Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 18, 1896

Chapter 18

The first notable event of the year was the meeting of the board of county commissioners, on the second day of January. A. R. More, Sr., of Pilot Grove, was elected chairman for the year. The further action of the board at this meeting, of historical interest, is recorded elsewhere. The board met again on the eighteenth of March, and, among other business, considered a project in relation to the erection, at an early day, of a county building for a court room and county offices, and on the twenty-eighth of the same month, they again met for the purpose of examining jDlans and specifications for such building. Finally, at a meeting held on the twenty-fifth day of June, they determined to erect a county building, to cost about 14,000, provided that Blue Earth City township should contribute about S2,300 to the enterprise. The township subsequently accepted the proposition. The beautiful grounds - the court house square - on which the county buildings are erected, were reserved for the purpose by the original town-site proprietors of Blue Earth City, and were donated to the county, free of any charge.

The Farmers' Society

On the third day of January, the agricultural society held its annual meeting, at which, Sabastian Pfeffer, of Blue Earth City, was chosen president, C. S. Dunbar, of Foster, treasurer, and R. W. Richards, of Blue Earth City, secretary. At this time the society was again somewhat agitated about securing a permanent location and grounds, but there were some difficulties in the way of deciding the question, as each of the villages, in the county, desired to secure it, and the members of the society being scattered all over the county, were much divided in their views.

The secretary was authorized to get two hundred copies of the constitution and by-laws printed, for the use of the society, and procure suitable books for the several officers, and also to transcribe all the records of the society into a proper record book.

On the twentieth of April a meeting was held at Blue Earth City for the purpose of considering the question of the permanent location of the society, and the procuring of grounds. At this meet-

Another meeting was held, at Blue Earth City, June 2Gth, when the proposition of that village to locate the society and fair grounds permanently at that place, in consideration of the gift, to the society, of twenty-five acres of land, near the village, for grounds, was accepted. But the matter was not yet fully and permanently settled, owing to various causes, not necessary to mention here.

At the January term of the district court for this year, but little business of importance was transacted, there being no cases attracting public attention. There were thirty-nine civil and but two criminal cases on the calendar. Hon. P. H. Waite, presided.

At a meeting of the bar of the county, held during this term of court, the attorneys of the county adopted a uniform fee bill. It did not prove of much service, and this was the first united action taken by the bar of this county on any matter.

Among the queer cases which sometimes occur in courts of justice, the following is told as a veritable one. It could hardly have happened in any but an "Arkansaw" court.

A Fellow Feeling

A gentleman was arranged before an Arkansas Justice on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. He had entered a store, pretending to be a customer, but proved to be a thief.

"Some time ago," said the judge, with a solemn air, "I was divorced from my wife. Shortly afterwards you married her. The result is conclusive. I discharge you. Here, take this $50 bill. You have suffered enough."

The Legal Propesston

As a member of the legal profession - though a very humble one indeed - the writer may be excused for some remarks here on the subject, which heads this brief article. It is a subject in which every one is more or less interested.

Lawyers, as such, and the legal profession in general, are the subjects of a good deal of abuse, suspicion, invidious witicisms and sometimes of denunciation. A great deal of this is not merited, except by a few individuals.

The profession and lawyers generally, are suspicioned and maligned because of the inefficiency - say incompetency, or the bad character of a small proportion of those who belong to the profession. The truth is that the members of the profession, generally, are entitled to respect and confidence. However, it is difficult to find a class of men or profession, who care less about abuse, or are better able to stand it, than lawyers. They are not very sensitive.

The legal profession is one of the most noble in its great scope and in its intellectual requirements, and one of the most necessary to the welfare of society of any of the secular occupations.

Its importance, in all countries, whether monarchial, or republican, or whether its members have been backed by wealth, or titles, or high places, or not, has been admitted.

The legal profession, in itself, is a great republic as "The Republic of Letters," in which real talent, large attainments, practical capacity, constitute the only gauge of rank. Lawyers in all ccunrties and all times, or those who answer to that title, have always ranked in importance with the best classes of citizens.

No civilized country can do without lawyers. Where laws exist, there must be those who know what the laws are, and who can give counsel as to what they are, and who can assist people in the maintenance of their rights uader the laws. The knowledge of lawyers is also of the highest importance in the making of the laws themselves. A large per centum of the members of all constitutional conventions, of National and State legislatures, and also of the highest official government incumbencies, are lawyers, and the judicial departments of all governments is their exclusive domain.

But it is generally the fact that it is only when a man gets into serious personal difficulties, that he begins to appreciate the value of the services of an able and honorable lawyer. Lawyers hold in their hands much of the happiness and success of the community and state, for these are in a great measure dependent on the proper administration of wise laws.

fidences - secrets of the most important character, relating to families, people's personal, private and business affairs, by all classes of persons, and it may be allirmed that, considering the power they possess in this respect, to extort money, or take other advantages, the legal profession is a remarkably honorable and faithful one. The great majority of lawyers are true to their clients, under all circumstances. It may be added here, notwithstanding the adverse suggestions heard sometimes, that a man may be a lawyer and yet be a man of the highest honor and integrity. He may be a Christian man in the true sense of that name. There have always been, and now are many lawyers who are Christian men.

De Tocqueville says that lawyers are attached to public order beyond every other consideration, and further, that he "cannot believe a republic could subsist at the present time, if the inQuenco of lawyers in public business did not increase in proportion to the power of the people."

The profession of the lawyer is one which, for its successful conduct and broadest usefulness and honor requires the largest ability, the best training and widest extent of learning. There is no branch of human knowledge, which may not be of use to a lawyer. This may be true largely of most professions, or vocations, but it is peculiarly and emphatically so of this.

That prince of American lawyers, David Dudley Field, says that "Above all others, this science (that of the law) so vast, so comprehensive and varied in its details, needs to be served with all the aids whicli institutions, professors and libraries can furnish." While a much lower grade of qualifications than is here indicated, may certainly serve to equip a lawyer for ordinary practice, yet the supposition that a year, or two j'ears, desultory reading in a law ofSce. or even a course of study for one or two years in a law school, and the passing of a superficial .examination for admission to the bar, will make a lawyer competent to take into his hands the important business or other interests of men, and meet successfully opposing counsel, is one of the great absurdities of the age. But there are many lawyers at the bar, at this day, who have been "gotten up" in this way. The idea that it is well to admit applicants to the bar whatever their qualification, and depend upon subsequent practice and study for efficiency, now appears to be passing out.

The work of a lawyer in full practice is very laborious and exacting. Constant thought, close attention, investigation of principles and authorities, study of every phase of his cases, and the evidence connected therewith, are his daily task, and to a large extent, nightly also.

gives, or every move he makes, is tlie subject of inspectioa and perliaps opposition. He therefore must always be well grounded and always ready. The doctor may doctor and the preacher may preach, for years, making perhaps many mistakes, and no fault may be found with them, but the lawyer must face inquiry and opposition at once and constantly in his business, and his errors or weaknesses are taken advantage of by his o^jponent.

A great deal more is expected of lawyers in America, than perhaps in any other country. In most countries lawyers devote their time to only one title, or branch of the law, or practice only in certain kinds of courts, as the Law Courts, the Chancery Courts, the Criminal Courts, the Admiralty Courts.

In England, for example, the profession is divided into attorneys, solicitors, common law lawyers, proctors, counsellors, and perhaps some other designations, but in America a lawyer is expected to be proficient in all the titles and departments of the law, and to practice in any or all of the courts.

When Judah P. Benjamin, after the fall of the confederacy, went to England to engage in the practice of the law, he was asked by an English lawyer, in what division, or department of the law and courts he intended to jDractice, and greatly surprised the inquirer, when he answered, in any of the courts where his services should be desired, and he did, and that with great success. In the larger cities of this country tliereare, however, lawyers who devote their time to practice in some particular courts, or branch of the law. Daniel Webster once said of eminent American lawyers, that "they work hard, live well, and die poor."

And now another phase of the subject. It must be admitted that the profession has in some localities, perhajjs in many to some extent, fallen into considerable disrepute, as above intimated.

This is not because of the real character of the legal profession itself, but because of the incompetent and dishonest jjersons who have gotten into it, and their evil practices, as has already been suggested. But a further word needs to be said. It is charged against the profession, that what was once known as legal ethics and honor, are lai'gely unknown at this day.

