The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-02-16

The city owed its name to series Of
peculiar events. It was on February
% Mr.. Redfield first came upon the site.
It took him just a year to acquire from
the owners the land he desired and it
was on February % the first bargain
was made. These condolences point
ing SO directly to Washington's birth
day and the fact that his own name
was George Washington, led him to
call the place as he did.
These things all impressed the citi-
zens OF Washington with the sionifi-
canoe of the date, and, it being already
national holiday, it became for that
town the chief holiday of the year. The
Fourth of July was nothing as COM
pared to Washington's birthday. and
Christmas and Thanksgiving day were
not mentioned in the same breath by
these patriotic townspeople.
II there was any one thing more
than another that the citizens of Wash
ington were proud of, it was it's band.
Its organization had been the result OF
an accident. The Washington's birth
day celebrations had come to be great
affairs. They always had parade in
the afternoon ending finally in the
Courthouse square, where Maj Conger
had a chance to air his oratory. Judge
Marsh. too, was always ready with a
culogy upon the father of his country.
and Schoolmaster Perkins was never
denied the privilege of adding a pa
%,,sO E. L.
scholars to those he gave every FIVE
days in the week.
But the Washington band was the
pride and delight of the citizens. and it's
music was the great feature of the day.
as it was the great feature of the night
when after display of fireworks it
furnished the measure to which gallant
youth and maiden fair tripped until
the hand of the clock in the town hall
pointed warningly to the small figures
upon its dial.
1t was on the night of one of these
balls when the city was but five years
old that the music engaged from the
neighboring town of Charlton had
failed to arrive. In the disappoint-
ment which ensued the idea of a band
of their own was born. The idea grew
and waxed strong. The citizens freely
subscribed money for the instruments
and uniforms, and Joe Harmon was
unanimously elected drum major. The
hustle and activity noted at the begin
ming of this story indicated celebra-
ton. 1t was the morning Of Washing
tons annual fete. 1t was the ami
versary of Gen. George Washington's
birthday, and it was the tenth birth
day of this little city of Washington.
eff Joe Harmon was only here again
to lead the band, said many people that
morning.
Judge Marsh and his family were
among the early settlers in the new
town. His daughter julie, but fourteen
years old when she came to live in
Washington, was soon a great favorite
with all her new acquaintance. The
girls all loved her and the lads all, with
barely an exception, laid their fresh
hearts at her feet
Joe Harmon was her first friend. He
CHANGED to render her father valuable
service on the day of the arrival at
Washington, and Jules look of graft
tude and her thanks made the young
man a slave.
Joe Harmon was considered almost as
part of the town. He had come with
Mr.. Redfeld, but after that gentleman's
death, which occurred just as the new
enterprise had become an assured sue
cess, Joe drifted from the factory and
sought other employment The coming
of Judge Marsh made a change in the
young mans prospects. He developed
a taste for the law and the opportunity
being given he began reading for that
profession in the judges Office.
Joe was very social in his disposition
and became the natural leader of the
amusements in the town. A born mu-
sician, he was chosen as leader of the
band organized while he was still in
Judge Marsh's Office.
His popularity led him into the outer
circle Of politics and at the spring cleo
ton, wnen ne was JUST past nrs LweuCy-
fourth year, he was elected city treas
urer.
Thrown much together, as. were Joe
and julie, it was not to be wondered at
that they became lovers. 1t was such q
matter-of-fact affair that when the en-
gagement was announced it created not
q ripple of surprise. His proposal was
in accord with the whole affair.
'Ju1e," he said, on the night Of the
celebration following his election to.
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