Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 59, 1905

Collins, F. L. Goetzenberger, Hon. Wm. Brisbane, Asa Robbins, Ole K. Kinn

The county commissioners met this year Jan. 7. Mr. Oliver Peterson was elected chairman, the other members being Messrs. Snnde, Buck, Conway, Purcell and Deyling.

The county printing was divided among the three leading papers of the county, at legal rates. The Herald took the tax list ; the Radical, the financial statement; and the Argus, the proceedings of the board.

It was ordered that the county attorney be instructed * * * to receive the sum of $6,500 as payment in full and in settlement of all liability of the sureties in such case, including costs, interest, etc., provided said settlement be made on or before March 1, 1890. Commissioner Sunde was authorized to expend $25 on slough in Richland township ; Commissioner Buck to expend $25 on highway in Wilton township; and Commissioner Peterson, $100 on Johnson hill, Otisco.

There was nothing of an exciting character in the summer except the Chautauqua Assembly at Maplewood Park, in July. This was well attended and very interesting. One of the noted speakers was Rev. Talmage, of New York.

Political Parties

The Republican county convention this year was held Sept. 20. The principal contest in the nominating convention was on senator ; Hon. Chris. Wagner won by a vote of 36 to 13 for Hon. I. C. Trowbridge. Hon. Otto Hanson was nominated for representative by a vote of 34 to 16. The following were the other candidates named : W. D. Abbott for county attorney ; Bmil Dieudonne, for treasurer; S. Swenson, for auditor; A. F. Kruger, for register of deeds ; E. B. Collester, for judge of probate ; 0. L. Smith, for surveyor; Dr. H. J. Young, for coroner; and G. R. Buckman, for court commissioner.

The Weather

On the whole, the weather for the year 1890 was pleasant, and favorable to farming operations. The first installment of snow in the fall came Nov. 8. It snowed gently nearly all da.v, and covered the ground to the depth of about four inches. On Sunday many persons were out riding in cutters. The snow remained on the ground all the week, but the next week it disappeared and the weather remained mild the rest of the vear.

Noted Deaths Op 1890

Jan. 2, 1890: We were surprised and pained to learn of the death of our esteemed friend Mr. John Collins, of Woodville. It occurred about 6 o'clock p. m., on New Year day He had been ill of kidney complaint some four weeks, but had not been considered dangerously so to within a short time of his demise. Mr. Collins was one of our most industrious and successful farmers, having a well-improved farm of four hun'dred and forty acres. He came from Ireland to America when about five years ol: age. He has lived twenty-one years on the farm where he died. He has raised a family of five boys and four girls, who are prominent citizens of this vicinity. We are informed that he was seventy-four years of age last June.

Jan. 17, 1890: Mr. Franz L. Goetzenberger, of this city, died at Minneapolis last Tuesday, Jan. 14, of pneumonia, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. A few days ago he went to Minneapolis on a visit, and was taken with the prevailing influenza, which terminated as above stated. The body was brought to Waseca, on Wednesday, accompanied by his family. Mr. Goetzenberger was a native of Wurttemberg, and came to this country early in life. He lived first in New York, then came west and settled in Otisco somewhat over thirty years ago, on a farm.

July 25, 1890: The not unexpected death of Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, occurred Wednesday, July 23, 1890. He was born at Glasgow, Scotland, Dec. 11, 1811, and was, consequently, aged seventy-eight years seven months and twelve days. He had been ill for many weeks, having had an attack of Influenza shortly after town meeting, last spring. For a week prior to his death he refused food, and at times his mind wandered. He suffered much during his illness. His funeral, which took place yesterday, was very largely attended, and his remains rest in the Wilton cemetery beside his patient and loved Janet. Mr. Brisbane came from Hawick, Scotland, to America, in 1839, and settled in Delaware county. New York, where, owing to his natural sympathy for the poor and the unfortunate, he took an active and prominent part in the anti-rent troubles of that period and suffered in consequence. Ten years afterwards he bought a farm in Alto, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, near Waupun, where he became prominent in political circles, and also accumulated quite a property for a farmer.