It is said that legal ethics taught that it was dishonorable for a lawyer to take contingent feep - that a lawyer who had heard a case in the capacity of a court, and rendei-ed a decision therein, should not, on appeal to a higher court, act as the attorney of either party - that a lawyer should not hear a case, as a Judge, in which he had at any time been an attorney, even if no objection is made, or even if consent of parties is given - that an attorney engaged in a case, should not counsel or conspire with the attorney of the other side - that a Judge should not give counsel to either party.or instruct or hear one party, or his attorney, as to the merits of a case in the absence of the party and his attorney on the other side - that an attorney who has given an opinion or is employed on one side of a case, should not hear, or be employed on the other side at any time - that no attorney should be guilty of barratrj'. maintenance, or champerty, whether the law permits either of them, or not.

Yet it is claimed that these things are done, quite commonly. It is also alleged, that it is a violation of legal ethics and honor for a lawyer, in the employment of a corporation, company, or individual, to permit himself to be elected to a state legislature, or congress, for the purpose of promoting, or protecting the interests of his employer, thus ignoring his oath and dishonoring his office of a legislator, and instead of representing the people - his constituents, represents a client for pay, so far,at least, as his client's interests are involved, and whatever the interests of his constituents may be. And this, it is alleged in many places, is getting to be quite common in both our state and national legislatures. And it is doubtless true, that in congress and in many state legislatures, attorneys of great corporations and moneyed interests appear as members.

It is said also, that there is a class of lawyers who dishonor the profession by living on, what may be termed, legal garbage, carrion - those who take doubtful personal injury suits, on speculation, or contingent fees - those who rummage the records of courts and titles, for the purpose of taking advantage of people's errors or oversights, to rob them of their property, or to extort money from them - those who institute suits without merit, for the purpose of getting fees, or making something by compromise - those who institute, or threaten to institute suits for the purpose of levying blackmail - those wlio hang about saloons and jiolice courts and police officers, for the purpo.se of getting business, and finally, those who can be hired to do any kind of dirty work which no honorable man would do for himself.

Undoubtedly there are such lawyers, and they are generally known in the profession, and at large, as pettifoggers, shysters, scalpers, razorbacks and sharks, and often end their career in the perpetration of crimes. These fellows are usually practitioners of very large pretentions, and they constitute the class of lawyers who bring odium upon the profession. A community where many of them, or any of them, in fact, are to be found, is to be pitied. What produces them? Want of capacity sufficient to warrant success in honorable practice or want of moral principle, profligate or evil lives, by which they forfeit the coutideuce of the public, are usually the causes. The lawyer who has reached the sage conclusion that it is better for his business, as a lawyer, to have the reputation of being a shrewd knave, rather than that of being an honorable man, has traveled a long ways on the road to failure and the devil. Manyyoung men are placed in the professions who are not, by their natural talents or tastes fitted for them, or for the one they enter.

The question of a young man's adaptability, his natural capacity and taste for an occupation, is a serious one and should be well considered before he enters upon it. It is a bad thing to spoil a good farmer, mechanic or merchant, to make a poor lawyer, doctor or preacher. There are thousands of men in the legal profession who have no natural adaptation for it, and sooner or later fail as lawyers and drift into clerkships and small agency business, all very well in themselves, and useful, but they are not - the practice of the law, technically speaking.

The great remedy for the evils above referred to, is the exercise of more care in entering young men on the study of the law. the requirement of a much higher standard of qualifications, that is, more thorough and extended learning, better instruction as to the morals and dignity and honor of the profession, and the requirement of passing, satisfactorily, a more rigid examination before admission to the bar.

Our great law schools, the American Bar Association, and the various State Bar Associations, are doing much toward elevating the standards of the legal jjrofession.

The relevancy of the preceding remarks on the subject of the legal profession, to our history, will become more apparent when we reach the closing year of this history, in which will be found some observations relating to the Bar of this county.

Legislation

2d. An act to authorize townships, cities and incorporated villages, in Faribault county to vote a five per cent tax to aid in the construction of railroads.

3d. An act amending an act entitled an act to authorize the Minnesota Valley Railroad Company to construct a branch line from Mankato, or some point near thereto, to the south line of Faribault county.

4th. An act to authorize the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company to construct and operate a branch from some suitable point, on its main line, in Faribault county, by way of Blue Earth City, to the Iowa State line.

9th. An act to authorize the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company to build branch lines from Minneapolis, and other points, to the south line of the State.

10th. An act to enable the cities, towns and villages in the counties of Siblej% Nicollet and Blue Earth to aid in the construction of a railroad from Carver, in Carver county, by way of Henderson, St. Peter and Mankato, to the State line of Iowa.

12th. An act appropriating sixteen hundred dollars, to re-imburse Floyd Smith, of Faribault county, for expenses and damages arising from an arrest, upon the requisition of the governor of Wisconsin. A joint resolution was also adopted, asking the State of Wisconsin to indemnify the State of Minnesota for moneys appropriated for the above purpose.

The facts of this case, briefly stated, are as follows: On the fifth day of January, 1871, a requisition was issued by the governor of Wisconsin, upon the governor of Minnesota, for the arrest and extradition of Floyd Smith, of this county, upon the charge of stealing a horse from one Clemens, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in December. 1869. Smith was arrested and conveyed to Wisconsin for trial, and was indicted, tried and convicted of the alleged offense, by reason of false or mistaken evidence produced against him by the prosecution, and was sentenced to the Wisconsin State Prison for two years, and was taken there and confined as a common felon for several weeks, when an application was made to the governor of Wisconsin, for the pardon of said Smith, who ordered an investigation into the merits of the case. The investigation resulted in proving conclusively, and beyond all doubt, that Smith was innocent of the offense charged, or of any oifense, or color of criminality in the premises, and was immediately and unconditionally pardoned.

The arrest, trial and other proceedings in the matter, resulted in a loss to Smith, of about three thousand dollars, and left him with no property, and involved in debt to the extent of several hundred dollars, and with the support of a large family to provide for.

A great state or nation, can do no nobler act, or attest its dignity and nobility, in no better manner, than in the defease of its humblest citizen from injustice, or the abuse of his rights and liberties, by the authority, mistakenly exercised, or otherwise, of any other state or nation. And this act was not only creditable to the State, but was alike honorable to the many private citizens who assisted in the work of righting the wrongs of their neighbor.

The members of the legislature for this county for this year were E. H. Hutchins in the Senate, and S. P. Child and Henry M. Huntington in the House. Thomas George, of this county, was sergeant-at-arms of the House.

The Advertiser

subscribe, please enclose one dollar to the editor. If you have no dollar, send us the names of four subscribers with four dollars and you will receive a free copy. If you do not like the paper and do not want it, at any rate, return a single copy to this office." * * *

"It is one thing to be born great, another thing to have greatness thrust upon you, and three times as much, to be obliged to shoulder a printing office against your will."

Several months afterwards, Mr. A. A. Huntington purchased the Advertiser office, and the paper came out, under the former name of the Winnebago City Press, Mr. Huntington being editor and proprietor.

Wind And Weather

A great snow storm occurred on Monday night, February 12th, and continued through Tuesday and Tuesday night. The wind blew a hurricane, the air was filled with snow, and the cold was intense. Quite a number of people and some stock were frozen to death in counties west and northwest of this.

The spring was very late. Some little wheat was sown the last days of March and the first days of April. A great storm of wind and snow prevailed over the country on the 14th and 15th days of April. Then came frequent heavy rains, owing to all of which the greater part of the wheat was not sown until the last week in April and first week of May, and much of the oats was sown after the fifteenth of May, and but little corn was planted until after the seventeenth of May. Low grounds were very mirey. About the middle of May, the roads were almost impassable and the streams were very high. As a consequence, farmers wore much discouraged and fears were entertained of a wet summer.

Prices in the spring averaged as follows: Wheat, $1.00; oats, 25 cents; potatoes, 25 cents per bushel, and Hour $3.50 per hundred. In May wheat went up to $1.33 at Delavan. Money, during the spring and summer, was very scarce, and although wheat brought a fair price, there was but little surplus for sale, until after harvest. Notwitlistanding the hard times, however, the people did not borrow so much money, at high rates of interest, as in former years, which was certainly a good symptom. Indeed, there were already premonitions of financial troubles near at hand.

