed to Their Success-Family Genealogy.

Nehemiah Parker Clarke. Few men in Minnesota have achieved greater success along the chosen lines of work than did Nehemiah P. Clarke. A man of untiring energy, of indomitable perseverance, of keen insight, and of unusual business acumen, he went into large enterprises with perfect confi- dence of final success, and success was almost invariably the result of his efforts. Two fields of endeavor and opportunity claimed practically the sum of his efforts-business and the raising of the highest grades of stock. In both he won a place among the foremost, and his reputation as a stock breeder was national, if not international. Mr. Clarke was born April 8, 1836, at Hubbardston, Worcester county, Massachusetts. His father, Dr. Shepherd Clarke, was a practicing physician, but the son, having no desire to follow in his father's footsteps, early left home, and made his first venture in Kentucky as a book agent at the age of fourteen. He remained in that state two years and was so successful that thirty years later the firm wrote urging him to take up the business again. He was called home by the death of his only brother, John Flavel Clarke. After attending school for a year and a half at Westminster, Vermont, he went to Detroit at the age of eighteen, and secured employment in a wholesale grocery house, where he remained for a year. In September, 1855, he went to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and worked in Dea- con's hardware store, by these experiences laying the foundation for

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

much of the active work of his after life. Moving still further westward in 1856, Mr. Clarke came to Minnesota, reaching St. Cloud on July 4, when he had not yet attained his majority. The few houses which made up the new-born hamlet were scattered up and down the river and the inducements for trade seemed meager indeed. But he was full of the life, energy, and busi- ness sagacity which marked his entire career, and he at once engaged in the merchandise business. While at Fond du Lac, Mr. Clarke had formed a close acquaintance with John H. Proctor, of Athol, Mass., and the two made the journey further westward together. They took the steamboat on the Missis- sippi to St. Paul, and went from there to St. Anthony, now Minneapolis, arriv- ing early in July, 1856. Finding that the stage would not leave for several days, they walked to St. Cloud, a distance of sixty-five miles, along the west bank of the Mississippi, taking two days for the trip. By the time they had reached Monticello, Mr. Proctor, who was the less vigorous of the two, was thoroughly exhausted, and urged that they wait the coming of the stage. But as the next day was the Fourth of July, and as Mr. Clarke had set his heart on spending that day in his new home, he insisted that they proceed. At times, when his companion had completely given out, he carried him for a distance on his back, until he could rally sufficiently to resume his foot-sore journey. At once upon their arrival, they formed a business partnership, and Mr. Clarke returned to the East, where he purchased a stock of general merchandise. They occupied the two-story building which stood on the east side of Fifth avenue, North, just north of the present Great Northern railroad track. The first floor was used as a store room, while the proprietors kept "bachelor's hall" up stairs. Next season they put up a building on the site occupied by the Fifth Avenue Hotel, with a warehouse in the rear, facing Sixth avenue, to accommodate their largely increased business. Their stock included nearly everything in the way of general merchandise, as well as farming implements and hardware. When the Indian war broke out, Mr. Proctor's family becoming alarmed, he sold his interest in the business to A. Montgomery, and returned to the East. Soon afterward, Mr. Clarke disposed of his interest to J. E. West, and engaged in the transportation business to the far West, where the government posts were located, using mules and ox teams in the filling of contracts for supplies. His enterprises, among which was laying out the stage route to the Black Hills, carried him much of the way through a wholly unsettled country, where Indians and stage robbers were frequently encountered. He also engaged in the banking business, first as a member of the firm of Clarke & McClure, and later taking the business wholly into his own hands and name. He was one of the leading lumbermen of the state, both as an owner of pine lands and as a manufacturer and shipper from Minneapolis and other points. But in his latter years, the raising of pure bred stock, especially horses and cattle, became a passion with Mr. Clarke, and he devoted to attaining the highest results along this line, a great deal of time and large sums of money. He carried on three good farms, Meadow Lawn of 1,600 acres, Clyde Mains of 1,900 acres, and Nether Hall of 300 acres, all in Stearns county. His Shorthorn cattle included some of the choicest animals to be found in the country and

MRS. JANE GREY SWISSHELM.

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

they were prize winners wherever shown. The Galloways were equally suc- cessful. He owned the celebrated Clydesdales, Prince Patrick and Queen Lily, who won the world's championship prizes at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Mr. Clarke visited Great Britain and selected the choicest animals, regardless of cost, for the Stearns county farms. While caring little or nothing for office, he was much interested in politics, and exerted a potent influence in the direction of his preferences. While yet a young man, he was clerk of the district court of the county, his first term being in 1859, the victory being won by his personal popularity in the face of a strong adverse political majority. He was re-elected in 1861. When St. Cloud became a city he was elected a member of the common council. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cincinnati in 1876, which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes for the presidency. He was president of the Minnesota Agricultural Society, of the American Clydesdale Association, and of the American Galloway Association, and an active member of the American Shorthorn Association.

