Blue Earth County, Minnesota - Chapter 20: Histoey of Minnesota Valleyevents of 1884-6 - Building of the Couet House, 1901

Chapter 20: Histoey of Minnesota Valleyevents of 1884-6 - Building of the Couet House

With the year 1882 we note the advent of the of Amboy and Lake Crystal were put among first creameries into the county, an industry money order offices, October 11, 1882, occurred which in the near future was to convert our county from wheat raising to stock raising and butter making. C. G. Spaulding at Mapleton, J. H. Long and W. T. Mills at Mankato, H. C. Howard, and Marston Larson and Davis of Lake Crystal and S. H. Grannis were among the pioneers of this new enterprise in our county.

the first issue of "The Lake Ci7stal Union'- by Geo. W. Neff, who has edited and published the paper ever since. Mr. Neff had formerly published {he "Mankato Union" and was an experienced newspaper man.

In June, 1882, "The History of the Minnesota Hunt, a young man of good abiUty and great Valley" was published. The book contains a energy. Without much personal magnetism or fairly good history of our county among a popularity and with but little capital at the number of others. On July 23, 1882, the 25th start, Mr. Hunt has managed by push, enteranniversary of the organization of the Sterling prise and good judgment to build up one of the Congregational chuch was observed. Eev. J. E. best publishing plants in the state and his paper Conrad being the principal speaker. was always newsy and readable and enjoyed as second election of officers March 13, 1883, S- W. Burgess became Captain, H. C. Acres 1st Lieutenant and D. F. McGraw 2nd Lieutenant. In the spring of 1882 Corliss and Brown summer resort at Madison Lake, and had done much, to create an interest in this charming spot, hidden in the depth of the forest. During this summer J. M. Barclay who owned a tract of land known as Point Pleasant on a fine promonstarted a bank at the village of Mapleton. On tory of the lake, built thereon a two story frame

July 21, 1882, a new postoffice was started call- liotel, which soon became very popular as a sumed "Beauford," with L. F. Finley, who kept mer retreat.

On October 27, 1882, Wm. C. Durkee, who had served the county since 1869 as Clerk of its District Court, died, and Wm. B. Torrey wag appointed to fill the vacancy.

On February 14, 15, and 16, 1883, "The Korthwestern Dairymen's Convention" was held at Mankato and gave much inspiration to the new dairy interests of our county. One feature of the decorations of the occasion was an ice palace surmounted by an effigy of a calf, erected in the street in front of the City Hall, where the meetings were held. Soon after this meeting the Lake Crystal creamery was sold to Lawrence Straight and Co., and a little later 1hov, also, bought the Mankato cretin March, 1883 Joseph Bookwalter, of Vernon Center was appointed collecter of customs at St. Vincent.

For a number of years John E. Beatty of Mankato had made a special study of the limestone ledges in and about Mankato, and, after numerous experiments, had discovered along the banks of the Blue Earth in West Mankato a quantity of good cement rock. In 1882 he interested J. S. Parsons of Hartford Conn., and U.. Cummings of Buffalo, IST. Y. in the find; and on April 24, 1883, they purchased a tract of several acres, containing the cement ledge, of Stephen Lamm, Noah Armstrong and Daniel Buck. Extensive and very substantial buildings were constructed during the summer and the plant began operations in the fall. For a number of years large quantities of cement v/ere manufactured by the "Mankato Standard Cement Company."

Another industry, which was started this same spring of 1883, adjacent to the cement works, was the manufacture of drain tile and firebrick by S. F. Alberger. The clay for the purpose was mostly obtained from the Le Sueur, and was of excellent quality. This work prospered for a time, but the want of capital, the discrimination in railway rates, and a better offer at the Twin Cities, finally induced Mr. Alberger in three or four years to abandon his plant.

About July 11th, 1883, a telephone plant was installed at Mankato with sixty-three subscribers, mainly through the efforts of A. B. Smith. It was the first effort to give the people of our county the services of this modern convenience.

In the fall of 1883 Frank Lewis of Worthington purchased the machinery of the "White Star" flour mill from the heirs of Capt. Dickerson and moved same to Lake Crystal; where he formed a copartnership with Marston, Cry and Davis in its operation.

