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 34
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
is the cool shade, under the great leafy branches of the mighty oaks and maples and elms and other forest trees.
"All who love the haunts of nature. Love the sunshine of the meadow; Love the shadow of the forest, Love the wind among the branches."
The fruit trees bear on every bough a burden of growing fruit, which gives the assurance of the coming rich reward, for all the labor expended in their care. And in this favored season, the earth is carpeted with rich grasses and blooming flowers, and we see on every hand, wide and cultivated fields, bearing their wealth of grow- ing crops, -the rustling corn, the green, waving seas of other grains, or which are, perhaps, already growing golden, and ready for the abundant harvest. Nor can we overlook the grazing herds of cattle, the flocks of sheep and droves of horses, all well-fed and contented in the green pastures, for from these grain fields and droves and flocks and herds, come our living, and the wealth of the world. And to-day every breeze bears to us the fragrant odors of the wide spreading landscape. The softly falling dews of the night and the refreshing showers of this season, are full of blessings for man.
This, too, is the season of the school and college commencement exercises and long school vacation, the "outing" time of the city business man, the season of pic-nics and out-door festivals, of cele- brations and the assembling of great literary and benevolent asso- ciations. And now is out-door life in the country full of useful labor, and all kinds of business activity. Now, too, the pleasure seekers are in the field and forest, on the land and on the waters, in quest of rest and recuperation.
Yes, the summer is life in its perfection, for every living thing.
"Then comes Thy glory in the summer months, With light and heat refulgent. Then Thy sun Shoots full perfection through the swelling year."
Heaven itself is but an eternal summer. It is the summer that gives us the goodly fruits of the earth, without which, all things having life would perish. But the promise made in the world's morning is, that "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and night, shall notcease."
THE' HUM OF THE HARVESTERS.
Harvest commenced about the twenty-fourth of July. Hands were plenty at two dollars per day, and the weather was good.
Crops of all kinds were good this year, except wheat, which was generally light, many pieces not producing more than from five to eight bushels per acre. The average yield over the county did not,
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HISTORY OF
probably, exceed ten bushels per acre. The corn erop was the larg. est ever yet raised in the county. This was Minnesota's great corn year. If an Illinois farmer had been visiting this county, during the summer and fall of this year and had seen the tall thrifty stalks, the large and perfectly rippened ears, he might well inquire why this county was not adapted to raising "Cawn." He would not only have seen corn, but might have truthfully said with the poet
"On either hand
The yellow pumpkins lie, Sprinkled about the over-burdened land, Suggestive of delicious pie. Whose charms, a home-bred, hungry soul, Cannot withstand."
THE SOUTH WEST AND THE MAIL.
On the second day of September the last number of the South West appeared. The editor, in his good bye, after stating that he had sold out, says: "We shall now have an opportunity of a 'play spell' that is not in the least disagreeable to contemplate, after having conducted a newspaper for twenty-seven years."
On the sixteenth day of September the Blue Earth City Mail ap- peared at Blue Earth City, published by M. H. Stevens, formerly of the Post. It was a large, eight column weekly, "neatly printed and ably edited," as the usual phrase goes. Mr. Stevens had bought out the South West, referred to above.
THE CONTEST FOR THE OFFICES.
With the incoming of September, another exciting political con- test commenced.
It will be remembered that by the new apportionment hereto- fore mentioned, that this county now constituted one senatorial and representative district, being entitled to one senator and two repre- sentatives in the State legislature.
This being the year of the gubernatorial election, the candidates of the leading parties were Hon. Horace Austin, republican, and Hon. Winthrop Young, democrat.
The democracy held a County Convention at Blue Earth City on the ninth day of September, and made the following nominations:
For Senator-Geo. B. Kingsley.
For Representatives-John McNeil, C. G. Slagle.
For Treasurer-Geo. Barnes.
For County Attorney-Richard Field.
For Sheriff-A. B. Davis. For Judge of Probate-A. Hanson.
