USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 52
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In 1882 the annual meeting was held at Plainview. Dr. A. E. Baldwin, a native of that place, a graduate of Chicago Medical Col- lege, and Dr. R. A. Gove, of Millville ; also W. E. Taber, graduate of the Missouri Dental College, were elected members of the society.
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THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY.
Dr. Baldwin and Dr. Adams, of Elgin, were appointed a committee to draft resolutions of respect to the memory of our late brother, Dr. E. C. Davis.
The annual meeting of 1883 was held June 12, at Wabasha, at which mecting no new members were elected ; but that fact does not indicate a loss of vitality in the society, but would rather suppose there were no new doctors in the field. Our brethren who affect the grannla and attenuation theory are represented in the county, and have been for some years, by the "jolly medicine-man " Charles W. Crary, who reports himself a graduate of Albany Medical Col- lege, in 1858, and also of Jefferson Medical College, in 1870, which fact does not look like attenuation in regard to diplomas. Any attempt at an epitome of history of the medical profession in our county would appear incomplete if the name of Dr. Curry were left out. A cultured, gentlemanly Scotchman arrived from Canada in the early years of the war, having brothers, friends and acquaintances of the same nationality in the county. He located at Lake City, but previous to his coming here disease had shaken his large and well- knit frame, and to bring relief from suffering he had resorted to the "drug which enslaves," and his days were soon numbered. The doctrine of heredity is exemplified in the medical profession of Wabasha in the person of Dr. E. A. Patton, of Minneapolis, son of Dr. Patton, of Lake City, and again in Dr. William H. Lincoln, of Chicago, son of Dr. Lincoln, of Wabasha. The Wabasha County Medical Society seems now to be 'on a firmn basis and will undoubt- edly exert a good influence on the members of the profession, and will recommend its good work to the general public.
CHAPTER LXIL.
COUNTY POORHOUSE.
PRIOR to the admission of Minnesota as a state into the Union in 1858, the care of the poor in the several counties devolved upon the county commissioners, who were empowered to appoint an overseer of the poor, and levy snch taxes as were necessary for the relief of the indigent within their several connty borders. Upon the pas- sage of the township act in August, 1858, providing for the organiza-
708
HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
tion of townships throughout the state, and presenting the number and duties of town officers, a radical change was made in the poor- law, by which an overseer of the poor was to be chosen in each township, and the town anthorities given the custody and charge of" their own poor. By this same legislature (1858) the chairman of the several township boards in the county were made a county board of supervisors, and upon them devolved the management of the county business ; but the care of the poor was not included in the list of their prescribed duties, that matter being committed to the town- ships as such. By act of February 28, 1860, the provision for a board of county supervisors, composed of the chairmen of the various town boards, was abrogated, and the present arrangement, dividing the county into commissioner districts, was adopted. By the new law two or more townships were to be united into one com- missioner district, according to population, one commissioner to be elected from each district, and the commissioners thus elected to form the board of county commissioners, whose duties were very largely the same as those formerly devolving upon the "board of supervisors for the county." By this act no change was made in the regulations for the oversight and care of the poor, each township having independent control and taking individual care of its own poor. Four years later, March 4, 1864, a radical change was made in the law for the support and maintenance of the poor, and since then the matter has remained almost at rest, so far as any change of method is concerned. By this act the care and maintenance of the poor was made a county instead of a township charge, and the county com- missioners, by virtue of their office, were made superintendents of the poor of their respective counties, and to them was committed the management of any poorhouse, farm, workhouse, etc., provided for the comfort, support or employment of the poor, maintained at public expense, and by them the overseer of such poorhouse or farm was to be appointed.
It was in accordance with the provisions of this act that the county commissioners of Wabasha county, after having made temporary provision for the care of the poor within the county for some time, purchased in 1867 the first poor-farm owned by the county. This was a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on Sec. 11, T. 109, R. 13 W., of the P.M., lying in the town of Hyde Park, about one and one-half miles north of the Zumbro river. The
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COUNTY POORHOUSE.
