Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 28, 1905

Chapter 28

THE STRUGGLE OP 1861 - FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - CAPT. McKUNE AND WASECA COUNTY VOLUNTEERS - BATTLE OF BULL RUN - ELECTION OF 1861, P. C. BAILEY REPRESENTATIVE - BIG COMET - MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER REGIMENTS - MEN "WHO ENLISTED - THE THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH REGIMENTS - LOW PRICES - FIRST NEWSPAPER, "HOME VIEWS" BY JOHNSTON AND WILLIS - TRIBUTE TO CAPT. McKUNE.

The year 1861, the most momentous in the history of our nation, opened beneath the storm-clouds of treason which cast their somber and ominous shadows over all the land. From every point of view the southern rebellion was the most gigantic political crime of all the ages that had preceded it. The hope of liberty, of religious freedom, of manhood sovereignty, of the laboring and producing masses, not only of this country, but of all the world, depended upon the maintenance of the "Union of the States, one and inseparable."

The Minnesota legislature of 1861 authorized an organization of the militia of the state, but the treasury was so destitute of available funds that the organization was nothing more than a make believe. The legislature closed its session the first week in March, and on the 12th of April, Ft. Sumter was fired upon by the rebel forces of the South. Then the first fierce blow was struck, and the states of the South, one after another, in rapid succession, formally seceded from the Union. The forts and arsenals of the nation in the South, in contemplation of secession, had been turned over to southern sympathizers by Buchanan's administration and were rapidly surrendered to the rebels.

President Lincoln at once issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers to defend the life of the nation. Gov. Ramsey, who vras in Washington when Fort Sumter was fired upon, was the first governor to tender the president a regiment of volunteers. This he did on the morning of April 13, 1861.

The governor immediately telegraphed Ignatius Donnelly, lieutenant governor, and on the 16th of April, Mr. Donnelly as governor ad interim, issued his call for one regiment of volunteer infantry of ten companies, to report at once to Adjutant General Sanborn at St. Paul. Within two weeks the regiment was full, and many that offered to enlist were turned away.

Waseca county, considering its population, furnished its full quota. The following gallant young men enlisted with Capt. Lewis McKune, one of the early settlers in Blooming Grove, but then of Morristown, Rice county, viz.: Geo. R. Buckman, L. J. (Jim) Mosher, E. E. Verplank, John M. Churchill, Irvine W. Northrup, Michael Hausauer, Walter S. Reed, Luman S. Wood, Adam Areman, Omer H. Sutlief, Louis E. Hanneman, Martin Healy, Neri Reed, C. C. Davis, George Kline, Philo Hall, John Mc- Kinster, Nathaniel Reed, Norman B. Barron, Amos Canfield, Jens T. Dahl.

The regiment was fully organized on April 29th and mustered into the service at Fort Snelling by Capt. A. D. Nelson, of the United States army.

The men at once went into training and were drilled every day except Sundays. They remained at Fort Snelling until June 22nd when they embarked on steamboats and started for Washington, taking railroad cars at La Crosse and Prairie du Chien. They arrived in Washington June 27th and remained near that city until July 16th when the regiment was ordered to the front. The regiment bore a prominent part in the ill-fated Bull Run battle of July 21st, 1861, during which Capt. Lewis McKune was killed, and E. E. Verplank, George Kline, and Walter S. and Neri Reed, two brothers, were slightly wounded.

The brave, unselfish, Capt, Lewis McKune was among the numerous immigrants to Minnesota in 1856. He was born in Meriden, Susquehanna county, Pa., on the 22d of July, 1821. He was reared upon a farm and remained in his native state until his twenty-fifth year when he started West, settling in Illinois. At the breaking out of the California gold exeitimenet, in 1849, or very soon after, he went to that Eldorado of the West to seek his fortune. He was reasonably successful in his mining operations, and returned to Illinois about 1855. He next purchased an emigrant outfit and came to Minnesota by the typical prairie schooner. He brought with him some very valuable horses, the breeding of which occupied considerable of his attention. He first settled in Blooming Grove and opened a large farm on section one.

