Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 10, 1896

Chapter 10

The great storm and intense cold, with wliich the preceding year closed, continued during the first day of this year and for several days after, but were less severe than on the first day. We find the following notice of the storm in the Wliici of January 6th :

"A storm of more than usual severity passed over this region last weelc. People who have been raised in this climate say they have never seen anything to equal the fierce blasts, wind, frost and snow combined. On Wednesday the wind blew fierce gales from the northwest, the air being filled with falling and drifting snow, increasing the terrors of the scene during the night. On Thursday and the night following, until about midnight, the storm had been rallying to its climax, and then gradually subsided, but on Friday morning the degree of cold was marked by the thermometer at 33° below zero.

The soldiers of the expedition to Sioux City arrived in the neighborhood on the return in time to secure quarters at Fairmont and this place. They had suffered on their way out during a severe storm, and a young man named James Huntington, son of Col. Hallam Huntington, of this town, had a foot badly frozen, and was left at Sioux City.

It was estimated at the time that about three thousand dollars worth of stock, principally cattle and sheep, perished in this storm, in this county alone. Many people were more or less frozen and some were frozen to death in the counties west of this. The weather continued cold and rather stormy and wet, with some short exceptions, in February and March, until the middle of April. Some wheat was sown about the twenty-fifth of March, but the greater part of it was sown during the third and fourth weeks of April, yet the weather even then was quite cold and blustery. It cleared up about the last day of the month, and became very warm and dry until the twenty-second day of May, when a terrific storm of wind, rain and hail prevailed over a large part of the county. During the remainder of the year, until late in December, when the winter began, the weather was very agreeable. This may be designated as another dry year.

Thomas Blair was elected chairman for the year. The board met again Januai-y 27th, February 10th, May 27ih and July 8th. But little was done at these meetings worthy of note, and that little is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Several meetings were held later in the year which will be noticed hereafter.

The Legislature

The sixth legislature met January 5th and adjourned March 4th. The legislature of the preceding year almost ignored this county, and that of 1804, did it quite, as no act whatever, was passed, having any particular relation to this county. Happy county! However, there was some talk about this time, of an effort being made to change certain of the bouudarj' lines of the county, but it came to naught. D. G. Shillock, in the Senate and J. A. Latimer in the House, were our representatives in the legislature of 1864. Andrew C. Dunn, of this county, was chief clerk of the House of Representatives.

More Men

On the 1st day of February, the President ordered a draft of five hundred thousand men, and on the 15th of March he called for two hundred thousand more, which made the business of recruiting in this county, as elsewhere, quite lively, and almost monopolized the public attention. In the Whif) of March 23d, we find tlw following table showing the quotas of men required up to that time to be furnished by the several town districts in this county, and the number credited to each. It is of interest at this late day, but was of more interest at that time.

It will be observed that while several town districts only wei'e slightly in arrears, yet the county, as a whole, was much ahead of the requisitions.

by them, and its curious custom of sending valentines observed to a greater or lesser extent every year in this county, and the day, therefore, demands, of course, a passing notice.

St. Valentine was a Roman martyr, who was beheaded in the year 270, at Rome, in the reign of the Pagan Emperor Claudius I. He was a man of great ability, a christian, and famous for his love of his fellow-man, and his unbounded charity for all.

Some writers say he was a bishop, others that he was but a presbyter or priest. He was early canonized, and ever since, the fourteenth day of February has been known, in the church calendar, as St. Valentine's Day. But the peculiar customs incident to this day, had their origin long before St. Valentine lived, and can be traced back among the Romans to a period two thousand years ago. There existed among the Romans at that time, the pagan festival of the Lupercalia, which was held in February, and about the time when birds in that country were choosing their mates. It was the custom at the time of the festival and a ceremony in the worship of Juno, a heathen goddess, to place the names of young women in a box, when after being well shaken, they were drawn out at random by the young men, and the one whose name was drawn, was, as we should now say, the valentine of the drawer for one year.

Later, during the times of the early church, the pastors finding this heathen custom so deeply rooted that it could not be eradicated, changed its form somewhat and connected it with the observances of St. Valentine's Day. Further changes followed in the course of years, until the sending of written or printed missives, called valentines, as we now have them, came in vogue, and has continued during a long course of years. The writer is indebted to various authorities for the historical facts above set forth. These missives were designed originally to be short messages of love, f rendship, tokens of regard, and are generally anonymous - the sender being unknown - and they are sent by the young women as well as by the young men. A poet writes:

Many years ago, in England, a custom connected with this day prevailed extensively, and for a long time, and which may be related here for the amusement of the young folks. According to this practice each maiden was to regard as her valentine the first lad on whom her eyes rested on St. Valentine's Day. Hence on that day the boys were up early and dressed out in their very best clothes and went to call at the residence of the girl whom they wished to be their valentine, and many cunning devices were used by the young people to see or be seen by the right person first, the girls trying to avoid being seen by any other but the young man of her choice, and he using his best skill in trying to be seen by the young lady of his choice first, and by no one else until after this momentous question was determined, and a great deal of innocent sport was the result of all this maneuvering.

The missives now called valentines are usually made of small sheets of paper, in various styles, sometimes in the form of cards, letters, pictures, boxes, and contain verses, printed or written, with portraits and pictures of vai'ious objects, usually flowers, caricatures and the like. Some are made up in silk or satin in various shapes. Very costly valentines are to be had in the cities, ranging in price from ten dollars to one hundred dollars. They are jnade in all grades, down to the penny daub. The shop windows in the smaller towns are usually full of the cheaper kinds for a week or two before St. Valentine's Day and attract a good deal of attention. Some are sentimental, some comic and occasionally some are even vulgar. Valentines are usually sent, dulj^ enveloped, postage prepaid, through the post-offices, and for a week or two before and after St. Valentine's Day, the post-offices are overloaded with this kind of matter, to be sent in every direction.

And when these little missives are sent and i-eceived, and are of a proper character, much pleasure is enjoyed by those who take an interest in them.

But sometimes this custom, like many others, is abused, and illconditioned, vulgar or malicious.people make use of it to injure the feelings of others, or bring them into ridicule. Comic valentines are perhaps more used at this day than any others, and create much sport when no malice is involved.

Valentines are used sometimes to remind peojile of various things, and sometimes with not much propriety, yet occasionally with some benefit. For instance, an individual whom fortune has favored, may perhaps be disposed to "put on airs" and make himself very disagreeable to his neighbors, and someone who thinks he should be rebuked by being reminded of something, but does not wish to say to him that his father was a city collector - that is, a collector of soap grease - sends him an anonymous valentine containing, perhaps, some suitable verse and a highly colored portrait of an old man his greasy cart and barrels and scare crow of a horse. Spilkins may know that old Soaker is an arrant drunkard, but don't wish to say so to his back, so he sends him a valentine representing a man with an enormous and very red nose and an empty whisky jug. Such valentines usually do much more harm than good and should not be indulged in.

Used as an amusement, or for purposes of friendship or affection, and within the bounds, always, of propriety, these customs of St. Valentine's Day may be made a source of benefit and of much innocent pleasure, and may certainly be commended. But on the other hand, any one should be severely censured, who should so far degrade himself as to be guilty of wounding the sensibilities of others, making sport of their misfortunes, or gratifying his malice at their expense

The Newspapers

About the ninth of March, J. L. Christie, formerly of the Minnesotian, at Blue Earth City, purchased the Whic/ at Winnebago City. Mr. Christie, in his first issue, very wisely says, among other things, that '"A paper, properly conducted, can do much toward attracting immigration, and no pains will be spared to make the paper what it should be in this respect. The editorial department will be under the charge of H. W. HoUey."

On the 29th of the same month, the first number of the Blue Earth City Advocate was issued at Blue Earth City, by Carr Huntington, editor. It was a six column, four page sheet, and made a very creditable appearance - motto "Freedom (?) and Union now and forever."

The editor says: ''The paper will stand square for the Union, and the men in every capacity who are engaged in the work of its preservation."

