Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 5, 1896

Chapter 5

No session of the legislature was held in the winter of 1858-9, mainly owing to the protracted session of 1857-8, which rendered another following so soon, unnecessary. Representatives had been elected the preceding fall, as will be remembered, but their services were never required. There is, therefore, no legislation for this year to note here.

The Couny Supervisors

It has been seen that the old board of county commissioners held their last meeting on the 28th of October, 1858, and were then superseded by the new boai'd of county supervisors. This latter board was composed of the chairmen of the several boards of town supervisors. Under this new arrangement the new board consisted of ten members. On the third day of January, the new board met at Blue Earth City, but six members appearing, however, as several of the town districts had failed to organize. A quorum being present, they proceeded to organize by electing James L. McCrery, chairman, and Arthur Bonwell, clerk.

The session lasted three days and much business was transacted, among the most important of which was the division of the county into fifteen school districts. During the existence of this board, the business was transacted much in the manner usual in legislative bodies. There was a standing commiitee of three on school districts, a committee on roads and bridges, and a committee on claims. Special committees also were appointed occasionally, and questions were discussed in committee of the whole. The committees reported to the board, when final action was taken.

The Spring

The spring of this year, like its predecessor, was late and cold. The snows of the winter were deep and the spring thaws and rains caused high waters and almost impassable roads. But little grain was sown until quite late in April, all of which was quite discour- aging to the people. The great majority of tVie people, until after harvest, were wretchedly "hard up." The previous j'ear the crops were light, and the bread and feed during the winter, and the seeding of this year, had about used up the products of 1858. The following extract from the journal of an old resident of Blue Earth City, gives a rather gloomy statement of the condition of the county in March, about the middle of which month il was written. "We have, as a community, arrived at a period more depressing financially, and fuller of gloomy forebodings, than anj' other in the history of this section of country. There is no money in the country. Provisions are very scarce and very high.

There is no building, improvements or business of any kyid in progress. Many families are almost and some quite out of such articles of food as are necessary to support life. In the country, the farmers can do nothing yet of spring work. In the villages men stand idly about the streets, or sit in small companies about the shops and stores, listless and cheerless, and appear to be filled with apprehensions of a yet worse state of affairs to come. The times will doubtless be 'harder' before the new crops are harvested. But it is said 'The darkest hour is just before the break of day,' and it may be, that in three or four months, every department of business may be active, provisions plenty, and money to be had more easily than at present. 'It is never best to give up in despair.'"

The District Court

The first term of the District Court held in this county commenced its session on the 4th day of April of this year. The officers of the court were, Hon. Lewis Branson, Judge; Geo. B. Kingsley, Clerk, and Geo. H. Goodnow, Sheriff. There were seven civil and two criminal cases on the calendar. The attendance on the court was largo, many coming out of curiosity, and the term was a very respectable one. A more full account of this term is given elsewhere. It is sufticientto say here, that the law was now established in the county, and its supremacy acknowledged. There was a tribunal in the county where wrongs could be righted and rights enforced - the time when every man was "a law unto himself," had passed away and another step forward in the progress of the county haxi been taken. The Bill of Rights declares that "Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, propertj' or character; he ought to obtain justice freely and without purchase; completely and without denial; promptly and without delay; conformably to the laws." Constitution.

W. Knapp, J. A. Kiester and Messrs. Wilkinson and Burt. The Grand Jury sworn and charged, being the first ever convened in this county, was composed of the following gentlemen: Dr. W. N. Towndrow, Foreman; E. Crosby, Wm. Phillips, T. Bally, J. S. Latimer, G. A. Weir, S. L. Rugg, Jas. Sherlock, B. Gray, A. Morris, A. J. Barber, E. B. Kendall, G. D. Mc Arthur, John Beidle, W. W. Sleepier, O. G. Hill, H. A. Paunce, W. Seely, Jas. Decker, S. A. Safford, H. L. Young, S. B. Hamilton and T. Bowen.

