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 60
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The original town site embraces three hundred and twenty acres, being the north half of section seventeen. Three additions, Dow & Bowen's and Young's, of forty acres each, and McArthur's, were subsequently laid out. It is located upon a circular prairie, of about one mile in diameter, and is surrounded, almost entirely, by streams of water and timber. The town site is high, rolling prairie, dotted over with small groves of oak, popple, cottonwood and other trees.
The village derives its name from the river. There have been two occasions, widely separated by years, when there was consider- able serious talk of changing the name of the village for various reasons given, but no official action was had, and it is not probable that the name will ever be changed.
By the act organizing the county, the county seat was located at Blue Earth City, and the question of location was voted upon at the next general election, which was held in October, 1856, and was decided unanimously in favor of Blue Earth City. The question of
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removal of the county seat from Blue Earth City to Winnebago City was voted upon at the general election of 1861, and a large majority of the votes proved to be against removal. and the capital of the county has remained, from the first, at this village. But our gen- eral history of the county will show that many subsequent attempts have been made to remove the county seat.
By act of the legislature, approved March 1st, 1872, the village of Blue Earth City was incorporated, subject, however, to ratifica- tion or rejection by the voters of the township, at the next ensuing town meeting, which was held in March. The act was ratified, but remained inoperative, until an election of village officers. The first election for village officers, under this charter, was held April 1st, 1874, when the following officers were elected: J. H. Sprout, pres- ident; S. S. Burleson, H. P. Constans and S. Pfeffer, trustees; Alex. Anderson. recorder, and D. F. Goodrich, justice of the peace.
The act of incorporation, or "village charter" of 1972, proving very defective in many particulars, the village was re incorporated by act of the legislature, approved January 27th, 1879. The latter act was much more extensive, and much more complete in its pro- visions than the former one. The limits of the territory included in the corporation were greatly extended, by this act. beyond the former boundaries. The first election. under the latter act, was held on the first Tuesday of April, 1879.
As the history of the village of Blue Earth City is largely incor- porated in the general history of the county, from year to year, the reader is referred to that record. and especially for an account of the events attending the founding of the village, which will be found in the history of the year 1856. Many items of historical in- terest. relating to the village, will also be found in this historical sketch of the township of Blue Earth City proper. The village having been the county seat since the organization of the county, and, being the oldest village in the county, and having had, from the beginning. a law-abiding, industrions, public spirited class of inhabitants, its people have always taken a leading and prominent part in all the principal political, religious, reformatory and other projects, associations and public enterprises of the county.
HION. JAMES B. WAKEFIELD.
It is quite proper, that in connection with an historical sketch of Blue Earth City, there should be given a biographical notice of Mr. Wakefield, one of the first settlers of the county, and one of the original town site proprietors, and a resident of the village from its founding, to the close of his life, with the ex- ception of a few short periods when absent on official duty.
Mr. Wakefield was born at Winsted, Conn., on the twenty-first day of March, 1828. His father, Dr. Luman Wakefield, was a distinguished physician, of that state. James received his preparatory education at Westfield, Mass.,
J. B. WAKEFIELD.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
and Jonesville, N. Y., and, in 1843, he entered Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., as a sophomore, and graduated in 1846. He read law at Painsville, Ohio, under the direction of Judge E. T. Wilder, his brother-in-law, and was admitted to the bar, at Delphi, Indiana, in 1851, where he engaged in the practice of law for two years.
In April, 1854, Mr. Wakefield came to Minnesota and located at Shakopee, where he engaged in the business of the profession, with Judge L. M. Brown.
In February, 1856, he, in company with several other persons, came to this county and founded Blue Earth City, as is more fully detailed in our general history of the year 1856.
