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 33
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The June term of this court commenced its session on the sixth, and at this term there were on the calendar nine criminal and thirty-one civil cases. The first trial yet had in this county for the awful crime of murder, occurred at this term of court-that of Nels Hast, a more full account of which is given elsewhere. This term, though a short one-lasting only four days-was for a number of reasons, one of the most interesting and important ever held in the county. Hast was convicted of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced to imprisonment for life, at hard labor, in the state prison.
This was the first life sentence passed in this county, and of the four homicides which had occurred, this was the first instance in which the perpetrator was punished.
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
A passing reference must now be made to the meeting of the "grave and reverend seniors," the county commissioners. They assembled on the third day of January; Arthur Bonwell was elected chairman for the year, after which the board proceeded to the transaction of its usual business.
They met again on the fifteenth day of March, on the twenty- sixth day of June, and on the fifth day of September, but a careful inspection of the records of these several meetings, furnishes noth - ing of special note. Yet the business done at these several meet- ings, as always, was important, as being necessary to the well being of the county.
The fact is that the great mass of the business, the real work of the world, public and private, of the town, county, state and nation, of all societies, corporations and individual pursuits. is of the ordinary routine character, having little of special interest, and nothing of the noise and glitter of what are called great actions. yet necessary, absolutely necessary, to the very existence, the stability, success and progress of all our institutions, political, religious,
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social, financial and educational, and, therefore, of the gravest im- portance. The world's real work, intellectual, moral and physical, is done by its quiet, busy, daily toilers, and is of incalculably more importance to the well-being of society, than all those brilliant actions, so called great deeds and noisy demonstrations of which alone the world seems to take any account.
THE FARMERS' SOCIETY.
At the winter meeting of the Agricultural Society, held in the early part of January, S. Pfeffer, of Blue Earth City, was elected president; A. D. Hall, of Wells, secretary, and L. W. Brown, of Prescott, treasurer. A meeting of the society was held at Blue Earth City, July 14th, which adjourned to meet at Wells on the twenty-sixth day of August. The object of this meeting was the revision of the constitution and by-laws, the preparation of premium lists and to determine the place of holding the next fair.
The fair was held at Wells on the 4th, 5th and 6th days of Octo- ber. The exhibition was not great, but the attendance was good, and financially the fair was a success to the society.
THE WEATHER.
The first snow storm of the winter commenced on the eleventh day of January, and continued two days. With this exception the winter was a very mild one. No great depth of snow fell, and we were not visited by any of those terrific "north westers," known by the euphoneous name of "blizzard," that occasionally give us some idea of the intense cold, and furious storms of the polar regions.
The old weather saw,
"As the days begin to lengthen The cold begins to strengthen."
did not hold very good this winter.
In January, of this year, there was considerable rejoicing through- out the country, in consequence of the fact that all the southern States were represented in congress for the first time since Decem- ber, 1860. "Reconstruction" was completed.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
We now invite our readers to the halls of legislation at the State capital, to see what was there done of interest to the people of this county.
The thirteenth State Legislature assembled January 8th and adjourned March 3d.
It will be recollected that in December, of the preceding year, notices were served upon G. W. Whallon, senator elect of this (the 20th) district, and upon Geo. C. Chamberlin, representative elect,
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that their election would be contested. and that testimony was taken in reference to the matter. On the assembling of the legislature, both Messrs. Whallon and Chamberlin took their scats in their re- spective houses.
Without going into all the details incident to these contests in the legislature, it will suffice to say that on the twenty-fifth day of January the contested election case of Whallon and Thompson came up for final action in the Senate on the following resolution:
"Resolved, That in the contested case of Thompson against Whallon, now pending-
Ist. Clark W. Thompson received a majority of the legal votes for senator in the Twentieth Senatorial District, and that, therefore, George W. Whallon is not entitled to a seat in this Senate.
2d. That Clark W. Thompson be admitted to his seat as senator from the Twentieth Senatorial District."
Ou motion Senators Farmer (absent) and Whallon (interested ), were excused.
The question being upon the above resolution, a division of the question was called for, and upon the first clause of the resolution, the roll being called, there were thirteen yeas and seven nays. So that clause of the resolution was adopted.