In 1859 he came to Minnesota and purchased the farm where he ever afterwards resided. He was a careful manager and by the assistance of his very frugal and estimable wife and family he accumulated a handsome farm property besides materially aiding his sons in various ways. In politics and religion he was, without acknowledging it, a liberal in thought and sentiment. He was a rough diamond - somewhat warped and illshaped by surrounding circumstances and early habits - but still a diamond of no mean value. His ambition was great. His mind never ceased to work upon the problems of life, and he loved to study and discuss the principles of the government of his adopted country. No American ever had a greater love for our American institutions than he. While some of his ideas were crude, owing to a want of early educational advantages, he was nevertheless honest in entertaining them and fearless in giving them expression. He was always public-spirited and patriotic. He was invariably honest and upright in his dealings. He was a good neighbor, and although a man of strong passions, he could easily forgive. He held many minor offices during his life, and twice represented Waseca county in the State legislature - in 1867 and in 1871. He left a large number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to mourn his departure. He was a Master Mason and an active member of Wilton Lodge No. 24 while it remained at Wilton. He will be mourned as a brother by nearly all the early settlers of the coimty, and his memory will be treasured in many hearts long after his body shall have mouldered to dust. Old neighbor and friend, adieu! And may you forever progress and enjoy the spirit realms assigned to the departed.

Oct. 31, 1890: Another old settler has gone to his long home. Saturday morning, Oct. 25th, at the home of G. H. Woodbury, near Jamestown, N. D., Mr. Asa Robbins, of Otisco, this county, died of typhoid pneumonia, after an illness of one week. He was born in Montgomery county, New York, in 1811 and came to Waseca county in 1861, settling on a farm in Otisco. Mr. Robbins was one of the hardy, energetic, honest pioneers of America. He came of New England stock and inherited and practiced the virtues of the New England people. His remains lie buried in Woodville cemetery.

Dec. 5, 1890: Mr. Ole. K. Kinn, of Blooming Grove, died Nov. 28, of old age, his funeral occurring Monday afternoon at the Norwegian Lutheran church, Rev. O. A. Mellby officiating. Mr. Kinn was born in Eidsvold, Norway, July 17, 1796, and settled in this county in 1857. He was buried in the Norwegian cemetery by the side of his wife, who died four years ago. He was in his ninety-fifth year, and up to within a short time of his death had enjoyed good health. He left surviving him several sons and a large number of grandchildren.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY - COUNTY BOARD - "BACO" MILL BURNED - WASECA'S NEW CHARTER - WASECA HOUSE BURNED - BIGSALOON FIGHT - DEATH ROLL CONTAINING THE NAMES OF MATTHEW CONNOR, SILAS GROVER, A. C. KRASSIN, B. S. LEWIS ESQ., JUDGE HALLACK, JAS. A. ROOT, SIMON SMITH, AUSTIN VINTON.

The year opened with very fine weather - at least warm weather. The Waseca County Agricultural, Mechanical and Industrial Society, at its annual meeting elected the following officers: President, Joseph Dunn ; first vice president, Isaac Vickere ; second vice president, M. W. Ryan; secretary, John Moonan; treasurer, J. A. Krassin; board of directors: M. Sheeran, J. M. Dunn, A. Vinton, H. J. Young, S. Leslie, H. Wagoner, A Hawkes ; delegates to annual meeting of the State Agricultural Society: Joseph Dunn, H J. Young, and S. Leslie. George Remund was elected general superintendent of the fair grounds for 1891. At that time the society was in a very prosperous condition.

County Commissioners

These gentlemen, constituting an important branch of our local government, met on the sixth day of January this year. The board consisted of Oliver Peterson, of Waseca ; Jonas 0. Sunde, of New Richland; Henry C. Chase, of Janesville; H. M. Buck, of Wilton, and Albert Remund of Blooming Grove. At this session of the board, the following entry was made :

"Bid of People's Bank to pay 2 per cent on monthly balances of county funds was accepted, and said bank was declared the depository for all public funds coming into the hands of the county treasurer, with bonds

This was the result after an agitation of four years carried on by the Waseca Herald demanding that the county funds be deposited as the law directs. Prior to that time, the election of county treasurer depended upon the wishes and desires of the banks of Waseca ; and bribery and corruption had marked each election.

"The county printing and publishing, for the -current year, has been let and all is quiet and serene, like a gently-flowing river. Graham and Murphy and Henry and Bronson came to an understanding and agreed to work for the county at the same rate they would charge private individuals - the price fixed by law. Murphy publishes the tax list, Graham the financial statement and proceedings of board ot equalization, and Henry and Bronson the proceedings of the board of county commissioners. Psalm cxxxiii."

