Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 77, 1905

Chapter 77

LEGISLATORS OF FIFTY YEARS - COUNTY AUDITORS - REGISTERS OF DEEDS - TREASURERS - DISTRICT COURT CLERKS - SHERIFFS - PROBATE JUDGES - COUNTY ATTORNEYS - COUNTY SURVEYORS - COUNTY CORONERS - SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.

Legislative Roster

On the adoption of the State constitution in 1857, the counties of Waseca and Steele, constituting at that time the Fifteenth senatorial district, were represented in the first legislature, which assembled December 2, 1857, by Senator Lewis McKune, of Waseca county, and Representatives H. M. Sheetz, G. C. Pettie, and Smith Johnson, of Steele county. At the election of 1858, Buel Yreleh, of Waseca county, was chosen representative. However, owing to the protracted session of the legislature of 1857-8, there W'^R no session in the winter of 1858-9.

The second legislature convened December 7, 1859, and adjourned March 12, 1860. The Fifteenth district was represented in the senate by W. F. Pettit, of Steele county, and in the house of representatives by Amos Coggswell, and G. W. Greene, of Steele county, and George T. White and Jesse I. Stewart, of Waseca county.

In 1860, the counties of Steele, Waseca, and Freeborn were set oft' as the Sixteenth senatorial district. This district was represented in the third legislature by Senator George Watson, of Freeborn county, and Representatives J. E. Child, of Waseca county, and W. F. Pettit, of Steele county.

The fifth legislature opened January 6, and adjourned March 6, 1863. Senator M. A. Dailj', of Steele county, and Representatives Asa Walker, of Freeborn county, and Philo Woodruff, of Waseca county, represented the Sixteenth district.

Senator F. J. Stevens, of Steele county, and Representatives Philo Woodruff, of Waseca county; and J. L. Gibbs, of Freeborn county, represented the Sixteenth district in the sixth legislature, which met January 5, 1864.

The seventh legislature came together January 3, 1865. This district was represented by Senator B. A. Lowell, of Waseca county, and Representatives J. L. Gibbs, of Freeborn county, and J. B. Crooker, of Steele county.

The eighth legislature opened its sessions January 2, 1866. This district was represented by Senator B. A. Lowell, of Waseca county, and Representatives J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, and Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county.

On January 8, 1867, the opening of the ninth legislature, this district was represented by Senator Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county, and Representatives William Brisbane, of Waseca county, W. H. Twiford, of Steele county, and J. E. Smith, of Freeborn county.

The tenth legislature convened January 7. 1S68, and adjourned March 6. The Sixteenth district was represented by Senator Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county, and Representatives William R. Kinyon, of Steele county, J. E. Smith, of Freeborn county, and George A. La Dow, of Waseca county.

In the eleventh legislature, J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, was senator; and Augustus Armstrong, of Freeborn county, E. Easton, of Steele county, and Warren Smith of Waseca county, were representatives from the Sixteenth district.

The twelfth legislature met the first time on the 4th day of January, 1870. J. B. Crooker, of Steele county, was in the senate, and Major W. C. Young, of Waseca county, H. W. Ruliffson, of Steele county, and Dr. A. C. Wedge, of Freeborn county, were in the house.

Davis, of Steele county, and William Brisbane, of Waseca county,, were chosen as representatives from the Sixteenth district to the,- thirteenth legislature.

Under the apportionment act of 1871, Waseca county was mad& a senatorial district by itself and was entitled to a senator and two representatives. In the fall of 1871, James E. Child was elected to the senate, and Kelsey Curtis, of Alma City, and John Thompson, of New Richland, were elected to the house.

In the fall of 1872, W. G. Ward, of Waseca, was elected to thesenate; John Thompson, of New Richland, and J. L. Saufferer, of Blooming Grove, were elected to the house.

The sixteenth legislature convened January 6, 1874. W. G. Ward held over, and L. D. Smith, of Alton, and James E. Child, of Waseca, were in the house.

In the fall of 1874, Hon. Peter McGovern, of Waseca, was elected to the senate; Morris H. Lamb, of Alton, and Joseph Minges, of Otisco, were chosen to represent this county in the house.

