Goodhue County, Minnesota - The whole text, 1878 (part 7 of 16)

" After the sermon all the fishing party returned to camp, with the exception of our clerical friend, who was requested to stay and conduct the exercises of class and Sunday school. In course of the afternoon Webster and myself took a stroll on the hillside back of our camp. The river running a few yards from the path, at the base of the hill, was plainly visible in the interval between the trees. The pools of water were as calm as the sleep of the infant. The quieting influence of the day appeared to have affected the inmates of the waters, and their usually lively demonstrations were sobered down to a gentle motion of their fins to keep them in suspension in their liquid element. A cosy shelf on the hillside invited a rest, and we sat down to enjoy the scene. Anon a ripple in the stream attracted attention. 'Twas not larger than that caused by the fall of a drop of rain. Nothing was said, but my eyes were riveted to the spot. 'Twas repeated, and in the same place. I saw that I should fall into temptation, to avoid which I rose and ingloriousl-y fled. What Webster saw, I know not, but when he returned to camp his eyes had a prominence and convexity that indicated having k seen sights,' and his manner, that of a high state of nervous excitement. I said he returned. He did, but he disappeared again, in a state of mind that caused serious apprehensions in his friends. In a short time Shaffer arrived, and selecting a turfy, shady spot, threw himself prone on the ground, discoursing pleasantly of the happiness he felt in having been allowed to minister to the wants of a people so much in need of gospel teaching and so willing to receive it. I heard him, and cordially was with him in spirit, but my eyes were on the path, over the shingle, and up the river, where our absent friend evidently had gone. After a time my apprehensions were almost quieted in regard to Webster, and I was watching the countenance of the speaker as it swayed under the varied emotions called up by the incidents of the day, when a noise startled me. Turning round, I saw Webster approaching a few yards away, evidently in a more easy state of mind. On he came, and I was hopeful that none of the proprieties of the day or occasion had been violated, but when within ten feet of me he suddenly extended his right arm, softly exclaiming, " Look there " I sprang to my feet and beheld the very incarnation of earthly beauty, his colors unfaded, and the light of life still in his eye. My exclamation brought brother Shaffer to a sitting posture. His eyes had an imperfect vision, and he sternly exclaimed, ' Oh, you wicked, wicked man.' Webster skillfully displayed the full-length broadside to view. Brother Shaffer was on his feet in a twinkling, fondling the fish, and the words, "Oh! isn't he a beauty [".burst involuntarily from his lips, his admiration obliterating all thought of the crime. A rebuke was now powerless, as he himself, by his involuntary exclamation and action, was not above temptation, but in fact had participated in the fault.

" The human countenance, as the reflex mirror of impressions on the mental organization, is a pleasing and instructive study, from the very inception of stimuli on the infant brain up to its maximum in mature manhood, thence following on the waning scale of life to those changes which shadow forth the coming of second childhood. Friend S.'s physiognomy for a brief season, well repaid study and analyzation. First were traces of sorrow and rebuke, then surprise and wonder, followed quickly by signs of extravagant admiration, thence down the grade to shame and humiliation. The thought waves were electrical in velocity - each ripple expressing a sentiment or emotion, which the most rapid symbolism could not trace on paper. A single character would have to represent the emotional name; to elucidate it would require pages, yet it was plainly written, and in as legible characters as though carved in ' monumental marble.' With a sigh he subsided into his former position, realizing, doubtless, the weakness and imperfection of human nature, and that even the bestof men are as l prone to do evil as the sparks are to fly upward.'

" I think all those who saw that little episode will never forget it. It was one of those incidents that language cannot communicate or the artist's pencil portray - the finer features of the picture would be inevitably lost. My thoughts called up Uncle Toby's violation of the third commandment, in his anxiety to relieve the poor lieutenant, and I would adopt the author's views as to criminality in the case, with a very slight alteration: 'The accusing spirit which flew up to Heaven's chancery with the fault, blushed as he gave it in; and the recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word, and blotted it out forever.'

"In the fall of 1852, having a fishing-seine in our possession, we organized a fishing party, and built the necessary craft for running a fishery. We began this enterprise for the purpose of supplying our own wants. Meeting with great success, and having nothing else to do, salt and barrels were procured, and in a short time we supplied St. Paul with forty barrels of good fish, at the remarkably low price of $6 per barrel. Our fishing ground was the ' Bay,' in front of Oogel's mill, and a lake on the Wisconsin shore, about a mile above Bay City. Large quantities were caught, of all the kinds inhabiting the river, but we only preserved the best fish, rejecting pike, pickerel, bass, sturgeon, dog-fish, sheep-head and gars, while the rich, fat and luscious cat, buffalo, and carp, were carefully cleaned and salted, well repaying us for our labor. At one haul of our seine, in the lake above referred to, we took out over eight barrels of fish, when cleaned and packed, besides an innumerable quantity of the ' baser sort,' as before indicated.

"These remarks may provoke satirical comments from the members of a certain 'fishing ring,' who think that the mantle of old Izaak Walton has fallen on them individually, and that their palates and peculiar notions should form the standard of true sport and gustatory excellence. But to these I would say, we only wanted such fish as would repay us in nutriment and feed for the animal economy, when the mercury ranged from zero to forty below. This was supplied by our selection, some of the fish yielding over a pint of good oil. Pike, pickerel, bass and trout, as salt-fish, are about as nutrient as floating island, puffs, pastry and gimcracks, and all are measurably worthless as food to strong, hearty, working men.

Local Indian Celebrities

" A short description of three or four of the Indian celebrities of the village may not be out of place. I will commence with ' Wacoota ' - literally the " Shooter" - chief of the band. This man stood about six feet in his moccasins, was well proportioned, and I judge about sixtyfive years of age, when I knew him. He was the most intelligent man in the band, with the exception of Wa-kon-toppy. He was friendly to the whites, and much disposed to adopt the habits and customs of civilized life, and consequently without much authority among the restless young men of the village. His schemes for promoting the well-being of his people were thwarted by Mahpiya-maza, or Iron Cloud, second in rank, but first in real power. This latter personage was a crafty, intriguing politician, favoring all the raiding propensities of the young men, stimulating opposition to any advancement in civilization ; begging when it would accomplish his object ; threatening when he thought he had the power to do injury - a base, bad man, and a thorough savage, whom no kindness could bind in the bonds of friendship, nor reason influence to adopt views salutary to the welfare of his band. His only redeeming trait of character was his advocacy of the cause of temperance. His death, in the latter part of the summer of 1852, freed the whites of the annoyance of his presence and counsels.

prevalent along the river, he called at Mr. Potter's trading house, and espying a demijohn, he asked if it contained Minnie-wakon, whisky. Mr. P. told him it did not, that it was cha-han-pi-tik-ti-cha, molasses or tree sap. The old fellow immediately asked for a donation, but was informed that it belonged to Paska, as Mr. E. C. Stevens was called by the Sioux. Iron Cloud then left on the hunt of Mr. Stevens, first stopping at his own tepee and getting a good-sized coffee pot, as though sure of his object. After finding Mr. Stevens he succeeded in getting the molasses. In a day or two this medicine was disposed of, but the patient was not much benefitted by its use, and importunate for more. Mr. Stevens came to me and inquired what would be the result in my opinion if old Mahpiya repeated the dose. My reply was that it would ' kill him as dead as Julius Caesar.' But importunity finally obtained the coveted sweets, and in a few hours a messenger arrived from a lodge in the Indian cornfield, about where Mr. Towne's house now is, who told me that Iron Cloud was very sick and wanted to see me. I accompanied him, and on entering the tent found it occupied by the sick man, stretched on a robe. His wife, had, ranged in a semi-circle, six of the most popular medicine men, dressed in very unprofessional costume, or rather in undress, for the united apparel of the whole conclave would not have afforded material enough for a pair of leggins. The doctors looked very sullen at my intrusion, but the patient told me they had done him no good, and wanted me to do what I could for him. Upon examination I found him past all remedies, and left. In an hour a wail told of the departure of Maphiya-Maza to the happy hunting ground in the Indian spirit world.

" T'maza-washta, or Good Iron, was the next man of importance in the village. Taller than Wacoota, always smiling, a rebuff never ruffled his equanimity. A friend to both the Wacoota and Iron Cloud factions, he successfully performed the difficult feat of carrying water on both shoulders. On the death of the second chief, Good Iron was excessively amiable, making feasts, and otherwise doing those things which we in civilized life see so frequently performed by aspiring men thirsting for political distinction. The old fellow being so good-natured, I frequently gave more heed to his requests than was proper or necessary, and he reached the conclusion that he had only to ask and he would receive the favor. He wanted to be second chief. A delegation of Indians from Wabasha stopped at our village, and Good Iron concluded a big feast would bring him the desired elevation. I had a fat cow and a good one, and an equally fat dog, but in no other particular did the dog resemble the cow. Now these two animals, in old T'maza's estimation would just about furnish the necessary amount of influence to place him in possession of the object of his aspirations. Accordingly, all smiles, he prefered his request, and, of course, was refused. He was a little crestfallen at first, but he soon laughed, and said: 'My friend, you always gave me what I asked for. Now, when I have friends come to see me, and I want to feast them, you refuse me your cow and your dog. It is not good.' I couldn't see the logic. The old beggar got to be second chief, however.