For Coroner- J. M. Drake.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
On the fifteenth day of September, the republicans met in county convention, at Blue Earth City.
The following nominations were made:
For Treasurer-R. B. Johnson.
For Sheriff-J. E. Wheeler.
For County Attorney-J. H. Sprout.
For Coroner-A. J. Rose.
For Judge of Probate-J. A. Keister.
An attempt was made to nominate a candidate for senator, G. W. Whallon and E. H. Hutchins being before the convention.
A great deal of "noise and confusion" now prevailed in the con- vention, and in the hurry and excitement the vote was declared a tie, whereupon a motion was made and put and was supposed to have been carried to adjourn, without nominating senator and repre- sentatives, and the convention broke up in a general jumble. It was, however, claimed by Mr. Whallon and his friends, that the name of one delegate friendly to him had not been called, nor his vote counted, which if it had been done, would have given him one majority, and of course the nomination.
The result, however, was that it was generally considered that no nominations had been made by the convention for legislative offices, and the field was open to all.
A great deal of figuring, intriguing, "log-rolling" and combina- tions began at once among the local politicians-a great running hither and thither, a consultation of factions and individuals and interests. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the nominations of both parties, and as a result, about the close of September, certain independent candidates for legislative honors were announced. E. H. Hutchins and Geo. W. Whallon were announced as candidates for the senate. S. P. Child, Andrew Hanson, Henry M. Huntington and C. A. Lounsberry as candidates for representatives.
A "People's Mass Convention" was called to meet at Wisner's Grove on the tenth day of October, for the purpose of making nom- inations. This convention, as announced, was not to be a party affair- it was not to be controlled in any way by politicians-they were to be cast aside together with all kinds of "rings" and "cliques," and honest men were to be nominated.
It was alleged that some of the candidates already nominated by one party or the other, and several of the independents wanted the indorsement of this convention. Others again, who had noth- ing to make or lose, were glad to see a "rumpus." The convention met on the day appointed. It was not largely attended, considering the efforts to get up an excitement.
The convention nominated J. A. Latimer, for senator; J. C. Woodruff and C. A. Lounsberry for representatives, Nathaniel
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HISTORY OF
McColley for treasurer, Richard Field for county attorney, J. E. Wheeler for sheriff, J. M. Drake for coroner and W. J. Robinson for probate judge.
Of these nominees, we may remark, that soon after the conven - tion, Messrs. Latimer and Woodruff withdrew, Mr. McColley de- clined the nomination, and Mr. Robinson did not accept nor run as a candidate, and all the others were defeated, as appears by the official returns.
The canvass was a very spirited one, and although there were no public meetings and speeches, every elector in the county was well informed of the claims of the several candidates. The contest was mainly on persons and localities, politics being greatly ignored. The principal contest was for the offices of senator, representatives and sheriff. The candidates for the senate made prodigious efforts and left nothing undone, while a number of the candidates for repre- sentatives pursued the business of electioneering, from the rising of the sun, cach morning, to the going down thereof, and extended over considerably into the sombre shades of night. But all such coutests must end at last and some result be obtained.
The election was held on the seventh day of November, and the close and bitter contest resulted as follows:
Austin
1,565
Slagle.
263
Young.
428
Johnson
1,625
Whallon
669
Barnes
354
Hutchins
689
Wheeler
939
Kingsley
613
Davis
1,035
Child
967
Sprout.
1,278
Huntington
754
Field.
715
Lounsberry
726
Kiester
1,580
McNeil
589
Hanson
612
Hanson.
324
For county commissioners the following named gentlemen were elected: Henry Sellen, in District No. 2; W. W. Potter, in District No. 4, and David Catlin, in District No. 5.
It may be said of this election, that all the candidates for seu- ator and representatives were more or less dissappointed at the re- sult-some in being beaten, others in being elected, some in the majorities being either so large, or so small, and the result of no election ever held in this county produced such intense grief and indignation in the hearts of some of the defeated, as this, yet the election was fairly held, the canvass honorably conducted in the main, and no frauds were ever alleged.
