Houston County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 44 of those read), 1882

Interesting Events Chronologically

Many occurrences of a local significance, which the readers of this history may be disappointed in not findiDg under the township headings, may be found here. Of course there are many affairs, which would be quite as interesting as those here mentioned, that are not alluded to, but it is hoped that enough have been caught to give a good idea of life in Houston county, since its settlement, a little over thirty years ago.

At the first election in the county, in the spring of 1854, at Brownsville, 126 votes were cast, and at a dance in the evening, hardly a single set of "dancable" couples could be got together.

year. J. R. Bennett was Register, and J. H. McKinney, Receiver. M. G. Thompson and Eugene Marshall were afterwards in the office. It was removed to Chatfield in 1866.

There were seven town sites platted and recorded in the county this year, as follows: Brownsville, Hokah, Houston City, Caledonia, Spring Grove, Watertown, and Manton. Watertown was in Winnebago, and Manton in La Crescent. Lots in Brownsville brought from 8100 to $800.

The Root River Steamboat Company was organized: Ole Knudson, President; 0. W. Jenks, Treasurer; and E. A. Goodell, Secretary. The other directors were Job Brown, T. B. Twitford, and Joel March.

The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company was incorporated by an act approved March 1st. It was to run from the Mississippi via Wild Cat Valley.

County Bible Society. - This was organized in Brownsville on the 4th of May; David Watson, President; Job Brown, Vice President; William Frazier Ross, Secretary, and D. N. Gates, Treasurer. The local agents were: John H. Smith, Brownsville; Rev.M. Williams, Caledonia; William Erwin, Hokah; Ole Knudson, Houston; W. Trask, Winnebago; W. Bell, Bellville; Herman Peterson, Spring Grove; and J. Wilson, Looneyville.

The Tear 1860

Tn Tuesday, the 14th of March, a Miss Bennett living in the house of D. L. Buell, of Caledonia, was burned to death in consequence of her clothes taking fire.

The "Wild cat" and "Red dog" money that afflicted this region, was on the Fulton County Bank, the Bank of Whitefield, and the Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, all of Georgia.

The Yeab 1861 The Yeab 1862

The "Hokah Chief," on the 16th of September, had a graphic account of the Indian war. Hon. Ignatius Donnelly reported the whole number of inhabitants killed and missing to be 382.

The Yeab 1863

In March, there was a great freshet on the South Fork of the Root River, which, particularly in Sheldon, carried off the bridges. It was also destructive on the Root River itself.

In June, there was an election in La Crosse to vote aid in building railroads and bridges in Minnesota. The proposition was carried to the extent of $15,000.

The contract for carrying the mail from Caledonia to LaCrosse, via Hokah, was awarded to Beckett & Wightman, and the service was to be tri- weekly.

The expedition against the Indians, under the command of Gen. Sibley, was most remorselessly criticised by the correspondents of the "Hokah Chief." The battles that were reported from headquarters were characterized as "Battle of Big Thing," "Battle of Couldn't see it," "Battle of No you don't," and was said to be a Don Quixotic expedition of the pic-nic order.

The Yeab 1864 The Yeab 1865

In March, there was a noted flood on the Root River. Not a single dam, except at Hokah, could resist the frightful invitation to join the tide; the inundation of the valleys was fearful The people along that usually placid stream deemed that destruction's devastating doomsday had come. But when the waters receded, much less mischief than would have been supposed, was found to have been done.

The Yeab 1866

A fatal accident occurred to Mrs. Foster, in Hokah, in December, 1866. While on a visit to a mill her clothing was caught by a shaft, and she was carried through a space but eight inches wide; death came to her relief in two hours.

Early in this year an effort was made to establish a Unitarian Church in Caledonia. Rev. S. C. Buckley was here preaching the doctrines of that denomination. The subject elicited quite a newspaper discussion.

At the April election, the proposition to raise a tax of six mills on the dollar for the purpose of building a court house, was submitted to the voters of the county, and decided in the negative.

