USA > Minnesota > Faribault County > The history of Faribault County, Minnesota : from its first settlement to the close of the year 1879 : the story of the pioneers > Part 19
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The lakes and streams were nearly dry and the pastures nearly, or quite, dried out and dead. The subjects that engaged the atten- tion of every one, at home or abroad, in the fields, or in the work- shops, or in public assemblies, were the impending draft, the battles fought and the great victories won on land and sea, and the losses in killed or wounded. And there was great rejoicing over the successes. and great sorrowing as well, sometimes bitter indignation at the losses and failures. And there was much activity in recruiting, en- listing and mustering into the service throughout the country. And during all this time money was scarce and dry goods and groceries so high-priced that nothing was bought by the people that could be dispensed with. Old clothing was long worn, often made over, and the people tried to live as much within themselves as possible. They practiced the most rigid economy. During these times, too, the peo. ple were bearing a special burden of anxiety about those at the front, in the far south and on the Indian frontier in the northwest, and about the outcome of the war. There were then bnt two villages and but few post-offices, no railroads and no telegraphs in the county. The
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOT.1.
mails were carried by stages. The principal mails came from Man- kato. The post-offices in the villages especially, were thronged with people when the mails arrived, all eager for letters and papers. Women and children often came long distances on horseback or on foot in haste to get their mails. How eagerly the papers were un- folded and the news of the great battles, and especially the list of the wounded and killed, were read to the groups of hearers. And the letters, how quickly they were torn open and their contents scanned, sometimes bringing good news, while others and not a few, told the sad stories of terrible wounds received, or the death of father, son, brother or friend, met bravely on the hard-fought field, and the moan of deep anguish was heard from the heart of the stricken reader. And such sad scenes were not seldom. God for- bid that we shall ever see them again. Yet for all the unfavorable conditions under which the people suffered, the sentiment of all still was, "On to the front," "Down with the merciless savage, down with the accursed rebellion."
AT THE FRONT.
This year was one of great national events-of even greater ac- tivity than the preceding year in military affairs, on land and sea. Many great victories crowned the Union arms.
We can mention but a few of the more important events of the year.
The Emancipation Proclamation issued January 1st, has al- ready been referred to. January 17th the government issued $100,000.000 in notes, to pay the army. March 3d, congress author- ized the borrowing of $900,000,000, on the credit of the government, and the issue of $50,000,000, in fractional currency.
During the month of April no less than eighty-five battles, skir- mishes and attacks took place, on land and water. May 1st, battle of Port Gibson and battle of Chancellorsville begun. May 16th, battle of Baker's Creek, Miss. June 15th, the President called for 120.000 militia to repel Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. June 18th, 100.000 Confederates entered Pennsylvania near Chambersburg. The first days of July formed the crisis of the war. On the 1st, 2d and 3d of July occurred the great battle of Gettysburg, Pa., which was one of the greatest of the civil war. July 4th, Vicks- burg, Miss., surrendered with 31,000 men, 220 guns and 70,000 small arms. July 8th, Port Hudson surrendered. July 13th, great riot in New York City, lasting several days, during which the colored orphan asylum was burned, negroes hung in the streets and houses robbed and burned by the rioters. The riot was quelled by government troops. Aug. 1st, two cavalry fights in Virginia. Aug. 20th, Lawrence, Kan., attacked and destroyed by the guerillas.
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HISTORY OF
Sept. 19 20th, battle of Chickamauga. Oct. 14th, battle Bristoe Station, Va. Oct. 31st, battle Shell Mound. Nov. 23d, great battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, lasting three days.
THE LAST DAY.
The last day of this year was one of the most terrible ever known in this region. A great tempest of wind with intense cold prevailed on the last day of the year and for several days of the next year, over the whole country. Even in southern latitudes the cold was very severe. At St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky., the mercury sank to 24° below zero. In this county the wind blew a hurricane all day, the thermometer standing at 30° to 34º below zero. The air was filled with fine particles of ice so thickly and was driven with such velocity that objects ten feet distant could not be seen, and it was almost impossible to face the wind. Night fell upon the earth, the storm unabated and thus closed the year 1863.
