Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County
CHAPTER VII.
ERA OF PROSPERITY—1880-1893.
Henceforth the story of Nobles county is one of advancement. The dark and
gloomy days are past. No longer do the grasshoppers threaten the very existence
of the settlement; no longer is it found necessary to solicit aid for the relief
of the inhabitants. The days of adversity have become a memory.
Beginning with the year 1880 came the reconstruction period. People began anew
the work of progress that had been interrupted when the first army of
grasshoppers came and placed a mortgage on the country in the summer of 1873. In
some ways the people were in better condition than they had been before the
scourge. Those who had taken government land now had title to their homes—and
land began to have a value. Some had escaped with small loss during the three
preceding years, and were already in position to begin the forward march. But
others found it necessary to free themselves from debt before the effect of the
prosperous times became apparent.
Of vast importance during these days of reconstruction was the work of the
colony under Bishop Ireland. Hundreds of settlers were brought into the county
and located upon the lands in the western part, which otherwise might have
remained unsettled for several years. In February, 1880, the colony company let
the contract to John Timmons, of Adrian, for the erection of 39 houses on the
farm lands owned by the company. The cost of the houses was about $200 each.
During March and April 50 families arrived from New York and other eastern
states and became permanent settlers. The houses constructed were not enough to
supply the demand, and several more were put up by the new arrivals.
Nobles county harvested a good, though not a large, crop in 1880. Wheat and
oats were not an extraordinary crop, but, taking the county as a whole, averaged
pretty well. Corn and flax were unusually good. Here and there the crop of some
one farmer was a comparative failure, and some who had fair crops were not
permitted to enjoy the fruits of their harvest because of the debts contracted
during grasshopper days. But in the main crops were good, and the fact that
hoppers did not put in an appearance led to a cheerful feeling.
The federal census showed a population of 4,435, a gain of 3,700 per cent in
ten years.[1] This population was divided among the different precincts as follows:
Bigelow 215
Bloom 83
Dewald 210
Elk 176
Graham Lakes 300
Grand Prairie 301
Mersey 199
Indian Lake 200
Lorain 159
Leota 97
Little Rock 320
Olney 284
Ransom 165
Seward 226
Summit Lake 68
Willmont 111
Worthington Township 182
Worthington Village 636
Westside 339
103-42 (Larkin) 45
103-43 (Lismore) 119
Total 4,435
Township 103 of range 43 received a large settlement of Irish Catholics, due
to the activities of the Bishop Ireland colony, and the summer of 1880 that
township was organized. It was named Lismore, after a village of that name in
county Waterford, Ireland, the name being suggested by Father Knauf. The
petition for organization was filed July 17, and was signed by Geo. A. Beireis,
Gustave Frick, Alex Roach, Conrad Beireis, James Orkney, Charles Lord, M. S.
Boyle, R. O'Day, W. J. Heaney, Joseph Haegle,. John Travis, Charles A. Blake,
Thomas McLean, Allen Pieason, Austin Nash, William Landes, William H. Welch,
John H. Sands, William Welch, A. A. Boyce, S. W. Swanman, Henry Carlson, Albert
A. Thompson and Peter Havican. The township was created by the county
commissioners July 21, and the first town meeting was held at the house of Moses
Hurd on August 9.
One of the dates from which time is reckoned in Nobles county is the winter of
1880-81—the time of the long, severe winter. There have been worse storms than
any that occurred that winter, but never was there a winter to compare with this
one in duration, continued severity, depth of snow and damage to property. From
the middle of October till late in April it was winter nearly every minute of
the time.
Friday, October 15, in the afternoon, a heavy rain set in. The downpour
continued until evening, when a strong, chilling wind came down from the north,
turning the rain into a fine snow. A severe blizzard now took the place of the
rain, and it lasted three days and three nights. It was the first and only
blizzard ever experienced in the country in October. The county fair, which was
being held at the time, had to be abandoned. The railroads were blockaded, and
there were no trains or mail until Tuesday, the 19th. When the storm subsided
great drifts of snow filled the roads and other places, which did not disappear
until the following May.
Following this storm came a few weeks of nice weather. On Friday, November 19,
a cold snap set in, the mercury getting down to 19 degrees below zero on the
night of the 20th. Another blizzard came up December 3, which blockaded trains
from the east until the 5th. Monday, December 27, came a severe cold spell, the
thermometer registering 30 degrees below zero. The following day it was 34
below, and another blizzard was raging. All trains were stopped until the 30th.
