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 70
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On the twenty-fourth day of June, 1861, George A. Weir, of Winnebago City, was appointed to the office by the county board and assumed its duties.
George Patten, of Verona, elected in 1861, was our next sur- veyor, but enlisting in the military service of the United States, the office again became vacant. Mr. Patten did not return to this county again as a resident.
W. W. Seely, of Verona, elected to the office in 1862, succeeded Mr. Patten. The office again became vacant. Mr. Seely removed from the county. Our next county surveyor was John A. Dean, of Jo Daviess, appointed by the county board September 1st, 1863.
The survey, subdivision and platting of the timbered sections of the school lands in the county was performed by Mr. Dean. This was a large work, and some of it difficult and laborious.
The work was done in the fall of 1863, and the plats filed with the commissioner of the state land office, and also in the office of the register of deeds of the county.
Mr. Dean is a native of New York state, born June 19th, 1825, in the county of Jefferson. His father, Samuel Dean, was born in England, and came to America and settled in Jefferson county, N. Y., when that country was yet quite new. He was a farmer by occupation.
John, the subject of this brief sketch, acquired his education mainly in the common schools of the country. He had also some instruction by private tutors. He spent his youth until he arrived at the age of twenty one years, on the farm of his father. He commenced teaching school at twenty and taught occasionally during a period of twenty-eight years. Having qualified himself for the profession of civil engineer, he was engaged in the employment of the state of New York, as first assistant engineer in the construction of the Black River canal, from Rome to the Black river, when about twenty-three years old. This canal was an important work to the people of the state. The work, from its character, required much engineering skill and hard labor, and was satis- factorily performed.
About the year 1851, Mr. Dean emigrated to the state of Wisconsin, and settled in Dodge county, where he engaged in school teaching, practicing law and surveying.
He returned to New York and was married to Miss C. M. Yendes, in May, 1853. They have had two children, one of whom is now dead.
The same year, Mr. Dean returned to Wisconsin and located at Markesan, Green Lake county. Here 'he engaged in the practice of law, surveying occasion- ally, teaching school, and sometimes working at the carpenter trade.
In August, 1860, Mr. Dean and family came to this county. Here he took up a quarter section of land in the town of Jo Daviess, which he settled upon and continued to reside, engaged in farming and the nursery business, until his removal to Blue Earth City.
The nursery of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubbery planted by him. was the first nursery in the county, and was attended by him with much care for many vears.
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HISTORY OF
Mr. Dean entered the millitary service of the United States, In November, 1861. as a private, going immediately south, to Nashville, Tennessee, where he Joined Co. B, 5th Minnesota Vet. Vol. Inft. He was in the battles of Nash- ville in December, 1864, and was also at the seige of Mobile, Alabama, In April, 1865, and continued with his regiment until discharged in September, 1865, when he came home He removed to Blue Earth City about the year 1875, where he has since resided, but still continues to look after his farming interests and nursery business. Mr. Dean is an Independent republican in politics, but has never taken a very active part in political matters, except to keep well posted on the issues of the times. He has been much afflicted during a great part of his life with asthma and his affliction has greatly influenced the course of his active life. He has, from early youth, been much of a student, his tastes inclining him much to mathematical and kindred studies. Mr. Dean has frequently held school and town offices, and was at one time a member of the board of county commissioners of this county .
Daniel Birdsall, of Prescott, elected in November, 1863, next performed the duties of the office. Mr. Birdsall was elected in 1865 for a second term. During the year following, he removed from the county, and the office became vacant. He was succeeded by John R. Sisson, of Seely, who was elected in 1866, and was re-elected in 1868.
Mr. Sisson is a native of Massachusetts, born in Wilbraham, May 22d, 1815. Ile received a common school education and studied surveying. In 1822 he re- moved with his parents to the Western Reserve, Ohio. In 1839 he was employed by the general government and went to Arkansas, and engaged in the survey of the public lands. In 1841 he removed to Louisa county, Iowa, and was married February Ist. 1813, to Miss Lucy G. Clark. Nine children were the fruit of the marriage. His wife died September 30th, 1881. In 1859 he removed to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, from thence to this county in 1863. As to occupation, Mr. Sesson has been engaged in farming, carpentering, and as above stated, in surveying, and latterly, somewhat in merchandising. Mr. Sisson has been a supervisor in his town and a justice of the peace, and was county commissioner in the years 1866, 1867 and 1877, 1878 and 1879. He wasagain married February 6th, 1882, to Miss Mary B. Pelton. He has for some years resided near Alton. Brush Creek township, in this county. His political alllliations are with the republican party, and he is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Sisson died at Wells, January 7th, 1896, to which village he had removed about a year pre- vious to his death.
