Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/174

 126 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY for protection, and there remain until the 'Minne Wakan' gave out, and the legitimate results of a 'high old time' had overtaken the carousers. Nothing is known of Hawley's fate, but from a knowledge of his character I would infer that he is at some 'side station' or "switch-off' in that 'undiscovered country from whence no traveler returns. " "In justice to truth and history, I must say something of Wilson Thing, a very eccentric man. a strict vegetarian, a man of strong prejudices, but moral and upright — a good neighbor and an honest man. He was the only justice of the peace for many miles around, and eonsecpiently had a little legal business to perform. Previous to my coming here, as related by an old settler, a fair widow of this place had entered into a marriage contract with a gentleman of St. Paul, and the time was fixed for the consummation of the happy event. AVhen the time arrived, and the parties to the contract were present, a grand difficulty arose. Rev. Mr. Hancock, the only one authorized to solemnize marriages, was absent. The bridegroom was impatient and the bride annoyed. Friends suggested a canoe ride to Trenton and the services of 'Squire Thing' as the only solution of the evils complained of. Of course, under the circumstances, both bride and bridegroom eagerly acceded to the proposition, and in a short time the bridal party was under way for the residence of the justice. They found that worthy representative of the law, as enacted and promulgated by the great and sovereign state of Wisconsin, busily engaged in the rather feminine occupation of washing a two months' accumulation of soiled shirts, he being at that time a bachelor, and he was somewhat embarrassed at the sudden eruption into his sanctum. The bride, however, was plucky, and to relieve the justice, and to give him time to make himself presentable and con over the marriage ceremony, she proposed that herself and mother would finish the laundry opera- tions, while he got ready for his part of the proceedings. This proposition was accepted, and in clue time both the shirt washing and the marriage ceremony were completed, to the satisfaction of all concerned. "As winter approached it became necessary for us to look about for a supply of vegetables for winter use, as there w T ere none to be had on this side of the river. L^pon inquiry, I found that Mr. Thing had planted four or five acres of potatoes, besides some beets and cabbages, which latter we were able to purchase. The potatoes, however, were not to be obtained by the regular business transaction of cash down. In the first place, they were 'planted on the sod;' that is, two rounds were plowed, the pota- toes dropped in the last furrow, and covered by the sod of the next round, and so on. The 'Squire's' field was in the prairie.