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 36
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On Sunday, or Lord's day, the first day of the week, is also a perpetual and weekly commemoration of the fact of the resurrec- tion, for it was on that day our Lord rose from the dead, and that ovent has given us the Lord's day, or the Christian Sunday, but Easter Sunday, the greatest Sunday of the year, is the annual and special commemoration of the resurrection.
Of the manner of observing this day, in this country, and in fact as it has generally been observed through all the past centuries in most Christian lands, it may be briefly said that the principal fea- tures are the holding of very animated and joyful religious services of specially appropriate character, in the churches, and that the churches are usually made very attractive by floral decorations and the display of numerous mottoes and legends, posted in conspicuous places about the walls and arches and elsewhere, consisting of ap- propriate texts. as "He is risen," "The Lord is risen indeed," "Now is Christ risen from the dead." "The Lord is King for ever and ever."
"Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer. They are nature's offering, their place is there!
They speak of hope to the fainting heart, With a voice of promise they come and part; They sleep in dust through the wintry hours, They break forth In glory-bring flowers, bright flowers."
In all the varied works of nature there is no more beautiful symbol of the resurrection from the dead than the flowers, as they silently spring into life after the long, cold winter, which like death had wrapped them in a snowy shroud.
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It is also a special Sunday school festival, greatly enjoyed by the children. Of the many curious customs and traditions connected with the Easter festival, and of the literature of Easter, but little can be said here.
Among the old superstitions connected with the day is that which requires one to procure and wear for the first time on that day, some new article of clothing, if only a pair of gloves, and it is quite a current practice, in many localities, even now, to appear on that day in some new article of dress.
But the greatest distinctive peculiarity in the observance of the day is the distribution among the children of Easter eggs, which are beautifully colored and ornamented with many appropriate devices. The egg has from very ancient times been used as a symbol of the resurrection. For, though the egg is apparently lifeless, it contains the germ of life, and there comes forth from it, under the proper conditions, a being of life and activity, thus symbolizing the resur- rection of the dead unto life. The distribution also among the chil- dren and others of beautifully designed and ornamented Easter cards has become a general practice at this day.
Finally, Christian people should not, amid the Easter joys, for- get the Easter lesson:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God."-Col. III: 1.
As the first Easter was the event of Christ's resurrection, so the last Easter the world shall know, will be in the morning of the gen- eral resurrection, in the last day.
"When all that are in their grave shall hear His voice, and shall come forth."
"Blessed are they who shall come forth unto the resurrection of life."
John V: 28-29.
SCRAPS. From Blue Earth City Mail.
-January .- Delevan is growing very rapidly. Already there are four dry goods stores, one hardware and one furniture store there, besides two hotels, a billiard hall and lumber yard.
-February .- It may seem strange, but nevertheless true, that whisky, regu- larly applied to a thrifty farmer's stomach. will remove the boards from his fences, let cattle into his crops, kill his fruit trees, mortgage his farm, sow his fields with thistles, take the paint from his buildings, break the glass out of the win- dows and fill them with old rags, take thegloss from his clothes and the polish from his manners. It will bring sorrow and disgrace to his family, and lead him to a drunkard's grave.
-March .- An entire winter's experience in coal burning, has convinced sev- eral of our citizens that it is more economical for heating purposes, than wood.
(But little, if any, coal had been used in this county prior to this).
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-May .- The public, very generally-and with much cause-complain of our late spring. But we are not alone; our exchanges from all parts of the country are complaining of the cold.
-There are two pensioners in this county of the war of 1812.
A clergyman said the other day, that modern young ladies are not the daughters of Shem and Ham, but the daughters of Hem and Sham.
THE "MAIL" AND THE "BEE"
On the twenty- fifth day of May, the last number of the Blue Earth City Mail appeared. Its career was but a short one. The edi- tor says, in this last number, "With this number of the Mail its pub- lication is discontinued. This change has been made necessary by our business interests. The purpose for which the paper was estab- lished, has been accomplished."