The former editorial management continued. Of the new name the editor writes: "Located as we are in the very midst of free homesteads, which the government has given, or will give for the asking to the actual settler, it seems to us appropriate to identify our paper in name with these homesteads, as we intend it shall always be identified with them in interest." Having now got our county papers - now two of them - squarely before the public and at work, as they remained for several years, we shall pass to other topics.

Wind Mills

In writing this sub heading immediately after the remarks on newspapers, tliere is no implied design of continuing our observations on that subject, but to state that in the early part of the year an enterprise was inaugurated at Blue Earth City, looking to the erection of a grist mill at that place. At that time there was but one grist mill in the county, and that but a small one, located at Winnebago City, and the majority of those who desired milling done carried their grists twenty, thirty and even forty miles to mill. This was a great inconvenience and quite expensive, and the people of Blue Earth City concluded that no enterprise would be of more advantage to the village and the surrounding country than the building of a grist mill.

After the expenditure of enough wind in talking over the matter to run three ordinary wind mills, a number of meetings were held, and it was determined to erect a wind grist mill. On the second day of April a joint stock company was formed under the incorporation laws of the State. The officei's went manfully to work, and after the timbers were gotten out and some of the machinery purchased, the company sold out to private individuals who completed and put the mill in oi^eration. It was not a great success, yet it proved quite a convenience and of considerable public advantage for some time. And this was the second grist 'mill in the county. The water power mills, of which we now have a goodly number, were next, and later "evolved," and these milling facilities were increased still later by the addition of first-class steam grist mills.

Agricultural Society Matters

The agricultural society held a meeting at Winnebago City, March 26th. at which a new constitution and bylaws were adopted. It appears that another meeting - the regular quarterly meeting - was held at Blue Earth City April 4th, at which, also, a constitution and by laws were adopted, but whether the same as those adopted in March, does not appear - presumably they were. This meeting adjourned to May 16th, at the county auditor's office, for the election of officers. The adjourned meeting was held, and J. A. Latimer was re-elected president, D. Birdsall, secretary and A. Bonwell, treasurer, for the current year. Another meeting was held June 25th, when it was determined to hold the fair at Winnebago City on the 14lh and 15th of September, but the time was subsequently changed to the 23d and 24th of September.

First Insurance Agency

As a matter of interest to the insurance fraternity, it may be recorded here, that in April of this year, the first i)ermananl insurance agency was established in this county - one which still continues after a lapse of sixteen years. The agency was established at Blue Earth City by the old ^Etna Insui-ance Company, of Hartford, Conn. J. A. Kiester was appointed agent.

In the next month. May, the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, of Madison, Wisconsin, appointed an agent in the town of Verona - A. B. Balcom - but this agencj' did not continue a great while.

At this time many different companies have agencies in this county, among which are found many of the oldest and strongest companies of America and Europe.

The business of underwriting, in its higher departments, is a learned and honorable profession. Insurance is a science, having an important history and literature. Many of the periodical and weekly publications, devoted to this science, are of a high order. As a business, its transactions are second only to those of the great railroading interests of the country. The vocation of an insurance agent is an important and honorable one. It is upon the agents of the companies that the great business of insurance rests, and is dependent for success, and insurance agents, as a class of business men, are as honorable, correct in the transaction of their business, and as trustworthy as the members of any other profess ion or occupation; yet, as in other departments of business, there are some who dishonor the profession, and the companies should be, in fact generally are, ever ready to weed out such employees when discovered.

The district court held a session of one day, at the usual time in May. This was the last term in this county at which the Hon. Lewis Branson presided, his term of office expiring January 1st following. He had presided at all our courts from the first organization of the county to this time. A number of distinguished lawyers from abroad were present at this term, among whom was Hon. C. G. Ripley, afterwards chief justice of our supreme court.

A Court Crier

A lawyer, living on Walnut Hills, has a son about seven years old, and a daughter about three times that age. The boy has been around the court room a good deal, and the girl has a solid beau. The other evening the gentleman passed the house, and the young lady wanted to see him.

Johnny knew the state of affairs, and with a ready "of course," he flew to the front door and called out in the usual loud monotone of a crier:

Settling Up The Country

Immigration this year commenced in May and continued all summer, at high rate. A great deal of land was taken up, many farms opened and many buildings erected. Money became ([uite plenty and lands and grain brouglit good jjrices. This year was in fact, one of the great years of immigration and improvement in this county. In a new country few things are, so encouraging and beneficial as a large immigration. People and improvements are the chief requisites to make a country, and the Americans are the greatest country and state makers in the world. It is said that the Americans are nomadic. This is true in a limited sense in the west, and while the old saying that "a rolling stone gathers no moss" is quite true, thousands of people are greatly benefited by a change of location, if they do not change too often. It was about this time that the homestead law. passed in 1862 by congress, began to have its effect, inducing a vast emigration for years to the new states and territories. Our county was not only the recipient of much immigration, but it was also the highway over which passed much of the immigration to the southwestern and northwestern counties of the State. The long lines of white covered wagons often called "prairie schooners" and droves of stock, passing through to the north and west, were for many years a common and an interesting sight, even though they did not stop with us. The day will come flrhen they shall be onlj* a thing of the past, and even now are less frequently seen than formerly. What western man can fail to feel an interest in the emigrant as he passes along in his covered wagon now his only home on earth? Generally there are tired looking teams, tired looking men and women, tired and hungry children, and the plodding stock following, all toiling along over the prairies, through forests, over the mountains, weary and dusty, but still patient, enduring, persevering until the Eldorado is at last reached. The heart involuntarily utters "God bless you stranger, may He prosper your venture. It was thus most of our people came to this new land. It is thus great states are built. It is a venture with the emigrant, it is always a venture, and we, the early settlers all well know what it implies. The old home far behind perhaps beyond the sea. forever deserted, old and dear social and Icindred ties and associations of all the by-gone years forever broken, the toilsome journey, the land of strangers, the building of the new home, the establishment of business, the making of new friends and the beginning of a new life. The newcomer and the way-faring emigrant, is indeed entitled to the kindly greeting, the helping hand, if needed, and generous encouragement, of whatever name or nation, tongue, or kindred, he may be.

About the last of May a fair and festival was held at Winnebago City by the Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society for the benefit of sick and disabled soldiers at the front. It was a grand success in every respect. The people were enthusiastic and everyone contributed liberally to the good cause. The amount realized from the fair and and festival, together with some additional sums afterwards contributed was the handsome donation of .^456.47. On the first day of June a like fair and festival was held at Blue Earth City by the Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society of that place. Notwithstanding the many enlistments, the large town and county bounties and other aid extended to the soldiers, the people were not weary. At Blue Earth City on this occasion a large concourse of citizens full of patriotism and liberality attended. They assembled at Young's Hall about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, where an address was delivered by J. A. Kiester.

After alluding to and briefly explaining the monarchal theories and systems of government, which had ruled the world through all the ages, and the results, and after explaining the new and better principles of civil government, asserted by the Declaration of American Independence, the speaker said, among other things: -

"But the American Revolution produced a change in the affairs of man - light broke in upon, and hope dawned for the down-trodden and oppressed millions of the earth. Those new and better and truer principles asserted by that revolution, recognizes man as a being of rights and of equal rights. And these better principles are becoming recognized. Mankind are progressing in knowledge everywhere, and in the knowledge of the true principles of political science. The shackles of the old despotic systems are slowly but surely loosening - they must loosen as the mass of the people progress, or be burst assunder in bloody revolutions overturning all government and order. The despots of the old world already see, and to some extent admit this truth. The glorious car of human freedom is rolling forward. It is but a short time since the perjured villain and despot who rules France, in a call for a European Congress, stated that this progress of the people must be recognized. The English people are becoming more jealous of their civil liberties - Russia has freed her millions of serfs - Poland and Hungary are in revolution - and classic Italy, under the leadership of Victor Emanuel and that glorious patriot, Garibaldi, has risen from her divisions and degradations of ages to an honorable position among the nations with the glad shout of free and united Italy. Thus are those principles asserted by our revolution becoming recognized - thus is mankind progrossing in the pathway of true advancement and elevation, and may this progress in the true principles of government, hand in hand with that in science, art, literature and religion, move forward without let or hindrance, until every system of slavery, wrong and oppression with despots, and their systems, thrones, sceptres and minions shall be swept from the earth forever.

