Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 73, 1905

C. Comee, J. A. Kahnkb, P. Farley, Katherine Murphy W. H. Roesler, Adam Bishman, Bridget Kbnehan, Hon. C.

COUNTY MATTERS - WASECA'S NEW CHARTER - MR. AND MRS. BARNEY BURNS' GOLDEN WEDDING - ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF A GIRL WHO SOON AFTER MARRIES HER WOULD-BE MURDERER - DIED: GEO. W. ARBNTSEN, C. B. GRAHAM, CAPT. C. C. COMEE, J. A. KAHNKB, P. FARLEY, KATHERINE MURPHY, W. H. ROESLER, ADAM BISHMAN, BRIDGET KBNEHAN, HON. C. WAGNER, MRS. J. B. SULLIVAN, JOHN CAHILL, PHILIP KBELEY, R. GARAGHTY OF ST. MARY, SAMUEL HAWKBS, MRS. P. SPILLANB - RESULT OF ELECTION.

This year the county legislators met Jan. 5, and organized by electing Herman Weckwerth chairman and H. J. Hanson vicechairman. Only routine business was transacted at this session.

Waseca'S New Charter

At the beginning of the new year, the agitation in Yfaseca regarding the proposed new city charter was at its height and so continued until ]May 10, 1904, when it was adopted by the voters at a special election. The adoption of the new charter introduced a new theory in city government, namely: the control and management of the water and light plant by a board of three instead of by the common council as theretofore. This seemed to be a new idea to many, and it was not long before a contest grew out of the new departure as between the mayor and council, on the one side, and the water and light board, on the other. As the contention is still unsettled at this writing, the matter must be turned over to some future history.

Golden Wedding

Mr. and ]\Irs. Barney Burns, of Wilton, who settled in that toMTi as early as 1856, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1904. They had eleven children, all living, and thirty-two grandchildren, and their presence made the gathering one of much enjoyment. ]\Ir. and ~Slrs. Burns are among, the very early pioneei's of this county, and are to be congratulated upon their continued good health and prosperity. ]May they live long in this land of plenty.

Murderous Assault

One of the most tragic events of the year occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21. 190-4, at Waseca. Miss Alice Eyan, aged nineteen years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Thomas Ryan, was occupied as "central" at the telephone office. A few minutes after 5 o'clock, Charles Smith, about twenty-six years of age, son of C. A. Smith, grandson of J. B. Smith, and brother-in-law of Miss Ryan, came into the reception room of the telephone office, and, with scarcely a word, drew a revolver and fired at ]\Iiss Ryan three times, the third time the bullet striking her in the back of the neck and lodging in her body. Smith was overpowered and arrested. ]\Iiss Ryan was taken to Dr. Cummings' office and placed in his care.

The would-be assassin was a young man, Avho had been engaged for several years as brakeman and freight conductor on the Chicago and Xorth-Western railway. Some four or five years before this event, he had married a sister of ]\Iiss Alice. About a year after the marriage, a babe was born to them, the mother dying some two weeks later. The child was cared for by the grandparents, ]Mr. and ]\lrs. Thoinas Ryan. ^Meantime Smith desired to marry ]\Iiss Alice, but her mother not approving of the \mion, :\liss Ryan refused to wed. Smith brooded over his dismissal, and finally became jealous. The day of the shooting, he had been drinking considerably. It was generally believed that Charlie Smith, sober, was not the guilt,^- party, but that Charlie Smith, crazed with saloon liquor, was the criminal. Charlie Smith's hands ai'C red with the blood of this innocent girl - and whose hands in Waseca are clean? Smith, full of cruel, murderous, licensed liquor, plans to murder a helpless girl. He secures cartridges, marches directly to his victim, and, without the least Avarning, in open day, in the presence of three witnesses, shoots her with murderous intent.

And now as to the sequel. Miss Alice rapidly recovered. jNIrs. Ryan, mother-like, visited her son-in-law in jail. As soon as Alice was able, she also went with her mother to see him. As a result, Smith soon obtained bail, and, on the evening of his release, he married the girl he would have assassinated; at the March term of court, 1904, Smith was let off with a fine of $100 on a charge of assault in the second degree.

Called Home

The death roll of the fiftieth year in the history of the county was not lengthy, considering the number of years since the first settlement was made. Several of the old first settlers are still living in the count.y, while others are living in other localities.

