Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 70, 1905

Myrick, A. Callahan, Mrs. A. N. Roberts

The new board of comity commissioners of "Waseca county, met in regular session at the auditor's office on the Sth day of January, 1901. ^Members present, H. J. Hanson, M. H. Helms, Fred McKune, Herman Ewert, Herman "Weckwerth. The board organized by electing Commissioner Herman Ewert, chairman.

At the meeting of .May 18, it was ordered that the bid of Gillette Herzog Manufacturing Co., of ^Minneapolis, ]\Iinn., for the construction and completion of two steel bridges for the sum of $911.25 be accepted, and also that $100 be appropriated to the town of Woodville to be expended in grading in section 13.

Narrow Escape From Drowning July Fourth, 1901

as they were off Maplewood Park. They started for the shore, but the storm overtook them, and their boat swamped and capsized. It was fortunate indeed that both Loren and Luman were good swimmers, level headed, and familiar with the lake. The women, too, evinced the most wonderful courage and good sense. Several persons at the park saw them as they went overboard, and among the number were W. L. Grapp, and E. A. Mc- Adams, who immediately manned a boat and started to their assistance. Unfortunately one of the oar locks to the boat gave out and the rescuers were forced to make for the shore, landing at the foot of Von Sien's hill. They sprang ashore and ran as fast as possible back to the park where they found another boat and immediately started out again. This time they reached the shipwrecked persons, who were bravely clinging to the sides of their half-submerged boat. They took Mrs. Wood and her daughter safely to land, returned at once and took Miss Florence ashore, Loren and Luman insisting upon remaining for fear of overloading the rescuing boat. In the meantime, Prof. George Alden had secured a boat and started to the rescue. Being near sighted, and the rain coming down in sheets, he passed the Wood boat and searched for some time before finding it. He finally found the Wood brothers shortly after ]\[iss Florence had been rescued, and took them on board. Several times different ones of the Wood party were separated from their boat by the force of the terrible gale and it required the utmost sldll and coolness to regain their hold. Many times the waves rolled over and entirely submerged them, requiring all their strength and courage to maintain themselves. Very few persons would have lived through such an experience. Messrs. McAdams, Grapp, Alden, and Peterson were entitled to all the credit that could be bestowed upon them for their courage in facing such a storm to go to the relief of the shipwrecked. There, was general rejoicing as the news spread that all were saved.

Death Of Bishop Whipple

Henry Benjamin Whipple, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Minnesota, died at his home in Faribault at 6 o'clock, on the morning of Sept. 16, 1901. He had been ill only a few days. The week before he suffered a severe attack of inflammation of the throat and lungs, but rallied and was considered out of danger. Sunday evening there was a serious relapse, followed by death early Monday morning. Bishop Whipple was born at Adams, New York, February 15, 1822. In his early manhood ho engaged in mercantile business. In 1847 he relinquished business and became a candidate for orders in the church, and in 1849 was ordained deacon. In 1850 he was ordained priest and served as pastor of different churches until June 30, 1859, when he was elected bishop of the diocese of ]\Iinnesota. As bishop he was eminently successful. Seabnry Divinity school, Shattuck military school, and St. IMary's hall, all at Faribault, are among the institutions founded by the dead prelate. He was a good man, and his influence, as a rule, was for higher moral living, for nobler aims in life. He died full of years and good deeds, and will be mourned by the old settlers of this state, regardless of sect or creed. He brought honor upon our state and nation, and his name will be revered by coming generations.

Those Who Crossed The River Of Death In 1901

Jan. 4, 1901, ]Mrs. Terrence Lilly, an old settler of this coimty, quietly fell asleep at the residence of her son, B. J. Lilly, of Waseca. She was born in Ireland, seventy-seven years before, came to this country in 1847, and lived first in Cincinnati, Ohio, She and her husband afterwards removed to Illinois, where they remained two years. They came to ]\Iinnesota in 1856 and settled in the tovm of St. ]^Iary, where she experienced the hardships incident to frontier life. Her husband, many years her senior, died nine years before, at the age of eighty-two. She was a good Christian neighbor, a devoted wife, a kind mother. Funeral services were held at the Catholic church in Waseca and her remains rest in the Janesville Catholic cemetery beside those of her husband.