In March, a huge rock became detached near the top of the bluff in Brownsville, and came thundering down, and taking a flying leap near a house, went through it from roof to cellar, demolishing a part of the wall of the latter.

When the income tax was collected the followiug gentlemen paid a tax of this description in the county: A. McMichael, A. D. Sprague, Henry Rippe, Harvey Bell, Mark Percival, and C. Montgomery.

A Base Ball Club was organized in Caledonia on the 29th of June, with the following officers: President, C. A. Coe; Vice President, A. H. Belding; Treasurer, N. E. Dorival; Umpire, P. P. Wall; Secretary, E. P. Dorival; Captains, J. Emmons and A. H. Belding. The club met on Saturday afternoons.

Two children, one belonging to Samuel Baird, and the other to George Spangler, of Winnebago Valley, were killed by the caving in of a bank, on the 13th of July.

Base Ball struck the town of Hokah late in the summer, and a club was organized, called Resolute Base Rail Club of Hokah, with the following officers, : President, Ed. Thompson ; Vice President, L. S. Keeler; Secretary and Treasurer, A. P. Coulter, with a board of directors.

In the early fall, Dr. H. B. Laflin took the initiative in laying sidewalks in Caledonia, by commencing in front of his place on Kingston street.

The Y.Bab 1868

The Methodist Episcopal Church in Caledonia was dedicated on the 23d of February. The sermon was preached by Rev. 0. Hobart, D. D., J. W. Kelper was Pastor.

In the spring the tree business in Caledonia was quite brisk. Among those who were prominent in planting shade and other trees, were : Dr. H. B. Laflin, D. L. Buell, J. W. Cook, Wells E. Dunbar, Mrs. H. Hinkley, John Dorsh, W. Trask, J. Vossen, J. Bouquet, A. D. Sprague, Dr. O'Connor, Oliver Dunbar, T. J. Dunbar, and J. Belden.

July 4th was quite generally celebrated in Houston county, the principal gatherings being at Caledonia, where addresses were made by Rev. N. Fellows and others; also at Riceford and Houston, where appropriate exercises took place. At Riceford a premature explosion carried away the arms of one man, and an eye and a part of the face of another. Their names were Gilbert and Sherburn.

Interesting Events The Year 1870

Brownsville had 1,500 inhabitants, with about forty stores, four churches, a printing office, various manufacturing establishments, warehouses, boat yards, a theater, and other accessories to a thriving town.

A most daring attempt was made on the night of September 10th, to rob the safe in the store of 8prague Brothers & Co. For a few days previous two men had been noticed about town making small purchases, and one of them represented that he was about completing a model for a patent right he was about to send to the patent office. It was afterwards learned that they had made their headquarters in a log cabin not far from town. D. G. Sprague, one of the proprietors, slept in the store in a bed made up each night on the counter, and about midnight, having been asleep, he found himself on his feet with two men making a vigorous assault upon him, which, realizing the situation, he resisted as best he could, and succeeded in tearing away from his assailants. Reaching the door, he unlocked and opened it, when he was seized by the collar of his shirt, but he broke away, or rather tore himself out of the only garment he had on, except his stockings, and ran across the street to the hotel where he boarded. Not succeeding in effecting an entrance, he headed for his uncle's, A. D. Sprague, shouting as he ran. As he passed the house of Wm. D. Giles, who, it seems, had not yet retired, as he had seen a suspicious man around late in the evening. Mr. Giles rushed out with his gun and fired into the air, which accelerated young Sprague's movements as well as the departure of the ruffians. When the house was finally opened to the bloody hero of the encounter, his uncle did not recognize him in his sanguinary dress. On examination, five severe scalp wounds were found, which were of a serious character, and, although he recovered, he will always carry the scars, as mementoes of the murderous fray. It was found that the robbers had gained admission through the hardware store adjoining, by applying nippers to the key left in the front door, and then passing through the side door into the store. A dark lantern, lighted, was found, a club and a hat. On the counter in the other store was found a two ounce vial of chloroform, and some oil for lubricating the bits. In the morning their kit of tools was found under the steps; there were two jimmies, seven skeleton keys, five small wedges, a brace, and two drills. It seems they had hitched up a horse and buggy belonging to M. M. Wooden, and left it tied up town, ready to carry away their plunder, and they at once jumped in and drove to La Crescent, where, leaving the team, they crossed the river, and no trace of them was ever found, although parties were out on the various roads in pursuit. They were met several miles out of town by some parties who had been coon hunting, but who of course did not know what they had been doing. The affair created great excitement at the time.