Defeat is among those unpleasant things in politics, as to which every candidate for office must take his chances. And the defeated cannot always see why they failed.
333
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
"How many men have died believing The world was blind to their achieving, And has ungratefully ignored The gods designed to be adored! Who has not heard the woeful wail Of unappreciated whale, Who thinks, if chance had let him blow,
The world would not ignore him so."-Holley.
PICK UPS.
On the third day of June a heavy hail storm passed over a por- tion of the county, doing much damage.
The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of the nineteenth day of September. This item may not be of much inter- est to some people, yet there are those who are much benefitted in knowing just such unpretentious facts, and especially in knowing, for instance, when the first frosts have occurred during a number of years. It is from the knowledge of such apparently unimportant events that the work of farmers, in all countries, is much regulated.
The weather, during the spring and summer of this year, was generally pleasant. There were but few storms, and not much rain. The year was one of those known as a dry year, and was dry especially in the fall. Wiuter set in early in November, quite cold, and continued so right along, the twenty-ninth of November being the coldest day of the winter. On that day the murcury run down to 31° below zero.
THE YEAR OF FIRE.
This year will ever be prominent in the annals of time as the year of fire. The fire fiend went forth in his robes of flame, on the wings of the winds, and great cities, thriving villages and vast districts of country were laid in ashes.
On the 9th and 10th days of October the great city of Chicago was mainly burned up. Many lives were lost. Two hundred mil- lions of dollars worth of property was destroyed. Ninety eight thousand people were rendered homeless and pennyless. The in- surance losses paid amounted to $48,000,000, but hundreds of insur- ance companies, many of them among the strongest in the world, were made bankrupt. It was the most extensive, destructive and appalling fire known to history, the burning of Rome, in the reign of the monster, Nero, not excepted.
"Blackened and bleeding, panting, prone
On the charred fragments of her shattered throne,
Lies she who stood, but yesterday, alone."
-Bret Harte.
Soon afterwards a large part of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and a part of Michigan, were burned over, destroying many villages, vast forests of timber, and other property, and throughout the whole country fires were more numerous and destructive than usual.
334
HISTORY OF
ALEXIS.
And now we may close the record of this year by the statement that, in November, the Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, arrived in America, and travelled through the country for several months, at- tracting considerable of the public attention. And here is a peg on which some pertinent remarks may be hung. While it is evidently proper that the representatives of foreign governments, the kings. the scions of royalty and others of the aristocracy of monarchial nations, should be received and treated, on visiting our shores, with proper respect, attention and hospitality, it is well to be careful not to stultify our republicanism and self-respect and sink our dignity into obsequiousness and flunkyism. The prying curiosity, the fawn- ing and toadyism which characterized the conduct of many of our citizens, especially those known as "society" people among the up- per tendom of our cities, on the visit of this young man, noted for nothing he ever did, or thought, or said, was disgusting to all think- ing people, and must have surprised the Russian himself. Such sycophancy is not only inconsistent with self-respect, but also with our character as Americans, and with the spirit of American institu- tions. We pride ourselves as a nation, on our free government. We acknowledge no nobility but that of personal worth. A man is no better for his ancestors, or his relatives, even if they were, or are, kings, unless they were noble, because of their intelligence and vir- tues, and he is like them, and he is none the worse if they were igno- ble, unless he shares their unworthiness.
They from abroad or at home, who are entitled to our homage and to special public honors are the Lafayettes and Kossuths, men who have said something, done something, represented something in the world's progress in civil and religious liberty-or men who are the great leaders in science, literature, invention, the kings of thought. the reformers, the educators, the men who represent the brain and the work and the industries of the world. Such are the men who are entitled to our highest regard and attention, and to whom we can afford to doff our hats.
Here is a little story with much in it: Maria Antoinette, Queen of France, wishing to send to Washington a royal gift, as a token of her appreciation of his great merits, consulted Lafayette as to the form of presentation. She recited the formularies of adulatory terms usual in addressing kings and other monarchs. Lafayette mildly objected to the employment of such terms, as unsuitable in this case. saying "They, Madame, were only kings, Washington is the great leader of a free nation." Let Americans ever maintain their self- respect as American citizens and the representatves of American ideas, even in the presence of the proudest monarch on earth.
