Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/308

 218 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY In the spring of 1857 the first bridge was built over the north branch of the Zumbro river and eovered with sided poplar poles, and these poles did service as a covering or, more properly, a flooring for three years and then the bridge was floored with plank. In the year 1862. 1 believe, a new bridge was built with an additional bent in the middle. In the following winter that middle bent was knocked oui by the ice and senl down the river. Tli£ bent was replaced only to be knocked out again by the next winter's breakup. In the year 1869 a more substantial structure was erected. Note: This bridge still remains and is preeminently the Zumbrota landmark.) In the spring of 1857 a Congrega- tional Society was organized and all professing Christians of all denominations, with all others favorable to religious services, united cordially in supporl of such services on the Sabbath. In tlm summer of 1857 the public hall was buill and furnished, a place for meetings and schools Tor a uumber of years. In the fall of L857 came the greal financial m-isis. which made the great financiers of the country tremble in their hoots. We people of Zumbrota, however, did not feel its effecl until the spring of 1858, and those of lis who were here during that year have doubtless a very vivid recollection of those hard times. If we could blol thai year from our past record, the record would be more pleasing retrospect than it is. Doubtless there are men among us now in good circumstances and position, who can look back to tlnil year of rutabagas and corn cake, and feel thankful that their lines have since fallen in mure pleasanl places. The crisis jusl referred to was the means of retarding the settlement of Zumbrota for many years. .Men who had planned to move OUl here with their families were unable to do so because they were unable to sell their property in the East. Bence our growlh was very slow for some years after the first set 1 lenient. Then came the war of the rebellion, which seemed to upset all previous calculations. All we could exped to do during those dark days was to maintain a mere existence. At the call for volunteers some of oui- very worthy young men enlisted and went into active service in defense of the government. Amos Scofield. (ieorge Scofield. John Morrell. William Peck. Edward Davis, and others, are all sleeping in southern graves today, but the mere mention of their names touches a tender spot in many of our hearts. In the years of 1862-63 was built our first church, and in 1866 was built our first school building. Soon after the building of the Congregational church just referred to, our Baptist friends, who for some time had been worshiping as a separate organization, built them a nice little church, and later the Methodist Episcopal society built themselves a comfortable place of worship."