The writer's first acquaintance with him was during the political campaign of 1856. Both of them were very earnest, ardent republicans in those days - "Black Abolitionists." He was a born hero, ready to stand by, and fight for, what he believed to be right, regardless of personal ease, safety, or financial sacrifice. He Avas one of the many grand characters of the great army of American heroes and statesmen of that day. How grand it would be were this nation today as patriotic, as unselfish, as devoted to righteousness as were the reimblican heroes of that day. Were it so, the greed and selflslmcss now concentrated in the hands of corporations, syndicates and money combines, that plunder the masses, would find few defenders.

He participated to quite an extent in the local campaign of 1856, and thus paved the \vay for his preferment in 1857. In the spring of 1857, the people of Steele and AVaseca coimties met in convention at Owatonna and elected delegates to attend a district convention to be held at Mankato about the 1st of June, to nominate republican candidates to be elected as members of the constitutional convention. Hon. Amos Coggswell, an able lawyer, who had settled in Aurora township, Steele county, in 1856, was a candidate and the choice of Steele county, while Waseca county had no aspirants. The writer was chosen as one of the delegates to the Mankato convention, and it was soon learned that a delegate would be awarded to Wasei'a county. Capt. IMcKune was nol at the convention, nor had he been consulted in regard to the matterbut upon the presentation of his name by the Avriter he was unanimously nominated. Jlr. McKune had just opened a store in Morristown, though living on his farm, and was unable to devote time to the canvass; but he accepted the nomination and was duly elected. Although not a public speaker, he was a man of sound jiidgment and made a valuable member of that very able convention.

As a member of the constitutional convention he demonstrated, on more than one occasion, that his "Scotch blood was up" whenever there was a fight on hand. As a result of the election of members to the convention, the political parties were so nearly evenly represented in numbers, that each sought to get party control of the organization. The republicans, fearing that the Kansas tricks of the pro-slavery men might' be repeated in j\Iinnesota, held several private caucuses to devise ways and means to prevent any advantage being taken of them. Upon Mr. ]\IeKune's suggestion the republican members, in a- body, quietly took possession of the hall where the convention was to meet, the night before the convention was to assemble and organize. They remained in the hall that night and until 12 o'clock noon, when they proceeded to organize the convention in opposition to the democrat members who appeared at that time in a body and also pretended to organize and then immediately adjourned, leaving the hall to the republicans.

It will be remembered, l)y those familiar with the early history of the state, that our constitution was finally submitted by two conventions which l\v a committee of conference, agreed upon the constitution under which Minnesota was admitted as a state. It was during the session of the conference committee that a brutal assault was made upon Judge Thomas Wilson, then a republican member from Winona, by Gen. Willis A. Gorman, a democratic member from St. Paul. The assault caused great excitement at the time throughout the country. Gorman was a large, powerful man, while Wilson was not only a small man, but in poor health at the time. This so incensed Capt. ]\IcKune that he sought Gorman and gave him a severe tongue-lashing, giving him to understand that if he desired to whip some black republican, he (Mc) was ready to receive and return blows. Suffice it to say Gorman gave no blows.

Upon ]\Ir. McKune's return from the constitutional convention, the people were so well satisfied with him that he was chosen our first state senator. The session commenced in December, 1857, and continued until the close of March, when it adjourned till the next August. This legislature became notorious for its adoption of the five-million, railroad bond-issue. A lobby of railroad bond-swindlers, accompanied by a large number of trained and genteel prostitutes and bribe givers, debauched a majority of the legislature and secured the passage of the five-million loan amendment. Senator McKune honestly fought the proposition from the start, but was in the minority, and the bill passed. He then took the stump against the adoption of the proposition by the people ; but, alas! the fools were in the majority; the people were deceived, and they adopted the swindle as their own, repudiating the noble man who fought bravely to protect them from being robbed and plundered. It was another striking illustration of the fact that the American public delights in being cheated and humbugged by a set of genteel appearing rascals that make their money by first deceiving and then plundering the people.

After this legislative experience Mr. ilcKune abandoned party politics and devoted himself to his own business matters - his farm in Blooming Grove, and his sales of merchandise in [Morristown. At the close of his senatorial work, he removed his family to 'Slorristown where he resided in 1861. Notwithstanding his retirement from active local politics, he took great interest in the affairs of his country and was among the first to foresee that all compromises would fail, and that the strusgie would end, either in the total abolition of African slavery or the destruction of the I^nion.