And now let us revert to our own country and its great interests, its condition and destiny. Eighty odd years have passed away since, through the Are and blood and storms of the revolution, our government was organized upon the principles asserted by that revolution - what is the result? Let us view it for one iinvturii I a> ilfxistcfi before thu breaking nut (if tin' robcilioti. This people, who, at thetiaii' of the Iieclaration of IniifpiTidence, consisted of thirteen colonies and tlirei' million of inhal)itants. without commerce, without a name and witliout a place amun^r tlie nations - had K'rown to be a mijihty people, composed of thirty-four states, and luvrv than thirty million iohaiiitants. We had tal<en our ])lace asa llrst-class power of the earth. Our empire was almost a continent. We had a country possessing every variety of soil, every character of climate and all kinds of productions. We had thousands of miles of sea coast, the longest rivers, railroads and canals in the world, a commerce that spread its sails on every sea, and manufactories of every description. Our people were industrious, intelligent, enterprising and brave. Hut this is not all - in the higher blessings of free governmentthe universal dilTusion of l<nowledge, progress in the arts and sciences, the freedom of conscience, of opinion, of speech, and of the press - in all these we had no equal on earth. In short, we had the most free, most tolerant, and best government ever possessed by man. And now drawing aside the thick veil which hides the future destinies of our country, let us contemplate it an hundred years hence, in the spirit and faith of the patriot's hope. Behold: A nation of more than two hundred millions of people, whose states indissolubly united embrace the area of a continent, whose lands are in the highest state (jf cultivation and productiveness, whose manufactures supjily the world - whose commerce covers every sea, whose arts and sciences are carried to the highest perfection - the precepts of morality and religion governing its people - having no entangling alliances with foreign nations, but the just arbiter of their ditlerences - a nation whose schools are free, and the benefits of an enlarged physical and mental education and development, possessed by every citizen - where all classes, castes, and distinctions, except such as are based upon virtue and wisdom, are unknown in the social and political systems - where the widest freedom of speectf, of opinion of the press, of conscience and of personal action, consistent with the well-being of society, are indisputable rights.

What a nation of prosperity, power and glory is this! This nation at the breaking out of the rebellion was a subject of pride and congratulation, but how much more worthy of pride is that nation which we may hope to become in the future!- And to me that future is no Utopian dream- no unreasonable hope. But there is a condition necos.sary to the maintenance of our country as it is or was - a condition necessary to be fulfilled, in the consummation of the future we hope for. And what is this condition? I answer, </ic muintemtncc of the Union, the Constitution and the Siipranacy of the Laivs. This is the simple, fundamental condition. And if we fail in this, we may now hid adieu to our liberties, to our wealth, power, prosperity and future prospects as a nation. The blood of our fathers will have been shed in vain, and the last and only hope of the political elevation of man will have perished, and on the broken columns of our ruins, the future moralizer on the destiny of nations, may write the sad but then truthful commentary -

Alas my countrymen! the black tlag of treason, rebellion and disunion has been thrown to the breeze. Led on by traitors whose treason is as black as hell because of its ingratitude and want of excuse, the deluded people of the South, lifting their bloodstained hands to heaven, swear to dissolve the Union, overturn the nation, defeat and destroy our just and equitable system of government and establish one upon the basis of slavery. Shall this be soy Shall the Union and the Constitution be maintained? Let us reason for a moment, then to the men who are defending them with their lives.

The American Union should be a holy thing to us. "It was baptized some eighty years ago, in a river of sacred blood. For that Union thousands of brave men left their homes, their wives, all that man holds dear, to die amid ice and snow, the shock of battle, the dishonor of gibbets. No one can count the tears, the prayers, the lives that have sanctified this American Union, making it an eternal bond of brotherhood for innumerable millions, an altar forever sacred to the rights of man. And for eighty years and more the smile of God has beamed upon it."

"And the man that for any pretence would lay a finger upon one of its pillars, not only blasphemes the memory of the dead, but invokes upon his memory the curse of all ages yet to come. I care not how plausable his argument, how swelling his sounding periods, that man is a traitor to the soil that bore him, a traitor to the mother whose breast gave him nourishment, a traitor to humanity everywhere, and a traitor to the dead whose very graves abhor the pollution of his footsteps."'

There is, my countrymen, no light in which you can view this qu(!Stion, no possible hypothesis upon which to base a probable condition consistent with the liberties, material and other prosperity of this people, if we should fail to crush this rebellion. There is nothing left but to maintain the Union, the Constitution and the Laws, whatever the time and treasure and life it may cost. And to accomplish it, is worth the lives of one generation of men, yours, my hearers, and mine among the number, and all the wealth of this continent, for it is not the cause of this country alone, nor of this generation, but of all mankind and of all the generations to come.

And here thi.s question of slavery presents itself. But I will not try your patience by a long hfimily upon this subject. Let me tell you in a few words the character of this most accursed institution and the fate that awaits it as I read the signs of the times. I look upon chattel slavery as it existed in this country as the greatest social, moral and political evil upon the face of the earth. It is the essence of all and every system of despotism. It is antagonistic to the principles upon which our government was founded. It is "the sum of all villainies." It is without warrant in revealed law, and is condemned by the law of nature, and there is absolutely no argument in the whole range of human reason, that can excuse, much less sustain it.

And this great curse, this gigantic crime against man and God, the evils of which we are now reaping in this rebellion against the Union, against our laws and liberties - this evil, which, with its authors and apologists, men will execrate through all ages, is about to be destroyed as a result of this war for the Union. The Proclamation of Emancipation will besustained. The shackles are breaking and the oppressed shall go free, and when this war shall be ended and the Union restored, there may not be a slave on our soil, and the glad shout the mighty anthem of freedom shall resound throughout the universe - Glory be to God.

Understand me friends, standing upon the law of God and nature, I am the friend of human freedom, of liberty, civil and religious, for all men everywhere. I care not of what nation or color they may be, and I verily believe as I stand here to-day, that as in the dark day ot the revolution, the finger of God was everywhere manifest, so in this war is He evolving the great problem of human freedom, and that the restoration of the Union and the annihilation of slavery as a result of the war, are the ends He will accomplish.

Such, frionds, Is luy humble comprehension of the importance of this war for the Union - some of Its results and in the dim but certain future the glorious destinies of our country. And I have no fear for the result if we do our duty, and the only question now is, what is our duty as loyal citizensV It is very i)laiii, layinir aside all party prejudices and passions, creeds and mere personal interests, we must stand by our povernniont with all our property, with the best exertions of our minds and bodies ei'en loi/o (?eaf/i. And hundreds of thousands of our noble countrymen have t^one forth determined to sustain the Rovernment. restore the I'nion and protect our liberties or perish in the attempt. God's best blessing be upon them. What a glorious cause like that for which our fathers toiled, the best for which man ever fought, or bled, or died.

