Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 43, 1905

Chapter 43

THE RADICAL - COUNTY LEGISLATION - A HARD WINTER - SALOON TROUBLES - SPELLING SCHOOLS - NEW CHURCH BUILDINGS - RAILROAD Bond propositions - grange warehouse - OLD settlers organize - deaths of the ybar^-man

Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. H. J. Carlton, John L. Werdin, Mr Brandt, Mrs. Boucher, Minnie Farrington

The first week of 1875 ushered in the "Minnesota Radical," edited and published by James E. Child. It succeeded the "Waseca Weekly News" which had been published by the same man since 1863. It published as its platform the following :

We look upon the saloon traffic, in all its departments, as a crime against humanity, and a burning disgrace to our boasted civilization, as the one great cause of business failures, of crimes of every grade, and of the poverty and misery which go to make up so large a portion of the world's history. This traffic levies upon the tax-payers of the state seven-eighths of the expense of the state prison, over one-half the expense of the reform school, and a large portion of the immense costs annually paid for criminal prosecutions. It habitually violates the laws of both God and man. It makes paupers and slaves of w^men and children. It murders our citizens, depraves the young, and destroys the weak. It corrupts voters and contaminates the ballot box.

We believe that the producing, commercial, and industrial interests of the country should have the best and cheapest modes of transportation possible, and while capital invested in such means of transit, whether by railroad, or otherwise, should be permitted the right of reasonable and just compensation, all abuse in management, excessive rates of toll, and all unjust discriminations against localities, persons or interests, practiced by them, should be prohibited by law; and the people should' be protected from the improper and arbitrary use of the vast powers possessed by railroad and other transportation companies; and that it is the duty of the state and nation, each in its legitimate sphere, to enact laws which will limit to just and reasonable rates all tolls, freights and charges of transportation companies, and protect the people from extortion and imposition.

Let us unite as one man in an honest effort to suppress the liquor traffic, to prevent extortions and unjust discriminations by corporations, to drive corruption and bribery from high and low places."

County Legislation

The board of county commissioners met Jan. 5, 1875. The members present were Dr. R. 0. Craig, H. K. Stearns, Wm. Burke, Maj. Wm. C. Young, and C. H. Newell. Dr. Craig was elected chairman. M. D. L. Collester was appointed county attorney in place of Mr. P. McGovern, who had resigned to accept the position of state senator. The board petitioned the legislature to enact a law authorizing the commissioners of the county to issue county bonds not exceeding ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a county jail.

A Hard Winter

On the 8th of January, there was a Minnesota blizzard, lasting all of one day. On the '2d and 3d days of February there was another fierce snow storm; and on the 10th and 23d of the same month severe storms again deluged the countrj^ with snow. The first week in March a very heavy snow storm from the northeast covered all the northern portion of North America.

It was a hard winter in Minnesota, but light compared with the visitation in Canada. That country was covered with such moimtains of snow as to make travel impossible. Large districts there were isolated for months and trade was paralyzed. The appearance of spring weather was welcomed by all the people of the North.

Death Op Prederick W. Kittredge

DEATH OP PREDERICK W. KITTREDGE. Mr. Kittredge was born in the State of Ohio, in 1841. He was the son of Dr. Kittredge of that state, and a half brother of 'Slaj. W. T. Kittredge, one of the early settlers of Wilton. Frod came to this county in 1861 and taught school in Wilton one term. Soon after he went to Mankato whore he took an active part in defense of the town during the Indian outbreak. Shortlv after the Indian outbreak he married Miss Elizabeth L. Baker, of Ohio, and they began wedded life on a farm near Okaman. His health failing, he moved with his family first to Wilton and then to Waseca where he engaged in the drug business in company with N. E. Strong. He was an honorable, upright, intelligent gentleman and highly esteemed. He was sick for nearly a year of heart disease, and died Jan. 4, 1875. He was an honored member of the ;\Iasonic fraternity, and his brethren were kind and attentive to him during his long illness. He left surviving him his widow and three daughters. His remains were taken to Ohio for burial.

Saloon Trouble

This banking association was formed the first of the year by twenty-four of the citizens of this county and eleven residents of Faribault. Eiee county. The officers of the association were the following: President, Geo. W. Newell; cashier, Frank A. Newell; directors, P. C. Bailey, J. W. Johnson, R. M. Addison, S. S. Phelps, J. A. Claghorn, E. G. Wood, of Waseca; H. M. Matteson, AV. B. Brown, and L. Emmett, of Faribault, Eice county. SALOON TROUBLE.