The writer will never forget the solemnity and earnestness of this man the last time he ever conversed with him. I had spent the winter of 1860-1, in St. Paul, as a member of the legrislature, and was on my return home. There were no railroads here then, and on the old stage-coach Morristown was the nearest point to my home, then on a farm in Wilton, dipt. ]MeKune"s kind invitation to become his guest over night was aecepted. He was even then preparing to arm for the defense of the Union. He went on to explain that war was inevitable. The rebel leaders. he said, had so long found moneyed and commercial men of the North a set of poltroons and doimhfiices that they were infatuated with the idea that all the Northern men were mercenary and cowardly, and would submit to dishonor and disunion rather than sacrifice their money and their lives to maintain the government of their forefathers.

We sat up late the night of that 9th day of March, 1861, as he told of the arrangements he had already made to enlist at the first call for vohmteers. He said he had a feeling, or premonition, that he should die in the struggle and had arranged matters accordingly. Upon retiring he called attention to his two boys and to two swoi'ds hanging upon the wall in their sleeping room. He said that he had been teaching the boys how to use them; and he expected that, should the struggle be a prolonged one, they would both be called to defend their country. It was wonderful how calmly he talked of coming events and possibilities. The next morning he accompanied me as far as Chris. Remund's farm, in Blooming Grove, on horseback. Upon separating he extended a most affectionate farewell, repeating his conviction that war was inevitable and that he expected to sacrifice his life for his country. Alas ! how true were his predictions.

The people of all Minnesota watched the opening events of the great struggle with the greatest anxiety. Almost every neighborhood had furnished some brave man or boy for the conflict. The rebels, on account of the cowardice and imbecility of James Buchanan, had phmdered the nation of its money, arms, ammunition, forts and navy, and held the Union people by the throat. Delay followed delay, and the slaughter of the Union forces at Bull Run, on that fatal 21st day of July, 1861, cast a terrible gloom over the entire North, and especially over the people of Waseca county, when they learned of the death of Capt. Lewis McKune and the other brave men who fell on that occasion, almost at the first fire. When the sad news first reached Wilton there were few dry eyes among the men who heard it. All party and personal feeling disappeared for the time, and one universal sentiment of patriotism was aroused.

Without disparagement of any other, it is safe to say that no grander sacrifice was ever made for country than that made by Capt. Lewis McKune. He sacrificed a good business, left a devoted and accomplished wife in poor health, and abandoned his children to all the uncertain vicissitudes of life, while giving his own body as a living sacrifice upon the altar of his country. It is true that his life was spent among the toilers of earth and as one of them. He was of the masses - an honest, conscientious, unselfish patriot. Contrast his life and death with some of the so-called great men of to-day, and, if there be justice beyond this life, Lewis McKune will occupy a front seat at the right hand among the noblest souls of this or any other nation.

The proceedings of the county board, consisting of B. A. Lowell, Patrick Healy and Isaac Hamline, were of the routine order and nothing of general interest transpired.

The election in the fall of 1861 was almost as exciting as the presidential election of the year before. The war excitement was intense. Should President Lincoln be sustained and the Union be preserved? Alexander Eamsey, governor, and Ignatius Donnelly, lieutenant governor, were re-elected by larjie majorities. The following legislative and county oificers were elected: Senator, Hon. A. B. AVebber, of Albert Lea ; representative, Hon. P. C. Bailey, of Wilton; treasui-er, Hon. Geo. T. White, of St. Mary; register of deeds, Tarrant Putnam, of Wilton ; sheriff, D. L. Whipple ; clerk of court, H. P. AVest; judge of probate and county attorney, Hon. H. D. Baldwin; surveyor, Geo. P. Johnson, all of AA'ilton; court commissioner. Job A. Canfield, of Otiseo ; coroner, Nathaniel AVood, of AVoodville; county commissioners. John S. G. Honor of Iosco, B. A. Lowell of Otisco, and J. B. Jackson, of South AA^ilton.

While there was little doing of local importance, there was much of a general character to interest the people. This was the year of the great comet which suddenly appeared on the 30th day of June and created a great sensation. To the naked eye, the head of the comet appeared to be larger than a star of the first magnitude. The astronomers "estimated" that on the lU day of July the breadth of the head of the nucleus was about ir)0,000 miles, and its train of light fifteen million miles in length. It was thought by one astronomer that the earth would pass through the tail of this comet, but it sped onward through trackless space, soon disappeared from view and was forgott(ni by the multitude.

