Houston County, Minnesota - Viii, 1882

County Schools

HOUSTON COUNTY IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT. - COUNTY GOVERNMENT. - UNITED STATES COURT. - POST-OFFICES. - NEWSPAPERS. - MAPS, ATLASES, AND PLAT ROOKS. - AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. - COUNTY SCHOOLS.

In 1849, Governor Alexander Ramsey, by proclamation, fixed the Council districts, making seven in all. Houston county was in the fourth. In the Territorial Legislature of 1849, David B. Loomis was in the Council from this district. In the House, Henry F. Stetzer was the member. In the second Legislature, which was in 1851, David B. Loo in is was in the Council, and John D. Ludden in the House. A new apportionment was made in 1851, so far as council districts were concerned. In 1852, Lorenzo A. Babcock was from the fourth district, in the Council, and F. S. Richards in the House. In 1853, L. A. Babcock was in the Council, and James Wells in the House. In 1854, William Freeborn was in the Council, and O. M. Lord in the House. In 1855, William Freeborn was in the Council, and Clark W. Thompson in the House. A new apportionment threw Houston, in 1855, into the eighth district, and in 1856, Clark W. Thompson and B. F. Tillotson were in the council, and W. B. Gere, Samuel Hall, Wm. F. Dunbar, Wm. B. Oovel, and Martin G. Thompson, in the House. In 1857, B. F. Tillotson and Clark W. Thompson were in the Council, and Wm. B. Gere, D. F. Case, Wm. J. Howell, John M. Berry, and M. G. Thompson were members of the House. Of course some of these men lived outside of the county, in other parts of the district.

After the organization of the State, the officers took their seats on the 24th of May, 1858. Mr. William F. Dunbar was the first Auditor, serving until January 1st, 1861.

In 1859-60, N. E. Dorival was assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the same session, George F. Potter was engrossing Clerk, and there may have been others with some State office.

At the constitutional convention, which convened on the 13th of July, 1857, the members from the eighth district, which included Houston county, were as follows : A. B. Vaughn, C. W. Thompson, John A. Anderson, Charles A. Coe, N. P. Colburn, James A. McCan, H. A. Billings, Charles Hanson, H. W. Holley, John Cleghorn, A. H. But

In the first session of the State Legislature James C. Day and O. W. Streeter were in the Senate from this county. In the house were Edward Mclntyre, J. B. Le Blond, and Daniel Wilson. In 1859-60, the Senators were : E. H. Kennedy and Fred. Gluck. Representatives, J. A. Anderson, C. A. Coe, and George Timanson.

In 1861, Houston county became a representative and senatorial district alone, numbered the thirteenth. Thomas McRoberts was Senator, and J. B. Le Blond, Representative. In 1862, Charles H. Lee was Senator, and Samuel Aiken, Representative. In 1863, Charles H. Lee was Senator andD. L. Buell, Representative. In 1864, D. Cameron was Senator, and Thomas H. Conniff, Representative. In 1865, D. Cameron was Senator, and F. N. Goodrich, Representative. In 1866, D. L. Buell was Senator, and J. P. Schaller, Representative. In 1867, D. T. Temple was Senator, and B. S. Andrews and E. H. Kennedy, Representatives. In 1868, George F. Potter was Senator, and J. P. Schaller and Isaac Thompson, Representatives. In 1869, George F. Potter was Senator, and Tosten Johnson and Isaac Thompson, Representatives. In 1870, D. L. Buell was Senator, and W. E. Potter and Nathan Vance, Representatives. In 1871, D. L. Buell was Senator, and J. M. Thompson and Tosten Johnson, Representatives. In 1872, D. L. Buell was Senator, and W. F. Weber, John H. Smith, P. H. Rosendahl, and L. R. Hall, Representatives. In 1873, E. Thompson was Senator, and Tosten Johnson, A. Beard, M. L. Cooper, and P. H. Rosendahl, Representatives. In 1874, E. Thompson was Senator, and Wm. McArthur, M. J. McDonnell, E. W. Trask, and David Taylor, Representatives. In 1875, James H. Smith was Senator, and John McNelly, Wm. H. Snure, and M. J. McDonnell, Representatives. In 1876, James H. Smith was Senator, and W. E. Potter, M.' J. McDonnell, John McNelly, and E. D. Northrup, Representatives. In 1877, John McNelly was senator, and Anthony Huyck, Wm. G. Mc- Spadden, M. J. McDonnell, and John A. Eberhard, Representatives. In 1878, John McNelly was Senator, and Edmund Null, Andrew Bye, Christof Evenson, and Charles Fetzner, Representatives. In 1879, D. L. Buell was Senator, and Anthony Demo, J. M. Riley, Wells E. Dunbar, and E. F. West, Representatives. In 1881, J. P. Schaller, was Senator, and H. H. Snure, O. B.