At the legislative session of 1876, Mr. INIcGovern still represented Waseca county in the senate, and Robert Earl, of Freedom, and Kelsey Curtis, of Alma City, represented the county in the house.

At the twentieth session of the legislature, which assembled January 8, 1878, P. C. Bailey was still senator from this county, and J. 0. Chandler, of Janesville, and Penton Keenan, of New Richland, represented the county in the house.

In the fall of 1878, S. B. Williams, of Waseca, was elected to the senate by the prohibition party, and John Thompson, of New Richland, and John S. Abell, of Otisco, were elected to the house.

In the fall of 1880, R. L. McCormick, of Waseca, was elected to the senate, and Christoph. Wagner, of New Richland, and D. J. Dodge, of Janesville, were elected representatives. It was in the session of the legislature of 1881 that the old Minnesota state railroad bonds were resurrected and settled.

In the twenty-fourth legislative session, Dr. R. 0. Craig was still in the senate, and M. D. L. Collester, then a prominent attorney of Waseca, was our representative in the house.

In the twenty-eighth legislature, which assembled January 3, 1893, and adjourned April 18, R. 0. Craig continued to represent the county in the senate, and Henry M. Buck, of Wilton, was our representative in the house.

Mr. Collester continued to represent this county in the legislative session of 1897, and John Wilkinson, of Freedom, Avas our representative in the house.

In the fall of 1902, E. B. Collester was again elected to the senate, and A. J. Lohren, of Waseca, was elected to represent the county in the house.

Senator Collester continues to represent this county in the senate of 1905, and William H. Meyers, of St. Mary, is our representative in the house.

County Auditor

1859. The first to occupy this office in Waseca county was Spencer J. Willis, who entered upon his duties January 1, 1860, and held the position for three years. Colonel John C. Ide, of ^Yilton, was his successor, being appointed such in January, 1863, upon the resignation of Mr. Willis. Colonel Ide held this ofSce until the fall of 1866, when he died suddenly of heart disease. Captain C. C. Comee, then of Vivian, was appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. At the election following in November, 1866, he was elected to the office and was re-elected biennially, holding the office until 1870, when he resigned. Captain Comee was succeeded by Hon. Warren Smith, who was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Comee 's resignation. At the fall election of 1870, Edgar Cronkhite, Esq., of Freedom, was elected auditor, and entered upon the duties of the office March 1, 1871. He was re-elected in 1873, 1875, 1877, and 1879, thus holding the office for ten years most acceptably to the people of the county. Mr. C. E. Crane, of Freedom, was the next to fill the office of auditor, being elected in the fall of 1880. He was re-elected in the fall of 1882, and thus served the people of the county for four years. He was followed in the office by ]\Ir. S. Swenson, of Waseca, who was elected November 4, 1884, and re-elected in the falls of 1886 and 1888, thus holding the position for six years. Mr. A. J. Lohren, of Waseca, was elected auditor in 1890, and again in 1892 and 1894. He was succeeded by P. J. jMcLoone, of Waseca, who held the office from January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1901. C. H. Bailer, the present auditor, was elected to this office in 1900, 1902, and 1904. At the last election ]\lr. Bailer had no opponent.

Register Of Deeds

At the time of the organization of the county of Waseca, Governor Gorman appointed Mr. Tarrant Putnam register of deeds. He entered upon his duties in ilarch, 1857, and held the office until the election in June following, when he was succeeded by Mr. J. W. Crawford, then of Janesville, who had been elected to the position. At the general election in the fall of 1857, Major E. A. Kice, then of Wilton, was elected to this office, and held the position for two years. At the fall election of 1860, Mr. Tarrant Putnam, of the same place, was elected to succeed Major

