Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 47, 1905

The Fall Election

FINANCIAL DEPRESSION - ROADS AND BRIDGES - DIED, O. F. WAGGONER, MRS. LUCINA GRAY, MR. WARNER, OF OTISCO, MICHAEL BOHEN, REV. GILBERT SHAW - REUNION OF THE FIRST MINNESOTA AT WASECA - ADDRESS OP WELCOME BY PRESIDENT MCCORMICK - JUDGE LOCHREN'S ADDRESS - "THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG" - COPY OF THE "FIRST MINNESOTA" - HEAVY STORMS OP THE YEAR- HORSE THIEF AND HIS REVOLVER - THE FALL ELECTION.

The financial depression which set in abont 1868, as a result of the i-etiring of greenbacks and the refimdint;- of the national bonds, had forced upon the people the utmost economv, and ecou- omy in livino; always brings prosperity. And thus it was that as a rule the people found themselves in the enjoyment of general prosperity in 1879.

Roads And Bridges

The board of county commissioners for 1879 consisted of Hon. li. 0. Craig, John Brady, Thomas K. Bowe, Wm. Burke, and H. K. Stearns - all Democrats except Mr. Stearns. Hon. R. 0. Craig was elected chairman. The jail having been built the year before, and being nearly or quite all paid for, the board became fairly liberal in appropriating money for roads and bridges. At the January session $43.21 additional was appropriated for replanking the bridge across Bull Run in Freedom. At the March session, appropriations were made as follows : $150 to build bridge across Le Sueur river in New Richland; $80 for building road on line of sections 24 and 25, in New Richland, and $70 for building road through section 8 of same town ; $249.49 for a bridge across the Le Sueur river near Markham's town of Alton ; $53 for planking Alma City bridge ; $50 for grading hill on road between the towns of Iosco and Blooming Grove, near McWaide's; $50 for grading hills on Faribault road in Blooming Grove; $50 for repairing road near Alfred Smith's in Blooming Grove ; $25 for making road across slough, on section 14, town of Iosco ; $40 for improvement of road between W. Timlin's place and Iosco creek; $35 for building road near Martin Dewald's place in Iosco ; $200 for constructing road on line between sections 22 and 27, 23 and 26, and 24 and 25, in town of St. Mary, and between sections 19 and 20 in Woodville. The county surveyor was ordered to make plans and specifications for building a bridge across McDougall creek, in the town of Otisco. At the session of the board jMay 20, 1879 ,the following additional appropriations were made : $314 to J. J. Headley for building the McDougall creek bridge; $14.81 additional for replanking the Alma City bridge ; $200 for building road in the town of Byron on the line of the Vivian and New Richland county road; $25 for road near John Keeley's farm in St. Mary; $75 for repairing Waseca and Morristown road near Rice Lake ; $300 to assist in building road across the outlet of Lake Elysian on town line between Janesville and Alton, provided $300 be first expended on said road by the towns of Alton and Janesville or by citizens thereof; $25 to aid the construction of a road on line between sections 23 and 25, in town of New Richland.

The Death List Of 1879

Jlr. 0. F. Waggoner, who came to this state at a very early day with the Winnebago tribe of Indians, died of convulsions, Jan. 6, 1879, at the age of about sixty years. He settled on the Winnebago Indian reservation in 1855, and when the Winnebagoes moved west, he located near Alma City. His son, Mr. John Waggoner, at this writing, 1905, resides in Alton near Alma City.

Mrs. Lucina Gray, widow of Wm. il. Gray, deceased, of Blooming Grove, died March 25, 1879. She was one of the earliest settlers of the count.y, having come here in the early summer of 1855. She was about seventy years of age and left a large family of children and grandchildren to mourn her departure.

]\Ir. ilichael Bohen, one of the early settlers of St. Mary, died of hemorrhage of the lungs, August 16, 1879. He arose in the morning feeling as well as usual, went to the barn to do his chores and while there commenced coughing and spitting blood. Soon blood flowed in a stream from his mouth and he died in about ten minutes. He left a wife and five children.

Rev. Gilbert Shaw, then postmaster at Wilton, died October 25, 1879, of hemorrhage of the lungs. :Mr. Shaw was an active, earnest Christian minister.