" Maca-tiniza, (Standing Earth,) more generally known among the whites as the 'Old Scolder,' was a regular old masculine termagant. Nothing suited him. His only luxury was grumbling, and he enjoyed that to an unlimited extent. He was, however, a strict Good Templar, and not a bad Indian ; but his unfortunate peculiarity rendered him anything but a favorite among his own people. He attended church frequently and behaved very well, except on one occasion. I had made Wacoota a one-horse train or sled the first winter of my residence here. The ' Scolder' knew this, and one Sabbath, when we were all at church and Mr. Hancock in the midst of his discourse, the old man and his wife entered. Giving a succession of grunts, he said: 'I have come to church to learn to be good, and may be the Good Spirit will smile on me, so that Pezuta-wichasta (my Indian name) will make me a sled.' The old fellow grinned at his interruption of the service, and I concluded that his religion was not of a serious nature nor likely to become chronic. I never saw him sleigh-riding, but I am informed that he was one of those unfortunates who perished on the scaffold at Mankato at the close of the Indian war in our State.

"My friend Wakon-toppy (Esteemed Sacred) will conclude the list. Honest, honorable, and intelligent; a true man, whether judged by the savage or civilized standard. This man was the only Indian I ever knew whose word and character were above reproach. The traders gave him credit whenever he desired, sure that they would receive prompt payment. Whatever he slated to be a fact, could be relied on. He frequently camped with me, and it was my especial delight to fill our camp-kettle with eatables enough for a dozen of men, and in addition thereto make a corresponding amount of pezuta-sapa (black medicine or coffee,) and then drawl over the meal, eating slowly, constantly replenishing Wakon-toppy's plate and cup, which he made a point of honor to empty as soon as possible, until the old fellow would heave a deep sigh and cry out, ' Ozhuta!' (full.) Whenever this was accomplished, look out for yarns. I have lain in the tent and listened for five long hours at a stretch to the tales, traditions, history of the feats in war, and hunting. He had never gone on a raid against the Chippewas, but he had followed the war-path south and west against the Saukies and Omahas. His ( Wakon-toppy's) father was adopted into a Dakota family, having been taken prisoner when he was very young in one of the Dakota forays against the Sauks and Foxes, and finally married a sister of Ti-tan-ka Monia, or Walking Buffalo, a very influential chief, and father of Wacoota.

" Wakon-toppy was very anxious to adopt civilized habits, and I wrote several letters, at his dictation, to the Indian Agent, in which he desired the government to give him eighty acres of land, and he would release all claim to annuities. He even went so far as to stake out his claim, which was where the village of Mazeppa now is, and was where he made his winter hunting ground for a long period of years, and where he wished his bones, to rest when the Master of Life should summon him hence to a residence in the spirit world. His letters were unanswered, and he was not allowed to hold his claim when the whites came, but was driven off with threats of violence. He stayed around here until after the Spirit Lake Massacre. Finally, concluding to go up to Red Wood, the then place of residence of our old band, he gave me a history of Ink-pa-duta and his followers, and told me if he could get permission he would lead a party against them. In the fall an Indian messenger on his way to Wabasha, stopped at my house, at the old man's request, and gave me an account of the expedition. Wakon-toppy had kept his word. Nearlj7 all the inmates of three lodges perished by the hands of their own kindred. This man, so prompt to avenge the wrongs of the whites, perished miserably in confinement at Davenport, for no other crime than that of not being able to control the young men of his family in the Indian difficulties on the frontier. From his imprisonment at Mankato, he sent me word, by Lieutenant Comstock, that his fault was in letting his son have a horse, not knowing the purpose for which it was to be used. If previous good character, in any man, is to be relied on, then was Wakon-toppy an innocent victim.

"In the spring of 1853 I farmed the old Indian cornfield, which occupied that portion of the ci.ty now lying between Third and Bush streets and College Bluff, and as far west as Mr. Denstnore's residence, besides breaking up that portion lying west of the latter point and extending to John Day's farm. The crop was oats, corn, seven acres of potatoes, six of rutabagas, turnips, pumpkins, cabbages, beans, etc., all of which yielded largely. In the fall I needed help to secure the corn and potatoes, and there was no other resource than to hire native laborers, the white population of the county not exceeding one hundred souls. The Indian camp was situated on the Mississippi bottom, near the mouth of Cannon River. I had dug a few rows across the potato patch in order to ascertain what a day's work might be, and found that six rows were a moderate day's labor, but knowing the Indians pretty well, I concluded to make four the standard. This done, I sent word to the camp that twenty women were wanted to help me, who should receive a barrel of potatoes for every four times they dug across the field. The next morning found me at the patch, but nine o'clock arrived before they came. At last thirteen women hove in sight, accompanied by about two dozen dogs, a like number of children, several camp kettles, sack straps and hoes. In a short time the business preliminaries were adjusted by the high contracting parties. Among the operatives, was the Princess Royal, Lucy, and her niece, Weenona.

" About eleven o'clock the laborers stopped work and held a short council, and I was soon informed of the result of their deliberations, which was nothing less than that I should get dinner for them. I refused to cook for such a crowd, but we finally compromised by my furnishing pork and bread. Vegetables were close at hand. A note was written to ray wife, on a white basswood chip, desiring her to let the bearer have eight pounds of pork and all the bread she could spare. The messenger sped off on the errand like a deer, while an old squaw rigged three tripods for camp kettles, washed potatoes and turnips, and cut up cabbages and pumpkins by the time the pork arrived, when it was all dumped into the kettles together. When cooked, it was sufficient for a company of infantry, who had been on a short allowance of hard tack, but it all disappeared under the united efforts of women, children and dogs. At the close of the clay all received their wages - two women having accomplished eight rows each, each of them received two barrels, which they all took home with them, promising to return the next day.

uThe next morning thirty-two squaws appeared, with the usual accompaniment, and the same number continued until the field was finished. When the last round was dug we were all grouped together on a slope between Main and Third streets, in front of Mr. Densmore's - the women talking and joking. Lucy stepped up to me and said, 1 Pezuta-wichasta, do you know the reason why you have not worked any in the field?' I thought I saw mischief in her eye, and looking around observed the same sign among the dusky crowd; but not to be beat by squaws I replied, ' Yes, it is because there are so many women to work for me, there is no need of my working.' She said, ' No, no, that is not it; you are little, and not strong and cannot work,' tossing her blanket off as she made the remark. I saw the point at once, and felt relieved, as that was one of my best holds. I told her I was strong enough for any in that crowd. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than Lucy pitched in, and was thrown a double-somersault the first time. Another essay was made with like result. The natives were chagrined. A little whispered parley took place, and a challenge for a third trial was given. We squared ourselves, shoulder to elbow, Lucy gripping like a vice. Just as the struggle commenced, I felt myself grasped from behind, and knew I had got into difficulty. The outside pressure was heavy against me - tripping, yelling and laughter. The best I could do was to make of it, what in my youth was called a ' dogtall,' that is, a tumble into a promiscuous heap, without anyone being uppermost enough to speak of, and this was accomplished. I extricated myself from the confused mass and concluded not to engage any further in this undignified pastime, knowing very well that fair play couldn't be had in that crowd. They then dispersed, having gathered for me over 1,000 bushels of potatoes, exclusive of their own wages. From this crop I never realized a dollar, as there was no market, but it answered very well for gratuitous distribution in the spring of 1854.

