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 29
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The road was built from the western end eastwardly, by the Central Pacific Company, and from the eastern end westwardly, commencing at Omaha, Neb., by the Union Pacific Company. And it was on the tenth day of May, of this year, at Promontory Point, in the Territory of Utah, the two ends were united and.this grand work completed.
It was to be expected that the completion of such a wonderful and valuable enterprise should be attended with great rejoicings throughout the whole country, and such was the fact. Spikes of pure gold and a hammer of pure silver were used in laying the last rail, and the blows of the sledge were telegraphed to all the great cities of the Nation, and then came the final telegram, "The lust rail is laid ! The last spike driven ! The Pacific Railroad is completed ! !
THE FIRST DEPOT-WELLS.
And now let us look at home a little. We have also some rail- road interests and many other matters of which to speak right here. It was in this month of May and in this year that the first railroad depot was located in this county. The location was on section 9, in the town of Cobb, town 103, range 24.
At this point it was designed by Col. C. W. Thompson. the pro- prietor, to lay off a town, which he soon proceeded to do, and the village of Wells loomed up on the prairies. A fuller account of the founding of Wells, will be found in the historical sketch of Clark township.
THE POST.
On the twenty ninth day of May the first number of The Blue Earth City Post, was issued at Blue Earth City. It was a seven column sheet and one of the neatest papers, typographically, in the State. The editors and publishers were Messrs. W. W. Williams and M. H. Stevens. The following brief extract from the salutatory indicates the views and purposes of the publishers. "The publication of The Blue Earth City Post has been commenced to supply. what seems to be, a demand here for a good reliable local and county paper. We shall attempt to supply this demand in a satisfactory manner, striv- ing, faithfully, to do our part and rely on the publie to aid us by giving us such an amount of patronage as our enterprise deserves.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
"Politically the Post will be liberally republican. * * We shall aim to make the Post a local, rather than a political, paper. The Post being published at the county seat, will contain a full record of current events, relating to county matters." *
* *
There were now three newspapers in the county, the Post and South West, at Blue Earth City, and The Free Homestead, at Winnebago City. On the twelfth day of June, the South West appeared as a nine column sheet, and with a new and very fine heading. It was now a very large paper, one of the largest in the northwest and the editor, still Mr. Huntington, proudly claimed it to be the best. In typography and otherwise, the paper was greatly improved over former years.
JUSTICE.
The annual term of the District Court commenced June 1st. The term lasted eight days. This was the last term of court held by Judge Austin, in this county, he having been, as will be seen hereafter, elected Governor of the State.
MISERIES OF JURY DUTY.
"I'll never serve on another jury as long as I live." Said one of the jurors, to a friend.
"Yes it must be very tiresome," replied the friend.
"It is, indeed, but that is not what I'm complaining about."
"The loss of time is not repaid by the per diem and mileage."
"I didn't mind the loss of time so much. It was not the loss of time that galled me."
"What was it that exasperated you so much?"
"Well when we were impaneled, some young sprouts of the law, looked us over, as if we were a pen of sheep. I heard a lawyer whisper to another, 'well I guess we can handle that hunch of mullets,' the other replied, giggling, 'I guess they have not formed any opinions by reading the newspapers, from appearances,' and a newspaper next day, describing the jury, referred to me, as being, apparently, a beef-headed young man, with ears that could be pinned together above my head. 'I'll plug that editor, when I see him, you bet-your- life.'-From an Arkansaw Paper.
THE INDIAN EXHIBITION.
In the spring of this year Capt. P. B. Davy, whose name has been mentioned heretofore in connection with several important enterprises, with several other residents of this county, inaugurated, after considerable discussion, the organization of an Indian show or exhibition.
More fully stated, the plan proposed was to collect together a number of native Red men, from the tribes of the northwest, with their lodges, ponies, carts, dogs, implements of war and the chase, and travel through the country exhibiting under a large canvas, pavillion and tents the Indians and their manners and customs, their
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feasts. burials, dances, marriages, domestic economy, family life, modes of warfare and other interesting features of Indian life.
A large company, consisting mainly of residents of this county, was formed. The necessary outfit of tents, teams, wagons and other requisites were procured. The Indians, with all their native accou- trements were obtained, and in short, the Great Indian Exhibition was organized, and in June was announced in circulars and posters, of which the following were the head lines:
Ho! Ho! !
The most Instructive, Unique and Dignified Entertainment now travelling on the North American Continent. Grand North-western Indian Exhibition.
Consisting of One Hundred Native Indians, Including the Chiefs and Head Men of the Ancient Sisseton Tribe of Sioux, from the far-off plains of Dakota.
The arrangements moved along very successfully, and on the twenty. third day of June, the first public exhibition was given at Blue Earth City.
This first exhibition proved a great success, and demonstrated the fact, that under prudent management, sustained by sufficient capital until fairly started, and with favorable weather, the enter- prise would certainly prove a profitable one.
But it must be added, that after a number of more or less suc- cessful exhibitions at various points in the State, the project had to be abandoned, and the company was broken up, mainly in conse quence of almost incessant rains and storms encountered by the ex- hibition and the excessively bad roads.
It was reported currently in the newspapers of the time, that during this year, an unusual number of circus and other exhibition companies, principally from the same cause, became bankrupt.
Captain Peter B. Davy was a native of Canada, where he was born October 7th, 1830. He obtained his education in the common schools and at the Normal Academy at Toronto, where he graduated. He commenced teaching school at the age of fifteen years, and con- tinued in that employment until he became eighteen years old. He was married in 1851 to Miss Calista M. Rose. They had two child- ren, one of whom died in infancy. He came to the United States in 1852. and located in Chicago, Illinois, where he remained until 1854, when he removed to Waterloo, Iowa, where he continued to reside until July, 1857, when he came to this county. On his arrival here he purchased the steam saw mill at Blue Earth City, in which he was interested about two years. For several years he engaged in
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the sale of various patents, selling territorial rights mainly, and in this business he visited various states.
In October 1862, he enlisted in the military service of the United States, and was chosen first lieutenant of Company "K," First Minne- sota Cavalry, and the following year was promoted to the captainey. While in the service he was with General Sibley in his expedition against the Indians.
The regiment was mustered out in December, 1863, and he im- mediately re-enlisted in the Second Regiment of Minnesota Cavalry, and was commissioned captain of Company H. He served until April 28th, 1866, when the company was mustered out of the service. He returned to Blue Earth City, and in 1867 he organized the Mon- tana expedition, as heretofore stated.
Having conducted the expedition to Helena, Montana, he re- turned to Blue Earth City and organized the famous Black Hills expedition, also heretofore spoken of, but this failing, his next enterprise was the organization of the Indian exhibition above re- corded. After settling up his affairs in this venture he returned to Blue Earth City and led a retired life. He took mueh interest in lo- cal affairs and was at one time president of the city council of Blue Earth City, and held other offices. Captain Davy was a mason and was for five years master of Blue Earth City Lodge, No. 57, and was a member of Mt. Horeb Chapter, R .. A ... M ... No. 21, and had attained the 32º A .. A .. Scottish Rite. He was afflicted for some years with a disease of the throat and lungs, and went to Den . ver, Col., in the autumn of 1888, but finding no relief, he coneluded to return home, but died on the way, January 7th, 1889. His body was brought home, and was interred in the Blue Earth City cemetery.
Captain Davy was twice married. His first wife dying, he mar- ried Mrs. Alzina M. Fockler, a widow lady, who survives him. · His religious connection was from his youth with the Protestant Epis- eopal ehureh, and in polities he usually acted with the democratie party, but he never was a partisan. His name frequently appears in this history.
THE GREAT ANNIVERSARY.
The fourth day of July of this year happened on Sunday, and was generally celebrated throughout the country on the third and fifth, thus affording, to enthusiastic young patriots the privilege, in some localities, of having two "fourths" in one year.
In this county, however, there was but little demonstration. At Bear's Grove, in Lura, at Minnesota Lake and at Banks, in Fos- ter, the day was commemorated.
At other places match games of base ball, a little horse racing, some dancing in the evening, and the general consumption of fire
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crackers were about all the indications that the spirit of patriotism still lived in this county.
Hear what a man who likes the old time Fourth has to say:
"Folks is gettin' kinder lazy, 'n they celebrate the Fourth, Jist ez If their blood wuz colder than the blizzards of the North. Wimern hate to hear a cannon. 'n their narves is all upsot Ef a young 'un at the woodshed with his popgun takes a shot, While the men have got so skittish that a cracker makes 'em cuss,
'NN they want the celebration made without a bit o' fuss. * * * * * Gimme back the celebrations when we split the air in two- Them wuz days when life wuz better with the world 'n me 'n you; Fer we glorified the country 'n the boomin' of the gun Wuz the sound of patriotism, 'n we had a heap more fun, While the lessons of the speeches made before the day wuz old
Made us love our flag 'n country, 'n her glorles writ In gold."-F. W. Lee.
THE ECLIPSE.
"The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out! With one stride comes the dark""-Coleridge.
Undoubtedly a total eclipse of the sun is the grandest, most awe-inspiring natural phenomenon mortal eyes have ever beheld. The total eclipse of the sun, which occurred on the seventh day of August, of this year, was an exceedingly important one, in a scientific point of view, and it is written that "never were more ex- tensive preparations made by governments, and men of science, to have thorough observations of a solar eclipse, than at this time."
It is hardly necessary to say that in all ages eclipses have been regarded by the ignorant "as alarming deviations from the estab- lished laws of nature" and indicative of the near approach of some great public calamity. Even so late as this year, there was a prophet of evil in an adjoining state who announced that "the eclipse was a judgment upon the world for its abominations. and that the path of its shadow over the earth would be marked by utter blight."
Much interest was taken by the people of this section of country in this eclipse, as the obscuration would be almost total at Blue Earth City, and complete only nineteen miles south of that point.
Several scientific men from St. Paul came to Blue Earth City. and on the seventh, accompanied by several citizens of that village, proceeded into Iowa, to a point on the wide open prairies, about nineteen miles directly sonth of that village.
As the hour of the eclipse approached, many were ready with their smoked glasses. As the time drew nearer, and nearer. the query arose in many minds and the question was laughingly asked, will the calculations of these astronomers, made years and years ago. be verified? A few minutes will tell, let us watch. As the index on
.
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the dial reached forty-three minutes past three o'clock, p. m., lo, and behold, on time to the minute the eclipse commenced, the moon was seen to intrude upon the disc of the sun. Slowly, certainly, the darkness moved over the sun's face. the obscuration growing more and more, and then was seen the awful approach of the moon's shadow in the air. The heavens were darkened. stars and planets appeared, the air grew sensibly cooler. And now the crickets chirped, animals became strangely agitated, the birds bewildered, fluttered about the tree tops. A strange gloom overspread all nature, the trees, houses and other objects had a weird and un- natural appearance, and human faces assumed a pallid, ghastly look in the unnatural light, and when the eclipse had approached near totality all grew silent and grave, and a feeling of profound awe, even an indefinable dread took possession of the beholder, and the fearful thought came involuntarily to the mind, what if this eclipse should remain? At four o'clock and forty-eight minutes the ob- scurity began to pass off, and at five o'clock, forty-five minutes, p. m. the glorious sun, more beneficent now than ever, shown forth again in his full splendor, and a feeling of great satisfaction came to all, however wise and fearless they pretended to be. Such was an inter- esting event but briefly and imperfectly described. And now as an interesting item we copy the following:
WHAT AN ECLIPSE MIGHT BE.
A correspondent of the Boston Post says: "Few people trouble them- selves to think what the effect would be if the eclipse of Saturday were to last any length of time, and the sun were blotted from the heavens. Philosophy declares that not only would a horror of darkness cover the earth, but the mois- ture of the atmosphere would be precipitated in vast showers to the earth, and the temperature fall to a fearful point of cold, nothing less than 230 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. The earth would be the seat of darkness, and more than arctic desolation. Nothing could survive such freezing cold a moment, more than one could breathe in scalding water. In three days after the cool- ing process began, nothing created would be alive but monsters that wallow in the deep ocean, and the eyeless reptiles that make their haunts in caves which penetrate far under ground."