In September, 1883, Smith's mill was made a regular station on the ISTorthwestem railroad and a depot was erected. There was a mill and three general stores already located at this place.

In the summer of 1883, John D. Quane moved his paper, "The Public Spirit" from Lake Crystal to Mankato and changed it to a daily paper. It was the first attempt at publishing a daily in our county but for some reason or other it was not a success and its publication suspended in December.

February 12 to 15, 1885 the 'TSTorthwestem Dairymen's Association" met again at Mankato and the dairy interests of the county were given another big impetus. An important change was now taking place in our county along agricultural lines. The farmers were turning from wheat raising to stock raising and the production of butter ; and these big conventions helped materially in the transition. Public sentiment was molded by them and the people educated and enthused along these lines. Early in March, 1884, the merchants of Lake Crystal formed a "Dairy Board of Trade," which sent men out through the country regularly to gather the butter fresh from the churn and have it all worked over at Lake Crystal by experienced butter makers.

In April, 1884, a dairymen's convention was held at Mapleton which gave the farmers in that vicinity an opportunity to meet and discuss ways and means. About the same time, through the efforts of M. G. Willard, then secretary* of the Mankato Board of Trade, a "Dairy Produce and "Exchange" was organized at Mankatoj embracing a number of counties in South- western Minnesota, the main purpose of which was to arrange sale or market days for butter, so as to bring the producers into touch with the butter dealers of New York City and elsewhere. The first sale days were held at Mankato during this month of April, and a number of buyers and sellers were present.

The growth of the dairy interest called forth new enterprises. W. W. Woodward and Chas. M. Marsh formed a copartnership for the manufacture of butter tubs at Mankato and during the summer erected a large factory for the purpose. In June, 1884, the English speaking Catholics of Mankato and vicinity separated themsehes from the German Catholic Church and Father John Prior became their pastor.

In Vernon Center the fight between old Vernon and "Edgewood" was still raging, but the latter place was steadily gaining ground over its rival. In July, 1883, it obtained a postofEice with E. W. Washburn as postmaster, and in 1884 it won the new school house.

Amboy by this time was getting to be quite a village with several stores, hotels, and churches. In January, 1885, it even supported a newspaper called the "Amboy News."

At Mapleton, James Brown, the merchant and banlcer, had become, also, an editor, publishing a small monthly paper called the "Mapleton Enterprise" in connection with the store of Brown, Wishart & Orr as early as the first of August, 1884. This paper continued for a year and had a circulation of 800.

On January 13, 1885, Hon. Schyler Colfax, Ez-vice president of the United States, died suddenly at the depot of the St. Paul and Omaha railway in Mankato, while waiting between trains. At the New Orleans Mid Winter Exposition in January, 1885, an exhibit of the stone and some other products of our county was made, with James Shoemaker in charge.

The Cannon Valley Eailroad (now called the Chicago and Great Western) was then approaching Mankato from Eed Wing and Faribault and had reached Jamestown. A new townsite was started there on January 17, 1885, on the line of this railway called "Madison Lake," after the lake of that name on which it is situated. The proprietors were: Chas. F. Hatch as trustee, Luther Z. Sogers and Lewis Fitcher. At Mankato the German Lutheran parochial school which had heretofore been taught by the pastor, was put in charge of a regular teacher. Prof. H. I. F. Brockmeyer, in April, 1885.

During the summer a three story brick block was erected by Patterson, Halfhill and Zimmerman for their new wholesale grocery business. These men, who proved to be a valuable acquisition to the mercantile interests of the county, came from Van Wert, Ohio.

The coming into power of a Democratic administration at the National Capitol wrought many changes this year in the political circle by the Blue Earth. The U. S. Land office there at Tracy was put in charge of P. K. Wiser as receiver and George W. Warner as Eegister. About all the postmasters in the county, were, also, changed.

A big fourth of July celebration was held this year (1885) at Pleasant Mound, at which Seth Bottomley was orator. August 11, 1885, occurred the first issue of the "Mankato State Eegister," published by Carl Eastwood. About the same date the "Third District Messenger," a prohibition paper was started at Mankato by H. C. Hotaling. There were now six English and one German papers printed at the county seat. ' 1

During August and September, 1885, Farmers' State Institutes were conducted at Garden City and other points in the county by J. T. McCleary and Miss Sprague.