Rice. In the fall of 1862, Mr Putnam was re-elected, thus holding the office four years in all. Mr. H. P. Norton, then of Wilton, now of AVaseca, was elected to succeed Mr. Putnam in the fall of 1863, and held the office for two years. The next incumbent of this office was Mr. Hiram A. I\Iosher, an ex-soldier, who had lost an arm in the service. He was elected in 1865, and reelected term after tei'm, holding the office until January 1, 1880. Then he gave way to his successor, Mr. Charles San Galli, of "Waseca, who was elected register of deeds in 1879. ilr. San Galli served in all four years, when Mr. H. A. Mosher was again elected to this office in the fall of 1883, and served until November 13, 1884, when he suddenly died of heart disease. On the death of Mr. Mosher, the county board appointed ]\Ir. A. F. Kruger, of Janesville to fill the vacancy. In the fall of 1886 Jlr. Kruger was elected to the office and held the position for four years. John il. Wollsclilaeger, of Waseca, was elected to succeed Jlr. Kruger in the fall of 1890. He has been re-elected each succeeding two years by increased ma.jorities and is our present register of deeds.

Treasurer

The first man to hold the position of treasurer in AYaseca county was Mr. AV. S. Baker, of Otisco, who was appointed to that position at the first meeting of the board of county commissioners, which was held on the 16th of March, 1857. His duties wi-re not arduous, as there was no money in the treasury. He held the office until the close of the year, when Jesse I. Stewart, who was elected in the fall of 1857, succeeded him. Air. Stewart held the office for two years, when he was succeeded by Air. J. S. Rice, then of New Richland, who held the office for two years. In the fall of 1861, Hon. George T. AVhite (afterwards Captain AYhite), then of St. Alary, was elected to succeed Air. Rice as county treasurer. Although he enlisted in the month of August in 1862, he continued to hold the office by deputy during the term for which he had been elected. Hon. P. C. Bailey, of AVilton, was elected in 1863 to succeed Air. AAHiite. Mr. Bailey held the office for two years, when he was succeeded by Air. George R. Buckman, then of St. Mary, who held the office by re-election until January 1, 1874. At the election of 1871, the official returns showed that

Dr. R. 0. Craig, of Janesville, received a majority of three votes, but on contesting the matter the court decided that Mr. Buckman was duly elected to the office of treasurer. Mr. Buckman succeeded in 1874 by Hon. Warren Smith, of Waseca, who held the office by re-election for six years. In 1879, Charles Mc- Kenna was elected to succeed Mr. Smith. He was re-elected in 1881 and again in 1883 and 1885. He held the office until the month of September, 1888, when he was found to be a defaulter in the sum of $6,694. It is safe to say that Mr. McKenna, during his residence in Waseca county, did more to sow the seeds of bribery and corruption than any other politician that ever flourished here. The Democratic county convention, which met on the 22d of September, 1888, broke up in a row, one faction claiming the nomination of H. C. Chase, of Janesville, and the other claiming the nomination of Charles McKenna. Immediately after the convention, and clandestinely, McKenna disposed of all his property, and on the following Tuesday, under pretense of taking his wife to Faribault on a visit, he made his escape to Canada. As before stated, it was discovered that he was short of county funds $6,694, which his bondsmen were required to make good. H. C. Chase, of Janesville, was appointed to the vacancy, and Mr. Bmil Dieudonne was elected in the fall to succeed Mr. McKenna. Mr. Dieudonne held the office for one term and Mr. August C. Krassin was elected in the fall of 1900 to take his place. Mr. Krassin held the office until August of 1891, when he died. Mr. Emil Dieudonne was appointed to fill out the term. In the fall of 1892, Captain Walter Child was elected treasurer and held the office foi- four years. He was succeeded by W. H. Roesler, of Waseca, who also filled the office for four years. In the fall of 1900, Mr. Joseph T. Dunn, of Waseca, was elected treasurer. His death occurring April 18, 1901, Hon. D. J. Dodge, of Janesville, was appointed by the county commissioners to fill out ]\Ir. Dunn's unexpired term. Mr. C. A. Wagner, of New Richland, was the next to fill the position, and Fred W. Roesler, of Waseca, was chosen at the election in 1904, and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1905.