The first Petit Jury sworn was composed of the following named gentlemen: Aaron J. Rose, Aaron Mudge, Dr. R. P. Jenness, Dr. J. P. Humes, Martin Sailor, O. Webster, W. Ladd, James Prior. Jas. L. McCrery, J. Edwards, H. Chesley and J. Burk. And many very respectable petit juries have sat in this county since that day and pronounced their verdicts, but none more able, intelligent or conscientious than the first. They were "good and lawful men." The writer is sorry to have to record the fact that the first verdict rendered in this county was that short and terrible word "guilty." The term lasted five days and the business disposed of was considerable.

Our pronouns are apt to get mixed, as the following, which is reported from the Pacific slope. A policeman was being examined as a witness against an Irishman whom he had brought before the local court. After the officer had told his story, the judge inquired. - -

"A fledgling lawyer, occupying a seat in court, here desired to air his powers, and said, "Pshawl you don't comprehend at all. His Honor means, did the prisoner say to you, '/ was drunk?' "

"What the court desires," said another lawyer, "is to have you state the prisoner's own words, preserving the precise form of the pronoun he made use of in the reply. Was it in the first person 2; second person f/ioit or yow; or In the third person /le, s/ie or i(.' Now then, sir, did not the prisoner say, '/ was drunk?' "

The Agricultural Society

On llie 'Jth day of April of this year an important event occurred at Winnebago City. This was nothing less than the organization of the Faribault County Agricultural Societi'. The minutes of the proceedings are given entire, as taken from the Secretary's book that they may be preserved for future use. This book was once lost for a period of about seven years, and was at last found among a lot of rubbish in the County Auditor's office. It is well to transcribe into this history, what is of interest in the book, as its next disappearance may be final. Besides the organization of the society and its subsequent proceedings are items of importance, in the history of the county. In the long future when the members of the society shall assemble around the banqueting board, spread in the spacious and decorated halls situated in the beautiful grounds of the society, to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the organization, every scrap of the early history of the society will be prized as of a value we little comprehend now, and to the brave spirits of that distant time, none of the exercise of the occasion will possess more interest than the reading of the following minutes:

Secretary'S Report

On motion a committee of three was appointed to draft a constitution. G. K. Cleveland,. H. II. Bigelow and A. B. Ralcom were appointed said committee. The following orticers were then electi.'d by acclamation to act until the next meeting, when permanent ollicers shall be elected.

On motion the secretary was instructed to notify Messrs. Latimer and Preston of their election, and to cause tlie proceedings of this meeting to be published in the Mankato '-Independent.''

"Whereas it is of the tlrst importance to the farmers of Faribault County to raise superior stock, and to obtain seeds and grain of the best (lualily (in order) to encourage immigration, and to make this beautiful county what less fertile states of the east already are--"a land llowing with milk and honey."

"Therefore, Kestjived, That we will encourage the importatioQ of blooded stock and the introduction of choice seeds, grain and fruit trees, by buying of the farmer or merchant who will keep the same for sale.

"2nd. That every member of this society should at once go to work to make or raise something rare to compete for a premium at our county fair next fall.

"3rd. That county agricultural fairs stimulate enterprise and awaken emulation among farmers, and that as farmers, we are proud of our county, and proclaim it second to none in the State in the fertility and breadth and beauty of its farming lands, and that we cordially invite all who are seeking locations to make a home with us."

It may be observed that with one or two exceptions, all of the first members of the society were residents of the northern portion of the county. This was owing mainly to the fact of the meeting being called in that part of the county. Subsequently residents in all parts of the county became members, and took an active interest in the welfare of the society.

On the 8th of June, according to adjournment, the society held a meeting at Winnebago City, for permanent organization. A constitution and by laws were then adopted, and permanent officers elected as follows: J. A. Latimer, president, and W. J. C. Robertson and Amos Preston, vice-presidents; D. H. Morse, recording, and G. K. Cleveland, corresponding secretaries; J. L. Weir, auditor and R. P. Jenness, treasurer.

The following board of councilmen,being one from each town district, was then chosen: Allen Shultis, Charles Marples, H. T. Stoddard, Thomas Blair, H. M. Huntington, Albin Johnson, P. C. Seely, S. L. Rugg, J. L. McCrery and Lorenzo Merry. A long list of additional members was reported at this meeting, and the society was now fully organized under very favorable auspices.

Agriculture and its kindred industries is and must ever of necessity continue to be the leading and most important pursuit of the people of this county. It is essentially an agricultural country. Our manufactures can never be very extensive, though they can be profitably extended beyond what they now are. But to compensate for the want of commercial and manufacturing facilities we have a most fertile soil, and plenty of it, and the future wealth of the county must come mainly from this source. The sooner, therefore, our people realize tiieso facts and direct tlieir energies to the fostering and development of our agricultural interests, the sooner will they be prosperous. And it is the duty of every resident of the county, whatever his occupation may be, to do what he can to encourage this industry. There are many ways of doing so, by word and deed.

Among other things, our agricultural society should be patronized and the annual fairs of the society should be looked forward to and prepared for as a matter of the first importance. Every one, whatever his business, should take an interest in it, contribute something, if only his presence, and assist in making a success of every fair

Other societies, farmers" clubs, stock associations and the like, designed to promote and protect this greatest of all interests should be favored. The establishment of convenient markets in the county, and facilities for the sale of all farm products, where some degree of fair dealing may be found, and where sharpers and jjlausable scoundrels, who with impudent assurance and hands full of Chicago rel^orts gamble with the fruits of tlie farmers' labors are not the chief figures, should have attention. The introduction of the best breeds of stock and the most successful varieties of seetl grain, experiments to test the character of our soils and the adaptation of various products to the soil and climate, the support of our agricultural schools, the circulation of newspapers, periodicals and books, devoted to agriculture and kindred subjects, should be encouraged.

It is a well-known fact that the system of farming pursued in one country is not always successful in another, even of the same latitude. Every considerable district of country has its own peculiar system of farming, which experience has proved to be the best for that locality. In one district it may be stock raising, horses, cattle, hogs; in another, wool growing; in another, dairying; in others, mainly grain raising and in some localities, all of these. The fact has been illustrated here that people going into a new country are apt to take with them and put in practice, the system of husbandry, in the main, which they learned in the place from which they came, and failure often resulted. It was hard to get out of the old ways. The first question should be, what is the system of farming best adapted to this soil and climate? It has already been proved in the experience of many here, that exclusive grain raising is not profitable. There are, in fact, few countries in which it is safe to be dependent on one class of products. And it has been well established here, as it has been generally elsewhere, that diversified farming industries are usually the most successful.

A word should be said here in reference to that superficial and wholly erroneous idea entertained by certain classes, that agriculture is a simple and unimportant pursuit. A very silly practice has grown up among the newspapers, especially in the cities, of making derogatory, but supposed witty remarks about farming and in relation to farmers. The farmer is called "jiumplvin eater," "old turnip," "old hayseed." etc. , and caricatures are made of him representing him in old fashioned clothes, outlandish hat, great cowhide boots, with his trowser legs, if not shown as too short, crowded into his boot tops, and having a great ox gad in his hands and his countenance and general appearance those of a grotesque simpleton. Farmers, as a class, are no more amenable to such characterization than men of other occupations, and as there is neither wit nor wisdom in the practice, it should be abandoned. Where the cultivation of the soil is looked upon with contempt, or as a calling beneath the attention of men of education and standing, it will soon drift into the hands of those who are without means and of small capacity, to the great public detriment. What are the facts'?

The cultivation of the soil was man's original, first employment, and it is just as important and honorable now, as it was then. It is not only essential to the well-being of society in a rude state, but is equally necessary in every stage of progress and refinement.

All other occupations - life and prosperity rest upon this as their basis, and it gives life and energy to all other pursuits and industries. Without it they could not exist. The farmer is the primary producer - tlie creator of the real wealth of the world. It is he that supplies the civilized world with its food, and it is he that stands at the doors of the world's graneries with the keys in his hands.

His calling employs more workers than any other business, and the real and most permanent wealth of every civilized country, is in its farms and farming interests. All the nations of antiquity, which were celebrated for their progress in agriculture, were the most free and independent. Such is the fact today. No nation can afford to be so independent of the rest of the world, as a successful agricultural people.

Many of the illustrious men in all ages of tlie world have engaged in this calling, and have not deemed it derogatory to their dignity in the least. We may mention Gideon, the renowned champion and judge of Israel, who went from his threshing floor to preside in the assemblies of his people; Cincinnatus the great Roman, who left his plow to lead the armies to battle and victory, and then returned to his native fields. In later times this calling has been held in high esteem by the greatest and best. Washington, Jefferson, Madison. Monroe and Jaclison, among the Presidents, and other illustrious citizens of our country, engaged directly in this pursuit. Many of the respectable and cultured men of Europe and America - men eminent in the walks of science and literaturetake a most active interest in the progress of agriculture, attend the meetings of farmers, the public fairs, and assist in the promotion of agricultural interests.

It is an error, too, that education and culture are not necessary in this vocation. The truth is, that there is as much use for education, general intelligence and good judgment in this business, as in any other, and more of these qualifications are required in this, than in most merely mechanical occupations, and education and culture are as much entitled to honor, when brought to this pursuit, as to any other branch of human labor. There is indeed no more useful, or more honorable occupation known among men in any country than that of farming.

It is indeed true, that the active, successful farmer, is the representative of continuous hard labor year in and year out. Almost everything about farming both indoors and out, smacks strong of work and much of it, hard work, requiring close personal attention. The old lines express a general truth in the statement that

And this vocation has its disappointments, trials, losses and perplexities, but so has every other business. No occu^pation, profession or official station are without these labors, cares and harassing anxieties, and some of them have more of these, and coupled with greater temptations, dangers and risks than farming.

The man of no other business, is so free and independent in his personal action, and no employment is more healthful, or more conducive to a vigorous, manly and ingenious character. His labors too are greatly diversified and free fi-om the ceaseless treadmill grind of most vocations. He is too further removed from the corruptions and errors of society, the vices, the follies of the town than the men of other employments. He need not practice the petty frauds and cheats and shams too current in many other occupations, and in short there is no field of human employment in which a man can easier be "a good man and true, and strictly obey the moral law" and be a peaceable citizen "work diligently, live creditably and act honorably by all men."

In closing these observations, we cannot do better than quote the following admirable words, talien from a great speech once delivered by Senator Pendleton, of Ohio.

"Farmer life! Freedom from the noise and turmoil and dust and smoke of the crowded city; freedom from the daily struggle and daily anxiety for bread; freedom from competition with the crowds which throng every avenue of commercial and mechanical industry; freedom from the close and daily contact with vice and crime which the temptations and opportunities and sufferings of a city life develop; freedom from the small rooms, the crowded tenement houses, the tainted atmosphere, the contagious diseases, the unnatural hours, the undue excitement, the exhausting pleasures, the glittering splendor, the abject squallor, the artificial life of the city - and in their stead the pure air, the abundant food, the deep sleep, the refreshing dews, the cool breezes, the peaceful order, the ample homes, the healthful habits, the cleanliness, the contentment of the country and that great exaltation of spirit which springs from the contemplation of the beauties of nature and the processes of its active beneflcense - the absence of the shrewd cunning and the acute sense which the competition of trade engenders, and the presence of that large-hearted greatness which our mother earth rewards those who call on her munificence for the returns of their labor.''

"In ancient times the sacred plow employed The kings and awful fathers of mankind, And some compared with whom your insect tribes Are but the beings of a summer day, Have held the scale of empire, ruled the storm Of mighty war; then with unwearied hand Disdaining little delicacies, seized The plow, and greatly independent lived."'

The supervisors met on the second day of May. As a new board had been elected at the town meetings in April, the board was re-organized by the election of Geo. H. Goodnow, chairman, Mr. Bonwell continuing as clerk. They had a session of two days, but transacted no business of interest to us at this remote iDeriod. On the 30th of May, they re-convened, and among the business done was the appropriation of the sum of three hundred dollars for the erection of a jail. Here was another evidence of progress in the right direction, but the appropriation subsequently failed.

The Fourth

There were no celebrations in this county on the 4th of July, 1859. The spirit of patriotism had frozen up. The day was stormy, rain with some sleet and hail falling most of the day, and it was so cold that fires were necessary to comfort. Heat and dust are just as necessary elements of a fourth of July celebration as lemonade and fire crakers, and they could not be had on that day in this county.