Driftwood

- There is more merit in the proposition to build a railroad from Waseca to Blue Earth City, than many would suppose, without some examination.

- March 9th. Col. Thompion's cheese factory at Wells, will commence operations on April lOth. (This was the first cheese factory in the county, and one of the best in llie United States.)

- A local clergyman, in presenting a subscription paper to an "outsider" the other day, remarked that it was a matter of economy to belong to some church, for, said he. "You outsiders are like apple trees along the road, everybody takes a 'bang' at you."

Good-Friday

"Well may the cavern depths of earth Be shaken, and her mountains nod; Well may the sheeted dead come forth To gaze upon a suffering God." - Whittier.

Good-Friday is a legal holiday in many of the states. It has always been observed by a portion of our citizens, but not so generally as it should be.

The crucifiction took place on the day before the Jewish Passover, and the Passover comes, annually, on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), after the full moon, which falls on, or next after, the twenty-first day of March.

It is said by historians, that the death, by crucifiction, was oneof the great punishments inflicted by Roman law in that age, and was lingering and exceedingly painful, and was only infliated upon slaves and the greatest criminals. It was ever deemed a death of great shame and dishonor.

After a trial, which was a most gross travesty upon all sense of justice and right, Mark says (Chap. XV), "Christ was mocked, scoui'ged, smitten, spit upon and crowned with thorns." He was numbered with the transgressors. He was sentenced at six o'clock in the morning.

"I saw Him la the J udgment Hall, before the haughty Pilate; He - the God - Man - arraigned before The changing justice of a human bar!" - Z. C.

Here is a copy of what is alleged to be the sentence of death, against our Saviour. Something which but few people of this age have ever seen, and this is the most remarkable judicial sentence which has ever been pronounced in the world. It is word for word as follows:

"Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, Intendent of the Lower Province "of Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth, shall suffer death by the Cross.

"In the Seventh year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, and un the 24th "day of the month of March, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the "Pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas.

"Pontius Pilate, Intendent of the Province of Lower Galilee, sitting in "judgment on the presidential seat of the Praitors, sentences Jesus of Nazareth "to death on the Cross, between two robbers.

He was led to Mount Calvary, where He was crucified at the third hour, (nine o'clock a. m.), and Matthew says. He died about the ninth hour, (three o'clock p. m. ). He was taken down from the cross and entombed at six o'clock in the evening.

"At Calvary, I saw Ilim crucified; The bleeding side - the wounded head - The pierced hands and feet - that did atone, For human sin - the Holy Lamb of God, That took away the sins of the whole world! Ah! then I saw in Him, the Promised Hope Of Israel, of whom the prophets wrote - He who should save His people from their sins! Then the shut doors of my stout heart gave way, And I believed and trusted as a child!" - Z. C.

Such was the cruel death of Him who "died for the ungodly" and in "His own self bear our sins in His own body on the tree;" He, who. in that hour of inconceivable agony and death, could pray in behalf of His murderers, - "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

It is written that fi'om the sixth hour (noon), to the ninth (three o'clock, p. m. ), the hour of Christ's death - there was darkness over the whole land, and that at the moment of His death the earth quaked, the rocks were rent, and the vail of the Jewish temple was rent in twain from top to bottom.

"It is finished," He exclaimed. "The work He came to do in the flesh. His humiliation and suffering; the life He came to live, manifesting the power and love of the Father; the fulfillment of all the types and prophecies concerning Him; the death He came to die, and the redemption He came to accomplish, so far as His Messianic office as the Son of Man was concerned, were finished."

No other death has ever been recorded in the annals of time of such awful incidents and profound import as this, and now even after the lapse of nearly nineteen hundred years, wherever the story of the cross is read or told, it strikes and thrills the deepest chords of the human heart and understanding.

That the anniversary of this great and solemn day should be remembered and be observed by all Christian people, everywhere, by the most solemn religious services and by refraining from business, is evidently proper, and as a matter of fact it may happily be stated that the observance of the day is becoming more and )nore general, with the passing years, especially in the cities.

Note - The seLtence above quoted is engraved on a plate of brass in the Hebrew language, and on its sides are the following words: "A similar plate has been sent to each tribe." It was discovered in the year 1280, in the city of Aquilla, in the Kingdom of Naples, by a search made for Roman antiquities, and it remained there until it was found by the Commission of Arts in the French army in Italy. Up to the time of the campaign in Southern Italy it was preserved in the sacristy of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box of ebony. Since then the relic has been kept in the chapel of Caert. The Carthusians obtained the privilege, by their petitions, that the plate might be kept by them, which was an acknowledgment of the sacrifice they made for the French army. The French translation was made literally by the members of the Commission of Arts. Denon had a facsimile of the plate engraved, which was bought by Lord Howard, on the sale of his cabinet, for 2,890 francs. There seems to be no historical doubt as to the authenticity of this plate. The reasons of the sentence correspond exactly with those of the Gospel.

Easter

Easter being a day of particular and general observance, annually, by a large portion of the people of this county, as it is throughout Christendom, and occurring so soon after Good Friday, a legal holiday, may be referred to briefly here.

The English word Easter is probably derived from the Saxon word "Osten," which means "rising." The word Easter occurs once in the authorized version of the New Testament, Acts, 12th chapter and 4th verse, where it is used for the word Passover, but in the new version, the word Passover is used at this place.

As to the time of celebrating Easter, much dispute existed in the early church, but the matter was finally settled by the great council of Nice, held in the year 325. As then determined, it comes on the first Sunday after the full moon, which happens upon or next after March 21st, and if the full moon happened on a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after. It cannot fall earlier than March 22d, nor later than April 25th.

Easter is a feast day in the church calendar, and is usually accounted one of the leading events of the Christian year, the greatest in fact - and it has from the earliest ages of the church been designated as "the Queen of Festivals."

"O day of days! Shall hearts set free No 'minstrel rapture' find for thee? Thou art the Sun of other days, They shine by giving back thy rays." - Keble.

This great feast is kept in remembrance of our Lord's resurrection from the dead, and has been observed in the church from the days of the Apostles down through all the Christian centuries, to our own time.

feast. And its observance seems to be of universal obligation, as it is written, "Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast." 1 Cor. v: 7 8.

Easter may now bo called a universal festival, and in its continuous celebration from the days of the Apostles, bears unimpeachable testimony to the great fact of the resurrection, which is the great fact of the gospel on which all depends for, saith Paul, "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." 1 Cor. xv: 14. And accordingly, we find that no fact of sacred or profane history, is better attested, few so well, as that of the resurrection from the dead, of Jesus, the Christ.

On Sunday, or Lord's day, the first day of the week, is also a perpetual and weeklj' commemoration of the fact of the resurrection, for it was on that day our Lord rose from the dead, and that event has given us the Lord's day, or the Christian Sunday, but Easter Sunday, the greatest Sunday of the year, is the annual and special commemoration of the resurrection.

Of the manner of observing this day, in this country, and in fact as it has generally been observed through all the past centuries in most Christian lands, it may be brielly said that the principal features are the holding of very animated and joyful religious services of specially appropriate character, in the churches, and that the churches are usually made very attractive by floral decorations and the display of numei'ous mottoes and legends, posted in conspicuous places about the walls and arches and elsewhere, consisting of appropriate texts, as "He is risen," "The Lord is risen indeed," "Now is Christ risen from the dead," "The Lord is King for ever and ever."

"Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer, They are nature's offering, their place is there! They speak of hope to the fainting heart. With a voice of promise they come and part; They sleep in dust through the wintry hours. They break forth In glory - bring flowers, bright flowers."

In all the varied works of nature there is no more beautiful symbol of the resurrection from the dead than the flowers, as they silently spring into life after the long, cold winter, which like death had wrapped them in a snowy shroud.

It is also a special Sunday school festival, greatly enjoyed by the children. Of the many curious customs and traditions connected with the Easter festival, and of the literature of Easter, but little can be said here.

Among the old superstitions connected vfith the day is that which requires one to procure and wear for the first time on that day, some new article of clothing, if only a pair of gloves, and it is quite a current practice, in many localities, even now, to appear on that day in some new article of dress.

