Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 9, 1896

Chapter 9

The winter of 1862-3 was very mild and pleasant. There was but little snow and but little very cold weather. It was, in fact, the most pleasant and genial winter yet known, since the settlement of the county, and somewhat more sickly than any preceding one. But it is not meant to assert by this statement, that there was no cold or stormj' weather whatever. The winter is sjioken of only generally and comparatively, the only manner, as a rule, in which we can speak of the weather conditions and seasons.

An Observation

In writing the history of a people, it is, of coui'&e, necessary that their manners and customs, their public, private and social observances, their holidays and principal recreations, even the folklore of the country should be alluded to, in order to obtain a proper understanding of the times and the character of the people. These things have much to do with the makeup 'of life and have their influence upon the people and times. Thej'^ are also matters of historic fact, which can no more be overlooked than any other important fact and events of the times - they are a part of the history. Therefore it is, that frequent reference is made to the customs, the holiday observances and prevailing amusements, of the times of which we write.

New Year'S Day

Hear the story of the bells. The New Year's bells! Hark how their music sways and swells From out the old lielfry, dark and hi^'h, Kow down through the valley, now up to the sky, Swinging and climbing, And ringing and chiming. - 3/r.s. Blim.

The first day of .January, or New Years day, is a legal holiday in most of the States. The day has no special historical, and until lately, no political significance, like most other holidaj's. It is the day, however, that begins a new year, and we write a new date (and generally make a mistake about it too) and by common consent and immemorial usage, we observe the day as a holiday.

During many centuries, there was no agreement among the various peoples of the earth, as to the day of the year, which should be the beginning of the new year. Among some of them the year commenced about March 1st, with others about March 21st, March 22d, March 25th, April 1st, Easter day, June 22d, September 1st, September 22d, December 22d, December 25th, and some at other dates, being governed mainly by the times of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and the winter and summer solstices. In 1752, January 1st, by act of the British Parliament, was established as the first day, or beginning of the year, and is now generally so considered among civilized nations.

But for many centuries before the first day of January was established as the first day of the new year, it was celebrated religiously as the octave of Christmas, and as the feast of the circumcision of Christ.

Although formerly differing as to the day on which the year should begin, it appears that all ancient and modern civilized peoples celebrate the event with certain special festivities. Among the Chinese the New Year's festival has, for centuries, been the greatest festival of the year.

Of the social customs incident to this holiday it may be said that balls and parties are frequent, the closing up of business houses, the printer's devil's New Year's address, the gathering of neighbors to eat good dinners, and the giving and receiving New Year's gifts, which, by the way, is a very ancient custom, are common throughout the country. The custom of making social New Year's calls by the gentlemen, which seems to have originated in New York City in the times of the Dutch, now prevails in many parts of the country, especially in the cities. In fact the New Year's day festivities are included in the period known as Christmas-tide, the holidays, and much the same observances which prevail on Christmas are had on New Year's day, the same jollity and geniality, and while on Christmas we hear the kindly greeting, "a merry Christmas," now on every hand we have the pleasant salutation, "a happy New Year."

Religious services on New Year's day are quite common, and a custom also obtains among some religious denomonations of holding "watch meetings" during the preceding night, until after twelve o'clock, when the new year is ushered in. Prayers are offered to God for the blessings of the past, and his forgiveness implored for the sins, and follies, and shortcomings of the year gone, and His favor and guidance invoked for the year to come.

Quite similar to that mentioned is the beautiful custom found in some localities of devout people gathering in the parish church, where solemn services and litanies are said aud as the hour approaches twelve, the bell is solemnlj* tolled, announcing the dying year, and as the hands upon the dial pass the twelve the bell rings merrily, in. honor of the new year.

