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 38
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
368
HISTORY OF
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
The most important public movement of this year, was the organization in this county, of many subordinate granges of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry-a secret order, instituted to further and protect the interests of farmers, as a class. The institution spread over all the states and territories of the Union, and in less than three years could boast of some twenty-three thousand gran- ges and a million and a half of members. No great popular move- ment of the people, at any time in history, equalled this.
After some four or five years, the order, owing to various causes. which it is not necessary to specify here, began to decline, and at the end of eight or ten years ceased to exist in many sections of the country: but in various localities in many of the states it is still flourishing. and as it was not the fact that the order fell into decay because some such organization was not greatly needed-for it was required and will always be needed, and it was one of the noblest. most beneficent of institutions, the prediction may be ventured, that the day will come when it will be revived and ro-organized over the whole land, but perhaps, in some slightly different form.
MEMORABILIA.
Here are some important events which occurred during this year, on the world's great stage of action, outside of our county, and which formed topics of interest aud discussion everywhere.
January 9th. The Emperor Napoleon III, died.
March 3d. The "Salary Grab" act passed by Congress.
March 19th. San Salvador, Central America, destroyed by an earthquake-property lost, $20,000,000. Lives lost, 500.
April 1st. Steamer Atlantic wrecked, 535 lives lost.
July 4th. Great storm, destructive to crops, in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.
August 24th. Terrible storm on the coast of British America and coast of Mexico. 100 vessels destroyed in and near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 176 sailing vessels and 12 steamers lost in the Gulf of Mexico.
December 14th. Louis Agassiz died.
EASTON.
About the middle of September the town-site of "Easton" was surveyed and building commenced. This new village-the sixth in the county according to age, was located upon section thirty-six (36), in the town of Lura, on the line of the Southern Minnesota railroad. The early history of this village, will be given further along in this work.
369
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
JACK FROST.
The first severe frost of the autumn happened on the nights of the 17th and 18th of September, and the nights thereafter became quite cold. ' A comforter or two had to be added to the bed clothing. These frosts killed the grass and other vegetation; silenced, finally, for this year the song of the mosquito, and hinted to us, that the harvest was passed, the summer ended and winter approaching.
"Summer is over and the leaves are falling,
Gold, fire-enameled in the glowing sun; * * *
* The fresh, green sod, in dead, dry leaves is hidden; They rustle very sadly in the breeze; Some breathing from the past comes, all unbidden, And in my heart stir withered memories."-Anon.
THE WELLS ATLAS.
This paper, which had suspended in January of this year, was again re-issued, appearing September 17th. It was a six column sheet and neatly printed, and in the curious phraseology of the times, was described as made up of "homespun outsides" and "patent in- ternals." R. Calvert appeared as editor and manager.
OCTOBER-AN EVENTFUL MONTH. THE FAIR.
The fifteenth annual fair of the Agricultural Society was held at Winnebago City, on the second and third days of October. The first day the weather was so bad that nothing was done. The second day was not much better. The exhibition was rather poor and the attendance not great. The officers of the society had made a very commendable effort to have a good fair, but the unfavorable weather was something no effort or prudence of theirs could overcome.
PRAIRIE FIRES.
About the sixth day of the month, great prairie fires started up in the southern towns of the county and raged fearfully for some days. Great quantities of grain and hay in the stack were burned up. Several farmers lost all their grain and hay. A large number of stables, and several dwellings were burned. Many fruit trees were injured, or totally killed, and a number of fine groves of forest trees were destroyed. The fires broke out in a number of localities and ran over wide areas. The principal damage was done in the towns of Pilot Grove, Elmore, Rome, Seely, Foster, Delavan and Verona, and many of the residents of those towns will sadly re- member the event.
It can hardly be doubted that many of our prairies would long since have been covered with a growth of timber, had it not been
370
HISTORY OF
for the annual prairie fires, which have heretofore swept over them from time immemorial. Timber seeds seem to be in the ground everywhere, and many spots of ground, free from fires for a few years, are soon covered by groves of young popples, oaks, and other wood growths. Doubtless the protection against fire, furnished by our streams, has given us our timber, and the very tortuous and winding course of our creeks and rivers, adding length to the streams, and furnishing innumerable protected promontories, nooks and corners, has greatly added to the quantity of the timber.