" Having such success in operating with native labor, I concluded to cut up eight acres of corn, so as to secure the fodder for my stock, it being as yet but little injured by the frost. The services of a married woman and her sister were secured, besides two boys of ten or twelve years of age. The girl was sixteen or seventeen years old, and the most mischievous imp I ever saw. She appeared to have grown too fast for the apparel she had on, for I noticed that her upper garments refused to form a junction at the waist with that portion designed as protection for the lower portion of the body. Myself and the woman cut up the corn; the duty of the boys was to place it in the shock. After working pretty hard, the day being warm, I called a rest and we all sat down, 1 fanning myself with a large straw hat. When it was time to resume labor, the women were told to go to work. The girl laughingly refused, telling me to work myself. After a little parley, she finally got up and advanced close to where I was sitting. Making a remark to attract my attention away from her, she dexterously seized my hat by the rim and sent it sailing over the cornfield and then bounded like a deer to get out of my reach, but she was too late. Without rising, I threw myself forward in the direction she was going; grasping desperately at the same time, I caught the hem of her gar- ment and something gave way. When I recovered an upright position and my equanimity, I saw a dark piece of feminine apparel lying on the ground, and, what to my astonished gaze appeared to be a pair of perambulating tongs scudding through the corn. The girl hid herself behind a shock and commenced begging for her clothes. After tormenting her enough, I exacted a promise that she would behave herself and go to work, and then sent one of the boys with the desired garment. When she rejoined the company her countenance had a very decided vermillion tinge, and I thus discovered that a squaw could blush!

Evidences Of Pre- Occupation

" I find that the ' old times' subject has made me garrulous, and my address has far outgrown the proportions first designed, with many matters of interest yet unrecorded. I will close with a notice of some artificial remains which were observable when 1 first visited the locality.

"Evidences of the occupation of the country by a race of people, whose habits in some respects differed from those of the Dakotahs of the more recent period, were numerous. On the sharp hill points in the vicinity of Cannon River and Spring Creek, were a number of cairns or stone mounds. These were on the highest points, where shelly rock outcropped, and always overlooked the lower plateaus or valleys, on which were situated large groups of earthern tumuli. The cairns were of various sizes, ranging from six feet in diameter to twelve at the base. Their shape was conical, and some of those in the best state of preservation had an elevation of from eight to ten feet. The base was on the bare rock, and all the lower stone in the vicinity had evidently been gathered to aid in the completion of the structure. The first layer was in the form of a circle, and by inlapping toward the centre in every succeeding layer an apex was finally reached. A majority of these structures had fallen in, leaving a circle of rude masonry from three to four feet high, while the remains of the upper portion laid in a mass inside the wall, not filling the cavity; showing very conclusively that they had been built hollow.

" Being very desirous of ascertaining the purposes for which they had been erected, I selected two of the most perfect, which were situated on an isolated hill in the valley leading to the little brook near Hawley's mill, to Spring Creek. This hill is very sharp and narrow, barely affording level base enough for the foundation of the larger mound, which was at least twelve feet in diameter and nine feet highland had settled considerably, pressing upon the cavity. After an hour's hard work we were in a situation to observe the condition at its foundation. A few handfuls of black mould was scattered over the bare rock base, a fragment of bone three inches long, a muscle shell nearly in powder, and two remnants of wood, distant from each other about six feet, in the east and west direction of the cairn, was all it contained. Of the bone there was hardly enough to determine conclusively as to the species of animal to which it belonged; but I think it was a portion of the humerus, or upper arm bone of an adult human being. When we found the wooden fragments they were standing upright, as stakes, supported in that position by rock, and were dry-rotted to points. With a knife I cut off all the decayed wood, the centre being a mere splinter, but enough to clearly distinguish it as that kind of oak known as swamp or blue oak. I searched very thoroughly for teeth, (as my opinion was and is, that, these cairns were burial places,) thinking that the enameled portions would resist the process of decay, but none were to be found. The other mound did not vield the same amount of discoveries ; a little mould, and traces of what we supposed to be decayed bones or shells, was all that repaid our labor.

" As I observed, I think these cairns were designed as burial places, and for distinguished personages. The material of which they were composed secured them against the depredations of wild animals. Their number, however, would lead to the conclusion that it was not the common mode of sepulture. The groups of earthen mounds in the valleys overlooked by these cairns, were counted by hundreds, and I think were once human habitations; and if my conjectures be in the right direction, these isolated cemeteries would not alone contain the mortuary remains of as numerous a people as the evidences then to be observed indicated.

" These rock structures appear to be peculiar to that portion of our county lying between Hay Creek and Cannon River, and distant but two or three miles from the Mississippi River. In no other portion of our county or State have I seen remains of a similar character. The earthern structures are always found where the soil is alluvial and loose, doubtless for the purpose of quickly absorbing the moisture from rains and melting snow, and consequently are mostly seen, when in numbers, in the valleys or on benches, considerably below the general level of the country, and in the vicinity of water. Occasionally one is found in situations almost corresponding with those of the cairns ; and looking at these with reference to those in the valley beneath, the conclusion arrived at is that they were designed as shelters for outposts or sentinels whose duty it was to spy out danger and give warning to the inhabitants below.

" On breaking up land on which were many of these mounds, I exposed large quantities of broken pottery and muscle shells. The fragments of pottery appeared to be a combination of tenacious clay and pulverized shells. It had a thickness of about one-fourth of an inch and on the outside were rudely delineated, with some pointed instrument, the figures of men, animals, foliage, etc. I noticed but one peculiarity in the specimens. The representation of a weapon of war or the chase was not to be found which would have been different had the habits of the makers in any way assimilated those of the modern Dakotas. The earthenware appeared to have been sun-dried, as there was no trace of the action of fire to redden the clay, was quite firm, and from the different shapes observable in the fragments, was manufactured in various forms.

"In numbers of places where farms have been made in the vicinity of mounds, similar exhumations have taken place, and some very per feet specimens of the manufacture before spoken of have been obtained, but unfortunately it was not properly appreciated, and has become lost to the researches and speculations of the antiquarian.

"In digging into several of these hillocks, where, in numbers, I have invariably found in the center of the base, charcoal and earth reddened by the action of heat; but the rule does not hold always in the isolated ones on the hilltops. On the Wisconsin shore, opposite this place, there are vast quantities of mounds dotted over the sandy plain between the river and the bluffs. Some of these deviate from the regular circular form, being composed of a main body of an oblong shape, with wings, resembling the prostrate position of a bird with wings outstretched.

" On the farm of Mr. Charles Spates, near Cannon River, was the largest collection of tumuli in a given space that I ever saw, rendering it difficult to bring the ground into a proper shape for cultivation, and which the plough has not wholly obliterated in the twelve or fourteen years in which the soil has been tilled. I could fancy when I first saw this locality, on which were some three hundred mounds, that a little ravine running down to the water had been worn to that condition by the constant tread of a busy multitude, and the appearances really indicated the fact, without calling on the imagination to assist in forming conclusions.

"I will close, hoping that all who feel interested in the antiquities of this country, will carefully observe and preserve all such evidences as may fall into their hands, noting localities and surroundings. Small things sometimes give insight into the history of the past. I have, as yet, to find the first trace of a warlike people in the remains above spoken of - not even an arrow head of flint, which would be imperishable. The Dakotahs once used them, but I have never seen one taken from a mound or from close proximity thereto."

County Organization

The first Territorial Legislature met on Monday, the 3d day of Sep tember, A. D. 1849, and adjourned on the first of November following. During this session the following counties were created : Itasca, Wabasha, Dakota, Wanota, Mankato, Pembina, Washington, Ramsey and Benton. The three last named comprised the country that up to that time had been ceded by the Indians on the eastside of the Mississippi. Stillwater was named as the county seat of Washington. The Legislature declared "that all that portion of said territory lying east of a line running due south from a point on the Mississippi River known as Medicine Bottle's village, at Pine Bend, to the Iowa line, be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, which shall be known by the name of Wabasha." Wabasha county, as thus defined, included a part of Dakota, Goodhue, Dodge and Mower, and all of Wabasha, Winona, Olmsted, Fillmore and Houston counties.

Section 13 of the act relating to the " division of the territory into counties and their boundaries," provided as follows: "That the counties of Itasca, Wabasha, Dakota, Cass and Pembina be and the same are hereby declared to be organized only for the purpose of the appointment of justices of the peace, constables, and such other judicial and ministerial officers as may be specially provided for."

When the present counties of Dakota and Goodhue were organized, under an act of the legislature approved March 5, 1853, the boundary lines were rather vaguely and indefinitely defined, in consequence of the absence of United States surveys. Section one, chapter fifteen, of the general laws, approved March 5, 1853, provided " that so much territory as is contained in the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby created into the county of Dakota, to-wit: Beginning at a point in the Minnesota River at the mouth of Credit River; thence on a direct line to the upper branch of Cannon River, thence down said river to its lower fork, as laid down in Nicollet's map ; thence on a direct line to a point on the Mississippi River opposite the mouth of St. Croix

The " direct line to the upper branch of Gannon River,'' would strike near where the city of Faribault now stands, and the boundary down the Cannon to the u lower fork as laid down in Nicollet's map," would terminate at the junction of the Main and Little Cannon, at the present site of the town of Cannon Falls. In a map by Colton, published in 1853, the east fork of Little Cannon is laid down as a stream of magnificent proportions, one much larger than the west branch or the Big Cannon.