About this time there was another robbery in Hokah, in the Valley House, which a gang of robbers went through one night, from cellar to garret, and obtained $98 in money. They also were in Caledonia the same night, visiting the Barnes House and procuring $30 from Mr. Barnes' vest, and also going through the boarders. The De Soto House also received a visit. At Mr. Beves his wife heard them in the room and pulled his pants into the bed, thus saving the cash. James Smith's house was also entered, but nothing of value taken.

In November the first meeting was held to see about building a railroad from Caledonia. The projectors took the name of the Caledonia and Mississippi Railroad. Joseph Till was employed as engineer, and an organization was effected.

The number of births and deaths in Houston county during the year ending December 31, were: Births, males, 208; females, 233; total, 441. Deaths, males, 87; females, 73; total, 106.

The Tear 1874

In April Mr. Thomas Cady, a resident of Caledonia, found a pocket book in the cellar from which the building had been removed; it had contained $50, mostly in greenbacks, which were found in a a disintegrated condition. It had been lost twenty years.

Early in June, the work of grading the Caledonia and Mississippi railroad was commenced. On Tuesday, the 9th, a picnic was held in honor of the turning of the first sod, near the house of John Molitor. Dr. Gates was president of the day, A. D. Sprague and Thomas Abbotts headed the procession with spades on their shoulders, which had been turned as trumps for the railroad game about to begin. Capt. W. H. Harries delivered an appropriate address. Father Charles Koebrel followed with a speech in German. Refreshments were served, and a dance in the evening closed the festivities of the occasion.

On the 22d of January, the Brownsville and Root River Improvement Company was formed for the purpose of diverting the waters of Root River by way of Brownsville, to create a water power. The capital was placed at $100,000. The incorporators were Job Brown, Th. McMichael, I. Larsen, A. McMichael, C. Aslesen, J. M. Riley, C. Keogh, H. Post, J. Cluss, C. Clark, O. T. West, J. B. Le Blond, and H. Bell. The officers were : T. McMichael, President; H. Post, Vice President; Iver Larsen, Secretary; and A. McMichael, Treasurer.

The Houston county jail at Caledonia was completed on the 6th of January. Mr. A. W. Gage was the contractor, and Mr. C. G. May berry, architect. It was officially inspected the next day, and found to be in accordance with the plans and specifications. The rear wing, in which the cells are located, is 40x60 feet, and is bricked upon the inside. It has two tiers of interior cells of ten each, with modern appliances for simultaneously closing the doors. The building contains a residence, offices, and a mens9 prison room, is heated by a furnace, and supplied with cisterns, tanks, and pumps, with hose and other conveniences. When first built, it was claimed to be the best jail in the State.

Ernst Wiegand, of Union, was instantly killed on the the 25th of January by being thrown from his buggy; the horses having given a sudden start throwing him over the backboard and dislocating his neck. He left a wife and two children.

On Sunday, the 16th of February, at Mound Prairie, a daughter of Thomas Murry, who was fifteen years of age and had been a cripple from birth, in the absence of the rest of the family at church, was burned to death, with the residence, which was found in ashes on their return.

The greatest freshet known for years followed the rapid melting of the snow and the rain storms in the second week in March. Boot River was higher than ever before, and the smaller streams and ravines in the interior were filled with water, making travel very dangerous everywhere, and in some places impossible. Several fatal accidents occurred in tbis county, two in the immediate vicinity of Caledonia.