purchase price was four thousand two hundred dollars, and the county commissioners put the farm and the management of their poor under the supervision of George Bartholmew, who held that office until the county poorhouse was removed from Hyde Park to Wabasha in 1873. The county commissioners in 1873, recognizing the undesirableness of attempting to care for their poor on a large farm in a secluded part of the county remote from the county build- ings, where their meetings were necessarily held, exchanged the property in Hyde Park for that now occupied as the poorhouse grounds. This property comprises a tract of thirty-two acres of land, situated on the east side of the public highway running from Wabasha to Kellogg, the poorhouse standing about one mile from the court-house. The buildings at that time upon the property were quite inadequate to the uses required of them. The main building had been erected originally for a barn, and was afterward converted into a dancehouse. This building was rearranged at the expense of the original owner, and taken possession of by the county in 1873. In 1879 a comfortable hospital for the comfort of the county wards was built. This building, 20×30, two stories in height, of brick, in which is the dispensatory, stands near the north line of the poor- house premises, a little retired from the road, but as it interferes with the prospect from the new county-house, now approaching completion, it will very probably be moved to the rear. The old building contained twelve rooms, and in these, to date, August 1, 1883, were seventeen persons, among them three insane, one idiotic and one blind. The county provides clothing and medicines, and the superintendent supplies food and care at a certain contract price per head. No attempt is made to work the land by pauper labor, but inmates are required to help themselves in all proper ways, and do such light work as the wisdom of the overseer considers fitted for them. The present cost of maintaining the indigent of the county at the county-house is about three thousand dollars per annum. George Bartholmew was succeeded by Samuel Demery, who had charge of the county-house from 1873 to 1876, when Mr. Bartholmew was reappointed, and remained as superintendent until the county-house was placed in charge of the present incumbent, F. J. Collier, who assumed his duties as superintendent February 20, 1878.
The new county building now in process of erection under con- tract with Messrs. Alexander & Lutz, of Lake City, is really a
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
credit to the county. The building presents a very imposing appear- ance ; architecturally it is well proportioned, and the durability of its construction will not be questioned by those who have watched its erection, or carefully examined the materials of which it is built. The plans were drawn by E. Alexander, of Lake City, the original contractor, who afterward associated with him Mr. Wm. B. Lutz, also of Lake City, and by them it was erected. The extreme length of the front wing, facing westward, is seventy-six feet eight inches ; of the side wing, facing north, sixty-four feet four inches; the sides of the inner angle are forty-nine feet and thirty-two feet respectively; the walls rise twenty-seven feet above the water-table, and the roof will be of tin. There are porticoes over the two main entrances on the west and north, and a porch along the entire length of the southern side of the shorter wing. There is a solid stone foundation under all, in building which sixty-eight cords of stone were used, and the walls contain two hundred thousand brick. Ground was broken in the early summer, the first stone was laid in the foundation June 1, and work pushed so rapidly that the walls were completed Angust 4. The contract requires the completion of the entire structure September 15, and the work goes on with every prospect of accomplishing it within the specified time. The original contract was for seven thousand nine hundred and forty dollars, but some changes have been made in water-tables and other particulars, which will bring the total cost to eight thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. The building is lighted by seventy-two windows-those in the lower story having lights of 14× 40 inches ; the upper story 14×36 inches, all four-light sash. The walls of basement are seventeen inches in thickness ; of superstructure, twelve inches. The basement contains the farnace and laundry, in addition to the usnal cellar room, and there is an excellent cistern with a capacity of two hundred and thirty barrels. The window and door sills are of solid stone, and there is a very substantial as well as ornate appearance to the entire structure. J. Cole Doughty & Co., of Lake City, supply the furnaces and put on the roof; Jewell & Schmidt, of Wabasha, furnish all other hardware. The superin- tendent's rooms and the kitchen are in the east wing ; the dining- room and quarters for the inmates in the main wing, fronting the public highway. The kitchen is 15×17 feet ; the dining-room 25 ×18 feet; the rooms for imnates are each 8×11 feet. The lower hall is ten feet four inches, upper hall six feet, and there are three stair-
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SOCIETIES.
cases, varying in width from three feet eight inches to three feet. The building contains twenty-nine rooms, all told-thirteen down- stairs, twenty-six in upper story. The whole arrangement is such as to economize space and labor in caring for the county's wards, without confining them to eramped quarters or vitiated air. There are six inmates, whose ages range from sixty-five to eighty-four years. Gertie Day, a simpleminded girl, is the oldest ease of the poor- house, having been an inmate for ten years.
CHAPTER LXIII.
SOCIETIES.
MASONIC FRATERNITY.