The first to cross the Great River this year was 'Mr. Geo. W. Arentsen, who died Jan. 6, 1904, at Jackson, Minn. He was born in Holland, some eighty-three years ago. He came to America when a young man, and settled in Wisconsin, at Sheboygan Falls, about 1850, where he married Miss Lucretia E. Campbell. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed his calling there until 1869, when he came to Waseca. He purchased a farm in Woodville where his family resided, but he worked at his trade in Waseca. He remained here until 1880, when he removed his family to Jackson county, Minnesota. His family lived on a farm, but he opened a shoe shop in the village of Jackson. He remained there until 1887, when he returned to Waseca and resided with his son John until the fall of 1903 when he returned to Jackson and remained until the time of his death, living with his son John.

Clarence E. Graham, editor and farmer, was a noted character in the history of this county. He died at his farm in Alton, Jan. 11, 1904. The immediate cause of death was dropsy, ilr. Graham was born in Windsor, Broome county, New York, December 22, 1841, and was the son of Mr. and IMrs. John L. Graham. He was reared in the county of his birth. When nineteen years of age, he went to Perry county, Missouri, where he took part in carpentry work on the court house then being built. While there he saw what they termed Lincoln men ridden on a rail for their opinions' sake. The following winter ill health compelled him to return to New York. He remained there during the winter. In the spring of 1862, his father and brother came to Minnesotri, and he and his mother followed the same fall, settling in Houston county. In 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Second "Wisconsin cavalry, known as Washburn's cavalry, and remained in the service until December 12, 1865, when he was mustered out, and came to Waseca county. January 9, 1866, he moved to a farm in Freedom to\vnship, where he resided until 1873. He then removed to the village of Janesville, where he purchased the Argus and was soon after made postmaster of the place. In 1881, he sold the Argus to J. A. Henry and removed to Waseca, where he purchased the Waseca Radical. He continued his connection with this paper until it was sold to the present proprietors of the Journal-Radical. Soon after selling the Radical, he engaged in farming so far as his health would permit. January 3, 1869, he married Miss Rosetha Helen Stone, who survives him. They were the parents of four sons, three of whom are still living.

Capt. C. C. Comee, another old veteran, died Jan. 15, 1904, of a complication of diseases incident to old age. He was born in the state of Massachusetts in January, 1827. He enlisted in the Ninety-fourth New York infantry at the opening of the Rebellion, was chosen first lieutenant of his company, and soon after was promoted to captain. He participated in many battles, was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, and was confined in Libby prison for nine months. He was honorably discharged near the close of the war and came to Minnesota in 1864. He was county auditor of this county from 1865 to 1870. He then removed to Tennessee, where he remained for a number of years, returning to Waseca some eighteen or twenty years ago. where he followed his trade of painter. Two sons and four daughters survive him.

Mr. John A. Kahnke, one of the early settlers of St. Mary, died on the 20th of Jan., 1904, at his home in that township. He was eighty- Kpven years of age and died of a complication of ailments incident to persons of that age. He was a native of Germany, but came to this country many years ago. He was not only a good man when he died, but he had been a good man for the last thirty years, to our personal knowledge, and, we doubt not, all his life. He was not only honorable and upright, blit also kind, charitable, and obliging. If there is a heaven, John A. Kahnke will have a place there. His children, worthy offspring of honored parents, are tour sons, John, Albert, George, and Frank, and four daughters, Mrs. John Volz, Mrs. Joseph Matz, Mrs. Casper Kramer, and Mrs. Peter Amberg. May their last days be like his.

Patrick Farley, a prominent farmer of St. IMary, died suddenly Feb. 2, 1904. Mr. Farley had been slightly indisposed from what he siipposed was heart trouble ; but that afternoon, feeling better than usual, he said that he was going out to pump water for the stock. His sons urged him not to do so, but, saying that he needed the exercise, he wrapped up and went out. He was gone somewhat longer than usual, causing so much anxiety on the part of the family that James went out to look for him, only to find his lifeless body, still warm, on the ground near the pump. A post mortem examination showed that he died of apoplexy. Mr. Farley was born in Ireland in 1836. He came to Waseca county when twenty-nine years of age, settling in Alton. Twenty-one years later he purchased his farm home in St. jMary. Surviving him are his wife, five sons, and foiir daughters.

After an illness of several years, during three of which she had been imable to be about the house, Mrs. Katherine Murphy, wife of Alderman Heniy jMurphy, died at her home in Waseca, Saturday night, Jan. 30, 1904. :\lrs. Murphy was born in Ireland, coming to America in 1853, and to this comity in 1875. She was about eighty-four years of age at the time of her death. She left surviving, with her husband, one daughter and one son.