These prairie fires are usually the result of accident, or care- lessness, but sometimes of design. Much of the damage which has resulted from them is, also, the result of negligence and careless- ness in not taking timely precautions against them. The laws for many years have provided severe penalties against the negligent. or malicious setting fire to the prairies, by which damage is done, and these laws have been frequently enforced in this county. The firing of the prairies in former times was often the work of the Indians, who had some, to us, unknown purpose in it.
There are few grander sights than that of a prairie fire at night, on the boundless prairies of the west, and, as seen above, they are often fearfully destructive, as well as grand, but it is a sight which, owing to the rapid settlement of the county, will soon be a thing of the past, and one with which we can well dispense.
A POLITICAL IMBROGLIO.
Let us now turn to a brief account of the political contest of this year. On several of the offices the fight was an exciting one. A governor of the State and several other state officers were to be elected, and several proposed amendments to the constitution of the State were submitted to the people, for approval or rejection, all of which added to the interest of the election.
On the fourth day of October, a county council of the Patrons of Husbandry was held at Blue Earth City, at which the following nominations were made for legislative and county offices:
For Representatives-Allen Shultis and T. G. Pond.
For County Treasurer-James Crays.
For County Attorney-S. J. Abbott.
For Sheriff-Charles Stockman.
For Probate Judge-John Wilmert.
No nomination for the office of state senator was made, but a committee consisting of one from each Grange in the county was chosen, who were to assemble at Blue Earth City on the eleventh of October, the time of meeting of the Republican County Convention, and ratify the nomination for senator, if satisfactory, if not, to make a nomination.
371
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
The Republican County Convention was held at Blue Earth City October 11th. Every town in the county was fully represented and great interest was felt in the result. For months preceding the convention, two candidates for the office of state senator and their respective friends, had labored with might and main to secure the convention, and consequently the nomination. There were several candidates already in the field for the several offices of treasurer, county attorney and sheriff. But the greatest interest centered in the offices of senator and treasurer.
The convention organized by choosing Allen Shultis, of Elmore, chairman, and A. A. Williams, of Verona, secretary. The usual committees were then appointed. The committee on creden- tials reported two delegations from the town of Emerald, one in favor of G. W. Whallon for senator, and the other for S. P. Child, when on the question being submitted to the convention on receiving one-half of each delegation, it was, after much heated discussion, so determined. Mr. Child, who was a member of the convention, and all his friends in the convention at once withdrew. The re- mainder of the convention, composed of several more than one-half of those elected. then proceeded, hurriedly and amid much confu- sion, to make the nominations, which were as follows:
G. W. Whallon, for Senator.
L. C. Harrington and J. P. West, for Representatives.
J. A. Kiester, for Judge of Probate.
E. A. Hotchkiss, for Treasurer.
J. P. Burk, for Sheriff.
S. J. Abbott, for County Attorney.
A. J. Rose, for Coroner.
After the convention adjourned, the committee of the county council, above mentioned, assembled, and after admitting several more members to the committee, proceeded to vote on the nomi- nation for senator; J. A. Latimer and G. W. Whallon being the can - didates. The vote was a tie and no nomination was made. Allen Shultis withdrew as a candidate for representative, and C. S. Dun- bar, of Foster, was substituted.
Next came the Democratic and Liberal Republican convention, which was held at Blue Earth City on the seventeenth day of Oc- tober.
D. P. Wasgatt, of Winnebago City, was elected chairman, and Geo. Scheid, of Barber, secretary. The following were the nomi- nations made:
For Senator-H. P. Constans.
For Representatives-T. G. Pond, (indorsed) and Thomas Blair.
For Judge of Probate-J. A. Kiester, (indorsed).
For Treasurer-James Crays, (indorsed ).
372
HISTORY OF
For Sheriff -- A. B. Davis.
For County Attorney-F. E. Watson.
For Coroner-A. J. Rose, (indorsed ).
Much dissatisfaction was expressed with the political situation on all sides, and with the action of the conventions.