Houston county is in the tenth judicial district, and is associated with Fillmore, Freeborn, and Mower counties. The Judges have been Sherman Page and John Q. Farmer, the last mentioned being the present incumbent.

While Minnesota was still a Territory, in the winter of 1853-54, Houston county was set apart from Fillmore, and the first county election held on the 4th of April, 1854.

The county government was at first vested in a board of Commissioners, and a session of this body was dignified by the name of "court." The first commissioners' court to convene in the county was at 2 o'clock P. M., on the 26th of May, 1854, in Brownsville. The commissioners elect were Samuel McPhail, Ole Knudson, and Joseph Lovesee. An organization was effected by the choice of Samuel McPhail as Chairman, and James A. McCan as Clerk. The first business that claimed the attention of the court was an arrangement of the county into voting precincts. Five of these, which subsequently became towns, had their boundaries duly defined. The first to be named was Brownsville, with Mathew Alexander, John Montgomery, and Edward Thompson as Judges of election. Pine Creek was the next named, and elections were to be held at the house of Harvey Gillett. Francis Diamond, Peter Cameron, and Harvey Gillett were to be the Judges. Root River came next, with the election to be at the house of Ole Knudson; Joseph Lovesee, Ole Knudson, and John S. Looney, Judges. Spring Grove, at the house of J araes Smith, who with William H. Roe, and Sebjorn Peterson, should be the Judges. Caledonia, the elections to be held at the house of James Hiner, and Samuel McPhail, Samuel Armstrong, and Edward Stewart were appointed Judges.

Assessors' districts were formed at that session, three in number. The first district was made up of Brownsville and three miles east and west of Caledonia precinct. The second district comprised fifteen miles north and south, and twelve miles east and west, in the southwest corner of the county. The third district comprised Pine Creek and Root River precincts; D. D. Brown, R. L. Young, and George Cannon were appointed assessors of the first, second and third districts re- i spectively. The bills audited at this session amounted to $32.72, which represented the actual cost to the county of the first independent county election. Several petitions for the laying out of roads were received and laid over for future action. The Clerk was instructed to have a suitable desk made for the Register of Deeds. Two Constables were appointed, one for Brownsville, Matthias Richmond; and one for Caledonia, Thomas H. Parmelee.

On the 8th of June, 1854, the Commissioners' court again convened, and the laying out of roads claimed a large share of attention, and indeed the petitions for roads, and the remonstrances against particular ones, occupied a large share of the time of the early county legislature.

At this time the first tax was levied, which was one per cent, on all property in the county ; nine mills of this was for county purposes, and one mill for Territorial use. Several important roads were provided at this session.

At a session on the 2d of October, an application for a license to sell spirituous liquors was granted to O. N. Thayer, in consideration of $25, paid into the county treasury. The school districts also received attention.

Peter Cameron applied for and received a permit to operate a ferry for $25. per year, and was allowed to charge the same toll that Wm.McConnell charges, whatever that was. The record does not reveal the location of these ferries.

October 28. - At this session of the court, Charles Brown, of Brownsville, comes with an application to have Brownsville entered as a town site, according to the statutes in such oases made and provided, which was favorably considered. The court about this time was occupied with roads, schools, and juries, with other details of county organization.

1855. January 2. - The new board met; James Smith was chairman. Ole Knudson and Samuel Armstrong were the other members, and James A. McCan, Clerk.

In April, 1855, the county seat was located in Caledonia in accordance with the expressed will of the legal voters of the county. As a singular omission, no mention of the fact of the removal from Caledonia appears on the minutes of the Commissioner's court, and for that matter the location of Brownsville is not mentioned, nor Caledonia either, for some time afterwards. In the proceedings, however, there comes up a bill by Henry Palmer l4for moving the books and papers belonging to the county." The county offices in Caledonia were first located in that inevitable log cabin of McPhaiTs, from which so many other things graduated. There was little except routine business for this year, the roads claiming the larger share of attention.

1856. - The court this year was made up of the following commissioners: Ole Knudson, Chairman, Samuel Armstrong, and Alexander Batchellor, Money Creek precinct was this year set off. The clerk was requested to secure the government field notes for the use of the county surveyor.