About September 1, 1885, James B. Swan sold his interest in the Eapidan Mill company to S. H. Baker of St. Peter for $7,700. September 8, 1885, occurred at Mankato the second annual fair of the "Southern Minnesota Live Stock and Fair association. September 30, 1885, the "Blue Earth Valley Fair Association" held its eighth exhibition on the farm of L. F, Mc- Kibbin. Senator M. C. Wilkinson, Gen. Geo. Becker and Gen. James H. Baker, the two latter being at the time on the State Eailway Commission delivered addresses to over 2500 people. Other events of 1885, wer^ a new brick school house at Amboy; a new post office established at Madison Lake in October, with Geo. W. Allyn as postmaster; the beginning of the erection of a big fiberware plant at Mankato by M. G. and John A. Willard, which was later transformed into a part of the present Knitting Mills; the dedication on October 18, 1885, at the town of Danville of the new German Lutheran church, and the formation over "lie county of many temperance clubs, such as: Good Templar lodges. Sons of Temperance, Prohibition clubs, Wide Awakes and W. C. T. U.

During the winter of 1885-6 tobogganing was the craze in Blue Earth County and all over the Northwest and on January 26, 1886, the St. Paul clubs visited the Mankato clubs.

The matter of changing the name of Winnebago Agency post office agitated its patrons for a few weeks during this winter. At a meeting held February 6, 1886 the name Hilton was chosen by a close vote, in honor of the proprietor of the main townsite, but at another meeting held about March 33, the name St. Clair- was adopted on the suggestion of Chas. O'Connor.

During this same month (March, 1886,) the Mankato band led by Prof. Jache assisted by Henry Wilcox was mustered in as a military band for the Second Regiment Minnesota militia.

On the 30th of the same month a number of the farmers of Shelby, Pleasant Mound, Yernon and Sterling combined to build a Grain ware house at Amhoy. Their corporate name was "The Amboy Farmers Co-operative Association" and one hundred shares of stock were issued at $15 each.

On the 27th of the same month the working men of Mankato affected their first organization, at the instigation of one C. A. Lincoln of Ohio.

Tn April. 1886, W. R. Geddes succeeded. Mr. Eastwood as half owner of the "State Eedster'-' and in March, 1887, Mr. Geddes purchased the other half interest of W. W. Woodward, and became the sole proprietor of this stronsr rival of the "Free Press" in the journalistic field.

In November, 1885. Wm. M. Farr and John C. Noe, two prominent business men of Mankato, applied and received a franchise for a street railroad in that city. Early in the spring they began the construction of the road along Front Street, and on June 22, 1886, a corporation was formed with a capital of $50,000 by W. M. Farr, John C. Noe, J. A. Willard, Stephen Lamm, Geo. P. Piper, Geo. H. Clark and J. E. Jones. The railway was completed and opened for travel on July 23, 1886, and 966 passengers were carried on the first day, 1033 on the second, and 1455 on the third day. Had this patronage continued this first venture in a street railway in our county might have been a paying enterprise. The cars were operated by horses. Extensions were made from the main line on Front street first to the C. St. P. M. & 0. Ry. depot, then up Center and Byron Street in the summer of 1887, and after two or three years the latter extension was taken up and used in an extension to Sibley Park and the Blue Earth River bridge. Mankato at that time proved too small a town for a street railway, and the patronage failed to pay the operating expense. So after giving the enterprise a full test and finding their deficit growing bigger each year, the company finally, in October, 1895, surrendered their franchise, pulled up their tracks and abandoned the project.

On June 18, 1886, a number of the pubhn schools of Sterling and Mapleton had a big picnic at Johnson's grove in Sterling. Fifteen schools were represented.

August 31, 1886, The Mankato National Bank, (now called the Mankato State Bank), was organized by Dr. Z. G. Harrington, D. Buck, John H. Ray, M. J. Severance, Geo. T. Bovnton, M. 0. Sundt and others.

