The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-10-10
VALENTINE BEST DEAD.
An Octo-genarian Passes Over
the Line at the Fair
b Grounds.
For Him Butcher Nelson Was Hunu
Over Thirteen Years
Ago..

grounds shortly after dinner last Fri
day. The discoverers were Mrs.
James Welch and Bertha Poske.
As soon as they saw the body they
took fright and ran to town. The
Poske girl thought that Best was only
asleep while Mrs. Welsh was very
sure that he was dead. Neither of
them knew just who the body was.
They informed Patrolman Frank
French of their find and he immediate
ly left for the grounds and found the
man dead enough and also recognized
the body as that of Val. Best. The
man had been dead several days as
the body was in horrible state of de-
composition and vermin was free with
it. Coroner Gibson was notified and
after making an investigation ordered
Skinner & Persons to bring the body
into town. It was placed lie tempor-
ary morgue in the Stove building on
Bridge street and on Saturday morn
ing it was buried at the expense of
the county in the Redwood cemetery
Two or three persons around town
are sure that they saw Best alive a
week ago last Monday. Some think
that the condition of the body shows
him to have been dead a much longer
time. 1t is very probable that the old
man, who was frequently addicted to
the use of liquor had got on to tear
of his own and wandered off to the
fair ground and there died as result
of his spree. It seems almost improb-
able that Best would wander SO
far alone and it is safe to conjecture
that he fell in with some one and they
went out to finish bottle and pass
the night. It is probable that who
ever was with him discovering Best
dead on awakening the next morning,
became frightened over the possible
supposition of his having hand in
the death and left his comrade in de-
bauch until his death was discovered.
There was a report of a hole in the
side of his head, but the report was
false. It is almost positively known
that he had no money in his posses
sion before he left for the fair grounds.
Best was about SS years old. He
came to this country about Is years
ago and took up Homestead under
the homestead laws in the town of I'm
derwood. After proving up he sold
the place and has been around this
city off and on ever since.
He leaves wife in South Dakota,
five sons and two daughters all grown
up. Two of the boys reside in Wis
consin, two in the Dakotas and one,
Gordon R. Best resides in Pipestone,
where he is in the mercantile business.
Gordon visited here last year and
made arrangements for the board and
care of his father as long as he re-
NAMED in one place. He also asked
Monroe Baldwin to take care of him
and if anything happened to see that
everything possible was done and send
the bill to him. The old gentleman
remained at the Redwood house for
three or four months afterward. His
son was billed for the amount and
promptly remitted. Then the old
fellow took to wandering and left the
hotel. He has never been there since.
Mr.. Baldwin was surprised to hear of
his death aud thought that inasmuch
as Best was not boarding at his hotel
it was not his place to notify the son.
There is no doubt but that the son
will reimburse the county as soon as
he is made aware of the death and
facts leading up to the burial.
Best was q harmless old fellow.
The boys had more or less fun at his
lexpense in the early days. Once, it
will be remembered, he sold COW to
butcher named Nelson. who ran q
market which was dubbed the "shot
tower Nelson refused to give down
the amount promised. Best was work
ing on the Willard farm. then man.
aged BY Clinton Fisk. Fisk employed
8 large crew. As soon as the crew
heard Of the facts they came to town