Death Of Mbs, Hill

Mr. Peter Hill and wife were driving home from town in their sleigh, and attempted to cross a ravine well filled with water, and running at a rapid rate. In the middle of the stream the sleigh was carried away, and Mrs. Hill was drowned. Mr. Hill was dragged ashore by the horses, he hold-

Mr. Cornelius Leary, who lives a short distance north of Caledonia, lost a little boy aged nine years, under very distressing circumstances. Three of Leary's children were coming home from school, all mounted on the same horse in order to keep dry while crossing the stream. When in the swiftest of the current the horse got beyond his depth, and the boys were thrown off together into the stream. The oldest boy caught one of his brothers and succeeded in dragging him to the bank, but the youngest was borne down by the current into a pile of driftwood, where he became entangled. Mr* Leary hastened to the rescue of the child and succeeded in getting him out of the water after he had been in about fifteen minutes. The child was still alive, but soon died from the effects of the exposure in the icy stream.

A Strange Accident

Mr. Peter Benson, who lived about two miles north of Houston, was walking along the top of a steep bluff the day after the storm. The water had frozen as fast as it fell on the side of the bluff, making it a smooth sheet of ice from top to bottom. Mr. Benson lost his footing while on the verge of the hill, and was precipitated with fearful velocity to the bottom, striking trees, rocks and other obstacles in his course, but was unable to cling to anything and arrest his fall. His skull was fractured in two places, his jaw broken, .his leg broken, and he was severely injured in other parts of the body. He lived but a short time after the accident.

Mr. Nicholas Smith narrowly escaped death by drowning in the Crooked Creek valley just below Caledonia. He was caught by the rush of water with his team in a deep gulch, where it was impossible to escape on either side. By the efforts of Mr. John Prieve, Smith and the horses were saved, but the wagon went down with the water, and all that was ever seen of it again was a portion of the wheels, which landed in the driftwood a mile below. In Hokah the damage was not very great, but people were badly frightened for a time.

belonging to the Southern Minnesota Railroad company, at Hokah, contributed immense volumes of the aqueous fluid, and well grounded fears were entertained that the substantial dam wonld give way under the terrible pressure, and had this calamity taken place, it would have been the means of destroying an incalculable amount of property, and besides this, the loss of life would have been simply fearful. The splendid machine shop of the Railroad Company, Fisher's mill, White Bros, mill, Thompson's mill, the furniture factory, cooper shops, depot, lumber yard and half a dozen or more dwellings would have been totally destroyed or rendered unfit for use for a long time, had the dam given way, but the town was spared that dire calamity by the superhuman efforts of the railroad employes and other citizens, who worked like beavers all the latter part of the night, in raising the embankment or dam. It was estimated by good judges that the water in the mill pond raised about four feet higher than ever known before.

The upper bridge across the pond was moved down, stream some three or four rods, and the bridge across the creek near Fisher's shared the same fate.

Root River had by this time become restless and dissatisfied with her narrow channel, and taken to the whole bottom, carrying before it multitudes of drift and cord-wood, and destruction of property. Thompson's dam stood' the crucial test admirably, thus putting aside the fears of many who predicted that it would be swept away by the oncoming tide. Reports came from Lanesboro and other places up the track that the river was four or five feet higher than the highest water mark, but these rumors were unreliable, as the wire was down and there was no means of getting the news, but the times were just suited for exaggeration, and the opportunity was well improved.

Pine Creek seems to have taken in a considerable amount of inflating fluid, and seized the opportunity for getting on a " big bender," thereby causing a considerable amount of damage between Hokah and Grand Crossing, and the Howe truss bridge at Cushing's Peak was entirely swept away.

James Conley, of Brownsville, was accidentally drowned on the 18th of July, in the river, having undertaken to swim across, he suddenly sunk to rise no more of his own volition.

Another Disastrous Flood

On the 6th of August there was a sudden fall of rain, and what was popularity supposed to be a water spout, burst upon Riceford Creek, and the South Fork of the Root River. In the south part of Yucatan so sudden was the rise, that the water came down in an overwhelming wave from six to ten feet high. It struck the Dedham mill between two and three o'clock in the morning, and that, with the distillery, a store started a short time before by Herrick Persons, and a saloon kept by Mr. Carrier, were swept away. Several dwellings were destroyed and considerable stock was drowned. The calamity would have been much greater, so far as life and stock is concerned, but a man on horse back rode as Phil Sheridan rode, giving the alarm. The lower part of the town was not reached until daylight by the impetuous waters, and the stock and human life was thus saved. In all this deluge seventeen persons, according to the local papers, lost their lives.