Mr. Wakefield was the principal actor in the work of securing the organiza- tion of the county, and was the first chairman of the first board of county com- missioners, of the county, and was, again, a member of the board in 1859. He was, also, the first judge of probate, of the county, and also held the office of reg- ister of deeds some time. IIe was county attorney in 1857, and again in 1860-61, and was twice elected, subsequently, to that office, but declined to serve further. He was elected, in 1857, a member of the House of Representatives, in the last Territorial and first State legislature. In 1861 he was appointed deputy agent, at the lower Sioux Indian agency, in Minnesota, but returned to Blue Earth City at the time of the outbreak of the Indians, in August, 1862. In 1863 he was again a member of the lower House of our State legislature.
Mr. Wakefield was married, at Blue Earth City, in 1864
He was again, in 1866, a member of the House, and was elected speaker of the House, during the session of that year. He was State senator, for this dis- trict, in 1867, 1868 and 1869, but resigned the office of State senator about the middle of his second term, to accept the appointment of receiver of the United States land office, Winnebago City district, to which office he was appointed by President Grant, in 1869. 1Ie held this office six years, when he resigned it. In 1875, Mr. Wakefield was elected lieutenant governor of this State, and, in 1877, was again elected, serving in that office two terms, and presided in the State Senate, at the sessions of 1876, 1877, 1878 and 1879. In the fall of 1882, he was elected representative in congress, for this district, and was again elected, in 1884, for a second term, both of which he served. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1886.
In 1886, old Trinity College conferred upon him the very honorable degrec of Doctor of Laws. Mr. Wakefield has been a republican since the organization of the party, and has, for many years, taken an active part in the politics of the State. He was chairman, of the Minnesota delegation, in the national con- vention in 1868, which nominated General Grant for the presidency, and was a a member of the Minnesota delegation in the national convention of 1876, which nominated General Hayes as the republican candidate for the presi- dency. Mr. Wakefield's name, it will be observed, appears very often in the course of this history, he having been so closely identified with the progress, improvements and important events of the county, front the beginning.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
The names of other early residents of this township will be found in the following lists, which is a copy of the roll of inhabitants, in June, 1860, according to the census taken at that time.
Ahrens-George, Mrs. Louisa, George, Frank, Alvira. Andrews-Alfred D. Arnot-John. Bonwell-Arthur. Blochner-John. Bowen-Theo. Burgess- Geo. Burker-Fred. Butler-Zimri C., Mrs. Caroline, Delia. Beidle-John, Mrs. Mary, Joseph, John, Mary. Beebe-Alonzo, Mrs. Lucretia, Mary Edward.
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HISTORY OF
