08/31/2026
A son of a Civil War Vet charged with murder???
Moses Peasley came to Rice County in the early days and married a Ms. Martha Finlayson in 1859. They soon made a claim in Richland township of 320 acres and began to farm. In 1862 Moses enlisted in the 7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and served until the close of the war.
Moses and Martha had numerous children, including 3 sons, one being Charles V., born in 1869. Sadly, father Moses died just 10 years later in 1879 at age 48 and was buried in Rice County's Greenwood Cemetery.
Since their boys were too young yet to run the farm, Martha then hired 39 year-old Joseph Colburn to run it. He was a hard-working man, a good manager, and farmer. Five years later in 1885 he married Martha and moved in.
As her 3 boys grew into manhood, they complained that Colburn had become less industrious and more unsteady in his habits, leading to frequent disagreements and arguments. It was bad.
This led Colburn to eventually leave the the farm and family, and he moved to Wisconsin sometime in 1890. Martha and the boys then purchased Colburn's interest in the property with the understanding that he would permanently go away and not return.
Included in the personal property was a mare and a c**t, which was to be purchased by 22 year-old Charles with money borrowed via a bank note by a certain date. When the date had passed Colburn returned on 20 November 1891 with a livery team to the farm and demanded the mare on the grounds that the note had not been paid. The demand was refused, so Colburn made threats of killing anybody who tried to prevent him from taking the mare with him.
Charlie, hearing this, retrieved a shot-gun and proceeded to the barn to get Colburn to leave. They then talked and Colburn said, "Come now, Charlie, if you won't let me have the mare, let's shake hands and be friends, and I will go," or words to that effect.
Charlie then set the gun down and approached Colburn with his hand extended, when Colburn took up a large stone and threw it at him. Charlie dodged the rock and stepping back, picked up the gun, and as Colburn was apparently reaching down in the buggy for another rock, Charlie fired at him. The charge of goose shot struck Colburn in the head above and back of the ear, causing death in about an hour.
Charlie at once went to Faribault and surrendered himself to the authorities. A coroner's inquest was held at the house of Mrs. Colburn that Sunday, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the above facts.
The examination of Colburn concluded that he had taken to drinking a good deal, and was probably under the influence of liquor when he went to the farm to get the mare. It is told on good authority that he said Thursday evening that he was going to get the animal and if the family interfered he would "Put a hole through some of them." It appeared, however, that he had no weapon with him, although he had another large stone with him beside the one which he threw at the young man.
Charlie was kept in jail a few days then released. A trial was held in May 1892. The jury acquitted him on the grounds of self defense. See the article.
After this, the farm was then divided amongst the boys, William, Charles, and Harrold. Mother Martha lived on until 1925, passing-on at age 86 and buried at Oak Ridge.
Charlie stayed with his Mother until 1900 when he then married and spent most of the rest of his life living in Faribault working as a driver for the American Railway Express company. He died in 1964 and was buried next to Martha at Oak Ridge. Charlie only had 1 child, and she died just 2 years after him.
As for Joseph Colburn, he was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery not that far from Father Moses Peasley. There are only about 25 graves there including some of Moses and Martha's children who died young.
Everyone deserves to be remembered.