But the greatest distinctive peculiarity in the observance of the day is the distribution among the children of Easter eggs, which are beautifully colored and ornamented with many appropriate devices. Tlie egg has from very ancient times been used as a symbol of the resurrection. For, though the egg is apparently lifeless, it contains the germ of life, and there comes forth from it, under the proper conditions, a being of life and activity, thus symbolizing the resurrection of the dead unto life. The distribution also among the children and others of beautifully designed and ornamented Easter cai'ds has become a general practice at this day.

As the first Easter was the event of Christ's resurrection, so the last Easter the world shall know, will be in the morning of the general resurrection, in the last day.

- January. - Delevan is growing very rapidly. Already there are four dry goods stores, one hardware and one furniture store there, besides two hotels, a billiard hall and lumber yard.

- February. - It may seem strange, but nevertheless true, that whisky, regularly applied to a thrifty farmer's stomach, will remove the boards from his fences, let cattle into his crops, kill his fruit trees, mortgage his farm, sow his fields with thistles, take the paint from his buildings, break the glass out of the windows and fill them with old rags, take thegloss from his clothes and the polish from his manners. It will bring sorrow and disgrace to his family, and lead him to a drunkard's grave.

- March.- An entire winter's experience in coal burning, has convinced several of our citizens that it is more economical for heating purposes, than wood.

- May. - The public, very generally - and with much cause - complain of our late spring. But we are not alone; our exchanges from all jiarts of the country are complaining of the cold.

On the twenty- fifth day of May, the last number of the Blue Earth City Mail appeared. Its career was but a short one. The editor says, in this last number, "With this number of the J/a(7its publication is discontinued. This change has been made necessary by our business interests. The purpose for which the paper was established, has been accomplished."

The first number of The Delavan Bee appeared on the eighth day of June, published at Delavan, in this county, by Carr Huntington, formerly of Blue Earth City, editor and proprietor. We quote from the editor's introductory remarks: "In starting a newspaper, it is usual to devote a column to salutatory promises, as to the course it will pursue. In our case, being well-known - perhaps too well-known - to all the people of this county, having been among them engaged in this business about nine years - promises are unnecessary. In conducting newspapers heretofore, it is usually admitted that in every emergency, we have taken the side of the people and endeavored to protect their interests against the machinations of corrupt cliques and the designing of every character and quality. This course on our part has sometimes led along a rough path. In starting a paper in this thriving young village, we have been materially aided by the liberality of its citizens, and, of course, it will be our duty to labor faithfully for the advancement of its best interests, always remembering that its welfare is closely connected with the progress and prosperity of the whole county."

Sunday School Interests

The second annual session of the Faribault County Sunday School Association, was held at Blue Earth Cltj- on the 28th and 29th days of May. "A large number of delegates were in attendance. The exercises throughout were conducted with animation, and were of great interest to all present."

Dots And Dashes

May 30th. - Said Mr. Cantwell to his clergyman, who had a great disrelish for hypocracy, "How can I help to reform the world?" "By beginning with yourself," was the conclusive reply.

This, That And T'Other A Nonplussed Attorney

A correspondent at Fredonia, N. Y., writes: "Being in attendance at the Circuit Court in Albany in the year 1870, I happened to hear a trial of a breach of promise case. The plaintiff was a young lady of rather delicate nerves, and although, through the aid of her counsel, Hon. Lyman Tremain, her case was looking well, yet when she came to be cross-examined by the opposite attorney, Hon. Henry Smith, she quailed before his searching examination, and finally fell down in a swoon. The sympathies of everyone were aroused, and Mr. Smith saw that he must do something. The young lady's face was of a purple-red during her swoon, and so, when the next witness was called (a middle-aged lady), Mr. Smith said:

The anniversary of our national independence was celebrated at Blue Earth City on the Fourth of July. The day was pleasant, and the number of people present was variously estimated at twenty five hundred to three thousand. Hon. Ara Barton, of Rice county, delivered the oration. The Declaration was read by the Rev. Mr. Cheadle, of Blue Earth City.

A celebration was held at Wells, also, and the attendance there was estimated at two thousand people. Hon. M. H. Bunnell deliv livered the oration.

On the sixth day of July, a terrific hail storm visited this county, which, by many, will long be remembered. It .seems to have started near Shclbyville, in Blue Earth county, passing thence southward, through the towns of Winnebago City, Delavan, Prescott, east side of Blue Earth City, west side of Emerald and thence into a small portion of Rome and Elmore, where the hail ceased. Its track was from one to three miles wide, and in many instances the entire crops of the farmers were destroyed. Several farmers lost as much as one hundred acres of grain.

On the ninth of July a cattle fair was held at Wisner's Grove, in Barber township. It was only a partial success, but was a move in the right direction.

The Harvesters At Work

The harvest of 1872 began about the twenty-third of July and the weather was very favorable. The oats crop was very light, many fields not being cut. Barley was generally light. Corn was fair considering the late spring. Fife wheat, a variety long sown in this county, proved a failure with a very few exceptions. Some other varieties of wheat did well, and especially the Red Osaka, a new variety of Russian wheat. In fact, had it not been for this latteiwheat, we could truthfully say, that the wheat crop of 1872 was a failure.

Headless Items

On the twenty-sixth day of July the commissioners met to appoint two school land appraisers. Messrs. S. L. Rugg and A. R. More. Sr., were appointed. The board assembled again in September, which was the last meeting of the year, but did no business we care to note.

Wheat which had been quite low commenced to rise about har vest, and from the 17th to the 20th of August, reached one dollar and five cents per bushel at Delavan, owing to a great wheat "corner" organized at Chicago. The "corner" was broken about the 20lh, and wheat fell imtnediatly to eighty five cents and lower. Some farmers were lucky enough to get in their new crop before the fall. It is well that the farmers, once in a while, get a benefit from the grain gamblers and monopolists who usually have all the profits.

On the twenty second day of August, a railroad survey was completed to Blue Earth City, starting at Lake Crystal and passing through the towns of Winnebago City, Verona and Blue Earth City and running thence to the Iowa State line. Less survey and more railroad would have suited the people better. The efforts to get a railroad at Blue Earth City kept this subject in a state of agitation for many years.

During the spring and summer a vast immigration passed through this county to the counties west of this, Martin, Jackson, Nobles and Rock. The immigration to this county was very fair, but the public lands having mainly been taken long before, the great body of the immigrants passed on to newer localities.

The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of September 18th, but luckily did not materially injure the grass, for strange as it may seem, but little hay had been secured, owing to the wet weather and other causes, j^rior to the frost. Happily, it is not often the fact, that haying is done in this county in the latter half of September.

The Pair

This was one of the best fairs ever held in the county. The weather was very favorable and the attendance large. There was some two hundred entries of stock and other things, and 8157.00 were awarded in premiums. Yet, after all is said, the fair was not what it should have been, in so populous a county as this.

State Teachers' Institute

A State Institute was held at Winnebago City, commencing on Monday, October 21st, which was attended by eighty- seven teachers. The institute was conducted by instructors, thoroughly prepared for the work, and furnished with such professional books and literature as was of great value to those engaged in teaching. The value of these institutes in presenting new methods of teaching, discussing and impi'oving the existing methods, introducing new subjects of instruction, offering to the young teacher the experience of the old one, harmonizing the system of instruction throughout the county.

and the awakening of a higher zeal and ambition in the minds and hearts of teachers, and in giving them a more just view of the importance of their calling, can hai-dly be overestimated.

The Yearly Scuffle

On the fifteenth day of June, a mass convention was held at Blue Earth City of those who were opposed to the reelection of Gen. Grant to the presidency. This party was made up of and known as democrats and liberal republicans, and constituted the opposition to the republican party in the main.

Gen. U. S. Grant was the republican, and Horace Greeley, of New York, the opposition candidate for the presidency. Chas. O'Connor, of New York, was the presidential candidate of a part of the democratic party. The candidates for congress were Mark H. Dunnell, republican, and Morton S. Wilkinson, independent republican.

The liberal republicans and democrats held their county convention at Blue Earth City, on the twenty-second day of October. This convention was also harmonious in its action. D. H.Morse, of Verona, was chosen chairman, and D. P. Wasgatt, of Winnebago City, secretary. The convention then proceeded to make the following nominations.

The only real local subjects of contest, in this election, were the offices of Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court, and the contest for these offices was earnest and persistent.

