The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-31
HON. S. P. CHILD DEAD;
| HAD AN ACTIVE CAREER
Former Resident of This County
Died at Shakopee.
HELD MANY PLACES OF TRUST
Early Pioneer He Did Much to Build
Up This Section OF the State;
Lies Work.
HELD MANY PLACES OF TRUST
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Hon. Simeon P. Child died at his
home near Shakopee,. Saturday night.
The remains were taken to Blue
Earth and to the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs John C.. Mclaughlin where
funeral services will be held tomor.
row morning at 10 O'clock. He was a
member of the Masonic body in that
city and it was his request that the
lodge brethren have charge of the
services. Besides the wife, he is
survived by four children-three
daughters and one son: Mrs. w. C.
Forester, ST. Paul; Mrs. ]. c.. Nc.
Laughlin of this city; Mrs. Andrew
Bottlelson of Thief River Falls. and
Hugh Child, of ST. Paul.
Simeon S. P. Child was born No
vember Is, 1885, in Medina county,
Ohio. His father wts by occupation
a farmer, carpenter and millwright.
When Simeon Was about three
years old his father removed, with
his family, to st. Ilwrence county,
New York, where they remained I'M
til about the year 1S43, when they
returned to Ohio and located in Lake
county. In the fall of 1S45 they re-
moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin.
Simeon and his brother, James E.
Child came to Minnesota in 1854,
and located in Waseca county, in
January, 1855. Waseca was then a
part of Blue Earth county.
Started For Fl. RidgeIy.
IN Eohr,roru IKE Cirooon efo n n
to visit F. Ridgely alone, but when
he had got as far on his way as about
fifteen miles west of ST. Peter, he
found the snow so deep that he
could not proceed, and started to
return, and was caught i'm fierce
snow storm, and his lower limbs
and feet were quite badly frozen !;
but he worried through and at last
got home. His brother went to get
physician, butt. owing to deep
SHOWS and intense cold, he was
gone seven days. During this time
Mr.. Child suffereAa intensely, and
was entirely aless- sssSts n result of
the freezing, his toes had to be
amputated.
In the spring of 1856, he was en-
ployed on the Winnebago Indian
reservation, in Blue Earth county.
Here he had charge of a large
number of breaking teams. He re-
manned on the reservation until the
fall of 1857, when he returned to
Wisconsin, and there spent the win
ter.
In the spring of 1858, he return
ed to WaSeca county, and was mar
ried to Miss Clarissa Northrup, on
the eighth day of August, and COM
menced farming for a living. In
the fall he went to merchandising
at Wilton, in Waseca county, but
returned again to the farm, where
he remained until the breaking out
of the Indian MASSAGE in 1862, when
he enlisted in the militia service.
He served here until in the follow
ing winter, when he went into the
quartermaster's department and went
south with the Federal army. He
was placed in charge of the Little
Rock and Memphis railroad, run
ming the road and keeping it in re-
pair.
In the spring of 1864, he returned
home, his health having failed, and
was ill for two years, and not en-
gagged in any business.
Became Resident of Blue Earth.
In 1866 he removed to Blue Earth
city, where, under the firm name OF
Baldwin & Child, he engaged for
number of years in banking, real
estate and collections, and also
opened a brick yard. He was
member of the house from this .coun
ty in 1872 and 1878, and state sena'
tor in 1874 and 1875.
In the fall of 1875 he was appoint
ed assistant postmaster to the Unit
ed States senate, and acted in that
capacity until June, 1878. In the
meantime, however, he was again a
member of the house from this
county. in the session of 1877.
In 1878 he was appointed United
States postoffice inspector, an ONCE
which he held until the year 1898
and in the performance of the du
ties of which office, he visited Kan
sas. Indian Territory, Texas, New
Mexico. Colorado, Dakota, Oregon
Montana, and in fact all the states
and territories west of the Missouri
river. and many of the southern
states and Old Mexico, his special
work being the collection of evil
dence in the famous star route
cases.
Mr.. Child had always been re
publican in politics. After retiring
from the office of inspector, he was
engaged as the general agent of the
American Surety company of Ne"
York, and opened an office in st
Paul, to which city he removed his
family in 1893.