September 1, 1886, the Alliance and Labor Unions of the County met at Good Thunder and put in nomination a Legislative and county ticket, but the leading candidates of the two old parties managed to steer the nominations mostly their way.

Crystal

of a number of Farmers institutes over the county; the burning of the Maple ton Eoller Mill on December 31; the building of the Odd Fellows block at Mankato; and the installing of waterworks at the same eity^ supplied by artesian wells.

At the election in November^ 1886, John Peter Kramer of Danville, the Democratic nominee, defeated Wm. Jones, the Eepublican candidate by one or two votes. On January 9, 1887, within five or six days after assuming office Mr. Kramer died, and the County Commissioners elected Mr. Jones to fill the vacancy by a vote of three to two.

During these years the matter of building a new court house was a very live issue in our county, which called forth a long and bitter fight. In this unfortunate contest the City of Mankato aided by two or three townships were ranged on the side favorable to the new court house, while the rest of the county was in opposition. We have spoken of some of our county buildings already in this history, but it may not be amiss to review the history of our county buildings as a preface to the history of our present court house.

The first move looking toward the erection of a court house was taken by the County Commissioners on July 10, 1856, when they proposed to build a two story stone edifice 30 by 40 feet. Nothing was done however, to carry this resolution into effect. At their next meeting on October 21, 1856, the board decided "because of the lateness of the season and the urgent needs of a jail and other reasons" (principally want of funds) not to build the court house, but to build a jail and sheriff's residence at once. Accordingly on November 1, 1856, a contract was let to Francis Bunker, then sheriff of the county, to construct a one story log jail 12 by 20 feet, the logs to be of hard wood and hewed eight iuches square, and in front of this jail and contiguous to it a one story frame dwelling for the sheriff 14 by 20 feet. The jail part was divided into two cells and the sheriff's residence had a living room, a bedroom, pantry, an attic above and a small hole in the ground for a cellar. The building was completed by January 1, 1857, at a cost of $900.00 and stood facing "Walnut Street about 100 feet west of the northeast corner of the court house block on the brow of the hill. In the smnmer of 1859, a small kitchen was added to the sherifl"s house. This was the only jail and sheriff's residence the county possessed until January, 1868. Westward of this jail about" 150 feet, and at the loot of the hill, the sheriff had his barn, first of logs, and afterwards of frame. On July 8, 1857, the Commissioners ordered the erection of a one story stone office building 20 by 24 feet, with a flat roof. At the same time the court house square was ordered to be enclosed by a substantial board fence. On the 28th of the same month the contract for the building was let to Isaac N. Britton and Francis Bunker for $1,500.00, and for the fence at $225.00, and both were constructed that fall. This building fronted on Fourth street and stood on the court house square about 75 feet north of its southwest corner. It was used at first as an office for the Eegister of Deeds, who in those days was, also, Clerk of the Boai-d of County Commissioners, and performed the duties now imposed upon the County Auditor. The Commissioners, too,- met in this building. When the office of County Auditor was created in 1858, this new official occupied the one room building jointly with the Eegister until January, 1871.

A stone vault, in which were stored the records of the county, stood inside in one comer, much like a dutch oven in shape. The door to this fire and burglar proof safe was made of oak plank covered with sheet iron, which when new was painted and varnished. In time ' the paint wore off, and so did some of the sheet iron, ^ and the wood shrank, so the mice could run back and forth under the door when closed.

We have already noted how the Legislature in February, 1867, authorized our County Commissioners to issue $10,000.00 in bonds for the purpose of building a new Court House and jail, but added the proviso that the location of the building be submitted to the legal voters of the county; how Mankato won out at the election as the site, and on May 7, 1867, the contract was let for $10,300.00 to L. J. Lewis.

which, also, faced on Walnut street. Being located on the brow of the hill, it gave an opportunity for a good basement under the whole building, which was 33 by 75 feet, and two stories high above the basement. As the westerly wall of the basement was exposed by reason of the slope of the ground, the structure from that point of view, looked like a three story buildiQg. The basement and the jail part were constructed of stone and the balance of the edifice was of brick. The jail occupied the rear forty feet of the first story, while the balance of the first story and the basement were the sheriff's apartments. The second story was reached by an outside wooden stairway on the easterly side of the building. The front fiftyfive feet of this upper floor was occupied as a court room, while the rear twenty feet was partitioned into two jury rooms. The windows of these jury rooms were grated and grates fitted into the doors so the rooms could be used for cells ia case of female prisoners.