The election was held on the fifth day of November. Gen. Grant was re-elected President, by an overwhelming majority. Mr. Dunnell was re-elected to Congress, and the Republican candidates for State officers were elected.

Two Notable Events

On the ninth day of the month, just one year and one month after the great Chicago calamity, a large part of the city of Boston, Mass , was destroyed by fire. The loss was $75,000,000 in buildings and merchandise. And this great fire was not among the wooden structures of the city, but it was the brick, stone, iron and granite buildings, the finest and costliest, that went down as though they had been tinder. This fire was only surpassed on this continent, in extent, by that of Chicago, and was one of the great calamities of the age.

On the twenty-ninth of the month Horace Greeley, candidate at the recent election for the presidency, died. But Horace Greeley was so great a man that the fact of his having been a candidate, even for the presidency, was of small consequence. He was the founder, and for more than a generation, the editor of the New York Tribune, the greatest newspaper in its day in the world, and the political bible of hundreds of thousands of our people, and his name was a household name in tens of thousands of families from their youth to mature age. He was the king of journalism; the great representative and defender of republican institutions, as he was one of their greatest outgrowlhs-he was the greatest citizen of the nation, an Amei'ican of Americans, and one of the greatest and grandest men of any age or nation. In his death, friend and foe alike, forgave and forgot what many thought the great mistake of his life, his candidacy for the presidency in opposition to the great political party of which he was the father, and bowed their heads in profoundest sorrow.

The Epizooty

In November and December, a peculiar horse disease prevailed in this section of the country. The sickness commenced with a labored, half-suppressed cough, which rapidly increased in violence and was accompanied by a fever, intense heat of the mouth, whether dry or moist, and a running of very offensive mucus from the nos trils, as in distemper. The horses attacked refused all food, but evidenced no disposition to lie down. In a few days the horse became very weak, and unless relief was afforded soon, and the greatest care taken of him, he died suddenly. By the best veterinary surgeons the disease was deemed an acute catarrh and influenza, and prevailed at the time as an epidemic.

The disease originated in Canada where thousands of horses perished. It spread from thence into the eastern states and thence westward. It seemed to be most fatal in the cities, where in a day all the horses would be attacked and rendered unfit for labor, causing a stoppage of business and great delay and damage. Canal boats, street cars, express wagons, omnibuses, mail carriages and the thousand and one means of transportation and conveyance in which horses are the motive power, ceased to run for a time. In some instances oxen wei-e substituted for the invalid horses. The mail was carried by ox team to and from Delavan and Blue Earth City on one day when no well horses could be had.

Never before did people Icai-n and so fully realize the inestima ble value to man of that noblest of all the brute creation, the horse, and what a grand helper he is in the business and pleasure of the world. And if the lesson thus taught should procure for this valued servant kinder and more intelligent treatment, protection from over work, fair feed and attendance, care in sickness and comfortable stabling when his work is done, the lesson may not have cost too much. It is a sad fact that many a man exhibits greater brute instincts and conduct than the poor horse which has the misfortune to be in his charge.

The disease was contagious and was supposed to have been caused by some peculiar condition of the atmosphere, and was probably spread abroad by the atmosphere, as well as by infection. It was not so fatal in Minnesota as in the states further east, and in this county but few horses died, though the disease lingered among some of them for a long time. As to the treatment of the disease, experience proved that the best course was to give but little medicine. Perfect rest and keeping the horse warm and dry, and otherwise carefully nursing him, feeding no hay, oats, corn or barley, but only warm bran mash, with a little oat or rye straw, was the best treatment. Small doses of bromide of potassium, given two or three times a day in a bran mash for the first two or three days while the inflammation lasted, and putting tar on the trough or manger, and on the horses nose, proved the best medicine when any was deemed necessary.

As to the name of this epidemic, it was first called the Canadian Horse disease, and various names descriptive of the disease were framed in Latin or Greek, among which were "Hippoparenarhoea" and "Hipporhenophlegmatoblennonalastalagmatus," which is credited to the N. Y. World, but not pi'oving convenient in every-day conversation did not become popular. Then came Epizootic and Epizooty and Epizoot, and finally finished up with simple "Zoot."

When the disease first appeared, it was supposed to be a new disease, as it was not mentioned in the books, but an old book- worm discovered that it had prevailed in Greece, about four hundred years before the Christian era, an'd this extended account of the disease and its treatment, is given here, so that if it again appears, say four hundred years after us, they who may see this account may know that we have had it.

A Cold Winter

The week preceding Christmas was intensely cold and quite stormy. In exposed jjositions on the prairies it was reported that the thermometer ran down to 37° below zero, at other places less exposed to 25° and 30° below. A great scarcity of fuel existed at the time of this cold spell, especially in the villages, and some persons on the prairies were compelled to use corn for fuel. In many places on the prairies of the west, corn has been substituted for wood and coal as fuel, with much success.

The winter of 1872-3 was very severe, especially in the month of December, as above intimated, not only in Minnesota, but throughout the country. In fact, when very cold weather prevails in Minnesota, generally, it is usually pretty cold in many other localities, as will appear from the following reports from widely separated parts of the country.

The Cold Everywhere

MPiuphis, Tcnn., Doc. 24. - To-day was the coldest ever known here in 25 years, the mercury ran^'in^' from 5 to 10 above zero during the day. Navigation is entirely suspended.

St. Louis, Dec. 24. - Last night was the coldest of the season, the mercury falling to 8 degrees below zero by the signal service thermometer, and to 12and 1.0 by ordinary instruincnls, according to location. To-uigbt, however, the temperature is much milder.

Chicago. Dec. 24. - The weather has moderated again. Thermometers which were 20 below this morning are up to zero to-night. Accounts from all parts state that the weather for the past 24 hours was as cold as ever known.

The First Court House

The project of building a court house, for the use of the county officers and for court purposes, heretofore referred to, after much planning and discussion, resulted in the erection, on Court House Square, in Blue Earth City, of a brick building, thirty -seven by forty-five feet in size and two stories high. The first story is divided into five rooms, for county offices, the second story is fitted up for a court room. A commodious fire-proof vault is attached on the rear of the building, and the whole structure is well built and well finished. The cost was about five thousand dollars, the larger part of which expense was paid by the county, and the remainder by the township of Blue Earth City. No public debt was incurred in the enterprise. The building was completed late in the fall, and several county ofiicers moved into their respective rooms, in the holiday season, between Christmas and New Year's day.

This structure is not large, nor imposing, but is substantial, a credit to the county, and will serve the purposes of the county for many years. Few counties have been so well, and at the same time, so economically provided for, in this respect, as ours.

Chaptee Xix

Severe in mercy, chastening in its love, Oft-times in dark and awful visitation, Doth interpose, and leads the wanderer back To the straight path." - Baillie.

The first day of January was very mild and pleasant. The new year was ushered in under very favorable weather auspices, but if this fact was taken as predictive of a pleasant winter, a favorable spring or a prosperous year, the horoscope was not well read.

And first, on this day the district court commenced its winter term, Hon. P. H. Waite, judge. There were forty civil and four criminal cases on the calendar. There was a very large attendance of attorneys and of the people of the county, at this term. It was the first term of court held in the new court house. It was also the only term of this court, held in the county, during the year. The June term, owing to the sickness of the judge, was not held. A special session was called for July 15th, but this term, also, at the request of the ^oard of county commissioners, was dispensed with.

The second event of the day was the assembling of the county commissioners. W. W. Potter, of Verona, was chosen chairman for the year. Of the business transacted by the board at this and subsequent meetings, it is not necessary to note anything here. Their subsequent meetings were held on the fourth day of March, June 10th and September 6th.

