“A young man never feels so much at a loss what to do, as when he takes his girl to a picnic, a big ant crawls down her back and begins to bite her just above the belt, and she begins to scream for help.” This quip was published in the Caledonia Journal in September 1879. Percival “Perk” Steffen, who owned that newspaper for 36 years (1922 to 1958), at some point, decided to preserve history by creating a scrapbook of Journal clippings from years gone by, long before his ownership.
Among his selected scrapbook clippings from the 1870s, there were several lengthy reports, mostly about the railroad tracks being laid toward Caledonia, but far more brief items, often tinged with witticism. “The wolf hunters returned from their search last week without a scalp to exhibit as a trophy of victory. We never had much fear for the wolves.” Evidently, there was far more success down the road as the repot closed with, “But would it not be well to send for a few of those wholesale wolf destroyers who live in Houston?”
“We stated last week that Mrs. Nellie Grant Satoris was dead. This was a lie. It was her sister-in-law who died.”
From August 13, 1879, “Monday morning of last week a little child, about one year old of John Boltz while crawling around in the second story fell through a stove pipe hole to the floor below, about ten feet, striking on his head and shoulders. The child was but little hurt, escaping death by a miracle.”
“We noticed a big, strapping galoot, sound and able-bodied, in the shape of a man, on the streets last Wednesday, turning the crank of a hand organ. He did not “rake in many chips” here. He went west.”
On preserving autumn leaves, “You can’t pick up the family Bible at this season of the year without making your wife and sister scream, and filling the room with scattered ferns and autumn leaves in all stages of pressedness.”
Fifteen years after the fact, readers were reminded about the deadliest day in American military history (23,000 casualties), “Capt. Harries is suffering from the effects of a rebel bullet he received in the breast at Antietam.”
In 1877, there were 95 common schools in Houston County with 55 frame buildings, 29 log schools, five constructed of stone and four brick schoolhouses. Among the 4,353 students having been educated, there were 273 graded pupils in Caledonia, 246 at Hokah, 242 at Brownsville, 155 at Houston, 142 at La Crescent, 97 at Spring Grove. The average monthly wage of male teachers was $39.02, females $26.87.
Editor A. F. Booth was consistently critical of consumption of alcohol, including a temperance quip when reporting in late 1874 about construction of a large tank to hold water raised from a municipal windmill. “All the thirsty Caledonian in the future needs to do to obtain water is to hold out his pail … In the future there is no excuse for living wholly on fermented fluids.”
At an 1877 Catholic meeting in Houston, “a large number of persons were confirmed and several took the temperance pledge. The priest gave good counsel and wise instruction.”
An 1877 act of nature mostly disrupted the day of saloon patrons. “The earthquake which visited the northwest last week seems to have been felt more severely at Caledonia than any other point in southern Minnesota. Three or four men were thrown violently to the floor, and were badly shaken up after they fell. This was in a saloon. In other parts of town the shock was doubtless great, but people were too busy to give it much attention.”
After an 1877 accidental shooting death in Shipsted’s saloon in Houston, the Journal declared, “Who is responsible for Kane’s death? – Every man who favors selling intoxicating liquors; they cannot shirk the responsibility by saying “I am not my brothers keeper.” While rum selling is countenanced and looked upon as a laudable occupation by a majority of the community, these horrors will continue. But the day of reckoning will come, and God will deal justly.”
Whiskey and crime were news in 1879, “Jacob Myres, of Winnebago, was returning from Brownsville, where he had been to market with a load of wheat, when near Walter Colleran’s in Mayville, two men sprang out of the bushes by the road side and one of them caught his horses by the head, while the other approached the wagon and demanded money and whisky. Mr. Myres denied having, whereupon the man commenced beating and striking him. He repelled the attack as best he could, and hallowed (hollered) at the top of his voice, this seemed to frighten the men who ran into a cornfield. Mr. Myres immediately hitched his team and repard (sp) to Mr. Colleran’s house and gave the alarm. Mr. Colleran and several others armed themselves and went in pursuit of the ruffians, whom they succeeded in driving from the cornfield but failed to capture. Travelers should go armed.”
That same year in Spring Grove, “a pair of pants and a lot of shirts” were removed during the burglary of the store of Mons Fladager one Sunday night. “The thieves entered by breaking through the back window. The thieves seemed to have no desire above shirts and pants, as the money drawer containing about $7 was not disturbed. No arrests have been made. Had not heard a word of it until I received your card of inquiry, hence the excitement was not very great.”
“Some of the boys who are in the habit of stealing watermelons, crab-apple, etc. have been captured – Now boys, cheese it, or we will publish your names. Would you like that?
After an apparent suicide in the jail, the newspaper admitted, “This is the first we have heard of the affair, but it is not to be supposed that we can keep track of all these little things in a town so large as Caledonia.”
Lee Epps earned an undergraduate degree in History from Oklahoma State University and a graduate degree in History from the University of Michigan.
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