Wm. H. Roesler, of AVaseca, died Feb. '23, 1904, of heart disease. Deceased was born in :\rarquette county, Wisconsin, Sept. 11, 1S58. He came to Waseca county with his parents when he was eight years old and resided here after that time. In January, 1885. he was united in marriage to :Miss Pauline W. Kaiser. They were the parents of five children. After his marriage, Mr. Roesler lived on his farm in Wilton, until, in 1892, he accepted a position with the Laird Norton Lumber Company in Waseca. In 1896, he was elected treasurer of Waseca county on the republican ticket and filled this ofBce efficiently for two terms. For more than a year he had been manager of the Farmers' Elevator in Waseca,' and had just been chosen to this position for another year.

many friends and acquaintances in this county. He had been feeling unwell for some two weeks, but neither he nor his friends supposed his illness was serious. Mr. Mahler called upon him at dinner time, but did not consider his condition at all critical; and yet, before Mr. Mahler reached his store, a messenger overtook him to say that Mr. Bishman was dead. Adam Bishmann, as he was christened, was born in Dorn Durkheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on the 27th day of March, 1824. He came to America in 184C, settling in Monee, Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his native town and was married to Miss Anna M.. Brandt, September 2. They at once came to his Illinois home, where they lived until they came to Minnesota, in 185G, moving to Otisco, where they resided until November, 1902. They then took up their residence in "Waseca, where they have since lived. When Mr. Bishman came to Minnesota, he was in much better financial circumstances than most of the pioneer settlers of the West, and he died possessed of a considerable fortune, the greater part of it being invested in land. Notwithstanding his comfortable financial standing, he and his now aged companion participated fully in the hardships incident to pioneer life, and never failed to extend the hand of friendship and hospitality to all comers. Many of our readers will call to mind the terrible tornado which visited Mr. Bishman's Otisco farm in July, 1902, when a son and a daughter were crushed and killed. Notwithstanding that fierce storm, Mr. Bishman went to Otisco station, over a mile distant, gave the alarm, and telephoned to Waseca for medical aid. It was a terrible ordeal for so aged a person, and he never fully recovered from the shock then received. He leaves surviving of his own family a son, George, of South Dakota: and three daughters: Miss Clara, at home; Mrs. Gus Krassin, of this city; and Mrs. Anna Perso, of South Dakota. He also leaves surviving three brothers and two sisters: Philip of Illinois, Louis of Mankato, Jacob of Otisco, Mrs. Christian Klein of Chicago, and Mrs. Philip Miller of Rice county. Deceased was one of our best citizens. In politics, he was a prohibitionist. In his dealings he was prompt and honorable. He was kind to his family, hospitable and friendly with his neighbors, and liberal to his church."

'Sirs. Bridfiet (Martin) Kenchan. widow of the late Patrick Kenehan, of Wilton, dird Sunday, .May S, 1904, at the home of her daughters, Misse.s .Mary and Atones, in Waseca, at the age of seventy-six, of blood poisoning- Her ailment commence 1 in her hands and gradually extended to her body causing death. ^Irs. Kenehan .ioined ;\lr. Kenehan in holy wedlock, at Geneva. Wis.. Oct. '28, 1849. She was the niothei' of nine children, of whom six now living, three sons and three daughters.

to hear of the death of Hon. Chris. Wagner, of New Richland, who died of heart failure at 12:45 that morning after an illness of only two days. Mr. Wagner attended the G. A. R. encampment in Waseca, last week, and appeared to be in his usual health. He was taken ill shortly after his return from Waseca, and passed away a little after midnight, Sunday night.

Deceased was born in Prussia, November 7. 1842; came to America in 1847 with his parents, who settled in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. There he resided until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. A, Ninth Wisconsin infantry. In which he served three years and three months. He was honorably discharged in 18G4 and returned to his old home in Wisconsin. December 10, 1867, he married Miss Mary Zieger and in 1869 came to Waseca county and took up his residence on section 18, town of New Richland, which has been the family home since that time.

He was a member of the state house of representatives during the notable session of 1881, when the "Old Minnesota Bond Swindle" was finally consummated. That was a session that tried men's souls. The man that could be bribed took his price and the people were mulcted in bonds to the amount of ,$5,000,000, which they still have to pay. Mr. Wagner stood firm against the wiles of Selah Chamberlain's lobbyists and the devil of corruption, and came forth unsullied in character. Of course plutocracy marked him for slaughter, but he lived and died with an honored name among honest men that are intelligent enough to know an honest man from a boodler.