Another event of the seventh was the meeting of the Agricultural Society, at Blue Earth City. J. A. Latimer was elected president, Charles Stockman, treasurer, and A. H. Bullis, secretary. It is necessary to say that there was no other business transacted at this meeting, worthy of record here, but while we are penning these lines, we observe in a newspaper lying before us, the following golden words :

"In the wide world there are no more important things than farmers' boys. They are not so important for what they are, as for what they will be. At present they are, too often, of little consequence. But farmers' boys always will be the material out of which the noblest men are made. They have health and strcnRtb: they have bone and muscle; they have heart and will; they have nerve and patience; they have amtiition and endurance; and these are the materials that malce men. Not buckrams and broadcloth, and patent leather and beaver fur, and kid gloves and watch seals, are the materials of which men are made. It takes better stuff to make a man. It is not fat and flesh, and swagger and self-conceit; nor yet smartness, nor flippancy, nor foppery, nor fastness. These make fools, not men: not men such as the world wants, nor such as it will honor and bless. Not artistically curled hair, nor a cane, nor a pipe, nor a cigar, nor a (luid of tobacco, nor an oath, nor a glass of beer or brandy, nor a dog or gun, nor a pack of cards, nor a novel, nor a v\ilgar book of love and murder, nor a tale of adventures, that makes a man, or has anything to do with making a man. Farmers' boys ought to keep clear of all these idle, foolish things. They should be employed with nobler objects. They have yet to be men of the clear grit - honest, intelligent, industrious men." - Herald of Health.

A Great Storm

On the same day, the seventh, there happened one of the most destructive storms ever known in the northwest. We quote the following well written and truthful account of this storm, taken from the Blue Earth Citij Post.

It is not often that wo are called upon to record a more severe storm than that which occurred during the past week, commencing on Tuesday afternoon. The day opened warm and bright, presenting a marked contrast with the severe cold weather which had preceded it. All the forenoon it grew warmer, and people congratulated themselves that the severe cold spell had come to an end for the present. The town was full of people, and everybody was astir. In the afternoon alxiut two o'clock, entirely without warning, the wind veered around into the northwestand in a moment raged furiously, ttllingthe air with fine snow, and rendering objects invisible at a few rods distance. All the afternoon it continued to increase in severity, and night closed in with a "nor'- wester" in full force. During the night the war of the elements continued. The wind rose and fell in fitful gusts, seeming to gather strength with each subsidence, and threatening great damage. The fine snow was driven through every nook and cranny, and settled upon resting places in fantastic shapes. Many passed a sleepless night, expecting every moment that their houses would be overturned, take Are, or that .some other calamity would occur. It was a weird scene, well calculated to strike terror to stout hearts.

Morning came, but brought no cessation of the storm, and daylight broke upon a scene of desolation and discomfort. People who wore in town the day before were compelled to remain all night, and together with those attendant upon the court and the meeting of the board of county commissioners, filled the hotels to overflowing, and drew upon the hospitalities of our citizens. Business was suspended, no session of the court was hold, and all congregated around the fires speculating upon the probable loss of life, and comparing the storm with preceding ones. All day long old Boreas revelled and howled in his strength, piling snow drifts to great heights, only to remove them the next moment to some other locality. The feelings of hilarity and good cheer, usually ruanifested upon such occasions were entirely wanting, and instead thereof was a sense of anxiety for those who might be exposed to the mercy of the storm. Those separated from their families were anxious for the safety of the dear

The storm still raged when Wednesday night came, continuins through the night and on Thursday, though with less severity. On that day a few ventured to their homes. The court resumed business, and a feeling of relief began to manifest itself. By Friday morning the storm had almost ceased, and during the day it stopped entirely; Saturday opened beautifully, and was a pleasant day.

So far we have heard of no loss of life or serious damages, although there were some narrow escapes. Two little girls of Mr. Everson, living in Pilot Grove township who were absent at a neighbor's when the storm commenced, started for home, and nearly perished on the way. A school in the town of Elmore was compelled to remain in the school house for two days and a night, and doubtless other schools had the same experience.

Many families were upon short allowances for fuel and perhaps for food, but as the weather was not remarkably cold, they managed to weather it through.

- Since the above was written we learn that a German woman living near Wisner's Grove, in this county, was frozen to death. It is, also, rumored that a school teacher was frozen to death in Martin county.

Several weeks elapsed before any definite information could be obtained of the loss of life, and the extent of the damage done by the storm, and many startling rumors were afloat. Great exaggerations are usual on such occasions. Estimates heard on the streets, and found in newspapers, based upon reports, were made, by which it was claimed, that as many as one thousand people had lost their lives, but this was finally reduced to five hundred and less. The matter, when subsequently investigated, proved not so bad after all, though still a sad reckoning, as appears by the following statement.

Loss Op Life By The Storm

"Gov. Austin made an official report to the legislature in regard to the effects of the great storm of January last, resulting in the death of seventy persons, and the injury of thirty-one more. The tabular statement by counties is as follows:

The Statute Makers

Our members were E. H. Hutchins. iu the Senate, and S. P. Child and M. A. Hawks, in the House of Representatives. Bailey- Madison, of this county, was sergeant-at-arms of the House.

But little of the legislation of IH73, had any direct i-eference to this county. There were only the following acts: "An Act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the village of Blue Earth City." "An Act to incorporate the village of Winnebago City." "An Act to authorize the county commissioners of Faribault county to change the boundaries of independent school district of Blue Earth City."

The Spring And Seeding

The spring of this year opened about the first of March and the snow, of which there was considerable, w^t off pretty rapidly and without much rain. Some little wheat was sown as early as the twelfth day of March, but, owing to occasional rains, the fall of slight snows and freezing, the ground was kept in bad condition, and as late as the twenty-second day of April, not one-third of the wheat was sown, and some that had been sown quite early, rotted. Low grounds could not be seeded to much extent and where seeded, produced nothing. It was remarked that probably one fourth of the wheat was sown after the first of May, and nearly all the oats.

May Day

And here is another red-letter day, established by custom, Mayday. The first day of May, has, through many centuries and in almost all countries, been distinguished by some sort of civil, social, or religious observances, festive and floral. It has become, in modern times, in most countries, a children's and youth's gala day, and it is for them, that this brief notice of the day is written.

May day parties, or festivals, the May pole, entwined with its garlands and wreaths of leaves and flowers, around which the young folks form a revolving circle, singing and dancing, and the flowercrowned May Queen, the garnishing of the churches, dwellings and gateways with flowers and boughs, on the first day of May, are usages which have been known fi'om a remote age.

"So you must wake aad call me early, call me early, mother dear; Tomorrow '11 be the happiest time of all the glad new year; Tomorrow '11 be of all the year, the maddest, merriest day, For I'm to be the Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be the Queen O' the May. - Tennyson.

The lighting of fires on the hill tops on this day, was a custom of the ancient Druids and the Scandinavian people. In that far gone time, it was not only a children's day, but the aged, the most venerable, the kingly and priestly, were leading actors in the day's festivities. While many of the old usages incident to this day, have long since become obsolete, there are still some existing - as May day parties, the floral decoration of the dwellings and some others, of a social character, which may well be continued. The amusing custom which obtains among the children and youths, of hanging May baskets, is one worthy of commendation. This custom was introduced, in certain portions of this country, at an early day, and is quite an old one in many places.

Some baskets of various shapes are made of paj)er, of divers colors, tastefully ornamented, and filled with flowers, and containing some little written message of love or friendship, and the name of the recipient, are hung, secretly, just after dark, in the evening of May day, by the donor, on the door latch, or other convenient place, at the residence of the recipient, who is warned of the presentation by a sudden knocking on the door. But it is an essential part of the proceeding, that the basket be hung secretly and the giver be not caught at it. A great deal of fun is enjoyed in the seeking to avoid detection by the donor, and in the watchful effort of the receiver, to see who hangs the basket, and many little artifices are used on both sides, making great sport for the young folks. And this, with some other May day usages, are observed to some extent in this county every year.

There arc many of these pleasant social customs, very dear to the hearts of children and young people, which should be encouraged by parents and others, as they add greatly to the enjoyment and the pleasant memories of childhood's years - memories often the purest and best we can ever know in this mortal life.

A Scrap Heap

Immigration commenced early in May, and the roads running westward were lined with the white covered wagons of the hundreds seeking new homes on the fertile prairies of south western Minnesota. But little of the immigration stopped here, though lands in this county were very cheap.

Owing to some unaccountable cause, possibly the hard winter of 1872-3, or the peculiar character of the spring, a blight came over the fruit and some other much hardier trees, during the summer. Many fruit trees leaved out and bloomed in the spring as usual, but soon the blossoms fell off, the trees lost their thrift, then the leaves fell and finally the tree died. Some trees which had been set for years and had grown to good size, died. The blight seemed to extend to some indiginous trees as well. However, this blight fortunately prevailed only in certain localities, while in others it was not observed.

Although the spring of the year was unpleasant, the summer made amends for it. There were no hail storms of importance - no great storms of wind or rain, but little sultry, or very hot weather, and general good health prevailed throughout the county. In fact the summer was more evenly tempered than usual, and taken altogether, was one of the most agreeable within the recollection of the writer.

The F. C. S. S. A.

The third annual meeting of the Sunday School Association was held at Wells, on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth days of May. The attendance was good and the interest manifested commendable. A committee reported thirty-one Sabbath schools in the county. The following resolution was adopted:

That the salvation of the soul and the development of the Christian character, are of the first importance, and as the popular habits of intemperance and profanity, and the use of tobacco, are hiuderances thereto, we earnestly warn and carefully guard the youth against them."

C. B. Miner, of Verona, was elected president; O. A. Albee, of Winnebago City and Chas. H. Dearborn, of Blue Earth City, vice presidents; Chas. H. Patten, of Winnebago City, secretai-y, and Thomas Blair, of Delavan, treasurer, for the ensuing year.

More Railroad Talk

If any curious person should ever take it into his head to look up the history of the struggle of the people of this county to secure the building of railroads, how long and persistently they labored, and what sacrifices they made, to secure the building of the great lines of road, the benefits of which now all enjoy, here is an item which he should want to see. In the early part of the year, the project was again revived of building a road from Mankato to Wells, heretofore spoken of, and in connection therewith, E. P. Drake, president of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company, again proposed to construct a branch line from that point, at or near Good Thunder Ford, on the line of the above mentioned road, via Winnebago City and Blue Earth City, to the Iowa State line. The condition, was the voting of aid in town bonds by the several townships along the line of road, to the aggregate amount of $150,000; $50,000 of which was to be provided by towns in Blue Earth county, and |!100,000 by the towns in Faribault county. The bonds were voted during the spring and summer. The company was to have until December 1st, 1874, to complete the roads, and this, for the time being, was the great topic of interest. Meetings were held in most of the towns along the Blue Earth line, at which Mr. Drake appeared personally, and stated his views and intentions. Circulars setting forth the project and the advantages of the road, were printed in the English and Norwegian languages, and widely distributed. About the first of the following September, both companies had made their arrangements to build, and work had actually commenced on the Mankato and Wells line, but all was soon abandoned, and the building of the roads fell through for this year, owing to financial difficulties.

The Grasshopper Invasion

One of the greatest calamities which ever befell this region of country, was the grasshopper plague, which commenced in this year and extended through a period of four, and in some localities, five years. A few introductory remarks only, will be made relative to the subject in the history of this year, but it will be more fully treated hereafter.

western Minnesota. Their ravages were very serious. The people were taken by surprise, they could not comprehend this terrible destruction of the ir crops, they knew not what to do and were utterly powerless. The pests eat up the gardens and stripped the grain fields in many localities.entircly destroying the crops. In some instances, within the area attacked, the injury done was but partial to the grain fields, but their capacity to do irreparable and widespread damage was plainly evident. It was on the last day of June that they made their appearance at Blue Earth City, and along the line of the Blue Earth river. Tliey had, however, been in the southwestern towns of the county for some days previous. They came in innumerable hosts, as it is written of the locusts of Egypt.

On looking toward the sun, they could be seen, though flying quite high, passing northward in countless myriads. Those that lit down along the Blue Earth river, appeared to be but small parties or detachments, dropped out of the main army. After remaining in some localities a few days, in others some weeks, eating up the vege tation and depositing their eggs, they would suddenly disappejir. Their ravages were much more serious this year, in the counties lying west of this, than here, resulting in much loss and destruction.

If it is permissable in so grave a matter as this, should we be asked what became of much of our grain crops for a number of years, we may reply, as did the Kansas school boy, in the following brief catechism :

Kansas teacher - "Where does all of our grain products go to?"' Buy - "It goes into the hopper." "Hopper? ^Yhat hopper?" "Grasshopperl" Triumphantly shouted the lad.

Patriotic Pyrotechnics

The birthday of the nation was celebrated at a number of places in the county. At Blue Earth City, Rev. J. W. Powell delivered the oration and .1. A. Kiester read the Declaration. At Winnebago City Gen. Kellogg, of La Crosse, addressed the people, and Andrew C. Dunn was the reader of the Declaration.

On these days of rejoicing in our civil and religious liberties, it is well to remember the innumerable and intolerable evils, which, through many centuries, resulted from the union of church and slate and the exercise of ecclesiastical power over the civil authority. The record is among the blackest and bloodiest of the human race. In our favored land, these two great powers are separate. One cannot exercise authority over, or interfere with the other. And here is what a great religious body, great in numbers and influence, both in Europe and America, wisely embraces among its fundamental teachings on this subject:

"Some have iiiipropiTly mingled together, civil and ecclesiastical power. From this heterogeQeouscominixturo,e.\leDsive wars, rebellions and insurrections have been produced." * * * "Inasmuch * as the power of the church * * * confers eternal gifts * * * it cannot by any means Interfere with civil polity and government. For the latter relates to matters entirely different from the gospel, and protects with its power, not the souls of men, but their bodies and possessions against external violence by the sword and bodily penalties. Therefore, the two governments, the civil and ecclesiastical ought not to be mingled and confounded. For the ecclesiastical power has its command to preach the gospel and to administer the sacraments, and it ought not to interfere with a foreign office, it ought not to dethrone or make Kings, It ought not to abolish or disturb civil laws and obedience to government. It ought not to make and appoint laws for the civil power concerning political matters."

The Harvest And Crops

The harvest of the earlier varieties of wheat, commenced in the last week in July. The harvest weather of the year, was all it could be desired. No heavy rains, or winds, interfered with the work. Owing to the fact that most of our farmers had several varieties of wheat, some of which were earlier than others, the work was more distributed than usual, and much less hired help was required. In fact the grain of this year was gotten up much more cheaply than in former years. The wheat crop of the year was not a good one. In the east half of the county, the crop was fair, but in the west half not more than half a crop, many farmers not getting over five or six bushels per acre. The grasshoppers did much injury in certain localities, and even on fields where it was thought they had done but little, if any harm, the damage proved to be a considerable percentage, when the grain came from the spout of the threshing machine. The Red Osaka, in some localities, was struck with rust. Oats averaged from thirty to forty bushels per acre, there being more fields of the former than of the latter amount. The corn crop was only nominal, but little having been planted, yet there were some good fields which yielded well, one especially of ninety acres in the northwestern part of the county. It brought from fifty to seventy five cents per bushel in the fall. Barley in the southwestern portion of the county was eaten up by the grasshoppers and in other parts of the county was not a great crop. During the succeeding winter barley brought over one dollar per bushel. Potatoes did not yield well, generally, and there was a consequent scarcity and high prices, ranging from sixty to seventy- five cents per bushel in November, and running as high as from eighty cents to one dollar in the winter.

This was not a prosperous year for our farmers, and while the aggregate productions of the year show well, as reported by the commissioner of statistics, the results may be accredited, partially, to increased acreage of lands tilled, and partially to imperfect and overestimated returns, and partially to the fact that these statistics are not very reliable in any event.

The Patkons Of Husuakdhy

The most important public movement of this year, was the or£?anization in this county, of many subordinate granges of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry - a secret order, instituted to further and protect the interests of farmers, as a class. The institution spread over all the states and territories of the Union, and in less than three years could boast of some twenty-throe thousand granges and a million and a half of members. No great popular movement of the people, at any time in history, equalled this.

After some four or five years, the order, owing to various causes, which it is not necessary to specify here, began to decline, and at the end of eight or ten years ceased to exist in many sections of the country; but in various localities in many of the states it is still flourishing, and as it was not the fact that the order fell into decay because some such organization was not greatly needed - for it was required and will ahvaj's be needed, and it was one of the noblest, most beneficent of institutions, the prediction may be ventured, that the day will come when it will be revived and re-organized over the whole land, but perhaps, in some slightly different form.

Memorabilia

Here are some important events which occurred during this year, on the world's great stage of action, outside of our county, and which formed topics of interest and discussion everywhere.

August 24th. Terrible storm on the coast of British America and coast of Mexico. 100 vessels destroyed in and near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 176 sailing vessels and 12 steamers lost in the Gulf of Mexico.