And now George A. Weir re-appears as county surveyor, having been elected in 1870, and held the office during the term. He was subsequently elected to the office in the years 1874, 1882 and 1884. He has also been deputy surveyor three terms, during the adminis- tration of other county surveyors.
GEORGE A. WEIR.
Mr. Weir was born in 1833, in Robertson county, Tenn. His education was acquired mainly in the common schools. He also attended a select school, where he learned the profession of surveyor and civil engineer. He came to Minnesota with his brothers Joseph and Daniel, in 1857, and settled near Winnebago City, where he has since resided. He was never marrled. Hls prin- cipal business through life has been that of farming.
667
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
In 1858 he brought a lot of apple trees to this county, from Blooming nur- sery, Ill., and set them out on his lands. They were probably the first fruit ยท trees in the county of the kind.
In 1866 he assisted as one of the engineering corps, in making the prelimin- ary survey of the line of the Southern Minnesota Railroad, from the western boundary of the state to Rushford, Fillmore county, Minn. The line was run for the purpose of locating the lands granted to the company. Mr. Weir is a democrat in politics, but of late years has taken no active part in political affairs.
Edward S. Leavitt, of Wells, was elected surveyor in the years 1872, 1876, 1878, 1880 and 1886, the intervening terms being filled by Mr. Weir, as will be seen above.
EDWARD S. LEAVITT.
Mr. Leavitt was born October 16th, 1815, at Gilford, N. H. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1843, and studied law with Hon. J. P. Robinson, of the state of Massachusetts, and was admitted to the bar, and practiced in that state until 1849, when he removed to California. In 1850 he emigrated to Ore- gon, where he was engaged in making surveys of lands donated to settlers. The next year (1851) he was elected judge of Clackamas county, and, in 1853, returned to the east, and located in Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of the law.
He was married in April, 1855, to Miss Mary J., daughter of the Rev. James Fernald, of Saco, Maine. They have had one child, a daughter, who died in Angust, 1883. Mrs. Leavitt died in April, 1887. Mr. Leavitt came to Minne- sota in October, 1856, and was county surveyor of Winona county eight years. He settled in this county in October, 1870, and has here been county surveyor as above stated. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a republican in politics.
SECTION TWELVE.
THE SHERIFFS AND THEIR OFFICE.
The sheriff is the chief police officer of the county, and is an officer with whom most of us care but little to have any official busi - ness. His duties are to keep and preserve the peace in his county, for which purpose he is empowered to call to his aid such persons or power of his county, as he may deem necessary. He shall also pursue and apprehend all felons, execute all writs, warrants and other process from a justice of the peace, district court, or other com- petent tribunal. The sheriff is also the jailor, and in this capacity has charge of the county jail and its inmates. The duties of this branch of his office are usually performed by an individual known in the common law as the "turnkey."
The sheriff's office is one of much responsibility. Its duties are often not only very unpleasant, but quite often intricate and per- plexing, and the sheriff frequently needs the best legal advice and direction. His official transactions often involve large pecuniary liabilities, and while many other officials may neglect, or err to
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HISTORY OF
some extent, in the performance of their duties with impunity, the sheriff is by law and practice invariably held to a strict accounta- bility. There are no excuses for him, and the duties of his office are the most thankless known to the law.
The sheriff is required to take an oath of office, and give an official bond for the faithful performance of his duties. He may appoint such deputies as he decms necessary to assist him in his business. He is paid by fees which are prescribed by law. His term of office is two years.
Henry P. Constans was the first sheriff of this county, and was appointed at the organization of the county, by Gov. W. A. Gorman, his commission bearing date, February 25th, 1856. He was subsequently appointed by the board of county commission- ers, April 6th, 1857.
Mr. Constans was born in France, on the twenty-ninth day of April, 1834. Ilis father held the office of forester in the department where he resided. He is now dead. Henry received his education in the common schools of the neigh- borhood. He had also the benefit of instruction, for some time, by private tutors.
When only seventeen years old, he came to America, and landed in New Orleans in the year 1851. From New Orleans, he went to Quincey, Illinois, in- tending here to learn the harness makers' trade, and did work at the trade some two months, when the cholera breaking out in the place, he migrated, in June, 1851, to St. Paul, in this State. Here he remained until 1854, when, in company with Jas. B. Waketleld, he went to Shakopee, in Scott county, in this State, and concluded to locate there. Here he opened a store, being the second store in the village.
