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 46
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
A. W. Johnson, for Treasurer.
Hiram Raymond, for Sheriff.
Benjamin G. Reynolds, for County Attorney. For Commissioners:
R. C. Alborn, for Second District.
H. A. Woolery, for First District.
A. H. Bullis, for Fourth District.
J. Vial, for Fifth District.
Chas. S. Dunbar, of Foster, was also a candidate for the Senate.
The principal contest in this campaign, was on the offices of sheriff, treasurer, couuty attorney and representatives, and the elec- tioneering, during the two weeks prior to the election, was quite earnest, and most of the candidates visited, as usual, all the towns in the county. There were, however, but two or three public meetings held, and they were in the eastern portion of the county. There were two republican candidates for treasurer, and two, also, for sheriff, in consequence of which the vote of that party was so divided that it resulted in the election of the democratic candidates for those offices.
One printer reports that at his office, there were printed, 38,- 500 tickets, and of these, three forms or styles, were "straight," and ninety-two forms, of combinations, or "split" tickets.
The election was held on the sixth day of November. The fol- lowing table copied from the official canvass of the votes, indicates the result, as to local offices. The Republican State ticket was elected.
HISTORY OF
For Governor: Pillsbury. 1,271; Banning. 591.
For Lieut. Governor: Waketield, 1,246; Ames, 529.
For Senator: Goodrich, 1,168; Polleys, 521; Dunbar, 168.
For Representatives: Gilman, 919; West, 997; Hauson, 523; Wasgatt. 662; Blair, 406; Sisson, 243.
For Treasurer: Temple, 650; Kaupp, 747; Johnson, 405.
For Sheriff: Cummings, 691; Pratt, 829; Raymond. 266.
For Attorney: Green, 697; Abbott, 401; Reynolds, 531.
For Judge of Probate: Kiester. 1,662.
For Commissioners: Cary. Woolery. Bullis and Catlin were elected.
HALLOW EVE., OCTOBER 31ST.
Hallow Eve .. known also as Halloween and Hallowmas Eve., is the vigil and eve., before. or of All Hallows. or All Saints' day. Nov. 1st. of each year. It is best known in this county by the name of Hallow Eve., and has been observed in some locatities in this county, for a number of years, notably at various places, this year. It is annually observed in many countries. It is significant now among us, only because of the curious customs incident to its observance, but the day which it precedes, and of, or for, which it was formerly. and in some places still is, a preparation, is one of much significance, with many Christian people, and this being the fact, and to show the ori- gin and purpose of Hallow Eve .. it is proper to say a word first, of All Saints' day. All Saints' day is a church festival, observed in honor and rememberance of all the Angels and Saints of Heaven, and it is now annually commemorated on Nov. Ist ( but formerly in May) by the Roman Catholic church, the Greek Catholic church. the Anglican Catholic church. in Eugland and America and else- where, known as the Church of England, in England, and the Pro- testant Episcopal church in American, and by the Lutheran church, thus embracing more than three-fourths of all Christendom. It has been observed ever since the fourth century, in the Eastern church and in the Western. or Latin church and the English church, since the carly part of the seventh century, when its observance was enjoined by the Bishop of Rome-Boniface, the Fourth. The thought, the sentiment implied, and the purpose intended in the observance of this day, are beautiful and devout.
In the order of worship appointed for this day, in the Anglican Communion, we find the following ancient collect:
"O Almighty God, who has knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Christ, our Lord: grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints, in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfelgn- edly love Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
449
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
It may now be repeated that Hallow Eve., is the evening preced- ing this day and was formerly, generally kept, as it is now, in some places, as the vigil, or watch, and preparation for All Saints' day.
In the course of centuries, many follies, superstitions and curi- ous customs grew up in the various countries, in connection with this eve, among which we may name the performance of spells, by the young people, to discover their future life partners, charms and games, weird incantations, fireside revelries, cracking of nuts, from which it received the name of "nut crack night." It also came to be deemed the night when witches and devils went abroad and was hence called "witches' night." In fairy stories it was said that the faries held an anniversary on this night. In England and Scotland, many strange superstitions were current among the common peo- ple, as to this eve.