Hut we have not only the openly declared rebel and traitor to light - throughout the North there are many who sympathize with our enemies. There were such men in the days of the revoluti(»n, so in the war of 1812. They were called tories and traitors then - they are called copperheads now. And if 1 knew a more loathsome and repellant name, a name embodying all scorns and shames, 1 would shout it in their ears until they would hide their deformed heads and principles from the light of day, and the gaze of all honest men. The traitor who opeuiy backs his treason with his life, may demand some respect for his courage and sincerity, but for the grovelling, sneaking, cowardly whelp of .Sa tan, who with his heart filled with the foulness of treason, his mouth with lying words, seeks to liinder, distract and ruin the very government whose liberties, security and protection he enjoys, there are no words too bitter, no bate too strong this side of Hell. Admitting as we must, that there is some corruption in the war, that there are many mistakes made, all of which is inevitable in any war, it is no reason whatever to give up the contest. But copperheads, with motives and feelings as evident as the designs of the devil upon the human race, and with no view to temperate discussion and remedy at these evils, but to magnify and distort everything in the interestof their Southern friends, tell us the Constitution is violated every hour - that the President is a tyrant - that the government is wholly corrupt - that the country is ruined by debt - that Congress has no objects in its labors but base political and pecuniary end.s - that our generals are all Incompetent and mercenary - that this is a war against the rights of the South and should be given up - that it is an abolition war and a war for the benefit of speculators and rotten politicians, men who have no sympathy with our cause in Its failures, mistakes and misfortunes - not a word of praise in its victories and achievements, who tell us there is no patriotism in the men who are fighting its battles, - that their motives are all mercenary - GreatGodI Can this all be true"? Arc these men who have left their business, their wives and children, their peace and security and comfort, sacrificing every thing that men hold dear - are these men after all but mercenary wretches'? See them on the hundred battlellelds of this war, from the highest commander to the commonest soldier, toiling, suffering, bleeding, dying, facing the most appalling dangers, and as company, regiment and battalion are swept away by the murderous fire of the foe, still with the battle shout, cheer and song, fill up the thinned ranks, marching into the very jaws of death, determined on victory. Is this mercenary'? Are these men thinking of bounties and thirteen dollars a month? See them lying strewn upon these hundred battlefields, dead and silent, or in hospitals .sufTering from disease and ghastly wounds, still true to the holy cause- Is this mercenary? No, friends, this charge is a lie - a base born traitor's lie. There is patriotism in this war, established by the best proofs men have ever asked. The lives, the accursed machinations of these copperheads have cost, will be kept as a record of blood against them through all time, like the tories and traitors of the revolution and of the war of '12, they will be remembered but to be haled.

Now what should be our course towards these cowardly miscreants? I will tell you in a word. Have no association or sympathy with them - put no man in office of doubtful patriotism, and be not deceived by specious assertions or changes of opinion. Let the past consistency of every man's conduct prove his sincerity, and give no ear to their falsehoods - they will cry out against this, and the worst pinched will be the first to howl, but remember the mighty trust reposed in every patriot's hands, and as you value the .success of our cause and country, heed them not - be true to your trust.

And now to return to the brave men who are fighting our battles, and our duty to them and to our country, and I am done. They are fast falling in the mighty struggle - by the hardships and dangers of disease, and wounds, and death. Thousands of them will return to us no more in this world - they have fallen with their faces to the foe. Thousands are languishing in hospitals from sickness and wounds - other thousands are still bravely facing the storms of battle amid want and toil and suffering. Oh! what is our duty I What can we do who are yet surrounded by peace and plenty and ease'? I will say it - let us bury all party, all prejudice creeds and differences, and stand, as the struggle may grow fiercer and darker, more closely together, and when our time comes, as soon it may, let us go forth manfully to fill the thinned ranks, and while we remain here let us not be idle. Let us show our brave countrymen that we sympathize with them - that we appreciate their services. Yes, there is a great and good work for us to do - what is it? Find your answer in the organization of the Sanitary and Christian Commission and Soldiers' Aid Societies, all intended for the benefit of the men in the field. And now here to-day the opportunity is offered to give your aid, and let no man, or woman, or child, be found wanting. You know the righteousness of the cause in which they are suffering and dying - it is our country's, humanity's, my cause, your cause, the cause of posterity. Let us open our hands wide, and as every man has received from God, so in the name of God let him bestow. If your gift is small, so be it. It may be enough to send an agent of the Commission with a cup of cold water, a bandage, a little cordial, for the wounded and dying soldier.

Fathers and Mothers! You have long enjoyed the blessings of our good government. Your son may be battling bravely to sustain it. Give of your abundance. It may moisten his parched lips, ease his broken body or stop the flow of his life blood.

Young Men and Brothers! It is especially for us to sustain our brothers in the field, and the cause of our country. Give in your health and strength and your hopes of a manly life.

Wives and Sisters! You who are ever ready in every good work. Eemember your husbands and brothers in the ranks of war. Prove again to-day that you are worthy descendants of the Mothers of the Revolution.

Little Children! Remember your fathers faraway, battling for your future welfare, and while your mothers teach you the first duties of patriotism, bring your little gifts.

After the address and some patriotic music, a splendid dinner was served free to all, but for which many paid liberally. A subscription was passed around, and everybody gave largely beyond ex- pectation. Several town lots and many other things were put up for sale and sold and re sold at higli figures, the proceeds going into the soldier's fund. From these and other sources the grand sum contributed was .*452.3ft, which with twenty dollars contributed a day or so later made the sum of .*47l2. G'?, making in all the splendid aggregate of $924.85 for Faribault county and which, considering the population and means of the people, made this the Bnnnt r Coioitij of the atdte. The funds were sent to the Christian Commission. Everybody was proud of this patriotic affair at the time, and those who took an active part in it like to talk about it and are proud of it to this day.

A Topic Of The Timks

During the spring and summer there was again consideralbe talk in certain localities of another attempt to remove the county seat from Blue Earth City, but it failed to "crystalize" into action.

The Fourth of July was not generally celebrated in this county, in this year, but a pic nic was held in the town of Verona on that day, which was largely attended, and proved a very pleasant affair, and, in fact, is still remembered by many.

On the 18th of this month the President called for fiye hundred thousand more troops. The war was being prosecuted with terrible energy, as will be seen by reference to the summary of battles, etc. at the end of this chapter. Men were falling daily at the front, by the thousands, but the glorious shouts of victory over treason were resounding throughout the land.

The Husbandman'S Reward

The harvest commenced this year as early as the middle of July. The weather was fine, and the crops were never better in this county than this year. Every kind of grain was good and abundant, and was safely harvested and secured. Wheat in Winona, in this State, in the early part of July, sold at §^2.05, the price, however, was much less than that here. But there are some people who are never satisfied. Uncle Josh - an old settler - has always been a grumbler. If it rains he grumbles; if it is dry he has great forebodings. "'Well. Uncle Josh, you have very fine crops this year." said a neighbor to him one day, to see what he would say. "Yes," said Uncle Josh, "that are so, very fine craps, but these heavy craps is mighty hard on the land, I tell yer."

The Board Of Commissioners

"Resolved, that the sura of one hundred dollars be, and the same is horeliy appropriated, as a bounty to each person who has enlisted, or may enlist in the military or naval service of the United States, and be credited to any township in Faribault county, under the present call of the president for 500,000 men, to be paid upon satisfactory evidence of such enlistment and credit."

At this same time the several town districts in the county were giving very liberal bounties, as will be seen by reference to the historical sketches of the several towns. The commissioners met again September 6th, and on the thirteenth day of October, but we find nothing in their action to be noted here.

Indians Again

All along during the spring and early part of the summer, rumors of renewed Indian troubles in the west and southwest, were current, and a general Indian war, all along the border seemed imminent. The fears entertained were not without foundation, as the Indians did commence hostilities on the plains, in Nebraska, and at various points on the extreme western frontiers. Many whites were killed, and emigrant trains, on the plains, were attacked and destroyed, and in Minnesota a number of small hostile predatory bands of Indians were skulking and marauding on the frontier. About the 11th of August two murders were perpetrated by Indians near Vernon, in Blue Earth county, Mr. Eoot and Mr. Mack were killed, and a number of horses stolen.

The government sent out strong foi'ces in every direction against the red skins. Gen. Sully again advanced with a strong force up the Missouri river. With this expedition was Brackett's battalion in one company of which - Cap t. J. A. Read's - were some twenty Faribault county men. An expedition under command of Col. Thomas, in which was Capt. Davy's company, composed largely of Fairbault county men, left Minnesota in May, and crossing the western part of the State and Dakota in a westerly direction joined the Sully expedition in July, on the Upper Missouri.

The result of these rumors and murders here was another great excitement and much uneasiness. But the people did not leave their homes. No actual outbreak occurred in the State, but to quell the excitement and protect the country. Col. B. P. Smith, of Mankato, was directed by the Governor of the State, to organize companies of "Mounted Minute Men," along the Blue Earth river. On the 25th of August a company of forty-two men, was organized and armed under command of Dr. R. R. Foster, lieutenant at Blue Earth City.