The first number of The Delaran Bee appeared on the eighth day of June, published at Delavan, in this county, by Carr Huntington. formerly of Blue Earth City, editor and proprietor. We quote from the editor's introductory remarks: "In starting a newspaper, it is usual to devote a column to salutatory promises, as to the course it will pursue. In our case, being well-known-perhaps too well-known -to all the people of this county, having been among them engaged in this business about nine years-promises are unnecessary. In conducting newspapers heretofore, it is usually admitted that in every emergency, we have taken the side of the people and endeavored to protect their interests against the machinations of corrupt cliques and the designing of every character and quality. This course on our part has sometimes led along a rough path. In starting a paper in this thriving young village, we have been materially aided by the liberality of its citizens, and, of course, it will be our duty to labor faithfully for the advancement of its best interests, always remembering that its welfare is closely connected with the pro- gress and prosperity of the whole county."
SUNDAY SCHOOL INTERESTS.
The second annual session of the Faribault County Sunday School Association, was held at Blue Earth City on the 28th and 29th days of May. "A large number of delegates were in attend- ance. The exercises throughout were conducted with animation, and were of great interest to all present."
Rev. J. Door, of Winnebago City, was elected president; Rev- erends W. Ross and H. C. Cheadle, vice presidents; F. R. Woodard, of Wells, secretary, and C. B. Miner, of Verona, treasurer.
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DOTS AND DASHES.
(From Advertiser, Winnebago City.)
March 28th .- Seven artesian wells are in operation in the town of Lura, and one in Verona.
April 18th .- It is a significant fact, that not a man in this vicinity wishes to rent land. They all have a farm of their own.
May 2d .- We note with pleasure that Faribault county is not represented at St. Paul in the seed wheat grab.
-Total expenses of the county for the year ending February 28th, 1872, were $9,198.14.
-Mr. Bullis recently imported to this county a cow and a bull, at a cost of six hundred dollars. They are of the Durham breed, full blood.
May 9th .- Base ball has broken out in our community, though it is thought that it will not rage as hard as in previous seasons.
May 30th .- Said Mr. Cantwell to his clergyman, who had a great disrelish for hypocracy, "How can I help to reform the world?" "By beginning with yourself," was the conclusive reply.
THIS, THAT AND T'OTHER.
The June term of the District Court, while much business was done, was not characterized by any trials of special interest.
The calendar contained three criminal and thirty-nine civil suits.
Hon. F. H. Waite, presiding; H. J. Neal, clerk and A. B. Davis, sheriff.
A NONPLUSSED ATTORNEY.
A correspondent at Fredonia, N. Y., writes: "Being in attendance at the Circuit Court in Albany in the year 1870, I happened to hear a trial of a breach of promise case. The plaintiff was a young lady of rather delicate nerves, and although, through the aid of her counsel, Hon. Lyman Tremain, her case was looking well, yet when she came to be cross-examined by the opposite attorney, Hon. Henry Smith, she quailed before his searching examination, and finally fell down in a swoon. The sympathies of everyone were aroused, and Mr. Smith saw that he must do something. The young lady's face was of a purple-red dur- ing her swoon, and so, when the next witness was called (a middle-aged lady), Mr. Smith said:
"Witness, you saw the plaintiff faint a short time ago?"
"Yes, sir," said the witness.
"Well, people turn pale when they faint, do they not?"
The witness hesitated a moment, then said, "No, not always."
"Did you ever hear of a case of fainting where the party did not turn pale?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you ever see such a case?"
"Yes, sir."
"When?"
"About a year ago."
"Where was it?"
"In this city."
" Who was it?"
" 'Twas a nigger.
The plaintiff won the case.
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The anniversary of our national independence was celebrated at Blue Earth City on the Fourth of July. The day was pleasant, and the number of people present was variously estimated at twen- ty. tive hundred to three thousand, Hon. Ara Barton, of Rice county, delivered the oration. The Declaration was read by the Rev. Mr. Cheadle, of Blue Earth City.
A celebration was held at Wells, also, and the attendance there was estimated at two thousand people. Hon. M. H. Dunnell deliv. livered the oration.
At each place the celebration was a success and gave general satisfaction. The spirit of '76 still survived!