Blanchard-Chas. Blanchard-Wm. Billings-Levi Sr .. Mrs. Mary, Lovl Jr., Albert, Ollver. Beaumont-John B., Mrs. Eugenla, Ernest. Bertram-Jas. Betts-Almira. Constans-Hlenry P., Mrs. Barbara, Charles, Edward, Theodore. Converse-Geo. S., Mrs. Julia, Cynthia, Frederick, Frank, Clara. Christopherson -Christopher, Mrs Anna, Solvi, Erick, Gitlog. Confier-John B., Mrs. Ellza- beth, Leon, Lucien, Anestine, Adalaid. Cate-Jos. B., Mrs. Sarah. Decker- James, Mrs. Catherine, Artemus, Gustavus, Eugene. Dary-Peter B., Mrs. Calista, Frank. Dobson -- James, Mrs. Adeline. Ewald-John C., Mrs. Loulsa, Frederick, Henry, Sophia, Johanna, Matilda. Foster-Reuben R., Mrs. Rebecca Viran, Ethmer, Girsham, Reuben. Faunce-Horace A. Farlow-Leander. Mrs. Frances, Frank. Fockler-Alzina, Calista. Gaylord-Edmund. Gardner-Or- lando N., Mrs. Helen, Jennie, Henry. Gillit-J. B., Mrs. Maranda, Pamelia, Baldwin. Gillit-William, Mrs. Eliza, Mary, Orrin. Ilill-Wesley. Harmon Leonard, Mrs. Frances. Harris-Wm., Mrs. Emily, Peter, Mary, Hannah, Clarissa. Hamilton-Saml. B., Mrs. Elizabeth, Minnesota, Emma. Hadley- J. W., Mrs. Nancy, James, Edwin, Helen, Benjamin, Cecil, Charles, Ella. Hill -Onslow G., Mrs. Cynthia, Minnie. Harrington-Catharine. Howland-John C., Mrs. Melinda, Fay, Lefaver, Hallet. Hannah, Lydia. Johnson-John, Mrs. Annetta, Josephine. Johnson-Alexander, Mrs. Esther, Emma. Johnson- James. Johnson-Albin, Mrs. Nancy, Lois, William. Johnson-Josiah G. Mrs. Leonora. Johnson-Addison, Sophia. Kingsley-Geo. B. Kiester-Jacob A., Mrs. Caroline. Kisby-Joseph, Mrs. Mary. Koonze-John, Mrs. Elizabeth, An- toin, Frederick, Charles. Kobs-August, Mrs Anestine, William, Frederick. Keester-Peter J., Mrs. Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Matilda, Henry. Leslie- Saml., Mrs. Jane, Samuel, John, Mary. Lutz -Hopkins, Mrs. Mary, Mary. Lake-John D. Mann-Christian HI. Mead-Israel S., Mrs. Maria, James, Frederick, Stephen, Phebe, Abigail, Alice, Sarah. Mount-John E., Mrs. Sarah Humphrey, Emma. Melvin-Wm. A. Manthie-Wm. Manthic-Julius. Mudge -Aaron, Mrs. Lydia, Charles, William, Richard. Meud-Solomon. Monahan -John A., Mrs. Margaret, Clara. McCrea-Matthew. Mullen-John. Neal- Henry J., Mrs. Esther. Newman-Lewis. Pratt-John K., Mrs. Ilannah, Vic- toria. Parish-Peter, Mrs. Harriet, George, Olive. Proper-Carlos. Ream- Robt. A. Rose-Aaron J., Mrs. Catharine, Irene, Jacob, Charles, William. Raymond-Ebenezer, Mrs. Sarah, Charles. Reinhart-Nanette. Sly-Chester M., Mrs. Loriza, Ella. Sargent-Gilbert. Scott- Wm. M., Mrs. Melvina, Mary, Sortor-Albert. Siliman-Wayne B. South-Eveline, Elias, Peter, John, Mar- garet, Frank, Christopher. South-William G, Mrs. Mary, Ambrosia, Alfer- etta. Laurie. Sailor-Moses, Amanda, Roxana, Daniel, William, Manuel. Sailor-Jacob M., Mrs. Sarah, Hattie. Sailor-Martin, Mrs. Louisa, Martha. Sailor-Jacob, Mrs. Susanna, George, Mary, Letitia. Sailor-Able. Shirk- David E. Sellen-Hlenry, Mrs. Sarah. Smith-George, Mrs. Adelaide,
Gilbert. Shidler-Josephus, Mrs. Martha, Jane E. Schroeder - Servertz, Mrs. Mary, William, Hubert, Peter. Stanley-George. Schneider-Marcus A. Schneider-John. Woesner-Andrew, Mrs. Wilhelmena. Wade-Samuel, Mrs. Margaret, John, George, Rosalie. Wakefield-Jas. B. Wilmert-John, Mrs. Amelia, Mary, Henry. Willmert-August, Mrs. Louisa, Amelia, John, Freder- iek. Webster-Charlotte. Williams-William, Mrs. Louisa. Way-Wm. A., Mrs. Harriet, Melona, Emma, Clarence. West-David, Mrs. Elizabeth, Mary, Francis. Young-Enoch C., Mrs. Mary, Andrew. York-James.