At Winnebago City a similar company of thirtj' men was enlisted under command of James Grays, lieutenant. We have not succeeded in getting the names of the members of this company for incorporation in this history as we should have liked. The minute men received ?2..")0 per day, paid by the State.

A line of strong military posts having been established through the counties west and north of this, between which constant communication was kept up by scouts, the companies of ^minute men were, about October 2d, disbanded. Many of these frontier posts were maintained through the next year, and until the spring of 1866, and were vory neCessary as we shall see hereafter, to the protection of the borders.

Saving The Country

The presidential election came on this year. Vast interests were involved, and at stake, but not so much in local as in national politics. Very early, statesmen, politicians and the rank and file of the two great parties were at work.

Abraham Lincoln had been nominated by the republicans for reelection to the presidency. Gen. Geo. B. McLellan was the candidate of the democracy.

Horace Austin, of St. Peter, republican, and Daniel Buck, of Mankato, democrat, were the candidates for judge of the Sixth .Judicial District, of which this county was a jiart.

The republican union district convention met at New Ulm, in Brown county, on the 3d day of Sejatember, and unanimously nominated D. G. Shillock, of Brown county, for senator, and J. A. Kiester, of this county, for representative.

The general election was held on the 8th day of November. A large vote was polled. The following table gives the result of the official canvass of the votes.

As the county returns show the results of election only as to county officers, it may be stated that Abraham Lincoln was reelected president, Wm. Windom was re-elected member of congress, Mr. Austin was elected jadge of this district and D. G. Shillock was elected senator and J. A. Kiester, representative.

Gold And Silver

Soon after the war commenced, gold and silver money began to grow scarcer and scarcer until they entirely disappeared from circulation. They fluctuated very greatly in value. Gold soon began to bring a premium. A dollar in gold was valued at from one dollar to as high as two and eighty- two one hundreths dollars in ' -greenbacks," depending on the condition mainly of public affairs and the circumstances of the war. A rebel victory of importance sent gold up, a great union victory sent gold down. Speculation and some other causes also affected the value. Silver followed closely upon the heels of gold. During several of the last years of the war and for a number of years after, neither gold nor silver was seen. If some one happened to have a "quarter" or a "dime" and choose to exhibit it, a crowd would soon gather around to see the curious relic. During these times, the "circulating medium" was greenbacks, national bank notes of one dollar and upwards, fractional currency of five, ten, . twenty-five, fifty and seventy-five cents called "scrip." That was the "soft money" epoch, the "greenback age." "Hard money" began again to appear near the close of the seventies. First came nickel five-cent pieces, then ten centpi,eces, afterwards larger silver pieces (three of which made a dollar) and then silver dollars, and about 1880 and 1881 both gold and silver money, the latter depreciated, became quite common, but greenbacks and national bank notes still formed a large part of the currency.

Vakious Incidents

The sixth annual fair was held at Winnebago City on the 23d and 24th days of September. It was a decided success. The weather was fair, the attendance large, and the show of stock, grain, vegetables, fruits and articles of domestic manufacture excellent.

On the 31st day of October the first sale of school lands was had in this county. The commissioner of the State land office, Hon. Chas. McIUrath, attended in person. The sale took place at Blue Earth City. Much interest was manifested in the sale, and people were in attendance from all parts of the county. There were 924 acres of land sold for the aggregate sum of 117,621.60, of which sum S14,904.91 were paid in hand, and on the balance remaining unpaid, the interest was paid for one year in advance, according to the terms of sale, amounting to $109.45, thus adding in money to the school fund of the

State the sum of *15.014.36. And this was the time when many of our citizens purchased their --wood lots'" from which has come the fuel which has kept them warm and made the "pot boil" for many years since.

The Wau

On the 19th of December the president issued a call for 300,000 more volunteers to finish the war. This was the fourth call during the year and the aggregate number called for during the year was 1.500.000.

The government and the loyal people of the North had become in terrible earnest Military operations, and matters incident thereto, absorbed every other consideration in all sections of the country. The rebels were putting forth almost superhuman and inhuman efforts, while in the North the cry went forth from the mountain and plain, from the city and the farm house, "no compromise," "down with treason," "crush the rebellion, cost what it may, in men or money!"

In military operations this year was particularly remarkable for the vast destruction of property in the South by the Union armies. This had become a necessity. Of the almost innumerable battles and important events of the year, but a few can be noted here. March 12th, Gen. U. S. Grant made commander of the U. S. armies; March 28th. battle of Cane River. La.; May 5th. the great battle or series of battles of the Wilderness began - one of the greatest exhibitions of military iirowess known to history; May 8-10, battle of Spottsylvania; May loth, battle of Raseca; .June 1st. battle of Cold Harbor; .June 19th, the rebel pirate Alabama was sunk by the Kearsage; July 1st, public debt, ^1,740,000.000; July 20-22d, great battles near Atlanta. Ga. ; July 30th, Chambersburg, Pa., burnt by rebels - loss !j^l, 000, 000; Aug. 5th, Admiral Farriguttakes Mobile.Ala.; Aug. 9th, Atlanta, Ga.. bombaitled by Gen. Sherman and fell Sept. 2d. and was burned; Sept. 19th, about this time there was great fighting in the Shanandoah Valley, Va. ; October 19th. battle of Cedar Creek, Va. - this was a terrific fight; Nov. 14. Gen. Sherman left Atlanta on "the march to the sea"; Nov. 25th, an attempt was made to burn New York City by southern desperados, who set fire in their rooms in fifteen different hotels and other places, but the plot failed. At this time Gen. Grant, with the army of the Potomac, was operating about Richmond, Va. , the rebel capital; Dec. 15-16th. great battle of Nashville, Tenn. ; Dec. 21st. Gen. Sherman captured Savannah. Ga. Although when the year closed the rebellion was still raging, yet the back-bone of the Confederate power was broken. Any other power on earth, after the terrible defeats suffered by the rebels in 1863 and 1864. would have given up in despair, but the Con- federates were Americans. And now, as the year closed, hopes of final triumph over treason, and of peace soon to come, wei'e cheering the loyal millions. The year was indeed a mighty one in the history of the nation. Glorious in its victories in the field and forum, and at the ballot box for the Union cause, and correspondingly terrible to the rebels and traitors of the South, and their sympathizers and allies everywhere.

"Now arc our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hunj; up for monuments; Our stern alarms cliani^'ed to merry meetings: Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. ""

We now enter upon the record of another year of general reckoning in this historj'. We have reached, so to speak, another milestone in the journey, the eleventh year of the county. By comparing the very full statistics of this year, with those of former years, we shall see that the county has made great progress in the past, and bids very fair for the future.

Legislation

The members of the legislature for this district, were D. G. Shillock, of Brown county, senator; and J. A. Kiester, of this county, representative.

The onlj' legislation of this year, of special interest to the people of this county, was an act fixing the time of holding the annual term of the District Court, for the first Tuesday of June, in each year, and a Memorial to Congress introduced by Mr. Kiester praying the establishment of a mail route from Blue Earth City, in this county, via. Fairmont and Jackson, to Yankton, the capital of Dakota Territory, and an act granting swamp lands to aid the Minneapolis and St. Cloud Railroad Company in the construction of their road. This company was authorized to build a branch road, (Act of 1856), southward from Minneapolis to the Iowa state line, which would pass through either Martin or Faribault counties. This bill was favored by both of our members, as it afforded some prospect of a railroad in one or the other of said counties. At this session Daniel S. Norton was elected United States senator, to succeed Mr. Wilkinson. Andrew C. Dunn, of this countj- was again chief clerk of the House of Representatives.

''A young politician" writes: "Why does a State have a legislature?" My dear boy, It doesn't. The legislature has the State, every time. Has it by the throat by a large majority. Has it by the pocketbook. Has it on its back. You bet your slippers young man, the State never has the legislature, - iJiin/e»c."

The Commissioners

THE COMMISSIONERS. The honorable board of commissioners met January third. Allen Shultis, of Elmore, was chosen chairman for the year. Other meetings of the board were held March 28th, April 18th, May 26th, and June 27th. No business of historical interest was transacted at any of these meetings. So much for the commissioners during the first half of the year. It may be observed that the County Record about this time exhibits a number of long lists of bounty orders of fifty dollars and one hundred dollars issued to soldiers.