In 1885, Mr. Wagner and his brother C. A., now county treasurer, opened a lumber yard in New Richland. Afterwards deceased became sole owner; about eight years ago, he sold out altogether. He assisted in organizing the New Richland State Bank, was chosen its president, and continued to hold that position to the time of his death. For twenty years, he has been almost continuously town clerk, and for many years has been a member of the board of education of the village. For the past two or three years, he has confined his , principal activities to the management of his farm of three hundred fifty acres adjoining the village of New Richland.

He leaves surviving him Mrs. Wagner, his widow; three sons - C. W. Wagner, editor of the Litchfield Review, Dr. Frank J. Wagner, and Otto H. Wagner, of New Richland; six daughters - Mrs. Jacob Bchternach, Mrs. C. G. Hauge, Misses Ida M., Alma H., Bertha M., and Elsie E.

Mr,s. Gertrude Utley Sullivan, wife of J. B. Sullivan, cashier of the First National bank of Waseca, entered into her rest Saturday, September 3, 1904. She was born February 16, 1875, in Fryeburg-, IMaine. She came West with her parents and lived in Lake Preston, S. D. Here she .attended the public school and, later, received instruction in Sacred Heart Academy in Waseca.

She was married to J. B. Sullivan in Lake Preston November 10, 1892. Two children, John aged eight and Florian aged five, with her husband, mourn her departure.

Mr. John Cahill, of Janesville, an early settler, died Thursday night, Sept. 22, 1904. Mr. Cahill had been a great sufferer from rheumatism for many years, but had been in his usual health, going to town and back Thursday. He went to bed at an early hour. As he did not get up at his usual time in the mornuig, his son-inlaw, Thomas Eustis, went to his bedside and was shocked to find him dead. ilr. Cahill was born in Ireland in 1831. He came to this country in his early manhood, married, and settled on the farm where he lived. His wife and family of eight children survive him.

Mr. Philip Keeley died very suddenly on his farm in St. Mary Friday, Nov. 18, 1904. He had started a fire to burn up some rubbish. The fiames were spreading in the direction of some hay stacks, and ilr. Keeley was working with all his strength to keep the fire under his control. A neighbor saw him fall to the ground and hastened to his assistance. Drawing ~Slr. Keeley out of the smoke, the man ran for help to revive the fainting man; but before aid came, ;Mr. Keeley was beyond help. Deceased was a brother of James Keeley and of Alatt Keeley, formerly sheriff of this county.

ilr. Roger Garaghty, of St. Mary, died Nov. 17. 1904. He had not been as well as usual during the day and his son Thomas had decided to call in a physician. A few minutes later, the son entered his father's room and founcl that the old gentleman had passed quietly away. ]\h-. Garaghty had been a prominent citizen of St. Mary for nearly forty years, having settled upon section 32, in that town, in 1865. He was born July 4, 1833, in Ireland. His parents were Peter and Alary Garaghty, who reared a family of six children. Deceased came to America in 1849. when only sixteen years of age. His first two years in this country were spent in IMarquette county, AVisconsin. He then went intci the South where he remained until 1865, when he came to this county. November 16, 1856, he married Aliss Catherine Aladden, who also came from Ireland in 1849. She was the daughter of Thomas and Honora Madden, and was born August 5, lS3:i. They were the parents of five children, three of whom survived

Mr. Samuel Ilawkes passed qiiietly away at his home in Waseca, Wednesday morning, Dec. 7. 1904. In April, 1903, he suffered a stroke of paralj\sis. He partially recovered from this and had been able to be about the city more or less. Mr. Hawkes was born in Windham, Cumberland county, ]\Iaine, September 13, 1838. He lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to Iowa. After a short residence there, he came to Jleriden, Steele countj^ ]\rinnesota, and bought a farm. In October, 1865, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Shillings, of ilaine. He broiight his bride to his farm where they lived for nine years. He then sold this farm and bought a farm about one and one-half miles northwest of Waseca. After he purchased this farm, he and his family lived part of the time there and the remainder of the time in Waseca.

After an illness of about a year of cancer of the stomach, Mrs. Patrick Spillane passed away at her. home in Woodville Saturday morning, Dec. 24, 1904. Charlotte Lang Spillane was born August 22, 1S47, in Cataraugus county. New York. Soon after this the family moved to Waupun, Wis. At the age of nineteen, Mrs. Spillane was married to Patrick Spillane, and came to Faribault county, Minnesota, where they took up a homestead. In 1874 they moved to Woodville, this county, which was the home of the family after that time. Mr. Spillane died in December, 1896. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spillane, three sons and two daughters, all of whom survive th(^ mother.

The Election Op 1904

Although this was presidential year, there was very little enthusiasm and more than the usiial number did not vote. The local returns showed the following results: