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 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
290
HISTORY OF
PRICES.
Prices during the fall ranged as follows, wheat 70c, oats 35c, corn 40c, potatoes 25c per bushel, flour $2.50 to $3.00 per hundred. Wheat stood at an average of 60 to 70 cents most of the summer and fall. but at one time (in December) became as low as 53 cents. at Waseca, our railroad market at the time.
And now the year's record is completed, with the following quotation, from a popular and valuable work.
"This year closes a most important era in the history of the United States, and of the world. The account with the civil war was definitely closed, and the final seal set on the policy of reconstruction by the inauguration of Gen. Grant, president, and the continuance of the republican party in power by the people together with the re-admission of most of the southern states and the possibi- lity of the reversal of the decision in regard to slavery done away by the adop- tion of the amendment to the constitution, giving the elective franchise to the colored population. Much emphasis was given to all these things by the pros- perity of the country and the rapid reduction of the debt, by the generally wise conduct of the southern people and the slowly increasing prosperity of that section. These results reacted in other countries to strengthen the tendency to freer and more popular governments, and seem, in some respects, to have in- troduced the era of republicanism."
291
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XVI.
A. D. 1870.
"Master, Master! news, old news, and such news as you never heard of." -Shakespeare.
We have now reached another year of general accounting-a year of the national census. We have now grown to the stature of an important county in the State, and we step up upon a higher plain. Behind us is a period of fifteen years, with all their improvements, increase of population and accumulations. Among other things done during this time, many school houses were built, a number of church buildings erected, varions societies formed, many public roads opened, and thousands of acres of land put under cultivation. And we now begin a new decade, with considerable means to make great and valuable advances in the future.
HERE THEY ARE AGAIN.
In commencing the history of this year, it is necessary to state that the county commissioners assembled on the fourth day of Jan- uary, and proceeded to organize by electing Andrew R. More, Sr. chairman.
They held subsequent meetings commencing March 24th, June 30th and September 6th, but a careful examination of the record discloses nothing of historical value, the business done being simply of the ordinary routine character.
In writing the annals of a people, or locality, where events of public interest should be stated, in chronological order, there is the constant repetition each year of certain public official oc- currences, of the same general tenor, which causes a sameness in the history of the several years, and becomes monotonous, but which cannot readily be avoided. Yet it may be remarked that while some of such events may not be of much interest to many persons, there are always some-those whose names are mentioned, or other actors in the events, who are interested in reading them. Many readers of books understand the brainless "art of skipping," and when the reader of these annals strikes a paragraph of no inter- est, it would be advisable to "skip along." It may be observed, generally, and should be remembered, that while some events chronicled in history, may be of little interest to one reader, they may be of great interest to another.
292
HISTORY OF
THE GREAT AMENDERS.
The twelfth State Legislature assembled at the capitol January 4th and adjourned March 4th. In the legislature of this year. our senator was J. A. Latimer, of this county, and our representative in the lower House was M. E. L. Shanks, of Martin county. The acts passed at this session having a special relation to this county, were the following: First. "An act to establish an additional term of the district court" in this county.
Prior to this there was but one term of court held in the county annually, but the increasing business required an additional term. By this act the terms were set for the first Tuesday of January and the first Tuesday of June in each year.
Second. An act amendatory of the act of 1868, authorizing towns to vote aid to railroad companies. Third. An act confirm- ing the action and resolutions of the common council of Mankato * * relative to the issue of bonds to the M. & N. W. R. R. Co., (now Minnesota Central) and the election held ratifying said resolution.
To note here an important item in our railroad history and to understand the relevancy of the above act to this county, it is neces- sary to say, that the City of Mankato, in Blue Earth county, adjoin- ing this county on the north, had voted to issue to the railroad company above-named, $65,000 in bonds, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a railroad from Mankato to Wells, in this county, and from a point on said route at, or near, Good Thunder's Ford to the Iowa state line, via Blue Earth City. The above act, as its title imports, was passed to confirm and legalize the proceedings. In connection with this same project, Mr. Drake, president of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company. had, in December of the preceding year, agreed to build the road from Good Thunder's Ford by way of Blue Earth City, to the Iowa state line, there to connect with a proposed road in Iowa, provided the several townships along the line of the road should vote a certain amount of aid in the shape of town bonds. One-half of the bonds voted by the City of Mankato was to apply on the Blue Earth City branch, as it was called. But the whole project, so far as this county was concerned, for some in- scrutable reason failed, and being a failure, it is not necessary to pur- sue the subject further here.
THE FIRST RAILROAD.
On the fifth day of January, of this year, our first railroad, the Southern Minnesota, was laid across the east line of the county, and on that day the first train of cars which ever entered upon the soil of this county steamed in with noise and smoke, and on the thir- teenth day of the same month the road was completed to Wells, and
293
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
on that day the first train of cars whistled, thundered and puffed into that village, amid loud exclamations of rejoicing. And now Wells was to be, for a brief period, the railroad market and com- mercial metropolis of the county.
THE COUNTY PRESS.
In the early part of January, the Prairie Bugle, to which some reference was heretofore made, ended its career, and its "stirring notes" ceased to be heard resounding over the prairies. But its place was taken by a more permanent and valuable journal, the Wells Atlas, which appeared about the twentieth day of January. It was published at Wells, in this county, by C. A. Lounsberry, form- erly of the Martin County Atlas, and was a seven column sheet, and very creditable in matter, typography and general appearance. The paper was republican in politics. We have not a copy of the first issue at hand to give exact dates and the introductory remarks of the editor.
There were now four newspapers published in the county, the South West and Post at Blue Earth City, the Free Homestead at Winne- bago City and the Atlas at Wells, certainly enough, considering the population, to enlighten the people on all subjects of public interest.
A STORM-SPRING AND SEEDING.
A terrific snow storm, attended with severe cold, occurred on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of March. The whole country was covered by immense banks and drifts of snow, in every direction. During this storm a Mrs. Bates and three small children were frozen to death in the town of Brush Creek, a more full account of which is given elsewhere. Others in this county and some in Martin and Jackson counties were badly frozen, and stock suffered severely.
The spring opened and the ice in the streams began to break up and the waters to run, about the twenty-eighth day of March, and seeding commenced this year on the eighth of April.
CHIPS AND SPLINTERS.
(From the Homestead.)
Feb. 16th. Wheat is "firm" at Wells, at fifty-two cents for No. One. A few mornings ago the mercury indicated 30 degrees below zero, the lowest it has been this winter. Now we are enjoying almost Indian summer weather and pretty good sleighing.
March. There is no doubt whatever that the most prosperous section of our country, at this time, is in the south. Money is plenty there and keeps moving more lively than elsewhere.
16th. The mails are delayed on account of the snow, and no news of the week has yet been received.
294
HISTORY OF
-License or no license. This question will be voted on, in Winnebago City, at the next town meeting.
-As you pass along through life, be kind and sympathizing; bestow smlles and gentle words upon your fellow pilgrims. Thus you will bring happiness to you heart and strew your path with fadeless flowers.
-During the terrible storm of wind and snow, last Tuesday, a large eagle, measuring seven feet from tip to tip of his wings, descended, for protection against the weather, on the farin of Mr. S. Crandall.
-Religious .- A few weeks since there was but one professing Christian among the business men of the city. Now they number thirteen, and over sixty persons in all have been converted in the revival meetings here.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
On the first day of June of this year, "The Faribault County Sunday School Association and Institute," was formed at Winnebago City, by the adoption, at a public meeting called for the purpose, of a constitution and the election of officers.
The object of the association is declared in the second article of the constitution to be, "For the awakening of a greater interest in the cause of Sunday schools, and a higher culture of teachers for the work."
The board of officers consists of a president, two vice presidents, a secretary and treasurer. A committee is appointed at each meet- ing to prepare, in good season, a program of exercises, and make all necessary arrangements for the next meeting.
The association is defined to be "a delegated body composed of five members from each school, which number shall include the pas- tor and superintendent of the respective schools." The minutes of this first meeting state that the convention was well attended and considerable interest was manifested throughout the session, which continned two days.
The officers elected for the year were the Rev. J. D. Todd, pres- ident; D. B. Thurston and O. A. Albee, vice-presidents, and C. J. Farley, secretary and treasurer.
It appears that, for some reason, no meeting was held in 1871. The meeting held in 1872, is named the second annual meeting in the records of the association. The meetings were regularly held thereafter, annually, and constantly grew in interest and importance.
At this first meeting, among other action taken, it was resolved to circulate in all the Sunday schools a temperance pledge and a pledge against profanity and the use of tobacco. A peculiar and most valuable feature of the exercises at the several meetings, is the chil- dren's meeting, a time for which is set apart and to which all the children of the locality are invited and take part in certain exercises arranged for the occasion.
The Minnesota State Sabbath School Association was organized in 1838, and holds an annual convention. The State, as well as the
295
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
county societies, are entirely undenominational. Each county, or district society, is an auxilliary of the State society.
Sunday schools were instituted at a very early day of the Chris- tian era, probably about the close of the second century. And all along down the centuries these schools have been known at various times, and in different countries, until the time of the institution of modern Sunday schools. It is said there was a Sunday school in Roxbury, Mass., in 1674, which was probably the first one in Amer- ica. But these schools were not such Sunday schools as we have now. They were not, as a rule, designed for religious instruction, but were intended to provide elementary instruction to the children of the poor who could not attend the day schools, or those who had
no other time or opportunity of getting instruction. Modern Sun- day schools were originated by the Rev. Thomas Steck, of Glouces- ter, England, a clergyman of the Church of England, about the year 1779 or 1780 and who, in the latter year, associated with himself, Robert Raikes, who reorganized the schools existing in his charge, and thereafter took the main care of the schools and the extension of the system, and has come to be recognized, and properly so, as the real founder of modern Sunday schools. It is not necessary here, or at this day, to give any description of the Sunday school system, or to present any arguments in its behalf, though there are those who question the methods used, and there are some who even doubt the value of the institution itself.
Its adoption by all the religious denominations throughout christendom, and its self-evident value as a means of moral and reli- gious instruction and discipline, is a sufficient answer to all objec- tions and are
- Confirmations Strong As proofs of Holy Writ,"
Of the value of these schools. The Sunday school has been justly called, "the nursery of the church," and it is in them, at this day, that more than one-half of our young people, whether rich or poor, or whether the children of educated or illiterate parents, get most of their religious knowledge and training -- instruction which but for the Sunday school, many of them, owing to the neglect, or incom- petency of parents aud others, would never get.
It is, indeed, one of the most beneficeht institutions of modern times and is doing a great, a good work -- one of incalculable value to the world.
It is gratifying to know, also, as might have been reasonably supposed, that the Sunday school has met the approval and received the attention and labors, in almost every country, of men and women of the highest intellectual culture, of great moral worth and high position. And right here it may be said, for the profit of a certain
296
HISTORY OF
class of persons, who think themselves a little above the business of a Sunday school teacher, or who, because of the shallow knowl- edge they possess of this institution, affect to ridicule it, that many of the greatest and best men of this nation have taken a direct and personal interest in Sunday school work. That in England, the late Lord Hatherley was a Sunday school teacher for forty years and that two of the Lord Chancellors-Lord Cairns and Lord Selborne, were both very attentive and efficient Sunday school teachers.
THE FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.
It appears, by reference to Neill's History of the State, that the first Sunday school in the State, and in fact, the first in the North- west, was instituted at Fort Snelling, in 1823. It was, however, but a temporary organization.
The first permanent Sunday school in Minnesota was established at St. Paul. July 25th, 1847. "Seven scholars attended, and there was such a mixture of races among these that an interpreter was necessary, who could speak French, English and Sioux, before all could be made to understand the instructions given. The school in- creased to twenty-five scholars by the third Sunday * * * and finally became the Sabbath school of the First Baptist Church-so that said society claim to have the oldest Sunday school in Minne- sota."
The first permanent Sunday school in this county-one which has continued to this day-was instituted in 1858, in the town of Pilot Grove, by several members of the Presbyterian church. A Sunday school was, however, held prior to this one. in Winnebago City township, the exact date of which cannot now be found, but this school did not long continue. It may, therefore, be said that the Pilot Grove school is, at least, the oldest existing Sunday school in the county.
The number of Sunday schools in the county, their membership, the progress made by them, and the condition of the Sunday school work in the county. will be noted from time to time, in the accounts given in this work, of the meetings of the Association.
And now, in concluding this subject here, the writer desires to express the most earnest hope that the Association may be greatly prosperous, that every pastor, superintendent, or other officer, and every teacher, in our Sunday schools, may be enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit, in their noble work-a work beneficial to the State, as well as to the advancement of religion-a work which shall tell, not only in time, but in eternity, and which is indeed, and in truth, work done for the Master, and which shall at some time, and somewhere, receive its proper reward.
297
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
JUSTICE.
The Jnne term of the District Court commenced its session on the seventh and continued nine days. This was the first term in this county at which one new judge, the Hon. Franklin H. Waite, pre- sided. No causes of special public interest were tried.
What a dull item this is? Let us enliven it a little by relating a joke, not connected, indeed, with our court, but which was floating around in the newspapers of the time. A certain judge who was quite lenient and not noted for keeping very orderly courts, one day became quite impatient, owing to the noise and confusion, and sud- denly exclaimed, "Mr. Sheriff!"
"What your honor," said the sheriff.
"Try and keep a little order in the court room," said the judge, "here we have already committed four prisoners without hearing a word of the evidence."
A HEATED TERM.
The last three weeks of June were excessively warm, being the hottest term yet known in this county. During most of this time the thermometer ranged from 90° to 98° in the shade. The earth became parched, as there had been no rain for a considerable period, and the crops suffered severely.
A NEWSPAPER CHANGE.
Exit-The Free Homestead, on the eighth day of June, after a career of six years of considerable prominence and influence. Mr. Ed. A. Hotchkiss, retiring editor, favors his readers with probably the briefest valedictory on record. "To-day we are Ed. To-mor- row we shall be Ex."-and bows himself off the editorial stage.
Entre-A. E. Foss, June 23d, making a very graceful obeisance to the public and presenting The Winnebago City Press.
THE ANNUAL GLORIFICATION.
Some reader might think the history of this year incomplete, should the statement be omitted that the fourth of July was cele- brated at Blue Earth City with appropriate ceremonies and patriotic ardor. The great charter was read by Prof. E. P. Bartlett, and an eloquent oration was delivered by Rev. C. A. Stine, of Mankato. The day was very pleasant and many people were in attendance. The newspapers seemed to intimate that two or three individuals, on this occasion, permitted their patriotism to degenerate into pat- riot-ism which was disgraceful, both to themselves and the day. It does not appear that the day was celebrated in a formal manner at any other place.
298
HISTORY OF
ANOTHER STORM.
A memorable storm, the most severe of the summer, really a tempest of wind, rain and hail, occurred on the nineteenth day of July, coming up from the southwest. This tornado did much dam- age in the county, especially in the villages. Wells and Minnesota Lake suffered the most. At the former place several houses were blown over, others badly shaken. Roofs were blown off from many houses, and barns thrown down, sign boards, fences and outhouses were, everywhere, damaged to a considerable extent.
CUTTING THE GRAIN.