"T'is done! Dread winter spreads his latest glooms, And reigns tremendous o'er the conquered year. * * * Horror wide extends His desolate domain."-Thomson.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER X.
A. D. 1864.
The great storm and intense cold, with which the preceding year closed, continued during the first day of this year and for sev- eral days after, but were less severe than on the first day. We find the following notice of the storm in the Whig of January 6th :
"A storm of more than usual severity passed over this region last week. People who have been raised in this climate say they have never seen anything to equal the fierce blasts, wind, frost and snow combined. On Wednesday the wind blew fierce gales from the northwest, the air being filled with falling and drifting snow, increasing the terrors of the scene during the night. On Thurs- day and the night following, until about midnight, the storm had been rallying to its climax, and then gradually subsided, but on Friday morning the degree of cold was marked by the thermometer at 33º below zero.
The soldiers of the expedition to Sioux City arrived in the neighborhood on the return in time to secure quarters at Fairmont and this place. They had suffered on their way out during a severe storm, and a young man named James Huntington, son of Col. Hallam Huntington, of this town, had a foot badly frozen, and was left at Sioux City.
Twenty-three others of the party are said to have been disabled from the same cause. As yet we have no names.
The weather of the past week surpasses the experience of the 'oldest in- habitant.' "
It was estimated at the time that about three thousand dollars worth of stock, principally cattle and sheep, perished in this storm, in this county alone. Many people were more or less frozen and some were frozen to death in the counties west of this. The weather continued cold and rather stormy and wet, with some short excep- tions, in February and March, until the middle of April. Some wheat was sown about the twenty-fifth of March, but the greater part of it was sown during the third and fourth weeks of April, yet the weather even then was quite cold and blustery. It cleared up about the last day of the month, and became very warm and dry until the twenty-second day of May, when a terrific storm of wind, rain and hail prevailed over a large part of the county. During the remainder of the year, until late in December, when the winter began, the weather was very agreeable. This may be designated as another dry year.
"THE BOARD."
Among the events which confront us at the opening of the year was the meeting of the county board, which occurred January 5th
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HISTORY OF
Thomas Blair was elected chairman for the year. The board met again January 27th, February 10th, May 27th and July 8th. But little was done at these meetings worthy of note, and that little is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Several meetings were held later iu the year which will be noticed hereafter.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The sixth legislature met January 5th and adjourned March 4th. The legislature of the preceding year almost ignored this county, and that of 1864, did it quite, as no act whatever, was passed, having any particular relation to this county. Happy county! How- ever, there was some talk about this time, of an effort being made to change certain of the boundary lines of the county, but it came to naught. D. G. Shillock, in the Senate and J. A. Latimer in the House, were our representatives in the legislature of 1864. An- drew C. Dunn, of this county, was chief clerk of the House of Representatives.
MORE MEN.
On the Ist day of February, the President ordered a draft of five hundred thousand men, and on the 15th of March he called for two hundred thousand more, which made the business of recruiting in this county, as elsewhere, quite lively, and almost monopolized the public attention. In the Whig of March 23d, we find the following table showing the quotas of men required up to that time to be furn- ished by the several town districts in this county, and the number credited to each. It is of interest at this late day, but was of more interest at that time.
Quota. ('redits.
Blue Earth City
42
60
Brush Creek.
11
10
Elmore ..
12
16
Guthrie, (Dalavan).
15
Marpless, (Minnesota Lake).
14
6
Pilot Grove
12
21
Seely.
3
3
Verona
28
27
Walnut Lake
12
11
Winnebago City
37
53
198
246
It will be observed that while several town districts only were slightly in arrears, yet the county, as a whole, was much ahead of the requisitions.
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY-FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH.
St. Valentine's Day is one of the important days of the year with the young folks in many countries, and has always been remembered
13
Prescott
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
by them, and its curious custom of sending valentines observed to a greater or lesser extent every year in this county, and the day, therefore, demands, of course, a passing notice.