The question being now upon the second proposition, the roll being called, there were ten yeas, and ten nays. So the second clause of the resolution was lost. On a motion to reconsider the vote last taken, there were ten yeas, and ten nays. So the motion to reconsider was lost.
As the matter stands thus far. Mr. Whallon isout of his seat and the seat is vacant. But on the thirty- first day of January, Mr. Far- mer, who had been absent on the former vote, appeared in his place in the Senate, and requested permission to record his vote upon the motion to reconsider the vote upon the second proposition. He was allowed so to do, and cast his vote in the affirmative. The proposi- tion to admit Mr. Thompson being then before the senate, the yeas and nays being ordered, there were fourteen yeas, and five nays, when Mr. Thompson came forward and was sworn in. On Tuesday, February 7th, the matter of the contested seat of Geo. C. Chamber- lin coming up in the House for final action, and the question being on the resolution to oust Mr. Chamberlin and give the seat to Mr. Patchin, the vote stood yeas, twenty-eight, nays, twelve. So Mr. Chamberlin was ousted, and Mr. Patchin admitted to the seat as representative of this district.
On the twenty-first day of February "A bill for an act to remove the county seat of Faribault county from Blue Earth City to Wells," previously introduced by Mr. Thompson, was passed in the senate by a vote of thirteen yeas to four nays.
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The passage of this act naturally created great excitement in Blue Earth City and vicinity, and it was determined by the residents of that village to defeat the passage of the bill in the House if possi- ble. It was reported that the people of Wells had previously secured the names of five hundred and ten inhabitants of the county, to a petition to the legislature favoring the removal of the county seat. The people of Blue Earth City then proceeded to canvass the county with remonstrances against the removal and the passage of the act pending, and secured the names of fifteen hundred and forty legal voters, the lists being all sworn to by the persons who procured the singers. These remonstrances, in the aggregate, contained the uames of over two-thirds of the legal voters of the county. They were for- warded to St. Paul and laid before the House. The result was that on Monday, February 27th, the House committee on towns and coun- ties, reported adversely on the bill for the removal of the county seat from Blue Earth City to Wells. The report of the committee was adopted by the House, by a considerble majority, and a motion to reconsider, under a suspension of the rules, was lost by a vote of twenty-five to fifteen, and the fate of the bill was sealed. And now, as was very natural, there was great rejoicing at Blue Earth City, and a corresponding depression of spirits at Wells.
The further action of the legislature of this year, of special re- lation to this county, was the passage of an act apportioning the State into legislative districts, in which it is enacted that "the sixth district shall be composed of the county of Faribault, and shall be entitled to elect one senator and two representatives."
Also "An act to incorporate the village of Wells." Also "An act to authorize the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota, Rail- way Company to extend their line of railroad into Minnesota, and which provided that said railway shall cross the State line dividing Iowa from Minnesota in Faribault county.
Wm. Windom, of Winona, was elected United States Senator. for six years, and O. P. Stearns to fill out the term of Mr. Norton, deceased.
From what has been stated above, it will be observed that this county was represented in the legislature of 1871, by G. W. Whal- lon, and C. W. Thompson, in the senate, and G. C. Chamberlin and A. L. Patchin, in the House, being a little more representation than this county ever had before, or since that memorable session.
As a passing remark, it may be stated that but little, if any- thing of value, was gained by either party to the great contest of 1870-71. The bill for the removal of the county seat did not become a law, and the internal improvement lands were not divided, as the bill was vetoed, nor was any other act passed of any special advan- tage to either party.
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ITEMS.
(From the Post.)
-March .- A Missouri paper offers this for the requlem of a departed con- temporary. It has had many local illustrations.
"Leaf by leaf the roses fall; Dime by dime the purse runs dry, One by one beyond recall Mushroom papers droop and die."
-Advices from Paris give details of the inauguration of another revolu- tion. A mob has seized the city, three prominent generals have been shot, the streets barricaded, and the government and the American diplomatie corps have left the city.