A late issue of the London Telegraph, says:
"Apropos of the recent solar eclipse, a story worthy of Hackælnder has recently gone the round of the German papers. It appears that on the morn- ing of the event alluded to, Capt von S-, of the Fusilliers, issued the follow- ing verbal order to his company, through his sergeant major, to be communi- cated to the men after forenoon parade: 'This afternoon a solar eclipse will take place. At 3 o'clock the whole company will parade in the barrack-yard. Fatigue jackets and caps. I shall explain the eclipse to the men. Should it rain they will assemble in the drill-shed.' The sergeant major, having set down his commanding officer's instructions in writing as he had understood them, formed the company into hollow square at the conclusion of the morning drill, and read his version of the order to them thus: 'This afternoon a solar eclipse will take place in the barrack-yard, by order of the captain, and will be
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attended by the whole company, in fatigue jackets and caps. The captain will conduct the solar eclipse in person. Should it rain, the eclipse will take place in the drill-shed.'"
ANOTHER NEW "PAPER."
The following item appeared in the Homestead of September 1st. "A Prolific County-Faribault. She has four newspapers and less than four thousand inhabitants. The Prairie Bugle is the style of the latest, and it is democratic. It hails from Wells, but one half of it is printed in Mower county and the other half in Milwaukee. It is a clever looking, seven column sheet, and reflects credit on the pro- prietors, Messrs. Wood and Cook, who are at present propelling the Austin Democrat. Democracy has now an organ through which to make itself heard at home, and we heartily wish the proprietors abundant success."
THE HARVEST.
About harvest time the country was visited by heavy rains, ac- companied by high winds. The result was a long and expensive harvest and great waste of grain in the handling. The summer was wet, short, and with the exception of a very few hot days, was quite cool. The wheat suffered somewhat, also, from blight and rust in this county, yet after all these unfavorable facts, the crop was large. The crop of oats was abundant, and notwithstanding the un- favorable season, corn yielded very well.
The following quotation, relative to the crops of this year gen- erally, is taken from the South West of August 28th.
"A year of plenty is the cheering intelligence that comes to us from all points of the country. The wheat crop has yielded far above the average-cotton promises to furnish more bales than have been produced since the war. In the west, except in a portion of Illinois, the corn stands well and gives assurance of a large harvest -in the middle and northern states all kinds of grain have done well and potatoes, the farmers say, are "too plenty to pay." In this county, however, that pestilent, destructive, stinking little bug, the Colorado beetle, or potato-bug, which had greatly injured our potato crop for several years, did much damage this year again "
BAROMETRICAL.
The early part of September was characterized by heavy rains, and about the middle of the month the waters became very high and the roads almost impassable. The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of September 26th.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The second State Teachers' Institute was held at Blue Earth City, commencing September 20th. The instructors were Hon. Mark
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H. Dunnell, state superintendent, Sanford Niles, county superin- tendent Olmstead county, and Prof. Carson, of Mankato. The in- stitute was an entire success, but owing to the impassable condition of the roads and streams, the attendance of teachers was not as full as it should have been. A great local interest was taken by the people of Blue Earth City in this institute, who by their hospitality and efforts to encourage all its meetings by their attendance and inter- est in the proceedings, and in furnishing good vocal and instru- mental music, at the evening meeting, did much toward rendering the institute a success.
THE FAIR.
The time of holding the fair having been changed, in was held at Blue Earth City, on the 6th and 7th days of October. The exhibi- tion of grain, vegetables and fruits was very good, but other departments were very poor, and the attendance not large.
But little interest was manifested in the matter, which was owing to the fact that the farmers, generally, were at the time very busy in doing fall work, already long deferred on account of long continued rains.
THE FALL CONVENTIONS AND ELECTIONS.
The patriotic portion of the community, being those who were willing to accept office for the public good, concluded much earlier in the year than usual that the time had come to get the candidates in the field. Owing to various causes the "points" issue was now dead and the question of homestead taxation had been settled. But there was a governor and several state officers, a judge of the Dis- trict Court, for this judicial district, a senator and representative and a number of county officers to be elected, and several amend- ments of the constitution of the State to be adopted or rejected,
In pursuance of a call the Republican County Convention was held at Blue Earth City ou the twenty-eighth day of August, when the following nominations were made:
For Treasurer-R. B. Johnson.
For Sheriff-B. W. Barber.
For County Attorney-J. H. Sprout.
