DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WILTON.

On the 3d day of April, 1869, as if to aid the rapid decline of the doomed village of Wilton, then the county seat, a disastrous fire occurred. The fire originated, it was thought, either from the stove pipe, which led from the jail stove to the chimney, or was set fire by a prisoner, named Shea. The fire was not discovered until about eight o'clock, when it had reached the roof and spread, far and wide on the inside, between the roof and ceiling over the adjoining court room. Heroic work was done to save the building, while men, women and children, with much presence of mind, worked bravely in saving the books, papers, records and furniture of the county offices. The venerable old court house soon fell in, and Mr. Henry J. Meyer’s building, which contained LaDow’s Hall, J. H. Wightman’s stock of hardware, Powers & LaDow’s library, and C. A. LaDow’s household effects next fell a prey to the devouring flames. Hall’s saloon next met its doom and in the space of an hour and a half the whole block was but a mass of smouldering ruins. Each building was insured for $200, which did not cover a tenth part of the loss. The people of Wilton cared for those made homeless and the county commissioners met April 12, to arrange for county offices—the county offices being temporarily located in the wagon shop of B. Bundsho. The prisoner Shea, who was serving time for robbing a drunken man in Waseca, was rescued without serious harm, although he was terribly scared.

Child's history of Waseca County, Minnesota : from its first settlement in 1854 to the close of the year 1904 ; a record of fifty years : the story of the pioneers, Owatonna, Minn.: Press of the Owatonna Chronicle, 1905, pages 214-215
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