Brownsville to Caledonia - Daily. Leaving Caledonia at eight o'clock, and arriving at Brownsville at eleven o'clock, a. to. Leaving Brownsville at three o'clock, arriving in CaledoDia at seven o'clock p. m.

Caledonia to Houston - Tri- Weekly. Leaving Caledonia at seven o'clock, arriving in Houston at ten o'clock a. m. Leaving Houston at one o'clock, arriving in Caledonia at six o'clock p. m., Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Caledonia to Newburg - Tri- Weekly, via Spring Grove. Leaving Caledonia at seven o'clock, arriving in Spring Grove at ten o'clock a. m., and in Caledonia at seven o'clock p. m., Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Houston to Winona - Bi-Weekly. Leaving Houston Tuesdays and Fridays, at eight o'clock a. m., via Money Creek to Winona. Arriving in Houston at seven o'clock p. m., Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Those interested in the formation of a musical society met at the Court-house in Caledonia on Thursday afternoon, September 28th, and effected an organization, with the following officers: President, Robert Sawyer; Vice Presidents, one from each town; Treasurer, G. C. Turner; Corresponding Secretary, W. D. Gibson; Recording Secretary, Fannie E. Dunbar. Executive Committee, M. C. Bunnell, Mrs. F. M. Goodrich, Dr. Castle, Miss Mary Clark, and W. B. Bacon.

The silver wedding of Mr. aod Mrs. Fred. Gluck took place on the 7th of February, at their home in Brownsville. It was an immense time, a regular old settlers gathering.

In this year there were 24 flour mills in the county, with 68 run of stones, furnishing 124,000 barrels of flour a year. There were seven custom mills. All of these mills were driven by water and they employed 88 persons.

There were six saw and lumber mills, running sixteen saws, and turning out annually 720,000 feet of lumber. One of them was run by steam, and fifteen men were employed.

On Monday night, June 3d, a most persistent attempt was made to rob the safe in the County Treasurer's office. Nothing was known of the affair until 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when the Auditor, Mr. Trask, went down to the office and was surprised at being able to enter without a key, but he was thunder-struck on getting inside to see the condition of things. He immediately notified Sheriff Hargreaves of the situation of affaire, then made hasty strides for Treasurer Russell's residence, and informed that gentleman that the strong-box, over which he was the county's chosen sentinel, had been tampered with. Of course Mr. Russell took two or three steps and a jump or two, and was at his office, and on stepping inside and observing the many tools, not altogether necessary in the County Treasurer's office, he was somewhat bewildered, and did not exactly understand whether he was in his own place of business or in a blacksmith shop. The tools scattered about, such as sledgehammers, chisels, etc., did not strike him as being very appropriate for the collection of taxes, giving receipts, etc. However, this sort of feeling didn't linger long with John F., for it was too apparent to him that there was something wrong; and that devils incarnate had broken loose from their Satanic dominions for the purpose of robbing him of the cash he had been so laboriously engaged in collecting, and had so securely hoarded for the people. He soon took in the situation, an immediately began to inspect things to see to what extent he had been robbed.

