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 45
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J. P. West appeared as our representative in the Senate Chamber and S. P. Child and H. H. Gilman in the House.
James B. Wakefield, Lient. Governor, presided over the delib- erations of the Senate, and in the House we had Geo. W. Buswell, as Chief Clerk. Charles A. Rose was Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, and James M. Robertson, a Senate Messenger, while Thos. H. Webb held the position of Restaurantuer in the rotunda of the Capitol. Our county could not well complain of not being "recog- nized" at this session.
The legislation of this year, having special relation to this county was comprised in the following acts:
An act to incorporate the village of Delavan.
An act to amend the act to incorporate the village of Minnesota Lake.
An act to amend the act to incorporate the village of Winnebago City.
An act to authorize the village of Minnesota Lake to issue bonds for the purpose of paying for the location of a depot, in said village.
An act to prohibit fishing in Bass lake, except by hook and line.
Anact to detach certain territory from School District No. 14, and to attach the same to District No. 58.
Mr. Windom was re-elected United States senator at this session.
The people of this county, especially the older and more perma- nent residents, have, from the first, manifested a strong attachment for, and loyalty to the county, and its fair fame, and have taken a well grounded pride in its character, standing and progress. Its people have never deemed it necessary to take a back seat, anywhere, further than a due regard for the proprieties seemed to require. And this is in some degree warranted by the facts that our county has, in a number of instances, proved to be the banner county of the State-our rapid progress in population, prodnetions and wealth -the number of our citizens who have held high official positions in the State, and in the governing bodies of great social and fraternal organizations, and in the sessions of our State legislature. And here the words of the poet Halleck are not far from appropriate.
"They love their land because it is their own, And scorn to give aught other reason why: Would shake hands with a King upon his throne. And think it kindness to his majesty; A stubborn race, fearing and flattering none, Such are they nurtured, and such they live and die."
THE FARMERS AND STOCKMEN.
The Agricultural Society held its regular annual meeting Janu- ary 2d. The officers elecied for the year were L. W. Brown, of Prescott, president; Wm. M. Scott, secretary, and D. B. Thurston, treasurer, and this was the only business of importance transacted. In this connection, the fact may now be noted, that the Second An-
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
nual Fair of the Blooded Stock Association, was appointed to be held at Winnebago City, on the 20th, 21st and 22d days of Septem- ber and a fine premium list was published. The exhibition of stock at the fair was very good, and the fair was a moderate success. The annnal fair of the agricultural society, was held at Blue Earth City, on the 11th, 12th and 13th days of October. But owing to the late date in the year of holding this fair, and because of some other mat- ters, the fair, of this year, was not a great success, though far from a failure.
THE WEATHER.
During the latter half of January and through the greater por- tion of February, the weather was very fine. The following item is clipped from the Post of February 24th.
"For thirty days past we have enjoyed delightful weather. The sun has shone every day. The thermometer has ranged up among the sixties and seven- ties, and only nights has it been cold enough to freeze. Such a long spell of delightful weather has never been witnessed at this season of the year, as at the present. The roads have been dry and dusty, and the wheeling excellent. Farmers are getting ready to sow grain: some have already done so. The frost is out of the ground for a depth of six inches. Laboring men traverse the streets in their shirt sleeves in search of linen pants, and 'kerchiefs' to wipe the prespiration from their 'noble brows.' Beautiful ladies, elegantly attired in summer costume, having thrown aside their furs, promenade the walks, and their bewitching smiles tell us that we 'don't got some more winter for a little vile.' Oh, ye eastern croackers who think that Minnesota can't grow 'cawn,' and are wallowing through forty-four feet of snow, come up here where you can take off your winter clothes and cool yourselves in the summer sun."
And here is another item of the same tenor, taken from another paper:
"We have heard of several farmers who put in wheat last week, in this vi- cinity. In our exchanges, also, we see similar notices to this. We believe this is the earliest wheat sowing in the history of the State, though, on one or two previous occasions, it has been put in during the latter part of February."