And we should not forget here to name the fact that this day is also famous for new resolutions of amendment, reform, retrenchment, and the like, which are usually broken before the first three months of the new year are out. But it is wise to make such resolutions and keep them. A noted author once wrote truly that "the person who arrives at a new year without any special stir of desire to be better, and to do better during its golden possibilities, is to be pitied. He has lost his enthusiasm, and the embers of his life's happiness are faded and wan."

On the first day of January of this year - 1863 - President Lincoln issued the great Proclamation of Emancipation of the slaves in the rebel states, and human chattel slavery was forever destroyed in this nation so far as law could then do it from that hour.

This God-like act, in wisdom, power, justice antl mercj', set free forever four millions of human beings from the thraldom of the most odious slavery the world has ever seen, and this great deed will bear the name of Abraham Lincoln, as the Emancipator, to all future generations.

The coloi-ed race in America can well, forever hereafter, celebrate Nen' Year's Day as the greatest day - the fourth of July in the history of their race, and all our citizens may well observe it because of this great act which delivered the land from this burden of national weakness and crime.

New Year's Day has always been observed in this county, usually according to the customs which prevailed in the New England and Middle States, but as a large proportion of the people are of foreign birth, the usuages and customs incident to this day, in the fatherland of these citizens, are also quite prevalent.

Our district was represented at this session by D. G. Siiillock, of Brown County, in the Senate, and Jas. B. "Wakefield, of this county, in the House.

Our couuty was not needing much legislation at this time, as we find that the only acts having any exclusive reference to this county were "An act for the relief of school district No. 18," and "An Act fixing the time of holding courts in the various counties in the third, fifth and sixth judicial districts," which assigned the third Monday of May for the beginning of the term of our district court.

The commissioners met on the sixth day of Januajs^' and orgSnaized, by electing J. H. Dunham, of Verona, chairman, for the year. The business done at this session is of no interest to the reader. They met again on the 23rd day of March, when in pursuance of the militia law, they proceeded to divide the county into six (6) militia districts, and the eleventh day of April was appointed as the day of election of company officers in each district.

This was the first and last organization of the militia in this county, and it was but imperfectly done. A military spirit prevailed throughout the whole country, as may be naturally supposed, in view of the war, and it was thought best to encourage it and give an opportunity for local military organization and discipline, thus forming in this, as exists in many other countries, a body of reserves and hence the old militia system was reinstated. It was not a success. But few of the districts in this county organized by the election of officers. The people, generally, did not have much faith in the system, and were much inclined to ridicule the whole thing, and after a few ragamuffin parades, with hoe handles, broom sticks, umbrellas and a few condemned guns for arms, the whole matter was abandoned as a farce, and as not likely to pi-oduce heroes, or even well-drilled soldiers. The State Militia is now named the National Guard.

The Spring. War Prices

The spring of this year was very favorable to eai'ly seeding, and the weather was quite agreeable. Seeding commenced April 1st. During the latter half of April and through May - a period of six to eight weeks, - there was no rain whatever in a large part of the county, yet the crops did not suffer materially, and both wheat and oats were more than average crops.

In consequence of the war, dry goods and groceries, which had been for some time gradually advancing, reached in March of this year, a pretty high figure. Common cotton sheeting sold at fifty cents per yard. Calicoes from thirty-three to forty cents. Cotton shirting forty-five to sixty cents. Coffee forty to fifty cents per pound. Tea. the cheapest kind, about equal to dried prairie grass, one dollar and fifty cents per pound. Sugar sixteen to twenty five cents per pound. Almost everything bought in the stores averaged about equally high in price, and these high prices, with some fiuctuations, generally ascending Huctuations, continued several years.

Our old settlers will remember, that those were the times of barley, chicory, carrot, wheat, rye and pea coffee, of pennyroyal and sage tea and no sugar in either. The people generally, with few exceptions indeed, in this section of country, used these articles, for several years, during the war, as substitutes for the original articles. And it should be recorded too, that many a good housewife acquired great skill in the manufacture of these beverages, making them so nearly like the genuine, as to deceive "the very elect."

