Stumbling upon an important primary source text in the Prescott Transcript, we offer from (especially) long ago an extended series of snippets this week from Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address. Then, as now, the country was divided and yet persevered. Also included is some local editorial comment on the momentous speech.

35 Years Ago March 6, 1986

Old City Landmark Demolished (photo) The fire gutted remains of Rose Starck’s home on Orange Street were demolished Monday, March 3rd by Johnson Construction Co. of Prescott. Fire destroyed the home on January 14, 1985. Mike Simones, owner of the property, said there are no immediate plans for the lot. Simones also owns the Price Rite Liquor, adjacent to the property.

55 Years Ago PIERCE COUNTY HERALD March 17, 1966

GEO. TRUTTMAN, 75, WEDS MARIE HYNDING, “70” Saturday the marriage of Geo. Truttman, 75, Hager area farmer, to Marie Hynding, took place at SVEA Lutheran Church, Hager City.

70 Years Ago THE RIVER FALLS JOURNAL

with which has been consolidated The River Falls Times and The River Falls Sentinel March 8, 1951 Spring Valley Tourney Brings Tears, Cheers, Cars in Snow The Spring Valley basketball tournament last week brought tears and cheers, bad road conditions, and practically everything in the book. In the first place, River Falls dropped their first game to Menomonie, which put them out of the championship running.

85 Years Ago ELLSWORTH RECORD March 19, 1936

ALGOMA BOY ELECTED GRID CAPTAIN AT FALLS The election of captain for the ensuing year in football and basketball was the feature event of the banquet given to the basketball and football lettermen by the faculty of the River Falls State Teachers college Wednesday of last week.

Merton Wulf, a sophomore from Algoma, Wis., was chosen as captain of the football team.

IRELAND’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM TOPIC AT ST. PATRICK’S PARTY Father James Sheridan of Fairview gave an interesting talk on Ireland’s fight for freedom at the St. Patrick’s party at St. Francis church hall last Sunday night… (story continues).

100 Years Ago PRESCOTT TRIBUNE March 17, 1921

The Taylor-Fleming Gospel Team open their evangelistic meetings The Rev. Myron E. Taylor and Mr. Howard L. Fleming are steadily winning their way into the hearts of the people of Prescott…A partial list of Mr. Taylor’s subjects will be: Thursday, March 17th, “The Worth of a Soul.”…3:00 p.m. Meeting for men only and boys over twelve. Subject: “When a Man’s A Man.”

7:30 Song Service followed by sermon on the subject, “Is There a Hell?” Crowds have listened to this sermon.

Everybody invited.

115 Years Ago THE RIVER FALLS JOURNAL March 8, 1906

“Letters from a Layman” continues: “…I invite fair and honest criticism from any who may be competent enough in the subject to do so, and thus throw light to us all, for light is what we honestly shall seek. May all honest people of our city bear in mind that each should be ready to give,—of such as they may have,—to aid the world to seek ever the highest and truest, at whatever cost…” Fraternally, ANON.

130 Years Ago PIERCE COUNTY HERALD March 18, 1891

FARM HILL Locals John Wild has relatives from Leroy, Dodge Co. visiting him and their many friends in this vicinity.

The Dramatic Company went to Arkansaw last Tuesday and to Eau Galle Wednesday. They report a large turnout and a good time.

Sabastian and Joseph Wild have two sisters from the eastern part of the State, visiting them. Snow is very scarce in that section.

OAK GROVE Locals Winter still prevails.

Our schools are all closed for the winter.

Mrs Mary Sargent has gone back to her home in Herman, Minn.

Listed as having recently died: Richard Stogdall with funeral at Bay City, and also George Geibler of Oak Grove.

LOCAL NEWS.

The house of Lewis Guest, two miles east of Ellsworth, was burned last Friday. The fire originated in the upper story, the contents of which were entirely destroyed. Most of the things below were saved. No insurance.

(death of John Warner at Mt. Tabor, Oregon and also Theodore Ecker, burned in his house at Maple Grove. As to the latter, “No trace of his three-year-old boy was found.”).

145 Years Ago THE RIVER FALLS PRESS March 16, 1876

Wisconsin was under the French government ninetythree years; next it was under the Virginia one year; then under territory of Ohio six year; next under the Indian Territory eighteen years. Then becoming a Territory under its present name, it remained such for twelve years, when on the thirteenth day of March, 1848, it became the thirtieth state in the Union. Hence as a state it was 28 years old on the 13th inst.

160 Years Ago PRESCOTT TRANSCRIPT March 9, 1861

INAUGURAL ADDRESS of President Lincoln Delivered at the Capitol, on Monday the 4th, at 12 o’clock, M.

Fellow Citizens of the United States: In compliance with a custom as old as the Government is itself, I appear before you to address briefly, and to take in your presence the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States to be taken by the President of the United States before he enters on the execution of the duties of his office. I do not consider it necessary at present to discuss those matters of administration about which there is no special anxiety or excitement. Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the South that by the accession of a Republican Administration, their property, and their peace and their personal acuity are to be endangered.

There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension: indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you…I therefore consider that in view of the Constitution and laws the Union is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability, I shall take care, as the Constitution itself expressly enjoins on me, that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in the States…If the minority in such a case will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a precedent which will in turn ruin and divide them; for a minority of their own will secede from them whenever a majority shall refuse to be controlled by such a minority. For instance, why may not any portion of a new confederacy a year or two hence arbitrarily secede again, precisely as portions of the present Union claim to secede from it? All who cherish disunion sentiments are now being educated to the exact temper of doing this….Plainly the central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy…If it were admitted that you who are dissatisfied hold the right side of the dispute, there is still not a single reason for precipitate action. Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust in the best way all our present difficulties. In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not mine, is the momentous issue of civil war.

The Government will not assault you…ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Washington, D. C., March 4, 1861 THE INAUGURAL, ETC. (local editorial comment) President Lincoln’s Inaugural Address is everybody’s theme of conversation at present. We are glad to be able to present it entire in today’s paper to those of our readers not previously supplied. Of its tone and merits, of course, there is as great a variety of opinion as upon any other matter of politics; but of its meaning, we see no chance for an honest difference.

The inaugural may have an influence in calming and allaying the strife and rebellion of the present, but it can do nothing further; it can settle no question. He very wisely and truly remarks in his closing; “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not mine, is the momentous question of civil war”….The Inauguration was peaceably conducted in the presence of a tremendous crowd of people, and a grand display of military. There was something over 1200 armed men in different parts of the city, and though threats have been plenty nothing more serious was demonstrated.

Local fallout: Democrats think they discover indications of war in the events of the Inauguration of President Lincoln, and it is remarkable what an effect it has on Militia officers and privates. The Stillwater Guards declare that they are no longer soldiers. Adjutant General Aker has sent in his resignation. Lieutenant Chapin of the Milwaukee Light Guards has also resigned.

(Charles E. Young, the editor of the Prescott Transcript, would shortly sell his paper to Lute A. Taylor of River Falls and answer President Lincoln’s call for volunteers after the firing on Fort Sumpter by South Carolina. Young survived the war).

Compiled by Joseph Back