March, however, proved a winter month. Considerable snow fell, and we had some stormy weather.
WHO IS PRESIDENT AND WHY.
Intense excitement and anxiety existed during January, Feb- ruary and a part of March, throughout the whole country, in refer- ence to the result of the presidential election. The whole matter was now in congress, and owing to the condition of the electoral vote, it was found to be impossible to settle the matter, as to which of the candidates had been elected, president and vice president, by the ordinary method, and hence, after much contention, and the making of many grave threats, congress, by agreement, established what was known as the electoral commission, consisting of five
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judges of the supreme court of the United States, five senators and five representatives, to whom all contested points were submitted. Their decision was to be final. The commission reported on all disputed questions, and the result was that Hayes and Wheeler had a majority of the electoral votes, and were accordingly declared elected president and vice president. Politically, this commission stood seven democrats to eight republicans. The report gave the disputed states to the republicans by eight votes for, to seven against. This event was a dangerous crisis in the history of the nation, and came near resulting in troublous times.
And indeed the outlook for the new president was ominous, and if there ever was a time when the following beautiful prayer for the president, uttered occasionally by millions of our citizens, was especially appropriate. this was the occasion.
"O God of might, wisdom and justice! through whom authority is rightly administered, laws enacted and judgment decreed, assist our president, we beseech Thee, with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude, that his adminis- tration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and re- ligion, by a faithful execution of the laws of justice and mercy, and by restrain- ing vice and immorality. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
EXIT-THE WELLS GAZETTE-ENTRE THE WELLS ADVOCATE.
The Gazette ceased to be published with the issue of March 22d, or about that time, but on the 19th of April there arose from the ashes of the Gazette. The Wells Advocate. a seven column paper- foreign internals, domestic externals.
THE WORK OF THE SOWERS.
With the exception of the small percentage of seeding done in February. sowing generally commenced in this county, about the ninth day of April-the higher grounds, being in excellent condi- tion and the work was done up rapidly and well. Yet the fear of grasshopper depredations was distressing. There appeared to be nothing left, but to take the risk. In view of this danger, however, the farmers ordered a large quantity of field peas for seed, a plant but little molested by grasshoppers. There were about one thous- and bushels of peas brought into the county, for this purpose. An- other plant known by the name of Pampas, and said to be, in the current language of the time, "hopper proof." was planted, to some extent.
A brief item here as to prices, may not be uninteresting. Wheat at the railroad markets brought, in April $1.15 to $1.25. oats 30 cents, corn 50 cents, potatoes 50 cents, beans $2.00, peas $2.00 per bushel and flour $3.50 per hundred.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
THE LAST OF THE LOCUSTS.
The vast deposit of grasshopper eggs throughout a large por- tion of the State, the preceding year, was a matter of such grave public importance, that the legislature of this year, in its efforts to do something for the relief of the public, passed a very curious and impracticable act.
The act was entitled "An act to provide for the destruction of grasshoppers and their eggs," and provided for the payment of cer- tain bounties for destroying the same, as follows:
The sum of one dollar, per bushel, for grasshoppers caught previous to the twenty fifth day of May. The sum of fifty cents, per bushel, from May 25th to the tenth day of June. The sum of twenty-five cents, per bushel, from the tenth day of June to the first day of July and twenty cents per bushel, from said first day of July. to the first day of October. There was also to be paid the sum of fifty cents per gallon, for all grasshopper eggs taken and destroyed. The act appropriated one hundred thousand dollars, to pay these bounties. It also required that all persons liable to work on roads, in each township, should be assessed a number of days labor, not to exceed five, to be employed, under the direction of the overseers of highways, in destroying eggs and locusts. A measurer was to be appointed in each township, by the Governor of the State, who was to be paid by the several counties. It was made his duty to receive and measure the grasshoppers and their eggs, brought to him, keep an account of the same and by whom delivered, and to give a certificate to the person delivering the same, of the amount thereof. All this looked very fair on its face, but a close iuspec- tion of the facts and circumstances involved, revealed a very differ- ent aspect and results.