Very little Mas done during the year, aside from routine business. The count)- road and bridge appropriations were made at the meeting of June '22, 1891. The following is a summary :

Ordered that $100 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges between sections 17 and 20, 14 and 23, 13 and 24, and on section 15, all in the town of Byron; that $100 be appropriated for repairs on roads and bridges in the town of New Richland; that $75 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in town of Iosco; that $100 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in town of Janesville; that $50 be appropriated to the town of Wilton for replanking the Wilton bridge; that $100 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges in town of Blooming Grove, between sections 4 and 9 and on section 23; that $100 be appropriated for repairs of roads and bridges between sections 6 and 7, 19 and 20, 28 and 23 and 1 and 2, in town of Alton; that $45 be appropriated to the town of Otisco for repairs on road, sections 8 and 20, said town, and $25 for repairs on the Burgoff Olson bridge.

The proposition to lay out and improve the road from Deerfield through Blooming Grove antl Woodville, to Waseca, was discussed, and preliminary sl(>ps were taken which culminated in the establishing of the road the next year.

Mill Burned

On Sunday afternoon, Felt. 1, ISOl, the city roller mill was wholly destroyed by fire. Alimtt 1 o'clock smoke was seen issuing from around the cornice at the top of the building. The alarm was sounded and the fire department soon had a stream of wa- ter on the burning building. For about an hour it was difficult to tell which would prove the victor - the fire fiend or the firemen, but when the flames burst out of the building all thought of saving the mill was abandoned and every effort was made to save the flour and other movable property in and around the premises. The safe, office furniture and about four car loads of flour were saved. There Avere nearly 200 tons of coal, 150 barrels of flour and from 8,000 to 10,000 bushels of wheat destroyed, besides a large quantity of bran and shorts and several large bales of flour sacks. The firemen and citizens were untiring in their efforts to save the property and to prevent the fire from spreading. Had it not been feared that the fire would reach Breen & Sons' oat meal mill, the coal, large engine, and other valuable machinery might have been saved, but IMessrs. Aughenbaugh and Everett did not wish to take any chances and the hose was moved further south and brought to bear on the bran house ; the fire was stopped here before the building was consumed. The origin of the fire was a mystery. Messrs. Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co. estimated their loss as follows: On stock, $10,000; on building and machinery, $20,000 to $25,000. Loss over insurance : on stock $5,000; on building and machinery, $10,000 to $15,- 000. 'Mr. Ward, who owned part of the building and some machinery stored therein placed his loss at $10,000. * * * Before the embers were cold Everett, Aughenbaugh & Co., had plans prepared for a new structure more elaborate than the one burned. It was a severe loss to the proprietors, but with commendable courage, which admits of no failure, they soon replaced the mill and were ready to handle the fall crop of wheat.

New Charter

A number of the citizens of Waseca, early in the year desiring some changes in the Waseca city charter, met together and chose Dr. Cummings, John Moonan, and James B. Child a committee to revise the old charter. After much labor the revision was made, and a new charter passed by the legislature aud approved by the governor, April 6, 1891.

Burning Of An Old Land Mark

the morning of April 20, 1891, between 1 and 3 o'clock. The fire caught in the second story. In a few minutes after the alarm was given the firemen were on the ground with their apparatus. Water for the fire engine was obtained from the tank of the switch engine. The fire had gained such headway, however, that it could not be extinguished. ]\Iost of the furniture and goods on the lower floor were saved. The house was known to the old settlers of this city as the Waverly House and was completed and opened to the traveling public in December, 1867, by ]\Ir. E. B. Johnson. It then stood in the southwest part of Clear Lake City, near ilr. San Galli's home. It was built by a townsite syndicate, and was of large proportions, the main part being 26x50 feet, with an addition 26x40 feet and a second addition 16x10 feet, all two story. Mr. Coleman valued the house and contents at $5,000, there was an insurance of $2,800 on building and contents. The hotel occupied the site where the water and light plant now stands.