On the sixth day of July, a terrific hail storm visited this county. which, by many, will long be remembered. It seems to have started near Shelbyville, in Blue Earth county, passing thence southward. through the towns of Winnebago City, Delavan, Prescott, east side of Blue Earth City, west side of Emerald and thence into a small portion of Rome and Elmore, where the hail ceased. Its track was from one to three miles wide, and in many instances the entire crops of the farmers were destroyed. Several farmers lost as much as one hundred acres of grain.
On the ninth of July a cattle fair was held at Wisner's Grove, in Barber township. It was only a partial success, but was a move in the right direction.
THE HARVESTERS AT WORK.
The harvest of 1872 began about the twenty-third of July and the weather was very favorable. The oats crop was very light, many fields not being cut. Barley was generally light. Corn was fair considering the late spring. Fife wheat, a variety long sown in this county, proved a failure with a very few exceptions. Some other varieties of wheat did well, and especially the Red Osaka, a new variety of Russian wheat. In fact, had it not been for this latter wheat, we could truthfully say, that the wheat crop of 1872 was a failure.
HEADLESS ITEMS.
On the twenty-sixth day of July the commissioners met to appoint two school land appraisers. Messrs. S. L. Rugg and A. R. More. Sr., were appointed. The board assembled again in September. which was the last meeting of the year, but did no business we care to note.
Wheat which had been quite low commenced to rise about har vest, and from the 17th to the 20th of August, reached one dollar and tive cents per bushel at Delavan, owing to a great wheat "corner" organized at Chicago. The "corner" was broken about
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the 20th, and wheat fell immediatly to eighty five cents and lower. Some farmers were lucky enough to get in their new crop before the fall. It is well that the farmers, once in a while, get a benefit from the grain gamblers and monopolists who usually have all the profits.
On the twenty second day of August, a railroad survey was completed to Blue Earth City, starting at Lake Crystal and passing through the towns of Winnebago City, Verona and Blue Earth City and running thence to the Iowa State line. Less survey and more railroad would have suited the people better. The efforts to get a railroad at Blue Earth City kept this subject in a state of agitation for many years.
During the spring and summer a vast immigration passed through this county to the counties west of this, Martin, Jackson, Nobles and Rock. The immigration to this county was very fair, but the public lands having mainly been taken long before, the great body of the immigrants passed on to newer localities.
The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of September 18th, but luckily did not materially injure the grass, for strange as it may seem. but little hay had been secured, owing to the wet weather and other causes, prior to the frost. Happily, it is not often the fact, that haying is done in this county in the latter half of September. .
At the sale of school lands this fall, about eighteen hundred acres were sold, at prices ranging from $5.00 to $13.00 per acre.
THE FAIR.
The Agricultural Society held its fair this year at Delavan, on the 3d and 4th days of October.
This was one of the best fairs ever held in the county. The weather was very favorable and the attendance large. There was some two hundred entries of stock and other things, and $157.00 were awarded in premiums. Yet, after all is said, the fair was not what it should have been, in so populous a county as this.
STATE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
A State Institute was held at Winnebago City, commencing on Monday, October 21st, which was attended by eighty-seven teachers. The institute was conducted by instructors, thoroughly prepared for the work, and furnished with such professional books and literature as was of great value to those engaged in teaching. The value of these institutes in presenting new methods of teaching, discussing and improving the existing methods, introducing new subjects of in- struction, offering to the young teacher the experience of the old one, harmonizing the system of instruction throughout the county,
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and the awakening of a higher zeal and ambition in the minds and hearts of teachers, and in giving them a more just view of the im- portance of their calling, can hardly be over-estimated.
THE YEARLY SCUFFLE.
This being the year of a presidential election, the hosts began to muster early for the conflict, throughout the whole country.
On the fifteenth day of June, a mass convention was held at Blue Earth City of those who were opposed to the re-election of Gen. Grant to the presidency. This party was made up of and known as democrats and liberal republicans, and constituted the opposition to the republican party in the main.
Gen. U. S. Grant was the republican, and Horace Greeley, of New York, the opposition candidate for the presidency. Chas. O'Connor, of New York, was the presidential candidate of a part of the demo- cratie party. The candidates for congress were Mark H. Dunnell, republican, and Morton S. Wilkinson, independent republican.
There were also several State officers to be elected, and four amendments to the State constitution to be voted upon.