This was the first court room the county had ever owned. Heretofore, court had met in halls auch as the county could find for hire. The old City Hail, Concert Hall, Masonic Hall, Higgins Hall and Shoemaker's Hall had each ia its turn been the abode of the blind goddess, but at last she had been provided with a home of her own. The building was completed by November 37, 1867, and first occupied by Evan Bowen, then newly elected sheriff, and the first term of court was held ia it December, 1867, Judge Horace Austin presiding. The first case liied was the famous Willow Creek Mayhem case against Miller, Day and others.

The Clerk of Court established his office in the new court room as soon as it was finished and for a time the county treasurer occupied the same apartment.

The extremely cramped condition the Auditor and Eegister of Deeds were experiencing in their one room office at the foot of the hill finally drove A. D. Seward, then Auditor, to prepare plans for enlarging it to a four room building. These were submitted to the Commissioners and accepted by them on March 11, 1870. The plans called for: the tearing out of the front and south sides of the little stone building, the putting of an addition of twenty-four feet on the south side making the entire ground space idx^i feet and the raising of the whole to a two story building. All new walls above a two foot stone base were of brick. This gave two rooms below, one for the Eegister on the north and the other for the Auditor. A stairway between these two rooms led to the rooms on the second fioor, the upper room on the south side being occupied by the Treasurer and that on the north by the Clerk of Court. Two stone vaults for the use of the Eegister and Auditor were constructed on the outside in the rear of their respective offices. This made practically a new buiidiag, as all that was left of the little stone edifice were its north and rear walls. The contract was let to Wm. Eoberts and Co., on September 9, 1870, for $1,996.50, and the building completed by January 6, 1871. The entire cost, including a number of extras to the original specifications, was $2,385.65.

By 1876 the need of more room for the County Auditor, of the offices for officials still unprovided, and of fire proof vaults for a mass of comity records in the Probate, Clerk of Court, and Treasurer's offices appealed so strongly to the Grand Jury at the December term of Court, that it sent to the County Commissioners an urgent request to immediately supply these requirements.

In response to these recommendations of the jury, the County Board, at its meeting on January 6, 1877, requested its chairman to procure plans for enlarging the county office building and making the other necessary improvements. On February 1st, the contract was let for $1,777.15 to 0. S. Cowan. The new addition TFas a two story brick 23 feet front by 40 feet deep added to the southerly end of the building. The entire lower floor of the new addition was devoted to the Auditor's office, while the upper floor was divided into two offices, the front occupied by the Judge of Probate, and the rear by the Clerk of Court. To reach these two offices a hall was constructed from the top of the stairway along the rear of the southerly upstair room of the first addition, which hall was lighted by a glass partition. The County Treasurer, who had heretofore occupied this room, moved to the room below, lately occupied by the Auditor, while this upper room became lirst the County Attorney's office and later the Judge's chambers. The room to the north over the Eegister's office, where had been the Clerk's office, was given to the Superintendent of Schools. In the outside angle formed at the junction of the first and second additions in the rear a large two story iire proof vault was constructed. The lower story was occupied by the Auditor, but the upper story was divided into two vaults, one for the Clerk of Court and the other for the Probate Judge, but the latter had to enter the Clerk's office to reach his vault.

These improvements were completed by September 1, 1877, and no further change was made in our county buildings, until the erection of the present Court House and jail twelve to fifteen years later.

The first move looking to the erection of a new Court House originated March 24, 1884, at a Board of Trade meeting of the City of Mankato. The idea was suggested by Stephen Lamm, who had just returned from an extended visit south and east, and had been strongly impressed by the progress he had seen everywhere in municipal architecture. The unsightliness and inadequacy of our county buildings had specially appealed to him on coming home as unworthy a gre'at and rich county like Blue Earth. Their shabbiness was a disgrace and gave strangers an impression that we were behind the times, that the county was either poverty stricken or greatly lacking in enterprise. We were ashamed to show them to any visitor, and no artist had ever taken a picture of them for they were void of all artistic merit or value.

