Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/143

Rh Charles Spates, for services as supervisor, $5; H. S. Simmons, burial expenses of a German pauper, $6; total, $11. At this session of the board the first grand and petit juries were selected, the former consisting of fifty members and the latter of seventy-two members. The jurors were divided between Goodhue and Wabasha counties according to population, the two counties, as previously noted, being attached together for judicial purposes.

A readjustment of the assessment districts was also agreed upon. The first district included that portion of the county between Hay creek and the northwestern line of the county; the second district included that portion between Hay creek and Potter's creek; the third district was composed of the remaining portion of the county. A vacancy was declared to exist in the second district, which was filled by the appointment of P. Vandenberg. Wacoota precinct was established. It embraced the southeastern portion of the county and was separated from Red Wing precinct by a line commencing at the mouth of Potter's creek, thence along that creek to its head, and thence on a line due south to the county line. J. O. Weatherby was appointed justice of the peace for Red Wing, and W. R. Culbertson and Joseph Middaugh were named as constables in the Red Wing precinct. The clerk of the court and the register of deeds were directed to procure a case for each of their offices suitable for filing papers. The register of deeds was also directed to procure blank books for the use of the county, one for his own office and one for the clerk of the court. Provisions were made to secure permanent offices for the use of the county officials. In the months of May and June P. Sandford erected a small frame building next west of his residence on Main street in the present city of Red Wing, for a law office, this being the first law office erected in the city. This building was used by Mr. Sandford himself, as clerk of the court, and by the register of deeds, the treasurer when he had official business to transact, and by the board of county commissioners when they held their meetings. The sheriff and the treasurer for the most part "carried their offices in their hats." This pioneer lawyer's office was also used as a court house for the first term of court held in the county in 1854. It was also occupied by the United Stales land office in the spring of 1855, and until more commodious quarters could be secured. It was in this building that the first government sale of lands was made in the county.

The next meeting of the board of county commissioners was held on the second day of April, when Florence precinct was established, bounded as follows: "Commencing at the mouth of Wells creek, on Lake Pepin, and running up that creek to the main bluff: thence south to the county line; thence along the