But the people of the North were not quite so badly olT as their belligerent brethren in the South, and that was a great consolation. It appears about the 1st of April, the following prices were current at Richmond, Va.. within the rebel lines, butter §3.50 per lb., hams fl.45 per lb., candles 83.00 per lb., coffee §;4. 50 per lb., corn $7.50 per bushel. So much for mere bread-stuffs and the like, but that article of prime necessity in that country - brandy, was ^24.00 per gallon !

Indian Murders

During the summer Gen. Sibley, with about three thousand troops, made an expedition into the Indian country, driving the Indians toward the upper Missouri. Gen. Sully, with an equal force, advanced into the region occupied by the Indians, by way of the Missouri river. A number of battles were fought, many Indians killed, and much of their property desti'oyed. These expeditions gave peace to the border settlements during this year. With the expedition of Gen. Sibley, there were many soldiers who were residents of this county, in the regiment of Minn. Mounted Rangers. The company of Capt. P. B. Davy, of Blue Earth City, composed largely of residents of this county, and the company of Capt. Austin, in which were quite a number of our citizens, were with the Sibley exjjedition. There were also some others of our citizens in other companies. Among the events of the Indian campaign of this year, we note that, on the 3d day of July. Little Crow, the principal leader of the Indians in the great massacre, was killed. On the 24th of July the battle of Big Mound occurred, and on the 26th the battle of Dead Buffalo Lake. On the 2Sth of July the battle of Stoney Lake took place.

Faribault Cqunty, Minnesota

In May of this year, James B. Wakefield, of this county, was appointed U. S. Provost Marshal of the district composed of this county and Martin, and held the office until August, 1864. The principal duties of the office were the enrollment and report of names of all persons liable to render military service, and the apprehension of deserters.

The Judiciary

The District Court commenced its annual session May 18th. The session lasted until Saturday evening following, being by far the longest term yet held in the county and although much business was done, there was none of special importance, or of public interest.

Some attorney who reads the above item, may be hard up for an authority on some point and may thank the writer for the suggestion contained in the following anecdote taken from a newspaper.

"Some years ago at the trial of a cause before a justice of the peace in one of the southern States, a decided novel legal authority was cited by one of the learned members of the bar, which wrought some slight confusion in the courtroom.

"The court will please observe," remarlced this acute counsel, with much deliberation and in a most ponderous manner, "that in the case of Shylock vs. Antonio, although judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, yet circumstances prevented the execution which had issued from being carried into effect, in spite of that fact."

"Shylock vs. Antonio, 2d Shakespeare, page 235, Johnson's edition, "returned the counsel solemnly. "The court will there find the case reported in full."

On the 28th day of May, the county board held a session, the business of which is noted elsewhere. On the 6th day of July, they again assembled and among other business, on reading a petition of certain soldiers who had enlisted in the Regiment of Minnesota Mounted Rangers for one year, the board directed that one-third of the county bounty paid to three year's men, (820.00) be allowed the petitioners, to-wit: the sumof §6.66s in county orders. The orders were then worth about fifty eight cents on the dollar. If three year's men were entitled to twenty dollars, there was no good reason why one year's men should not have one-third of that sum. The old soldiers still occasionally speak laughingly of this bounty.

A Waif

In a sketch of the county, published in 1868, we find the following statement in reference to this year: "1863. In this year immigration again flowed into the county, but still not to the extent it would had there been no Indian troubles the preceding year.

170 HISTORY (tilt is correctly estimated that the progress of settlement and improvement was retarded at least two years, yet in this year some of the damage was repaired, confidence in the security of the county became restored, money became more plenty, the crops were a fair average and the prices good."

Thanksgiving

The sixth day of August was set apart and designated by the President as a day of national thanksgiving to Almighty God, who holdeth in his hands the fate of nations, for the great victories which had lately attended the Union arms.