335
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A. D. 1872.
THE COUNTY CONTROLLERS.
The first notable event of the year was the meeting of the board of county commissioners, on the second day of January. A. R. More, Sr., of Pilot Grove, was elected chairman for the year. The further action of the board at this meeting, of historical interest, is recorded elsewhere. The board met again on the eighteenth of March, and, among other business, considered a project in relation to the erection, at an early day, of a county building for a court room and county offices, and on the twenty-eighth of the same month, they again met for the purpose of examining plans and spec- ifications for such building. Finally, at a meeting held on the twenty-fifth day of June, they determined to erect a county building, to cost about $4,000, provided that Blue Earth City township should contribute about $2,300 to the enterprise. The township subse- quently accepted the proposition. The beautiful grounds-the court house square-on which the county buildings are erected, were re- served for the purpose by the original town-site proprietors of Blue Earth City, and were donated to the county, free of any charge.
THE FARMERS' SOCIETY.
On the third day of January, the agricultural society held its annual meeting, at which, Sabastian Pfeffer, of Blue Earth City, was chosen president, C. S. Dunbar, of Foster, treasurer, and R. W. Richards, of Blue Earth City, secretary. At this time the society was again somewhat agitated about securing a permanent location and grounds, but there were some difficulties in the way of deciding the question, as each of the villages, in the county, desired to secure it, and the members of the society being scattered all over the county, were much divided in their views.
The secretary was authorized to get two hundred copies of the constitution and by-laws printed, for the use of the society, and pro- cure suitable books for the several officers, and also to transcribe all the records of the society into a proper record book.
On the twentieth of April a meeting was held at Blue Earth City for the purpose of considering the question of the permanent location of the society, and the procuring of grounds. At this meet-
336
HISTORY OF
ing a committee of six was appointed to receive propositions. Blue Earth City, Winnebago City and Wells were the competitors.
Another meeting was held, at Blue Earth City, June 26th, when the proposition of that village to locate the society and fair grounds permanently at that place, in consideration of the gift, to the society, of twenty-five acres of land, near the village, for grounds, was ac- cepted. But the matter was not yet fully and permanently settled, owing to various causes, not necessary to mention here.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.
At the January term of the district court for this year, but little business of importance was transacted, there being no cases attract- ing public attention. There were thirty nine civil and but two crim- inal cases on the calendar. Hon. F. H. Waite, presided.
At a meeting of the bar of the county, held during this term of court, the attorneys of the county adopted a uniform fee bill. It did not prove of much service, and this was the first united action taken by the bar of this county on any matter.
Among the queer cases which sometimes occur in courts of justice, the following is told as a veritable one. It could hardly have happened in any but an "Arkansaw" court.
A FELLOW FEELING.
A gentleman was arranged before an Arkansas Justice on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. Ile had entered a store, pretending to be a customer, but proved to be a thief.
"Your name is Jim Likmore?" said the justice.
"Yes, sir."
"And you are charged with a crime that merits a long term in the peni- tentiary?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you are guilty of the crime?"
"I am."
"And you ask for no mercy?"
"No, sir."
"You have had a great deal of trouble within the last two years?"
"Yes, sir, I have."
"You have often wished that you were dead?"
"I have, please your honor."
"You wanted to steal money enough to take you away from Arkansas?"
"You are right, judge."
"If a man had stepped up and shot you just as you entered the store you would have said, 'thank you sir'?"
"Yes, sir, I would. But, judge, how did you find out so much about me?"
"Some time ago," said the judge, with a solemn air, "I was divorced from my wife. Shortly afterwards you married her. The result is conclusive. I discharge you. Here, take this $50 bill. You have suffered enough."
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOT.1.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
As a member of the legal profession-though a very humble one indeed-the writer may be excused for some remarks here on the subject, which heads this brief article. It is a subject in which every one is more or less interested.