Some time within the day, Charlie Blank, Lansing Blank and Curtis Sucker, commenced to fill up on rot-gut whisky, in accordance with the statute in such cases made and provided - at least, we suppose so. About five o'clock p. m. they went into Roeder's and took a horn or two of legal tangle-leg, and were about to leave, when Roeder demanded prompt payment. Lansing, who, it appears, had called for the licensed fluid, told Roeder that he would pay him on Saturday. Whereupon Roeder clinched Charlie's hat off his head, and said he would keep it until his bill was paid. This aroused the animal on the part of all hands, and a general clinch ensued. The old lady of the mansion gave a screech and a scream, and, like a catamount or some other animal, gently placed her fingers in Charlie's curls. Curt and Lansing embraced old Roeder, opened the door and gently deposited him in the street. Curt then stepped to the door, reached in and brought forth the presiding female of the house and. Charlie who were fondly or otherwise clasped in each other's embrace. As they struck the sidewalk, the embracing business ceased. The old lady stood on end, placed her gentle hands upon her heaving bosom and screamed a scream of angry defiance that would have done credit to a female panther. By this time there was hurrying to and fro, and eager enquiries as to the cause of all the commotion. In the mean time the boys had walked up town, making loud talk. Presently Marshal Willyard appeared upon the scene and arrested Curt, whom he placed in charge of Constable Stevenson. He then made for Charlie, who took a run for home. The marshal met a team which he pressed into his service, and soon ran down his man. Lansing was not found until morning, when he, too, was arrested. On Friday morning the three young men were brought before Justice Baker, on a charge of drunkenness. They all plead guilty, and were fined $10 each and costs - the latter amounting to $4.75."

This affair was followed by a number of arrests. Roeder was arrested for sellini;' liquors, and Justice Baker requested the comity attorney to appear and prosecute the case. This the county attorney refused to do, claiming it was a village and not a county affair.

]Mr. Brownell was then employed to prosecute the case, and Roeder was cdnvicted by a .iury - the case being a very plain one and the evidence clear and concltisive. The saloon attorney then went before an iynorant court commissioner, got out a writ of habeas corpus, and, upon the hearing, the court commissioner set aside the verdict and the judgment of the .justice and set the prisoner free. That such a proceeding could take place among civilized men shows the power of the liquor traffic at certain times and in certain places. But so indignant were the law-and-order people of the county that when the grand jury convened, the following ]\Iareh, indictments M-ere found against the following persons for the unlawful selling of intoxicants, viz : "\V. T. Cronkright, of Alma City, John Deeth, II. AV. Zeller, Christian Hansen, Jule litige, Roger Hanberry, and David Carey, of AYaseca. The jury also presented an informal indictment or presentment against the county attorney for refusing to prosecitte Roeder for selling liquor before Justice Baker. The judge of the district court, upon his own motion, set aside the indictment against the county attorney on the ground of informality.

Spelling School

During the winter of 187-1-5 spelling schools became very popular in the county, and the contests were interesting and instructive. The following record of one of the contests is from the "Minnesota Radical" of April 128, 1875:

The winner oi: the sack ot salt, the foot prize, was Mr. G. Parks, who could not master "pigmies." Mrs. James Claghorn couldn't get along with "jockeys," and took the pepper box. "Noxious" was altogether too noxious for Mrs. Garland. Rev. Lorin was poor at "seizing," and Capt. Jamison went down on a "mattress." Mr. McCormick spelled "chimneys" with nies for the latter syllable. Esquire Bennett couldn't get along with a "prude," and Mr. S. T. Lewis experienced a slip of the tongue on "hen-hawk." "Cougar" took down Mr. S. O. Sherwin; Miss Abbie Kittredge could not manage a "canoe;" Mr. Spencer was no good on "rummage;" and the bird "albatross," was the wrong bird for J, P. Preston. "Cochineal" brought the color to Mr. Dearborn's face, and Miss Hollister was disgusted with "cinnamon.'' S. N. Sherwin was taken from the field by a "hurricane;" J. L. Claghorn was caught "joking;" H. A. Mosher was slightly "embarrassed;" and Mrs. S. N. Sherwin couldn't reach the "eldorado" of her anticipations.

At this point only three of the contestants remained upon the battlefield, viz: Mrs. Shedd, Mrs. Latham and Miss Annie Child. Mrs. Latham couldn't handle a "lariat" and Mrs. Shedd didn't know any more about "vaquero" than some others did. Miss Annie Child got caught in a "chaparral," but won the prize - Holland's Mistress of the Manse."

It is a pity that the American people can not devise a system of orthography more in accord with common sense than the present barbarous one which occupies so much of the time of pupils to the detriment of other studies.