The Saloon Fight

At the spring ek-ction the people of Waseca elected aldermen that favored the enforcement of the liquor laws. They also elected "Col." D. E. Priest mayor upon his pretensions that he would have the laws enforced, especially as to liquor-selling. As early as June 2, the council, by a majority vote passed ordinance Xo. 61. which required that each saloon should have and maintain a clean, clear glass-front, without screens or other means of obstructing a clear view of the whole of the inside of the saloon, in order that officers might the more easily know whether or not the laws were being violated. To the surprise of many, this ordinance created much feeling, and the following petition was extensively circulated and was signed by one hundred and tweutv-eight citizens. The petitioners set forth that :

"The undersigned citizens of the city of Waseca, hereby petition your honorable body to amend ordinance No. 64, of the city, so that the same shall require keepers of saloons to remove blinds and other obstructions to the public view, during the time only when they are required by law to keep said saloons closed. Respectfully representing that we regard the exposure of saloons and other drinking places to the public view during business hours, as unnecessary for the purpose of enforcing the laws, and that such exposure will be oiSensive to many people and especially so to ladies who generally have no desire to see into or study the saloon business, and demoralizing to the young whose childish curiosl- - ty leads them into mischief and will surely induce them to gather and linger around the saloon doors and windows. That people who choose to patronize saloons should have the right to do so with the same privacy with which they attend to their other affairs. And that a business sanctioned by law and requiring so large a license fee as is exacted from saloon-keepers, and is under so many strict, legal restraints, should not be subjected to any unnecessary burdens."

The circulation of this petition caused much excitement and a counter petition was put in circulation. It was signed by sixtyseven courageous men and read as follows :

We, the undersigned, your petitioners, do most heartily congratulate you, upon the passage and approval of the Tate ordinance, regarding the regulation of the saloon traffic in this city; and more especially upon that section of said ordinance, which requires the removal of all screens, partitions or blinds from before the bars in said saloons. We believe the saloon business to be an unmitigated evil, so that while, under present laws it must be endured, yet that it should not be allowed to hide itself behind any sort of a defense, but should be compelled to stand out in all its hideousness, that the public may know, just what means are being used to entrap our young men, and to destroy the moral life of our community; also that the officers of justice may be able to detect any violation of law, and so bring to justice the offenders. We, your petitioners, do therefore humbly pray that you will allow the present ordinance to remain as it is, nor allow any offender to escape the penalty provided therefor.

The struggle was not confined entirely to laymen. Some of the clergy and many good women took an active part in the contest. On the Sunday while the contest was on some of the clergy preached upon the subject. One of them taking for his text, "ilen loved darkness rather than light," (John 3:19) said in substance that ever since Adam and Eve hid behind the trees of the garden, men who have committed sin have sought for some kind of a screen for their sin. Men who do right are not ashamed. A proper business does not want screens, but publicity. A business that is right, honorable and manly, seeks the light. The liquor business seeks to hide itself ; it is ashamed of its conduct ; it caters to debased and degraded appetites ; it panders to the lowest passions of men; it never benefits, but always injures; hence it sneaks behind blinds, curtains, stained glass, etc. Now our aldermen, wisely or otherwise, have passed an ordinance prohibiting blinds, cur- tains, stained glass, etc. This meets with opposition. Those opposed to the ordinance claim that women will stop before the saloons, and children, out of curiosity, will collect in front of the places, and the sights they might see and the sounds they might hear would tend to demoralize them. Then so much the more need of exposing siich a business to the light of day. A place that is not fit for a mother to look upon is not fit for a son to visit.

At the meeting of June 16, when the foregoing communications were presented to the council, there was an evident wavering among some of the aldermen. The petitions were referred to the committee on ordinances, and at the next meeting, June 19, the cpmmittee recommended a repeal of that ordinance and the passage of another modifying the screen provision and increasing the license fee from $500 to $1,000. This raised a storm of denunciation on the part of the saloon men and a combined refusal to tfike out licenses under the ordinance. The liquor interests were so strong and united that they induced sixty-three firms and business men to sign the following :

"The undersigned, a committee of citizens of said city of Waseca, would respectfully represent to your honorable body, that we have become fully satisfied, that there is no possibility of any saloon license being taken out in this city, while the fee asked therefor remains any higher than the sum of five hundred dollars ($500), and we are well aware that on account of no saloon license being granted, we are injured very materially in our business, and all classes of business will suffer, as many of our best patrons go to other towns to do trading, for which reason we are prompted to, and do earnestly request you to reduce the saloon license fee to five hundred dollars, as the only remedy to restore our failing business."