Mr. John Morgan, of Iosco, passed to his long rest Jan. 25, 1901. He had been ill of heart trouble for some time, but the evening before his death Ke sat up for a few hours, talked with all in the house and, after going to bed, slept soundly and natuially. The first signs of death occurred about 7 o'clock next morning, when he seemed to be in a stupor. This lasted about an hour, when he went to sleep as easily as a child, to sleep the long sleep of death. He was born in the county of Derry, Ireland, in November, 1830. At the age of fifteen he went to Scotland and there secured work in an iron mine. He was employed there until 1849, when he sailed for the United States, lauding at New Orleans after a seven weeks' voyage. He pushed on up the [Mississippi river to his destination at Shellsburg, Wisconsin, where he engaged, as miner in the lead mines. There he saved his scanty earnings until he had enough to send for the rest of his family, a father and five sisters. He next found employment as a boatman on the INIississippi river for a number of years. He also had the honor of working on the boat that went from St. I'aul to Traverse on the Minnesota river, and carried the commissioners, including Gov. Ramsey, that made the treaty with the Indians for lands west of the Mississippi river, on July 23, 1851.

Mrs. Mary Remund, widow of the late John Remund, was one of the oldest settlers of Waseca county. She was born in Switzerland and married ilr. Remund in that country. In February, 1856, she and her husband moved to section 15, Blooming Grove, where they lived until 1876. Then they went to Vivian, where they remained until 1882, when they sold their farm and removed to Wilmot, S. D. ]Mr. Remund died at that place in 1894. In February, 1900, IMrs. Remund came back from AVilmot, and lived until her death with her daughter, ]\Irs. H. W. Bluhm. She was taken with that dread disease, pneumonia, and died February 28, 1901. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom, five sons and two daughters, survive her. The sons and one daughter reside near Wilmot, the other daughter being ^Irs. H. W. Bluhm, of Vivian. ]\Ir. Bluhm accompanied her remains to Wilmot, where they were deposited beside those of her husband.

Obadiah Powell, one of the prominent and highly respected old settlers of the county, was born Feb. 1, 1828, at Hartsville, Steuben county, New York. His forefathers were among the early settlers of America and he was a typical American farmer. He arrived in Woodville in 1856, taking the claim where he resided the remainder of his life, May 6, 1856. On July 5, 1857, he married Miss Mary Jane Gray. He helped to organize one of the first if not the first, school district in the county, was elected its first clerk, and was either clerk or treasurer of the district for many years. He was the first chairman of the board of supervisors of Woodville, and for two years, under the supervisor system, represented his town on the county board. He was a member of the board of supervisors of his town most of the time till 1869, when he was elected county commissioner of the first district - Woodville and Blooming Grove. He was re-elected, served two years, and then resigned. He was afterwards town supervisor for two yi'ars, and for many years elected and re-elected town treasurer until failing health admonished him to refuse the office longer. He held variows offices in the I. 0. 0. F. organization, of which he was an honored member. He also served two years as a member of the state board of equalization. He was an active and highly respected member of the Waseca County Horsethief Det(>etive association, and was its treasurer for a long time and February, 1900. He was sick of dropsy for many months prior to his death which occurred April 3, 1901, at 3 o clock p. m. He left surviving him a family consisting of his widow, five sons and three daughters.

On April 11, 1901, Mr. Andrew Xelson, of Blooming Grove, went to his long rest. Although he had been ill for months, he was able to be up and about the house an hour before he diel. J\ist before he expired he arose from his bed and said to his son Oscar that he was about to die. He was assisted to a chair and died within a few moments. Deceased was born in Sweden, August 29, 1829. and was in his seventy-second year. He was anionsour first settlers and one of the most honorable of men. A sketch is given of his early life elsewhere in this work.

W. H. Harmon was one of the early settlers in Vivian. He was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Jan. 27, 1827. At the age of twenty-two, he married Miss Esther Smith, by whom he had eleven children. His wife died in Vivian May 14, 1873. He afterwards married Ellen ilycue, of that town, who died a few years ago in "Waseca. Deceased was one of the pioneers of the state, having lived first in Blue Earth county, in 1857, and a year later on section 32, in Vivian, where he resided until he removed to Waseca. At one time he was quite wealthy, but in the crash of 1892-3 he lost nearly all his property, and became much depressed. He was a member of Tuscan lodge No. 77, A. F. and

A. IM., and was always esteemed an honorable, upright man. He died at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. John Elmore, near Alma City, April 19, 1901, in his seventy-fourth year.

