Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/161

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTS 115 of Congress from Ohio, some of the bonds were sold for seventy cents cash, both of these men, themselves, taking small amounts. Red Wing men, when the pinch came, were for the most part very reluct ant to invest their money in these bonds; and when they did so, asked very large discounts. The building of the courthouse was undertaken at the instance ■of Red Wing interests. The taxpayers in the interior were opposed to the enterprise, hoping in time to secure a division of the county, or the location of the public buildings at a more cen- tral point. AY lien the board of supervisors succeeded the county commissioners, the county townships had a larger representa- tion, and acting in accordance with the will of their constituents, they sought to avoid for the county the responsibility of the con- tract made by their prede< essors in office. As already mentioned, however, the legal advice satisfied the board that the contract was legal and binding, and rather than risk involving the county in heavy damages, the contract was allowed to proceed, and the courthouse was completed within the time specified in the agree- ment. For countless decades the building will remain as a monu- ment to those early commissioners, who had the broadness of mind and strength of purpose to look ahead, and to plan for what the county was to become, regardless of the opposition and petty jealousies which surrounded them in their day and generation. During the time the courthouse was building a feeling of dis- satisfaction with the township system became general throughout the state, and in 1860 an act was passed by the legislature pro- viding that each and every county should have a board of county commissioners, and that in those counties in which at the last gen- eral election there were cast eight hundred votes or over, the said board should consist of five members, and in all other counties of three members, who should hold their offices for one year, or until their successors were elected and cpialifiecl. This law went into effect April 1, 1860. The last board of supervisors adjourned January 10, 1860, and the first board session of the board of com- missioners commenced June 4, following. The board was com- posed of J. A. Thacher, H. L. Bevans, J. A. Jackson, A. Hilton and E. A. Sergeant. Mr. Thatcher was chosen chairman of the board. Before completing the mention of the courthouse, it might be well to state that, with some alterations, the same building is still doing good service. Another building, upon the same block, was erected in 1887 for a sheriff's residence and a jail. In 1861 a large farm was purchased by the county commissioners at a cost of $3,000, for the purpose of providing a home for the poor. Necessary buildings were erected thereon at a cost of $5,737.18. These buildings were completed and ready for occupancy in 1867.