The First Minnesota Reunion

The veterans of the "Old First Minnesota Regiment of Volunteers" held their twelfth annual reunion at Waseca, Jime IS. 1879. It occurred on one of those beautiful .Minnesota days when it is just warm enough to be comfortable and just cool enough to be agreeable. The morning opened with the firing of artillery and a general display of flags on most of the buildings. A larce flag, with "Welcome, First ilinnesota," inscribed upon it, was suspended over the street between the :MeCue and Trowbridge blocks, and wi-eaths of oak leaves decorated with flags were stretched across the streets at various points. Turner Hall was decked with flags, flowers, and wreaths of green leaves, the whole presenting a pleasing and attractive scene.

The line of march was through the principal streets to Oak Grove, just northeast of Turner Hall. The veterans bore the tattered remnants of their old colors, followed by one piece of artillery captured by the First jMinnesota battery at Cheraw, South Carolina, and another gun presented by the United States minister to Belgium to the First Minnesota regiment for gallantry in the first Bull Run fight.

Arriving at the grounds, the people were seated, and R. L. j\Ic- Cormick, Esq., president of the village board, delivered, in an eloquent manner, a well considered address of welcome to the First Minnesota, in which he tendered to the boys the hospitalities of the city.

The War of the Rebellion is over. Its history is dally receiving accessions. Its incidents are still fresh in our minds, and its battles are as familiar as the names of the cities of our own state. Upon this field, to which others can do much more complete and ample justice, I will not trespass further than to say that Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, West Point, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Glendale, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Charlestown, Fredericksburg, Haymarket, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, and Mine Run, carry with them their story of the struggle and of the honorable part taken in it by the First Minnesota. Before our posterity we would compare Gettysburg with the equally decisive battle of Waterloo. Vicksburg with Salamis, Lookout Mountain with Thermopylae, and Sherman's famous march to the sea with the retreat of Xenophon's immortal ten thousand; and high in the annals of military achievements, side by side with the names of the most illustrious commanders of ancient or modern times, Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, Frederick of Prussia, or a Wellington, we would point with pride after the immortal Washington, to the record of our Grant, our Sherman, and our Sheridan, who attained their proud eminence and fame by the unflinching courage of regiments like the First Minnesota, whose cheeks did not blanch and whose hearts did not quail when they met the shock of battle. When the Congress was set on fire hy the Merrimac, in the mouth of James Rivei of the 434 men of her command, only one-half responded to their names the next morning at Newport News. The dead were buried at that place and their remains lie among those of scores of Union soldiers. On a board in the form of a cross at the head of the grave of one of these latter, whose name and history were unknown, was placed the most touching, beautiful, and poetical epitaph. "A soldier of the Union mustered out." Soldiers of the First Minnesota, your term of active service is completed. You have been honorably discharged, but at each year's annual reunion you find some of your number have been again and finally mustered out. This year, with others of the First, whose names are familiar to me, the gallant Sully has gone to join the brave who lost their lives when he led your regiment at Savage Station and Malvern Hill. On the roll of Company K, of your regiment, is the name of a cousin of mine, through whose correspondence I received my most vivid and practical ideas of army experience in camps, on the march, and in the heat of battle. From him I learned the story of the two days' fight at Gettysburg; the thrilling narration of the crisis in the second day's battle, when Hancock, pushed to extremity to gain five minutes time, ordered the First Minnesota alone and unaided to charge a whole division of the rebel army. To-day history points with pride and admiration to the unquestioning and unflinching courage of the four hundred men of the Minnesota First, marching to certain death against and into the fire of 6,000 of the Rebel army. Against such overwhelming numbers that, as you met them in your invincible strength you could only hold their center, while to the right and left of you they swept around your flanks, enfilading your ranks with terrible death. To th« surprise and rage of your enemies, as well as the admiration of unborn generations, you held your advance until the supporting columns of Hancock's Corps wheeled into position and relieved and rescued you

Homer was unknown and unhonored by the age he lived in; he was a stranger to the men he walked with and talked with as if his very nearness in outward presence diverted their gaze from his rare genius, but in after times he moved in upon the world like a great orb of light through the open portals of reflection and communion, and those who sat under the magic of his far-shining beams were the first to know and honor his title to the laurel wreath of fame. The scholar of to-day with a long reach of centuries coming in to fill the space between him and old Rome, knows

Rome more minutely and more broadly than Rome knew herself; comprehends more fully Roman law, Roman literature and Roman life, and understands more clearly the direction and scope of Roman influence. And when that day comes when honor will be fully done to whom honor is due, the soldiers of the First Minnesota will be found among the immortal throng of those to whose fame poets will vie in singing praises and to whose memory, affection and admiration will erect in the hearts of the citizens of this broad commonwealth monuments even more enduring than towering shafts of polished marble. Soldiers! welcome to Waseca."