The Fourth Of July

emnity that year. A large assembly of people gathered at Wilton, then the county seat, and celebrated the occasion by reading the Declaration of Independence, singing patriotic songs, and listening to short, patriotic speeches by leading citizens.

The War Of The Rebellion

The Union forces during the summer met with exasperating dehiys and sonn; reverses. On the fifth of July, President Lincoln issued a call for 4(K),()()0 more men and .ij400,000,000 to carry on thi' war for the supjiression of the Rebellion. The Second Minnesota regiment of infantry was complete as early as August 23. No men fi-oiii Waseca, county (>iilisted in this regiment.

Tile complelo ofK'ani/ation of the Fourth regiment followed and on the S\vd of December the rej^'inient was ready foi- service. Waseca, county was represented in this regiment by Maj. W. T. Kiiii'cdoc, ('a|)t. B. iM. Broujihton, (;a,|)t. S. T. Isaac, Capt. D. L. Welhnan, Aui;ustus Lintlcf, Warn Alexander, Orin Coats, James L. Connor, N. T. Foster, Silas Ilubbell, T. B. Jackson, Moses Nori-is, C. W. (juiKK'le, Jonas Whitcomb, John Teas, Charles Parvin, Myron Sln-ldon, Loi'cn C. Wood, Waldo Lyon, Aanm Bragg, Janu's S. Camp, Ei'aslus Fish, Jamies Ilanes, Jonathan Isaac, S. A. Norris, J. N. Powers, I). P. Stowell.

The Fifth Minnesota

The Fifth I'CLjinM'nt was the last to oi-^'anize under the President's July call for 400,000 iiien. The regiment was mustered in DeeemlxT 19, 1S61, but was not complete in numbers until March 20, 18(12. This county was represented in the Fifth by the followint;' men :

Lawrence, John Murphy, E. H. Stiles, B. F. "Weed, P. Davis, Peter Olson, James B. Crook, David Skinner, H. H. Wallace, Wm. Douglas, Chris. Sampson, Jonathan Hardy. Of these Wm. Douglas enlisted as a recruit Jan. 4, 1864.

Wheat, forty to forty-five cents per bushel; corn, 1 wenty cents; beans, forty; oats, eighteen; potatoes, twenty; lard, ten cents per pound ; eggs, five cents a dozen ; dressed pork, from $3.50 to $4.00 per cwt. ; brown sugar, ten cents per pound ; coffee sugar, a shilling a pound ; plug tobacco, thirty to forty cents ; smoking tobacco, fifteen cents; coffee, from twenty to twenty-five cents; s.yrup, and molasses, eighty cents per gallon; salt, per barrel, $4.75; tallow candles, eighteen cents per pound ; dried apples, ten cents ; calico, from seven to twelve and a half cents per yard; delaines, twenty to twenty -five cents ; sheeting, eight to twelve cents ; denims, twelve to twenty cents; Kentucky jeans, twenty -five to thirty-five cents ; cassimeres, from forty cents to two dollars ; cotton flannel, from twelve to eighteen cents; -wool flannel, from thirty -five to fifty cents per yard.

In closing the history of the year, it is proper to refer to the first newspaper established in the county. While it is true that a paper, called "The Home Views," a six column folio, made its appearance in Wilton, then the county seat, :\Iarch 13, 1860, it was in fact an Owatonna publication, issued by IMr. A. B. Cornell, in the name of Mr. J. W. Crawford, of Wilton, as editor. Yet the first real newspaper printed, published and edited in the county was

This paper made its appearance about the first of :\Iarch, 1861, and was owned, edited, printed and published by Alexander Johnston and Spencer J. Willis at the village of Wilton. It was conducted as a neutral in polities, Johnson being a democrat and Willis a republican. It was a very good local paper largely devoted to the local interests of the town and county. They continued to publish the paper until the ensuing fall, when ^Ir. Johnston became sole proprietor and removed the plant to Faribault. From that town, Mr. Johnston continued the publication of the "Home

Views" at Wilton, under the local management of Buel AVelch, Esq., until the fall of 1863, as a "Union Democratic" paper. Mr. Johnston sold his interest in the plant in 1863, and went to St. Paul where he became a reporter for the "Pioneer," which afterwards consolidated with the "Press," both papers Vjeeoming one and adopting the name of Pioneer Press. He remained in the employ of the daily press in St. Paul until the time of his death, about 1894.