Thereafter the winter was an extremely severe one. Blizzard followed blizzard.
The railroads were blockaded for weeks at a time. Fuel and food were nearly
exhausted. People burned hay and grain, and went without lights. In some places
there was suffering from lack of food. Roads remained unbroken all winter, and
the farmers obtained their supplies from the villages by means of handsleds.
Snow sail boats came into requisition, being employed to bring in supplies and
for sport. [2]
Following is the story of the winter from Jan. 1, 1881, until the breakup in
the spring, given in chronological order: [3]
Jan. 4. Rain.
Jan. 7. Freight train breaks through Bigelow bridge, ditching cars and killing
some cattle.
Jan. 21. Snow storm. Road blocked until 23rd.
Jan. 26. Blizzard. Trains again stopped.
Feb. 1. Railroads again blockaded.
Feb. 3. Longest snow storm of the winter sets in from the southeast. Continues
four days. Fifteen days' blockade begins.
Feb. 11. Another blizzard. Continues two days.
Feb. 16. First train from the east for fifteen days arrives at Worthington.
Feb. 18. Blizzard. Last eastern train arrives.
Feb. 22. Snow storm.
March 4. Blizzard all day. Worthington schools close for lack of fuel.
March 5. Fair weather begins, lasting five days. Main line road opens except
strip between St. James and Windom.
March 11. Terrific blizzard, continuing two days. All roads blockaded worse
than ever.
March 24. Fuel famine at Adrian. People burning screenings, tailings, hay,
straw, oats, corn, rags and anything that will burn.
March 30. Main line road shoveled out and train arrives from the east— first
in nearly six weeks. West end and branch roads still blockaded. [4]
April 5. First train arrives from Sioux City. Carries letters dated Feb. 21.
Road open three days. [5]
April 8. Snowed again. Traffic stopped. Train from St. Paul tied up at Windom.
Train from Sioux City gets as far as Sibley.
April 11. More snow.
April 12. North wind drifts snow, making complete blockade. The blockade has
now been in force ten weeks, with only five trains from the east.
April 13. Thermometer registers zero.
April 16. First train in from the east.
April 17. Main line opened. First freight train for 11 weeks reaches
Worthington and delivers 50,000 pounds of freight. Several freight trains pass
during the day. That night first train to pass over the Sioux Falls branch for
nine weeks makes its way from Worthington to Luverne.
April 26. Worthington schools reopen.
For four days there was fairly regular service on the railroads. Then came the
floods, caused by the melting snow, and on April 20 traffic was again suspended.
For ten days not a train ran over the line of the Sioux City & St. Paul, and not
until May 2 was regular service established.
Talk of the construction of another railroad into Nobles county was begun in
1881, and the road was built the next year. In May it was given out that the
Burlington system was planning to build a branch line north into Minnesota. The
first intimation the people of Nobles county had of this was when a preliminary
survey was made to Worthington in May.
This was followed in September by the appearance of agents of the road, who
submitted a proposition to the residents of eastern Nobles county. They asked
that $15,000 and a free right of way be pledged, in which case the road would be
built to Worthington during 1882 and the depot located within a half mile of the
business center of the village. The proposition was accepted. The amount was
pledged, the agreement being signed by nearly all the business and monied men of
the county seat town.
The railroad officials were not prompt in beginning the work, and there was
much speculation as to whether or not the road would be built. In June, 1882,
the matter was definitely decided. Burlington officials came to Worthington and
submitted a new proposition. They stated that the road would be constructed at
once providing the people would vote a bonus of $21,300. Again did the people of
eastern Nobles county agree to the terms. The bonus to be voted was divided
among the several interested townships as follows: Worthington township, $5,500;
Worthington village, $6,300; Indian Lake, $3,000; Bigelow, $2,000; Elk, $2,000;
Lorain, $2,500. The elections were held on different days in June, and the bonus
was voted. [6]
Grading contracts were let for the line north from Spirit Lake in July, and an
army of workers was at once put in the field. The road was completed to
Worthington October 7, and the driving of the last spike was made a memorable
occasion. It was a gala day, and the people were present en masse. The driving
of the spike that united the new road with the Omaha was driven with ceremonies
by Rev. D. G. Gunn and Mayor C. H. Smith, of Worthington, amid the ringing of
all the bells of the village and the firing of cannon and anvils. Regular train
service was established October 18. [7] As a result of the building of this road
another Nobles county town, Round Lake, came into existence.