Hon. Alexander Ramsey, who was governor of ]\Iinnesota at the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, was present and gave a short history of the mustering in of the regiment and of its glorious record.

Non-Commissioned Staff

The first day of the reunion was spent by the veterans, after listening to the address of welcome and to the congratulatory speech of ex-Governor Ramsey, in social chat and in getting' acquainted with the people of Waseca. In the evening there was a big campfire, attended by nearly all the people in "Waseca. On the second day the great attraction was the address of Hon. William Lochren, at this writing one of the United States district judges of ]\Iinnesota. Juilgc Lochren 's address was really a condensed history of the regiment. The following extract is a gem in the record made by the men of the "First."" After mentioning the other battles in which the regiment participated, he described the great battle of Gettysburg, and concluded as follows :

"During the forenoon of the second day we were in reserve, except that three companies were detached tor the support of batteries. Still we were within the range of artillery and some of our men were wounded from shells.

"After noon we were moved to the left to support a battery on the position from which Sickle's corps had advanced against the enemy. There on the crest of a slight ridge we could see about a half mile In our front the conflict between our forces under Sickles and the enemy who were giving away before him. Seldom had we such an opportunity of viewing a battle, in which we were not engaged, and great was the anxiety as to the result, as our men would at times seem to press the enemy, and at other times to yield to superior force. At length the vastly increased volume of musketry told plainly of stronger reinforcsments on the side of the enemy, and soon we saw with alarm that our men were overpowered and retiring; at first slowly, but soon in confusion and disorder and presently in full retreat, passing our position, while the bullets from the enemy begun to whistle past us as they advanced steadily in well-formed lines of battle, apparently fifteen or twenty thousand strong, and had nearly reached the dry run at the foot of the ridge. Had they succeeded in getting to our position they would have turned the left flank of our army and been in its rear and must have forced the position, if supported by an attack in front, and won the battle. At that moment Gen. Hancock, our corps commander, galloped up to our little band which was about three hundred strong, and calling to Col. Colville, asked, "Colonel, will your men charge these lines?" A glance showed what was meant.

"It was necessary that the regiment should be sacrificed to save the army, by delaying for a short time the advance of the enemy until the Sixth corps, in reserve, could be moved to the position. Every man saw the necessity and knew what was expected. It was apparently certain death, but there was no faltering. The Old First had never failed to go where ordered, and never had retired without orders. As Napoleon's Old Guard at Waterloo threw itself in front of the whole allied army to save the emperor, every man was nerved at the instant, ana stepped off promptly, as the command "Forward" came from our gallant colonel. "Double-Quick" followed the next instant, and down that declivity rushed the handful of devoted men, the speed increasing with every stride, but the numbers melting away under the storm of lead such as men never faced before, which was poured into us from the enemy's whole force. Rapid as was our pace, it seemed as if none would reach the enemy, but the survivors struck them with the force of a projectile, just as they were beginning to cross the run. The suddenness and vigor of the charge and prompt use of the bayonet, caused a recoil, and soon cleared the run of ten times our numbers, and the first line of the enemy broke to the rear in confusion. Sheltering ourselves as well as we could in the run, we opened fire on the enemy in front, having to sustain not only the fire from the front, but from both flanks, as far as they could reach us. But the enemy's whole advance was checked. How long we held this position I could never estimate, but for a sufficient time to enable the reserve to occupy the position, and until we were commanded to fall back. But of the three hundred who made that charge, not more than

Immediately after Judge Lochren's address, a public banquet was served, followed by toasts and short speeches. In response to the toast, "The Press," a well preserved copy of "The First Minnesota," printed and published by the boys while in the service, was presented by the speaker. This copy, the only one known to be in existence, was furnished by Neri Reed, of Iosco, in this county. This paper was published at Berrysville, Va., March 11, 1862, by the boys of the "First." It was edited and published by Ed. A. Stevens, Frank J. ilead, T. H. Presnell and two others whose names I do not call to mind. ilr. Stevens gave a short history of capturing the printing office and issuing two editions of a loyal paper on the "sacred soil" of old Virginia. Ex-Governor Ramsey secured the paper and deposited it in the archives of the State Ilistdrical Society.