Lawyers, as such, and the legal profession in general, are the subjects of a good deal of abuse, suspicion, invidious witicisms and sometimes of denunciation. A great deal of this is not merited, except by a few individuals.
The profession and lawyers generally, are suspicioned and ma- ligned because of the inefficiency-say incompetency, or the bad character of a small proportion of those who belong to the profes- sion. The truth is that the members of the profession, generally, are entitled to respect and confidence. However, it is difficult to find a class of men or profession, who care less about abuse, or are better able to stand it, than lawyers. They are not very sensitive.
The legal profession is one of the most noble in its great scope and in its intellectual requirements, and one of the most necessary to the welfare of society of any of the secular occupations.
Its importance, in all countries, whether monarchial, or republi- can, or whether its members have been backed by wealth, or titles, or high places, or not, has been admitted.
The legal profession, in itself, is a great republic as "The Re- public of Letters," in which real talent, large attainments, practical capacity, constitute the only gauge of rank. Lawyers in all coun- rties and all times, or those who answer to that title, have always ranked in importance with the best classes of citizens.
No civilized country can do without lawyers. Where laws exist, there must be those who know what the laws are, and who can give counsel as to what they are, and who can assist people in the main- tenance of their rights under the laws. The knowledge of lawyers is also of the highest importance in the making of the laws them- selves. A large per centum of the members of all constitutional conventions, of National and State legislatures, and also of the highest official government incumbencies, are lawyers, and the judi- cial departments of all governments is their exclusive domain.
But it is generally the fact that it is only when a man gets into serious personal difficulties, that he begins to appreciate the value of the services of an able and honorable lawyer. Lawyers hold in their hands much of the happiness and success of the community and state, for these are in a great measure dependent on the proper administration of wise laws.
And considering the nature of their profession, lawyers are necessarily intrusted with much important business, and great con-
338
HISTORY OF
fidences-secrets of the most important character, relating to fami- lies, people's personal, private and business affairs, by all classes of persons, and it may be affirmed that, considering the power they possess in this respect, to extort money, or take other advantages, the legal profession is a remarkably honorable and faithful one. The great majority of lawyers are true to their clients, under all circumstances. It may be added here, notwithstanding the adverse suggestions heard sometimes, that a man may be a lawyer and yet be a man of the highest honor and integrity. He may be a Chris- tian man in the true sense of that name. There have always been, and now are many lawyers who are Christian men.
De Tocqueville says that lawyers are attached to public order beyond every other consideration, and further, that he "cannot be- lieve a republic could subsist at the present time, if the influence of lawyers in public business did not increase in proportion to the power of the people."
The profession of the lawyer is one which, for its successful conduct and broadest usefulness and honor requires the largest ability, the best training and widest extent of learning. There is no branch of human knowledge, which may not be of use to a lawyer. This may be true largely of most professions, or vocations, but it is peculiarly and emphatically so of this.
That prince of American lawyers, David Dudley Field, says that "Above all others, this science ( that of the law) so vast, so compre- hensive and varied in its details, needs to be served with all the aids which institutions, professors and libraries can furnish." While a much lower grade of qualifications than is here indicated, may cer- tainly serve to equip a lawyer for ordinary practice, yet the sup- position that a year, or two years, desultory reading in a law office, or even a course of study for one or two years in a law school, and the passing of a superficial examination for admission to the bar, will make a lawyer competent to take into his hands the important business or other interests of men, and meet successfully opposing counsel, is one of the great absurdities of the age. But there are many lawyers at the bar, at this day, who have been "gotten up" in this way. The idea that it is well to admit applicants to the bar whatever their qualification, and depend upon subsequent practice and study for efficiency, now appears to be passing out.
The work of a lawyer in full practice is very laborious and exacting. Constant thought, close attention, investigation of prin- ciples and authorities, study of every phase of his cases, and the evidence connected therewith, are his daily task, and to a large extent, nightly also.
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