THE establishment of the masonic order in the city of Wabasha was effected at a very early date ; the organization of the first lodge of the A. F. & A. M. at this point antedating the incorporation of the city abont a year and a half. The population of the city at that time probably aggregated six hundred, among whom were several who, remembering the old days when they were wont to be called from labor to refreshment, determined to establish a lodge of the craft in the new home they had chosen for themselves in the
then far northwest. Accordingly a petition for a dispensation to open and conduct a masonie lodge, to be known as Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, of Wabasha, Minnesota, was forwarded to Grand Master A. T. C. Pierson. A dispensation was granted October 22, 1856, and on the 7th of January, 1857, a charter was issued, under the authority of the grand lodge, empowering S. L. Campbell, J. J. Stone, F. J. Collier, S. A. Kemp, Lindsay Seals, Wm. Pierson and B. A. Grub to open a lodge of A. F. & A. M., to be called Wapa- hasa, No. 14, of the State of Minnesota. The lodge was organized in due form with S. L. Campbell, W.M .; J. J. Stone, S.W .; and F. J. Collier, J.W. The original lodge room was in a new building on the corner of Walnut street and the Levee, which had been erected for general merchandising purposes by Campbell Gambier & Pendleton. This building was at that time the best store building in the city, and the new lodge room, in the upper story was a very ereditable meeting-place for the craft. The site npon which this
712
HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
landmark of early times stood was the ground now occupied by the Midland railroad depot, and the old building is now used as a paint shop, corner of Main and Walnut streets. From their quarters in the upper story of this structure the Masons subsequently removed to the upper story of the brick building on Main street, between Alleghaney and Pembroke streets, at that time occupied by Luger Bros. as a furniture warehouse and salesroom. From Luger's, in 1870 the lodge removed to the third story of the Campbell House block, since burned. The upper story of this building, which stood just west of the present Masonic block, corner of Main and Alle- ghaney streets, had been erected by special contract with the mem- bers of the masonic order, who had contributed six hundred dollars toward the erection of the block, in consideration of which, and a stipulated rental, a lease was executed for a specified term of years. In 1878 the craft removed to the third story of John Schirtz' build- ing, one block east of the Campbell House, and there remained until the completion of their own building, Masonic block, of which they took possession December 1, 1880. This building was the out- growth of a desire on the part of the fraternity in this city to secure a prominent location for themselves by erecting a building of their own. Accordingly, in 1880, the Masonic Building Association was organized, having for its object the erection of a suitable masonic building. The capital stock was placed at ten thousand dollars, shares ten dollars each. Only fifty per cent of the face value of the shares was called for. The building was erected, and care taken to regulate the issue of stock so as to insure its absolute control by members of the order. The conditions of the issue were such as provided for the gradual redemption of all stock certificates by the masonic lodge in its corporate capacity, and this result is being steadily reached. The rate of interest was fixed at seven per cent, Wapahasa lodge taking one hundred shares, and of those outstanding all are held, with two exceptions, by members of the masonic fraternity. The annual rental of the lodge room is fixed at one hundred and fifty dollars by the board of directors. Masonic block is a substantial brick struc- ture, solid stone foundations, tin roof, and rises two stories above he basement, with side walls of thirty feet. It fronts fifty feet on Main, corners on Alleghaney street, and has a depth of eighty feet. Only the west half of the block is owned by the masonic fraternity, and of this they occupy only the second story, the main floor, 25×80, being occupied by the United States postoffice department, at a
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SOCIETIES.
rental of one hundred and eighty dollars per annum. The lodge room proper is 24×50 feet within walls, with ceilings of 12} feet. It is very handsomely furnished and decorated, the symbols of the order duly displayed, and all the appointments in excellent taste. The anteroom 12×30, and the preparation-room, of same size, are also comfortably carpeted and furnished, and there are ample closets and cabinets for the regalia and other insignia and paraphernalia of both blue-lodge and chapter. The cost of building, in round figures, was five thousand dollars ; cost of furnishing, about nine hundred dollars. The whole number of master masons who have been connected with Wapahasa lodge from its institution, nearly twenty-seven years ago, to date, aggregates two hundred and four. The present membership is seventy, and twenty-four have gone out from the earthy portals at the call of the Grand Master, to lay the designs upon their tressleboards before Him and submit their work for inspection.
The present officers of Wapahasa lodge are : J. A. Peck, W.M .; C. J. Stauff, S. W .; B. Florer, J. W .; Paul Miller, Secretary ; J. H. Evans, Treasurer; H. S. Elkins, S.D .; Pearl Roundy, J.D .; Thos. Roundy, Tiler; Chas. Hirschy, S.S .; J. Geugnagel, J.S.