The Scotch poet, Burns, wrote a fine poem, the subject of which was "All Halloween," from which we quote the following lines:
"Amang the bonny winding banks Where doon runs wimpling clear, Where Bruce once ruled the martial ranks An' shook his Carrick spear, Some merry, friendly, country folks Together did convene To burn their nits and pou their stocks An' haud their Halloween, Fu' blithe that night."
But it would be a long task to described the many and various performances indulged in on this evening in the past, and it will be sufficient to state how the Eve is observed in our day, and here, by many who never knew the origin of Hallow Eve., or what it means.
In our times, instead of being a solemn vigil, it has become an evening devoted generally, to social meetings, frolic and pranks, par- ties and other social gatherings, the meeting of various societies, the calling suddenly of small companies ou their friends, are frequent incidents of the evening. But this is not all. It is also a sort of boys' night. The wild boys of the community, "get in" a good deal of mischief, which is not commendable, as the taking of gates off their hinges, changing of sign-boards, building of bonfires, the collecting of old kettles and boots, large stones, discarded hats and old bas- kets and other rubbish, and depositing the same in vestibules and on porches, quietly, then ring the door bell, and run away; also the pulling up of cabbages and beets, and throwing them against the doors of shops and dwellings, and other pranks too numerous to mention, and such as can only be thought of by a live boy full of what he calls fun.
Thus it is that a solemn vigil, established by a bishop and ob- served by the church for centuries, became, in the old country,
450
HISTORY OF
loaded with superstitions and follies, and finally, as a writer has said, "crossed the ocean, as a season for frolics, and ends with a street boy's joke."
AN EARTIIQUAKE !!
And now we must relate the occurrence of a very unusual event for this region of country. On the fifteenth day of November, a slight earthquake shock was felt in this county. The following ex- cerpt, from the Winnebago City Press, gives a brief account of the shock at that place.
"The shock of Thursday, the 15th inst., was very distinctly felt by many of our citizens, and no doubt caused some of the more worldly minded to hastlly glance at their balance sheets to see how they would stand when they would be called up for final settlement. It must have been a doleful outlook for those delin- quents of ours. We have not seen any one that can give us the exact time of the occurrence, but all agree that it was only a few minutes before twelve o'clock. A. M. We were in our office in the second story of Union (brick) block, busy get- ting ready for press, and did not notice anything unusual. But many of our business men and other reliable citizens did observe it, who say the shock lasted from twenty to thirty seconds. S. J. Abbott, Esq., says the two story frame building, on the second floor of which he has his office, swayed back and forth one or two inches, from north to south. Mr. J. F. Winship, who was alone writing at a desk in the post office, reports about the same duration of the shock, but affirms that his oscillating observations were from east to west. One gentleman, sitting in a buggy on the prairie, about seven miles west of this town, declares he heard the peculiar rumbling sound, and distinctly felt the trembling of the earth. However, no damage was done to buildings or erock- ery, that we have heard of, and we have probably experienced our first and last earthquake."
"THE ALBERT LEA EARTHQUAKE."
An Albert Lea correspondent of the Pioneer Press, writing under date of the 16th inst., says:
"Our newest sensation is an earthquake. It occurred yesterday, at six minutes of twelve a. in .; lasted about twenty seconds; oscillations very rapid: motion distinctly noticed to be from cast to west; hanging-lamps, bird cages, water standing in vessels, all swung back and forth in the same direction. No damage done, no special alarm felt."
The shock was also recognized by a few persons at Blue Earth City.
"I kin hump my back and take the rain. And I don't keer how she pours: I kin keep kindo' ca'm in a thunder storm, No matter how loud she roars;
I haint much skeered o' the lightnin', Ner I haint sich awful shakes Afeared o' cyclones-but I don't want none ()' yer dad-burned old earthquakes!"- Rile.
A BRACE OF ITEMS.
There were 37,529 forest trees planted on Arbor day, of this year, and there were planted during the whole year, 352,019, aud the whole number of forest trees, including cuttings, set out in the
451
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
county, up to this time, was 5,993,435, covering 4,734 acres, and that, of this number of trees. there were set out in rows along the highways, 8,430 rods.