Heavy Storms

There was a terrific hail storm on the 12th of 'May, 1S79, which did much damage. The fruit trees and small fruit were i>ad]y in.jured. The window glass on the south side of nearly every building was broken more or less. Hail stones as large as ordinary hens' egj;s covered the ground in many places, while those of an ounce in weight were niunerous. J. F. ^lurphy measured one chunk of ice, which M-as two inches in diameter. ^Many a window looked as if it had been riddled with bullets. The post office building, in pai'ticular, received considerable damatie. The sky-lights to Palmer's photograph gallery were almost entirely destroyed.

The public liuikliiigs in.iui-ed were: The Baptist church. 21 lights of glass; the school buildings, -17; court house, 13; English M. E. church, 54; Congregational church, l!); Turner hall. lo. There was seai'cejy a dwelling in the village not in.inred more or less. The grain wiis not far enough advanceil to he mate- I'ially in.inred.

Another storm visited the county ^lay 27, 1S7!1 There wns a heav.v rainfall, accompanied l)y a strong wind. Weak fences were blown down, out-houses were u])set, shad(> trei's were injured, some shanties were nnroofed, lumber pile's suffered, and chinuiey extensions flew around with perfecl looseness. The

Speaking of the storms of July 1 and 2, a local paper said: "Last week, Tuesday and Wednesday night, terrific rain storms visited a large portion of the state. In some places west of us the wind and hail entirely destroyed the small grain, and did much damage to other crops. In some parts of Nicollet county, buildings were blown down, and some cattle injured. In Blue Earth county, near the Waseca county line, west of Freedom, considerable damage was done. Mr. Gunzolus, of this county, had his granary blown down and his house partly unroofed. In Steele county, many buildings were torn in pieces, some persons Injured, and some cattle killed. At Vassa, Goodhue county, dwellings were torn in pieces, seven persons killed outright, and thirty others more or less injured. News comes from all portions of the state of local tornadoes doing more or less damage. In this county, with the exception of a small tract in Freedom, no serious damage was done to the crops. The rainfall was very heavy, probably as heavy as in other portions of the state, and there were local dashes of hail, but the wind, with the exception noted in Freedom, was not heavy."

Fourth Of July

The Catholic society of Waseca held a picnic for the benefit of their church - the net receipts being $200. New Richland held a formal celebration, Hon. William Brisbane and Hon. Isl.

E. Child being the speakers. The Brwin family and neighbors, in St. Mary, observed the day in a formal manner - the venerable P. A. Erwin, then eighty-two years of age, presiding. The ladies furnished a most appetizing dinner and all fared sumptuously.

Horse Thief And His Revolver

On July 16, 1879, Mr. Finger Fingerson, of Blooming Grove, had a horse stolen, and on Thursday a man, giving his name as Frank Carr, stopped at Esquire Northrup's on the road between Waterville and Morristown, to borrow a saddle. ^Ir, Xorthrup being suspicious of him, questioned him pretty closely, and finally concluded that he had stolen a horse, and ordered his arrest by three or four men who were there. Mr. Carr took to his legs and ran toward Morristown; but Messrs. Brooks and Purrington, with a horse and buggy, soon overtook him. Then the thief stopped and drew ;i revolver on them. While Carr was standing tliere with drawn revolver, I\Ir. Benson, who had cut across the field on foot, came quietly up behind him, in the brush, and threw his arms around him; but the man, being quick and quite muscular, threw JNIr. Benson down. Before the thief could again run the two men in the buggy were upon him, he was taken back to ^Mr. Xorthrup's, and committed to the Rice county jail. In a short time after he was sent to Faribault, Sheriff Keeley, who had been pursuing him, arrived at ]\Ii'. Northrup's and identified the horse as the one stolen and returned it. On Sunday the thief Avas turned over to Mr. Keeley, brought to Waseca, and lodged in jail. He Avas afterwards convicted and sent to prison ;it Stillwater.