The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-09-02
NEWS OF
GENERAL
INTEREST

Former Congressman and Lieutenant
Governor James b. Wakefield died at
Blue Earth last evening. The death OF
Mr.. Wakefield was not unexpected. He
had been in failing health for a num-
Der Of months. He had been making his
home at the COnstans house, and it
was there that he passed away. One
| relative, Carl Bork, a nephew residing
in Minneapolis, was at the bedside
when his uncle died.
Mr. Wakefield had not been able to
get about since early in the summer.
His death was due to general break
| ing down. He was a man of advanced
years.
! The remains were this afternoon
shipped east to Ohio where they will
be inferred. Short funeral services
were held at four O'Clock.
Last spring while Mr.. Wakefield was
walking down the stairs at the Cor
STAINS house, he stumbled and fell, sus-
tanning injuries from which he never
fully recovered.
Was of English Origin.
James Beach Wakefield was of y
good New England family, of English
origin. He was born in. Winstead,
Litchfeld county, Connecticut, March
81. 1928. He graduated at Trinity
college, Hartford, in 1916. He. studied
law with his brotfer-in-law Judge
G. t. Wilder, at Painsville, Ohio. He
was admitted to practice in 1851. He
came to Minnesota in 1854, and first
settled at ShakOpee, where he re-
manned two years, when he removed to
Blue Earth City, and was one OF the
four to organize Faribaut carlnty. The
other three were Harry P. constants,
Daniel B. HITLER, and Speer Spencer.
His lifelong friend, Fl. P. Constans.
, is yet alive and keeps the MOTEL at
Blue Earth City.
Appointed Indian Agent.
After practicing law some three
, years at Blue Earth City, ne was
appointed deputy Indian agent at the
Lower Sioux Agency. He was fortu-
nate in returning to Blue Earth City
just before the Indian outbreak in
1862.
In 1869 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Grant, receiving the land office
for the Winnebago district. He was
receiver for six years and then re.
signed
Mr.. Wakefield was a member o.
the first state legislature in 1893. ant
served in the same branch in 1853 ant
1866 He was speaker of the house il
1866. He. was subsequently in the stat
:. senate in l867.89, resigning in tn,
middle of his second term, to TAX,
the receivership of the land office. III,
held. highly important positions il
both legislative houses.
Elected Lieutenant Governor.
He. was elected lieutenant governo
I IN 1875 and 1877. As an elegant pre-
II siding officer, and as such, very popll
lar. He was always a consistent an
. infiexible republican. He was dele
gate to the national republican conven
tion which nominated General Gran
n for president in 1868, and was chair
: man of the. republican Minnesota dele
3 cation in that body. He was agai
:, q delegate to the convention whic
o nominated President Hays in 1876. H
was Blue ledger Mason and devote
j to the fraternity.
I'll He was married to Miss Nanett
Reinhart, August, 1864, who was a res
I ident of Blue Earth City. she die
!. number of years ago, and he MAJ
5. ried again, his second wife dying
California. He was ever a devote
+ friend and useful citizen to Faribau
o. county. He once held the offices q
le register of deeds and county commi!
sioner Of that county. He was a
ID ways foremost man in his sectio
in of the state.
lg In personal appearance he was (
noble bearing, commanding and dign
l9 fled. He was six feet two inches tai
ne years wore broad brimmed hat 4
. the southern planters style. He fs
OF for several years past, lived in abs,
It. lutte retirement at his old home
a Blue Earth City. His wife died Sc,
s. eral years ago.
AiS was uuiiiS, Chc yCdio VI HIS a.
na tive life, most conspicuous fgu
al in the, state. His genial manners al
r. elegant appearance won for him mut
OF attention and consideration. His dea,
removes one of the fathers of Il
nd state, noble citizen and an elegal
~ and courtly gentleman of the o
di school.
nS - - 49, 49,
From Mondays Daily
Z Fairbanks Morse CO. this NOR
Z, ing secured the contract for laying W
y ~ ter mains to the Catholic Aothe
!" Home in Dukes addition and to t
Evangelical Lutheran seminary in Ea
;, Mankato, at their bid of 1851. +
Bids for this work were opened Ia
=, week at the meeting of the city col
=. missioners and the firm securing t.
- job were the only outside bidders. Il
commission at the former meeting to-
=. the. bids under Amusement with I