For Judge of Probate-J. A. Kiester.
For Coroner-A. J. Rose.
For Court Commissioner-J. A. Kiester.
The convention was quite harmonious, and all the nominations were made by acclamation, except that of sheriff, over which there was some squabbling.
Next came the Republican District Convention, which was held at Fairmont, Martin county, on the eighteenth day of September.
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Mr. Wakefield, elected senator the preceding year, having been appointed receiver at the local land office, as stated above, resigned the office of senator, which rendered the election of another person to that office necessary to fill out the unexpired term.
J. A. Latimer, of Faribault county was nominated as the repub- lican candidate for senator, and M. E. L. Shanks, of Martin county, for representative.
The democratic party held a convention at Fairmont also, on the twenty. fifth day of September, and nominated for senator Moses King, and for representative Phillip Huber.
On the seventh day of October the Democratic County Conven- tion was held at Blue Earth City, and made the following nomina- tions for county officers:
For Treasurer-Thos. S. Fellows.
For Sheriff-P. B. Fezler.
For Judge of Probate -D. H. Morse.
For County Attorney-Richard Field.
For Court Commissioner-T. C. Smith.
For Coroner-Loyal Dudley.
Mr. Field, soon after the convention, withdrew, and was not a candidate.
Owing to the fact that Hon. Horace Austin, judge of the sixth judicial district, to which this county belonged, was the republican candidate for governor and had resigned the office of judge, the elec- tion of a district judge became necessary. A judicial district con- vention was therefore held at Mankato, October 19th, when Andrew C. Dunn, of this county, was nominated as the republican candidate for that important office.
The democracy made no nomination, and the Hon. Franklin H Waite, of Blue Earth county, became an independent candidate for the judgeship.
Notwithstanding. there was now a straight republican and a straight democratic county ticket in the field, there was some dissatis- faction in certain quarters, and so, to remedy the mistakes of the two parties in their nominations, a "People's Mass Convention" was called to assemble at Walnut Lake, October 23d, but the place of meeting was subsequently changed to Winnebago City. A convention was held at the time specified, but was not numerously attended. The result of the proceedings was the nomination of Hon. Patrick Kelley, of this county, for senator, and A. L. Patchin, of Martin county, for rep- resentative, and P. C. Seely was nominated for the office of sheriff. The nominees on the republican ticket for the other county offices were endorsed by this convention.
As has already been said. Hon. Horace Austin, of Nicollet county, was the republican candidate for governor, and Hon. Geo. L.
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Otis, of Ramsey county, was the democratic candidate for the same office. With this expose of the political field, we now proceed to announce the result of the battle.
The decisive day, Nov. 2d, arrived, and when the shades of eve- ning closed the day, there were, in the ballot boxes, of this county, seven hundred and thirty-eight votes for Horace Austin, for gov- ernor, and for Geo. L. Otis, democratic candidate for governor, three hundred and seventy-five votes. For judge of the district court, Franklin H. Waite had seven hundred and seventy-six votes, and Andrew C. Dunn had three hundred and thirty-three.
For Senator:
J. A. Latimer had of the votes 776
Patrick Kelley 138
Moses King . 188
For representative there were for:
M. E. L. Shanks 482
Phillip Huber. 173
A. L. Patchin 353
For county offices the several candidates received the following number of votes:
For county treasurer:
R. B. Johnson had. 934
T. S. Fellows 207
For sheriff:
B. W. Barber had 524
P. C. Seely. 414
P. B Fezler. 189
For county attorney :
J. H. Sprout (no opposition) had. 648
For judge of probate:
J. A. Kiester had. 885
D. H. Morse had. 251
For coroner:
Loyal Dudley had 254
A. J. Rose 878
For court commissioner:
T. C. Smith had 253
J. A. Kiester. 814
A. R. More was elected county commissioner for the first district.
Austin was elected governor, Waite, district judge, and Latimer and Shanks were elected in the legislative district.
The varieties of tickets used at this election were prodigious, and each candidate for a county or legislative office, wanted his name on each style of ticket. There was the "Regular Republican" ticket. "Regular Democratic," "Workingman," "Farmers," "Peo- ple's," "Split," "Bogus," and "Bummers," and other varieties too numerous to mention.
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