Mr. Lamm moved that the matter of building a new court house, which should be worthy of the county and adequate for its needs, be brought to the attention of the County Commissioners. The motion was unanimously approved and John Klein, who was then the member of the County Board from the city, and, also, a member of the Board of Trade, was requested to urge the matter upon the consideration of the Commissioners at their next meeting. At a meeting of the Board of Trade held July 28, 1884, John Klein asked the appointment of a committee to aid him in bringing the matter of a new court house before the Commissioners, who were then in session. John A. Willard, 1". L. Walters and John C. Wise were appointed such a committee, and they at once appeared before the commissioners, who were induced to look with favor upon the proposition, and a resolution was passed levying a tax of one mill for a Court House fund. This lax raised about $8,000.00, which the Board intended to use in beginning the work of grading and starting the foundation.

The County Commissioners at this time were : James B. Swan, Chairman, Timothy Kees, John Diamond, John Klein and Malachi Gainor. They were all men of excellent judgment and character and all fully realized the great need of a new Court House. On January 1, 1885, Olaf Martinson, of Lincoln, succeeded Mr. Eees. He, too, was a faithful and fearless friend of the new Court House proposition.

February 10, 1885, at the instigation of the Mankato Board of Trade, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the commissioners of Blue Earth County to issue $75,000.00 in bonds to build a court house, subject to ratification by the voters of the county. March 2, 1885, the Board of Trade appointed Stephen Lamm, Geo. M. Pahner, John C. Wise, John N. Hall, M. G. Willard, John C. Noe and F. L. Walters as a committee to appear before the commissioners and urge the calling of a special election to vote the bonds as soon as possible. The County Board on March 4, 1885, designated May 5, 1885, as the time for holding such election. But the Court House project was not destined to meet only favorable breezes. The first note of audible opposition came from the Pleasant Mound grange. On April 35, 1885, it passed a resolution condemning the action of the County Board in calling the special election.

The feeling of antagonism expressed by this grange seemed to suddenly pervade the whole county outside of Mankato, and the three townships adjacent. There were three or four reasons for it, though none of them were very valid. For many years there had been a desire gage on the farm had not been fully paid, so As four of the five commissioners were from anything suggestive of elegance or luxury was the country and represented a constituency so looked upon as wicked extravagance. Then the overwhelmingly opposed to a new Court House farmers over our county had just been organ- it was supposed for a time that the measure ized into Alliance clubs, and like the boy with would have to be abandoned. Mr. Wise, of the his first gun, were spoiling for a chance to Eeview, and two or three other members of the shoot at something. Here was something tangi- Board of Trade maintained, however, that the ble, which the Alliances of Blue Earth County vote did not signify that the people were opmight do. Here was a big city woodchuck posed to building a new Court House, but that making straight for the county corn crib and they objected to bonding the county for so why not kiU it? large a sum.

The Board of Trade realized a few days be- The County Commissioners were men of indefore the election that their project was in grave pendent thought, who were fully convinced of bonds were defeated by a vote of 1,907, to 1,799, buildings, the Commissioners were still well dismaking an adverse majority of 108. The city posed towards the measure. Knowing this Mr.

1885, t<3. appoint a committee to confer with them ahout the matter. John IST. Hall, J. A. Willard, Stephen Lamm, John C. Wise and L.. Patterson were appointed such a committee. The conferaiee was held and the result was that on July 29, 1885, the commissioners levied a tax ol $18,000 for a Court House building.

About September 1, 1885, James B. Swan, chairman of the County Board, sold his interest in the Eapidan Mills to a Mr. Baker of St. Peter, and soon thereafter moved to the town of Judson in the vicinity of Lake Crystal. This removal took Mr. Swan beyond the confines of the Fourth Commissioner District, which he represented, and he resigned.

Mr. Swan had been a very valuable member of thfi Board as he possessed excellent, judgment and his integrity was above a shadow of suspicion. He had, also, been a firm and fearless supporter of the new court house and the friends of that measure much regretted his retirement.