At this time, the great question of interest in educational mat- ters, was the State school text-book system, which was, simply stated, the system of supplying all our schools with books by the State, instead of making contracts with book publishers for the same. The objects to be gained were, better, more uniform, and cheaper school books. We clip the following item from the super- intendent's report. The law relating to this subject was kuown as the "Merrill Text-Book law."
STATE TEXT-BOOKS.
On the second of September, I issued a circular in which the working ma- chinery of the law was explained. I also appointed several meetings to discuss the subject. I have explained how, in case it was deemed best not to make any changes, books now in use could be secured at lower rates by districts pur- chasing direct from the publishers.
The Merrill bill was indorsed by the republican .convention of this county, and subsequently by the people's convention.
It needs many amendments, and will no doubt receive the attention of the legislature the coming winter."
The text-book law was a topic of heated discussion in the news- papers of the time, and elsewhere, for some years, but became set- tled, finally, in favor of the law.
FINE WEATHER.
Dry weather prevailed during the fall, as appears from the fol- lowing item, from a paper dated September 28th.
"We need a good soaking rain very much. It is said that the streams and lakes were never so low before as they are now, and we know that all the wells are drying up, so that a fellow can hardly get enough water to make his tea with."
The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of October 3d, being much later than usual.
The first snow fell on the fourth of November, and the ground froze up, for a few days, quite hard, but soon thawed out again, and we had a remarkably fine term of weather for December. For several weeks the weather was very mild, and some rain fell. The air was soft and balmy, like Indian summer, and vegetation started up again, to a considerable growth. The plows were put to work. Owing to several heavy rains about the seventeenth of the month, the mud became very deep, and the roads almost impassable. Plow- ing continued as late as the twenty-eighth of the montli.
The opinion was current among the farmers that the grasshop- pers would not return again, and they were much encouraged and put forth every effort to get all the land they possibly could pre- pare, ready for the crops in the spring. Every one was hopeful that a new and prosperous era had dawned for the State.
452
HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XXIV.
A. D. 1878.
OUR STATESMEN.
The twentieth State legislature assembled January 8th, and ad- journed March 8th.
This was a very important session, in many respects. We may call attention first to the acts passed, having a direct relation to the county. They were fewer this year, than usual, and numbered but two. They were as follows:
"An act relating to Winnebago City Independent School District."
"An act to legalize the issue of bonds in School District No. 22."
Another act was passed, granting certain swamp lands, to aid in the construction of what may be named here sufficiently, as the St. Cloud and the Blue Earth Valley Railroads, which was intro- duced by one of our representatives, Mr. Gilman. The act was vetoed, however, by the governor.
Still another act was passed having considerable interest to the people of this county, but in order to understand the matter, it is necessary to say, that there was organized at Lanesboro, in this State, on the seventeenth day of January, the Southern Minnesota Railway Extension Company, the purpose of which was to build the Southern Minnesota Railroad from Winnebago City to the west line of the State, and to secure from the legislature the forfeited lands of the old railroad company referred to in the history of the last year.
The Southwestern Minnesota Railroad Company, organized at Winnebago City in October of last year, and this new Extension Company, became rival applicants, before the legislature, for the transfer of the rights of the old company, in the grant of lands. The contest was very earnest, in fact somewhat bitter, between the rival claimants, but finally, the act was passed, entitled:
"An act granting to the Southern Minnesota Railway Extension Company, certain lands, in aid of the construction of the line of road of said company."
Our local company, therefore, lost the grant and retired.
As a condition of the grant, the Extension Company were re- quired to complete the road from Winnebago City to Fairmont, in Martin county, by the first day of September, of this year, and to
453
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
the west line of the State, before the end of the year 1880, all of which was accomplished. And thus was completed one of the earli- est projected and one of the greatest railroads of the Northwest. And we cannot but feel something of a local pride in the final ac- complishment of this great project, when we consider that the road traverses our county from the east to the west line, and that two of the principal projectors and builders of the road have resided, for many years, in this county-Col. C. W. Thompson, who may justly be styled the father of the road, and for many years the president of the company, and general manager, and Hon. H. W. Holley, for many years connected with the road as a member of the company, civil engineer and also general manager-men who stood by the project from the beginning, and by their indomitable energy and perseverance, surmounting almost impossible difficulties and many adverse circumstances, until the road was so far completed as to be already one of the great roads of the State, and its ultimate success assured.