1356. - First meeting of the court on the 5th of January. Samuel Armstrong, Chairman, James C. Day, and Alex. Batchellor; McCan was still Clerk. The salary of the district attorney was fixed at $400, for that year. At a meeting on the 6th of July, the privilege was granted to Samuel Felton, of running a ferry at Houston, across the Boot River, and the following rates of toll fixed: Two horses and wagon, twenty-five cents; one horse and buggy, fifteen cents; single horse or ox, ten cents; cattle, five cents per head; foot passengers, five cents; sheep or swine, three cents. During the year road petitions were numerous, while remonstrances followed them up very closely. The difficulty of getting roads laid out brought scores of petitions for cartways, which were sharply followed by adverse petitions.

On the institution of the State Government, the form of county government was changed by an act of the State Legislature, entitled "An act for township organization" approved on the 13th of August, 1858. A Board of Supervisors superceded the Commissioners Court. On the 14th of September, at 2 o'clock p. m. The board for Houston county convened, and was called to order by James A. McCan, late County Clerk and Register of Deeds, and the following members answered to their names: Alonzo Adams, Alexander Batchellor, Charles H. Brown, John Brown, Stephen Bugbee, Daniel Cameron, D. F. Case, C. C. Chase, Frederick Gluck, Robert Kenny, Joseph

Adams,and Alexander Batchellor were made a committee on rules for the government of the board in the transaction of business; and they afterwards reported a set of twelve, which were duly considered and adopted. Mr. L. D. Self ridge appeared and presented a claim to a seat as a member from Brownsville, which, on being referred to a committee, the case was investigated, and in due time a report was made disallowing his claim. C. W. Thompson was elected as permanent chairman, and on being duly escorted to the chair made an appropriate speech. The standing committe was appointed and the clerk was instructed to procure chairs and desks for the members. At the session on the next day, a clerk, E. S. Bugbee was appointed; bills were audited, and the Register of Deeds was required to turn over all books and papers in his hands belonging to the board, to the Clerk. A resolution was adopted authorizing the Southern Minnesota Railroad to use any county roads they might desire, provided suitable highways for public travel were built near them. The sessions of the board were kept up for six days, and a large amount of business was transacted. The pay of the members was fixed at $1.50 per day, which gave those who were in attendance every day, $9.00 for this session.

Some time'in the year 1858, the Clerk of the board drops out of sight, and the Auditor, A. V. Pierce, appears as the recorder of the proceedings.

1859. - The board was reorganized in January, with C. W. Thompson as Chairman, and A. V. Pierce, Auditor and acting Registrar. Mathew Williams was Treasurer. No eventualities of importance came to the surface during the year. But it seems that there was not a remarkable amount of vigilance, or at least not sufficient to prevent the state of affairs which the following year developed.

1860. - Thomas H. McRoberts was Chairman, and A. V. Pierce, Auditor. The financial condition of the county was found to be such, that a special committee was appointed to investigate its affairs in the most thorough way, and to . report as to what could and what ought to be done. The outstanding county orders were in the market at from forty to fifty cents on the dollar, and the ex- animation of the situation created a panic, which was voiced in the following preamble and resolutions, unanimously adopted by the board at a regular meeting in the spring of that year :

"Whebeas, It is manifest from the report of our special committee, that the iinancial affairs of the county are rapidly plunging us into the abyss of insolvency, ruin, and disgrace; and it is also equally manifest that the exigency requires sound judgment and fiscal skill to extricate us from our difficulties and dangers; therefore, be it

" Resolved, That the members of this board be instructed to call the attention of their constituents to these financial embarrassments, in order, if possible, to elicit from the mass of the popular mind, a remedy which shall ba equal to the emergency.

"Resolved, That 4 in the multitude of counselors there is safety/ and that township meetings should be called for the purpose of talking over our affairs and electing delegates to attend a county convention, whose sole business shall be to devise ways and means of escape from the shameful bankruptcy which is now threatening us with ruin."

It seems that the county had in its expenditures exceeded its receipts, and the problem, ae to the means by which the one should be curtailed and the other increased, did not eventually prove very difficult of solution, as the county finally recovered from the depression, as all communities eventually do. There was, however, another chapter in this episode, which was developed the next year and will be found here recorded.

1861. - The board assembled on the first of January, and elected John A. Anderson as Chairman. T. B. Neff was Auditor after March 4th. In March, an examination of the financial condition of the Treasury showed outstanding county orders to the amount of $17,369.37; the amount in the Treasury not appropriated, $3.42. The salary of A. V. Pierce was fixed at $800 for the year ending March 4, 1861, whereupon Mr. Pierce donated $70 for the use of the public schools. A bounty of $3.00 each on wolf scalps was continued. On the 17th of May, 1861, a special meeting of the board was convened, to examine into the condition of the Treasury. The County Treasurer, Mathew Williams, had disappeared. The air was heavy with rumors. The fact that there was a defaulting Treasurer spread over the county, and the country for that matter, on the wings of the wind, and sadly and silently the board got together to see

They were met by a petition from the bondsmen of the absoonding fiscal agent of the county demanding an instant investigation of the condition of affairs, that the extent of their liabilities could be ascertained. E. P. Dorival was deputy Treasurer, and rendered every assistance in trying to reach the bottom facts. When the defalcation was established, the board offered a reward of $200 for his apprehension. W. H. Lapham was appointed to fill the vacancy, and he promptly gave bonds in the penal sum of $20,000, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. After a session of eight days, during which the deficiency in the accounts of the late Treasurer was found to be $3,890, they adjourned.