Three New Church Buildings

This was a year of new church buildings. The Episcopalians, the German ilethodists and the German Evangelical association, each erected a new house of worship. The German Methodist edifice then erected is still standing and received a new roof in 1904. The German Evangelical church then built gave way to a new and larger building erected in 190-1. The Episcopalian chapel still serves the people of that church and is in a good state of preservation.

Railroad Proposition

Preliminary to the building of the j\I. & St. L. railroad through this county, there was considerable strife between the people of the old village of "Wilton and the people of Waseca. About May 10, 1875, a gentleman by the name of Barnum, representing the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Iowa railway company, came through the county and called a meeting before which he had an offer to lay. The meeting was held May 15, at the old court house, in AYaseca. At a preliminary meeting, a committee had been appointed to report upon the matter. A local paper reported as follows :

"On motion of Hon. W. G. Ward, James E. Child was called to the chair and H. A. Mosher was chosen secretary. A motion was made by Mr. Ward that "It is inexpedient for the town of Woodville to vote bonds to aid in the construction of a railroad or for any other purpose."

At the suggestion of Mr. G. P. Johnson, by consent of the mover, the chairman decided to wait a. reasonable time before submitting the motion, lor the report of a committee previously appointed.

Within a few minutes the committee entered, and S. B. Williams, Esq., proceeded to call the meeting to order, but was himself called to order at once by Mr. Ward, who took evident pleasure in informing him that the meeting was fully organized and ready for business. Friend Williams took in the situation and commenced to give his views on the subject of railroad bonuses.

Mr. Ward, again interrupted, and said the gentleman was out of order as he was not talking to the motion. Without insisting upon a ruling, Mr. V.'illiams took a seat.

Mr. Barnum, of Iowa, who was then called for, remarked that he had nothing to say until the pending motion was disposed of - then he had a proposition to make.

ilr. Ward then stated that he had no desire to take any advantage of the friends of the bonus proposition, and would withdraw his motion and allow the meeting to proceed de novo, simply retaining the chairman and secretary. No objection being made, Mr. Barnum proceeded to state his position on railroad matters in general, and made quite a speech, saying that, on general principles, he was opposed to subsidies to railroads, except where it could not be helped, but that the present question of granting aid was one of the cases where it could not very well be helped. We could have the road if we wanted it and would pay for it; and it not, we need not have it.

"That the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Iowa R. R. company propose to the citizens of Waseca county to locate, grade, iron and operate their railway from the south line of said county to the village of Waseca, and to have the cars running thereon at the earliest practical moment, provided that said county raise for said company in town bonds, reliable subscriptions, or money, a sum equal to $25,000, and place the same in pledge tor said company, subject to their order, as follows; one-half when the cars are running to the town of Wilton, one-fourth when the cars are running to the village of Waseca, and one-fourth when the cars are running to the north line of said county - bonds to draw 7 per cent interest payable semi-annually; and that said county furnish right of way, free of cost to said company, of 50 feet on each side of the center line, as the same is or may be located, and depot grounds 300x2,000 feet, in the village of Waseca."

Mr. Ward then addressed the meeting in opposition to the proposition. He argued that Waseca was the natural point of junction for the proposed road and that it would come here. He stated that the bonus would make no difference with the company, and cited the case of Mankato and St. Peter. The Winona & St. Peter company had decided to build a branch into Mankato, and after that decision, the officers of the road went to the citizens of Mankato and obtained a bonus which they put into their own pockets; but bonus or no bonus the branch would have been built. At St. Peter after the plans and specifications for the bridge had been made and approved and after the contract for building the bridge had been let, operations were suspended for ten days, by the officers of the road, in order to get a tonus out of St. Peter; when, as a matter of fact, the bridge would have been built bonus or no bonus.

Mr. Barnum said in reply that nearly all the roads in the West were land-grant roads, while this one was not. He had come here in good faith, and should be pleased to co-operate with the people here, but as there seemed to be strong opposition, and as there was no motion before the meeting, he would withdraw the proposition, and leave the people here to take such action as they might deem for their best interests.

S. B. Williams, Esq., addressed the meeting in favor of voting a bonus. He thought that under the circumstances it would be money well invested.

On motion of Hon. P. McGovern that a committee of ten be appointed to canvass the matter, the chair appointed as such committee, P. McGovern, W. G. Ward, Thos. Bendure. A. Vinton, B. S. Lewis, I. C. Trowbridge, W. C. Young, S. B. Williams, G. P. Johnson, and S. H. Poster.