Mr. Joseph T. Dunn, county treasurer at the time of 'his death, was born in Park county, Indiana, November 21, 1855. His parents, William and Mary J. (Baird) Dunn, were born in Ireland and were of Scotch origin. His parents settled in Otisco in 1856, being among the very early pioneers of the county. His motiier died in 1871, and his father in 1884. March 21, 1877, he married Miss Lena Beck, then of Steele county, Minnesota, who survives him. He had six children, two sons and four daughters. For many years he was engaged in buying and selling cattle and hogs, and was very well known to most of the people of the county as an honorable, upright man. He was personally very popular. Three times he was a candidate on the Democratic reform ticket for county treasurer and each time received many more than his party vote. He was for years a prominent member of the Waseca County Horsethief Detective society, and at the time of his death was its captain of riders. He was also an honored member of the I. 0. of 0. P. lodge in Waseca. He died of pneumonia, April 18, 1901, after an illness of about a week, at the age of forty-five years, four months, and twenty-eight days.

A. J. Jordan, for many years of St. Mary, and later of Waseca, died April 4, 1901, at his home. He was about sixty-four years of age, and died of a complication of diseases. He was born in County I\layo, Ireland, and came to this country when about thirteen years old. His parents first lived in ]\Iassachusetts, afterwards in the state of New York. He afterwards went to Pennsylvania, where he married Mary Loftus, July 7, 1856. They came, very soon after marriage, to this county, settling in St. Mary. He was quite a politician, in his way, and served one term as county commissioner.

Miss Ella J. Ballard died at St. Barnabas hospital, Minneapolis, Wednesday, May 1, 1901, at 5 o'cock p. m., after an illness of only four or five days. Her death was caused by blood poisoning from an internal pelvic abscess, which must have developed very rapidly, as she was apparently in good health nine days before her death when she spent the day shopping with her ilr. Edward Jloylan, another prominent old settler, passed to the Grealf Beyond Wednesday morning, ]\lay 1st, 1901. ]Mr. Moylan, of St. ^Mary, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in the year 1818. He was a wagon maker by trade and remained in Ireland until he was thirty-three yrars of age. He then came to America, and landed in New York on the last day of July, 1851. He worked his way to Rochester, N. T., where he was employed at wagon making for five years. He married his first wife, iliss Mar'y Burke, from County Galway, Ireland, in the spring of 1852. In the fall of 1856, he removed with his family to Galena, 111., and thence to Dubuque, Iowa, where he worked during the winter at his trade. In the spring of 1857 he took the first boat up the river to St. Paul, and then back to Hastings, where he landed. He hired a team and went as far as Faribault with his wife. Then he left her and came on foot to the then new and promisingvillage of St. JNlary, where he bought a lot, intending to open a wagon shop. He Mas in better shape financially than many nthers, having saved up some $500 in gold. He bought a cow for $50, and hired a man for $13 to move the family and goods from Faribault to St. Mary. His experience in getting settled was like that of all laioneers in this then new country. Soon after St. !^rary began to decline, he went to farming. His first wife died in 1869, August 29. He married his second wife, Tiliss Hannah (Jorman, in 1872. He left a nice farm of one hundred and sixty acres besides personal property. He was one of oiir best citizens, prompt and honorable in all his dealings, a peaceable man, a good neighbor, a kind husband and father. He was always a rugged, robust man and was seldom sick until the day of his death. The morning before he died he did his chores about the farm. He died of pneumonia, being ill only one day. He left surviving, besides his widow, ilrs. Charles ]\lcLoone, ^Ir-i, Charles MeCabe, Rieliiird ]\loylan, of St. Paul, married, and AYilliam antl Edward, of St. ^lary, single.

jAIi'. Joseph Manthey, of Waseca, after a long and painful ilhicss, died ;\Iay 10, 1901, in his seventy-seventh year. He was boi'u at Adamslieim, Prussia, ]\lareh 15, 1825. He came to the United States in 1853 and lived first, in Wisconsin, near Prince- ton, where he married j\Iiss IMinnie Krassin, daughter of ]\rrs. Augusta Krassin, in December, 1855. J\Ir. Manthey was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1856, in company with Gottlieb Krassin, Sr., and Christian Krassin, came to this state and settled in St. Mary, on the farm where his son now resides. There he built a rude blacksmith shop, the first in St. Mary township, and also opened a farm. He was the father of nine children, eight of whom, with their mother, survived him. Samuel, the eldest son, was killed on the railroad, at the Otisco gravel pit, some years ago, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. Manthey was one of the most genial of men. He excelled as a conversationalist in his native language, and was always kind and generous to his family and neighbors. He had troubles enough of his own, yi't he was always cheerful and hopeful.