The board again got together on tne 3d of June, and continued the investigation into the condition of the affairs of the Treasury department, until the 7th, when the examination was finally closed. On the 27th of July, the board again convened, and among other things, ordered instant suit to be brought against the late Treasurer and his securities, to recover the sum of $4,000; also, at the same meeting, a committee consisting of John A. Anderson, L. D. Selfiridge, and Isaac Thompson, was appointed to receive any proposition the bondsmen of Mr. Williams had to make, with a view to a final settlement. Early in July of this year, O. T. Oilman, the County Attorney, moved out of the county, and George F. Potter was appointed to fill the vacant position. In September, the attorney was instructed to prosecute all violators of the liquor laws. The expense for extra clerk hire to investigate the late Treasurer's accounts, was $150, and the Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Lapham, was allowed $160 for extra work in the same line.

It is claimed by some of the bondsmen that a subsequent examination showed that the loss by Williams was over estimated. The bondsmen of Mathew Williams, who assumed the duties of his office in January, 1860, were about thirty in number, so that the loss, if equally divided, was small for each one. Since that time the number going as sureties has largely increased, and Mr. Russell, who retires in 1882, had a bond, when he qualified, with a string of sureties as long as one of the petitions John Quincy Adams used to present to congress for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.

Instructions were given to the Sheriff, not to allow the Court House, about to be completed, to be used, except for county and religious purposes, at his discretion.

A new committee was appointed to prosecute the Treasurer case, as the matter was still unsettled, and it was not until December 6th, 1862, that an understanding was arrived at and a final settlement made. At a meeting of the board on this date, the bondsmen of Mr. Williams were present, and made a proposition to pay in full satisfaction for all demands by the county, $2,400 in county orders; one-half to be presented within six months, and the other half within a year, and to pay $100 in cash before the 13th of January, 1863, and so this affair was adjusted on a liberal basis on the part of the county officials.

It was not for a considerable time after this that the sureties and county officials finally passed receipts and closed the whole bosiness. In the month of December, the county board, in accordance with a legislative act, inspired by the Sioux massacre, divided the county into military districts, which will be alluded to in the military history of the county. An election for company officers was ordered for the 24th 'ofT[ December.

In September, 1863, when the draft was impending, various parties petitioned the board for exemption from the terrible chance of drawing prizes in that lottery where the blanks were distressingly few. They were referred to the military committee, which reported that the board had no authority in the matter, and"] the petitioners were permitted to withdraw.

In September, 1864, the amount of funds in the Treasury was reported at $14,693.08. In January, 1865, the proper committee reported that there was in the Treasury $3,494 in currency, and three cents in 44specie." In March of this year a vault was contracted for.

It appears that Charles H. Eaton, of La Crosse, in 1865, had accumulated a large amount of county orders, which he was pressing for payment through his attorney, who was threatening, if he had not already commenced an action against the county, and the board had considerable trouble in arranging the matter, but it was finally adjusted by the payment of $300 in cash on the one side, and an agreement to enter no suit for the balance previous to May, 1866. Other parties were compromised with by partial payments.

In 1866, the liquor licenses were placed at $20. Wm. D. Gibbs sued the county, but withdaew the suit on the offer of a favorable proposition by the board.

The Court House was finished in September, 1867. It was a two-story structure, the lower rooms being eleven feet in the clear, and the upper ones twelve feet. The board voted that the building should only be used for county or charitable purposes without the payment of a fee of $10.00.

donia would raise $10,000 for the purpose, an appropriation of $80,000 would be made to build a new Court House and jaiL This was the starting point of the present jail building.

In response to an advertisement for bids to supply 225 cords of dimension stone, and 125 cords of building stone to be used in the construction of the jail, numerous offers were made, ranging as high as $16.00 a cord for dimension stone, which was to be 8x12, and 18 inches long, to $9.20 for the common building stone, the contract was awarded to John Dorsch, at $10 for the one kind, and $7 for the other.

During March, 1875, proposals for the construction of a jail and residence were invited through various papers, to be in accordance with certain plans and specifications. On the day of opening the bids, the following competitors presented the figures set opposite their names, as what they respectively considered an equivalent for the work required :

E. P. Dorival, of the board, had the general supervision of the work, and when it was completed he received the substantial thanks of the board in a vote giving him $100 as a token of their appreciation of his services.

Mr. Bagley, of Milwaukee, who did the iron work, was officially commended for the character of the job. During the board session of 1876,the roads and school districts seemed to have occupied considerable attention. From this time to 1880, the county savans seem to have had little but routine business.

The jail was insured for $20,000. The sum of $42.50 was appropriated for postage for the County Superintendent of schools, and the salary of the turnkey was fixed at $$5 a month.

In May, 1881, the judge of the district court was authorized to employ a stenographer for the general and special term at as reasonable rates as could be secured.

Registry of Deeds. - The first document recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds, was that of a bond for a deed, executed by Job Brown and his wife, Mary Ann, stipulating that in the event of John Montgomery's paying $300, to convey to him by "Warrant E. Deed" a certain described tract of land in Brownsville; O.W. Streeter was the witness. The second was an agreement by Job Brown and Charles Brown to convey a certain tract of land to William D. Childs, in consideration of $150; Franklin Millerd was the witness. James A. McCan was the initial Register of

County Finances

W. B. Beeby was the next on the list as deputy. In the early years of the county history, Win. V. VanDorn, Elisha Hunt, and John H. Smith, frequently appeared in their official capacity as Justices of the Peace.

D. N. Gates, now of Albert Lea, was then Register until 1865, when J. W. Cook was inducted into the place, which he held up to 1871, when he was elected County Judge. E. S. Bugbee was the Register of Deeds from January, 1871, to July 30, 1873. Mr. Bugbee died while in office and was succeeded by N. E. Dorival, who filled the unexpired term, making his last entry on the 7th of January, 1874.

P. H. RosendahJ occupied the place for one year, when, in January, 1875, James McMahon appears to sign the papers recorded. In January, 1877, P. H. Rosendahl again succeeded to the office, but he died in 1880, and John Aiken was Register up to January, 1881, when the present incumbent, Mahlon Fannin, was qualified and entered upon the discharge of his duties.

Taxable Property

The value of the taxable property of the county from 1862 to 1880 inclusive, is here presented, and it shows the progress of the people toward wealth, although it must be remembered that during a few of the latter years the valuation is on a specie basis, which accouts for an apparent depreciation.

Receipts For The Year

This institution is located in the town of Union. The farm was bought in the fall of 1878, of Mr. Butterfleld, for the sum of $2,500. It was placed in charge of Mr. E. J. Evans. The largest number of inmates at any one time was thirteen, and the whole number cared for, thirty-five. During this time there have been but two deaths: Nicholas Roland, February 2d, 1878, and Jens Jenson, July 28th, 1879. The burials were in the Freeburg cemetery.

County Officers

Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Samuel Aiken; Sheriff, John Phelps; Register of Deeds, E. S. Bugbee; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, F. N. Goodrich; Coroner, J. M. Riley; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen.

Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Samuel Aiken; Sheriff, S. W. Walker; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, John H. Smith; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen.

Auditor, James H. Cooper; Treasurer, Elias Velo; Sheriff, S. W. Walker ; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, E. L. Cornstock; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, Joreph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask;

Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, E. Velo; Sheriff, M. Har greaves; Register of Deeds, J. McMahon; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, L Thompson; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask.

Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Russell; Sheriff, M. Har greaves; Register of Deeds, James McMahon; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, I. Thompson; Coroner, G. L. Gates ; Clerk of the District Court, Joseph Vossen; Court Commissioner, W. Trask.

Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Russell; Sheriff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, Wm. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the Court, Joseph Vossen ; Court Commissioner, W. Trask.

Auditor, E. W. Trask; Treasurer, John F. Russell; Sheriff, M. Hargreaves; Register of Deeds, P. H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, J. O'Brien; Surveyor, Wm. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court,

H. Rosendahl; Judge of Probate, J. W. Cook; Attorney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, W. C. Pidge; Coroner, G. L. Gates; Clerk of the District Court,

H. Rosendahl, John Aiken; Judge of Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attorney, W. H. Harries; Surveyor, L Thompson; Coroner, P. Bjornson; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Commission-

Judicial

Auditor, E. K. Roverud; Treasurer, J. F. Russell; Sheriff, W. Goergen; Register of Deeds, M. Farmin; Judge of Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attorney, James O'Brien; Surveyor, I. Thompson; Coroner, Wm. McEenny; Clerk of the District Court, G. J. Lomen; Court Cmmissioner, W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. 0. Oameron.