The harvest of this year, which began in the last week of July, was not abundant. Wheat was light, averaging about ten bushels per acre. Barley and oats gave us about two-thirds the usual yield. The weather during harvest was exceedingly warm and sultry. The following remarks are quoted from the report of the commis- sioner of statistics, relative to the crops of 1870 :
The difference between good and bad farming was never, perhaps, more signally illustrated than by the results of agriculture in Minnesota, in 1870. With an auspicious season-when from seed time until harvest the tempera- ture is favorable, the rains timely, and the approving heavens conjure the earth of her abundance, the blunders and follies of the worst husbandry are corrected, and all alike rejoice in general abundance, but when the elements are perverse, and the struggling grain is beset with vicissitudes, the test of the true farmer is assured. Such was the season of 1870. Its commencement was early and auspicious, and until the drought and heat began in June, the crops were everywhere alike promising. Then a difference in the fields began to manifest itself, which became more and more palpable as the season advanced, Those which had been deeply ploughed early the previous fall, withstood the dire heat and prolonged drought, and maintained their luxuriant vigor to the end, while the shallow fields, hastily ploughed in the spring, grew rapidly worse, and seemed literally to dry up and disappear.
THE FIRST JAIL.
During the course of this history allusion has been made sev- eral times to the action of the county authorities in reference to the building of a jail. It may now be stated that during the month of August, of this year. that useful institution was erected. It was a one-story frame building, sixteen feet by thirty feet in size. The north half of the building was fitted up for the purposes of a jail, and contained two sheet-iron cells. The south half was finished up as a residence for the turnkey.
FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
A brief space occurring here in our manuscript, it may be filled by the statement that during this year a great war was waged between France and Prussia. It was prosecuted upon a very large
299
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
scale and with tremendous vigor, and was short and decisive. The Emperor, Napoleon III, of France, was defeated and taken prisoner by the Germans; his government was set aside by the people of France, who founded a republic.
On the seventh day of September the French Republic was rec- ognized by the United States government.
On the twenty eighth of January, of the next year, the city of Paris capitulated to the Germans, which ended the war, terms of peace being soon arranged, and on the first day of March following, the Germans made a triumphal entry into Paris. Many of our citi- zens were natives, respectively, of these two great nations, and of course took a deep interest in the progress and results of the war.
A CHIMERA.
During the summer an enterprise was broached and somewhat discussed, of dividing the counties of Faribault, Freeborn and Mar- tin, in such a manner as to make the village of Wells a central location for the county seat of a new county to be formed by the divisions proposed. The project was designed so as to leave Blue Earth City the county seat of what remained of the old county. The scheme, however, was not viewed favorably by any one except a few persons in Wells, where it originated. It was "a fond thing vainly inven- ted," and was soon dropped as entirely impracticable. There was, also, considerable talk during the year in certain localities, in refer- ence to the removal of the county seat, which culminated in certain action which we shall notice hereafter.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
A few words must here be said in relation to the Agricultural Society.
At the annual January meeting L. W. Brown, of Prescott, was elected president and A. A. Huntington, of Winnebago City, secre- tary. Yet it appears that notice was given of a meeting to be held. at Winnebago City, June 4th, for the election of officers. Of the pur- port of this it is not now profitable to inquire.
The fair was held at Winnebago City on the 22d and 23d days of September. There was considerable jealousy existing at the time between the several villages relating to the society, and much gen- eral dissatisfaction as to the affairs of the society, all of which tended to interfere with its success, and as a result the fair of this fall was not encouraging.
In connection with the subject in hand, it should be recorded as a matter of history that there existed at the time of which we write, and for a number of subsequent years, a growing inclination among the farmers throughout the country generally, and to some extent in
300
HISTORY OF
this county, to leave the farm and crowd into the towns and cities, under the supposition that life was easier and better there than on the farm.
The extent to which this disposition has pervailed and now pre- vails, is much greater in some localities than in others. The old fashioned quiet contentment with farm life, seems, with many, to have passed away for some reason. There are doubtless a number of causes which are operating to bring about such a result, in var- ious localities, but without attempting to enumerate, or speculate, as to the causes, or prescribe a remedy, we shall quote here a very appropriate article somewhat humorous as well as practical, from that curious paper, Peck's Sun, ( Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.