On the previous evening Mr. Russell and his clerk, Mr. George Rippe, had been engaged until 11 o'clock settling up the business of the day, preparatory to the coming settlement, and, as was bis custom when retiring, Mr. Russell securely locked the door of^tbe safe, Jihen'the heavy, iron door of the vault, and finally the outer door of the building. The burglars were^evidently on the watch for Mr. Russell's departure, and in all probability effected an entrance shortly afterwards. They burst the outer door open, breaking away a portion of the look, and afterwards it appears that two of them, and possibly three, commenced work on the inside, while one was stationed on the outside o watch. They then commenced their night's work, first, by smashing the lock of the vault door, and afterwards devoting all their time and ingenuity to the work of getting into the ponderous burglar-proof safe. The outer combination of the safe they burst by the use of powder and the muffled blows of a heavy sledge-hammer; and after ransacking the papers of the outer compartments, they directed their attention to demolishing the inner combination, wherein the funds of the county were deposited, and no doubt they worked hard, and brought to play all their ingenuity as amateur cracksmen, to gain ingress, until the approach of day warned them to "git," for every instrument they had used was left as if they had dropped them after using them as long as they dared. At three o'clock Sheriff Hargrave's hired girl got up and commenced washing, and in all probability, the burglars, while loth to leave their unfinished work, thought it prudent to desist, and get away from the early risers of Caledonia.

They cleaned out all the change drawers, etc., and in the aggregate secured about $90, about $75 of it belonging to Auditor Trask, and the balance to Mr. Russell, the county not being out anything except the damage to the safe and vault door.

For some time subsequent to the discovery of the deed there was considerable excitement, as it was not definitely known whether the county's money was safe or not, but after many futile attempts were made to open the inner door of the safe, the services of Mr. Heath and Wash Can* were obtained, and they opened the door in less than an hour, and handed the exultant treasurer all the funds of the county, nearly $22,000.

As soon as the robbery had become known, Sheriff Hargreaves dispatched men in all directions, telegraphed to all points, and made every effort possible to capture the thieves, but no clue has ever been obtained.

A brutal and cold-blooded murder was committed on the 7th of June, between Brownsville and Hokah, by Joseph Marco, the victims being Mr. Joseph Ennis and his wife, who lived on a farm at the place above mentioned. Marco was at work for Ennis, and shot him and his wife through the head and set fire to the house, partially consuming their bodies. The murderer was soon apprehended and safely lodged in the Caledonia jail.

The glorious 4th was celebrated in Caledonia in the time honored way. S. W. Walker was Chief marshal; E. W. Trask, President of the day; W. M. Bowdish, Chaplain; Capt. W. H. Harries, Orator; and Prof. W. D. Belden, Reader.

An accident occurred on the Southern Minnesota Railroad east of Hokah, on the 27th of August, caused by a land slide. The fireman, Daniel Gates, was killed. .

On July the 11th a new Norwegian Church was dedicated at Spring Grove. It was a Lutheran edifice, and it was said at the time that the church was the finest in southern Minnesota. The services were of an interesting character, and the event a notable one in the vicinity.

On Tuesday, the 28th of August, the citizens of Caledonia voted on the proposition to raise a special tax of $3,000 to sink an artesian well in the village, which was rejected.

Fire In Caledonia

At 2 o'olock on the morning of October 14th, a fire was discovered in the rear portion of E. P. DorivaTs store, which was the commencement of what proved to be an extensive conflagration for Caledonia. The building occupied by Hart k Norton, was soon in flames, a building occupied by Dr. McKenna, and owned by Thomas Ryan, were torn down to stop the spread of the fire in that direction, which, however, proved unavailing, as the next building to be lapped up was the Journal building, occupied above by the photograph gallery of D. W. Webb. The printing material was removed in front as the fire entered the rear.

Next came the post-office building, occupied above as a law office by O'Brien, the owner, and his partner Smalley. With the poet-office the fire stopped in that direction.

On Main street the fire destroyed E. P. Dorival's old store building, filled with goods, Thomas Ryan's boot and shoe store, and the west wing of Cregan's building. The whole destruction was accomplished in less than two hours.

Hart & Norton, $2,500; Thomas Ryan, $2,000; Dr. McKenna, $200; the Journal loss was slight; Mr. O'Brien, $700; N. F. Damron, $1,500; the Good Templars lost $100; and others, small amounts. There was some insurance, but only partially covering the value of the property destroyed.

On Monday, October 8th, during a quarrel in the store and saloon of Mr. Shipsted, in Houston, between one Carlson and another named Benson, the latter drew a pistol and struck forcibly on the counter as a menace, when it was discharged, the ball passing through the body of Randall Kane, who died the next day leaving a wife and child to mourn his sad end.