About December 10, 1885, C. H. Piper was chosen as his successor and at the first meeting in January, 1886, Malachi Gainor of Lyra was made chairman. On January 9, 1886, the County Auditor was directed to invite the submission by architects of plans and specifications for a new Court House to be received by February 17, 1886, and the public generally were invited to be present at the time to advise the board. At the time designated about 100 persons from various parts of the county met with the Board, the great majority of whom belonged to the party favorable to the Court House. Among the latter were the Board of Trade of Mankato, C. G. Spaulding of Mapleton, J. B. Swan of Judson, C. W. Herman of Shelby, J. P. Kramer of Danville, Geo. McMahill of Mankato town, M. L. Lockerby of South Bend, and Pliilip Mueller of Lime, while Mr. Greenwood '>f Garden City acted as the principal speaker for the opposition. The next day the plans submitted by Healey and Allen of Minneapolis were selected by the Commissioners as most suitable, but all action was postponed until March 3, 1886. On that date Healey and Allen were authorized to prepare the details for their

Comfliissioners Klein, Gainor and Diamond were appointed a building committee. The chairman of the Board was also authorized to advertise for bids to grade the Court House lot preparatory to the erection of a building thereon, the bids to be received by May 4. While no formal resolution to that effect was passed, the Comihissioners had unanimously come to the conclusion, to begin the erection of a new Court House.

In view of the fact that the constituency of the four country members, Gainor, Diamond, Martinson, and Piper were so bitterly and overwhelmingly opposed to the measure, it was a (rery heroic act on the part of these four men. But having made up their minds that the county really needed the building no intimidation or matter of expediency could turn one of them from what he considered his duty.

These steps of the commissioners greatly stirred up the opposition all over the county. At the town meetings held in March, resolutions were passed by fully two thirds of the towns denouncing the action of the Commissioners in the most vigorous language. The town of Sterling was the only town that passed resolutions of approval, though a few other towns were fully as friendly disposed.

On March 31, 1886, a meeting of those opposed to the new Court House was held at Garden City. Most of the towns were well represented and resolutions passed scoring the commissioners for setting aside the will of the people. A meeting was arranged at Mankato for April 9, to confer with the Board of Trade and the Common Council of that city to see if some amicable adjustment might not be made. At this Mankato meeting representatives were present from the town boards of Danville, Sterling, Shelby, Pleasant Mounds, Lincoln, Butternut Valley, Garden City, Beauford, Vernon, and LeEay, in all forty to fifty persons. They met at the Court House hall. Hon. E. T. Champlain was made chairman and E. D. Cornish secretary. Nothing came of the conference, except a few wordy cyclones, and a heavy down pour of righteous indignation. After the public meeting the faction opposed to the Court House met in conference with their attorney, Lorin Cray, of Lake Crystal, and determined to take the matter into court. Accordingly an injunction suit was brought in the name of E. D. Cornish against the County Commissioners to restrain them from building the Court House. The papers were served May 3, 1886, and the next day the Coujity Board retained Daniel Buck and E. P. Ereeman to assist the County Attorney, A. E. Pfau, in defending them in the fuit. At this meeting 0. Martinson and C. H. Piper were added to the building committee. At the hearing of the injunction proceeding on May 10, 1886, Judge C. M. Start, at the request of Judge Severance joined him upon the bench. On May 14, they filed their decision holding that the Cormnissioners were justified in proceeding to build a new Court House, that they could contract for $23,000 of work that year, but they were restrained from going beyond that figure at present; they were permitted, however, to levy a tax thereafter from year to year, not exceeding the five mill limit. It was really a victory for the County Commissioners. The contract for grading the portion of the Court House Block upon which the building was to stand was let, and the contract for building the basement was awarded to Thomas Russell for $11,850, and this work was completed that fall, and then properly secured against the weather. A tax of $18,000 was levied this year for Court House purposes, and before retiring at the end of the year, the Board lei the contract for the main building to Ring & Tobin of Minneapdlis, who during the winter got out part of the stone. The building of the new court house was now assured though its completion was delayed for sometime for lack of funds.