St. Valentine was a Roman martyr, who was beheaded in the year 270, at Rome, in the reign of the Pagan Emperor Claudius I. He was a man of great ability, a christian, and famous for his love of his fellow-man, and his unbounded charity for all.
Some writers say he was a bishop, others that he was but a pres- byter or priest. He was early canonized, and ever since, the four- teenth day of February has been known, in the church calendar, as St. Valentine's Day. But the peculiar customs incident to this day, had their origin long before St. Valentine lived, and can be traced back among the Romans to a period two thousand years ago. There existed among the Romans at that time, the pagan festival of the Lupercalia, which was held in February, and about the time when birds in that country were choosing their mates. It was the custom at the time of the festival and a ceremony in the worship of Juno, a heathen goddess, to place the names of young women in a box, when after being well shaken, they were drawn out at random by the young men, and the one whose name was drawn, was, as we should now say, the valentine of the drawer for one year.
Later, during the times of the early church, the pastors finding this heathen custom so deeply rooted that it could not be eradicated, changed its form somewhat and connected it with the observances of St. Valentine's Day. Further changes followed in the course of years, until the sending of written or printed missives, called valen- tines, as we now have them, came in vogue, and has continued during a long course of years. The writer is indebted to various authori- ties for the historical facts above set forth. These missives were de- signed originally to be short messages of love, frendship, tokens of regard, and are generally anonymous-the sender being unknown- and they are sent by the young women as well as by the young men. A poet writes:
"Girls should be modest they say; Still, on St. Valentine's Day I suppose a young maid may Offer a tiny bouquet And not wander far estray From perfection.
"Only a leaf and a pink, Surely at that one may wink, I am still safe on the brink, Since I have not said, I think, That you are yourself the pink Of perfection."
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HISTORY OF
But at this day valentines are often sent and received by the older folks as well as by the young.
Many years ago, in England, a custom connected with this day prevailed extensively. and for a long time, and which may be related here for the amusement of the young folks. According to this prac- tice each maiden was to regard as her valentine the first lad on whom her eyes rested on St. Valentine's Day. Hence on that day the boys were up early and dressed out in their very best clothes and went to call at the residence of the girl whom they wished to be their valen- tine, and many cunning devices were used by the young people to see or be seen by the right person first. the girls trying to avoid being seen by any other but the young man of her choice, and he using his best skill in trying to be seen by the young lady of his choice first, and by no one else until after this momentous question was determined, and a great deal of innocent sport was the result of all this maneuvering.
The missives now called valentines are usually made of small sheets of paper, in various styles, sometimes in the form of cards, letters, pictures, boxes, and contain verses, printed or written, with portraits and pictures of various objects, usually flowers, caricatures and the like. Some are made up in silk or satin in various shapes. Very costly valentines are to be had in the cities, ranging in price from ten dollars to one hundred dollars. They are made in all grades, down to the penny danb. The shop windows in the smaller towns are usually full of the cheaper kinds for a week or two before St. Valentine's Day and attract a good deal of attention. Some are sentimental, some comic and occasionally some are even vulgar. Valentines are usually sent, duly enveloped, postage prepaid, through the post-offices, and for a week or two before and after St. Valentine's Day, the post offices are overloaded with this kind of matter, to be sent in every direction.
And when these little missives are sent and received, and are of a proper character, much pleasure is enjoyed by those who take an interest in them,
But sometimes this custom, like many others, is abused, and ill- conditioned, vulgar or malicious. people make use of it to injure the feelings of others, or bring them into ridicule. Comic valentines are perhaps more used at this day than any others, and create much sport when no malice is involved.
Valentines are used sometimes to remind people of various things, and sometimes with not much propriety. yet occasionally with some benefit. For instance, an individual whom fortune has favored, may perhaps be disposed to "put on airs" and make himself very disagreeable to his neighbors, and someone who thinks he should be rebuked by being reminded of something, but does not wish to
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
say to him that his father was a city collector-that is, a collector of soap grease-sends him an anonymous valentine containing, perhaps, some suitable verse and a highly colored portrait of an old man with his greasy cart and barrels and scare crow of a horse. Spil- kins may know that old Soaker is an arrant drunkard, but don't wish to say so to his back, so he sends him a valentine representing a man with an enormous and very red nose and an empty whisky jug. Such valentines usually do much more harm than good and should not be indulged in.