Section two of the same act, declared " that so much territory as is contained within the following boundaries be, and the same is herebv created into the county of Goodhue, to-wit : " Beginning at the southwest corner* of Dakota county, thence due southeast on a line twentyfive miles ;f thence on a due line to Lake Pepin, at a point on said lake seven miles below Sand Point ; thence up to the middle of said lake and the Mississippi River, to the boundary line of Dakota county ; thence along the line of said county, to the place of beginning."

[These boundaries were modified by subsequent legislation (Feb. 23, 1854,) and made to conform, as nearly as possible, to the lines established by the U. S. survey.]

Dakota and Wabasha counties were declared to be " organized counties, and invested with all and singular, the rights and privileges and immunities to which all organized counties in this territory are entitled by law." The county of Rice was attached to Dakota county for judicial purposes, and the county of Goodhue was attached to the county of Wabasha for the same purpose.

Section fifteen of the same act provided that " the counties which are unorganized for judicial purposes, which are annexed to an organized county for judicial purposes, shall, for the purpose of assessment and the collection of taxes, be deemed to be within the limits of the county to which they are so annexed, and as forming a part thereof, unless and until otherwise provided by law.

"Section 16. That at any general election hereafter, the counties of Sibley, Pierce, Rice and Goodhue, or either of them, may elect their county commissioners, and all other county and precinct officers, and thereafter the said county or counties shall be deemed to be organized for all county and judicial purposes: Provided, that at said election for county officers, as aforesaid, there shall not be less than fifty legal

Section eighteen provided that it should be the duty of the first board of county commissioners which should thereafter be elected in any county laid off in pursuance of the provisions of this act, as soon after said board shall have been elected and qualified as provided by law, as the said board or a majority of them might determine, to locate the county seat of the county; and that the location so made as aforesaid, shall be the county seat of the county to all intents and purposes, until otherwise provided by law.

The law under which these counties were organized, authorized the governor to appoint all county officers until the next general election (the second Tuesday of October) after their organization, when the people were authorized to elect, as provided in the last clause of section sixteen, above quoted. This proviso (says Dr. Sweeney) was altogether unnecessary in a country where the people were so frequently called upon to « devise ways and mean The law required six months' residence, which cut off most of the immigration ; but ten days in the precinct gave to the citizen of the territory the right of suffrage, and plenty of latitude for the exercisj o* a little enterprise. Red Wing and Wacoota were rivals for tempoiary county-seat honors. Wacoota was the headquarters of the lumbermen of that period, and the enterprising proprietors of that town-site were not slow to take advantage of that fact, and to concentrate as many of those hardy sons of toil against the day of election as possible.

The proprietors and friends of Red Wing were no less earnest in their efforts to secure a majority of votes in favor of their future city. In a sudden fit of enterprise and industry, they hired twenty unmarried young men from St. Paul and set them to work in various capacities. Great care was taken to have these men here in time to give them the required residence to entitle them to the right of suffrage.

There was no one in Red Wing at that time authorized to administer the oath of office to the election officers. But the judges and clerks of election were selected, and one of the number, Benjamin Young, a French half-breed, heretofore mentioned, was sent out to find some one clothed with power to administer to him the necessary oath. Young had been educated so as to read and write in the English language with tolerable accuracy. He visited Point Douglas, where he found a justice of the peace, who administered the legally required oath, and he

No ballot box had been provided, but " Judge " Young was equal to the emergency and rife with expedients, and to him was also delegated the duty of providing a ballot box. Mechanics were scarce, even if the sovereigns had not waited until too late, so that there was neither time nor opportunity to have one made, and -'Judge" Young secured an empty tea box, which he fashioned into a ballot box. Among the other devices on the box was the figure of a dove with red wings, which were singularly appropriate to the name of the village in which the election was being conducted.

The statutes of Wisconsin in relation to the manner of conducting elections was used as a guide. " Judge" Young was exceeding jealous of the purity of the ballot box, and guarded its sanctity with the utmost caution - a caution approaching solemnity. When a " sovereign " approached the august presence of the election officers, if he was not well known to them, or at least to some of them, he was required to "swear in" his vote, i. e., to swear that he was an actual resident of the precinct, etc. The form of oath was that defined in the Wisconsin statutes, and, when the oath was administered, the entire form was read over by Judge Young, including the clause in parenthesis, "or affi?'?n, as the case may be." Those who were clothed in citizens' dress were seldom " challenged ;" but when a wood-chopper, clad in a garb suited to his avocation, approached the voting place, "Judge" Young was at once on the alert, and the "chopper" was challenged, and required to "solemnly swear [or affirm, as the case may be-Y It is proper to explain here, that at the time this first election was held (the second Tuesday in October, 1853,) a number of men were employed in cutting wood for steamboats at different points up and down the river from Red Wing. They lived in log cabins at their respective wood yards ; and as the line between the State of Wisconsin and the Territory of Minnesota was not clearly understood by the judges, it seemed necessary to them to be very rigid in guarding against fraud and illegal voters.

No candidates for county officers were voted for at this election. James Wells was a candidate for the legislature. Previous to the day of election he had visited Red Wing and " made a speech," which is said to have been " rich, rare, and racy." He was an illiterate man, comparatively speaking, but full of eccentricity. The vote of the county was given to Mr. Wells for representative. A majority of the votes were cast in favor of Red Wing for the county seat. Wacoota retired from the contest, since when Red Wing has had no rival. Imme- diately after that election there was a sudden falling off in the population. There was also a sudden lull in the enterprises undertaken a few weeks before by the town proprietors, and the usual quiet settled down on the Red Wing community. The fifty votes required by the act under which the county was organized had been obtained, and the people were happy in anticipation of a large immigration and a complete county, organization the next year. Their hopes were verified.

The first session of the board of county commissioners was held at three o'clock p. m., June 16th, 1854, on a pile of lumber at what is now the intersection of Main and Bush streets, in the city of Red Wing. H. L. Bevans was chosen as chairman of the board. Joseph W. Hancock, register of deeds, was ex-officio clerk of the board. But little business was transacted. The old journal of the board shows the following entries :

"It being announced that there were two vacancies in the board of assessors for the county of Goodhue,1' when, " on motion, C. Bates and M. Sorin were appointed to the vacancies.

"The southern district, including that portion of the county not included in the other two districts, and the whole of Wabasha county, was assigned as Sorin's district."

The next meeting of the board occurred on the 20th of June, but was adjourned until the 28th, when the following bills against the county were presented, the first evidences of county indebtedness found on record.

The returns made by the assessors showed the assessed valuation of taxable personal property in the first and second districts to be $65,305.

[ The total assessment now is about $12,000,000, and the current yearly expenses about $45,000 - a very perceptible increase in both items.]

Charles Spates was appointed to be supervisor of road district No. 1, which extended east to the west side of Hay Creek bottom, and embraced all the northwestern portion of the county from that line.

T. J. Smith was appointed to be supervisor of road district No. 2, which extended from the west side of Hay Creek bottom to Bullard's Creek, and embraced the middle portion of the county between those lines.

Charles Read was appointed to be supervisor of road district No. 3, extending from Bullard's Creek to the line of Wabasha county, and embraced the southern portion of the county.

William Freeborn, P. Sandford and S. Bates were appointed to be judges of elections in the Red Wing precinct ; and Alexis Bailly, Charles Read and F. S. Richardson were appointed to the same position in Wabasha precinct, which included all of Wabasha county.

The board next "resolved to raise six hundred dollars toward the erection of county buildings next year, provided, that the legal voters of the county, by a majority of votes, consent to the same." The location of a site for a court house was discussed at some length, and finally laid over for future consideration, after which the board adjourned until the 22d of July.

At that meeting of the board, it was "resolved, that the court house for Goodhue county be located on the block marked and known as Court house block on the town plat of Red Wing, according to the survey of the same made by J. Knauer, June 23, 1853." Adjourned.

The next meeting was held on the 18th of November. The consideration of bills presented against the county was taken up. James Akers was allowed the sum of $8.10 justice's fees. P. S. Fish was allowed $50.40 for services as sheriff. P. Sandford presented and was allowed a bill of $65.85 " for services as attorney and other items." James L. Allen was allowed $21.10 for detaining prisoner. This is the first reference found in regard to anyone having been held in durance. The crime or misdemeanor or name of the prisoner does not appear of record.