For the year ending November 30th, the number of marriages, divorces, and naturalizations in Houston county, was as follows: Marriages, 87; Divorces, 3; Naturalization - Norwegians, 25; Germans, 18; Irish, 6; French, 3; others, 2; total, 52.

On Monday night of the 10th of September, the Post-office in Caledonia was entered and robbed of pennies and small charge to the amount of $8.

In Sheldon, on the 16th of December, William Phelps, a young man about seventeen years of age, a son of John Phelps, was fearfully burned by the explosion of a can of powder which blew out one side of the house.

A very singular accident occurred in Caledonia on the 19th of February. A young man named Samuel Watson, employed in the stable of Ellis A Drowley, was leading two horses across the street when they suddenly shied apart, and thus strained both his arms, probably rupturing a branch of one of the sub-clarian arteries, producing an internal hemorrhage of which he died thirty-six hours afterwards.

In May, the store of Larson & Asleeen, in Brownsville, was broken into and $50 worth of goods stolen. Two men asleep in the store were not awakened.

Golden Wedding

One of the most auspicious events in this county for many years, occurred in Brownsville on Saturday, November 2nd, at the residence of Mr. George Schaller, the occasion being the celebration of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Schaller. Nearly 250 guests were invited from the various towns in the county, with perhaps thirty -five or forty from La Crosse, including a brass band and several members of the Leiderkranz Society. In order to comfortably accommodate his numerous guests, Mr. Schallar erected a large addition to his house and made other arrangements which fully accommodated the immense throng, so that on the day of the golden celebration everything was in readiness, and everything passed off as smoothly as could have been desired. For the purpose of transporting the La Crosse guests to Brownsville, Capt. Winslow's steamer "Vigor" was chartered, and numerous vehicles were employed to bring those from to wn to the scene of the celebration. At about five o'clock in the evening, the golden marriage ceremony was performed by Mr. A. Steinlein, City Justice of La Crosse, after which supper was partaken of. After refreshments were served,' an able and eloquent address was delivered by Mr. A. Steinlein, the sentiment of which is said by those present, to have been most beautiful and pathetic, embellished as it was with scholarly rhetoric and delivered with force and feeling. Mr. Steinlein's adderess being in German, and as many Americans present desired to more fully understand its sentiments, Capt. Harries was called upon to render an interpretation, which he did to the great pleasure and instruction of those who heard him. After the Captain had finished, Mr. John Ulrich, editor of the La Crosse "Nord Stern," made a few feeling and appropriate remarks, following which the band discoursed sweet music, and the Leiderkranz Society sang beautiful and soul stirring songs, This part of the programme being over, the spacious hall was cleared and dancing commenced, the first couple leading off being Mr. and Mrs. George Schaller, who seemed to enjoy the giddy whirl of the waltz as ardently as they did fifty years ago. Dancing continued until a late hour before the happy company broke up; and when the guests were about to return to their home, it was the universal expression of all that the occasion was one of unalloyed pleasure, and that the golden wedding of

George and Eva Maria Schaller would long be remembered as one of the most pleasurable events of their lives. The preparations made by the aged couple were extensive and elaborate, as well as liberal. Everything in the line of edibles, sweetmeats, viands, etc., were provided, and the slightest wish of the guests was gratified to the fullest extent. One of the happy features of the occasion was the collection together of the numerous relatives of the venerable couple, who comprised some of the best citizens in the county.

In December, Mr. John Knock, a German living in the township of Brownsville, was killed by the fall of a large limb of a tree he was attempting to fell. His skull was fractured, and he survived but a few hours. He was a prosperous farmer and left a family.

Joseph Fleishman, of Brownsville, committed suicide in December, by shooting himself through the head with a pistol. Not long before his residence was burned, which so depressed his mind, that he thus attempted to escape his troubles; his age was about fifty.

Moses Hewitt, a fireman on a freight train, was killed in August, by falling from the train near the west end of the bridge near LaCrescent.