Again in December, a day of public thanksgiving was appointed. Both of these occasions were generally observed in an appropriate manner in this county.

The Board Again

An important session of the Board of County Commissioners was held on the first day of September. District school examiners were appointed as follows: J. A. Kiester for first district, F. \V. Cady for second district and J. L. Weir for third district.

But the most important part of their business related to the survey and appraisal of the school lands. Albin .Johnson and Andrew C. Dunn were appointed appraisers in behalf of the county, who were to act in this matter in conjunction with George D. Mc- Arthur appointed by the State, and in view of the survey of these lands, John A. Dean was appointed county surveyor.

The general government released to the State two sections of government lands in each township in the State, being sections sixteen and thirty-six, to be disposed of by the State to create a permanent fund for the benefit of common schools. Under the school land system of the State, these lands, when timbered, in districts where timber is scarce, are surveyed by state authority, and subdivided into two and a half, five and ten acre lots and blocks. The appraisers then fix a value per acre on each lot and block and also on each forty acre tract of prairie land. The lands are then offered for sale at public auction to the highest bidder at such times in each county as the commissioners of the State land office may fix, ample public notice having been first given. But no lands are sold below the appraised value. On timber lands where timber is valuable, fifty to seventy-five per cent of the purchase money must be paid at the time of purchase, and the balance may run twenty years at seven per cent interest, payable annually. Prairie lands are sold on the same terms, except that but fifteen per cent, is required to be paid at the time of purchase. Only such proportion of the lands are sold as the commissioner may from time to time deem expedient. The original number of acres of school lands in this county alone was 25,196.

From these sales the State has secured a magnificent school fund which is continually increasing, and which it is sincerely hoped may never be squandered.

The Farmers' Exhibition

The fair of the Agricultural Society was held at Blue Earth City on the seventh and eighth days of October. Daniel Birdsall, Esq., delivered the annual address.

Homicide

On the 22nd day of October, a Frenchman named Crapau, was shot at Walnut Lake, in this county, by a neighbor named Merry. Crapau died instantly. The affair was caused by an old dispute about a land claim. Merry surrendered himself to the officers of the law, and on an examination before a Justice of the Peace, he was discharged, it appearing, as was alleged, that he was justified in the killing, because necessary to save his own life. But after all it was not a very neighborly, and certainly not a very merry act.

The Whig Of 76

On the 31st day of October appeared the first member of the "Whig of 76," issued at Winnebago City, by Carr Huntington, editor and proprietor. It was a small, six column, four page sheet, very neatly printed. This was the first paper published at Winnebago City. The editor says in his opening editorial, "Among other duties we should like to be able to show to the people of other sections the advantages which lie neglected in the beautiful prairies by which we are surrounded, fairer, richer, than the sun shines on elsewhere. Faribault as an agricultural county, is capable of making rich a hundred thousand inhabitants, and of exporting ten million bushels of wheat annually, to be raised on a surface of twenty towns, six miles square each. The people to that number ought to be here. As soon as they arrive, the acres will be given them for a perpetual inheritance." The paper was union republican in politics.

It is claimed that the first newspaper published in America and which was printed on the first press in America, was a paper named the Freeman's Oath, published at Cambridge, Mass., in 1639. A paper was issued at Boston, Mass., Septmber 25th, 1690. It was designed to be a monthly, but it was immediately suppressed. But one copy of it now remains in existence. The News Letter, published in Boston in 1704, is sometimes, though erroneously, deemed the first American newspaper. It was eight by twelve inches in size. In the first half of the eighteenth century quite a number of newspapers were established, being located mainly in the large cities. Their price was high and circulation limited, and they wei-e but sorry sheets in comparison with the great papers of the present day.