Conscription And Exemption

A call for 300,000 additional troops having been made in December, 1864, as we have seen, and a draft having been ordered to take place on the 8th day of March of this year, to fill up the ranks of the army, considerable excitement and activity in military affairs existed throughout the county, during January and February. The quota of each town had been assigned, and to prevent drafting, large town and county bounties wei-e offered, and recruiting agents were abroad everywhere, and men were being enlisted in large numbers. It has often been said during the war, "well, the county cannot furnish another soldier," yet at every call, numbers were still found ready to enlist and march to the front and fill up tlie ranks of the country's defenders thinned by disease and rebel bullets. In order to reduce the quotas of the several towns to a just basis, by discharging such as were not, because of ill health, or other physical infirmities, qualified for military service, many of our citizens, in February, went before the enrolling board at Mankato, to be examined and exempted, if so entitled. The expenses of those who were exempted, of going before this board, were paid by the several towns. And this proceeding was an entirely proper, in fact a necessary one, to determine the just quota from each town, by striking out of the estimate of the population, or basis of determining the number due from the several towns, those who were really not liable to draft.

Owing to alleged corruption and other causes, all the exemption certificates granted at this time, were subsequently cancelled, and so the whole proceeding went for naught.

SPRiNc;. Spring dawned upon the laud about the middle of March, and farmers prepared for seeding, but the weather was quite unsettled. Some seeding was done the last week in March, but the greater part along the middle of April, and there was some very cold weather late in this month. In fact this spring, like many others, was one of frequent changes of cloud and sunshine, of alternating smiles and tears.

On Sunday. March 26th, atabout eleven o'clock, a. m., the building used for county oltices at Blue Earth City, was discovered to be on fire. The register of deeds, Mr. Bonwell. to whom the building belonged, had left the house but a few minutes before, having first carefully closed up the stove in which was but little fire, and locked the outside door of the otfice. The stovepipe passed through the chamber Moor and out through the roof, thei-e being no chimney. The stove pipe was somewhat old and much rusted, and it is quite probable that the soot in the pipe took fire, making the pipe very hot, thus setting fire to the adjoining wood work, or perhaps holes had been eaten through the pipe by rust, through which fire may have escaped. In the experience of insurance companies, such pipe arrangements have been found so dangerous, that companies have long refused to insure buildings where the pipes pass through the roof.

Albert Sortor first discovered the fire and gave the alarm. He ran to the building and bursting open the door, commenced carrying out the books. C. Huntington, John Blocher and several others, were soon on the ground, and by their joint exertions, all the books and most of the valuable papers were saved, though some of the books were somewhat damaged.

Quite a number of papers, however, on file in the auditor'% cases, and a large package of deeds and other instruments in the register's department, which had, fortunately all been recorded, but had been left in the office, were burned. It was a most fortuuate escape from destruction, as nothing of great value, in either the auditor's or register's office was lost. But Mr. Bonwell, besides the loss of the building, lost also considerable personal property in the building at the time, and consumed with it.

About the third of April the whole country was electrified by the announcement of the glorious news that the Union arms had triumphed over the last strong-hold of the rebellion, and peace was at hand. After four years of bloody conflict, in comparison with which, most of the wars of the earth sink into insignificance, the national flag at last waved over the rebel Capital - the head and heart of the monster rebellion. On the 9th day of April, Lee surrendered to Grant, at Appomattox. The full import and significance of these great events cannot be described here. No pen can do justice to the occasion, and no words could give utterance to the emotions of joy and hope and thankfulness which swelled the hearts of the loyal millions of the land, but those of the old hymns -

Peace, good will toward men." "We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting."

Assassination, Death

And now following fast upon the joyful news of final victory and peace, and while the people were giving hearty expression to their feelings, there came the appalling tidings of the assassination of President Lincoln, on the 14th day of April, by J. Wilkes Bootli. The world was shocked, stood aghast, confounded at the atrocity of the deed.

In the very hour of the final triumph of that cause - the preservation of the Union and the life and liberties of the nation, he, the chiefest actor, the most revered and beloved, the purest, the wisest and most merciful, had fallen by the hand of the dastardly assassin.

Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, the friend of man, name blessed evermore with Washington, in the records of our race, was martyred, murdered.

"This is the bloodiest shame, The wildest savag'ry, the vilest stroke That ever wall-eyed wrath, or stareing rage." conceived, or Hell's agents executed.

The sacrifice of Lincoln was the crowning sacrifice of the war, the outgrowth, the final culmination of that demoniatic spirit of ti'eason, which, in the graphic words of another made "the parracidal effort to destroy the nation's life by murder; murder on the lakes, murder and piracy on the high seas; murder and arson in cities; murder by the introduction and spreading of loathsome and contageous diseases; murder and highway robbery by guerrillas; murder and starvation of over thirty thousand defenseless prisoners. " It was indeed such a spirit and only this, that could breed such a moral monster as him who did this deed.

" - His faculties so meek hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues 'Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking off ."

Probably no events in the world's history ever carried a great people to such heijrhtsof rejoicing and such depths of grief, almost simultaneously as those we have just related. The citizens of this county always earnest and patriotic, keenly appreciated the significance of these mighty events, and gave utterance to their thoughts and emotions in words and earnestness of manner unmistakable.

Indian Depredations

About the first of May the country was again thrown into a great state of excitement by the reports current, that the frontier settlers were in danger from prowling bands of Indians. War with the Indians was still in progress on the plains and on the extreme western frontiers, which lasted until late in August of this year. But the jirincipal local cause of the excitement and apprehensions, was the murder by the Indians of the .Tewett family, near Garden City, in Blue Earth county, on the second day of May. The family consisted of six persons, five of whom they murder in cold blood and severely wounded one, a child. Horses were stolen at various points, and other depredations committed by these marauding red skins, but as these events did not occur in this county, we shall not enter into details; suffice it to say, that some of the murderers of the Jewett family wore killed by scouts from Port Wadsworth. and one of them, Campbell, a halC-breed, a diabolical wretch, and the leader of the .Jewett murderers, was taken, and was hung by order of Judge Lynch at Mankato. As a result of the excitement, the "mounted minute men" of the previous year, were again, by order of the State authorities, called out. The company at Blue Earth City was reorganized under Lieut. Foster, and the one at Winnebago Citj- and others along the Blue Earth river and at other points on the frontier reorganized, but did not long remain in service, for very soon a line of military posts was establislied and kept up, from Alexander on the Red river of the North, to Spirit Lake on the Iowa boundary.

About the time of these depredations, a novel idea was conceived by certain persons on the frontier for the protection of the border, and the hunting down of these skulking Indian marauders. The expedient adopted in many of the slave states for the recovery of runaway slaves by putting bloodhounds upon their track to hunt them down in the cane breakes, swamps and jungles of the south, recommended itself as a feasible method of pursuing these Indians in their devious ways. Several persons were sent to the southern states for the purpose of pi'ocuring hounds, and they returned with quite a number, which were parcelled out to several frontier counties, and were paid for by those counties. The hounds were to be kept at certain points, and be used when occasion required. This county did not enter into the "bloodhound scheme" as it did not appear to be of any practical utility. The whole project finally proved useless. And now the writer is happy to say that the above is the last notice of the Indians it will be neces sary to take in the course of this history, for the above incident was the last one in the history of our relations to the red men, our predecessors on this soil. The Indian Reservations in Blue Earth county and on the Upper Minnesota, had now been broken up for several years and ere this year closed, the Indians were driven far from this immediate country, to return as hostiles, no more forever, and

A Grand Review

On the 23d and 24th days of May of this year, there occurred the grandest military review the world ever eaw. On those days - the victory won, the war ended - the victorious eastern and western armies of the republic made their triumphal entry into Washington, the capital of the nation. On those great days these battle-scarred legions of the Union, the heroes of many bloody conflicts with treason, travel worn, covered with sweat and dust, but proud and victorious, marched in review for the last time, and through the broad streets of the capital city of that nation which had been redeemed, protected and made one forever. No such pageant as this was ever seen before. History tells, indeed, of the grand triumphal displays accorded to Roman conquerors in the days of old, but they bear no comparison with this, they were but the rewards of conquests and robbery and the soldiery were in the main.

