The Murray County Poor Farm
By Nick Demuth
Poor farms were once a familiar sight across Minnesota. The concept of poor relief in early America was modeled after English Poor Law, which held that providing for the poor was a public responsibility carried out at the local level. Those who had capable relatives could be denied assistance, and anyone able to work was expected to do so.
Still, many people—due to age, disability, or circumstance—needed care, and counties were legally obligated to provide it. Relief came in different forms: counties might give direct financial aid, board individuals with local families, or eventually consolidate care by creating poor farms or poorhouses. In Minnesota, 63 of the state’s 87 counties operated poor farms at one point. Ramsey County was the first, acquiring land for this purpose in 1854.
Murray County’s Beginnings
Murray County’s poor farm traces its roots to 1876, when William Newell completed his homestead claim on 160 acres in Slayton Township. A Scottish immigrant, Newell later transferred ownership of the land to the county in exchange for lifelong care for himself and his wife, Grace. Grace passed away in 1883, and William remarried in 1889. He died in 1900; his second wife, Mary, remained at the poorhouse until her death in 1931.
In the 1880s and early 1890s, the land—then known as the County Farm—was leased to local farmers. Renters agreed to break new ground or use the land for pasture, while the county considered how best to manage its responsibilities to the poor.
A Poorhouse Debate
By 1894, public opinion on building a poorhouse began to shift. A letter to the local paper argued that centralized care would save money and allow the poor to work and support themselves through farming. Still, not everyone agreed. The editor of the Hector Mirror warned Murray County against the idea, citing financial losses in Renville County.
In 1895, the Murray County Commissioners put the question to voters. Only two townships—Belfast and Bondin—voted against building a poorhouse. With majority support secured, the county moved forward.
Construction and Operation
The county hired architect Frank Thayer—who had designed the courthouse and State Bank of Slayton—to draft the plans. F.F. Youn was awarded the construction bid for $2,765, and James Kragness built the necessary outbuildings for an additional $415.
The poorhouse was furnished by the county, but the day-to-day operations were handled by a renter known as the Overseer of the Poor. The overseer was paid $2 per week per resident and was responsible for all other expenses.
The first overseer was George McCormick, who won the lease for 1896 with a $500 bid. That same year, Dr. Morell was contracted to provide medical care for $100 annually.
The poorhouse officially opened its doors on January 7, 1896, to a single 70-year-old man who had been thrown out by his son after turning over his property.
An Evolving System
For the next 30 years, Murray County continued leasing the poor farm to various overseers. In 1925, a federal report titled The Cost of American Almshouses criticized this “bidding system,” citing lack of oversight and accountability. It recommended counties hire salaried superintendents instead.
In response, Murray County took direct control of the poorhouse in 1926, hiring George Uebersetzig and his wife as salaried caretakers for $85 per month. For the first time, the county purchased its own farming equipment and livestock, including Poland pigs and Brown Swiss dairy cattle.
Praise and Criticism
Initial reviews of the new system were positive. Local newspapers praised the improved conditions, cleanliness, and management. However, a national report published in July 1926 by several fraternal organizations listed Murray County’s poor farm among the ten worst in Minnesota, calling it “unclean and unsanitary.”
Outraged, locals claimed the data was outdated and failed to reflect the county’s recent takeover and improvements. By November, the Murray County Herald was calling the transformation “wonderful” and noted that “inmates are well pleased.”
The End of an Era
Despite these improvements, the era of poor farms was coming to an end. Federal programs introduced during the Great Depression—including the Social Security Act of 1935—began replacing local relief efforts. The “Old Age Assistance” program in particular lessened the burden on poorhouses by providing direct support to the elderly.
The Murray County Poor House remained in operation until 1944, when it was officially closed. The county auctioned off personal property, rented the house briefly, and then sold the 150-acre property in 1946 to Walter Johnson of Slayton for $150 per acre. Ten minutes later, Johnson sold it to Max Anderson for a profit.
The house stood for several more decades before being torn down in 1987 to make room for an addition to M&M Distributing, bringing an end to the last visible remnant of the Murray County Poor Farm.