But there were quite a number of persons who resided, for longer or shorter periods, in the township, who had left prior to the taking of this census, or were absent temporarlly at the time, and who must not be forgotten. Among such we find the names of the following persons: Perry Lamphere, Joo. M
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Love, Ed. Woods, Simon Dow, W. W. Knapp, J. A. J. Bird, Orville Kimball, Isaac E. Grout, Lewis P. Grout, Joe Durgin, Cornelius Garretson, Samuel V. Hibler, Dan Sherwood, A. Shaw, Jonas Tennesen, Geo. Merriam, J. D. Sparks.
The following table, made up from the census reports of that year, exhibits the aggregate numbers of stock, value of farms, etc., in the township at that date. It is interesting, as a matter for com- parison with later years.
Acres of improved land, 773; value of farms, $31,100; value of farm imple- ments and machinery, $2,270; number of horses, 46; number of milch cows, 59; number of working oxen, 58; number of other cattle, 67; number of sheep, 5; number of swine, 212: value of live stock, $9,012.
THE NAME.
The township was named Blue Earth City by the special com- missioners in 1858, in compliance with the request of citizens of the village of this name. Thus the name of the township is derived from the village, and the name of the village is derived from the river, and the name of the river is derived from the Indians, or pos- sibly from a German romance.
ORGANIZATION.
The town was organized for civil purposes on the twentieth day of October, 1858, on which day a town meeting was held and the first town officers were elected. Their names will be found in the table appended hereto. At this town meeting a curious resolution was adopted, which reads: "Resolved, that after the first day of Novem- ber, next, it shall be unlawful for hogs and swine to run at large." The vote cast at this meeting was fifty-eight. The first meeting of the town board was held on the thirtieth day of October. The town of Emerald had been attached to Blue Earth City township, for town purposes, and was included in this organization of the town. Emerald remained attached to Blue Earth City township until March 19th. 1866, when it was detached by the county commission- ers.
The following named citizens were elected the first town officers: Super- visors, James B. Wakefield, chairman, A. Johnson and W. A. Way: town clerk, A. Bonwell; assessor, O. N. Gardner; treasurer, R. English; justices of the peace, G. S. Converse, W. A. Melvin: constables, R. English and J. Johnson.
The officers for the year 1879, the last year of this historical sketch, were as follows: Supervisors, Geo. B. Kingsley, chairman, Geo. Strong and A. Kobs; town clerk, C. A. Pinkham: assessor, W. M. Scott: treasurer, A. Anderson; justices of the peace, Geo. B. Kingsley and S. W. Graham; constables, G. D. Moore and J. H. Mead.
RELIGIOUS AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized, in this township, at Blue Earth City, in December, 1857, Rev. J. W. Powell, pastor, and was the first denominational organization in the town.
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HISTORY OF
This society, in November, 1872, erected a neat chapel at Blue Earth City. Some years later (1887) a large and handsome church edifice was erected by this denomination.
The Presbyterian Church was organized at Blue Earth City, on the seventh day of March, 1859, Rev. J. E. Conrad, pastor. This denomination has a commodious church building, erected in Novem- ber. 1866, at a cost of about $1,000. It was greatly repaired and im- proved in 1880.
A lodge of Good Templars was instituted, in the village, in September. 1860, but soon ceased to exist. The Order has been re- organized here many times since the first lodge was instituted.
A congregation of the Roman Catholic Church was partially organized, at Blue Earth City, prior to 1863, but it was on the second day of March, of that year, that the first meeting was called to con- sider the question of erecting a church edifice. A number of meet- ing were subsequently held for the purpose of collecting money and and making the necessary arrangements, until, finally. in July, 1866. the building was erected. This structure was but a small one, being only eighteen by twenty five feet, but the size was subsequently in- creased, by an addition in the rear, of thirty feet. This was the first church building in the village. Some years afterwards, a par- sonage was also erected, near the church, but was subsequently sold and removed. These buildings served the purposes of the parish until 1880, when, under the pastorate of Rev. Father Theodore Venn, who took charge of the parish in 1873, a large, brick church building was erected, forty four by one hundred feet, and of excel- lent style and workmanship.