"There are eight newspapers in the United States which claim to be over one hundred years old. The names of the papers and the dates when they are said to liave been established, are as follows: Annapolis (Md.) Gazelle, 1745; Portsmouth (N. II.) Gazette, 1756: Newport (R. I.) Mercury, 1758; New London (Conn.) Gazette, 1753: Hartford (Conn.) Coxnoit, 1764; New Haven (Conn.) /'(Koki!, 1767; Salem (Mass) Gazette, 1768; Worcester (Mass.) Spij, 1770."

There are now - 1881, published in the United States, about nine hundred daily papers, and the triweekly, semi weekly and weekly papers aggregate eight thousand five hundred, with a circulation of fourteen millions and there are eight hundred monthlies with a circulation of four millions. The circulation of some of these papers is very great, running from thirty thousand, to two hundred thousand copies. The circulation of ordinary country papers was all the way from one hundred and fifty copies into one and two thousand.

The circulation of the New York Ledger, has at times exceeded four hundred thousand copies. Some years ago a weeklj; paper was started in New York named the "Advocate." which was reported to have reached a circulation of over six hundred thousand, the greatest ever known up to this time. It ceased for some reason to be issued after an existence of a couple of years.

The first Minnesota newspaper, was the "Minnesota Register,"' and bears date St. Paul, April 27th, 1849, but it was printed at Cincinnati, Ohio. The first newspaper printed in Minnesota, was the '-Minnesota Pioneer," issued at St. Paul, April 28th, 1849, There now is scarcely a county in the State, in which there is not at least one paper published, and many have more. The average country papers of this State, are well gotten up, of good size and fairly edited, and hold a very respectable rank in the tone of their morality and intelligence, while we have several great newspapers in the State which may take rank with the best metropolitan journals and of which the people are, or should be, quite proud.

We have already seen that the first paper published in this county, was the Blue Earth City Xews, the first number of which was dated April Gth, 1861.

For several years there was but one paper in the county, but for the last few years there have been four, and at one time as many as seven papers published in the county.

Many changes have occurred in the newspaper press of this county since the publication of the first paper, all of which are carefully noted in the various years of this volume to the close of 1879. Our papers have in the main, always been equal to the best average of county newspapers. It is a fact worthy of record, that our county has supported a larger number of papers, in proportion to its population, than perhaps any other county in the State. The people of the county have always been a newspaper reading people. Many of them take all the papers published in the county, besides outside papers. All of the great leading journals are taken, and many of the leading monthlies and quarterlies, even the most costly of them, are patronized by the people.

For many years, all of our local papers have been printed on the auxiliary plan, that is, one side of them, containing general news and other matter is printed at the large offices of some of the cities, and the other side containing the local news, editorials and advertisements, is printed at the office of issue. This method, now almost universally adopted throughout the country, has many advantages. It enables the proprietor to publish a paper more easily and cheaply, and make a better paper, as the general news and selections are made by more skillful hands, as a rule, and from a greater range of exchanges, and this work being off the editor's hands, he has more time to devote to local matters. However, all the advantages are not with this system.

And now speaking of newspapers generally, we find that as to form, style and size, they vary greatly. The great majority are four Ijages, the next in order are the eight page papers and there are some of sixteen pages and even some, properly called newspapers, of thirty- two pages, and some of the large sheets are ten columns in width. Our papers cover also a wide range in character and ability, from the Snakefang Gazette and the vile HeWs Messenger to the Public Ledger, (Penn.) and the great religious weeklies. The great majority of newspapers in this country are published in the English language, but there are papers published in many other languages, as the German, French, Spanish, Norwegian, etc. It is a great and beneficial feature, that a great number of the newspapers published are devoted to specialties, to science, art, occupations, classes of society, associations, religious denominations, politics, commerce. Thus the man of science, every profession, the mechanic, the merchant, the agriculturist and others have each a pajier devoted to his particuliar interests and views, besides the journals, which treat of matters in general.

