The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-15
Impressive Ceremonies We're
Held This Afternoon.
Unique in Character; the Dead
Were Fittingly EuIogised.

of an impressive character. The
Judges who have presided in this dis
trict, previous to Judge Cray, have
been: Lewis c. Branson, lS5S64; Hor-
ace Austin, lS65-69; NJ. G. Hans
come, 1869; Franklin H. Waite,
lS70-74; A. C. Voolfolk, 1874; d. A..
Dickinson, lS75-Sl; NJ. j. Severance,
1881 1900.
Handsome life size portraits of the
above judges, except Judge Voolfolk,
were yesterday hung upon the wall
at the front of the court room, filling
in the six blank wall spaces The
hanging of these pictures is a highly
appropriate thing.
The memorial on the late Judge
Severance will be found on page two,
as also J. A. Flitties remarks.
! The members of the bar turned
out in force, and numerous specta-
tors occupied seats outside of the
railing. Several attorneys from 9th
er points in the district were present
The grand jury filed in and took
seats in the audience just as the ex-
exercises began.
! AR. Pau was recognized and stat
ed that the committee of the bar as
ISOLATION had prepared memorial ex-
ercises in connection with the hanging
of the portraits of the former judges,
nearly all of whom were dead.
Portraits Were Secured.
Judge Cray said that the bar as
ISOLATION at considerable trouble and
expense had procured portraits of six
of the seven judges, and it was hoped
to get the other later. 1t was very
fitting that the memorial services be
held, particularly over Judge Sever
ance. The memorial services would be-
gin with the first judge, Lewis G..
Bronson.
A. C. Dunn of Winnebago read a
short biographical sketch of Judge
Branson, who was still living some
where in the distant west. Judge
Branson was of Quaker ancestry and
self educated. He was an early ar
rival in Mankato, where two of his
children died. The death of one was
the first death of white person
| in Mankato. While he was judge,
most of the settlers obtained their
Judges deeds. He moved to San
Francisco in 1866, and when his
health failed he went to Virginia City,
New, and when the boom there col
lapsed went to Seattle, Wash, near
which place he still resides. He had
accumulated considerable property, but
nearly all of it was swept away in
the financial panic Of 1898.
Mr. Dunn said that he had begun
the practice of law in this state in
1854 most of the time in this dis
trict The sixth judicial district was
organized in 1857, including all of
southwestern Minnesota. Bronson was
elected Judge, although young law
YER The salary was meagre, $1,000
year. He magnified and dignified
the office. He assumed his duties
in 1858, after the state had been
admitted to the union. The admis-
sion of the state was delayed nearly
year because of the slavery oligarchy
in the United States senate, because
the people would not bow down to
slavery. Most of those who took
part i'm the first term of court held
in Faribault county are dead. The
term was held in a barn fitted up
for the occasion. He addressed the
grand jury for nearly two hours, and
one or two indictments were re-
turned. Judge Bronson was judge dur
ing the period of the civil war and
the Indian uprising, when the coun-
try was unsettled. He wore the jul
diciaI urmine msullied, and no breath
of scandal was ever whispered about
him. Nothing could sway him from
what was just and right. He always
invited the bar to a grand feast
at his home at very term of court,
land his wife was very hospitable.
Modes of travel were primitive. He
Travelled the district ON mule. The
mule was crackerjack, and tie
Judges feet just missed the ground
when he rode. Mr.. Dunn was quite
reminiscent in his remarks.
Judge Cray said that he lad seen
Judge Bronson once, in 1860, at VIM
nebago City, as he rode his donkey
from Blue Earth City to Mankato. He
had ridden into Winnebago for
breakfast, and said he would take
dinner in Mankato. He had hardy
little animal. He was an upright man,
and had his ups and downs. No other
member of the bar now in the dis
trict knew him.
A. R. Pau Speaks of Judge Austin.
A. r. Pfau spoke upon Judge Hor-
ace Austin. His acquaintance with him
as a Judge was not extensive, but
/ later he knew him better as COVER
nor. Mr.. Pau presented a short