Excitement ran high during the week, so high indeed that timid souls did not attend the adjourned meeting. At the time of the ad.iourned meeting, the chair called the meeting to order, and the committee appointed at the previous meeting, through the chairman, Hon. P. McGovern. reported that they had no suggestions to make.

Resolved, by the citizens of Woodville township, Waseca county, that we will give to the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Iowa railroad company, or the railway company which shall first construct and build said line of road, to aid in the construction of said road, through said town, the sum of $25,000 in the bonds of said town, drawing seven per cent interest payable semi-annually, payable In thirty years from their date; said bonds to be delivered when said company shall have constructed its road to a junction with the W. & St. P. R. R. in the village of Waseca, and shall have the same in running operation.

On motion of B. S. Lewis, the meeting decided to vote upon the resolution by ballot. The chair appointed as tellers to receive the votes Messrs. W. G. Ward, W. C. Young, and Lewis Brownell.

Although the contest was very spirited, it really decided nothing as it was only an informal expression of opinion; but it aroused a discussion which, in 1876, resulted in the bonding of the township in the sum of $80,000.

Grange Organizations

The first Grange in Waseca county was organized Alay l-t, 1870, iinder a dispensation issued by William Saunders, ^Master of the National Grange, and certified to 1)y ( ). W. Kelly, the first national secretary of the order. As early as Alay 3, 1873, there were ten granges in the county ready to co-operate with one another for the benefit of all, and a county organization was effected at that time. This organization was more for discussion and mutual instruction than for business, and it was finally deemed advisable to create a company, or corporation, for the purchasing and handling of grain. This was accomplished Ort. ID, 1874, at Waseca. The records of the town of Woodville for the year 1874, contain the articles of incorjioratioii of the (ii-ange association. The following were its numagers:

The capital stock was fixed at $2,000, and each share was |25. The name of the organization was Waseca County Grange association, and its jirincipal place of business was at Waseca. Its business was to erect or lease a grain warehouse, and to operate the same; to receive, handle.

buy, ship, store, and sell grain and farm products. It commenced operations that fall, and, for a time, appeared to be doing a good tu=iness. The price of wheat was at once raised by the combine buyers, and the farmers of the county, outside the men that formed the organization and were fighting the Chicago wheat ring, reaped a rich harvest. But the association after a time learned with considerable loss of money that the man they had entrusted with the management of the warehouse was one of the many unfortunates that can not be trusted. Although a man of many good qualities, he possessed the fault of drinking liquor, and the wheat men soon managed, indirectly, to keep him under the influence of the dram shops. The final outcome was a loss of the entire capital invested by the stockholders, leaving the wheat combine with a stronger hold than before. The experimeni revealed the fact that farmers, as a rule, are not yet ready to stand by one another in a fight against organized monopoly."

Old Settlers Organize

Xo attempt was made to create an old settlers' organization until November 10, 1875, when a number of the early settlers joined in the published call for a meeting to be held at the court room in AVaseca on the evening of Nov. 19, 1875. At that time twenty-five men came together and made a preliminary organization. The following officers were elected: James E. Child, president; H. A. ilosher, secretary; Geo. R. Buckman, treasurer; H. P. Norton, O. Powell, and George P. Johnson, executive committee.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted and it was determined that a public meeting and a picnic supper should be held at Turner Hall, Dec. 15, to which all persons who settled in the county prior to 1865 should be invited. Pursuant to this determination, the executive committee issued its call, and on the evening of that day two hundred persons assembled and participated in the festivities of the occasion.

After adding a large number of new names to the member- .ship and calling the roll, some slight amendments were made to the by-laws. The entrance fee was 25 cents and the annual

2. Calling of the roll, adding new names thereto, and the consideration of propositions tor the more nearly perfect organization of the association.

Extracts Prom The President'S Address

"We have met here to-night for a twofold purpose - that of pleasure and that of perpetuating the early history of the county. Ancient history is more or less shrouded in mystery; and in all the accounts of the origin of the older nations, cities, and empires, fiction is so interwoven with facts that it is difficult to separate truth from fable. Even the history of one of the greatest nations and empires of the world commences with a statement more fictitious and romantic than truthful or sensible.

It relates that a daughter of a certain king who had been appointed by that king priestess of Vesta, in which capacity she was to lead a life of single blessedness devoted exclusively to religious services, finally became the mother of twins - two bouncing boys. The king, fearing that these little fellows might some day dethrone him or his, ordered one of his servants to murder them. Pursuant to this order, the servant put the little fellows into a sap-trough and went down towards the river with a design to cast them in; but seeing that it was very rough and running with a strong current, he was too much of a coward to approach it. He therefore deposited the two boy babies near the bank of the river and hurried away. The flood increasing continually set the trough afloat and carried the children gently (of course they went gently, the historian says they did) down to a pleasant place where they were landed safe and sound.

Under the guidance and influence of the goddess Rumina, who presided over the nurseries of the ancients, and whose rites were celebrated without wine or whisky but only with libations of sweet milk, the infants, as the story goes, were suckled by a she-wolf and fed and taken cave of by a woodpecker. These animals were sacred to Mars; and the woodpecker was always held in high honor and veneration by that nation of great warriors, orators, and statesmen.

Such wonderful events, say the historians, contributed not a little to give credit to the mother's report that Mars, the god of war, was the father of the children.

I shall not follow the history of these boys, real or fictitious, this evening. Suffice it to say, that they were the founders of one of the greatest empires of the earth. Rome and the Roman empire owe their name and origin to Romulus and Remus, and these were the ^win brothers whose early lives were so shrouded in darkness that the historian could only give this ridiculous legend of their early lives.

The early history of Waseca county of course, will not be embellished with the story of any such fabulous or miraculous event; yet the record of lis early settlement and the experience of those who came here at an early day to make homes in the prairie wilderness will not be entirtiv destitute of interest nor wholly without a touch of the romantic. I shall this evening confine my remarks to the first settlement made within the limits ot the county. It was made during the summer of 1854." [Then followed an account of the settlement of Mr. Sutlief and family as detailed in chapter two of this history. - Author.]

lion. Wm. Brisbane was called out and gave a graphic description of the company that went from Wilton to the Winneliati'o ao-ency, in 1<SB2, to protect the white settlers from a threatened massacre liy the Indians. Tie closed with an eloqiient plea in behalf of virtue, morality and Christianity.

Hon. S. B. Williams, Mr. J. W. Wheeler, Hon. Joseph Minges, Hon. Job A. ('anfield and others were called upon and made appropriate remarks. There were over two hundred in attendance and the occasion was one of much en.joyment.

The following vice presidents were chosen at this meeting: Wni. Lee, of Iosco; W. H. Harmon, of Vivian; Job A. Canfield, of ()tisco ; C.H. Newell, of Byron ; (jfeorge H.Woodbury, of Wilton ; J. R. Davidson, of Blooming Grove; W. D. Armstrong, of Freedom; Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton; Samuel Remund, of Blooming Grove; Thomas J. Kerr, of St. Mary.

The organization continued for some three years, when it was allowed to die out. The last record of the organization to be found by the author shows the following as its officers : Hon. AVarren Smith, president; Eri G. Wood, Austin Vinton, Job A. Canfield, Michael Anderson, J. D. Andrews, J. W. Tefft, J. H. Wheeler, William Lee, J. R. Davidson, Samuel Remund, Wm. Hover, W. II. Harmon, H. K. Stearns, B. E. Verplank, A. E. Crumb, C. II. Newell, G. H. Woodbury, Hon. William Brisbane, Thomas J. Kerr, John White, and W. D. Armstrong, vice presidents ; 11. A. Moshei', secretary ; H. G. Mosher, treasurer. Of the foregoing, only five are now living.

The following deaths are noted: Mr. Fred W. Kittredge died of heart disease Jan. 6. Mrs. Fetterly, a very aged woman, died in January. Mrs. A. L. Taylor, wife of Mr. G. N. Taylor, died quite unexpectedly Feb. 2. She had been ailing for three weeks, but was not considered dangerously ill until about an hour before her death. She was born in August, 1835; married Mr. Taylor in 1852 ; came with him to Rochester, Minn., in 1855, and to Waseca county in 1865. She was one of the pioneer Baptists of the city of Waseca. Mrs. H. J. Carlton, of the town of Wilton, one of the very early settlers of the county, died of apoplexy after an illness of only a few hours. She and her husband were among the oldest settlers of the state. She died Feb. 21, 1875. ^Mr. John L. Werdin, of Iosco, father of ilr. H. J. Werdin, of Alton, after several weeks' illness, died Jan. 24, 1875. He was among the early settlers and highly respected.

ilrs. John Boucher who, at an early day, settled in Blooming Grove with her husband, died ilarch 9, 1875, leaving a large family to mourn her departure.

iliss Minnie Farrington, daughter of Mr. S. A. Farrington, of Woodville, who was born in Otisco, Sept. 4, 1857, died December 10, 1875, of measles. She was taken ill at ]\Iankato, where she was attending school, and, not knowing the nature of the disease, started for home. Arriving at Waseca, she went to the residence of her aunt, JMrs. Blatchley, where she went into convulsions from which she never recovered. Her death cast a gloom over the whole community.

