USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 93
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and the elegance in all its appointments, may exert such an influence upon the actors that there will be no cause to call to the face of any auditor a blush of regret. May its stage exert a re- fining influence, such as its beauty must ever con- tinue to do."
CHAPTER LXXI.
MINNESOTA STATE PRISON -- BRIDGE -- SECRET SOCIETIES -- NEWSPAPERS- SCHOOLS CHURCHES.
This institution was located at Stillwater by an act of legislature passed November 1st, 1849. In 1851 a lot four hundred feet square was in- closed by a fourteen foot wall, four feet thick at the bottom and two and one-half at the top. In this was the prison house, a building 30x40 feet, three stories high, back of which, a wing 20x60 feet, contained six cells and other rooms for the closer confinement of prisoners. In 1853 an addition containing six more cells and a dungeon, was built. The entire cost of buildings and ground, five thousand dollars, was paid by the United States government. The machinery, costing eight thousand dollars was the property of the warden, and consisted of sash and door, and shingle machinery.
By an act approved in 1853, the control of the prison was put into the hands of a warden, and a board of inspectors, and in accordance with this act, F. R. Delano, the first warden appointed entered upon the discharge of his duties in March, 1853. The first year there were no convicts. The second year there were two convicts, and seven or eight persons from counties which had no suitable quarters for their confinement; in 1856, one, and in 1857, none.
By an act of the legislature, the warden was directed to receive all persons committed from counties unprovided with suitable jail buildings. In consequence of this act, the prison was filled to its capacity.
The rule charging three dollars per week for board, and requiring payment for five weeks in
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
advance, was adopted. If, at the expiration of that period, board was not again paid in advance. the prisoner was released. This led to such abuse of power, and carelessness on the part of the prison officials that the attention of the grand jury was attracted, and they made the following report:
"We, the grand jury in and for the county of Washington and territory of Minnesota, at the general term of the district court of the Second judicial district, held at the court-house in the city of Stillwater on the 2d day of November, 1857, beg leave to submit the following report to the honorable court: That in the discharge of our duties we have visited and examined the ter- ritorial penitentiary, situated in the city of Still- water, Minnesota territory, and found F. R. Delano, warden, and Michael McHale, deputy warden, in charge thereof, and with them made a personal inspection of the same, and find that there is now confined in said prison six persons; that since April, 1855, there have been eleven escapes of prisoners, and that five have been dis- charged and set free by the officers of the prison for the reason that the county commissioners of the several counties from which they came, have not paid their board in advance, many of whom were committed for high crimes, and some of them for the highest crime known to law, to-wit: murder, as is shown by the records of the prison.
"It further appears to the grand jury that from the negligent and careless manner in which the affairs of the prison are conducted, that one Abel . Wilcox, who was committed on a charge of mur- der, did escape, as is shown by the records, by means unknown to the warden, and that no re- ward has been offered and no steps whatever have been taken for his apprehension.
"And it further appears that on the morning of his escape the cell in which he was confined was found locked and in good order, and with no marks of violence thereon or about the same, but that his escape must have been with the assist- ance and privity of some person or persons con- nected with the prison and having access to the keys. It also appears that the keys to the prison and cells were kept in so careless a manner in the office, that they were accessible not only to per- sons in and about the prison, but to outsiders. It was also found in such examination that one
Maria Roffin, committed on a charge of selling spiritnous liquors to Indians within the territory of the United States, escaped, in the words of the record, 'by leaving the prison,' and it is a matter of astonishment to this grand jury that she so magnanimously consented to leave the peniten- tiary behind her.
"The grand jury also find that within the past two years there have been numerous escapes of prisoners, which if the manner and means could be ascertained, would cast a deep shadow over the fair fame of our territory, and consign the officers of the prison to any place but an office of trust. It is the opinion of the grand jury that the prison, with some slight repairs, is, in its present state, sufficient, with due care and atten- tion on the part of its officers, for the safe-keep- ing of a limited number of prisoners; but that an immediate enlargement and improvement is abso- lutely necessary for the increasing wants of the territory, and to put it in a state of permanent security.
"From the best information obtainable, suffi- cient appropriations have been made by the United States, and contracts entered into for the completion of an addition to the prison contain- ing ten new cells, but from reasons unknown to this body, said contracts have never been fulfilled, and we are of the opinion that the responsibility lies principally at the hand of the inspectors of the prison, who should receive a rebuke from the proper authority.
"An act has been presented to this body pur- porting to have been passed at the late railroad extra session of the legislature of the territory conferring upon the officers of the prison, almost unlimited power as to the receiving, safe keeping and discharging of prisoners, under which they claim the right to set the order or judgment of any court committing for trial at defiance, unless the board of prisoners shall be prepaid by the county from which such prisoners are sent.