Clerk Op District Court

territorial form of government in 1857, and Thomas L. Page held the office by appointment. He soon resigned the office, and H. P. Norton, now of Waseca, was appointed to fill out his term. At the fall election of 1857, Mr. Norton was elected to the office for the term of four years. In the fall of 1861, H. P. West, then of Wilton, was chosen to the office and held the position for a term of four years. Mr. N. B. Strong, then of the same town, was elected in 1863, and held the office from January 1, 1864, to January 1, 1868. S. J. Willis was elected in the fall of 1867, and held the office from January 1, 1868, to January 1, 1872. He was followed by James B. Hayden, of Alton, who held the place by re-election from Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1880. M. B. Keeley, of Waseca, was chosen in the fall of 1879 to succeed j\Ir. Hayden. Mr. Keeley held the office by re-election until Jan. 1, 1892, when he was succeeded by John M. Bj^ron, then of St. IMary, who held the office until Jan. 1, 1897. At the fall election of 1896, Henry Reynolds was elected to the position, and was re-elected in 1900 and in 1904. For a time Mr. Reynolds was suspended from office by Governor John A. Johnson for having embezzled jury fees paid into court for several years, but was reinstated as elsewhere detailed in this work.

Sheriff

The first sheriff' of Wnseca county was Nathaniel Garland, who was appointed to that office by the governor of the territory at the time of the organization of the county by legislative act. He was then elected to succeed himself at the special election hel'' in June, 1857. He filled the office until the close of the year IS'iO. At the fall election in 1859, D. L. Whipple was elected to s'loceed him. ]\[r. Whipple was re-elected in 1861 and 1S63. C'lptain E. M. Broughton, then of Okaman, was elected in the fall of 1865, and served from Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 1, 1868. ^Ir. Broughton was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Seth W. Long, who held the office for ten consecutive years. Jlntthew Keeley. of St. Mary, was elected in the fall of 1877 to the office of sheriff, which he held for four years. Hugh Wilson, of Waseca, was the rext incumbeiit of the office and held the position from Jan. 1, 1882. to Jan. 1, 1886. In the fall of 1885, August C. Krassin, of Wasec'i, was chosen to the office of sheriff. He wa.s re-elected in 1888, and held the position until January, 1891. Henry Reynolds, of Otisco, followed Mr. Krassin in office, and remained in it until Jan. 1, 1895. Mr. Reynolds' successor was Mr. George H. Goodspeed, who held the office for four years. Prank Collins, of Waseca, was chosen sheriff in 1898 and he has held the office continuously since, being our present sheriff.

Judge Of Probate

Job A. Canfield, of Otisco, was the first judge of probate in Waseca county and was elected to that position in 1857. He continued in this office until 1860, when H. D. Baldwin, Esq., was elected in 1859 to follow him. Mr. Baldwin held the office for four years. In the fall of 1863, P. Brink Enos, Esq., of Wilton, was elected to the position, which he held xintil the close of 1865. James E. Child, then of Wilton, was chosen to the office, which he held from Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 1, 1868. He was succeeded by Hon. H. D. Baldwin, then of Wilton, who held the office until Jan. 1, 1870, when Hon. J. A. Canfleld, of Otisco, was again elected to the office. Mr. Canfield then held the office for eight years. Mr. Caleb Hallack, of Janesville, was then elected to the position, which he held from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1880. H. C. Woodbury, then of Wilton, followed Mr. Hallack and held the position one term. S. D. Crump, of Alton, succeeded to the office Jan. 1, 1882, and served in this capacity until Jan. 1, 188S. Following Mr. Crump, Major W. C. Young, of Waseca, took nr> the duties of this office and executed them until his sudden death, May 9, 1889. He was followed by E. B. Collester, Esq., who was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. In 1890, Mr. Collester was elected to this office, and again elected in 1892. In the fall of 1894, George A. Wilson, of Janesville, was elected to the position and has since executed its duties continuously up to the present time, having no opponent in the election of 1904.