By reference to the history of the year 1856, it will be seen that Mr. Con- stans was one of the company who projected the laying out of Blue Earth City, and came to the county in 1856, and was one of the original town site proprie- tors. Here Mr. Constans engaged in the hotel business, being the first hotel- keeper in the county, and he has continued in this business until the present time. He was married in the fall of 1856, to Miss Barbara Hebieson, of Scott county. They have had five children, one of whom is now dead. Besides be- ing the first sheriff of the county, as above stated, Mr. Constans has for several terms been a member of the board of education of Blue Earth City, and a men- ber of the first village council of that place, and a member subsequently of that board. He was a candidate for the State senate some years ago. Mr. Constans' religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. In politics he has always been a democrat, but never so much of a partisan as to lose his liberty of vot- ing for those whom he deemed the best men for official position, of whatever party they might be. Mr. Constans is a Mason, and a member of Blue Earth City Lodge, No. 57, of which he was a charter member. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and member of Mt. Horeb Chapter, No. 21.
Thomas R. Foley, of Winnebago City, elected sheriff Oct. 13th, 1857, succeeded Mr. Constans. Mr. Foley's deputies were Geo. H. Goodnow and Alonzo Beebe. The first tax levied in this county, 1858, was mainly collected under Mr. Foley's administration, the sheriff being then, er officio, the collector. This was the only tax in this county collected by the sheriff, as the duties of tax collector
B. P. CONSTANS.
MRS. H. P. CONSTANS.
669
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
were transferred to the county treasurer. Mr. Foley removed from the county before his term of office expired, and at the session of the county board held January 4th. 1859, the office of sheriff was de- clared vacant and George H. Goodnow, of Winnebago City, was appointed and qualified the next day. He appointed Alonze Beebe his deputy. At the general election held October 11th, 1859, Mr. Goodnow was elected to the office for a full term, which he served. He appointed Geo. S. Convers, of Blue Earth City his deputy.
Mr. Goodnow came to this county in 1857, it is believed, and located at Win- nebago City. He was a machinist by occupation. He purchased the saw mill at that place, to which he subsequently added a grist mill. being the first grist mill in the county. He held various local offices, and was chairman of the board of town supervisors, and chairman of the board of connty supervisors in 1859 and 1860 and was sheriff as above stated. He took an active interest in the public affairs of the county, and the enterprises of this locality, for many years. He subsequently removed to Montana, where he has since died.
Our next sheriff was Philander C. Seely, of Seely township. He was elected October 8th, 1861. and entered upon his duties Jan- nary, 1862. He appointed Willard Seely his deputy.
W. J. C. Robertson, of Verona, elected in November, 1863, suc- ceeded Mr. Seely. He held the office one term. He appointed P. H. Allen as his deputy.
Biographical notices of Messrs. Seely and Robertson will be found elsewhere in this history.
Following Mr. Robertson came Charles E. Chaple, of Winne. bago City, who was elected November, 1865, and appointed as his deputies, Charles A. Rose, of Blue Earth City, and Silas Richard- son, of Winnebago City. He was not a candidate for re-election.
Mr. Chaple was a native of Wisconsin, born in Rock county, August 6th, 1843. He went with his family from there to Boon county, Illinois, and from thence to Fayette county, Iowa, and from thence to this county in 1856. Ilis father settled on lands north of Winnebago City and engaged in farming. Charles' opportunities of education were such as were to be found in the frontier log school houses. He engaged in farming, which was his only occupation un- til he enlisted in the military service of the United States in February, 1862.
He was at Fort Ridgley at the time of the Sioux outbreak in the fall of that year. He then became a member of the 15th Minnesota, and served in the south, and remained with the regiment until the summer of 1864, when he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, and returned home on veteran furlough. He returned in August, 1864, to the front, and was at the seige of Spanish Fort, April 2d, 1865, and was badly wounded, losing an arm. He was discharged from the army, June 14th. 1865.
Ile was married to Miss S. M. Vaunice, of this county, August 6th, 1864. They had nine children, of whom four are now dead.
His wife died in June, 1886. He was again married January, 1887, to Miss Isabel S. Young, of Connecticut.