In closing up the business of the year the commissioners passed upon their own accounts, and upon the accounts of other officials. R. Spates, for services as commissioner and traveling expenses, $18.60 H. L. Bevans, ditto, ... . . 15.60

The first meeting of the first regularly elected board of county commissioners was held on the 1st of January, 1855. No business was transacted at this meeting. The members simply subscribed to the oath of office, elected P. S. Fish as chairman, and then adjourned until the

8th. At this meeting the board examined and allowed the following accounts : Charles Spates, for services as supervisor, $5.00 ; H. S. Simmons, burial expense of a German pauper, $6.00 ; total $ 11.00. At this session of the board, the first grand and petit juries were selected; the former consisted of fifty members, and the latter of seventy-two members. The jurors were divided between Goodhue and Wabasha counties according to population, and because the two counties were attached for judicial purposes.

Assessment Districts. - The first district included that portion of the county between Hay Creek and the northwestern line of the county ; the second district included that portion between Hay Creek and Potter's Creek ; and the third district was composed of the remaining portion of the county. A vacancy was declared to exist in the second district, which was filled by the appointment of P. Vandenberg.

Wacoota precinct was established, and embraced the southeastern portion of the county, and was separated from Red Wing precinct by a line commencing at the mouth of Potters Creek, thence along that creek to its head, and thence on a line due south to the county line.

J. O. Wetherby was appointed justice of the peace for Red Wing, and W. R. Culbertson and Joseph Middaugh were appointed constables in the Red Wing precinct.

The clerk of the court and the register of deeds were directed to procure a case for each of their offices suitable for filing papers. The register was also directed to procure blank books for the use of the county - one for the register of deeds' office, and one for the clerk of the court.

Provisions were made to secure permanent offices for the use of the county officials. In the months of May and June, of this year, I. P. Sandford erected a small frame building next west of his residence on Main street, in the present city of Red Wing, for a law office, which was the first law office erected in the city. This building was used by the register of deeds, clerk of the court (Sandford,) treasurer's office, when he had office business to transact, and for the meetings of the board of county commissioners. The sheriff and treasurer, for the most part, " carried their offices in their hats." This pioneer lawyer's office was also used as a court house for the first term of court held in the county in 1854. It was also occupied by the United States land office in the spring 1855, and until more commodious quarters could be secured ; and the first government sale of lands was also made in this building.

when Florence precinct was established, bounded as follows : " Commencing at the mouth of Wells Creek, on Lake Pepin, and runing up that creek to the main bluff; thence south to the county line; thence along the county line to Lake Pepin ; thence up the lake to the place of beginning.'* John Kelly was appointed justice of the peace, and Samuel Corey, R. S. Phillips and Hamilton Gudley were appointed to be judges of election.

Vermillion precinct was also established : " Commencing where the line between sections 12 and 13 strikes the Mississippi River, and running thence west until it strikes the Dakota county line ; thence along said line to the river; thence down the river to the place of beginning.'* Eli Preble, Silas Harper, and J. R. Niles were appointed to be judges of elections.

The clerk of the district court was allowed twelve dollars per quarter for furnishing his own office. The rule of economy prevailed in those days.

The establishment of school districts was next considered. " District No. one includes that portion of the county between the valley of Hay Creek and Potter's Creek, bordering on the Mississippi River, and extending back from the same six miles.

" District No. two includes that portion of the county within the following bounds : Commencing at the mouth of Potter's Creek on the Mississippi River; thence down that river and Lake Pepin to Point No- Point; thence due south to Wells' Creek; thence up the valley of the same to the mouth of Rock Creek ; thence west to the precinct line ; thence along said line to the place of beginning.

" District No. three includes that portion of the county within the following bounds : Commencing at Cannon River bridge ; thence due south three miles; thence east to Hay Creek valley ; thence down said valley to the Mississippi; thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of Cannon River; thence up the Cannon River to the place of beginning."

Resolved, That the clerk of the board be instructed to obtain the opinion of Rice, Hollingshead and Becker, of St. Paul, in* relation to the legality of the jurisdiction of this county over Wabasha county, particularly in regard to taxes.

A special or called session of the board was held on the 14th of April. Present, R. Spates and P. S. Fish. School district No. four was established at this session. " Commencing on the west between Stilman Harrison's and John Kelly's ; thence southwest to the Sugar Loaf, including the valley south and west of the Sugar Loaf; thence east to Lake

Pepin ; thence up the lake to the place of beginning." " R. L. Phillips, was then appointed a justice of the peace, and Abner Dwelly a judge of election in Florence precinct."

May 12. - The board met pursuant to adjournment. Present, R Spates and A. W. Post. The first road petition of which any record is found, was considered at this session, and L. Bates and Charles Spates were appointed examiners or viewers. The petition was presented by H. Matson and others.

School district No. five was established with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the Poplar Grove on the Cannon Falls road, about ten miles from Red Wing, and running southwest to the south fork of the Cannon, so as to include the claim of Ross and Champe ; thence down the south fork to its mouth ; thence down the Cannon River two miles; thence in a southeasterly direction to the place- of beginning." Adjourned.

A petition signed by E. Westervelt and others, was presented, asking for the erection of a new election precinct, which after some consideration was dismissed. The inhabitants of Westervelt also presented a petition praying for a new school district. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and district No. 6 was established with the following boundaries: "Commencing at a point on the Lake (Pepin) above Westervelt's, running in a southwesterly direction to the divide of the creek near Mahammon Drum's claim ; thence south to Wells Creek and down Wells Creek to the mill site ; thence in a southeasterly direction along the range of bluffs to the district below; thence east to the lake ; and thence up the lake to the place of beginning."

Two other unimportant entries closed the business of that session, and the board adjourned to the 25th, when two additional school districts were established. No. 7 was made to include the territory included within the following boundaries: "Commencing at the southwest corner of Ingram's claim on Wells Creek; thence north to the top and center of the bluff dividing the valley of Wells Creek from the military road valley; thence up the center of said bluff to a point opposite George Steele's claim ; thence to the head of Rock Creek ; thence embracing the Rock Creek settlement to Wells Creek, and the Wells Creek settlement to the place of beginning." This district was taken in part from district No. 2.

to the district line of district No. 5 ; thence along said line west three miles ; thence north to the northwest side of Brownson's claim ; thence east to the place of beginning." This district was taken in part from district No. 3.

At a session of the board held on the 25th of June, Cannon Falls precinct was established, which t; comprised the whole of township No. 112, range 17 west, and so much of township No. 112, range 18 west, as lies within the county of Goodhue, being formed out of a portion of Red Wing precinct.'" A. Durand, Charles Parks and William Thomas were appointed to be judges of elections in this precinct. The voting place was established at Durand's hotel.

" The board then agreed to raise a tax of one per cent, on the total valuation for territorial, school and county purposes for the year 1855. Total valuation of taxable property, $144,521.00 ; whole amount to be raised, $1,455.21." Adjourned.

A petition from the citizens of Florence precinct was presented, praying for a change in the boundaries of said precinct, which after some discussion was laid over till the next meeting. The petition was subsequently dismissed.

In answer to the prayer of the petitioners, a new precinct called Sackton was established in the south part of the county, which included three townships, No. 109 in ranges 15, 16 and 17 west.

Abram Pierce was appointed justice of the peace; Simon Sackett, constable ; and Joseph P. Rutherford, James Haggard and Robert T. Freeman were named as judges of elections. The resignations of J. Middaugh, constable, and F. D. Clark, justice of the peace, Red Wing, were received and accepted.

The clerk of the board was directed to obtain, if possible, printed blanks for county orders and poll books, " as required by law." Previous to this time printed or "labor saving" blanks were unused and unknown among the Goodhue county officials, or at Goodhue elections. The officers were made to " earn their money."

"Resolved, That it is the pleasure of this board that persons having bills against the county will present them to the clerk, and leave the board to act without the presence of the applicant."

The precinct of Dunkirk was established, embracing townships No. 110 in ranges 17 and 18 west, and township No. 109, range 18 west. Also the precinct of Belle Creek, embracing townships No. Ill in ranges 15 and 16 west, and township No. 112, range 16 west.

Anders Knutson, Ole Oleson and Gunder Oleson were appointed to be judges of election in Dunkirk precinct, and the election to be held at the house of Anders Knutson. Walter Doyle, Hans Mattson and S. P. Chandler were appointed judges of election in Belle Creek, the election to be held at the house of Walter Doyle.

Townships No. Ill in ranges 17 and 18 were added to Cannon Falls precinct, and townships 110 in ranges 15 and 16 were added to Sackton precinct.

The consideration of road petitions, appointment of viewers and the perfecting of arrangements for the October election, together with the examination of sundry accounts, occupied the remainder of the session.

A session of one day was held on the first of October, which was principally devoted to the examination and allowance of accounts. The Spring Creek Valley and White Rock road was declared to be established, and the clerk was directed to notify the supervisors of the same. The Wacoota and the Wells Creek, and the Wells Creek and Florence roads were also declared to be established, and a like order directed to be issued to the supervisors of the several districts through which the roads were located.