Used as an amusement, or for purposes of friendship or affec- tion, and within the bounds, always, of propriety, these customs of St. Valentine's Day may be made a source of benefit and of much innocent pleasure, and may certainly be commended. But on the other hand, any one should be severely censured, who should so far degrade himself as to be guilty of wounding the sensibilities of others, making sport of their misfortunes, or gratifying his malice at their expense.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
About the ninth of March, J. L. Christie, formerly of the Minne- sotian, at Blue Earth City, purchased the Whig at Winnebago City. Mr. Christie, in his first issue, very wisely says, among other things, that "A paper, properly conducted, can do much toward attracting immigration, and no pains will be spared to make the paper what it should be in this respect. The editorial department will be under the charge of H. W. Holley."
On the 29th of the same month, the first number of the Blue Earth City Advocate was issued at Blue Earth City, by Carr Hunt- ington, editor. It was a six column, four page sheet, and made a very creditable appearance-motto "Freedom (?) and Union now and forever.
The editor says: "The paper will stand square for the Union, and the men in every capacity who are engaged in the work of its preservation."
In April, the name of the paper-the Whig of '76-at Winnebago City, was dropped, and the paper appeared under the very-proper head
"THE FREE HOMESTEAD."
The former editorial management continued. Of the new name the editor writes: "Located as we are in the very midst of free homesteads, which the government has given, or will give for the asking to the actual settler, it seems to us appropriate to identify our paper in name with these homesteads, as we intend it shall al- ways be identified with them in interest." Having now got our county papers-now two of them-squarely before the public and at work, as they remained for several years, we shall pass to other topics.
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HISTORY OF
WIND MILLS.
In writing this sub heading immediately after the remarks on newspapers, there is no implied design of continuing our observa- tions on that subject, but to state that in the early part of the year an enterprise was inaugurated at Blue Earth City, looking to the erection of a grist mill at that place. At that time there was but one grist mill in the county, and that but a small one, located at Winnebago City, and the majority of those who desired milling done carried their grists twenty, thirty and even forty miles to mill. This was a great inconvenience and quite expensive. and the people of Blue Earth City concluded that no enterprise would be of more advantage to the village and the surrounding country than the building of a grist mill.
After the expenditure of enough wind in talking over the mat- ter to run three ordinary wind mills, a number of meetings were held, and it was determined to erect a wind grist mill. On the sec- ond day of April a joint stock company was formed under the incorporation laws of the State. The officers went manfully to work, and after the timbers were gotten out and some of the machinery purchased, the company sold out to private individuals who com- pleted and put the mill in operation. It was not a great success, yet it proved quite a convenience and of considerable public advan- tage for some time. And this was the second grist'mill in the county. The water power mills, of which we now have a goodly number, were next, and later "evolved," and these milling facilities were increased still later by the addition of first-class steam grist mills.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY MATTERS.
The agricultural society held a meeting at Winnebago City, March 26th. at which a new constitution and by-laws were adopted. It appears that another meeting-the regular quarterly meeting-was held at Blue Earth City April 4th, at which, also, a constitution and by laws were adopted, but whether the same as those adopted in March, does not appear-presumably they were. This meeting ad- journed to May 16th, at the county auditor's office, for the election of officers. The adjourned meeting was held, and J. A. Latimer was re-elected president, D. Birdsall, secretary and A. Bonwell, treas- urer, for the current year. Another meeting was held June 25th, when it was determined to hold the fair at Winnebago City ou the 14th and 15th of September, but the time was subsequently changed to the 23d and 24th of September.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
FIRST INSURANCE AGENCY.
As a matter of interest to the insurance fraternity, it may be recorded here, that in April of this year, the first permanant insur- ance agency was established in this county-one which still continues after a lapse of sixteen years. The agency was established at Blue Earth City by the old Ætna Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn. J. A. Kiester was appointed agent.