In 1871, he was elected sergeant at arms of the senate. He was appointed janitor of thestate capitol in the spring of 1872. He removed to St. Paul and held the office of janitor until January, 1885, when he resigned to take the po- sition of deputy sheriff of Ramsey county, which he held until January 1, 1887,
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HISTORY OF
when he received the appointment of military store-keeper for the State, at St. Paul, and Is at this writing engaged at that business. He has always been a republican, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Chaple was sub- sequently elected sheriff of Ramsey county.
Freeland F. Harlow, of Winnebago City, elected in November, 1867, next assumed the duties of the office. His deputy at Blue Earth City was P. C. Seely, former sheriff, who transacted most of the business in the south half of the county.
Mr. Harlow is a native of Maine, born in Oxford county, in October, 1836. His father was a brick maker. Freeland passed most of his youth in Lewis- ton, Maine. lle learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. When about four- tren years old, he located at Erington, Mass,, where he remained some four years. He acquired his education in the district schools. About 1854 he re- turned to Maine. In 1856 he came west, and stopped at Ripon, Wisconsin, dur- ing the winter and spring. He left Ripon in May, 1857, and on the twenty- fourth of that month arrived in this county (Faribault). Here he worked at farm work until the winter of 1860 and 1861, when he returned again to his native state.
In 1862 he enlisted in the military service, and became a member of Com- pany C, 23d Maine Vol. Inf., and served nine months in the Army of the Po- tomac, in defense of Washington, D. C. Ile was discharged in 1863, and returned to Minnesota. Soon after his return he concluded to go into the sheep raising and wool growing business, and purchased a large number of sheep. The venture proved a failure, as almost all his sheep died, and he lost all h s investment, which was his all. He next engaged in clerking for G. K. Moulton, a dealer in general merchandise at Winnebago City, where he re- mained some three years, and then engaged, as clerk, in the United States Land Office, located at Winnebago City, for several years, and afterwards opened a general land, loan and insurance office on his own account, at Winne- bago City.
He was married to Miss Jennie Cottrell, June 15th, 1869. They have two children. He subsequently engaged in the hotel business at Winnebago City, and also at Fairmont in Martin county, this state, and at Wells, in this county, and this for many years has been his principal business. In 1868 he took a trip to the Black Hills, of Dakota, where he remained some six months, engaged in mining and trading. Mr. Harlow has always been a republican. Mrs. Harlow and children are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Harlow and family have resided, for some years, at Fairmont, Martin county, Minn.
Minnesota Lake township furnished the next sheriff. Benning WV. Barber, who was elected November 2'd, 1869. He appointed S. P. Child, of Blue Earth City, his counsel and deputy. B. W. Bar- ber was a son of Chauncey Barber, one of the earliest settlers of the county, and, at the time of his election, engaged in the mercantile business with Smith T. Barnes, at Minnesota Lake. After retiring from the sheriff's office he engaged at that place in merchandising on his own account. In the fall of 1874 he sold out aud removed to the territory of Utah.
JOHN B. CHAPEL.
CHAS. E. CHAPEL.
671
FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
HON. S. P. CHILD.
Simeon P. Child was born November 16th, 1835, in Medina county, Ohio. His father was by occupation a farmer, carpenter and millwright.
When Simeon was about three years old his father removed, with his fam- ily, to St. Lawrence county, New York, where they remained until about the year 1843, when they returned to Ohio and located in Lake county. In the fall of 1845 they removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin. Simeon and his brother, James E. Child, came to Minnesota in 1854, and located in Waseca county, in January, 1855. Waseca was then a part of Blue Earth county.
In February, 1855, Simeon started to visit Ft. Ridgly alone, but when he had got as far on his way as about fifteen miles west of St. Peter, he found the snow so deep that he could not proceed, and started to return, and was caught in a fierce snow storm, and his lower limbs and feet were quite badly frozen; but he worried through and at last got home. His brother went to get a phy- siean, but owing to the deep snows and intense cold, he was gone seven days. During this time Mr. Child suffered intensely, and was entirely alone. As a result of the freezing, his toes had to be amputated.
In the spring of 1856, he was employed on the Winnebago Indian reserva- tion, in Blue Earth county. Here he had charge of a large number of breaking teams. He remained on the reservation until the fall of 1857, when he re- turned to Wisconsin, and there spent the winter.
In the spring of 1858, he returned to Waseca county, and was married to Miss Clarrissa Armenia Northrup, on the eighth day of August, and com- menced farming for a living. In the fall he went to merchandising at Wilton, in Waseca county, but returned again to the farm, where he remained until the breaking out of the Indian massacre in 1862, when he enlisted, in the military service. He served here until in the following winter, when he went into the quartermasters department and went South with the federal army. He was placed in charge of the Little Rock and Memphis railroad, running the road and keeping it in repair.