In a few days after the conventions, R. B. Johnson was an- nounced as an independent candidate for treasurer: J. H. Sprout, for county attorney, and S. P'. Child, for senator. Electioneering "ran high" and a number of the candidates put forth their best efforts. Mr. Wilmert withdrew as a candidate for judge of probate, not wanting the office.
The election was held on the fourth day of November, and the day was clear and mild. For a week or more before election, the canvassing and electioneering was done on runners, and the roads were, by some of the candidates, pretty well worn. After all was said and done. the polls closed, the vote counted, and the following was the result. The people had spoken.
For Governor:
Davis. 1,291
Barton 587
For Senator:
Child .. 815
Whallon. 751
Constans. 323
For Representatives:
West.
$95
Harrington 599
Pond. 917
Blair ..
Dunbar 510
For Treasurer:
Johnson.
1,226
Crays. 355
Hotchkiss. 299
For Sheriff:
Stockman.
701
Davis .. ≤03
Burk. 3.59
For Probate Judge:
Kiester. 1,560
For County Attorney:
Sprout 1,012
Abbott 779
For Coroner:
Rose ..
1,556
Robert Andrews, County Commissioner.
373
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
"THE SNOW, THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW!"
The first snow of the season fell on the night of the twenty- fourth and the forenoon of the twenty-fifth of October. There was probably a depth of four inches. This snow storm had a very dis- couraging effect upon the people. The spring had been late, the grasshoppers had done much damage in certain localities, the crops were light, and the prices low, people were much in debt, and but little plowing had yet been done, and now, the question was asked by many anxious people, "can it be true that winter has already come upon us?" However, it did not prove so bad as was appre- hended, and considerable plowing and other fall work was done after this snow.
The record of this unhappy year may be closed with a few gen- eral remarks, illustrative of the condition of the times.
There have been but few years in the history of the county, or of the nation, that were "harder." as the expression is, or more dis- couraging generally, during the summer and autumn.
Locally, we suffered from short crops and low prices of wheat, the staple and money crop of the county. All through September, October and November, the price of wheat was very low. Money was extremely scarce and rates of interest very high. Everybody was more or less in debt, and everyone to whom money was due, was urgent, persistent for his pay, and the county newspapers were filled with notices of mortgage foreclosures and sales of land under execution. During this and several subsequent years, many homes and farms passed away forever from the owners, for a very small proportion of their real value. And in this sad summary of local afflictions we must not forget what has been said as to the damages done by grasshoppers and prairie fires in certain portions of the county.
In the fall there came upon the nation a great money panic-a financial crash. The great failure of the banking house of Jay Cook & Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., led off in this dance of financial dishonor and death. Many bauks suspended; thousands of indi- viduals of supposed great wealth, great moneyed corporations of all kinds, went down in bankruptcy. Manufactories and mines ceased to be operated. Great public enterprises were brought to a sudden close. The building of railroads ceased. The number of defaulters in public office, was legion. The army of the unemployed swelled from hundreds to thousands, and hundreds of thousands, and great distress prevailed throughout the country, while suspicion and dis- trust existed everywhere.
This year saw the beginning of one of the greatest financial re- vulsions in the history of the nation, and one which continued its
374
HISTORY OF
work of ruin and distress for a number of years, as will be seen hereafter. This was the era when the usurer, the land shark, the scalping attorney and the collecting officers flourished in all the land.
And what were the general causes which led to all these tre- mendous evil results? History says that the success of the first Pacific railroad led to the building of a second-the Northern Paci- fic-and also to the building of thousands of miles of other railroads, in the west, which were really not needed, and that multitudes of people, the rich and the poor, put their capital and savings into these projects for speculative purposes. They proved delusive. Other financial schemes had also started up which absorbed millions of dollars, which failed to make any return. Other causes were ex- travagant living and building, everywhere, the accumulation of great individual and corporate indebtedness, and wild speculation in all kinds of property that proved worthless. It is claimed, also, by a class of writers on finance and the currency that there was still an- other and leading cause of the public calamities of this and many subsequent years.