About the middle of September the town-site of "Easton" was surveyed and building commenced. This new village - the sixth in the county according to age, was located upon section thirty-six (36), in the town of Lura, on the line of the Southern Minnesota railroad. The early history of this village, will be given further along in this work.

Jack Frost The Wells Atlas

This paper, which had suspended in January of this year, was again re-issued, appearing September 17th. It was a six column sheet and neatly printed, and in the curious phi-aseology of the times, was described as made up of "liomespun outsides" and "patent internals." R. Calvert appeared as editor and manager.

The Fair

The fifteenth annual fair of the Agricultural Society was held at Winnebago City, on the second and third days of October. The first day the weather was so bad that nothing was done. The second day was not much better. The exhibition was rather poor and the attendance not great. The ofiBcers of the society had made a very commendable effort to have a good fair, but the unfavorable weather was something no effort or prudence of theirs could overcome.

Prairie Fires

About the sixth day of the month, great jirairie fires started up in the southern towns of the county and raged fearfully for some days. Great quantities of grain and hay in the stack were burned up. Several farmers lost all their grain and hay. A large number of stables, and several dwellings were burned. Many fruit trees were injured, or totally killed, and a number of fine groves of forest trees were destroyed. The fires broke out in a number of localities and ran over wide area.s. The principal damage was done in the towns of Pilot Grove, Elmore, Rome, Seely, Poster, Delavan and Verona, and many of the residents of those towns will sadly remember the event.

for the annual prairie fires, which have heretofore swept over them from time immemorial. Timber seeds seem to be in the ground everj'whero, and many spots of ground, free from fires for a few years, are soon covered by groves of young popples, oaks, and other wood growths. Doubtless the protection against fire, furnished by our streams, has given us our timber, and the very tortuous and winding course of our creeks and rivers, adding length to the streams, and furnishing innumerable protected promontories, nooks and corners, has greatly added to the quantity of the timber.

These prairie fires are usually the result of accident, or carelessness, but sometimes of design. Much of the damage which has resulted from them is, also, the result of negligence and carelessness in not taking timely precautions against them. The laws for many years have provided severe penalties against the negligent, or malicious setting fire to the prairies, by which damage is done, and these laws have been frequently enforced in this county. The firing of the prairies in former times was often the work of the Indians, who had some, to us, unknown purpose in it.

There are few grander sights than that of a prairie fire at night, on the boundless prairies of the west, and, as seen above, thej' are often fearfully destructive, as well as grand, but it is a sight which, owing to the rapid settlement of the county, will soon be a thing of the past, and one with which we can well dispense.

A Political Imbroglio

Let us now turn to a brief account of the political contest of this year. On several of the ofiices the fight was an exciting one. A governor of the State and several other state officers were to be elected, and several proposed amendments to the constitution of the State were submitted to the people, for approval or rejection, all of which added to the interest of the election.

On the fourth day of October, a county council of the Patrons of Husbandry was held at Blue Earth City, at which the following nominations were made for legislative and county offices:

No nomination for the office of state senator was made, but a committee consisting of one from each Grange in the county was cho.sen, who were to assemble at Blue Earth City on the eleventh of Octobei", the time of meeting of the Republican County Convention, and ratify the nomination for senator, if satisfactory, if not, to make a nomination.

The Republican Couuty Convention was held at Blue Earth City October 11th. Every town in the county was fully represented and great interest was felt in the result. For months preceding the convention, two candidates for the office of state senator and their respective friends, had labored with might and main to secure the convention, and consequently the nomination. There were several candidates already in the field for the several offices of treasurer, county attorney and sheriff. But the greatest interest centered in the offices of senator and treasurer.

The convention organized by choosing Allen Shultis, of Elmore, chairman, and A. A. Williams, of Verona, secretary. The usual committees were then appointed. The committee on credentials reported two delegations from the town of Emerald, one in favor of G. W. Whallon for senator, and the other for S. P. Child, when on the question being submitted to the convention on receiving one-half of each delegation, it was, after much heated discussion, so determined. Mr. Child, who was a member of the convention, and all his friends in the convention at once withdrew. The remainder of the convention, composed of several more than one-half of those elected, then proceeded, hurriedly and amid much confusion, to make the nominations, which were as follows:

After the convention adjourned, the committee of the county council, above mentioned, assembled, and after admitting several more members to the committee, proceeded to vote on the nomination for senator; J. A. Latimer and G. W. Whallon being the candidates. The vote was a tie and no nomination was made. Allen Shultis withdrew as a candidate for representative, and C. S. Dunbar, of Poster, was substituted.

In a few days after the conventions, R. B. Johnson was announced as an independent candidate for treasurer; J. H. Sprout, for county attorney, and S. P. Child, for sepator. Electioneering "ran high" and a number of the candidates put forth their best efforts. Mr. Wilmert withdrew as a candidate for judge of probate, not wanting the office.

The election was held on the fourth day of November, and the day was clear and mild. For a week or more before election, the canvassing and electioneering was done on runners, and the roads were, by some of the candidates, pretty well worn. After all was said and done, the polls closed, the vote counted, and the following was the result. The people had spoken. For Governor:

The first snow of the season fell on the night of the twentyfourth and the forenoon of the twenty-fifth of October. There was probably a depth of four inches. This snow storm had a very discouraging effect upon the people. The spring had been late, the grasshoppers had done much damage in certain localities, the crops were light, and the prices low, people were much in debt, and but little plowing had yet been done, and now, the question was asked by many anxious people, "can it be true that winter has already come upon us?" However, it did not prove so bad as was apprehended, and considerable plowing and other fall work was done after this snow.

There have been but few years in the history of the county, or of the nation, that were "harder," as the expression is, or more discouraging generally, during the summer and autumn.

Locally, we suffered from short crops and low prices of wheat, the staple and money crop of the county. All through September, October and November, the price of wheat was very low. Money was extremely scax'ce and rates of interest very high. Everybody was more or less in debt, and everyone to whom money was due, was urgent, persistent for his pay, and the county newspapers were filled with notices of mortgage foreclosures and sales of land under execution. During this and several subsequent years, many homes and farms passed away forever from the owners, for a very small proportion of their real value. And in this sad summary of local afflictions we must not forget what has been said as to the damages done by grasshoppers and prairie fires in certain portions of the county.

In the fall there came upon the nation a great money panic - a financial crash. The great failure of the banking house of Jay Cook & Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., led off in this dance of financial dishonor and death. Many banks suspended; thousands of individuals of supposed great wealth, great moneyed corporations of all kinds, went down in bankruptcy. Manufactories and mines ceased to be operated. Great public enterprises were brought to a sudden close. The building of railroads ceased. The number of defaulters in public office, was legion. The army of the unemployed swelled from hundreds to thousands, and hundreds of thousands, and great distress prevailed throughout the country, while suspicion and distrust existed everywhere.

work of ruin and distress for a number of years, as will be seen hereafter. This was the era when the usurer, the land shark, the scalping attorney and tlie collecting officers nourished in all the land.

And what were the general causes which led to all these tremendous evil results? History says that the success of the first Pacific railroad led to tho building of a second - the Northern Pacific - and also to the building of thousands of miles of other railroads, in the west, which were really not needed, and that multitudes of people, the rich and the poor, put their capital and savings into these projects for speculative purposes. They jiroved delusive. Other financial schemes had also started up which absorbed millions of dollars, which failed to make any return. Other causes were extravagant living and building, everywhere, the accumulation of great individual and corporate indebtedness, and wild speculation in all kinds of properly that proved worthless. It is claimed, also, by a class of writers on finance and the currency that there was still another and leading cause of the public calamities of this and many subsequent years.

In February, of this year, through, it was said, the corrupting influences exercised by English capitalists, an act was passed by congress, in relation to the mint and coinage, which prohibited the coinage of the former kind of silver dollars, and which, in effect, it was alleged, degraded and demonetized silver. By this act silver ceased to be a legal tender except in sums not exceeding five dollars in any single transaction.

Prom all this it may be correctly inferred, that there is but little in improvement and general progress in this county, in 1873, of which to boast.

It was everywhere throughout the whole country very apparent that reform and retrenchment, better systems of farming, stricter business principles, economy, and a general settling up and starting anew, were imperatively demanded.