Auditor, E. K. Roverud; Treasurer, H. H. Snure; Sheriff, W. Goergen; Register of Deeds, M. Farmin; Judge of Probate, A. J. Flynn; Attorney, J. O'Brien; Surveyor, E. L. C3mstook; Clerk of the District Ooart, G. J. Lomen; Coroner, H. D. B. Dustin; Court Commissioner, E.W. Trask; Superintendent of Schools, D. C. Oameron.

Notaries Public

The commission of Notaries Public in Minnesota extends for two years, and to give lists of the gentlemen who have held these commissions since the organization of the county would unnecessarily encumber these pages, so the names of those who are recorded in the District Clerk's office as in commission in 1881 will be presented: Edmund Stevens, Winnebago; John H. Smith, Brownsville; James O'Brien, Caledonia; Richard Lester; E. A. Homer, Houston; W. H. Harries, Caledonia; Daniel Cameron, La Orescent; D. L. Buell, Caledonia; John Aiken, Caledonia; F. N. Goodrich, Houston; Geo. D. Cole, Tosten Johnson, John F. Mullen, John H. Rippe, John F. Potter, David House, and there may be others that were not recorded.

The Territorial Court. - The first term of the United States District Court, Territory of Minnesota, convened in the First judicial district, was at Caledonia, on the 20th of August, 1855. William H. Welch, Chief Justice of the Territory, presided. The following persons were drawn by lot to serve as grand jurors, and severally answered to their names: Thomas Conniff, Harvey Gillett, John Campbell, John Montgomery, Eliakim Laflin, Embriok Enudson, Edwin Stewart, Henry Burnett, Levi West, Wm. F. Dunbar, Edwin Butterfield, James Weitz, Burton Andrews, Ralph L. Young, Eli Baker, John J. Dunbar.

The first venire being exhausted, another was ordered, and the following jurors reported in person: Samuel McPhail, Samuel Surface, Samuel Armstrong, Hugh Brown, Eugene Marshall, and Henry Parmelee. This being the required number of twenty-four to constitute a grand jury, Samuel McPhail was appointed foreman.

At this session of the court the following persons answered to their names as petit jurors: William James, Daniel Herring, Enud Enudson, Lawrence Lynch, Enoch C. Young, James Hiner, John S. Looney, John Tripp, Anthony Huyck, Ole Anderson, Aaron S. Taylor, Gilbert Nelson, Thomas Dunbar, Peter Johnson, Jacob Webster, Charles W. Metcalf, David Lynn, John Brown, James J. Belden, S. R. Ball, Augustus Parmelee, M. B. Metcalf, William Oxford, Russell H. Thurber, William D. Gibbs, Charles Turner, Nelson Oleson, George Larson, Hagan Harverson.

At this term of the court, there were two cases for perjury, and one for selling spirituous liquor to Indians. The perjury cases were in relation to land titles, and thus it seems that the community at that time were certainly a law-abiding one.

The next term of the court was held June the 23d, 1856, and only three or four cases were then presented. Michael Burke applied for a certificate of citizenship, and the necessary affidavits and witnesses appearing, the certificate was granted. So that this was the first naturalization in the county of Houston. Two others also made successful application for citizenship at that term of the court.

The next regular term was on the 20th of October, 1856, but the chief justice, William H. Welch, not being present, after the grand and petit jurors were called, and several adjournments, the sheriff adjourned the court sine die.

On the 14th of September, 1857, another session was begun and holden, the Chief Justice being present, and it seems that quite a respectable docket had accumulated

O. T. Oilman was sworn, and admitted to practice in this court as attorney and counselor. The next term of court was held on the 1st of November, 1858. The Hon. Thomas Wilson, District Judge, presiding. Charles A. Coe was appointed foreman of the grand jury. At this session some new attorneys appeared, among them Samuel Mc- Phail, and M. G. Thompson, and also W. Trask, Esquire Tucker, and J. H. Smith. A case of divorce was tried at this term, Alexis Durkee against Emily Ann Durkee. A decree was granted, the defendant being in default

In 1859, the term of the court began on the 16th of May, Hon. Thomas Wilson presiding. On the empaneling of the jury, Edward Mac kin - tire was appointed foreman. Several cases were tried, and several dismissed. A considerable part of the record is made up of evidence in relation to naturalization cases.

The Judges of the District Court from the Territorial days to the present time have been, Wm. H. Welch, N. M. Donaldson, Thomas Wilson, David Barber, C. N. Waterman, Judge Mitchell held a special term, Sherman Page; H. R. Brill presided at the May term in 1878, and John Q. Farmer is the present official.

