Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/162

 11G EISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY In October, 1889, the main building was accidentally destroyed by fire. The inmates, about thirty in number, all escaped injury, and temporary accommodations were provided for them until a new house was erected. The new building was completed during the following year at a cost of $20,000. It is situated on Spring creek, in the town of Burnside, and presents a very fine appear- ance. There is an artesian well on the premises, and the whole surroundings are such as to make it a pleasant home. The farm is under as good cultivation as any in the neighborhood. The whole is managed by an overseer, who is appointed by the board of commissioners. As has been noted earlier in this history, there was little cause for political rivalry in the earliest days. The first political move- ment having ;i tendency to shape the future complexion of the parties in Goodhue county was a meeting held October 8, 1856, on the corner of Main and Bush streets, Red Wing. Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, was then president of the United Slates. As a matter of course, all appointive officers of the territory were Democrats. Of the United States land office, which was located here, C. Graham was receiver and V. W. Phelps register. The chief justice of the territory, W. II. Welch, also resided here. Henry C. Hoffman was postmaster; Nehemiah Bennett, editor of the "Sentinel," later the "Argus," was justice of the peace. The elective offices for the county were then filled with those who Mere adherents of the party dominant at that time. While no vote for president could be taken here, party interest ran high, and consequently, on October 8, 1856, a grand demonstra- tion rally took place. After a large pile of empty boxes, and other combustible materials, had been fired and allowed to burn for some time for the amusement of the boys and to gather a crowd, an organization was effected by the selection of Dr. F. F. Hoyt as chairman and N. V. Bennett as secretary. W. W. Phelps mounted a dry goods box directly in front of the Teepeetonka Hotel, and for an hour expounded the Democratic side of the compromise measures of 1850, and the Kansas and Nebraska bill of Stephen A. Douglas, commonly known as popular, or squatter, sovereignty. Mr. Graham followed in the same strain. The meet- ing closed after Mr. Graham's speech, but the people did not seem disposed to leave hastily. They gathered into small groups, discussing the matter for themselves. Many young men, and some older ones, had recently come into the territory, expecting to make their homes here. Among them was the Hon. Charles McClure, from Illinois, who had been an anti-slavery man for some years, and who had been acquainted with such men as Abraham Lincoln, Lyman Trumball, Owen Lovejoy, and others. Naturally, to men of the opinion of Mr. McClure, the Democratic