There were marriages near the close of the year 1874, reported in January 1875. The following are noted; John F. Preston to Miss Etta M. Taylor, of Waseca, Dec. 30, 1874; Martin E. Parmelee, of Waseca, to Miss Ada C. Dearborn, of Lowell, Wis., Dec. 28, 1874; G. W. Soule, of Blooming Grove, to Miss Nancy B. Canfield, of Otisco, Jan. 2, 1875; E. A. Erwin, to :Mrs. M. P. Wilson, both of Wilton, Jan. 18, 1875; Aiken Myeue and Addie Harmon, both of Vivian, Nov. 25, by Rev. A. Cressy; Walter Hunter, of Dakota county, and :\Iiss Phoebe Coulthart, of Waseca Nov. 23, 1875.

County Politics

The intcfforence of railroad managers in the local politics of the county, in 1874, aroused a feeling of opposition in the county which took definite form in 1S75. Tin- agitation Inid continned since the election in 1874, and took form Sept. 15, 1875. when a numb(n' of prominent citi/.ens of both the old parties joined in a call for a county convention to be held Oct. 9, 1875. As soon as this call appeared, the republicans called a convention and the democrats followed. Excitement ran high and discussions resulted in some bitterness of feeling that has not been entirely effaced, even at this day, in the minds of the implacable.

The delegates that attended the convention of the Eeform Party were the following: Edward Brossard, D. A. Erwin, Gustus Brossard, and W. A. Erwin, of St. Mary; W. H. Stokes, J. J. Headly, A. J. Hurlburt, Jerome Dane, A. R. Willsey, and C. B. Allen, of Janesville; Henry Gray, L. D. Mcintosh, A. Blatchley, J. B. Child, S. A. Farrington, Samuel Hawkes, B. H. Taylor, A. n. Wellman and Nathan Wood, of Woodville ; Thomas Barden, Peter Burns, John Kenehan, Hale Kinyon, and John Campbell, of Wilton ; I. D. Beaman and E. R. Conner, of Blooming Grove ; and ]M. L. Devereaux, of Alton. The following candidates were nominated : for representatives, Samuel Hawkes and Kelsey Curtis; for treasurer, Warren Smith; for sheriff, M. F. Connor; for register of deeds, E. G. Pierce ; for clerk of court, James Vanderniade ; for county attorney, Lewis Brownell ; for surveyor, C. E. Crane ; for coroner, Dr. L. D. Mcintosh ; countj^ commissioner, first district, H. Vincent. The following central committee was chosen : Capt. A. H. Wellman of Waseca, T. D. M. Orcutt of Freedom, Capt. J. J. Headley of Janesville, Thomas Barden of Wilton, Dr. H. D. Cobb of Vivian, S. W. Franklin of New Richland, E. G. Pierce of Alton, Albert Remund of Blooming Grove, H. P. Chamberlain of Iosco, L. E. Francis of Byron, and Samuel Leslie of Otisco.

1st. That these parties, acting in unison, have repealed the only railroad law of the state, that of 1874, which has ever given protection to the people by requiring the companies to do business at reasonable and uniform rates, and in its place have substituted a law which permits the companies to resort to extortion and unjust discriminations, affording to the public no adequate remedy for the wrongs which the companies may see fit to perpetrate, thereby practically denying the right of the people to be protected from the grasping avarice of wealthy corporations.

that portion of the tax-law of the state which provided for the collection of back taxes upon the lands of the Winona & St. Peter railway company, whereby Waseca county has lost about $8,000 and other counties in proportion.

3d. That the older parties, by their platforms and by their legislative acts, stand pledged to the liquor-dealers of the state to perpetuate one of the worst monopolies of modern times, viz: the exclusive right to make drunkards. For a paltry sum of money these parties authorize a few conscienceless men the legal right, by the use of alcoholic poison, to rob weak men, their helpless wives and children and to spread broadcast crime and pauperism for the support of which the people are burdened with taxation.

4th. Throughout the state, almost without exception, the old parties elect men to office that neglect or refuse to execute and enforce the laws that prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sundays, to minors, students, or intemperate persons.

5th. The old parties of this state, in nearly every locality, resort to corrupt practices to control caucuses, conventions and elections. Wealthy men and corporations join hand in hand with the liquor dealers, and money and whisky are freely used to influence the weak, the mercenary, and the corrupt.