-The tide of immigration to Minnesota has already set in and "prairie schooners" are already to be seen. It is the opinion of well informed persons, that immigration to Minnesota will be very heavy this year.
-St. Patrick's day was pretty generally observed throughout the State.
-A conductor on the S. M. Railroad says that as he was collecting tickets the other day, he came to a very tall, pleasant looking gentleman, who seemed very anxious to reach his journey's end-when the conductor reached for his tieket, the tall gentleman took him by the hand, felt his pulse and asked to see his tongue. That doctor does not live far from here.
-April 1st-The beautiful spring weather of the past week, has induced farmers to commence sowing grain.
-May 20th-We claim to beat the State on corn, having a patch of sweet corn which is ten inches high at this date.
-There are several different kinds of shirks-the religious shirk, the political shirk, the physical shirk; but of all shirks, the meanest, the most contemptible is the public shirk. By the public shirk we mean the man of property who is benefited by the pushing of every public enterprise, and yet who persistently refuses to put his shoulder to the wheel to assist.
-- It may be said with truthfulness that the salvation of this State depends upon the coming harvest. Never at any previous time, since the State was settled, have the people been so generally deep in debt. They owe the merchant, the machine man and the banks. The amount of money loaned on mortgages is enormous. This money is loaned at a high rate of interest, ranging from two to three per cent a month. * *
-The duty of the hour is to economize, ECONOMIZE, ECONOMIZE.
-June 10th-Strawberries in market.
-The Delevan and Blue Earth City stage line is doing a good business these days.
-Pie plant will soon disappear from the market.
-We have been informed that the crops never looked better than they now do.
-Jug butter can be bought in its utmost perfection at reduced prices.
Some of these items are a little curious, but they represent some of the events and conditions of the times.
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THE SONG OF THE SEEDER.
Seeding commenced the latter part of March, and was mainly completed early in April. Corn planting commenced about the tenth day of May, and a much greater breadth of land was cultivated to corn this year than was usual.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
The numerous notices in the newspapers of the current year, of the very general observance of St. Patrick's Day by a large class of out citizens, suggest the propriety of a few words on the subject here.
"How beauteous are the feet of those who bear
Mercy to man, glad tidings to despair."-C. H. Johnson.
St. Patrick-a bishop-was the grea tmissionary and apostle of Christianity to the Irish people, and is revered as the Patron Saint of old Ireland. He was born A. D. 372 or 373, and died March 17th, A. D. 493 or 495. There appears, however, to be some doubt as to the accuracy of these dates. He began his labors as mission- ary to Ireland, about A D. 432. He was an apostle of great zeal and ability, of high character, fearless and of untiring energy, and has the credit of having converted almost the whole of Ireland to Christianity. It appears that he worthily bore the commission of the Great Master, recorded in the Scriptures.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, (the Disciples) saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
-Mathew II, 8: 18-19-20.
And this is the highest, the holiest commission ever issued to man. And the grandest men of all the ages are these brave. self- sacrificing and devoted missionaries who bear this Gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathen, raising up the idol-worshipper from his dark- ness and degradation into the blessed light of the Son of Righteous- ness, placing his feet in the path of civilization and progress, and pointing out to him the way to eternal salvation.
The Roman Catholic Church keeps St. Patrick's festival on March 17th, the day of his death.
The day is usually commemorated by religious services in the Roman Catholic churches, and by processions through some of the principal streets of the cities, and by other appropriate demonstra- tions. The day has generally been observed in this county in some manner, usually simply by religious services. St. Patrick's Day is not, however, a legal holiday in this State, and it seems to be com . memorated only by the Roman Catholics, yet it might very appro- priately be observed by all Christian people, and especially is it
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fitting that Irishmen, throughout the world, should revere and pay honor to this great man's memory.
The proper color of decoration on this day, is green, and the prevailing custom is to display upon the person a small badge, representing the leaves of the shamrock, as a recognition of the day.
"Oh the Shamrock, the green immortal Shamrock !