One of the causes which contribute to the public influence of newspapers is a sort of anonymity, impersonality and know everything character, which attaches to them. This quality is something separate from, or independent of. the personality of the editor. The expression, "the paper says so"' goes a great ways with many people. Yet the editor himself, may be a very ninny, or a chump, or worse, and even the editorials may be largely "scissored" from other papers. There are newspapers, the editorial columns of which are largely edited by the shears.

The newspaper is a necessity. Let any one consider for a moment the condition of things should all the papers, suddenly and at once, cease to be published.

The newspaper is one of the great institutions of America, and the Americans are the greatest newspaper readers in the world, and the result is. they are the best informed people in the world, as to general topics and current events.

The newspaper is one of the most powerful educators of the intelligence and conscience of the people, and exercises an influence on the every- day life, the deeds and destiny of the people of the gravest importance. While the school teacher instructs a few dozens, or hundreds, and the preacher reaches his congregation, the editor speaks to many hundreds, often many thousands. Napoleon said, "A journalist is a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. For hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."

"Newspapers," said H. W. Beecher, "are the school mastei-s of the common people - a greater treasure to them than ^uncounted millions of gold."

Wendell Phillips wrote. "What gunpowder did for wars, the pi'inting pi'ess has done for the mind; the statesman is no longer clad in the steel of special education, but every reading man is his judge." The famous Junius says. "Let it be impi'essed upon your minds, let it be instilled into your children, that the liberty of the pi-ess is the palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights." And it has long been a proverb that, "A free press is the stoutest bulwark of our liberties."

The press is not only potent to instruct and lead to right action, but it is also powerful in deterring from and suppressing crime and vice.

The business of Journalism has become a learned and honorable, almost a peerless profession, and the responsibility to the public, of those from the highest to the lowest, who are engaged in it. is very great. The position of the editor of even a country paper, who realizes his duty and i-esponsibilities to himself and the community. and seeks to i>erform them, in a high minded and honorable manner, is a most honorable and important position and such an editor is usually respected as one of the first men of the locality.

Faribault Gounty, Minnesota

timable benefit to any community. There is hardly any one thing, which can effect so much, in moulding and directing public opinion, advancing the material prosperity and raising the moral and intellectual condition of a locality as this. But on the other hand no greater calamity can happen to a locality, than that of having published in its midst a newspaperreflectingthe qualifications of a narrow-minded, self -suflicient, or conceited individual, who supposes himself to be "the all in all" of the community, or one who is so weak, or so depraved, or both, as from week to week to criticise, decry, or misrepresent every moral movement and public enterprise, which does not square with his notions, or of which he is not placed at the head; or a paper which is a perpetual dispenser of "taffy" and fulsome adulation for the purpose of keeping friends; or the friend of the vicious elements and the ready apologist of crimes and disorder; or the mouth piece of defamation and blackmail and a manace to the good name or reputation of every person in the community, who will not bend the knee, or pay the price of immunity from ridicule or libel; or a paper that is purchasable and ready and anxious to sell its support for a price, to any man or cause; or one which is pleased to pander to the curiosity of the vulgar, or is the tool of small beer politicians and self-seekers, who, for a consideration, may write their own puffs. From all such, or any combination therof, good Lord deliver us.

There are such papers and probably always will be. They are like a cancer on the public body, and unless soon cut out, corrupt and destroy the whole community.

The way to have an able and high-toned press, is to demand such, and patronize only such, and the way to get rid of the other sort, is to stick the pajier in the fire, pay the editor what is due him, if anything, and stop your patronage.

It is a grateful task to record the fact, that with but a few exceptions, the publishers of newspapers in this county, whatever the private character or conduct of anyone may have been, seemed to realize their obligations to the community, and if not active in every good work, isromoting intelligence and morality, have done nothing to hinder their progress.