County Attorney

John Bradish, Esq., of Janesville, had the honor of being the first county attorney of Waseca county. He received the magnificent salary of $100 a year. He held the office one year only, when he gave way to M. S. (Squire) Green, of Empire, who was elected to that position in the fall of 1857. James E. Child, then of Wilton, was chosen to follow Mr. Green in the office in 1859, holding the position for one year. H. D. Baldwin, then of Empire, was elected county attorney in the fall of 1860, and performed its duties until Jan. 1, 1865. James E. Child was then again chosen to the office and held it for two years. Major W. T. Kittredge, then of Wilton, was next elected county attorney. He entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1868, and continued in office two years. B. S. Lewis, Esq., of Waseca, was next chosen to this office and entered upon its execution in 1870, holding this position four years. Peter MeGovern, Esq., of Waseca, next occupied this office, holding it for two years, when he was succeeded by M. D. L. CoUester, Esq., of Waseca, who held the office until the close of 1881. W. R. Kinder, of Waseca, then served as county attorney for two years. Mr. P. MeGovern then held the office again until the close of 1887. AV. D. Abbott, Esq., of Waseca, was chosen in the fall of 1887, and served a term of two years. The next incumbent was Mr. F. B. Andrews, of New Richland. In the fall of 1892, Mr. MeGovern was again chosen county attorney for one term. He was succeeded by 'Mr. L. D. Rogers, of Janesville, who served one term, when IMr. [MeGovern was again chosen. In 1898, Mr. John ]\Ioonan was selected to succeed Mr. MeGovern, and in 1900 [Mr. IMoonan was again elected to the office. Mr. F. B. Andrews, the present county attorney, was chosen in 1902 and again in 1904.

County Surveyor

The first surveyor of Waseca county was H. W. Peck, of Empire, who was appointed March 16, 1857. He held the office about a year, when he removed to Ohio. He was succeeded by Eugene A. Smith, of Wilton, a brother of Orson L. Smith, our present surveyor. He held the office until 1862, when George P. Johnson, of St. Mary, was elected to the office and performed its duties from Jan. 1, 18(i2, to Jan. 1, 1864. H. G. ]Mosher, of Otisco, then occupied the office for two years, when he was followed by 0. S. Canfield, of Freedom, who held the office two years. In the fall of 1867, Mr. C. E. Crane, of Freedom, was chosen surveyor and held the office continuously until the first of January, 1881, when he was succeeded by Orson L. Smith, who still holds the position, this being his thirteenth term.

Court Commissioner

The following gentlemen have held the office of court commissioner in this county since its organization, commencing with 1860, in the order named : W. T. Kittredge, Job A. Canfield, James E. Child, J. B. Smith, C. G. Park, Frank A. Newell, B. A. Lowell, G. R. Buckman, B. P. Latham, and N. M. Nelson, the present incumbent.

County Coroner Superintendent Of Schools

This, one of the most important offices in the county, was in early days the most poorly paid. Prior to 1864, school superintendents were appointed by commissioner districts, and at one time by toAvnships; and oftentimes the superintendent was totally incompetent. But the legislature of 1863 created the office of county superintendent to be appointed by the county commissioners. The first to be appointed in this county was Rev. Eli.jah S. Smith, who served at a salary of $100 a year until 1867. James B. Child was then chosen at a salary of $200 a year. Think of such an overwhelming salary for visiting sixty schools twice a year and holding two public examinations in three of the most public places in the county each year! Mr. Jesse Poland, of Vivian, then served one year. Rev. S. T. Catlin next accepted the position in 1869 at a salary of $300. Dr. R. 0. Craig was appointed in 1870. In 1871, Dr. M. S. Gove was elected by the people, but declined to serve, and the board of county commissioners appointed H. G. ]\Iosher, one of their own number, to that oiSce. He gave such entire satisfaction that he was elected and re-elected, serving until 1880. In the fall of 1879, Dr. M. V. Hunt was elected and served in a way for two years. In the fall of 1881, Dr. D. S. Cummings was elected and served four years. He was followed by J. B. Dye, who was elected to the position in the fall of 1886. He held the office two terms. Hon. John S. Abell was chosen in the fall of 1890, and again in the fall of 1892, serving with credit to himself and the schools. He was succeeded by Mr. C. W. Wagner, who was elected in the fall of 1894 and again in the fall of 1896. He was an efficient officer. Frank J. Remund succeeded him for one term, having been elected in the fall of 1898. Mr. Remund was succeeded by L. J. Larson, who was elected in 1900 and again in 1902. In the fall of 1904 Mr. Herman A. Panzram, the present active and industrious incumbent, was elected and entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1905.