At the April session of the county board, after a careful exam- ination of the matter, the board concluded that if this law should go into effect, and the measurers be appointed by the governor, as con - templated in the act the cost to this county alone could not be less than one hundred thousand dollars should the locusts appear as ap- prehended, and that of the one hundred thousand dollars, appropri- ated by the State, this county would not get to exceed four or five thousand dollars as its proportional share. They, therefore, re- quested the governor not to make the appointment of measurers, in this county. They were not made, nor were the labor assess- ments made, and the act, iu nowise, went into effect in this county, and such was the fact not only in this county but throughout the State. The law was a dead letter. Had it gone into effect in most of the counties affected by grasshoppers, it would have entailed a burden of indebtedness upon them, which would have far exceeded in damage, all the depredations of the pests.
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And now in pursuance of this same subject, that of the locust scourge, it may be stated, that the twenty-sixth day of April was appointed by proclamation of the governor, and was observed in this county, as throughout the State, as a day of fasting and of prayer to Almighty God, that in mercy, He would relieve the peo- ple of the State from this threatened calamity.
In the volume of the book it is written:
"A fruitful land maketh He barren, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein." Ps. CVII:34.
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify Me." Ps., L:15.
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord." Joel, 1:14.
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" Isaiah, LVIII:6.
Millions of the eggs hatched out, throughout the infested por- tions of the State, yet, owing to some inscrutable causes, the pe- culiar character of the weather. the frosts, rains, freezing of the ground, the hatching was very irregular, and at intervals, and, doubtless, myriads of eggs rotted in the ground, and the young, at various stages of development, perished by millions, and with the exception of certain small districts of the State, no very material injury was done to the crops. Those locusts which attained full size, and there were some such over all the infested districts, ap- peared to be feeble and degenerate, and they, about the twentieth day of July, arose and left this portion of the State. The following item from a newspaper, well describes this last great exodus.
"Last Friday was a day of great suspense to the people of this section of country. About half-past nine in the morning the 'hoppers commenced flying with a good breeze carrying them a little cast of south. Never before in the memory of man were so many 'hoppers seen in the air at one time. It was one dense mass of locusts as far as the eye could see upward, and it took them until three o'clock in the afternoon to pass over. These were hours of deep suspense to the people. All business was abandoned and the flight of the destroying hosts watched with bated breath and weary eye. By two o'clock we all began to breathe casier, as it was noticed that none had come down, but that nearly every one of the resident 'hoppers had risen and joined the marching column, and when night came it was safe to conclude that the 'hopper raid in Minnesota was at an end. It was a glorious feeling of relief, and thousands of prayers of thanksgiving were offered up that night. They are gone, where, at this writing, we know not, and our people are embued with new life. The erops will be care- fully taken care of, and every acre of ground possible will be put in good condi- sion to receive the seed next year. Real estate will advance in value, business will revive, and with the stock now in the country, we can see the brilliant fi- ture just ahead of us."
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
And considering the myriad millions of the locusts that passed over at this time, in high, and steady flight, and with army-like regularity, one might well surmise that the hosts were led that day by old Apollyon, the king of the locusts, himself. For some reason, the impression prevailed, generally, among the people, that this was the last we should see of the grasshoppers, and that we should not again be troubled with them, during this generation, if ever. It re- mains but to add, on the subject, that it was in this year, that that simple, but most effective instrument for the destruction of grass- hoppers, "the hopper-dozer," was invented, and used, and for a full account of which, the reader is referred to the history of the year 1874. We are now done with the locust invasion, one of the greatest calamities which has yet befallen the State.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The County Sunday School Association held its annual meeting at Winnebago City this year, on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth days of May. The attendance was quite large, and the interest manifested in the business and in the discussion of the questions proposed, was very considerable. At no former meeting were more questions pro- posed for consideration and discussed than at this. The report of the proceedings at this meeting occupy nearly two and a half col- umns of the newspapers of the county.