But the building of the new road was not the only thing that brought gladness
to the hearts of the people of Nobles county in 1882. The farmers gathered the
largest and best crop ever before seen in the county, and as good as was ever
grown anywhere. Said the Advance on August 31:
"To sum up: We have a big crop in the stack and a prospect of the best,
briskest and livliest times we have ever seen in this county. We are sure of a
lively fall and winter trade, and farmers, merchants, laborers, everybody, will
feel like 'human bein's' "
An event of not great importance in itself, but which resulted in quite an
issue, was the park vacation matter, which troubled the people of Nobles county
early in 1883. The prevailing good times had brought activity in business and
improvements. All the towns in the county felt the effect of prosperity, and out
of the good times grew the strife over the "park proposition." Messrs. Miller &
Thompson, of Rock Rapids, wanted to engage in business in Worthington and were
prepared to erect a handsome business block there. They could find no site
suitable, and coveted the court house square. They submitted a proposition,
agreeing to erect a brick block, 50x100 feet, with a public hall in the second
story, providing the east corner of the public park (the property of the county)
could be secured as a site.
On December 29, 1882, a petition was circulated among the business men of
Worthington, the prayer of which was that the county commissioners should lay
off into lots 125 feet of the public square, facing Tenth street, and sell the
same. They were asked to take this action only on consideration that the Sioux
City & St. Paul Railroad company, which had conditionally donated the block to
the county, would relinquish its rights for a small consideration, and that the
building as outlined above should be erected during the year 1883. The petition
was signed by most of the leading business men of Worthington. [8]
The commissioners considered the petition Jan. 2, 1883. The motion prevailed
that the request of the petitioners be complied with, Commissioners Daniel
Shell, Maurice O'Hearn and P. Blaine voting in the affirmative and T. L. Taylor
and James Cowin opposing. Mr. Shell was directed to confer with the railroad
officials to obtain their assent to the sale. The latter offered no serious
objection. Many of the residents of the county did, however, and the matter
became a much mooted question. Those favoring the plan argued that the county
would realize several thousand dollars from the sale of the lots and that
Worthington would secure several hundred thousand dollars worth of improvements
in a short time. Those opposed protested from a sentimental viewpoint; they
desired not the abridgment of the beautiful public park. Strong opposition
developed, especially in the west end, and the park was kept intact.
This was not the only question that troubled the people of the county in the
early days of 1883. During the time the park vacation argument was at its
height, there came the agitation for the removal of the county seat to. Adrian.
The west end had been making vast strides during the few years preceding, and
Adrian had become .a town of considerable importance. When the people of the
west end metropolis decided to have a try at the county seat they went at it in
earnest.
No satisfactory county seat removal law graced the Minnesota statute books,
and the residents of western Nobles county set to work to secure the passage of
a special law allowing the people to vote on the question of removal to Adrian.
Excitement was at fever heat in the west end. Men with teams scoured the western
and central portions of the county securing signatures to a petition to be
presented to the legislature, asking for the passage of such an act. Something
less than 600 signatures of voters were obtained.
The plan for a special law, such as Adrian first proposed to advocate, was
abandoned. But through the efforts of Nobles county people a general county seat
removal law was introduced and passed the senate. It failed to pass the house,
and the legislature adjourned without complying with the request of the citizens
of western Nobles county. The question was definitely settled for two years at
least.
Nobles county's last township was organized in 1883. The following settlers of
township 103-42 asked for its organization: Andrew Thompson, John J. Thompson,
Geo. TJmbaugh, Abraham Abrahamson, Gunder Hansen, M. S. Conley, Geo. Budge,
Henry Slater, Anton Titenberg, Eranz Kurchel, H. D. Hosmer, John W. Johnson,
Peter Wiese, Samuel J. Hamilton, Sam Nelson, J. P. Hosmer, Timothy Conley, James
Cowin, Thos. Barnett, Ed. Cooper, Jos. Cowin, C. J. Swanson, Alphonse Spitz,
Joseph O'Grady, John J. McCormack. The board granted the petition March 6, and
on March 27 the first town meeting was held at the residence of Andrew Thompson
on section 32.