They are those illustrated journals, of the deeds of darkness current in the land, which relate in detail, the shames and crimes of greed and hate and lust, illustrating them with all their horrors and vulgar features. They not only familiarize the mind with crimes of every name, but teach their methods of procedure. Their influence is pernicious. They are Satan's open letters to the people, as the dime novels are his text books. No man wlio regards the welfare of the young, or the purity of his family, will permit them in his house. No one would want the company of the criminals and profligates themselves, why then the pictures and stories of their devilish deeds. We get enough of them for the information of the people in the ordinary newspapers. It is indeed true in a very great measure, that what we read shapes our lives. No man in this enlightened age, can afford to be without at least one good paper. No one can afford to raise his children without the current information, given by newspapers, and the paper should be read by every member of the family, old enough to read. A home is not much of a home without a good newspaper, and every family which respects itself, will have its paper. Every man should take his home paper to learn the local news, and he should take a leading city journal of his State, and he should have a paper devoted to his special business, and he should get one of his church papers, and then to complete the list, if he has a family of children, he should get a child's paper for the little folks. All these papers together and all of the best quality, need not cost to exceed six or eight dollars per annum. As a linancial question it is the best little investment a man can- make, to say nothing of the greater benefits derived in the waj' of general information, correct principle and improvement of manners. There is much that can be said on, this splendid subject of newspapers, but we close these observations by the statement that, the work of publishing a newspaper is a business transaction. But few papers are published wholly as matters of charity.

Papers cannot live without support, and they ai'e generally good and useful, in proportion to the liberality of their support. A paper too, is generally a fair index of the enterprise and intelligence and moral sentiment of the community where iiublished.

Every man should not only take at least his local paper and pay for it, but if he does any business that is respectable and worth doing, he should advertise and pay for that. If he wants patronage, people must know where he is, what he does or has to offer, and if he advertises, the paper tells these things to hundreds, perhaps thousands while he works, or eats or sleeps. It is a fact generally true, that the man who advertises is the man who does the business. It may be observed that the business of publishing a newspaper, except in the case of a few of the great city journals, is not a very money-making business. Many papers started in good faith, and capable of doing much good, fail every year. There is much truth couched in the following lines penned by a once famous Minnesota

The Tale Told By The Tickets

The Republican District Convention was held at Blue Earth City October 22d, and nominated J. A. Latimer, of Winnebago City, for Representative.

The Union Republican County Convention was also held at Blue Earth City and W. J. C. Robertson, of Verona, was nominated for sheriff; Wm. Dustin, of Blue Earth City, for treasurer; Andi-ew C. Dunn, of Winnebago City, for county attorney; D. Birdsall, of Prescott, for county surveyor; Amos Preston, of Elmora, for court commissioner and Wm. A. Way, for coroner.

The prices of farm products late in December ruled as follows: Wheat, 60 to 95 cents per bushel; oats, 45 to 50 cents; barley, 75 cents; corn, 50 cents; potatoes, 30 cents; onions, $1.50; beans, $1.50;

Another call having been made on the 17th of October for three hundred thousand men and a draft having been ordered to take place on the 5th day of January. 18G4. the commissioners met in special session December 11th, to consider the situation. They appointed Andrew C. Dunn as the special agent of the county, to proceed to St. Paul to get the returns of recruits enlisted from this county in the United States service corrected, so as to give this county and each town thereof, the proper credit for all recruits furnished since the beginning of the war. Then to encourage enlistments, and thus prevent drafting as much as possible, the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved that the sum of fifty dollars as a bounty to each volunteer or recruit, in each township in this county, who shall, subseiiuent to the recent call for the three hundred thousand iiieD, and prior to .January ."nh, next, be mustered into the military service of the United States."

Life Here

Extremely drj' weather prevailed for months. TheVe was great heat in the summer and the dust was deep on all the roads and great clouds of dust filled the air when the winds blew or when teams or droves of stock passed along the highways or the public streets.