The officers elected for the ensuing year were: O O. Odel, presi- dent. J. L. Christie, secretary, and James Damon, treasurer.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK AGAIN.
An election was held throughout the state on the twelfth day of June, on the question of the adoption of a proposed amendment to the constitution, providing for the application, of certain five hun- dred thousand acres of improvement lands belonging to the State, in payment of the old Minnesota state railroad bonds. The vote in this county stood two hundred and sixty-nine in favor and one thousand and twenty-nine against the proposition. There was a majority of forty-one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two against the amendment, in the State.
RAILROADS! RAILROADS! !
Several railroad companies were organized in the county during the early part of this year, one at Blue Earth City, named "the Blue Earth Valley Railroad Company," organized in February and March, and one at Winnebago City, named "the Winnebago City and St. Paul Railroad Company," organized in May and June. "Bonuses" to aid in the building of roads, were again voted in several towns, and late in the year votes were taken in a number of towns, to extend the
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time given in former resolutions, granting bonuses. In June, the county was visited by an individual in the interests of a narrow guage road, to be constructed forthwith. Starting at Des Moines, the capital of Iowa and running thence northward through this county, to Hutchinson, in McLeod county, in this State. While this project was deemed a favorable one, no action was taken in refer- ence to it, and nothing further was ever heard of it.
Attention may also be called to the fact, that the time limited to the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company-ten years-to construct their road to the western boundary of the State, had expired, the road having been completed only as far west as Winnebago City, in this county.
Of the original grant of lands to the old company, there yet re- mained many thousands of fertile acres, unearned by the company, and which reverted to the State. And now, with an eye to securing these lands, there came to the front the great railroad project of the year, which was the organization of the St. James and Fort Dodge Railroad Company and the Martin County Railroad Company, which were essentially one. The purpose of the one was to build a road from Winnebago City westward. into Martin county, and of the other, to build a road from St. James, in Watonwan county, via Blue Earth City to Fort Dodge in Iowa. Grading was done from Winne- bago City westward and from Blue Earth City in a northwest direc. tion (towards St. James), some seven or eight miles during the sum- mer. The parties who had the matter in hand, were probably act- ing in good faith, but the whole project failed, because, as it was alleged, certain persons who had agreed to assist in putting down the ties and iron, when the grading should be done, proved treach- erous and failed to do as they agreed Several of our citizens lost considerable sums in consequence of the abandonment of the pro- ject.
Next followed a new company, which was organized at Winne- brgo City, October 27th, of this year, named "the South-Western Railroad Company." with the purpose of securing the forfeited lands and building the road westward from Winnebago City to the west line of the State, and a collateral line or two north and south. To this company some reference will be made in the history of the next year.
And we may now close this brief and imperfect sketch of the railroad affairs of that year, by the remark, that of the work done that year. there remains only some miles of dilapidated grading, dimly stretching across the prairies, and the companies organized that year have all passed into oblivion.
"All scattered tires but end in wind and noise.
The scorn of men, the idle play of boys."
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
THE 101ST PATRIOTISM EFFERVESCING.
The "Fourth of July" was celebrated in old fashioned style at Wells, where J. M. Nye read the Declaration and M. W. Green delivered the oration. Winnebago City, also had a celebration, and here S. J. Abbott was the reader of the Declaration, and M. S. Wilkinson was the orator.
The people of Blue Earth City were equally patriotic, and cele- brated the day in the usual manner. C. H. Slocum was the reader and Daniel F. Goodrich delivered the address. Lastly, at Bass Lake, in the town of Delavan, in the beautiful grove of ancient oaks, overlooking the crystal waters of the placid lake, the good people for many miles around, assembled to commemorate the day, and here Andrew Carson was the reader of the immortal charter of human rights, and J. A. Kiester, of Blue Earth City, addressed the people.