The names of those who have been stationed in the east, west and south since the organization of Wapaliasa lodge, twenty-seven years ago, are herewith appended. The list will awaken many memories among the surviving members of the lodge and recall many names almost forgotten. The list is official.
YEAR. W. MASTER.
S. WARDEN. J. WARDEN.
1856. S. L. Campbell
J. J. Stone.
F. J. Collier.
1857. .S. L. Campbell.
J. J. Stone.
F. J. Collier.
1858. . S. L. Campbell .J. J. Stone. F. J. Collier.
1859 J. J. Stone.
.S. L. Campbell
John Hitt.
1860. S. S. Burlesson
W'm. Pierson Wm. B. Lutz.
1861. S. L. Campbell
.S. S. Burlesson. J. J. Stone.
1862 S. L. Campbell. E. F. Dodge S. S. Kepler.
1863.
S. S. Kepler
A. S. Mills.
A. G. Foster.
1864.
A. S. Mills
UT. B. Shaver
H. Beall.
1865. . A. S. Mills
U. B. Shaver
. H. W. Rose.
1866. A. S. Mills.
H. W. Rose
J. W. Tyson.
1867. H. W. Rose.
W. H. Robinson
H. N. Smith.
1868.
W. H. Robinson
H. N. Smith
E. Bullard.
1869
W. H. Robinson
1870.
H. N. Smith
1871. H. N. Smith
Bradford Almy .R. E. Stearns.
1872. H. N. Smith
Bradford Almy
R. E. Stearns.
1873
Bradford Almy
Wm. Green. J. A. Peck.
1874. Bradford Almy
M. Kennedy .J. H. Evans.
1875. H. N. Smith
E. J. Dugan
W. H. Campbell.
1876 J. H. Evans Jos. Buisson
I. J. Pennock.
H. N. Smith Bradford Almy.
Bradford Almy T. S. Van-Dyke.
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
YEAR.
W. MASTER.
S. WARDEN.
J. WARDEN.
1877
R. E. Stearns
I. J. Pennock
Wm. Box.
1878.
.I. J. Pennock.
H. P. Krick
.C. J. Stauff.
1879 ..
I. J. Pennock
H. J. Smith
R. E. Stearns.
1880
.J. A. Peck.
J. M. Martin
H. S. Elkins.
1881
J. A. Peck .
H. S. Elkins
S. S. Nichols.
1882.
J. A. Peck.
H. S. Elkins
S. S. Nichols.
1883.
.Jos. Buisson
. C. J. Stauff
.S. Myrtetus.
1884.
J. A. Peck.
. C. J. Stauff.
B. Florer.
Relief Chapter, No. 35, R.A. M .- Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, had been in existence twenty-four years, and the masonic building was just completed when the members of the craft deemed it wise to take steps toward the establishment of a chapter, that such as desired might receive instruction in the more advanced work of the craft, as exemplified in the higher orders of Masonry. A dispensation to form a chapter was accordingly petitioned for. This dispensation was granted December 12, 1880, and on October 11, 1881, a charter was issued by the grand chapter of the state, constituting Relief Chapter, No. 35, of Wabasha, Minnesota, naming the following as charter members : Jos. Buisson, C. J. Stauff, Francis Talbot, H. N. Smith, A. Campbell, A. J. Bent, W. H. Campbell, David Cratte and I. J. Pennock. The chapter has now had a successful and prosperous existence of over two years, during which time fifty-three members have been borne upon its rolls. Of these three have demitted, leaving a present membership of fifty. The work of the chapter is now conducted under the following official leadership : J. H. Mullen, M.E.H .; J. A. Peck, King; B. Florer, Scribe ; Paul Miller, C. of H .; Rev. Jas. Cornell, Chap .; O. H. Porter, Sec .; Francis Talbot, Treas .; Chas. J. Stauff, R.A.Cap .; R. E. Stearns, G.M. of 3d V .; John Mealey, G. M. of 2d V .; H. S. Elkins, G. M. of 1st V .; Thos. Roundy, Sentinel.
Red Leaf Chapter, O.E.S .- No sooner had Relief Chapter, No. 35, R.A.M., been instituted and the work of instruction begun in their camp, than the establishinent of a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was decided upon by the wives and daughters of the members of the masonic fraternity in this locality. The organization was effected, and on January 12, 1881, Red Leaf Chapter, No. 10, Order of the Eastern Star, was duly instituted with the following- named charter members : Mesdames Franc. D. Clarke, Mary I. Stauft, Ellen L. Dugan, Anna L. Walton, Carrie E. Krick, Emma S. Peck, Susan S. Robinson, Barbara Porter, Selma Oswald, and Messrs. W. A. Clarke, C. J. Stauff, E. J. Dugan, H. Oswald. Regular
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SOCIETIES.
communications are held in the masonic temple on the first and third Fridays of each month. The chapter has had a healthy growth during the two years and a half it has been in existence, and there are now forty-eight members upon its rolls. One of the objects of the order being the promotion of the social life of its members, the ladies of Red Leaf chapter have recently furnished their closets in the anterooms of the masonic temple with the necessary linen and tableware for the tables that are spread from time to time in their banqueting-room. The funds for this purpose were raised at a very enjoyable masquerade given by the ladies of Red Leaf on January 18th, 1883. The officers of the chapter for 1883 are : Susan S. Robinson, W.M .; Chas. J. Stauff, W.P; Ellen L. Dugan, A.M .; Anna L. Walton, Sec .; Mary J. Stauff, Treas .; Emma S. Peck, Cond .; Mary R. Florer, A.C. The institution of Red Leaf Chapter has been a decided gain to the social life of the masonic order in this city. Its work in this direction, and in the care of the sick, and in such other ministries and helps as naturally fall within the sphere of the obligations of its members, is just such work as is everywhere needed to crown all fraternal association with the highest possible good. Red Leaf chapter is the only chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in the county.
I.O.O. F.
Teutonia Lodge, No. 19, I.O.O.F .- The only subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows in this city works only in the German language, and is the outgrowth of the German Aid Society established in this city in 1860. This "aid " society was a local organization, having for its object the promotion of social relations among its members and the care of its members in case of sickness. It had a numerous membership and was in quite a flourishing condition for some years after it began opera- tions. But it was soon apparent that its benefits could not be extended beyond the limits of its own pale, and as its members removed from the city, they were thenceforth debarred from all benefit connected therewith. Accordingly, in 1867, a committee of five was appointed by the society to take the situation under consid- eration, examine into the workings of the varions aid or fraternal associations having a national existence, and report which one, in their opinion, was the nearest allied in its objects and work to their own local aid society. This committee consisted of F. L. Riechter,
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
L. Gintner, John Satori, J. T. Gintner and F. Kling, who, after due examination and consideration, reported in favor of the I.O.O.F. as most nearly answering the ends sought. The report of the committee was approved, and they were further instructed to pro- ceed to Plainview, Wabasha county, where there was a lodge of the Odd-Fellows order, receive initiation into the same, and so be pre- pared to take all necessary steps to secure a lodge of the order in Wabasha. The duties assigned the committee were duly performed ; a paper was circulated among the members of the "Aid Society " to ascertain how many of the members were willing to enter an Odd-Fellows lodge when formed, and all things proving satisfactory, the five members forming the committee of the Aid Society, being now members of the I.O.O.F. at Plainview, petitioned the grand lodge for permission to open and conduct a lodge of the I.O.O.F. in Wabasha. The petition was duly granted, and on September 25 the lodge was organized as Teutonia Lodge, No. 19, I.O.O.F., of Wabasha, with F. L. Riechter, J. T. Ginthner, John Satori, L. Ginthner and F. Kling as charter members. The first meeting of the lodge was held in the hall in the third story of Schwirtz block, and con- tinued to meet there until 1876, when they removed to the second story of John Satori's building, northeast corner of Main and Pem- broke streets, which quarters they occupied till the completion of their own building in the fall of 1882. This is a solid brick structure, stone foundation ; window and door caps and sills also of stone ; two stories in height, fronting twenty-eight feet on Main street and running seventy-five feet to the rear. The lodge room is 26×50 feet within walls, thirteen feet between joists, and very pleasantly and comfortably furnished. The anteroom is 18x24, and is furnished with cabinets for the ensignia and paraphernalia of the encampment, and such other furniture as is necessary.
The whole number of members that have been connected with Teutonia lodge, since it organization sixteen years ago, is one hun- dred and eleven, one-half of whom are members at this date, the present number being fifty-six. Of the original charter members, but three remain, one of the number dying while still connected with the lodge here, F. Kling. The whole number of deaths in the lodge has been seven. Teutonia numbers among its members some of the most solid business men of the city, and is in a fairly prosperous condition. The three principal chairs of the lodge have been filled, as appears from the table herewith appended, since the institution
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