In the spring of 1864, he returned home, his health having failed, and was ill for two years, and not engaged in any business.
In 1866, he removed to Blue Earth City, where, under the firm name of Baldwin & Child, he engaged for a number of years in banking, real estate and collections, and also opened a brick yard. He was a member of the House from this county, in 1872 and in 1873, and State senator in 1874 and 1875.
In the fall of 1875 he was appointed assistant postmaster to the United States senate, and acted in that capacity until June, 1878. In the meantime, however, he was again a member of the House from this county, in the session of 1877.
In 1878 he was appointed United States post-office inspector, an office which he held until the year 1893, and in the performance of the duties of which office, he visited Kansas, Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Da- kota, Oregon, Montana, and in fact all the states and territories west of the Missouri river, and many of the southern states and old Mexico, his special work being the collection of evidence in the famous star route cases.
Mr. Child has always been a republican in politics. After retiring from the office of inspector, he was engaged as the general agent of the American Surety Company of New York, and opened an office in St. Paul, to which city he removed his family in 1893, but still retained his property interests in this county, which he still deems his home.
A. B. Davis, of Winnebago City, succeeded Mr. Barber. He was elected in November, 1871, and was re-elected in the years 1873 and
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HISTORY OF
1875, serving six years. His deputies at various times were Q. J. Adams, J. W. Rosenburg, Allen Cummings and M. B. Pratt.
Mr. Davis was born at Shiloh, New York, December 15th, 1836, and re- ceived his education In the district schools. He was engaged for a number of years as a stage driver and mail contractor. He came to Minnesota and lo- cated at Albert Lea, in 1857. He was married in December, 1864, to Miss M. Adams, of Albert Lea. They have one child, a son. During the war he was captain of Company E, Brackett's Batallion (cavalry), was ordered to Missourl. He came to Faribault county in 1968; was sherlif here as above stated. Mr. Davis is a democrat in political sentiment. He was appointed postmaster at Winnebago City by President Cleveland.
M. B. Pratt, of Blue Earth City, elected in November, 1877, next became the sheriff, holding the office one term. He appointed, as deputies, H. A. Chase, of Winnebago City, and Q. J. Adams, of Wells.
Mr. Pratt came to this county in 1869, and was one of the members of the mercantile firm of Whallon, Case & Co, at Blue Earth City. He removed to Owatonna, Minnesota, in 1880, where he engaged in the business of dealing in grain.
Mr. Pratt's successor was Allen Cummings, of Blue Earth City, elected in November, 1879. Mr. Cummings was re-elected in the years 1881, 1883, and 1886.
Allen Cummings was born April 21st, 1840, in Herkimer county, New York. He received instruction in the common schools of the neighborhood, but his opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, in his youth. Allen commenced to work for wages when quite young. After a number of removals, Allen's father finally located in Jefferson county, New York, where he has re- sided the greater portion of his life.
On the twenty-ninth of April, 1861, Allen enlisted in Company G, 35th New York Volunteer Infantry, for two years, and went south. Ile was in the bat- tles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and many skirmishes. He was discharged, by expiration of term of service, June 5th, 1863, when he returned home, and went to work on a farm during the summer of 1863. On January 1st, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company M, 14th Regiment New York Heavy Artillery, for three years, or during the war. He served in New York harbor, until April, 1864, when the regiment was ordered to the front, and joined Grant's Army at Rapidan, and participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and first battles around Petersburg, Virginia. On July 30th, 1864, at the explosion of the mine, he was taken prisoner, and carried to Danville, Virginia, with many hundreds of others, where he remained until about February 15th, 1865, when the prisoners were sent to Richmond, Virginia, and contined in Libby prison, and, on the 21st of February, 1865, they were paroled. From thence he went to Annapolis, Maryland, and was permitted to go home, on furlough of thirty days. But, owing to ill health, the furlough was extended thirty days, during which time the war closed. He, however, returned to his regiment, at Wash- Ington, D. C. and did duty with the regiment until August 25th. The regi- ment was finally discharged and paid, at Rochester, New York, September 6th, 1865. On November 15th, 1865, Mr. Cummings was married to Miss Zenette Vandervoort. Hle engaged in farming, in Jefferson county, New York, until March, 1868, when he emigrated to the west, and arrived at Blue Earth City, April 18th, 1568, and has since resided at that place. In April, 1872, he was
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