In the next month, May, the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, of Madison, Wisconsin, appointed an agent in the town of Verona -- A. B. Balcom -- but this agency did not continue a great while.
At this time many different companies have agencies in this county, among which are found many of the oldest and strongest companies of America and Europe.
The business of underwriting, in its higher departments, is a learned and honorable profession. Insurance is a science, having an important history and literature. Many of the periodical and weekly publications, devoted to this science, are of a high order. As a business, its transactions are second only to those of the great railroading interests of the country. The vocation of an insurance agent is an important and honorable one. It is upon the agents of the companies that the great business of insurance rests, and is de- pendent for success, and insurance agents, as a class of business men, are as honorable, correct in the transaction of their business, and as trustworthy as the members of any other profess ion or oc- cupation; yet, as in other departinents of business, there are some who dishonor the profession, and the companies should be, in fact generally are, ever ready to weed out such employees when dis- covered.
OYER! OYER! OYER!
The district court held a session of one day, at the usual time in May. This was the last term in this county at which the Hon. Lewis Branson presided, his term of office expiring January Ist following. He had presided at all our courts from the first organi- zation of the county to this time. A number of distinguished law- yers from abroad were present at this term, among whom was Hon. C. G. Ripley, afterwards chief justice of our supreme court.
A COURT CRIER.
A lawyer, living on Walnut Hills, has a son about seven years old, and a daughter about three times that age. The boy has been around the court room a good deal, and the girl has a solid beau. The other evening the gentleman passed the house, and the young lady wanted to see him.
"Johnny," said she to the kid: "won't you please call Mr. Mann."
Johnny knew the state of affairs, and with a ready "of course," he flew to the front door and called out in the usual loud monotone of a crier:
"John Henry Mann, John Henry Mann, John Henry Mann, come into court."
Mr. Mann came in, and Johnny withdrew to a safe place.
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HISTORY OF
SETTLING UP THE COUNTRY.
Immigration this year commeneed in May and continued all summer, at high rate. A great deal of land was taken up, many farms opened and many buildings erected. Money became quite plenty and lands and grain brought good prices. This year was in fact. one of the great years of immigration and improvement in this county. In a new country few things are so encouraging and bene- ficial as a large immigration. People and improvements are the chief requisites to make a country, and the Americans are the great- est country and state makers in the world. It is said that the Am- ericans are nomadic. This is true in a limited sense in the west, and while the old saying that "a rolling stone gathers no moss" is quite true, thousands of people are greatly benefited by a change of loca- tion, if they do not change too often. It was about this time that the homestead law, passed in 1862 by congress, began to have its effect. inducing a vast emigration for years to the new states and territories. Our county was not only the recipient of much immi- gration, but it was also the highway over which passed much of the immigration to the southwestern and northwestern counties of the State. The long lines of white covered wagons often called "prairie schooners" and droves of stock, passing through to the north and west, were for many years a common and an interesting sight, even though they did not stop with us. The day will come when they shall be only a thing of the past, and even now are less frequently seen than formerly. What western man can fail to feel an interest in the emigrant as he passes along in his covered wagon now his only home on earth? Generally there are tired looking teams, tired looking men and women, tired and hungry children, and the plod- ding stock following, all toiling along over the prairies, through forests, over the mountains, weary and dusty, but still patient. en- during, persevering until the Eldorado is at last reached. The heart involuntarily utters "God bless you stranger, may He pros- per your venture. It was thus most of our people came to this new land. It is thus great states are built. It is a venture with the emi- grant, it is always a venture. and we, the carly settlers all well know what it implies. The old home far behind perhaps beyond the sea, forever deserted, old and dear social and kindred ties and associa- tions of all the by-gone years forever broken, the toilsome journey, the land of strangers, the building of the new home. the establish- ment of business. the making of new friends and the beginning of a new life. The new comer and the way-faring emigrant, is indeed entitled to the kindly greeting, the helping hand. if needed, and generous encouragement, of whatever name or nation, tongue, or kindred, he may be.
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