No matter how busy he was with other things, Mr. Clarke always found time to promote the agricultural interests of Minnesota. When president of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, he was mainly responsible for the presentation of the present state fair grounds by Ramsey county to the com- monwealth. He then went before the legislature and succeeded in getting an appropriation of $100,000 to equip the grounds. When the buildings were finished a shortage of about $110,000 was discovered. Mr. Clarke drew his personal check for the difference and carried the indebtedness until the legis- lature reimbursed him. He helped the State Agricultural School at St. Anthony Park in all possible ways, talked to the students at commencement on practical subjects, and spent much time working for the necessary appropriations.

He was a member of the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers' Association and the Old Settlers' Association of Stearns county. Mr. Clarke was a Unitarian and the son of New England Unitarians. He was one of the founders of Unity Church, of St. Cloud, and always actively interested in its welfare.

At Roxbury, Mass., September 12, 1860, Mr. Clarke married Caroline E. Field, who survives him. Three children were born to them: Charlotte E., Mary Ann, and Ellen C. Ellen C. became the wife of C. F. de Golyer, who died in Florida December 6, 1895. Mrs. de Golyer resides in Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Clarke had been in ill health for several years before his death, which occurred in St. Cloud, Saturday, June 29, 1912. The work which he began and so successfully carried forward will continue to be of advantage to the people of Minnesota and its neighboring states for many decades to come.

Mr. Clarke's father, Dr. Shepherd Clarke, was born August 17, 1794, at Hubbardstown, Massachusetts, and his mother, Mary Ann Dickinson, at Petersham, Massachusetts, where they were married in January, 1825, making their home at Hubbardstown, where they died, the father September 24, 1852, and the mother in 1876. N. P. Clarke was the last survivor of the family, which included one other son and six daughters.

Jane Grey Swisshelm. It is easily within the limits of a conservative

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

judgment to say that the influence of Mrs. Jane Grey Swisshelm was more potent in Minnesota, during the period of its late territorial and early state history, than that of any other woman. The anti-slavery issue was convulsing the entire nation, and even on the soil of this far-northern state, the master asserted his ownership of his slaves. Mrs. Swisshelm had brought with her to her new home the most intense anti-slavery convictions, and had been preceded by her reputation as a vigorous and fearless writer. She was also earnestly devoted to seeuring legislation which would give to women an equality of marital, civil and legal rights with those enjoyed by men. In these two causes she was enlisted heart and soul, giving to them all her strength and all her gifts of tongue and pen, and lived to see the complete triumph of one and a most gratifying measure of success-since then also become complete-of the other.

Her life began December 6, 1815, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her father being Thomas Cannon and her mother Mary Scott, both of Scoteh-Irish deseent. Her grandmother on the maternal side, Jane Grey, was of that family which was allied to royalty, having given to England her nine-days' queen, Lady Jane Grey, in 1553. At the age of fifteen she began teaching school in the village of Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh, to which hamlet her father had removed and engaged in business the year following her birth. She was married November 18, 1836, to James Swisshelm, who lived on a near-by farm, on which was located a small saw-mill run by the water of a little stream which dashed into the buckets of an "over-shot" wheel, so familiar in the small mills of that early day, but now a thing wholly of the past. During her girlhood, she had developed a taste for painting, but condi- tions after her married life began were unfavorable for its continuance and development, to her bitter disappointment. In 1838 her husband moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he engaged in business, and where she came into elose contact with human slavery, witnessing its brutality, its horrors, its wickedness, its degrading influence on whites and blaeks alike. Her whole nature revolted against the wrong and injustice done to an entire race, and one of the great purposes of her life was then and there formed. Mr. Swisshelm's business not proving successful, they left Louisville in 1842 and returned to the Pennsylvania farm, which Mrs. Swisshelm then named Swiss- vale, the near-by station on the Pennsylvania railway still having that name. She now began writing stories, rhymes and abolition articles for different Philadelphia and Pittsburgh papers under the nom de phime of "Jennie Deans." Later, under her own name, she published a series of letters in a Pittsburgh paper on the subject of a married woman's right to hold property. Other women labored in the same cause and with such sneeess that in the session of 1847-48 the legislature of Pennsylvania passed a bill giving to women the right to hold property in their own name. These editorial labors led to the establishing of the Pittsburgh Saturday Visiter, the first number of which appeared January 20, 1848, and Mrs. Swisshelm became one of the early pioneers in the world of journalism for women. While the Visiter had attractive literary features, its main purpose was to advocate the abolition of slavery and the securing to women of their just marital and legal rights.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 964

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 964