In February, of this year, through, it was said, the corrupting influences exercised by English capitalists, an act was passed by congress, in relation to the mint and coinage, which prohibited the coinage of the former kind of silver dollars, and which, in effect, it was alleged, degraded and demonetized silver. By this act silver ceased to be a legal tender except in sums not exceeding five dollars in any single transaction.
A great outcry arose at the time, which was repeated at times, for many years afterwards, that by this act the debtor class had been greatly wronged, and the creditor greatly benefited.
"Money, the life blood of the nation, Corrupts and stagnates in the veins, Unless a proper circulation Its motion and its heat maintains."-Swift.
From all this it may be correctly inferred, that there is but little in improvement and general progress in this county, in 1873, of which to boast.
It was everywhere throughout the whole country very appar- ent that reform and retrenchment. better systems of farming, stricter business principles, economy, and a general settling up and starting anew. were imperatively demanded.
375
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XX.
A. D. 1874.
Never perhaps in the history of the northwest; was the new year ushered in by a more beautiful day, than the first day of Jan- uary, 1874. It much exceeded, in this respect, the first day of January, 1873. The skies were cloudless, the sun shown all day long with peculiar radiance, the winds were hushed, and the atmos- phere was soft, balmy and spring like. Fires died out, doors were thrown wide open, and the old and the young came forth to enjoy the open air and genial skies.
Let us now see what occurred in this county, worthy of note. during this year.
The winter of 1873-4 was quite a mild one, there being no severe storms and no great depth of snow. On the nights of the twenty-first and twenty-second of February, however, a quantity of snow fell, which on Monday, was blown into drifts, causing a sus- pension of business for the day, and also on the sixth and seventh of March, the snow fall was considerable.
THE COUNTY FATHERS.
The commissioners assembled January 6th. W. W. Potter, of Verona, was elected chairman for the year. Another session of the board was held, commencing March 4th. At this latter session a contract was entered into with E. Raymond & Son, residing near Blue Earth City, to keep the county poor.
The county not having yet erected the necessary buildings on the poor farm, the poor who were supported by the county were lodged at various places. This system was expensive and led to the practice of more or less fraud on the public. According to the agreement entered into at this time, Messrs. Raymond & Son con- tracted to board and lodge and take the general care of the poor for two dollars each, per week, the county to furnish clothing and med- ical attendance. At this time some sixteen persons were being supported by the county.
When the arrangements had all been made, notice was given to these persons to repair to Mr. Raymond's, where comfortable quar- ters had been prepared for them. But lo! only three obeyed the order! The others refused, on the ground that they were not going
1
376
HISTORY OF
to the poor house! not they, they could do better than that they had not become so poor as that yet! Not quite! So long as many of them could live comfortably among friends and relatives, and the county pay their expenses, it was all right, but this thing of going to the poor house, they could not stand. And we are compelled to honor the spirit they manifested in keeping out of the poor house. so long as possible, still they seemed to make a great distinction where there was not much difference. The county, at all events, was by this action relieved of their support.
The board held three other sessions during the year, namely. on June 23rd. September 15th and October 8th. but no business was transacted at either session worthy of special mention.
"THIE HIGH COURT."
The district court held its regular general term, commencing on the sixth day of January. Hon. F. H. Waite, presiding. There were twelve criminal and fifty-one civil cases stated on the calendar, one of the largest ever had in the county.
The following instance is not the only one in which jurors have been greatly puzzled.
"Gen. R. W. Judson tells a good story. It was of a case in the I'nited States district court at Albany many years ago. A patent right suit was on before Judge Nelson. William HI. Seward was counsel on one side. In sum- ming up he occupied a whole day. Peter Cagger came in while he was talking, and after listening an hour turned to a learned lawyer and inquired: What the deuce is Seward talking about?' The counsel on the other side made a long speech, and the judge charged. After the jury had been out about two hours they came into the court, and the foreman said: 'Your honor, the jury would like to ask a question?' Judge: 'You can proceed.' Foreman; 'Well, your honor, we would like to know what this suit is about?' "
TIIE FARMERS' SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of the Agricultural Society, for the election of officers, was held at Blue Earth City on the sixth day of January. F. A. Squires, was chosen president; F. W. Temple, secretary; Chas. Stockman, treasurer.