The new township was named Larkin, in honor of John Larkin, of New York city,
one of the prominent workers in the Catholic Colonization association, and a
brother of Mrs. Maurice O'Hearn, who recently died at her home in Grand Prairie
township. Mr. O'Hearn was county commissioner at the time the township was
formed. As was the case with several of the last townships organized, a name was
not selected without contention. Soon after the name was designated by the
commissioners, a resident of the new town wrote:
"Now it is certain that a gross fraud has been committed in this case, as the
petitioners requested it should be named Grove, and it was so stated in the
petition when signed by them, the name being changed on the face of the petition
by a certain party who has no authority to do so, and who makes his home and
carries on his business in the village of Adrian. The petition has been tampered
with, and criminal proceedings will be taken against the man for so doing. The
only connection he holds with the town is by holding a quarter section by
suffrance. As to John Larkin, he may be a very good and charitable man, but a
large majority know nothing of him, never having heard his name before."
A tornado visited the northwestern part of the county on Monday, July 21,
1884, and did considerable damage. Miss Cora Graf, daughter of County
Commissioner Emil Graf, of Willmont, was killed, and D. F. Ufford, of Larkin,
was seriously injured. The storm was most severe in Larkin and Lismore
townships. Many buildings were destroyed, stock was lost and killed, and crops
were ruined. The school house in district 43, containing teacher and students,
was carried several feet by the force of the wind, hut fortunately no one was
hurt. Of the results of the storm the Adrian Guardian said:
Cora Graf, daughter of Emil Graf, county commissioner of Willmont, was killed
by being struck on the head by a piece of heavy timber. She was at the barn and
started to go to the house when the storm struck the large barn, 40x54, blowing
off the roof and scattering the heavy timbers, one of which struck her, with the
result recorded above. She was thirteen years of age. . . . Another sad accident
occurred at Jas. Barry's in Larkin township. The new house which they recently
moved into was completely torn to pieces, and D. F. Ufford, Mrs. Barry's father,
was carried a considerable distance, and when found was unable to speak. Dr.
Sullivan was immediately sent for, and upon his arrival found him in a critical
condition— several ribs broken, shoulder dislocated, and shoulder blades
shattered; there was also severe bruises about his head, and at first it was
thought that his injuries would prove fatal, but the doctor now has hopes of his
recovery.
Another railroad was built through a portion of the county in September, 1884.
The Burlington constructed a line northwest from Lake Park, which passed through
the southwest corner of Grand Prairie* township. The village of Ellsworth was
founded that fall, and soon took its place as one of the best towns in the county.
The year 1884 was one of the most prosperous in the county's history, and was
a year of jubilee. Exclusive wheat farming had been found unprofitable, and only
a limited acreage was sown. Instead of raising only wheat, farmers raised flax
and hay, and turned their attention to stock raising and dairying more than
formerly. Flax growing became one of the big industries. There was an immense
crop in this year of jubilee, and it commanded a big price. Hay was also a big
price, and an unusual quantity was put up, pressed and shipped. Flax, hay,
butter and cattle were the principal exports; other products shipped out of the
county were wheat, oats, barley, wool, hides, eggs, potatoes and timothy. The
following table shows the shipments (car loads) of principal exports during the
year from the various railroad stations:
STATION Flax Live Stock Hay
Worthington 85 48 115
Bigelow 40 4
Hersey 13 21
Kinbrae 17 36
Adrian. 182 21
Rushmore 35 16
Ellsworth 101 3
Totals 472 92 172
The excellent crops had a good effect on the real estate market, which was
more active than it had been at any time previous, with the possible exception
of 1872. The value of lands sold during the year was $549,639. The results of
prosperous times were seen in building improvements in all parts, of the county
and in the prompt payment of debts. The farmers were at last firmly on their
feet, and the high road to wealth was henceforth open. The recovery from the
grasshopper scourge was almost complete.
The census of 1885 gave the county a population of 5,642, a gain of 1,207, or
about 25 per cent, in five years. The population was divided by precincts as
follows:
Adrian Village 533
Bisrelow 252
Bloom 115
Dewald 181
Elk 98
Graham Lakes 262
Grand Prairie 580
Hersey 196
Indian Lake 234
Larkin 84
Leota 174
Lismore 182
Little Rock 382
Lorain 106
Olney 204
Ransom 208
Seward 150
Summit Lake 89
Westside 228
Willmont 205
Worthington Township 182
Worthington Village 997
Total [9] 5,642
The legislature of 1885 passed a county seat removal bill, providing for the
submission of the question of removal to the voters in any county in the state
after certain formalities had been complied with. The act provided for the
removal if the town seeking the honor should receive 55 per cent of the vote.