A Society, called the Womans1 Christian Temperance Union, was organized in Caledonia, on the 1st, of November, with many leading ladies of the village as officers.

On the 6th of April, while Mr. John Higgins and Mr. Nels Emerson were hunting and fishing on Winnebago Creek, Mr. Higgins shot a duck, and the same ball glanced to the right and fatally shot his companion, Mr. Emerson, in the neck, so that he died two days afterwards.

In May, a man named Nicholas Krauss, who lived in Crooked Creek, was found dead in his house where he lived alone; he had probably fallen and instantly expired. He was about seventyfour years of age.

Suicide. - Frank Seward, a young man living with Gilbert Thomas, shot himself dead in the presence of a young lady in the house. He was from New York. No reason is known for the rash act.

smith shop in Caledonia. The shop and a barn near it was consumed. J. W. Cook's building was in imminent danger, but was saved, which was fortunate as it contained a drug store, the Journal office and the post office. After burning a pile of wood in the rear of Cragen's saloon, the tire was subdued. A simultaneous fire occurred on a farm belonging to A. D. Sprague. A haystack and corn crib were destroyed.

A Leap Year Party. - The ladies of Caledonia, desiring to make the most of the quadrennial year, when conventionally they are supposed to have rights extraordinary,on the 4th of February inaugurated a leap year party at the Barnes House. The usual order of male preference in gallanting the ladies was reversed. All the details, the orders, and paying the bills were done in a most charming way by the women, who certainly set an admirable example of polite attention. All the usual social amusements were indulged in, and the supper was most elaborate, comprising everything from the most solid and substantial to the daintiest luxury. The festivities were kept up with the fullest enjoyment until 3 o'clock A. M., when the ladies took their partners Home. The success of the party may be judged by the following list of the various committees:

Fire - At Brownsville, on March 30th, the house of A. L. Darling was burned, entailing a loss, of $1,200, which was a total one to him, as an insurance policy had expired, and was to have been renewed the next day. Besides Mr. Darling the following persons were losers by the fire: Ed. Dean, Elmer Davis, James Wilson, Mrs. Henry Whicher, Miss Darling, of Winona, and Mrs. Holmes.

met at their bouse in Caledonia, to celebrate with them the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. These occasions are not so common as to be permitted to go unrecorded. Fifty years is much more than an average lifetime, and what fifty years of wedded life signifies, with all the trials, troubles, and tribulations on the one hand, and the pleasures, pastimes, and poetry of life on the other, only those who have thus traveled side by side, can fully realize. There were a large number of presents in great variety, and most appropriate for the aged couple.

Another Wedding. - A notable event in Hokah on the 26th of October, was the marriage of James S. Thompson to Miss Emma A. Towne. The bridegroom was one of the first children born in this part of the country. His father, Hon. E. Thompson, was living here when his wife, being on a visit to her parents in Portland Prairie, was detained by the unexpected freezing up of the river, and so Jimmie was born, near the Iowa State line, in the fall of 1852. The assemblage consisted quite largely of old settlers of the county, with personal friends from other places; among the latter were Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Perkins and Mrs. C. W. Thompson, of La Crosse; Mrs. C. Davis and Mrs. Alma Beers, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Lomen and P. J. Smalley, of Caledonia; Mrs. Quintero, of Lyons, France, and Mrs. Cormack, of Stevens Point. The presents were numerous and valuable; Bev. J. H. Carpenter, of Paw Paw, Illinois, performed the ceremony. The supper, and all the surroundings, were in keeping with the joyous occasion. On Saturday morning the happy couple started for their future home in Coleman, Dakota.

Ed. Healy, a young man residing at Houston, and who was making his first trip as freight brakeman on the Southern Minnesota division, January 4th, 1882, met with a horrible death between Wykoff and Fountain. He was standing on the gangway between the engine and tender, when the coupling suddenly gave way, separating the two, and precipitating him to the track. He was in some manner caught underneath the tender and dragged for fully an hundred rods before the cars could be stopped, as the train was on a down grade at the time of the accident. When extricated, the poor fellow's remains were mutilated beyond recognition.