During this session of the legislature, articles of impeachment were preferred by the House, impeaching Sherman Page, Judge of the tenth judicial district, of certain offenses.
On the sixth of March, the senate convened and organized as a high court of impeachment for the trial of Judge Page, and on the eighth of March adjourned to May 22d, when the court re-convened for the hearing. On June 28th the court voted on the several articles of impeachment. and the Judge was acquitted, though the majority was largely in favor of impeachment, but not the requisite two-thirds.
Our county was represented in the twentieth legislature by Daniel F. Goodrich, in the Senate, and J. P. West and H. H. Gil- man in the House. James B. Wakefield, of this county, Lieutenant Governor, was President of the Senate and also of the High Court of Impeachment.
WEATHER NOTES.
Plowing was done in this county on January Ist. The winter was a very mild one, in fact a very remarkable one. There was but litttle snow, and no sleighing. For many weeks together, the ground was dry and dusty. Winter clothing was not in great demand. The fuel bill was much less than it usually is, and stock did not consume to exceed two-thirds of the usual amount of food, and outdoor work was not delayed on account of the weather.
SPRING SEEDING.
The spring of this year opened quite early. The Mississippi river opened for navigation, from St. Paul, Minn., to New Orleans, La., March 8th, being the earliest opening for thirty-four years past.
454
HISTORY OF
The record has been kept since 1844. Some seeding was done the latter part of February, but this work generally, was commenced about the fifteenth of March. It was reported that a farmer in Blue Earth county had completed the seeding of one hundred acres of wheat by the eighth day of March. Farmers, generally, this spring made an effort to seed in good and husbandlike manner, all the ground possible. There were good prospects, and many hopes of a golden reward.
SOCIAL LIFE-FAMOUS LECTURERS.
Owing, perhaps to the mild weather and the exhilarating influ- ence of forty million bushels of No. 1 wheat and good prices, it may be remarked that there was, during the winter and spring, more of gayety, life in social circles, and social enjoyments gener- ally, than had been known for some years. The papers contained many notices and accounts of parties, concerts, lectures, dances, mum sociables, literary readings, debates, amateur theatricals, be- sides a host of religious, scientific and temperance meetings. And here the agreeable fact may be noted, that during the winter and spring of this year, the county was visited by a number of persons of national reputation, who delivered lectures at several places in the county. In the latter part of January, Miss Susan B. Anthony came and lectured at Blue Earth City and several other places in the county. In February, Dr. J. J. Villiars, the great humorist. In March we heard Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Will Carlton, and in April, Miss Phoeba Couzens, the famous female lawyer and lec- turer of St. Louis, Mo.
The fact was, that at the close of the previous year, and in the early part of this year, an impression, a presentiment, existed among the people, generally, that the heavy burden of the unsettled and stringent times, financially and otherwise, was about to be removed and that an era of great prosperity was near at hand, and the influ- ence of this hopefulness, was seen in many directions.
A RAILROAD! A RAILROAD !!
About the first of March, another railroad project started up and created much interest. This was a proposition on the part of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company to construct and put in operation a line of road from their main line at Lake Crystal, in Blue Earth County, running southward to the Iowa State line, by way of Winnebago City and Blue Earth City. This was indeed but the revival of an old project, on which considerable effort had been expended a number of times before, but it was such an important project, from the fact that a north and south road, ultimately reaching the coal fields of Iowa, was the great consideration in our
455
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
railroad system, that the people at once accepted the proposition, and went to work to comply with the requirements of the company. The company required the voting to them of certain amounts of bonds in the several towns through which the road would pass.
The bonds, or "bonuses" were voted in the months of June and July, executed and deposited in bank, as required by the proposi- tion, and to make a long story short, for the writer, and certainly the reader is weary of these railroad affairs, the road was graded from Blue Earth City northward some fifteen miles, by the first day of November. Our assurance was greater now than ever before, that we should get, at last, the much coveted north and south road, the next year.