'Sirs. Peter Beck, of Waseca, died Thursday morning, July 5, 1901, at an early hour, of heart disease. She had been feeble all winter. She was born in Germany. She came to this country thirty-four years before her death and lived in Steele county. She and her husband afterwards settled in Waseca. Her husband died some months before she did. She left surviving her a son, ]Mr. Henry Beck, of Meriden, and three daughters.

iMrs. John il. WoUschlaeger, of Waseca, after an illness of three weeks, died at 7:45 o'clock, Wednesday evening, July 17, 1901. Louisa Ida (Neidt) WoUschlaeger was born in Waseca Janviary 18, 1876. Her mother died while Louisa was very young, and her father, Mr. Christian Xeidt, died about 1884. She married Mr. John jM. WoUschlaeger, our popular register of deeds, April 18, 1900. She had an attack of cholera morbus, followed by inflammation of the bowels. Abeesses formed which caused much suffering and, finally, death. Her trouble assumed a malignant form at the start, and defied medical skill. She left surviving her husband, a brother and a sister.

The people of Waseca were painfully shocked upon hearing of the sudden death of Mrs. Eri G. Wood, which occurrAl about 1:30 o'clock p. m., July 23, 1901, her age being sixty-six years, five months and sixteen days. She had been indisposed for a week or more, but had been pronounced by her physician much improved. She ate her dinner with a relish and was able to be about the house. Her death, therefore, came as a surprise to

Mr. Ferdinand Holz committed snicide Nov. 29, 1901, at his home in (_)tisco. ilr. E. H. Holz, his son, reported the following facts : Deceased had complained of ill health for some time. On the morning of the 29th of November, he complained to his vrife that he felt ill and desired to go to Waseca for treatment. He was assured that he would be taken to "Waseca by his wife and son Paul. His son, E. H. Holz, and .Mrs. E. H. Holz were milking the Cdws at the time. After the talk with his wife and son, he went out of the house as usual, there being nothini;' unusual in his manner or actions.- Soon after, before 7 o'clock a. m., he Avas found dead in the granary, having hanged himself with a strap. It is believed that his mind had been affected, more or less, since the death of his brother the preceding February, and that his disease became suddenly acute that fatal morning. Deceased -was born in Germany, June 14, 1826. He came to America about 1847. He enlisted in the Union army in 1864, caiue to this county in 1869, and has since resided here. He died at the age of seventy-five years, five months and fifteen days. He left surviving a widow and eight children.

Samuel W. IMyrick died December 24, 1901, after a short illr ness, at the residence of Mi'. L. A. Bullard, in AVaseea, of pneumonia, at the age of eighly-one years, three months and fourteen days. Deceased was born in Vermont, September 10, 1820. He married Miss Fidelia Grover, in the state of New York, in 1843. They came West at an early day and resided near Horicon, Wisconsin. It is said that he came to ilinnesota in 1854, stopping for a time in Fillmore county. He moved to ilinnesota Lake about 1857, being one of the first to settle in that locality. He afterwards lived in Morristown where he and his wife owned a millinery store. They came to AVaseca about 1870, where they opened a millinery store which they conducted for many years. His wife died some years before. The writer's first aequaint:inee with him was while ilr, ]\Iyrick and his wife kept a pioneer hotel a1 Minnesota Lake, in 1858, where "many a weary traveler found refreshment and sleep."

denly at his home in this village Saturday afternoon. He had been complaining ot not feeling well, having contracted a cold and left church Wednesday before services were over because of his feebleness. Thursday he was stricken with paralysis at his home, losing entire control of his body and limbs; two days later death came, peacefully and painlessly. Mr. Callahan was born in Ireland nearly sixty-six years ago and came to this country in 1857 first living in Illinois, then moving to Wisconsin, and after his discharge from the army, thirty-five years ago, settling in this county. About two years ago he moved from his farm in Byron, where he had spent the previous twenty-six years, and made his home in this village.

]\rrs. Amos N. Eoherts died ;\IondMy afternoon, Dec. 30, 1901, at her home inAVatervill(i, after a liiiii'eriiis' illness of Brig'ht's disease. She was borii ,Inne-2, 1832, her maiden name being Mary A. Christman. In early childhood- she moved with her parents to Illinois, where she was married to Amos N. lioberts in 1851. They, came to ilinnesota in 1855, and to Waterville in 1877. Eight chiU dren survive her. For a niimber of years ^Iv. and ilrs. Roberts kept the Okaman hotel, and during the years of the B.uekhout milling business many an old settler made his home with them while waiting for his grist. ^Ir. and Mrs. Roberts were; well and favorably known to all the pioneer settlers of the county.