On the nineteenth day of October the Republican County Con- vention was held at Blue Earth City.
S. C. Leland, Esq., of Wells, was called to the chair, and Hon. A. A. Huntington, of Winnebago City, was chosen sceretary.
The attendance was full, and the convention harmonious. The following nominations were made:
For Representatives-S. P. Child and M. A. Hawks.
For Clerk of Court-H. J. Neal.
For Register of Deeds-F. P. Brown.
For Auditor-W. W. White.
For Surveyor-E. S. Levitt.
The liberal republicans and democrats held their county conven- tion at Blue Earth City, on the twenty second day of October. This convention was also harmoniousin its action. D. H. Morse, of Verona, was chosen chairman, and D. P. Wasgatt, of Winnebago City, secre- tary. The convention then proceeded to make the following nomi- nations.
J. H. Welch aud T. S. Fellows, for Representatives.
S. Pfeffer. for Register of Deeds.
Geo. Schied, for Auditor.
Geo. A. Weir, for Surveyor.
No nomination for the office of Clerk of Court was made by this convention.
Aaron J. Rose and Wesley Hill were announced as independent candidates for the office of Clerk of Court.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
F. Lent ran as an independent candidate for the office of Regis ter of Deeds.
The only real local subjects of contest, in this election, were the offices of Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court, and the contest for these offices was earnest and persistent.
The election was held on the fifth day of November. Gen. Grant was re-elected President, by an overwhelming majority. Mr. Dunnell was re-elected to Congress, and the Republican candidates for State officers were elected,
The following table exhibits the votes cast for the several can- didates named.
President-Grant, 1,626; Greeley, 508.
Congress-Wilkinson, 503; Dunnell, 1,596.
Representatives-Childs, 1,647; Hawks, 1,146; Welch, 769; Fel- lows, 662.
Auditor -White, 1,814; Sheid, 245.
Register-Brown, 920; Pfeffer, 682; Lent, 539.
Clerk of Court-Neal, 1,103; Hill, 803; Rose, 187.
Surveyor-Leavitt, 1,423; Weir, 561.
Court Commissioner-Kiester, 18; Rose, 11.
County Commissioner -- J. A. Dean, elected.
TWO NOTABLE EVENTS.
There were two events occurring in November of this year, of such grave importance, that a word must be said here in reference to them.
On the ninth day of the month, just one year and one month after the great Chicago calamity, a large part of the city of Boston, Mass, was destroyed by fire. The loss was $75,000,000 in buildings and merchandise. And this great fire was not among the wooden structures of the city, but it was the brick, stone, iron and granite buildings, the finest and costliest, that went down as though they had been tinder. This fire was only surpassed on this continent, in extent, by that of Chicago, and was one of the great calamities of the age.
On the twenty-ninth of the month Horace Greeley, candidate at the recent election for the presidency, died. But Horace Greeley was so great a man that the fact of his having been a candidate, even for the presidency, was of small consequence. He was the founder, and for more than a generation, the editor of the New York Tribune, the greatest newspaper in its day in the world, and the political bible of hundreds of thousands of our people, and his name was a household name in tens of thousands of families from their youth to mature age. He was the king of journalism; the great representative and defender of republican institutions, as he was
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one of their greatest outgrowths-he was the greatest citizen of the nation, an American of Americans, and one of the greatest and grandest men of any age or nation. In his death, friend and foe alike, forgave and forgot what many thought the great mistake of his life, his candidacy for the presidency in opposition to the great political party of which he was the father, and bowed their heads in profoundest sorrow.
THE EPIZOOTY.
In November and December, a peculiar horse disease prevailed in this section of the country. The sickness commenced with a labored, half-suppressed cough, which rapidly increased in violence and was accompanied by a fever, intense heat of the mouth, whether dry or moist, and a running of very offensive muens from the nos trils, as in distemper. The horses attacked refused all food, but evi- denced no disposition to lie down. In a few days the horse became very weak, and unless relief was afforded soon, and the greatest care taken of him, he died suddenly. By the best veterinary surgeons the disease was deemed an acute catarrh and influenza, and prevailed at the time as an epidemic.