With the solitary exception of John Diamond, the personnel of the County Board was completely changed on January 1, 1887. The new Board consisted of H. K. Lee, chairman; John Diamond, John S. Jones, A. M. Hannay, and Chas. H. Dietz. In February, 1887, the Legislature authorized the commissioners to issue $30,000.00 in bonds to complete the Court House subject to ratification by the voters of the county. The measure carried by a vote of 1519 to 1466. The precincts voting in favor were the city of Mankato and the towns of McPherson, Cambria, Judson, Mankato, Decoria, Lime and Sterling. The other towns voted against the measure, some of them like Lincoln, Pleasant, Mound, Medo^ and Beauford were almost unanimous. During the spring and summer of 1887 the work was prosecuted with fair diligence. A certain white flint stone had been designated for the pillars and trimmings, but it had, also, been used for the steps and water table in the foundation, laid the previous year, and during the winter had scaled and checked badly and the Commissioners insisted that a different kind of stone be substituted for it. This change formed the basis of a big charge for extras on the part of the contractors, which was disputed by the Board. A long and vexatious quarrel, ending in a law suit followed, which greatly hindered the work.

During the winter of 1887-8 a compromise was effected and the work was resumed in the spring of 1888 and the building finished, except the carpenter work and inside furnishings. Not having suft'icient means to complete the building, the Legislature of 1889 passed a bill, authorizing the commissioners to issue another $30,000.00 of bonds, but without submission to a vote of the people. The contract for the interior work was now let to Jacob I'lachsenhar for $15,824.08.

On the first of January, 1889, there had been two changes on the county Board. Nick Brules had succeeded John Diamond and Hugh H. Edwards had taken the place of John S. Jones. The building was finished by October 1, 1889, and four or five days later the county ofiicers removed to their new quarters. The total cost of the building and its furnishings was a trifle over $123,000.00.

The District Court convened in the new court room for the first time on December 3rd, 1889, on which occasion Judge M. J. Severance, presiding, referred to the new Court House as follows: "For the first time this court is sitting in this new, elegant and convenient building, erected by the County of Blue Earth, and in which its public affairs will hereafter be conducted. This structure, surmounted by the symbols of justice, is grand and imposing and at the same time solid, massive and substantial and with proper care will defy the elements and all the assaults of time. Here too, the archives of the county, so long imperiled and wasting, are more than reasonably safe. In the erection of this, the County's temple, extravagance and prodigality of ornament, beyond the demands of positive utility and a laudable taste, have played no part. Only the necessities and the dignity of the County of Blue Earth, as a great political and municipal department of the greater state of Minnesota, have been consulted. This structure stands for the sovereignty of the County of Blue Earth. It does not belong to the growing city in which it stands, but it belongs to the county and is the common property of all the people. This structure stands for more than the sovereignty of the county. It marks the progress of that laudable rivalry attendant upon a civilization that holds every triumph in architecture to be the hand maid of science and morals.

You may search the country over and you will not find another public building, whose actual cost and expense of erection are so nearly equal as this. A critical view of this structure with all its appliances, and considering its adaptabihty to the uses for which it has been desiged, I am sure will satisfy every citizen of this county of the propriety of the work now completely accomplished. Had the county of Blue Earth done less than it has in this behalf, our waving forests, expanding prairies and rolling rivers, spanned by more than thirtj- bridges, all assuring the certain basis of a great prosperity, would have mocked at the parsimony of the county.

There is no surer index of tlie financial capabilities of a county or the enterprise of its people, than the state and condition of its public buildings. A large and thrifty count)' seat, only made possible by productive surroundings, and stately, well kept county buildings, do more to advertise the advantages of a countj' either for homes or the inducement of capital, than all the boom pamphlets that the air could contain."

Because of the bitter opposition, which the erection of this finest Court House in the state, outside the Twin Cities, had engendered, and the long and desperate struggle that ensued (an unfortunate condition, which later both sides deplored), no dedicatory services were held. But the noble structure stands a monument to the good judgment, strict honesty, public enterprise and fidelity of the men, who, under circumstances so adverse pushed to completion, so splendid an undertaking. It also, stands as a worthy temple of the great county of Blue Earth, with its wealth of resources and vigor of enterprise and today every citizen feels a just and equal pride in its solid and stately walls.