Chosen leaf, Of bard and chief,
Oid Erin's native Shamrock ""-Moore.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
April was signalized this year by the fact that the State Teach- ers' Institute was held at Blue Earth City, commencing April 17th. Some eighty (80) teachers were present and were much interested, as well as much benefited by the meeting. The institute was under the direction of and conducted by Prof. Wilson, State Superintend- ent, Supt. Niles and Dr. Aiken, all noted educators. A number of very instructive lectures were delivered by these gentlemen on educational subjects.
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
The Fourth of July was celebrated at Winnebago City and Delavan this year, but not at Blue Earth City. The celebration at Winnebago City was a great success. It was estimated that over two thousand people were present.
We present the following account of the celebration taken from the local newspaper, and also a number of extracts from the address of Hon. G. K. Cleveland, because of the references contained therein to many matters of interest in the earlier days of the county, and also as a tribute to the memory of one nowdeceased, who was once a citizen of the county, and was honored with some of its most important offices.
"After passing through the principal streets the procession halted at the bower, when the exercises were opened by music by the band; this was followed by prayer by Rev. J. D. Todd, and singing by the Glee Club. Dr. D. Noteman then read the Declaration of Independence in an impressive manner, and was Instily cheered at the close of the same. The audience was then treated to music by both the brass band and Glee Club. After which Hon. J. A. Latimer, president of the day, introduced Major G. K. Cleveland, of Mankato, who delivered an oration of which we can only give an imperfect idea by the following extracts. We regret that our space forbids giving Major Cleveland's address in full, but as we cannot, we select those portions having a local application, judging that these will be of most interest to our readers-at least those who are considered 'old settlers.' The address was as follows:
Mr. President, Goddess of Liberty, and Muids of Honor:
Fellow Citizens! Friends of to-day, and friends of other days! Judging from what I see before me and around me, this is July,' and 'Thompson has
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got home." I read in your paper that lively times were anticipated in some young city of your county 'when Thompson came home in July.'
My friends, of Winnebago City, of Blue Earth City, of Fairmont, of Shelby, of Sterling, of Mapleton, Wells, and all of Faribault county. This opportunity of celebrating with you the glorious Fourth, is to me an occasion of unalloyed pleasure. This spot was my home from 1857 to 1862. I shall never forget, and will you, who took part in celebrating the Fourth of July. 1858, ever forget the joy and rejoicing of that day. Yonder, on the site of the old school-house, stood the green booth. Beneath it groaned the loaded tables which the Win- nebago ladies of that day had spread with royal, no, with Republican bounty. I use the word in a national, not a partisan sense. The ladies in question were famous for an intimate acquaintance with the mysteries of both substantial and pastry cooking. I venture they have not lost their skill. That was the first celebration of the Fourth in this city. The Fourth of July is like quails and prairie chickens-a bud of civilization. It follows the settlements. The Declaration of Independence was read; patriotic songs were sung; the day, the President, the old flag, the ladies present, and the girls we had left behind us, all were toasted. That was a memorable celebration. We who met there thus, for the first time, claimed half the State of the Union for birthplace and homes.
We came from the Maine woods; from the shadow of Plymouth Rock; from the hills and valleys of the Empire State; from wood-crowned Pennsylvania; from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Yankees, Knickerbockers, Leatherheads, Buckeyes, Wolverines, Hawkeyes, Hoosiers, and Suckers-a hodge-podge, a hasty pudding, to be soon simmered-down into Gophers. This is no inglorious ending. Gophers are the real ancient mound-builders of the Mississippi Valley, and by a happy transmigration of souls, have returned to their ancient seats, to found a race more mighty and enduring than the first. We came with the same patriotic associations, the same revolutionary reading, the same manly pride in American greatness, the same mother love for the old flag, the same rock-bottomed confidence in American destiny, the same amaz- iug faith in the scream of the national eagle to scare the world. Hither we came seeking homes, happiness, fortune. We found here a virgin soil-a flowery wilderness-a spot of uninhabited carth fresh from the hand of God. Its soil of marvelous fertility had never been cursed by wheel of bloody conqueror, by foot of cruel oppressor, or sweat of slave. You received it unstained from the hands of the Almighty world-builder, overlaid with the cream of a thousand centuries, and consecrated on that Independence Day to order, liberty, and law; to the equal rights of all men, of all climes, who should here set foot; to ad- vancement, education, and to that religion whose corner-stone is the Father- hood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.