The Clerks of the District Court since its organization have been James A. McCan from 1855 to 1856; James J. Belden, from 1856 to 1866; John Dorsch, from 1866 to 1870; Joseph Vossen, from 1870 to 1878; G.J. Lomen, from 1878, his term expires in 1886. The judicial districts of Minnesota embrace several counties, with a clerk in each county.

Post-Offices In The County

Brownsville. William Frazier Ross was the editor. It was owned by a joint stock company, which was organized the previous April J. H. McKinney and J. R. Bennett, the land officers, Job Brown, Charles Brown, and-E. A. Ooodell, were the members. W. F. Ross was employed as editor, and he went to Cincinnati and procured the outfit. In politics the paper was to have been neutral, but at the fall election in 1855, Mr. H. M. Rice was running %t or Congress, and the land officers being the principal stockholders, and personal friends of Mr. Rice, the paper not unnaturally supported him, but toward the close of the canvass, the editor having been a whig, turned around in favor of the other candidate. At the end of the first volume the name of Mark Percival was associated as one of the editors. And with the issue of the seventh number, Charles Brown assumed the editorial chair. The paper was published until June 1859, when it suspended.

The Free Press. - On the 15th of December, 1865, Charles Brown, solitary and alone started the Free Press, and run it with credit to himself and honor to the town up to May 21, 1869, Volume 4, No. 21, when its subscription list was transferred to

The Western Progress. - A newspaper with a decided literary turn, published by Mrs. Bella French and Richard O. Thomas. This was a neat, well printed sheet, that worked hard in the interest of Brownsville and Southern Minnesota. In April, 1870, Mr. Thomas withdrew and went to La Crosse, and the next month, a more promising field having opened in Spring Valley, Fillmore county, the whole establishment was removed there.

Mrs. French afterwards published a magazine "The Busy West," in St. Paul, and subsequently did some excellent historical work in Wisconsin. She is now a resident of Austin, Texas, and the editor of the "American Sketch Book," a pioneer magazine of the " Lone Star " State.

The La Crescent Banner. - While this village was. on the flood tide of prosperity, a newspaper was started called the "La Crescent Banner," but it was hung on the outer walls for only a limited time. The publisher was A. P. Swinford, and the office was in the old double store of the Kentucky company. It was a six column folio, issued from a small press, and a not very well furnished office. In a short time the whole concern was removed to

The La Crescent Plaindealer. - The next candidate for public favor, which also proved to be a victim for sacrifice on the altar of public spirited devotion, was the "La Crescent Plaindealer." This newspaper bantling was ushered into a cold and unsympathizing world in 1860, by E. H. Purdy, of Minneapolis. It was a well edited and strongly democratic sheet, a seven column folio. In about two years it was sold to J. T. Ferguson, and was finally closed out in September, 1862, the editor having enlisted. This paper did one remarkable good piece of work, in teaching George B. Winslip, the editor of the "Grand Forks Herald," the printing business.

The Hokah Chief. - This paper was started in 1856 or '57, but no files have been found. After a time it was suspended* but on the 26th of April, 1859, it was revived by Mr. H. Ostrander, a practical printer from NewYork State, who was, in early life, associated with Thurlow Weed, who is the almost solitary remaining link betwen the journalism that fought for Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, and that of to-day.

Mr. Ostrander was a most indomitable worker, and while he stood at the case and set more matter every week than now is set up in most country offices, he wielded a battle ax for what he considered the right, that became a terror to his enemies. He was not a man of policy or compromise, but seeing anything wrong, he cut and slashed away at it, regardless of its connections or associations. The paper was Republican, and in those trying times, he battled nobly for the Union.

The Caledonia Courier. - This newspaper was started in Caledonia, on the 8th of April, 1877, by George B. Winship, and was a seven column folio, published at $2.00 a year, and was a really good paper, well edited and well printed. After a little more than two years, Mr. Winship having grown restive under the restricted conditions of his field of labor, he went to Dakota and began the publication of the "Grand Forks Herald, a first class daily.

when it was sold to H. D. Smalley & Co., who continued the publication up to the 4th of IJovember, 1880, when H. D. Smalley withdrew, leaving it in the hands of P. J. Smalley, who is now the editor and proprietor. In politics it is an independent republican. It has a circulation of 540 in the county, and of 600 all told. It is a seven column folio, and is printed and conducted in such a manner as to be a credit to the village and county.

The Houston County Journal. - It first came to light in November, 1865. The editors and proprietora were James G. MoGrew and P. P, Wall, who issued it until the 1st of May, 1866.