Father Venn had already won the honorable title of "The Church Builder," owing to the great number of church editices he had caused to be erected before coming here, and this building, one of the finest church structures in this portion of the State, but added to his well earned fame.
The dedication of the new church occurred on Sunday, May 21st, 1882. The non-resident clergy, who took part in the cere- monies, were: Rt. Rev John Ireland, bishop of St. Paul; Rev. A. Ravoux, Vicar.General; Rev. P. Hanley, of Chatfield, Minn .; Rev. P. Schnitzler, of Mankato, Minn.
A large concourse of people were in attendance, some coming from St. Paul, many from Mankato and other towns along the lines of the railroads, and from the surrounding country. The ceremonies of dedication were highly appropriate, solemn and impressive.
Emmanuel church of the German Evangelical Association, was organized in December, 1864, Rev. Joseph Rahseopp, pastor, and in August and September, 1865, the society erected a large frame church edifice on section thirteen. The society has since built a
CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
parsonage near the church. This was the first church erected in the county. This congregation had, however, an informal organiza- tion prior to the above date. The church structure, above referred to, has since been succeeded by one of the largest and most costly church buildings in the county.
Blue Earth City Lodge, No. Fifty-seven(57), Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, U. D., was organized at Blue Earth City, Juue 19th, 1866, T. H. White, W. M.
The Protestant Episcopal church established a mission at Blue Earth City in January, 1871, and erected a church building in No- vember, following. A rectory was also built near the church, all under the superintendence of Rev. S. S. Burleson, pastor.
On March 15th, 1873, a Grange of the Order of Patrons of Hus- bandry was instituted at Blue Earth City, L. W. Brown, master; T. V. Braithwait, secretary; F. W. Temple, treasurer. This Grange became a large and flourishing one, and continued to exist longer than other granges established in this part of the State.
A lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen was instituted at Blue Earth City, November 8th, 1877, N. L. Heffron, master work- man; C. H. Slocum, recorder; Samuel Schuler, receiver.
Salem Congregation, of the German Evangelical Association, was organized at Blue Earth City prior to the closing year of this history. This congregation erected a church building in 1881, which was sold in 1895, and in that year the society built a new church edi- fice, large, and elegantly finished and furnished.
Many minor societies and associations, literary, educational and social, and such as are found in all enlightened communities, have been established here from time to time, but which, being mainly of an ephemeral character, need not be named here.
THE FIRST BANK.
The first banking institution established at Blue Earth City was a private bank, founded in 1866, by Messrs. H. D. Baldwin and S. P. Child, under the firm name of Baldwin & Child.
A "Board of Trade and Public Improvements, " was organized at Blue Earth City, in January, 1875, C. H. Dearborn, president; R. C. Tremain, secretary; S. Teskey, treasurer. The board embraced in its membership, most of the active business men of the village, and for several years it served a good purpose in promoting the interests of the locality.
THE GOSPEL.