This was one of the most spirited contests for the offices yet known in the history of the society. It was made a question of localities, between Winnebago City and Blue Earth City.
Another meeting was held May 16th at Blue Earth City, at which the question of locating the fair grounds and headquarters of the society again came up, but the meeting was adjourned, without definite action on the question, to the second day of June. At the latter meeting, the following proposition on behalf of the citizens of Blue Earth City was submitted:
"That in consideration of, and on condition that the Faribault County Ag- ricultural Society shall hold the annual fair of said society at Blue Earth City,
377
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
the citizens of Blue Earth City hereby agree to furnish suitable fair grounds, buildings, track, stalls and pens, free of charge, to the society for the purpose of holding such fairs for the period of ten years from date hereof.
"Provided, that for the period of ten years from this date, all moneys or property now, or hereafter, belonging to said society, after paying the necessary expenses thereof, shall be applied to making improvements and repairs on said fair grounds and buildings."
This was the only proposition presented, and was accepted by the society, by the unanimous vote of those present.
A tract of twenty-five acres of ground, situated a half mile north of Blue Earth City, was hired for ten years, an excellent race track was prepared, a capacious building erected on the grounds, and other conveniences provided, mainly through the contributions of the people of Blue Earth City, and subsequently the grounds were mainly enclosed with a high fence.
The annual fair was held on the first, second and third days of October. The weather was fine, the attendance large, there being fully twelve hundred people present on the second day, and the dis- play of stock, farm products and articles of domestic manufacture, the best that had been seen for a number of years. But the location of the fair grounds did not give satisfaction in several localities, and considerable fault was found for some years, with this action of the society.
THE SOLONS.
The legislation of this year, relating in any special manner to this county, was:
1st. A memorial to Congress to establish a post route from Banks, in Faribault county, Minn., by way of Coon Grove and Ben- son's Grove, to Forest City, in the State of Iowa.
2d. To incorporate the village of Winnebago City.
3d. To authorize the village council of Wells, to issue bonds for certain purposes.
4th. To authorize the supervisors of the town of Clark, to issue bonds.
5th. To appropriate money to build a bridge across Brush Creek.
6th. To incorporate the village of Easton.
7th. To authorize the Judge of Probate, of Faribault county, to commit William Rose (non compis mentis), to the hospital for insane.
Our representatives in the legislature for the year, were S. P. Child, in the Senate, and T. G. Pond and J. P. West. in the House.
Bailey Madison, of this county, was again sergeant-at-arms in the House, Charles A. Rose, fireman for the Senate, and Master E. J. Vial, senate messenger.
378
HISTORY OF
THE "PRESS."
On the sixteenth day of February, the Winnebago City Press changed proprietors. Mr. J. L Christie became the proprietor and editor. The retiring owner, Mr. Huntington, says: "We have sold the Press office to Mr. J. L. Christie, for the reason that we are not a printer and there is no particular profit in the investment. We will confess that we rather like the business."
Mr. Christie introduces himself in the following words: "After an absence of seven years, we again find ourselves seated in the edi- torial chair and making our best how to our many old friends and patrons of Faribault county, through the columns of the Press."
A FINE SPRING.
The spring opened about the thirteenth of March. The wind changed on that day into the south, and on the next day we had the first rain of the season. It was remarked that the crows arrived about this date in great, in fact, in unusual numbers, and the wild geese and ducks, doubtless, were anxiously expected.
As seeding time approached, serious apprehensions were enter- tained by many in the west half of the county, that the grasshopper eggs, innumerable quantities of which had been deposited in the ground the preceding year, would hatch, and produce that pest in such vast numbers as to again eat up the crops. The eggs were mainly deposited in the west tier of towns, and the west half of the next tier east, in this county. The subject was one of serious consideration, indeed very perplexing, and many a head turned restlessly upon its pillow at night, with evil forebodings. No one could give any reliable information, or advice, as to what was best to be done. Opinions were various and the reasons for them curious. No one had had any experience, and printed information was not at hand. The majority of the people, therefore, concluded to risk their seed, and did so.
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.