In view of these facts, we believe the time has fully come when every voter, who is opposed to these wrongs, should unite in the organization of a Reform party for their overthrow: therefore,

Resolved, That we fully endorse the platform, and cordially support the nominees of the State Reform convention held at Minneapolis, June ICth, 1875.

Resolved, That it is the duty of the legislature to pass a law for the control of railways, embodying the principles of the railroad law of 1874, with such modifications in detail as experience may have demonstrated tc be necessary.

Resolved, That it is the duty of the state to protect its citizens from injury, and the people from unjust taxation, and that to accomplish these, the legislature ought to pass a law requiring dealers in intoxicating liquors to pay the damages resulting from the sale and use of such liquors.

Resolved, That common fairness requires the legislature to extend the local option law, now applicable to municipal townships to all cities and villages, thereby giving to the voters of every locality the right to vote no license.

Resolved, That it is the duly of the next legislature to provide by law for the levy and collection of all back taxes on the railroad lands of this state, not especially exempted by chartered law sustained by the decision of the supreme court.

Resolved, That we are unalterably opposed (o the sale and use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage, and denounce, as unworthy of our suffrages, any man who engages in the sale or use of such liquors; and we believe that the best way to discountenance intemperance in the community is by a refusal of all good citizens to support intemperate and liquor-guzzling men for official positions or places of trust.

Resolved, That, in our opinion, a more efficient law should be passed for the prevention of bribery and corruption at elections; and that any elector, offering or accepting a bribe, be disfranchised and disqualified for office for a term of years."

The Republican convention, -which had been pushed in one day ahead of the Reform convention, nominated a mixed ticket - saloon and anti-saloon men.

For representatives, Kelsey Curtis and Wm. Brisbane; sheriff, Daniel Murphy; treasurer, Thomas White; register of deeds, George Hofeld; judge of probate, Caleb Halleck; clerk of court, James B. Hayden; county attorney, M.D.L. Collester (Republican nominee) ; surveyor, Frank Hoffstott ; coroner, Dr. McMahan ; county commissioner first district, Patrick Healy.

"Oh! James B. Child, the venomous, blackhearted and utterly dishonest demagogue, it astonishes us, even us, who have studied your slimy, treacherous course for years, that you can have the cheek, the brassy impudence to stand up before this people to proclaim and practice your .vileness. Does your conscience never flatten you to the dust and rend you? does not the shadow of that dark time pass before you, when you will pray for the rocks and mountains to fall upon you and forever conceal you from the eyes of an avenging God? But, we feel thankful that some of the people are getting their eyes open to your political chicanery. You were plainly invited by the people last fall to take a back seat, and we are sure the day is not far distant when you will inhabit the byways and back streets of life, shunned by all true men, an outcast from, and a byword in society, as other blatherskites have done and been before you."

Poor "us!" It is to be hoped that he feels better since getting so much bile off his stomach. Why, bless your poor soul, when you came down to Waseca about a year ago on a drunk, you shimned us, and we expect that ' ' all true men ' ' of your habits of life, and your waj- of thinking, will shun us simply because their deeds are evil ; but that is really no reason why you should make a blackguard of yourself, and call us pet names. You are not of half as much importance as ,vou seem to think; for, ever since you wilfully, maliciously, and knowingly published the slanders of "One who knows" against Warren Smith, without cause or provocation, simply as the hireling dog of the railroad and whisky ring of Waseca county, and recommended the liar as a man "strictly reliable and eminently respectable," your falsehoods and blackguardism are estimated at what they are worth.

We have long hoped that you might lay aside your selfish animosity toward us, and that you might learn Avisdom in your advancing years. In fact we could wish that you might be happier.

Last fall you witnessed our political defeat, on the Republican ticket by the railroad and whisky ring, which you are kind enough to refer to occasionally, and you got the little post ofiSce as a reward for your political treachery and self-stultification. AYhy, with all this .success, ai'e you not happy and contented? Is it because that now, as of old, "the wicked flee when no man pursueth ? ' '

Your calling us a "venomous, blackhearted and utterly dishonest demagogue," may be pleasing to the little ring of politicians b>- whom you are employed, but to the people at large it sounds very much like the hissing of a slimy serpent pierced with a sharp instrument. AYhy should a little truth concerning your real chai'acter make you hi.ss out such vileness? Keep cool,, dear one, and be a little more truthful. Quit forever those base practices which have brought son-ow upon the gray hairs of .^our i)a rents, have pierced with grief the heart of her whom you swore to chei-ish, and have brought to_ shame tho.se M-hom you have begotten, accord that you make these false and brutal assaults upon our character, but simply because you are the hired tool of a little gang of unprincipled and unscrupulous politicians. Now, why do you not break away from these men and paddle your own canoe? AVhy do you not purchase the material with which you print your paper, and become a free man once more? How much better you would feel then, and how much easier it would be for you to be a decent man.