There are two persons who should be named in any history of Blue Earth City, because they were the pioneers of the ministry in this county, and long identified with the county, and especially with Blue Earth City, in church and all reformatory societies. They
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HISTORY OF
were the Rev. James W. Powell and Rev. J. E. Conrad, of whom brief biographical sketches are here presented. Mr. Powell was born in Dearborn county, Indiana. on the fifteenth day of August, 1822. His opportunities for getting an education were limited to the com- mon winter schools of the locality, until he had reached the age of eighteen years, when he attended Shelby County Seminary for a short time. He returned to this school when he was twenty-two years old, and remained some months. He took his theological course, of four years, while he was in the active ministry, and has always been a student. He was raised a farmer by occupation. He, in 1845, entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, joining the Indiana Conference, and continued in the work during his life. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Rhoda B. Gray. They have had eleven children, five of whom are now (1887) dead. He came, with his family, in 1855, to Mankato, and was the first regu- lar pastor of the church at that city. In his service in the ministry, he first preached in this county in the winter of 1856-7, being then located at Shelbyville, in Blue Earth county. In the spring of 1857, Blue Earth City was added to his work. The Blue Earth City Class was not organized until the winter of 1857-8. In 1859 he moved his family to Blue Earth City, where he remained until he became a resident of Verona, where he was living in June, 1860, but he still had charge of the Blue Earth City mission until the fall of that year. He was engaged in various charges in the State until 1871, when he returned to Blue Earth City and remained two years. In 1872 he built the chapel at that place. and in the fall of 1873 he left Blue Earth City and served on various charges for some twelve years, when, in 1885, he again returned to Blue Earth City, and, in 1887, erected the Methodist Episcopal Church at that place, one of the largest and finest church buildings in the county. He then left Blue Earth City and has since been serving in various localities in the State. Mr. Powell's early affiliations were with the whig party, afterwards with the republican, and of late years. he has been an active prohibitionist.
REV. J. E. CONRAD.
The Rev. J. E. Conrad was a native of the state of North Carolina, where he was born in 1814. The family removed to Missouri in 1821, and engaged in farming. Mr. Conrad resided on the farm until 1836. Up to this time he had received some eighteen month's schooling in the common schools of that section of the country.
In November, 1836, being then twenty-two years old, he entered Dr. Nelson's Mission Institute, near Quincy, Ill., where he remained a number of years and graduated. Ile then took a year of theological study. Ile was licensed to preach by Schuyler Presbytery, in April, 1845. In September, of that year, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Lane Seminary for one year.
In 1846 he was married to Miss Therina Brockway, and they removed, in November, of that year, to Warsaw. Ind. He was ordained by the Presbytery,
REV. J. W. POWELL.
7
REV. J. E. CONRAD.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
of Logansport, Ind., in April, 1847. He remained in Warsaw, and vicinity, preaching nearly ten years. During this time his wife and two children died.
In August, 1854, he was married to Miss Margaret Slagle. They came to Minnesota in November, 1856, and located at Sterling, in Blue Earth county, and commenced farming. But Mr. Conrad continued to preach at various places. Hesoon after commenced the work of the ministry in this county. He organized the Presbyterian Church, at Winnebago City, Blue Earth City and Minnesota Lake, and preached to them from two to ten years cach, and preached, also, to the congregation at Wells, in this county, five years. He resided at Blue Earth City in the winters of 1863-4 and 1871-2, and at Wells in the winters of 1874-5, but, aside from the above short absences, he resided on his farm at Sterling, in Blue Earth county, for thirty-one years, to 1887.
He also organized the church at Mapleton and Amboy, in Blue Earth county, at which latter place he ministered during eighteen years, one-half the time, while the other half was devoted to other localities. His wife died in November, 1882. At this date (1887) six children are living, three boys and three girls. Two of his sons are now ministers in the Presbyterian church.
Politically Mr. Conrad was brought up a Jackson democrat, but in 1840 he went over to the anti-slavery party, but afterwards hecame a republican, and so remained until 1889, when he became a prohibitionist. He never held any political office.
The above sketch may now he supplemented by the statement, that Father Conrad (since 1890) passed his declining years with one of his sons, who is the pastor of the church at Blue Earth City. Though too old to have the care of a parish, he still preached, quite frequently, up to near the time of his death, which occurred May 6th, 1896.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school, kept in this township, was a subscription and contribution school, taught in the winter of 1857-8, by W. W. Knapp, Esq .. at Blue Earth City. There were but few children at the time, to send to school, and in order to have the school, it was necessary that quite a number of the citizens, who had no children to send to the school, should contribute, somewhat, for its support.
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