The last session of the year was held on the 5th of December, when school district No. 9 was established. The boundaries were thus defined : "Commencing at the southwest corner of section thirty one, town 109, range fifteen east; thence east three miles; thence north two and a half miles ; thence west three miles ; thence south two and one-half miles to the place of beginning."

At the close of this year (1855) there were nine school districts in Goodhue county. At the close of the year 1877, there were one hundred and fifty-seven. The nine old districts, as defined in the boundaries already quoted, were long since absorbed in other districts. Their old log school houses and primitive furniture are supplanted by handsome white frame structures, that are supplied with modern furniture and conveniences. In no department of the public affairs of Goodhue have there been more gratifying changes than in the educational. The educational interests have been carefully, jealously fostered, and as will be seen by reference to a synopsis of the la'st official report of Superintendent Hancock, all the schools of the county are in a healthy and prosperous condition. No interest is dearer to the hearts of the people of the American Republic than the free school system. To make war on that system would be to make war on the life of the nation. The school houses that dot the hill sides and prairies of the country are so many sentinel posts to guard, protect and foster the germinal principles of universal intelligence, freedom and equality.

1856. - The first session of the board this year was held on the 7th of January. The time of that and the immediately subsequent session was devoted to roads, auditing accounts, revising and re-establishing assessor's districts, and kindred business.

At a session commencing on the 8th of April, the following named sovereign and independent citizens were appointed to be judges of elections in the several precincts during the year:

School districts numbered 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 were established in the beginning of this year. The rapid increase of immigration rendered the establishment of new and additional districts necessary. The old ones and their boundary lines were subject to changes as often as new districts were demanded.

New road districts increased in like ratio. To note all these changes and additions, or to name all the pioneer supervisors, etc., etc., would be to name nearly all the pioneers of 1854-5-6. The minute details so far entered into have been for the purpose of showing the nature, manner and general order of starting county machinery, and to place upon record the names of the pioneers who had the honor of perfecting the county organization and starting the county on the road to that proud position to which it has attained in 1878 - after a quarter of a century had passed from the time that Governor Ramsey appointed the first board of county officials in 1853. His selection was a wise one, and their official record will bear the closest scrutiny, and defy the most careful search after malfeasance or dishonesty. They were an honor to the people they served, and their names are still honored in the county their prudent economy and earnest industry helped to transform from a "howling wilderness" to a garden of beauty, prosperity, intelligence, refinement and contentment, now among the wealthiest and most populous in the State.

" Ordered, That the value of lands as assessed in the third district be raised, so as to make them equal to those assessed in the other two districts."

The total valuation, as returned by the assessors, footed up $630,227, an increase in one year of $485,706. This year lands became taxable, which accounts for the heavy increase in valuation. The cost of assessment, as allowed by the board, was as follows :

It was voted to raise a tax of one per cent, on all the taxable property in the county for the year 1856, for territorial, county and school purposes.

" Voted, That the legal voters be called upon at the next general election in the county to decide whether they will raise money to build county buildings in the year 1857.

" Voted, That the clerk be, and is hereby authorized to obtain a suitable fire-proof safe for the use of the office of register of deeds on the credit of the county.

" Voted, That the clerk advertise for sealed proposals of a plan and specifications for a stone or brick jail, to cost from two to three thousand dollars."

1857. - The first meeting of the board in this year was held on the 5th of January. Present, S. P. Chandler, A. W. Post and S. J. Hasler. J. W. Hancock, clerk. Mr. Hasler was elected chairman of the board.

u Voted, To set off from Sackton and Poplar Grove precincts, township 110 in ranges 15 and 16 west, as an election precinct, to be called Zumbrota precinct; and that Joseph A. Thacher be appointed justice of the peace ; Charles W. Smith, constable ; and Ezra Wilder, Jr., road supervisor."

The remainder of the session, which adjourned on the 7th, was devoted to the examination and allowance of accounts, road matters and kindred affairs.

On the 3d, W. D. Chilson, deputy county treasurer, presented his report in the words and figures following, which is the first report on county finances on record:

After which the board adjourned to the first Monday in April - the 6th. This session was mostly taken up in the examination of accounts, the reapportionment of assessor's districts, appointment of judges of elections, the re -arrangement of school district boundaries, etc. It was also

" Voted, To apportion the school money in the hands of the treasurer to the amount of fifty cents per scholar, and that the clerk be ordered to report the same to the treasurer."

On the 10th (April,) the board had the erection of a court house, etc., under consideration, when it was voted that the following resolution be adopted:

''Whereas, It is the duty of the Board of County Commissioners to 4 provide for the erecting and repairing' of court house, jails and other necessary public buildings for the use of the county ; and, whereas, this county has no public buildings, court house or jail,

44 Resolved, That this board for and in behalf of said Goodhue county, will issue coupon bonds in a sum not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, or such sum or sums as may be necessary for that purpose, and hereby pledge the credit of the county in the payment of the same.

44 Resolved, That the bonds be issued in sums of not less than five hundred dollars each, payable in not less than ten years, and bearing interest at no greater rate than twelve per cent, per annum, interest payable annually.

44 Resolved, That the chairman of this board be authorized, and is hereby empowered, to sign said bonds, and that they be countersigned by the clerk of said board, and that for the payment of the same this board hereby pledges the credit of said county of Goodhue.

44 Resolved, That the chairman of this board be requested to consult with the district attorney of said county, and prepare suitable bonds in such form and style as fully to carry into effect the aforesaid object.

" Resolved, That Samuel J. Hasler, be and is hereby authorized to take the bonds and negotiate the same with responsible parties, at his discretion, to raise the said sum, not to exceed thirty thousand dollars.

44 Resolved, That said Samuel J. Hasler, be required before proceeding to perform said trust, to make and execute a bond with sufficient sureties, in the penal sum of sixty thousand dollars, to be approved by the county treasurer and county register, for the faithful performance of his said trust, and for the paying over of the money so raised to the county treasurer, on or before the 1st day of June, 1857.

"Resolved, That the necessary expenses of said Samuel J. Hasler be defrayed out of any money in the county treasury not otherwise appropriated.

"Resolved, That the clerk of this board be hereby ordered to furnish said Samuel J. Hasler a copy of these resolutions, certified to by him under the seal of the county of Goodhue.

"Resolved, That the board of county commissioners will receive plans and specifications for a court house for the county of Goodhue, and will pay a reasonable sum for the plan adopted, such plan and specification to be furnished on or before the second Monday in May to the board of county commissioners, at the register of deeds Office, in Red Wing.

"Resolved, That the clerk be, and is hereby ordered to have the above resolutions printed in the Red Wing " Gazette " three successive weeks prior to said second Monday in May, 1857."

On the 11th, the clerk made the following report of expenses for the last fiscal year, which was accepted and ordered to be published : Paid out for the support of poor, - - - $536.93

After which it was voted to accept the following resolution : " Resolved, That the court house be located on the block between blocks 29 and 30, and between Third and Fourth streets, Red Wing, provided a good title can be obtained for the same ; and in case the court house is so located, Mr. S. J. Hasler is hereby authorized to withdraw the application for court house block."

1858. - The next reference to building a court house is found under date of February 2, of this year, when, on petition of T. J. Smith and others, it was

" Voted, To erect county buildings according to plans and specifications to be presented by Messrs. Chaffee ; provided, sufficient county bonds can be negotiated at a sum not less than ninety cents on the dollar to pay for the same, the cost of said building not to exceed thirty thousand

On motion of M. S. Chandler it was " Voted, That the county bonds to be issued be made to run twelve years, interest to be paid annually, and after the lapse of two years such part of the principal yearly as shall be sufficient to pay the whole amount in twelve years."

"Resolved, That plans and proposals for building a court house and jail in Goodhue county be invited as follows - said plans to be for a court house and jail separately; also for court house and jail under same roof.

"The plans to be filed in the office of the clerk of the board of county commissioners of said county, before the 15th day of March, 1858 ; said plans to be open to inspection of contract bidders, and subject to proposals from any person or persons, any person to have the right of offering proposals on one or more of the plans thus submitted, stating specifically in his proposal to which of said plans it is intended to refer. All proposals to be made on a cash basis, and sealed and delivered to said clerk before the 5th day of April, 1858, at which time said proposals will be opened and said plans examined by said commissioners, and the contract for the erection of said buildings let to the person or persons making the lowest responsible bid on the plan selected by said commissioners.

"The person submitting the plan adopted by the commissioners to be paid a reasonable compensation therefor. Plans for buildings not to exceed in cost the sum of $20,000, will be more acceptable than those to cost above that amount."