The lakes and streams were nearly dry and the pastures nearly, or quite, dried out and dead. The subjects that engaged the attention of every one. at home or abroad, in the fields, or in the workshops, or in public assemblies, were the impending draft, the battles fought and the great victories won on land and sea. and the losses in killed or wounded. And there was great rejoicing over the successes, and great sori'owing as well, sometimes bitter indignation at the losses and failures. And there was much activity in recruiting, enlisting and mustering into the service throughout the country. And during all this time money was scarce and dry goods and groceries so high-priced that nothing was bought by the people that could be dispensed with. Old clothing was long worn, often made over, and the people tried to live as much within themselves as possible. They practiced the most rigid economy. During these times, too, the people were bearing a special burden of anxiety about those at the front, in the far south and on the Indian frontier in the northwest, and about the outcome of the war. There were then but two villages and but few post-offices, no railroads and no telegraphs in the county. The mails were carried by stages. The principal mails came from Mankato. The post-offices in the villages especially, were thronged with people when the mails arrived, all eager for letters and papers. Women and children often came long distances on horseback or ou foot in haste to get their mails. How eagerly the papers were unfolded and the news of the great battles, and especially the list of the wounded and killed, were read to the groups of hearers. And the letters, how quickly they were torn open and their contents scanned, sometimes bringing good news, while others and not a few, told the sad stories of terrible wounds received, or the death of father, son, brother or friend, met bravely on the hard-fought field, and the moan of, deep anguish was heard from the heart of the stricken reader. And such sad scenes were not seldom. God forbid that we shall ever see them again. Yet for all the unfavorable conditions under which the people suffered, the sentiment of all still was, "On to the front,'" "Down with the merciless savage, down with the accursed rebellion. "

At The Front

This year was one of great national events - of even greater activity than the preceding year in military affairs, on land and sea. Many great victories crowned the Union arms.

The Emancipation Proclamation issued January 1st, has already been referred to. January 17th the government issued f 100,000.000 in notes, to pay the army. March 3d. congress authorized the borrowing of $900,000,000, on the credit of the government, and the issue of $50,000,000, in fractional currency.

Daring the month of April no less than eighty-five battles, skirmishes and attacks took place, on land and water. May 1st, battle of Port Gibson and battle of Chancellorsville begun. May 16th, battle of Baker's Creek, Miss. June 15th, the President called for 120.000 militia to repel Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. June 18th, 100.000 Confederates entered Pennsylvania near Cliambersburg. The first days of July formed the crisis of the war. On the 1st, 2d and 8d of July occurred the great battle of Gettysburg, Pa., which was one of the greatest of the civil war. July 4th, Vicksburg, Miss., surrendered with 31,000 men, 220 guns and 70,000 small arms. July 8th, Port Hudson sun'endered. July 13th, great riot in New York City, lasting several days, during which the colored orphan asylum was burned, negroes hung in the streets and houses robbed and burned by the rioters. The riot was quelled by government troops. Aug. 1st, two cavalry fights in Virginia. Aug. 20th. Lawrence, Kan., attacked and destroyed by the guerillas.

Sept. 19 20Ui, battle of Chickamauga. Oct. 14th, battle Bristoe Station, Va. Oct. 31st, battle Shell Mound. Nov. 23d, great battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, lasting three days.

The Last Day

The last day of this year was one of the most terrible ever known in this region. A great tempest of wind with intense cold prevailed on the last day of the year and for several days of the next year, over the whole country. Even in southern latitudes the cold was very severe. At St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky., the mercury sank to 24° below zero. In this county the wind blew a hurricane all day, the thermometer standing at 30" to 34° below zero. The air was tilled with fine particles of ice so thickly and was driven with such velocity that objects ten feet distant could not be seen, and it was almost impossible to face the wind. Night fell upon the earth, the storm unabated and thus closed the year 1863.

"T'is donel Dread winter spreads his latest glooms, And reigns tremendous o'er the conquered year. » * * Horror wide extends His desolate domain."' - T/tonwon.