There was some talk of the west end metropolis entering the race, but no formal
action was taken. The rapid advancement of the west side during the early
eighties caused Adrian to be hopeful of some day securing the honor. The
vigorous growth is shown by the census figures. In 1880 the eight western
townships had a population of only 1616, to 2,193 to the eastern eight, while
there were 526 in the middle tier. In 1885 the west end had distanced the east
end. Then there were 2,572 in the west, to 2,477 in the east, with 593 in the
middle tier.
Another excellent crop was harvested in 1885, and everybody made money. As a
result there was a big immigration in the fall. New settlers poured into the
county, and the real estate transfers were numerous. The next year was also a
prosperous one, the real estate transfers amounting to $565,799. The Burlington
road that year built a branch line from Ellsworth to Rock Rapids, thus adding
another railroad to the county, although only a short distance of the road was
in Nobles county. A strange contrast were these days of the eighties with those
of the decade before. Compare this item from the Worthington Globe at the close
of the year 1887 with some of ten years earlier:
"In our own immediate vicinity all branches of industry have been unusually
prosperous. Mechanics have generally been busy, labor has been in demand, and
the weather has been favorable for all kinds of business, and the country is
very rapidly recovering from the grasshopper scourge, which impoverished so many
people a few years ago."
During the history of the Northwest there have been a few winter storms of
such unnatural severity that they stand out as events of historical importance.
The most severe of these awful, storms was the blizzard of January 7, 8 and 9,
1873, an account of which has been given. Ranking second was the terrible
blizzard of January 12, 1888, when scores of people perished in the country. In
Nobles county three lives were sacrificed and many people became lost in the
storm and were badly frozen.
Two Hollanders, Jacob DeVries and Douwe Postma, were caught in the storm and
froze to death, one in Bloom township, the other in Summit Lake. The third death
was that of Seselia Knutson, wife of Knut Knutson. She perished in the country
near Rushmore. People caught in the storm in different part of the country
wandered for miles over the prairies, not knowing where they were. Several were
so badly frozen that it was necessary to amputate hands, feet or limbs. Even
people in the villages were, in some instances, unable to reach home and took
refuge in the nearest houses. Much stock was lost.
In August, 1888, came one of the most severe hail storms ever witnessed in the
county, causing much damage to crops ^ in the southwestern portion of the
county. In places the fall of hail was remarkable. [10]
During the late eighties the people were blessed with good crops and
prosperous times. The result was a big increase in population. In 1890 the
federal census disclosed the fact that there were 7,958 people residing in the
county. This was a gain of 3,523 in ten years and 2,316 in five years. The
population by precincts was as follows:
Adrian Village 671
Bigelow 408
Bloom 175
Dewald 320
Elk 248
Ellsworth Village 258
Graham Lakes 561
Hersey 282
Indian Lake 320
Larkin 185
Leota 185
Lismore 328
Little Rock 438
Lorain 234
Olney 257
Ransom 249
Seward 324
Summit Lake 148
Westside 310
Willmont 329
Wbrthington Township 289
Worthington Village 1,164
Total 7,958
The citizens of the west end of the county adopted new tactics concerning the
county seat question early in 1893. Instead of agitating the removal of the seat
of government to Adrian, a plan of dividing the county and forming a new one,
with Adrian as the county seat, was conceived. Hardly had the legislature
convened that year when a number of the representative citizens of Adrian
requested a conference with a like number of the prominent citizens of
Worthington for the purpose of talking over certain matters, about which their
interests and views were supposed to differ—notably the matter of the removal of
the county seat. It was made known that it was the desire of the west end people
to arrive at an amiable settlement of the controversy.
The Worthington people accepted the invitation, and a conference was held
Saturday, January 14. The subject of the division of the county was brought up
and discussed. In a neighborly way the feasibility of dividing Nobles county and
creating another one was debated. There was no inclination to take hasty action
in the matter. The proposition was a new one, and it was deemed best to take
more time for consideration. The subject matter was left in the hands of a
committee for further investigation, and arrangements were made for future
conference. [11]
Hardly had the conference adjourned before the people of the central part of
the county were up in arms against the movement. They saw what they believed to
be a conspiracy. Here were the erstwhile rivals, Worthington and Adrian, in
earnest and friendly consultation, secretely planning to divide the county
without consulting the wishes of the people through whose country the boundary
line must run. [12] They arose in their might and denounced the proposed
dismemberment, calling a mass meeting to be held at Rushmore January 28. [13]
The plan resulted only in "talk," and no such measure as proposed was presented
to the legislature.