April 8th was occupied in considering the plans and specifications presented. On Friday morning, the 9th, the question was again taken up, when it was "voted to reject all plans for court house except those offered by Knight and Thompson, of St. Paul, and Mr. D. C. Hill, of Ked Wing, and to invite bids on such plans, the bids to be opened on the first Monday of May, 1858, when the contract will be let to the lowest responsible bidder."

On the 3d Monday in May the bids were opened, and the contract awarded to Messrs. Simmons and Stevens, at $24,000, that being the lowest and best offer, and included the entire completion of the building. Monday 17th, the boards " voted to notify the contractors for building the court house and jail, that the same be erected on the block known and designated as ' court house block,'in the city of Red Wing."

Tuesday, June 8th, the board " voted to accept the sureties given by- Daniel C. Hill and others, for the completion of the contract for building the court house and jail, and ordered that the bonds be placed on file in this (the county clerk's) office.

" Voted" also, "that the contract entered into by the county commissioners of said county of Goodhue, Minn., parties of the first part, and Daniel C. Hill and others, parties of the second part, to build the county buildings, and to receive in pay therefore, the bonds of the said county of Goodhue, Minn., to the amount of twenty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six ($26,666) be placed on file.'1

The reader will observe that there is a difference of $2,666, as specified in the reference of the last order quoted, and the price named ($24,000) in the proposal or bid accepted. There is nothing on record to show the occasion of this difference - whether for extras or changes made from the plans adopted.

Up to this time, the management of the county affairs was vested in a board of county commissioners, consisting of three members. The commissioners were now succeeded by a board of county supervisors, consisting of one member from each organized township.

Elijah M. Haines, in his "Township Organization Laws of Illinois," says, "the county system originated with Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being thinly distributed over a great area. The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the county, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all, except in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was, moreover, consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1634, eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system extending throughout the State, spread into all the Southern States, and some of the Northern States, unless we except the nearly similar division into ' dis-

Township System. - On the 20th of March, the State Legislature passed an act entitled "An act to provide for township organization," providing for the election of a board of supervisors and defining their duties. This law went into effect on the 12th of July, 1858. When assembled together for the transaction of county business, these town representatives were known as the board of county supervisors. Section one of this act, approved March 20th, 1858, required the governor to appoint three persons to act as commissioners in each of the organized counties in this State to divide the counties into towns, providing, however, that where the county commissioners had divided their respective counties into towns by making a record of the fact and filing the same in the office of the register of deeds, giving the bounds and names of the town, the governor should not make such appointment.

Section two provided that in all cases where the county commissioners had failed to divide their counties into towns, that it should be the duty of the commissioners appointed by the governor to make a record of the bounds, and to name each town in each township where the legal voters had organized by the election of town officers. Section three required the commissioners to discharge the duties to which they were appointed within twenty days after their appointment, and to divide the several counties into as many towns as there were townships according to government survey. A special act, approved June 21, 1858, made especially applicable to Goodhue county, provided, " that the action of the legal voters of those townships in the county of Goodhue, that were organized into towns on the 11th of May," according to the requirements of the general law above quoted, (approved March 12th,) except without due election notice by the county commissioners, is hereby declared legal, and all of the officers then elected in said town shall be deemed the regular and legitimate officers of the same.

Section two appointed Martin S. Chandler, William P. Tanner and Jesse Mclntire, commissioners, to perform in all respects the duties that devolved upon the commissioners by the above named act, and that they should divide the county into towns within twenty days after the passage of the act; providitig, however, that no division should be made of the townships or fractional townships in which an election of town officers had been held, pursuant to previous notice on the 11th day of May, (1858.)

held, to give notice of the same in writing to at least one of the above named commissioners within fourteen days after the passage of the act; and that if any of them failed to give such notice, the said town should be deemed unorganized, and that the election of its officers should be void.

Section four authorized the boards of supervisors to meet at the office of the register of deeds, on the second Monday in July, for the transaction of business as a board of county supervisors.

In New England, towns existed before counties, and counties were formed before States. Originally, the towns or townships exercised all the powers of government now possessed by a State. The powers subsequently assumed by the State governments were from surrender or delegation on the part of towns. Counties were created to define the jurisdiction of courts of justice. The formation of States was by a union of towns, wherein arose the representative system ; each town being represented in the State legislature or general court by delegates chosen by the freemen of the town at their stated town meetings. The first town meeting of which we can find any direct evidence was held by the congregation of the Plymouth colony, on the 23d of March, 1621, for the purpose of perfecting military arrangements. At that meeting a governor was elected for the ensuing year ; and it is noticed as a coincidence, whether from that source or otherwise, that the annual town meetings in New England, and nearly all the other States, have ever since been held in the spring of the year. It was not, however, until 1635 that the township system was adopted as a quasi corporation in Massachusetts.

The first legal enactment concerning this system, provided that whereas, "particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town, therefore, the freemen of every town or the major part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said towns, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the general court. They might also impose fines of not more than twenty shillings, and choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highways, and the like. Evidently this enactment relieved the general court of a mass of municipal details, without any danger to the powers of that body in controlling general measures of public policy. Probably, also, a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt, for the control of their own home concerns."

The New England colonies were first governed by a " general court," or legislature, composed of a governor and small council, which court consisted of the most influential inhabitants, and possessed and exercised both legislative and judicial powers, which were limited only by the wisdom of the holders. They made laws, ordered their execution, elected their own officers, tried and decided civil and criminal causes, enacted all manner of municipal regulations, and, in fact, did all the public business of the colony.

Similar provisions for the incorporation ot towns were made in the first constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639; and the plan of township organization became universal throughout New England, and came west with the emigrants from New England to New York, Ohio and other Western States, including the northern part of Illinois; and there being a large New England element among the population of Minnesota, it is fair to presume that their influence secured the adoption of this system in Minnesota, as created in the act already quoted. One objection urged against the county system, was that the heavily populated districts would always control the election of the commissioners, to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections - in short, that under that system, equal and exact justice to all parts of the country could not be secured.

Pursuant to the provisions of the act under which they were appointed, Messrs. Martin S. Chandler, William P. Tanner and Jesse Mclntire, proceeded to the discharge of the duty assigned them, and defined and named the several townships in Goodhue county, as follows:

"State Auditor's Office, St. Paul, Aug. 23d, 1858. "To the Register of Deeds, Goodhue county - Sir: You are hereby notified that the board of county supervisors, at their next session, are required to change the names of the following towns, viz., Stanton, Union and York, as provided for in the "Act to Provide for Township Organization." You will inform me of the names to which they are changed as soon thereafter as possible.

At a meeting of the board, September 15, 1858, the name of Union was changed to Milton ; Stanton was changed to Lillian; and York was changed to Elmira, and the Auditor of State so notified.

December 28, another communication was read from the Auditor of State of similar import, directing the name of Elmira to be changed. The communication was referred to a committee of three - Messrs. Stearns, White and Stone - who reported in favor of substituting Belvidere for Elmira. The report was adopted.

Goodhue. - September 13, 1859, in answer to the prayer of petitioners interested, township No. Ill, range No. 15, was erected into a separate township and called Lime. In January, 1860, on petition of the citizens interested, the name was changed from Lime to Goodhue. It was formerly a part of Belvidere.

changed to Burnside, March 25, 1862. The change of name was desired because of their being another township of that name in the State previously organized. In March, 1864, under authority of legislative enactment amending the city charter of Red Wing, sections thirteen and fourteen, township No. 113, range No. 15, was set off from Red Wing and attached to Burnside.

Welch. - March 23, 1864, on petition, the board of commissioners divided Burnside by setting off the east fractional half of township No. 114 north, range No. 16 west, and all of town No. 113 north, range No. 16 west, lying north of Cannon River, as a separate township, and called it Grant. Another township in the State already bore that name, and the State Auditor, under date of the 13th of December, 1871, directed a change of name. January 3, 1872, the commissioners had the communication under consideration, and changed the name to Welch, in honor of the late Major Abram Edwards Welch, of Red Wing.

First Board Of Supervisors

The first meeting of this board was held on the second Monday in July, 1858. In those days the Democratic party held the balance of power in Goodhue county. The Republican party was just beginning so assume strength and power. In the selection of a presiding officer for the board, both parties sought to gain advantage and secure the chairman. S. P. Chandler was the Democratic candidate for chairman, and I. C. Stearns was the Republican candidate. There was a tie vote, and both men claimed the right to the chair, and both assumed to preside. One of them sat upon one side of the table, and the other one sat upon the other side. When a motion was submitted - and any number of motions were made - both men would " put the question." Party feeling ran high, and extended outside of the hall in which the

*Mr. Haggard came in under appointment July 26, in place of Woodward, who had resigned. The appointing power was vested in the justice of the peace. His appointment was signed by Justices J. Haggard and P. A. Crabb, of Cherry Grove. Mr. Woodward only appeared at the first meeting of the board.

board held its sessions. A fight was expected, and " Deacon " DeKay, who was deputy sheriff at the time, was directed by his superior officer to " take up a position " in the supervisors' room, and preserve order at all hazards, even if it "took the last man and the last dollar" in the bailiwick. He obeyed orders, and for two or three days maintained a position between the two chairmen ; but the fight didn't " come off." The troubled waters were finally quieted, by the giving way of J. G. Brown, of Wanamingo, who came over to the support of Mr. Chandler, making a rousing speech in explanation of his action.