The immigration to this county during the spring and summer and the amount of subtstantial improvements, especially in the breaking up of new land, were considerable. The crops of the year were very fair and were harvested in good season. The interesting fact may be stated here that the State which in 1858 imported breadstutTs, in this year, for the first time, exported considerable grain. But there was yet nothing for export in this county, and there was no market for anything. Money continued scarce and the scarcity to intensifj'. In fact the people were thrown back to the original system of traffic by barter, or -exchange of one jiroduct for another. The condition of the country was. however, much better after harvest, than before, as there was then plenty to eat and there was some grain to exchange for necessaries, but at prices which did not pay for the raising. The average price of wheat after harvest and during the remainder of the year was thirty to forty cents, corn twenty-five cents, and oats fifteen cents per bushel.

The Local A.Ssembly

The supervisors met in annual session, Sept. 13th, and continued two days. A considerable amount of business was done, but nothing of general interest except certain action relative to the removal of «;

The first action taken in relation to a change of the county seat was some movement made during the preceding session of the legislature, to secure the removal to Winnebago City, which, however, proved abortive. At this meeting of the county board, a petition was presented, asking the privilege of voting at the next election on the removal of the county seat, from Blue Earth City to Winnebago City. As the law then stood, it was the duty of the board, on the presentation of such a petition, if signed by a number of legal voters of the county equal to one half the highest number of votes cast at the next preceding general election, to cause to be inserted in the notices for the next general election, an article requiring the voters to vote on the removal.

The majority of the board being opposed to the removal, and to any action on the subject as premature, and for the further reason, as alleged, that the petition was not signed by a sufficient number of legal voters, it was after some hot discussion tabled.

The friends of the removal then applied to the judge of the district court for a writ of mandamus, requiring the board to meet and take such action as the law required, or show cause, which writ was granted and duly served on all the members of the board. They all attended at Blue Earth City, on a certain day, but only such as favored the removal - not enough for a quorum - met at the usual place of meeting. If a quorum had at any one time gotten together, they could have directed the insertion of the necessary clause in the election notices, but the opposing members were careful to appear at the place of meeting one at a time, and pass out. Thus no quorum being present, no action was taken by the board, nor was cause ever shown why action was not taken. The friends of removal then procured a peremptory writ requiring the clerk of the board to insert the necessary clause in the election notices, which under the circumstances he peremptorily refused to do, claiming that the pro ceeding was without authority of law, and here the whole matter fell to the ground. It is hardly worth the while at this late day to comment upon these matters.

The Electiows

Although the times were hard and money scarce, the political interests of the county were not neglected. The fall elections were approaching and there were various legislative and county offices to be filled, and divers individuals were ready to fill them.

And G. K. Cleveland and Allen Shultis were nominated for representatives, and in pursuance of the arrangement heretofore referred to, the convention of Freeborn county nominated T. W. Purdiefor representative and Geo. Watson for senator, both of that county.

The democracy nominated H. C Lacy for senator and Isaac Vanderwalker for representative, both of Freeborn county, and for the other representatives David H. Morse and Geo. B. Kingsley, of of this county. The county ticket was :

The republican candidates for senator and I'epresentatives, receiving a majority also in Freeborn county were consequently elected. State otRcers were elected this fall and the republican candidates, with Alex. Ramsey for governor, at the head, were, after a hard struggle, elected.

The First Fair

The first fair of our newly organized agricultural society, was held at Winnebago City on the 5th day of October. The attendance was large and great interest was manifested in the occasion and the display of productions surpassed all expectation. This lair demonstrated the fact that this county, yet in its infancy, could produce as excellent grains, vegetables, stock, daii'y products and articles of domestic manufacture, as any county in the northwest. In short, the fair was a great success, and a great credit to the people of the county. The writer, a few days since, observed a large and gorgeous "poster" tacked up in a conspicuous place giving the world notice of the twenty-first annual fair of the Faribault County Agricultural Society.

Autumn

The fall of the year was a gloomy one, both in the weather and the conditions of business. Owing to the stringent times, low prices, two years of rather unfavorable weather, but little of that spirit of cheerfulness, activity and confidence in the future, so necessary to progress and success, were manifested. The weather seemed to be in harmony, too, with the other discouraging features of the times. It was dismal, the atmosphere was hazy, the smoke of prairie fires hung over the land for weeks, and the sun appeared red and dim. These weather conditions, though really nothing very unusual, had their depressing effect on the spirits of the people.