The disease originated in Canada where thousands of horses perished. It spread from thence into the eastern states and thence westward. It seemed to be most fatal in the cities, where in a day all the horses would be attacked and rendered unfit for labor, caus- ing a stoppage of business and great delay and damage. Canal boats, street cars, express wagons, omnibuses, mail carriages and the thousand and one means of transportation and conveyance in which horses are the motive power, ceased to run for a time. In some instances oxen were substituted for the invalid horses. The mail was carried by ox team to and from Delavan and Blue Earth City on one day when no well horses could be had.
Never before did people learn and so fully realize the inestima ble value to man of that noblest of all the brute creation, the horse. and what a grand helper he is in the business and pleasure of the world. And if the lesson thus taught should procure for this valued servant kinder and more intelligent treatment, protection from over work, fair feed and attendance, care in sickness and comfortable stabling when his work is done, the lesson may not have cost too much. It is a sad fact that many a man exhibits greater brute in- stinets and conduct than the poor horse which has the misfortune to be in his charge.
The disease was contagious and was supposed to have been caused by some peculiar condition of the atmosphere, and was prob- ably spread abroad by the atmosphere, as well as by infection. It was not so fatal in Minnesota as in the states further east, and in
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this county but few horses died, though the disease lingered among some of them for a long time. As to the treatment of the disease, experience proved that the best course was to give but little medi- cine. Perfect rest and keeping the horse warm and dry, and other- wise carefully nursing him, feeding no hay, oats, corn or barley, but only warm bran mash, with a little oat or rye straw, was the best treatment. Small doses of bromide of potassium, given two or three times a day in a bran mash for the first two or three days while the inflammation lasted, and putting tar on the trough or man- ger, and on the horses nose, proved the best medicine when any was deemed necessary.
As to the name of this epidemic, it was first called the Canadian Horse disease, and various names descriptive of the disease were framed in Latin or Greek, among which were "Hippoparenarhoea" and "Hipporhenophlegmatoblennocalastalagmatus," which is credi- ted to the N. Y. World, but not proving convenient in every-day con- versation did not become popular. Then came Epizootic and Epi- zooty and Epizoot, and finally finished up with simple "Zoot."
When the disease first appeared, it was supposed to be a new disease, as it was not mentioned in the books, but an old book-worm discovered that it had prevailed in Greece, about four hundred years before the Christian era, and this extended account of the disease and its treatment, is given here, so that if it again appears, say four hundred years after us, they who may see this account may know that we have had it.
A COLD WINTER.
The first storm heralding the approach of winter, occurred on November 13th, and closed up the plowing for the year.
The week preceding Christmas was intensely cold and quite stormy. In exposed positions on the prairies it was reported that the thermometer ran down to 37° below zero, at other places less exposed to 25° and 30° below. A great scarcity of fuel existed at the time of this cold spell, especially in the villages, and some per- sons on the prairies were compelled to use corn for fuel. In many places on the prairies of the west, corn has been substituted for wood and coal as fuel, with much success.
The winter of 1872-3 was very severe, especially in the month of December, as above intimated, not only in Minnesota, but through- out the country. In fact, when very cold weather prevails in Min- nesota, generally, it is usually pretty cold in many other localities, as will appear from the following reports from widely separated parts of the country.
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THE COLD EVERYWHERE.
Memphis, Tenn., Dee. 24 .- To-day was the coldest ever known here in 25 years, the mercury ranging from 5 to 10 above zero during the day. Navigation is entirely suspended.
Pittsburg, Dec. 24 .- The weather continues cold; the mercury going below zero at 4 o'clock.
Cincinnati, Dec. 24 .- The temperature is sinking rapidly since dark, the thermometer going 2 below at 8 o'clock.
St. Louis, Dec. 24 .- Last night was the coldest of the season, the mercury falling to 8 degrees below zero by the signal service thermometer, and to 12 and 15 by ordinary instruments, according to location. To-night, however, the temperature is much milder.
Chicago, Dec. 24 .- The weather has moderated again. Thermometers which were 20 below this morning are up to zero to-night. Accounts from all parts state that the weather for the past 24 hours was as cold as ever known.
Fort Scott, Kan., Dec. 24 .- Last night was the coldest known in this sec- tion. Mercury 18 degrees below zero at 7 a. m.
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