There was about as much feeling manifested in this contest as there was in the U. S. House of Representatives in 1856, when there was so much trouble over the election of speaker. The reader of political history will remember that Nathaniel P. Banks was the Republican candidate for speaker, and that several weeks were spent in voting, making motions and personal explanations, before a result was reached in the election of Mr. Banks. So it was in the election of a chairman of the board of supervisors of Goodhue county in July, 1858. A record of the motions, explanations, etc., covers several pages of the journal, and is rather humorous reading, especially to those who understood the "situation."

The board first met in the office of the register of deeds, but almost equal in numbers to the Territorial Legislature ; the room was found to be too small, and a committee consisting of Messrs. Crouch, Stearns and Brown, was appointed to secure a suitable room, and a room was found and obtained in Todd & Hasler's block, Main street.

Tuesday, the report of the committee on rules and regulations submitted their report, which was adopted. These rules fill about eight pages of the journal, and are about as voluminous as the rules governing the Congress of the United States.

The proceedings of the board were marked by motions and countermotions, speeches and counter-speeches - a few men doing the speaking and a few others the work. In fact, it was a kind of young congress, in which some men made speeches to be heard of men, and of course were noted for their much speaking. They were of the " buncombe ': kind.

Court House Redivivus

Wednesday morning, July 14, the " resolution offered by A. B. Miller, of Red Wing," was read by the clerk, and on motion of Mr. Stearns, it was voted to strike out all after the word " whereas," and adopt the following:

" Whereas, There exists a diversity of opinion in reference to the binding force upon Goodhue county of a certain contract entered into by the county commissioners of Goodhue county with other parties for the erection of court house and jail; and

11 Resolved, That this board, by a committee of three of its members to be elected by the board, proceed at once to ascertain our liability under said contract by presenting the case, without delay, to the Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of this State for his decision upon the validity of the said contract, or to obtain the best possible legal advice on the matter."

A communication having been received from the Senator and Representatives in the State Legislature in regard to the passage of a bill authorizing the board of supervisors to issue bonds for the erection of county buildings, Mr. Grow offered the following resolution :

"Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Goodhue county, that our Senator and Representatives be requested to secure the passage of a bill introduced by Senator Hudson, on the 9th day of July, A. D. 1858, entitled " An act to authorize the board of supervisors of Goodhue county to issue county bonds for the erection of county buildings."

"But this board does not intend by this resolution to express any opinion in relation to the erection of county buildings or the issuing of said bonds."

" Voted, That the resolution presented by Mr. Miller, and amended on motion of Mr. Stearns, be further amended by striking out of said resolution the word ' three,' and substituting therefor the word ' two.' "

" Voted,Tha,t the committee selected by the board to seek legal advice regarding the contract for county buildings, be granted leave of absence to procure such advice."

" The undersigned committee of the board of supervisors of Goodhue county to inquire after the validity of the contract made by the commissioners of Goodhue county with certain parties, for the erection of a court house and jail, respectfully report the accompanying written opinion of D. Cooper, Esq., of St. Paul, which is fully and unqualifiedly corroborated by the verbal opinion expressed to your committee by J. B. Brisbin, Esq., of the same place, and the judgment of your committee establishes the validity and binding force of said contract beyond reasonable doubt.

" Your committee would therefore recommend that all future action by this board in reference to said contract be based upon the admission of its validity and binding force.

"The board of county commissioners of Goodhue county having selected plans for county buildings, and by resolutions of the 9th of April, 1858, having invited bids for their erection in accordance with the plans selected, until the first Monday of May, 1858 ; and on the last named day (May 3d,) having by resolution accepted the bid of Messrs. Simmons and Stephens for their erection, according to the specifications accompanying the bids, but no contract having been signed until May 14th, and in the meantime, between the 3d and 14th of May, the board of county supervisors, under the township organization law, having claimed the right of enjoying and performing the powers and duties theretofore exercised by the county commissioners - is such contract binding upon the county f

" I have no doubt that it is. The contract was complete by the passage of the resolution accepting the bid and specifications of Messrs. Simmons and Stephens; and the subsequent act of reducing the same to writing and attaching the signitures of the parties, was a mere means of perpetuating the evidence of the contract in detail.

"After the acceptance of the bid by the resolution of the board, and as I understand the dates, there was no question of the right of the commissionersvto act at that time, upon a refusal of that board, or its successors, by whatever name called, to carry out its terms, the contractors might have enforced the contract in and through the courts of justice. Of this there can be no doubt.

" Apart from this, and from my present knowledge of the provisions of the township law, understanding that the only time designated in the act for the meeting of the board of county supervisors is the second Monday in September, I am very clearly of the opinion that the board of county commissioners are not superseded until that date. I understand there is no provision for a meeting of the board except the general one, sec. 1, of Article VII, and if this'be the case, until that time shall arrive, there can be no meeting of the board of supervisors.

" It can not be presumed that the legislature intended there should be no officers to perform the duties of the board of county commissioners, from the time of the election in May until the second Monday in September, and consequently it must be presumed that there being no means of meeting provided for the supervisors, the county commissioners were to hold over until actually superseded by the organization of the board of supervisors at the time designated.

On motion of Mr. White, it was " voted that the committee on public buildings be instructed to confer with the contractors, to see on what terms they will settle with the county and relinquish the contract, and that said committee report as soon as possible.1'

At 2 o'clock the board was again in session. The committee on public buildings had conferred with the contractors, and submitted the following reply from them:

''Dear Sir: - In reply to the request made by your committee, through you, that we would submit to the board of supervisors a proposition to compromise and release our contract with the county for the erection of public buildings, we desire respectfully to say, that the contract was, on our part, entered into with perfect good faith. We have made several sub-contracts for materials and labor, to the amount of many thousand dollars, for the performance of all of which we are liable. A large share of these materials have been delivered, or are ready for delivery, and no trifling amount of work has been performed. In addition to this, we are all mechanics, and an abandonment of the contract at this time will leave us without employment, or at least with but small chance of securing other jobs. For these reasons, and many others that will at once suggest themselves to your committee, and especially to mechanics, we wish to complete, rather than surrender, the contract. While, therefore, we will consider and respectfully answer any proposition that the board may make to us in writing (so that the terms may not be misconceived), for the cancellation of the contract and a compromise of its subject matter, we decline making any proposition ourselves looking to that end.

three be appointed to procure a room for the use of the board at its future meetings. Harmony Hall was secured, which they occupied on the 16th, and until the court house was completed and ready for occupancy. [ Harmony Hall was situated on the corner of Main and Fulton streets, and was destroyed by fire.]

July 27, Messrs. Stearns, of Zumbrota, Gillett, of Cannon Falls, and Thomas, of Stanton, were appointed a special committee to make propositions to the contractors for the erection of the court house and jail, and ascertain what compromise could be effected, and the contract surrendered. In the afternoon of the same day the committee reported the following proposition for the consideration of the board.

" That the said contractors go on and erect and enclose said building, and finish the extension according to the terms of the contract, and also the jail complete, but that the interior of the building, with the exception of the partition walls and the flooring joists throughout, and the floors in the offices of the register and clerk be left unfinished. And for the performance of the portion of the work above described, this board agree to pay the sum of twenty thousand dollars in the negotiable bonds of said county, as per original contract.

On the adoption of the report the yeas and nays were called. Those who voted yea were, Messrs. Chandler, Crouch, Grow, Gould, Gillet, Hilton, Himmelman, Kelly, Knutson, Miller, Phillips, Stearns, Stone, Townsend, Thomas, Vandenbergh and Webb - 17.

So the report was referred back to the committee to be submitted to the contractors, and their answer obtained thereto. Leave of absence was granted the committee for that purpose. After visiting the contractors, the committee returned and made the following report:

"Gentlemen: We, the undersigned contractors, have examined your proposition, and would respectfully say that we cannot accept it, as it now stands, but we would further say that, in addition to the leaving out of our contract all the inside finish, with the exception of the floor in the recorder's and clerk's office, if you will also omit in said contract the outside front steps and all stone steps, not in the walls of said build-