The paper was then purchased by the Journal Printing Company, composed of the following persons: John Craig, Thomas Abbotts, James Smith, George T. Patten, A. D. Sprague, C. A. Coe, Eugene P. Dorival, and J. W. Cook. On December 4th, 1866, the names of Smith and Wall were run up as editors.

On August 3d, 1881, Mr. J. Ostrander came in the firm, and it is now published under the firm name of Comstock & Ostrander. It is a republican sheet, is conducted on high toned principles, and is a reliable journal, managed by practical and thorough business men.

Several other papers, the "Hokah Herald" and the uHokah Blade" among them, have had brief careers in the county, but they soon died of disease incident to young newspapers.

Maps, Atlases, And Plat Books

An Illustrated Historical Atlas of the state of Minnesota, profusely illustrated, was published in Chicago, and quite extensively circulated in Houston county. It made a large book with pages 14 J by 17 J, and was filled with maps of local and general interesl, together with numerous views and portraits of large numbers of its patrons, and brief sketches of local history. The price was $15.00, and it was sold by subscription, A. T. Andreas being the publisher. >

AoRicuiiTURAii Societies. - There have been several agricultural societies in the county, but for various reasons, the people have not heartily entered into the project. Several fairs have been held with good success.

In 1867, the leading officers of the society were: D. L. Buell, President; Isaac Thompson, Vice- President; N. E. Dorival, Secretary; D. N. Gates, Treasurer. This society having collapsed late in the seventies, another was organized and officered as follows:

The schools of Houston county remained in the same condition which they enjoyed under the Territorial organization, until 1859. During that winter, an act of the Legislature resolved each township into a school district, each district organizing as many sub-districts as was deemed necessary. The following winter, this law was repealed, and the present organization adopted.

Until 1876 the Superintendent was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, but in this year, in common with six other counties, the office was made elective.

^e County Superintendents have been Rev. James Frothingham, D. P. Temple, Capt. W. H. Harries, Dr. J. B. Le Blond, and D. C. Cameron. In January, 1876, Prof. W. D. Belden was appointed by the Commissioners, but it was ruled that the then incumbent should hold, under the new law, until his successor was elected and qualified.

In 1861, the Commissioners numbered the districts from northeast, and the then total was fortynine. As succeeding districts were organized, by taking territory from those already in existence, they were numbered successively until now the number is ninety-six, containing one hundred and nine school-rooms. But Hokah and Brownsville graded schools, with four departments each, hold session in but three of their school- rooms, thus making one hundred and seven school-rooms in which school is held. District No. thirty, Brownsville, is a special district; Nos. twelve, Hokah, and forty-two, Caledonia, are independent The latter two were created independent to secure immunity from the text-book law.

The villages of Hokah and Brownsville have school houses containing four departments each. These are well furnished, and more than adequate for their present wants. The one at Brownsville is the most costly and complete in the county.

La Crescent, Houston, Spring Grove, Caledonia, and Money Creek, have each a school house containing two rooms. The finest of these is the one at Money Creek, the worst one is at Caledonia. Caledonia has far outgrown her school house, and two departments are located in a rented huilding; but many improvements may be expected from the present liberal board. The experiment of a female teacher at the head of her schools has proved a success; certainly she is an improvement upon her immediate successors.

Of these ninety-six school houses, sixty -eight are frame, three brick, five stone, and twenty log. The prairie towns, as a rule, contain the best school houses, while the log houses are found in the valleys and upon the ridges.

War Notes

Thirty-one districts have wall maps, eleven reading charts, twenty-two have globes, seventeen have dictionaries, and seven have bells. Caledonia has the largest enrollment; two districts vie for the honor of the least. About forty districts hold no summer school. The enrollment is not as great as in former years; the decrease is principally in the village schools.

The total number enrolled in the schools for the year ending August 31, 1881, was 4,205. The average length of schools was nearly five months. The value of schoolhouses is $572,329. Paid out for teachers' wages, $15,049. In addition to the above showing, twenty- four parochial schools were in session, with an enrollment of 360.

One hundred and nineteen teachers were licensed during the year. Of these, six hold first grade certificates; eighty-five, second grade, and twentyeight, third grade certificates. Eighteen of these teachers have attended a Normal School, five have graduated. One certificate has been revoked.

During school months, each Saturday in some part of the county, a teachers' meeting is held, the exercises of which are conducted on institute plans. These are a powerful educational factor and have been the means of developing many young teachers, and helping many older ones on to a higher plane. The superintendent makes it a rule to be present at these meetings. The struggles of the friends of popular education to inaugurate and maintain schools would furnish many an interesting chapter.

Matters of interest relating to particular schools will be treated in connection with the town or village where they are situated, as matters of local rather than general interest.