But are they all here who took part in that celebration? Let them an- swer to roll-call: Ladd, Welch, Jenness, Goodnow, Moulton, Foley, Towndrow, Wheeler, Tommy George, Dunham, Spickerman, Seely, Dunn, Sherlock, Kim- ball, Humes, Grove Burt, Capt. Bigelow, Madison-where are you. all-and a hundred others, Hi. Youngincluded? More than half are gone-scattered by the toss and whirl of time. Enough remain to enjoy with me a moment's retros- pect. The first social party I attended in this State was in Burnett's log hotel over there-do you recollect it ?- in the winter of '57-'8, when a solitary fiddle discoursed ravishing music, while the feet of forty dancers tore their soles on rough spots where the landlord's adze had smoothed down-or, rather, in a well-meant effort, had roughed up-the warped edges of the floor-boards. Young ladies, like quails and prairie chickens, follow the settlement-in time. At that time there were no young ladies in these youthful "diggins." But young
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married ladies were numerous. These came from over the river, from Verona, from Bass Lake, from Shelby. They brought their babies-and a little pantry made clean for a clothes-room, was piled from bottom to top shelf with sleeping bables, from three weeks old and upward. It was a sight to behold. It always did seem to me that the soil and climate of the upper Blue Earth valley was remarkably congenial to the growth of babies-God bless their pug noses! The supper that night was sumptuous, and the social, innocent pleasure, temper- ately and most heartily enjoyed. The first sermon I ever heard in Minnesota was at the hospitable home of Capt. Bigelow and his most amiable and estim- able lady, when Elder Jacob Conrad preached. I pronounce his name with pleasure, and am proud to be numbered among his friends. Noble, faithful, cheerful of spirit, he lived among the sometime rough and wayward settlers of the frontier the religion he commended to others. Ile planted the Banner of the Cross where too many only thought of planting potatoes and corn. His illustrations of truth and duty often had the spice of an odd and humorous originality which often provoked a smile, but which did not fail of their mark. Noble, Christian man! Long may he live to enjoy life and do good. The first grave I ever stood above in Minnesota, was yonder in the woodland-the un- timely grave of murdered Fisher. I do not recall a single natural death during the first three years of muy residence here, so gracious and so healthful was the time. By your favor I was first honored with an office-that of Probate Judge. in the political contests of those early days local 'honors' were 'easy'-for Republicans-they were overwhelmingly in the majority. Twice was I honored by your suffrages with a seat in the Legislature. But it was not votes alone that elected me. [Here the speaker paid a tribute to the memory of the 'stiff- necked, crop-eared Indian pony' which had carried him through his electioneer- ing expeditions. He then referred to the late civil war, paying a glowing tri- bute to those brave men who left the comforts of home to assist their country In her great peril; painted in vivid colors the fearful scenes of carnage in the feld, and the broken-hearted wives and mothers left at home; referred to the present dissensions in the South, and considered the rule of unprincipled rene- gades from the North to be one of the prime causes thereof; spoke of the 'new departure' doctrine inaugurated by Vallandigham, and favored the throwing aside of old issues by both political parties, and on questions of national im- portance all work together His closing remarks were eloquent, patriotic, and highly entertaining to the vast audience in attendance].
Mr. Cleveland was loudly cheered on taking his seat. The brass band and glee club then favored the audience with some charming music, which was followed by the benediction, delivered by Rev. Mr. Ross."
OUR RURAL SUMMERS.
Again, as in every year, the glorious summer is with us.
How beautiful are the azure skies and the golden sun, which rises early and looks for many hours, and until late in the evening. upon the daily scenes, as if loth to be absent long, and leaving, long after he has gone down, the summer twilight; and who has not listened with pleasure to the late summer evening concert of the cicada and other musical insects, when all other sounds are hushed? And now the trees, the groves and the great forests are clothed in their fullest foliage of dark green, and how numerously they are occupied by the birds, of every variety of plumage, which here make their homes, and charm the world with their music. How pleasant
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