The prices of various products, reported as current in the fall, were the following: - Flour .?4.50 and corn meal |2.00 per hundred; wheat 30 to 40 cents, oats 12^ cents, dull, potatoes 124- cents per bushel; butter 14 cents and tobacco 60 cents per pound; billiards 10 cents per string.

An Outlook

The great mass of the people of every locality are much influenced by events and circumstances external to the locality in which they live. The heart of every intelligent man beats much in sympathy with the great events occurring in the world, outside of his own locality, and he is much influenced in his life and conduct thereby, and for these reasons no true history,' of even small localities, can be written unless at least some brief reference is made to the great current outside events which are the subject of interest, thought and discussion, at the time, in the homes, in the work shop and places of public resort, among the people of whom the history is written. Hence it is that from time to time in the course of this work, attention is called to the great, leading and memorable events of the State and the Nation.

Among the events occurring in the State, during the year, which attracted public attention, was the "Wright County war." A man named Wallace had been murdered in that county in 1858. One Jackson was tried for the offense in the spring of 1859, and acquitted. In April, a crowd of men hung Jackson. The governor offered a reward for the conviction of any of the lynchers. Soon after, one Moore was arrested as one of the parties, and taken to Wright county for trial, but was rescued by a mob. The military was ordered out, and eleven of the lynchers and rescuers were arrested and turned over to the civil authorities. "Glencoe" and "Owatonna" money made its appearance this year. It was considered among that class of "circulating medium," known by the euphoneous name of "shinplasters."

The arrest, trial and conviction'of Mrs. Bilanski, for the murder of her husband near St. Paul, created much interest throughout the State. She was executed in March of the next year.

On the wider, national field, we discover a few notable events, of that year, worthy of mention. On the 14th of February, Oregon was admitted into the Union as the thirty- third State.

The discovery of petroleum, during the summer, in Pennsylvania, created a great excitement. People from all parts of the Union flocked to the oil regions. Fabulous prices were paid for land, where it was supposed that oil existed. Sudden and great fortunes were made by many. The discovery of this oil, changed.

throughout the whole countrj', the modes and materials of illumination, and the quantity of the oil obtained, has continued sufficient for the supply of the whole country for this and many other purposes. This discovery has created a new and profitable industry, employing thousands of men and many millions of dollars capital. In September of this year occurred the fatal duel, near San Francisco, between Hon. D. C. Broderick, United States senator from California, and Hon. D. S. Terry, chief justice of that state. Broderick was killed. The duel grew out of iiolitical animosities. The event shocked the better sense of the whole United States. The duel is a most barbarous and criminal method of settling quarrels, but many of our public men, during the first three-quarters of a century of the republic, engaged in them. Public opinion at the time sustained the practice. Said Henry Clay, that eminent patriot, statesman, jurist and orator, himself several times engaged in duels, "When public opinion is renovated and chastened by reason, religion and humanity, the practice of dueling will at once be discontinued." That day has come. Public opinion, for some years past, has been against the practice, and he who has killed his antagonist in a duel, is considered but little better than a murderer. Happily duels seldom now occur.

It was in October of this year that John Brown made his raid on Harper's Ferry, Va. He seized the U. S. Arsenal at that place and captured the town. His object was to liberate the'slaves of the and destroy the system of American slavery. The capture of this place was the initial and strategic point in his scheme. He had but a few followers, probably not to exceed twenty-five active participants, in this overt act, but he had many .sympathizers in the north, and probably among the negro population of the south. His project utterly failed. Government troops soon dislodged him and he was taken prisoner, and with a number of his abettors tried, convicted and executed.

But there was far more in this event than appears in the sim))le statement of the occurrence. It tended to estrange still farther, the south from the north, and augmented the bitterness growing between the two sections, on the question of slavery, and for many years afterwards there was heard throughout the north the famous song in which occurs the lines:

"Gonel Gone forever! Like the rushing wave, Another year - has burst upon the shore Of earthly being - and its last low tones. Wandering in broken accents on the air, Are dying to an echo. '