In addition to this legitimate appeal to the council for a return to the license fee of $500, threatening letters were sent to the mayor until he was alarmed for his personal safety. In order to let some of the aldermen and the mayor down easy, the council, upon the question of changing the license fee from $1,000 back to $500, cast a tie vote, and the mayor was called in to give the casting vote, which he gave in favor of the $500 fee. vote, which he gave in favor of the $500 fee.

make application for license to sell liquor in this city, (Waseca) and the council thinking that number altogether too many for a place of this size, concluded that by putting the license up a notch, fewer men would take out licenses. Some of the saloon men fell in with the scheme, but when it was decided who should be refused license then the trouble commenced. As a compromise measure the no-screen ordinance was passed, the two saloon keepers on the council voting for it. But this did not please the high-license saloonists and one of them objected and circulated a petition asking that the ordinance be amended so as to require the screens to be down during the time when the saloons are required by law to be closed. He carried his point, and the council put the license up to $1,000. Then the saloon keepers combined and refused to take out licenses themselves or allow any one else to take one out, and entered into an agreement that the first saloon-keeper who should violate said agreement and take out license, should pay $100 to each of the others in the combination. And that was why no license was taken out at $1,000 and why the saloon men won at last."

Old Settlers That Passed Away

Matthew P. Connor, of Wilton township, died IMarch 15, of consiimption, aged forty-five years. He had been in poor he^dth for several years. ]\Ir. Connor was born in Ireland, Dec. 2-1. 1846, came to Waseca county in 1857, with his parents, they settling in Wilton township. He married Alice Dolan in 1873 and was the father of eight children. He served a term as county commissioner and filled many local offices. He was a prominent member of the Farmers' Alliance and an upright man.

;;\rrs. Silas Grover, one of the early settlers in this county, died ]May 8, 1891, in Waseca. She was born in the state of Maine, Feb. 26, 1805, and at the time of her death was in her eighty-seventh year. Moving to Livingston county. New York, she was married to Silas Grover in 1823. They afterward moved to Wisconsin where they lived a number of years and then came to this county, settling in Otisco in 1856. She was the. mother of fourteen children, seven of whom are now living. There are now living forty grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren - her descendants, living and dead, numbering nearly one hundred. Her late husband was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Grover had been ailing all winter, but an acute attack of influenza was the immediate cause of her death.

August C. Krassin, then county treasurer, died August 9, 1891, and Benedict S. Lewis, Esq., died May 16, 1891. Sketches of their lives will be found in the biographical department.

Hon. Caleb Hallack, of Janesville, died June 20, 1891. He had been American Express agent in Janesville for many years. He was judge of probate of this county from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1880. He was a very honorable, upright man and one of the leaders of temperance work in this county. He was about eighty years of age and had been ailing some time prior to his death. He was a Master Mason and buried with grand Jlasonic honors.

Austin Vinton passed away quietly, Saturday, Oct. 24, 1891. He was conscious to the last and was surrounded by his children and other relatives. His death was caused by an attack of influenza the winter before, and had been anticipated by his friends for some time. Mr. Vinton came to this state in the spring of 1856 and settled on the farm where he resided at the time of his death. He was seventy -five years old. He was a firm friends, a kind neighbor, an da good citien, always alive to the best interests of his town and countj^ He filled many positions of trust in this county and was almost always in some town office. Probably no man has served his town more faithfully and acceptably. He was elected a county commissioner in 1886, and served one term with great credit. He sleeps in Woodville cemetery. His two sons reside in Owatonna.

"It is our sad duty this weelt to announce tlie deatli of an honored and aged citizen. Last Saturday afternoon, Mr. Simon Smith and his grandson, Roy Brubalier, went out to the farm in Iosco, after a load of hay. Mr. Smith complaining of feeling tired, pitched on very little hay, the little boy doing most of the work. While both were engaged in fastening the binding pole, Mr. Smith fell forward and expired without a struggle. Heart disease was probably the direct cause of his death, and it is thought that the ride out in the country, and the Intense cold of that afternoon hastened it. He was carried into the house and John Kahnke hastened to town after a physician. Mr. Smith was born in Darmstadt, Germany, May 13, 1817. He came to America in 1S32, at the age of 15, settling in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. He went to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1842, and was married in February of that year. In 1867 he came to Waseca, and after putting up the brick store building adjoining the Bank of Waseca, engaged in the mercantile business. He retired from business some years after, and since that time has led a quiet life, farming on a small scale, as his health would not permit much hard labor. The remains were interred in Woodville cemetery. The world was better for his having lived in it, and may the memory of his life be the means of causing many others to follow in his footsteps and become worthy and respected citizens."