ENDNOTES
[1] Population of adjacent counties according to the 1880 census: Cottonwood,
5,554; Jackson, 4,795; Murray, 3,609; Pipestone, 2,093; Rock, 3,669.
[2] "Hiram Allen arrived on Tuesday from Fulda, having made the trip in about
an hour and a half on a snow boat. The structure is a simple one, having merely
a pair of snow shoes for runners, with crosspieces, a board to sit on and. a
light mast to support the sail. Mr. A. tells us that he has made a half dozen
trips, one of eighteen miles to Luverne in an hour and a half. Also that a few
days ago a party of six left Fulda for Fairmont on one of these snow sail boats.
They left Fulda about five o'clock in the evening and reached Fairmont at nine
the next morning, a distance of seventy miles.
"Messrs. Loveless and Day are now having one made of considerable size, and
if the snow lasts a few weeks longer, men will be sailing over the prairies at
the rate of seven knots an hour as easily as they can sail on our
lakes."—Worthington Advance, March 24, 1881.
[3] Compiled largely from newspaper accounts.
[4] "The east end of the main line was cleared on Tuesday [March 29], and
yesterday [March 30] a train left here for St. Paul. A train also left St. Paul
and reached here last evening. Yesterday the road was clear on the west end from
Bigelow west, and. the forces doubled on the big cut this side, and today a
train is expected from Sioux City. The branch is opening up rapidly and will
probably be open to Luverne today or tomorrow and to Sioux Falls by Saturday.
The long blockade is over . .
It lacked just two days of being six weeks since we had a train from the
east."—Worthington Advance, March 31, 1881.
[5] "Our old friend Boreas sticks closer than a brother. We did hope that the
Advance would miss it in predicting that we would not have regular trains before
the middle of April, but it looks as though we could extend the time somewhat
and still be correct."—Worthington Advance, April 7, 1S81.
[6] In Worthington village the vote was 145 to 2; in Worthington township 21
votes were cast, all in favor of the bonus; Lorain township was solid for the
bonus; and in Bigelow it had two majority.
[7] The road is now a branch of the Rock Island system.
[8] The signers were C. P. Hewitt, W. G. Martine, Otis Bigelow, Geo. M.
Plumb, Henry Davis, C. H. Smith, Mons Grinager, J. A. Town, H. H. Anderson, H.
E. Torrance, Azom Forbes, C. W. Smith, S. S. Hewitt, M. S. Twitchell, W. F.
Thayer, W. A. Peterson, H. C. Shepard, R. D. Barber, A. S. Husselton, A; P.
Miller, E. S. Mills, F. H. Wells, Thos. H. Parsons, L. B. Bennett, B. F. Johnson
and S. McLean.
[9] Populations of other nrarby counties: Rock, 5,243; Murray, 4,216;
Pipestone, 3,897.
[10] An Ellsworth citizen tells me that in that village he saw hail stones
piled up to the depth of about four feet where they had fallen between two
buildings.
[11] Changes were spoken of which may, if they are carried, add another
county to the state of Minnesota. The matter will doubtless be discussed for a
considerable time before any measure will be matured to ask the concurrence of
the people interested. We shall give further details when we are in possession
of further light. The committee to whom the matter is referred must consult
before any further movement is made."—Worthington Advance, Jan. 19, 1893.
[12] The fact that such a meeting was held was known, but the deliberations
were not made public. The Worthington Advance resented the statement that it was
a secret meeting and said: "There was no secret for anybody to keep. The Advance
stated the substance of the talk in its next issue, nor was there any suggestion
made from any quarter that we should not make the matter public. There was no
conspiracy thought of against any portion of our county, and the interests of
the people of all parts of the county were kindly and thoughtfully spoken of. In
fact, nothing was said that anybody would be ashamed of."
[13] "Whereas it has been announced that the citizens of Adrian and
Worthington are holding a series of secret meetings for the purpose of
dissecting Nobles county for their own selfish ends, be it therefore
"Resolved, that we, the citizens of the center tier of townships, in council
assembled, denounce such action as a conspiracy against the best interests of
the county at large, and call upon all honest men to oppose the scheme, and be
it further
"Resolved, that all citizens of said county who are interested in their own
welfare be, and they are hereby, requested to attend a mass meeting to be held
in the Rushmore school house on Saturday, Jan. 28, 1893, at two p. m.
"A. SCHAEFFER,
"W. DOUD,
"A. W. FERRIN,
"Committee."
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY
MINNESOTA
BY
ARTHUR P. ROSE
NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA
PUBLISHERS
1908