"They do not receive a prisoner unless his board be prepaid for five weeks, at the rate of $3.00 per week, and a sufficient amount of cloth- ing furnished; and at the end of that period should the county neglect to prepay his board, they discharge the prisoner and are exonorated from all liability for his safe keeping; and for so slight a reason persons guilty of all crimes known
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CITY OF STILLWATER-STATE PRISON.
to the laws, are turned loose upon the commu- nity and allowed to go scot free.
"There are other features in the act which ar- equally obnoxious, and it is a matter of surprise that an intelligent legislature could be found who would pass such an act; and still more surpris- ing that a person holding the high position of the executive of the territory, should lend his official signature to the same. We take this occasion to respectfully call the attention of the executive and approaching legislature to the provisions of the act, and to the general management of the terri- torial penitentiary, all of which is respectfully submitted. J. E. McKusick, H. W. Greeley, Thomas Wright, James Shearer, W. C. Penney, W. P. Spencer, George Harris, William H. Mower, S. Partridge, Alfred Wright, Salma Trus sell, J. R. Meredith, James R. Moore, E. D. Farmer, A. D. Kingsley, George Holt, Samuel Goff."
This state of affairs was amended by special legislation, and the management of the prison henceforth gave better satisfaction. In 1860 the number of convicts cared for was ten, and were provided with a uniform designed by John S. Proctor. Previous to this, one-half of the head was shaved to distinguish the prisoners. This prison garb, cap, close-fitting hip-coat and pants, was made of heavy blanket cloth, with black stripes on white ground. In 1861 the number of convicts was sixteen; in 1862 all that could possibly be cared for. This led to an application for increased facilities.
John S. Proctor, after a term of eight years, as warden, was succeeded by Joshua L. Taylor, of Taylor's Falls, February 15th, 1868. A com- mittee from the legislature made a visit to the prison during this month, and perceived the necessity of providing for the care of a larger number, and the result of the visit was that im- mediate steps were taken to enlarge the grounds, and erect more commodious buildings. The con- tract to build dry-house and shops, costing $14,- 500, was awarded to Seymour, Sabin and Com- pany, May 3d, 1869. During this year, the walls were extended, enclosing nine and one-half acres of ground.
The principal prison building was erected in 1870, costing $74,000, and has since been enlarged, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. It
contains the hospital, deputy warden's residence, chapel, guard's room, mess-room, kitchen, prison offices, and two hundred and ninety-four cells, for males and five for females.
The area of floor room in the shops besides that occupied by the engine and boilers, is fifty- five thousand square feet. The engine and boil- ers were taken by the state during the past . cur- rent year at an appraised value of $19,906.55, to be paid in convict labor, at the rate of forty cents per head per day. The value of prison property, appraised by the board of inspectors in December, 1869, was $72,251.19: appropriations since, $299,121; improvements not paid for amount to $5,447.06; total valuation of property at present is, $376,819.25. The total number of commitments to November 26th, 1880, is 1,243; number of inmates, November 26th, two hundred and fifty-two.
The following are the dates upon which the various wardens have entered upon the discharge of their duties: F. R. Delano, March, 1853; Francis O. J. Smith, March 4th, 1858; H. N. Set- zer, August 4th, 1858; John S. Proctor, January 1st, 1860; Joshua L. Taylor, February 16th, 1868; A. C. Webber, March 16th, 1870; Henry A. Jack- man, October, 1870; J. A. Reed, the present in- cumbent, August 3d, 1874. The board of prison inspectors now consists of, E. G. Butts, Stillwa- ter; L. E. Reed, St. Paul; John DeLaittre, Min- neapolis; the warden, ex officio clerk of board.
The officers of the prison are: J. A. Reed, warden; Abraham Hall, deputy warden; W. H. Pratt, physician; W. H. Harrington, chaplain; M. E. Murphy, Catholic chaplain; J. W. Dins- more, clerk; W. H. Smithson, steward; D. W. Bolles, hospital steward; Miss Annie Dowling, matron; W. C. Reed, usher; W. H. H. Taylor, Jr., hall guard; B. F. Burns and C. F. Dinsmore, gate-keepers; A. H. Chase, H. C. Pierce, Lester Bordwell, Detloff Jarchow, George Sencerbox, John C. Gardner, Leonard Craig, wall guards.
The number of convicts since 1858 have been as follows: 1858, two; 1859, five; 1860, sixteen; 1861, twelve; 1862, seven; 1863, eight; 1864, seven; 1865, eleven; 1866, twenty-nine; 1867, thirty-six; 1868, thirty-one; 1869, forty-seven; 1870, thirty-nine; 1871, sixty; 1872, fifty-nine; 1873, sixty-four; 1874, ninety-three; 1875, ninety- six; 1876, ninety; 1877, one hundred and forty-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
five; 1878, two hundred and eighteen; 1879, two hundred and fifty-four.
On Thursday evening, December 11th, 1879, a convict named John Clark, committed from Hen- nepin county, was reported to the guard as in- subordinate. A few days before Clark had made a murderous attack with a putty-knife on a fellow convict named Ramsden, and but for the interference of others would have killed the man. For this he was punished by several days soli- tary confinement. After his release he was set to painting wagon-wheels. Forty is an average day's work, though generally Clark painted only from fifteen to eighteen a day. On the day men- tioned twenty were allotted to Clark, who refused to perform the labor. Upon being informed by the guard, deputy warden Hall went to the paint- shop and ordered Clark and another convict who had been shirking to go to their cells. The other prisoner obeyed, but Clark profanely refused to do so. Hall took out his watch and told Clark he had three minutes in which to obey. At the expiration of five minutes Hall drew his revolver and asked the prisoner if he did not intend to obey, and received in answer, "No!" Hall then fired, the prisoner received the ball through the heart and instantly expired. A coroner's jury exonerated Mr. Hall from all criminality in the affair, as Clark was an exceedingly desperate character, and had at the time in his hand a double-edged putty-knife, which he would not ยท have hesitated to use on any person attempting to take hold of him.
STILLWATER BRIDGE.
The legislature of 1875 authorized the question of erecting a bridge across the St. Croix, to be voted upon by the people at the annual election in April. The question was carried by a major- ity of six hundred and ninety-three votes.
At a meeting of the council held May 4th, fol- lowing, the bridge was located at the foot of Chestnut street, and a bridge committee ap- pointed. The contract was awarded to John Lawlor, of Prairie du Chien, at $24,400. It has a three hundred foot pontoon draw, near the west shore of the lake, a two hundred foot truss and ten sixty foot spans, ten spans of thirty feet at each end of the draw. The short spans are so ad- justed that they can be made level with the pon-
toon at any stage of the water. The draw is op- erated by a small steam engine, and is controlled by a seven hundred foot chain, used as a guy. The structure was completed in 1876, and a toll is charged to passengers.
SOCIETIES.
Freemasonry was introduced into the territory of Minnesota by dispensation granted from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, August 4th, 1849, to es- tablish a lodge with the title of "St. Paul's Lodge," at St. Paul. October 12th, 1850, a dis- pensation was granted from the grand lodge of Wisconsin to establish a lodge with the title of "St. John's Lodge, No. 1," of Stillwater. Dur- ing the year 1852, a dispensation was also granted by the grand lodge of Illinois, for the organiza- tion of a lodge under the. title of "Cataract Lodge," at St. Anthony. Delegates from the three lodges thus formed met at St. Paul, Febru- ary, 28th, 1853, and organized a Grand Lodge, with A. E. Ames as first grand master.
The officers under the dispensation out of which St. John's lodge was formed were F. K. Bartlett, W. M .; H. N. Setzer, S. W., and W. Holcombe, J. W. The regular organization under charter was effected October 9th, 1852, with the follow- ing officers: F. K. Bartlett, W. M .; H. N. Setzer, S. W .; W. Holcombe, J. W .; Daniel McLean, treasurer; A. Van Vorhes, secretary, At this date the lodge is prosperous and in fine working order with the following list of officers: A. K. Doe W. M .; Frank Chase, S. W .; W. H. Pratt, J. W .; E. A. Folsom, S. D .; II. T. King, J. D .; E. Capron, treasurer; W. H. Richardson, secre tary; R. Daw, tyler; A. Ricker, S. S., and John Brown. J. S.
The Washington Royal Arch Chapter No. 17, of Stillwater, was organized March 9th, 1868, by virtue of a dispensation issued February 22d, 1868, by Luther Dearborn, the most excellent high priest of the state of Minnesota. This chap- ter was organized with ten charter members, and the following officers: K. A. Huntoon, M. E. H. P .; Robert Langley, "king," and John Green, "scribe." The large list of active members evinces the prosperity of the chapter, which meets in their beautiful rooms on the last Thursday of each month, on Main, between Myrtle and Chest- nut streets. At this date eighty-three active
537
CITY OF STILLWATER -SOCIETIES.
members are enrolled with the following officers: Hugh Hall, M. E. H. P .; B. G. Merry, E. K .; J. A. Reed, E. S .; A. K. Doe, C. H .; P. B. Smith, P. S .; Abe. Hall, R. A. C .; C. B. Jack, G. 1st V .; . W. D. King, G. 2d V .; F. H. Lemon, G. 3d V .; E. Capron, treasurer; J. W. Dinsmore; secretary.
Bayard Commandery, No. 11, Knights Templar, of Stillwater, was organized March 27, 1878, with thirteen charter members, by dispensation issued from the "Right Eminent Grand Commander" of the "Grand Commandery," of the state of Minne- sota, with the following officers: W. G. Bron- son, E. C .; R. F. Hersey, G. and D. B. Loomis, C. G. At the triennial conclave of the general grand encampment, held in Chicago, in August, 1880, this commandery acted as escort to the grand commandery of the state, and at the grand review . received the highest com- pliments from the grand commander for their prompt and graceful display of Knights Tem- plar tactics. The present membership is fifty- four, with the following officers: W. G. Bronson, E. C .; R. F. Hersey, G .; R. G. Merry, C. G .; John W. Dinsmore, secretary, and J. H. Reed, treas- urer.
Early in the history of the territory of Minne- sota, the Independent Order of Odd Fellowship was established at Stillwater, by a deputy grand master from Galena, Illinois, who in the spring of 1849 instituted what was known as Lodge Number One, the same to work under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of the United States. The fol- lowing were among its charter members: Henry Moss, W. Hollingshead, Albert Harris, D. D. Loomis, Sylvanus Trask, G. W. Battles, W. Stout and Martin Johnson. It became a flourishing lodge and continued so until 1863, when, in con- sequence of its number being so greatly dimin- ished by its members enlisting as soldiers in the army for the suppession of the rebellion, the in- terests of the society were in a great measure lost, so much so that on the 4th day of March, same year, the charter was surrendered, together with eight hundred dollars, the amount of the widows, and orphans' fund then in the hands of the so- ciety. On the 5th day of January, 1876, a new charter was granted by the grand lodge of the state of Minnesota. On the same date a new lodge was instituted, known as Stillwater Lodge, Number Fifty-one. The following officers were
duly installed by Grand Master Joseph Bergfield: George Low, N. G .; Lewis Grant, V. G .; Joseph Wilkinson, past grand; F. D. Hall, secretary, and Thomas Francis, treasurer. The lodge at this date is in a flourishing condition, with a member- ship of ninety. The present officers of the lodge are as follows: S. C. Proctor, N. G .; W. S. Huf- fer, V. G .; James Peterkins, secretary; James Sinclair, treasurer, and John S. Proctor, deputy grand master. In connection with the lodge is a branch of the Minnesota Odd Fellows Mutual Benefit Society.
Stillwater Lodge, number seven, of the Knights of Pythias, was organized under dispensation, November 30th, 1872, and under which it worked until January, 1873, when a charter was granted and a reorganization effected by the election of the following officers: E. W. Durant, P. C .; B. G. Merry, C. C .; D. H. Hersey, V. C .; R. Leh- micke, P .; J. H. Sabin, K. of R. and S .; A. Fred- erick, M. E .; F. Seibold, M. F. The society is in a prosperous condition, with a membership of ninety. Its meetings are held on Tuesday even- ing of each week on Main, corner of Chestnut street. The present officers are as follows: W. II. H. Wheeler, P. C .; B. G. Merry, C. C .; Dr. W. H. Caine, V. C .; Geo. W. Culver, P .; J. C. Neth- away, K. of R. and S .; W. H. Fellows, M. E .; E. Holmes, M. F.
St. Croix Lodge No. 14, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized in Stillwater, July, 1876. The first Past Master Workman was M. O. A. Ricker; the next in course, M. A. Fred- rick, followed by O. H. Comfort, L. Sargent, H. J. Chambers, L. Proctor, M. Johnson, C. C. Reed, and A. Adams. Their present officers are: C. C. Reed, M. W .; H. J. Chambers, O .; F. E. Joy, R .; G. W. Kelly, F .; A. A. Adams, G. F .; T. H. Yarnell, R .; S. C. Morton, G .; W. Schilling, I. W .; L. C. Proctor, O. W. The meetings of the society are held every Friday evening. The object of the society is two-fold: that of mutual benefit, and mutual life insurance. Its growth is unprecedented in the history of secret societies. Its present membership in the United States is ninety-seven thousand, of which Minne- sota has a large. proportion. The amount paid by this order, in the way of life insurance in the United States, in 1880, was $1,064,900, of which, Minnesota paid $34,000.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Stillwater Lodge, No. 3, of the Sons of Herman, was organized January 23d, 1876, by the German citizens of Stillwater, for mutual benefit, in connection with a life insurance department, whereby each member's family, at his death, receives $1,000. The order is said to be very wealthy. Its present officers are Edwin Heppner, president ; William Becker, vice president ; August Arndt, secretary; Joseph Tanner, treas- urer.
A second lodge of the same character was or- ganized January 11th, 1881, and known as Con- cordia Lodge of the Sons of Herman, No. 19. The history of this lodge will be reserved for the future. Its present officers are: Albert Drews, president; Emil Kruger vice president; Robert Gabbert, financial secretary; Albert Mellin, treas- urer.
The Stillwater post, No. 13, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was established by Grand Commander, H. G. Hicks, March 4th, 1868, assisted by Captain Schum, of Minneapolis. The organization was effected by the election of the following officers: W. M. May, post commander; P. E. Keefe, post adjutant; S. Bloomer, quartermaster. This post existed for two years when it was discontinued. It was re- organized in 1873, with Isaac Van Vleck as post commander, and lived for about one year, when it again yielded to the fate of its predeces- sor.
The present post was organized in 1874. The present officers are Adam Marty, provisional department commander; Samuel Bloomer, assist- ant adjutant general. Muller Post, No. 1, meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Knights of Pythias hall.
Stillwater City Hospital. The hospital asso- ciation was organized March 22d, 1880, under the corporate name of Stillwater City Hospital. The corporators were Mrs. John McKusick, Mrs. Jas. H. Spencer, Mrs. A. B. Easton, Mrs. E. D. Tay- lor, Mrs. David Cover, Mrs. C. J. Butler, Mrs. J. B. Davis, Mrs. B. F. Rice, Mrs. Elam Greeley, Mrs. John G. Nelson, Mrs. John J. Robertson, Mrs. Frank A. Seymour, all residents of the city. The officers are Mrs. John McKusick, president and superintendent; Mrs. James H. Spencer, vice- president; Mrs. E. D. Taylor, secretary; Mrs. John S. Proctor, treasurer. The building is sit-
uated on a half acre lot on an elevation about one and one-half miles south-west of the business center. It is two stories high with a one story wing, the main part containing the matron's room, dining room, and four rooms for patients on the first floor, steward's rooms and four for pa- tients on the second, the kitchen being in the wing. The establishment will accommodate fifteen patients. The largest number at one time during the past year was fourteen. The property was purchased of Henry Westing for $1,500, and about one thousand dollars spent in repairing and enlarging it. During the year past eighty-four patients have been cared for, five of these gratui- tously, some paying only a portion of the rates, others full rates. The nationalities of these were, German, seven; British and Canadian,twenty-two; American, twenty-eight ; Scandinavians, twenty- seven. There were eight deaths in the insti- tution, four occurring within three days after the arrival of the patients. Of twenty-five cases of typhoid fever treated, only one has proved fatal.
The Stillwater Library association was organ- ized January, 1859, with the following public- spirited ladies as officers: Mrs. W. M. McCluer, president; Mrs. E. W. Durant, secretary; Miss Carrie Denton, treasurer and librarian.
The library has occupied several locations, and is now kept at the rooms of the board of educa- tion on the corner of Main and Myrtle streets. Sixteen hundred volumes are now on its shelves. H. R. Murdock, president; J. C. Rhodes, secre- tary; Mrs. N. McCluer, treasurer; Mrs. E. J. Treat, librarian.
The Washington County Bible society was or- ganized in 1851; Major A. Van Vorhes, treasurer. This society was organized in connection with the Minnesota Bible society, an auxiliary of the American, which had branches in the various counties. From 1851 to 1870 local agencies were maintained in nearly all the towns in the county, which have since been discontinued.
1881. W. S. Goodhue, president; J. C. Webb, vice-president; J. S. Burnell, secretary; A. C. Lull, treasurer and depositary; Rev. A. A. Kiehle, Rev. D. Tice, D. W. Armstrong, Isaac Gray and Peter Plummer, executive committee.
St. Joseph's Benevolent society is formed by the male members of the German Catholic church of Stillwater, and was organized in November,
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CITY OF STILLWATER-SOCIETIES.
1879, having for its object the cultivation of sociability among members and the care of the sick. Members are admitted between the ages of eighteen and fifty years upon payment of fifteen dollars initiation fees. The regular meet- ings are held monthly. The officers are: Frank- lin Storkamp, president; Ignatius Fazendin, sec- retary; Louis Wolf, treasurer.
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