The celebration of the day in so many prominent localities, at all of which were large assemblages of our citizens, made the day a conspicuous one in the events of the year.
"There is no other land like thee, No dearer shore; Thou art the shelter of the free,
. The home, the port of liberty Thou hast been, and shalt ever be
'Til time is o'er."-Percival.
LACONICS.
That the reader may be able to fully identify this year, we note a few great leading events of the times, outside of our county limits.
On the twenty fourth day of April, war was declared by Russia against Turkey.
On July 16-19, a memorable strike of railroad employes occurred, which extended to nearly all the roads of the northern states. They greatly interfered with railroad traffic. Great riots took place at Baltimore and Pittsburg, and much property was destroyed and some blood shed. Troops were called out to suppress the rioters.
On the fifteenth day of September, Louis A. Thiers, an eminent French statesman and ex-president of the French Republic died.
Hon. Oliver P. Morton, ex-governor of Indiana and United States senator from that state, and one of the most distinguished of our latter day statesmen, died on the first day of November.
THE HUSBANDMAN'S REWARD.
The harvest of this year was a successful one. The wheat crop was the largest ever raised in the State, and all of the wheat was No. 1. The yield in this county, both as to quality and quantity,
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was extraordinary, and if as great breadth had been sown as usual, we should have had the largest crop, in the aggregate, ever raised in this county. The acreage was less than usual, somewhat, because of the fear of destruction by the locusts.
This was Minnesota's great wheat year, not soon to be forgot- ten, and the news went out over all the nation and into foreign lands that "Minnesota has raised 40,000,000 bushels No. 1 wheat, 36,000,000 bushels of which she can spare for export." all of which was true and had a great influence on immigration, counteracting, in a great measure. the evil effects of the locust visitation.
The corn crop was also very heavy, and oats, barley, potatoes, and other products were satisfactory, as were also the prices. Saith the Psalmist CVII:14. "He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of wheat," and saith Joel. the prophet, in the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses of the second chapter of his book. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm and the caterpillar and the palmerworm. my great army, which I sent among you." "And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord, your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you."
THE BALLOT BOX.
At the election occurring this fall, a number of State as well as county officers were to be chosen, and six amendments to the consti- tution, proposed, were to be voted upon.
John S. Pillsbury, for Governor, and James B. Wakefield, for Lieutenant Governor, the latter a resident of this county, were the republican nominees for those offices, and W. L Banning. for Gov- ernor, and A. A. Ames. for Lieutenant Governor, were the demo- cratic candidates.
First in order of time was the Republican County Convention, which was held at Blue Earth City on the twenty-second day of Sep- tember. Andrew C. Dunn, of Winnebago City, was chosen chair- man, and A. A. Williams, of Verona, secretary. The following nominations were made:
For Senator-D. F. Goodrich.
For Representatives-J. P. West, H. H. Gilman.
For Treasurer-F. W. Temple.
For Sheriff-Allen Cummings.
For County Attorney-M. W. Greenc.
For Judge of Probate-J. A. Kiester. For County Commissioners:
Second District-F. E. Carey. First District-L. K. Woodwick. Fourth District-C. B. Miner. Fifth District-W. Herring.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Next came the Democratic Convention, also held at Blue Earth City, which met September 27th. W. W. Stowe, of Delavan, was elected chairman, and Q. Adams, of Wells, secretary, when the fol- lowing nominations were made.
J. W. Polleys, for Senator.
D. P. Wasgatt and Andrew Hanson, for Representatives.
Otto Kaupp, for Treasurer.
M. B. Pratt, for Sheriff.
S. J. Abbott, for County Attorney.
The following named gentlemen were nominated as candidates for County Commissioners:
First District-James Hardie.
Second District-C. M. Sly.
Fourth District-Felix Hill.
Fifth District-Andrew Woesner.
A third convention was held at Delavan on the eight day of Oc- tober and placed in nomination:
Thomas Blair and J. R. Sisson, for Representatives.
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