But here, on those days, marched in the serried ranks, thousands and tens of thousands of the intelligent volunteer soldiers of the republic, not with the spoils of conquest and arms befouled with rapine and plunder, but bearing the honors of freemen - of citizen heroes, who fought for constitutional liberty, for the maintenance of the Union, the supremacy of law, that the grandest, freest nation of all time - the last hope of the world might continue to live. And in those gallant companies and regiments and battalions there marched many of our own citizens, men of Faribault county, proud as the proudest, brave as the bravest, following their tattered battle flags, the relics of many a bloody day.

that inarchod along those broad aveuues on those proud days, there was another and a mightier host which kept step with the triumphal music, invisible indeed to mortal eyes, but indeed there, great hosts, proud and victorious too. led by the immortal Washington and the other heroes of the Revolution, and the martyre Lincoln, and numbering in the vast throng the patriot dead of all the battlefields of the Ko))ublic and the heroes of every age and land who have suffered and died for human freedom, for civil and religious liberty.

They Come

Immigration began to pour into the county the last of May, and continued throughout the season, much of it, however, going through this county to the counties of Martin and .Tackson, immediately west of this. The settlement of the near counties on the west was deemed by many, at that time, to be of almost as much importance to this county (at least the next best thing) as the settlement of the county itself, for the people must, in those counties, be for a time, and in many respects, tributary for supplies to this county.

Humiliation And Prayer

The first day of June was appointed by the national executive, as a day of prayer and humiliation, on account of the death' of President Lincoln. It was observed in this county by appropriate services in the churches and other places of religious gatherings. "Remember not. Lord, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither take Thou vengeance of our sins; spare us good Lord, spare Thy people. From lightning and tempest, from plague, pestilence and famine; from battle and murder and from sudden death; from all sedition, privy conspiracy and rebellion. Good Lord, deliver us."

The District Court held a session of one day on the first Tuesday, the fith day of .June. Hon. Horace Austin presided, and this was his first term in this county.

Posting Up The Books

A State census was taken in June, of this year, the work being done in each countj- by the assessors. Our statistics for the year are made up partly from the census tables, and partly from other olticial I'eports subsequentlj' made.

The number of acres under cultivation was 10,887 and the farm products of the year were wheat 109,672 bushels, oats 115,872 bushels, corn 92,110 bushels, barley 7,331 bushels, potatoes 51,537 bushels, beans 729 bushels, buckwheat 200 bushels, sorghum syrup 12,387 gallons.

The number of persons between five and twenty-one years of age, was 1,854, number of school districts 62, number of teachers 50, number of school-houses 22, which were valued at $4,925.00 in the

The prices of grain, in the fall, average as follows per bushel: wheat 50 to 55 cents, oats 20 to 25 cents, corn 25 to 30 cents. All kinds of "store goods" still continued at high figures, but ''with a downward tendency." As a matter of curiosity in may be stated that a record kept in Raleigh, N. C, in the closing Confederate days of February, 1865, shows that apples were $8 per dozen, bacon 18 per pound, beef |3 per pound, butter $10 per pound, corn $30 per bushel, coffee !?40 per pound, eggs ^i per dozen, flour fSoOO per barrel, sugar '^1^^ per pound, sj'ruj) *25 per gallon, sheeting iftj per yard, salt $90 per bushel, calico *15 per yard, wood $95 per cord.

About the 1st of April of this year, the Richmond Whig published at Richmond. Va., ([uoted flour in that cit^' at $900 to $1,000 per barrel, corn >=100 per bushel, and butter $20 per pound, in Confederate money, however.

The statistics presented here from time to time are made up from official reports, but it is time now to remind the reader, that our ordinary state statistics are not very reliable, or accurate. The assessed valuation of property, at least until very late 3'ears seldom exhibits the true value. Perhaps fifty per cent, could be added to the official estimates, and not exceed the real value.

The reports of the amount of the different kinds of grain, etc., raised, and the numbers of the various kinds of stock, are almost, if not quite, equally faulty. All these statistics are imperfect, and are only valuable in a genei-al way. but thej^ are the best we have and we give them as we find them, for whatever they are worth. The statistics collected when the national census is taken, are usually more reliable than our ordinary state statisties. and help to "correct up" and show quite nearly the actual facts and conditions, from time to time. The collection, collation, classification, adjustment and verification of statistics constitute a science of much "importance, and is one understood by but few. Our state commissioners of statistics doubtless do the best they can, with the means and methods they have at hand, but the primary collection of all the necessary data is in hands that but little comprehend the importance of the work, and have little incentive to do it well.

On the Fourth of July a great celebration of the day was had at Blue Earth City. Very extensive preparations had been made and a large number of people attended and took part in the festivities. The good old Declaration of Independence was read by Capt. P. B. Davy, and James B. Wakefield delivered the oration, and what with the address, the music, an abundant dinner, the great attendance, the fine day and the spirit of rejoicing over the close of the war, the celebration was a grand success.

The day was also celebrated at Minnesota Lake. The largest concourse of people ever assembled in that portion of the county gathered there on this occasion. The Rev. A. W. Childs read the Declaration and J. A. Kiester, of Blue Earth City, delivered the address. Here also patriotic music and a bounteous dinner were a part of the programme. These were the only celebrations of the day in

It may be mentioned as an incident of the time and the patriotic spirit of our local press, that the Blue Earth City Advocate came out in colors, the outside being printed in red, the inside blue, the paper white in honor of the brave old flag, "red, white and blue," which now waves victorious over the whole land.

And never to this time, at least, was there such a general and enthusiastic celebration on the Fourth of July, such a great outpouring and rejoicing of the people as occurred this year throughthe whole country. And it was very right and proper that it should be so, for at no time in the history of the country, since the achievement of independence had there been so much to render the day illustrious and worthy of commemoration and rejoicings. The final triumph of the nation over treason and rebellion, the Union restored, the great war just ended, peace, white-winged and all glorious, once more hovering over the whole land, the great body of the citizen soldiers - the heroes of the war - returned again to their homes, all now added much to the previous significance of the day and its grand memories and associations.

A Summary

The great civil war having now closed, we give a brief summary of the closing vents which occurred during the year to this time, and also certaii other facts and figures relating to the war of interest and value.

January 15th, Port Fisher was taken by the Union army. This was the last pv, t of the rebels. February 18th, the Union troops enter Charleston, S. C. March 4th, Pi-esident Lincoln inaugurated. March 16th, battle of Averysborough. March 19th, battle of Bentonville, N. C. April 2d, Gen. Lee evacuated Richmond and Petersburg, Va., and retreated westward. Same day the battle of Selma, Ala. was fought - a Union victory. April 3d, Union troops took possession of Richmond, Va. April 9th, Lee surrended to Grant at Appomattox. April 10th, Mobile. Ala., evacuated by the rebels. April 12th Union troops captured Salisbury, N. C. April 14th, President Lincoln assassinated. April 25th, Booth, the assassin, shot. April 26th, Gen. Johnson surrendered to Gen. Sherman. May 4th, Gen. Taylor surrendered to Gen. Canby. July 7th, four of the villians engaged in the assassination plot were hung. No great battles were fought after the middle of April. The armies were disbanded, and a great majority of the troops returned to their homes during the next six months.

In the Adjutant General's report for the year, -we find the following statement of quotas and credits of men for this county, under all calls during the war.

While a few of the town districts in the county were in arrears, yet the county as a whole, furnished twelve more men than was required, and the number of soldiers furnished by this county, in proportion to population, was greater than that of any county in the State except perhaps two.

It was reported about this time that there was one county in the State, which in this respect surpassed all others - the whole population, without exception, having enlisted - it appeared however, that there was but one resident in that county.

The aggregate amount of bounties paid by this county and the several towns, and otherwise contributed to encourage enlistments, was the very large sum of seventy-five thousand dollars.