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
The eighth annual meeting of the Sunday School Association, was held at Blue Earth City, on the 22d and 23d days of May. A very large number of delegates were present and many schools were represented. The exercises were of much interest, and the reports indicated much progress, as being made in the good work. The of- ficers elected for the ensuing year were, Mrs. H. C. Cheadle, presi- dent, and Mrs. Henry Mckinstry, vice president, A. C. Dunn, secre- tary and D. B. Thurston, treasurer.
The subject was introduced and discussed at this meeting, of instituting township Sunday School Conventions, and a resolution was adopted, calling such a convention in the town of Verona on the sixteenth day of June following, and delegates were elected to attend the same.
"SO SAY WE, ALL OF US."
Of our courts this year, it may be said, that as usual there were two terms, at both of which Judge Dickinson, presided. The Jan- uary term commenced on New Year's day. There were three crimi- nal, and thirty-three civil cases, noted on the calendar. The June term commenced June 4th. At this term the calendar presented three criminal and twenty-four civil cases. Several criminal trials were had at this term, which created much public interest-those of the State vs. Fred J. Williams and the State vs. Henry Measor. The following is a statement of the facts out of which these trials originated.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AND MURDER.
Robert Mapson and wife, an elderly couple, live in Winnebago, and keep a restaurant. Their accumulated savings amount to $500. Some persons with murder in their hearts, learned of this fact, and determined to possess them- selves of the money, even though the sacrifice of a life was necessary.
On Saturday night last, March 23d, they retired to rest as usual, he sleep- ing alone, and his wife with her sister. At a late hour she was awakened by a noise in the adjoining room, and heard the voice of her husband saying, "I
456
HISTORY OF
have no money." Then she heard rapid blows. She at once rushed Into the room, and erled murder, and ran to the front door and aroused near nelghbors. These demonstrations frightened the villains away. Assistance was then ren- dered Mr. Mapson, who was found to be badly injured about the head and face, and one arm broken.
Vigorous measures were at once instituted, to hunt down the would-be murderers, and on Monday afternoon. a young man named Henry Measor, who had been living near Winnebago for several years, was arrested on suspicion, and failing to give bonds, is now in jall, awaiting an examination before Justice Mell, on Thursday next.
Sheriff Pratt was satisfied that this man Measor had an accomplice, and having secured additional evidence, proceeded on Thursday, about four miles northwest of Winnebago, and arrested a young man named F. J. Williams, and brought him to Blue Earth City, where he is now under examination before Justice G. B. Kingsley. The sheriff found on Williams' premises a policeman's club, loaded, with which the murderous blows were inflicted on Mr. Mapson.
Both Measor and Williams were held for their appearance at the next (June) term of the district court. At the trial. Measor plead guilty, and was sentenced to seven years, at hard labor, in the State prison. Williams plead not guilty, Measor being the principal wit- ness against him, and was acquitted by the jury. The current opinion was, however, that Williams was the principal in the crime. Measor was pardoned by the governor in 1882, and discharged from prison.
A TENDER HEARTED JUDGE.
A Texas judge lately made the following very considerate de- cision. He said:
"The fact is, Jones, the jail is an old, rickety affair, as cold as an iron wedge. You applied to the court for a release on bail, giving it as your opinion that you would freeze to death there. That is my opinion also, and to keep you from such suffering, I do now order and direct the sheriff to hang you at four o'clock this afternoon, and may God be as merciful to you as I am "
LIBERTY FOREVER !
A word must be said in reference to the Fourth of July, 1878. The day was celebrated at Wells, where C. S. Dunbar, of Foster. read the Declaration, and M. S. Wilkinson delivered the oration.
At the grove of Mr. Cahoon, in the town of Elmore, a very in. teresting observance of the day occurred. Here C. H. Slocum was the reader, and the orators were James Hardie and S. W. Graham.
A formal celebration was had, also, at Minnesota Lake and at several places in the county there were pic-nics.
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.