The county was thoroughly canvassed by local speakers and the Republicans brought in a number of,, prominent speakers from abroad in order to counteract the reform movement. The reform leaders were handicapped to some extent for the reason that the Republicans had nominated - with one exception - a most excellent ticket, and the Democats had nominated two of the reform candidates. However, the battle was fought to a finish with the following result :

Governor, Reform vote 334, Republican 547, Democrat 546 ; representatives - Kelsey Curtis 820, Robert Earl 587, GuUick Knutsen 562, William Brisbane 541, Samuel Hawkes 266; treasurer- Warren Smith 886, Thomas White 523 ; register of deeds - H. A. Mosher 821, Geo. Hofeld 453, E. G. Pierce 145 ; clerk of court - J. B. Hayden 646, B. A. Lowell 374, James Vandermade 302; sheriff_S. W. Long (Ind.) 466, J. D. Andrews 429, Daniel Murphy 399, il. F. Connor 127 ; judge of probate - J. A. Canfield 649, Caleb Halleck 626 ; county attorney - M. D. L. CoUester 712, Lewis Brownell 680; surveyor - C. E. Crane 937, Frank Hoffstott, 489; coroner - Dr. J. C. McMahon 1,098, Dr. L. D. Mcintosh 321 ; county commissioner - H. Vincent 281, Patrick Healy 214. The straight Reform or prohibition vote was 334, the number received by Prof. Humiston.

Joseph A. Whbelock

"We consider tippling houses, saloons, or retail groggeries wliere rotgut whisky; or whisky of any sort, is sold by the glass or dram as public nuisances, schools of intemperance, and fruitful sources of vice. We are inclined to believe that, upon grounds of public order and decency, the lawmaking authority has the right to prohibit the exposure and sale of

"If it be not criminal, it is, to say the least, infernally mean business, and a full grown man who cannot find a better avocation than to stand behind a bar and pander to a vicious custom of idle tippling, that soon grows by what it feeds on, into a scorching curse - is a nuisance to society, and the sooner his avocation is abolished the better. There is however, a case in which liquor selling is, upon every principle of ethics or of law, unquestionably a crime - and that is when the seller commits the twin crimes of fraud and slow murder upon his customer, by selling various forms of poison under the names of whisky, brandy, &c."

Miscellaneous Notes

The winter of 1874-5 was more than usually stormy. On January 8, there was a blizzard and on Feb. 2 and 3, and again on the 16th and the 23d days of the month occurred severe snow storms. On the 16th railroads and wagon roads were badly blockaded. The weather during harvest was especially bad for harvest work. There were heavy rainstorms August 3, S, 14 and 31, and much of the grain \vas injured in both shock and stack. One of the local jiapers of September 8, said:

"The recent rain storms in this section have been enormously destructive. What was once the best wheat crop ever produced in this section is now so badly damaged that very little of it will go number one. Along the LeSueur river bottoms the crops are nearly all under water, and much damage has been done to crops and fences. It is simply impossible at present to estimate the amount of damage that has occurred. We learn that much of the wheat in stack is badly damaged."

The weather cleared the first Aveek in September and the fall months were pleasant, enabling the farmers to do their fall work in good shape.

Turner Hall, lw^^- AVard's opera house, was built in 1875, and dedicated the 2d and 3d of December. Dr. Schmidt of Jordan, if. D. L. Collester of "Waseca and Col. Pfaender of Xew Ulm, delivered addresses; Mrs. Wm. Alclntosh and :\Iiss Gerlicher presented a flag, the latter making the pr<'sentation speech. The hall was built by subscription, but owing to poor management, it was not a financial success and finally became the property of the late Hon. W. G. Ward. " -

At the October term of the district court, Prank Conway, of Blysian, having stolen horses from H. A. "Waggoner, was convicted of horse-stealing and sentenced to five years imprison- ment in the Stillwater prison. Frank was a peculiar man. He was possessed of many good qualities. When sober he was a good neighbor, a kind husband, an affectionate father. He was a man of fair intelligence, and, for a number of years, was one of the county commissioners of LeSueur count}-. But he had a craving for liquor, and was, no doubt, afflicted with both dipsomania and kleptomania.

And now the year draws to a close. Old Boreas has come down from his frozen home in the unknown North. The birds have flown. The trees are stripped of their foliage. The grass and the flowers of the prairie are dead. The white mantle of the Snow King covers the land and the year has passed into eternity.