The entire enlistments in the Union armies, during the war, were 2.688,523, but many of these were i-e-enlistments, and it is estimated that the entire number of individuals, forming the armies, was really but 1.500.000.

Of these 56,000 were killed in battle, 35,000 died in hospitals of injuries received in battle and 184.000 died in hospitals of disease. Many died afterwards in other places, of disease, and thousands were ruined in health for life. The national government also employed over 7,000 vessels on the waters, in the great contest. Of the Confederate forces, there was, during the war, an aggregate of 600,000 men. but this is deemed a low estimate. The Confederate killed and wounded and sick, who died in hospitals, was about 300,000. In a late work we read that "The entire amount expended by the national government, by states, counties and towns, and contributed in other ways, to the comfort or sustenance of the army, is computed at f!4, 000, 000, 000. The support of the southern army cannot be ascertained, but it is thought that those expenses and des. truction of property, inflicted about an equal loss on them. These losses in life and property are fearful, but they are the price of freedom and nationality." And now, so far as this history is concerned, we are done with the great civil war, and we have only to add that it should be the earnest hope, the constant prayer of every heart, both north and south, that never again, in all our history as a nation, may another so great a calamity be inflicted upon us, and to this end let us forget the past, .cease recriminations, drop the hard names of rebel, traitor, copperhead and all other epithets, and all unite as brethren in strengthening the foundations, rearing the structures, promoting the interests and enjoying the blessings of the strongest, the most enlightened, most progressive and best government ever known among men.

Business

With the close of the war came a new era in many respects. Money became plenty, real estate took an upward tendency, outside capital came into the State and county for investment. All branches of trade and business greatly revived and there was employment for all at fair wages, and the attention which the war and its affairs had absorbed was now turned to local interests and enterprises.

The Ingathering

On the first of August the song of the reaper began to be heard in the land. The harvest was quite favorable. The wheat and oat crops were very heavy, but other crops quite light. The i^rice of wheat in August was seventy cents.

The potato-bug, a very destructive insect, made its appearance in this region near tlie middle of June, and did some damage, and in July several immense swarms of grassshoppers visited the upper Minnesota river and came as near to us as Garden City, some twelve miles north of this county, where they did much injui'y to crops. But little notice was taken of these incidents at the time and they were soon forgotten, but we shall have much more to say hereafter about these pests. We are now done with the Indians and the war of the rebellion, what other calamities now await us? It is often true that "Coming events Cast their shadows before."

That Board

The commissioners met September 5th, and had a session of three days. It having appeared by the returns of the last preceding general election, that over eight hundred votes had been polled in the county, tlie county now beciime entitled under the law, to five instead of three county commissioners and the board at this meeting proceeded to divide the county into five commissioner, districts, as follows: The First district was comprised of the towns of Campbell, Elmore, Pilot Grove and Jo Daviess. The Second district, of Blue Earth City, Emerald and Prescott townships. The Third district of Kiester. Seely. Foster, Brush Creek, Walnut Lake and Cobb townships. The Fourth district of the towns of Winnebago City, Verona and Guthrie. The Fifth distinct was composed of the towns of Barber, Lura, Marples and Dunbar. The board also appointed school examiners, in conformity to the new commissioner districts, as follows: No. 1. J. A. Dean; No. 2, J. A. Kiester; No. 3, S. L. Rugg; No. 4, J. H. Welch; No. 5, Joseph Claggett. This was the last meeting of the board for this year, and the last board of on ly three commissioners, it subsequently being composed of five members.

The Fair

The fair while passably good, was not considered oiuch of a success. While the officers of the society and a very few others made considerable effort to keep up the society and make the fairs of interest and useful, it must be written that about this period in the history of the society, extending over several years, there was not that interest manifested in it and that unity of action on the part of the people, generally, which is so necessary to the support of such an institution.

The Fall Fight

The political campaign of this year covered a considerable period of time, and it was quite a lively and in some respects a peculiar contest. Among the other interesting features of the campaign, a governor of the State and several other State officers were to be elected.

On the 16th day of September a mass convention was held at Blue Earth City, at the instance and in the interest of those wlio did not approve of all the nominations of the republican convention. This meeting nominated R. B. Johnson for treasurer and Hiram Raymond for sheriff. The other republican nominations were indorsed. This convention was rather slimly attended, there being persons present from only seven towns, and the prospects for the election of the new nominees were not at the time very flattering. But "great oaks from little acorns grow, etc."

But the situation was still not satisfactory to all, and so on the 23rd day of September a mass convention was held at Winnebago City, where certain republicans and the democrats formed a coalition. This convention made the following nominations:

It will be observed that several of the regular republican nominees were re-nominated by this convention. The principal contest was for the offices of treasurer and sheriff.

The Republican Legislative Convention met at Winnebago City, October 2nd and nominated J. B. Wakefield for representative. For the same office the democracy again placed in the field R. B. Simmons, of Martin County.

Marshall was elected Governor of the State by a large majority, and Wakefield was elected representative of the district. The returns, as given above, indicate who were elected as county officers. The I'esultof the election as to sheritf and treasurer, was surprising to most of the people, and quite as surprising to the candidates themselves. This was the first regularly organized "bolt," or formal op))osition to the regular nominees backed by convention nominations, which had occurred in the republican party, or in fact in the politics of the county.

The two newspapers took a great interest, on opposite sides, to some extent, in the local campaign, besides some questions of difference had arisen earlier in the j'ear between them, and an examination of the old files proves the fact that a great deal of a very poor class of dirt was --slung" back and forth by both, and both equally bad, reminding the reader of the story of the Dutchman who, on being aslced the ago of himself and wife said, wife is dirty (30) and I ish dirty two."

No frost occurred in September of this year, and the autumn was an unusually mild and pleasant one, and continued until about the middle of December, when the winter set in, introducing its reign by a heavy snow storm.

"Ye have kept the tlag and seal. Emblem «f the Nation's weal: Ye have stood like hardened steel In war's crimson way - the battle field - When shot and shell did ring the knell Of coniratles brave who 'round ye fell, Ye did leave your friends and home, And loved ones weeping', left alone To see the flag and country saved," and of the actors in many important events, but there is now presented here the most honorable of all our rolls, that of the names of the men who enlisted from this county, in the militai-y service of the United States, during the Rebellion and the Indian war in the Northwest.

This year practically closed the war, and it is now time to name the men of our county, who in the day of mighty conflicts with powerful foes, took an active part, as soldiers, in the great struggle for our homes, for the Union and for the maintenance of free government on this continent.

The list is not absolutely correct in every respect, but it is as nearly so as it is possible to make it, for there are errors in the public official records themselves, but many, if not all of which, are corrected here.

The writer is greatly indebted in making up this I'oster, to Charles A. Rose, now of St. Paul, but a former resident of this county, and a soldier, enlisted from this county.

Mr. Rose, as a public officer of the Stale for many years, has had access to all the official records in the capitol of the State and, owing to his long services in the army, is also possessed of a large personal knowledge of individuals and events connected with the war and there are few, if any persons, who are better qualified to prepare such a list than he.

The writer is also indebted to James H. Mead, of Blue Earth City, another old soldier, for valuable assistance and suggestions in making up the roll.

The companies and regiments given are those in which the first enlistments were made, but many, after the expiration of their term of service, re enlisted in the same or other companies and regiments. But of the re-enlistments, official positions or promotions, no record is here made, the principal object being to present and preserve here simply the names of those who enlisted in the service of the nation from our county. The re-enlistments numbered about twenty- eight per cent, of the original enlistments.

Lake

And now but a decade of years has passed since the first settler, with his family, took up his residence here, not another white man within the borders of the county and surrounded only by the silent, virgin prairies, marked alone by Indian trails. But the fine soil, the distribution of the timber, the beautiful landscape and the salubrious climate gave him good reason to hope that in the not distant future he should be surrounded by a prosperous and hapjay people. He was not disappointed. But ten years had passed and the county had a population of neax-ly five thousand people, two thriving villages, mills and workshops, many good farms, schools and churches, society established, the laws administered and all the blessings of civilized life, existing under favorable auspices.