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REYNOLDS H1STORICA12
GENEALOGY COLLECTIOFvF
ALLEN COUNTY PUBl I
3 1833 01053 2940
O. W. SIIAW.
THE HISTORY
— OF—
Mower County Minnesota
ILLUSTRATED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE
ASSISTED BY
John H. Skinner, Esq.; Gertrude Ellis Skinner; Nathan E. Banfiold, Esq.; Herbert
L. Banfield, Esq.; Lafayette French, Esq.; Col. Arthur W. Wright; Arthur W.
Allen, M. D. ; Grace B. Sherwood ; Lyman D. Baird, Esq. ; Nicholas N. Nichol-
son, Esq. ; L. N. Griffith, Esq. ; Ralph E. Crane, Esq. ; Jacob S. Decker, Esq. ;
O. J. Ehoades, Esq.; Col. Charles L. West; 0. J. Simmons, Esq.; Eev. C. D.
Belden; Prof. George A. Franklin; Jennie G. Keith; Mrs. Lyman A.
Sherwood; George E. Anderson, Esq.; C. F. Greening, Esq.; Hosmer
A. Brown, Esq.; Ealph Preseott, Esq.; L. W. Sherman, Esq.;
William Nordland, Esq. ; Henry Weber, Jr. ; George Sutton, Esq. ;
Ferdinand G. Eay, Esq.; Lorenzo S. Chapman, Esq.; A. F.
Stiles, Esq.; Mrs. Ealph E. Crane; Bert A. Johnson, Esq.;
Paul C. Keith, Esq. ; John C. Hawkins, Esq. ; and many others.
CHICAGO
H. C. COOPER. Jr.. & CO.
1911
1630S31
TO THE
STUEDY PIONEEES OF MOWER COUNTY
AVIIO, AMID INNUMERABLE HARDSHIPS, BLAZED THE WAY
FOR THE PRESENT GENERATIONS ;
AND TO THEIR
DESCENDANTS and SUCCESSORS
THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED
BY ALL WHO HAVE ASSISTED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION
FOREWORD.
It is with a i'eoliiig of considerable pride and jdeasure lliat the
publishers present this history for the approval of the people of
Mower county. The undertaking has not been an easy one and
the difficulties have been many, so many indeed that this publica-
tion would not have been possible without the liberal assistance of
the citizens of the county. The chief contributors and editors
have given freely of their time and talent ; business men, church
officials, fraternity, association and corporation officers, maniafac-
turers, professional men and bankers, often at great personal
sacrifice, have laid aside their regular duties to write of their
communities and special interests; educators have written of the
schools, and men and women in all walks of life have given the
information at their command, regarding themselves, their fami-
lies, their activities and their localities. To all of these the
readers of this work owe a lasting debt of gratitude, and to each
and every one the publishers extend their heartfelt thanks.
In handling the vast amount of material gathered for this
work, it has been the aim of the entire statf to select such matter
as is authentic, reliable and interesting. Doubtless facts have
been included that many will deem of little moment, but these
same facts to others may be of the deepest import. It may be
also that some facts have been omitted that many readers would
like to see included. To such readers we can only say that to
publish every incident in the life of the county would be to issue
a work of many A^olumes. and in choosing such material as would
come Avithin the limts of one volume we believe that the matter
selected is that Avhich will prove of greatest interest to the
greatest number of readers, and also that which is most woi'thy
of being handed down to future generations, who in this volume,
in far distant years, may read of their large-souled, rugged-bodied
ancestors and predecessors, who gave up the settled peace of
older communities to brave the rigors of pioneer endeavor.
A few omissions may be due to some of the people of tlic
county, themselves, as in several instances repeated requests for
information iiave met with no response. In such cases informa-
tion gathered from other sources, while authentic, may be lacking
in copious detail.
Before passing hasty judgment on apparent errors, one should
consider carefully, not relying on tradition or memory. In many
cases we have found that persons' nu^nories are faulty and tradi-
tion erroneous when measured by the standard of official records,
even in the case of comparatively recent events, while in many
instances families are under the impression that their forebears
arrived in the county long ])efore it was possible for them to do so.
We have endeavored to follow a uniform sy.stem of the spelling
of proper names, althougli various spellings of even the most
familiar names appear in the ncwsjjapers and records.
Among the authorities consulted and in many cases quoted
vi FOREWORD
copiously are : History of Mower County, published in 1884 ;
Souvenir of Austin, issued by the Austin Herald; Minnesota in
Three Centuries ; the histories of southern Minnesota counties by
the editor of the present work ; the various publications of the
state of Minnesota and the United States government, as well as
the publications of the Iowa and Minnesota historical societies,
and many other biographical, historical and archaeological works
of reference. The files of the newspapers of this and neighboring
counties have been carefully perused, as have the county, town-
ship, city, church and village records. Hundreds of minute books
have been examined and thousands of letters and original manu-
scripts carefully scanned. To all who have extended us courtesies
during our search for these records we extend our thanks. To
John H. and Gertrude Ellis Skinner special thanks are due for
many writings in this book to which their signatures are not
affixed, and also for work on the proofs.
The biographies have all been gathered with care from those
most interested, and with a few exceptions have been revised and
corrected by the subject of the biography or by a relative or
friend. This, however, refers to the dates, and sequence of events,
all personal estimates being the work of the editors, and inserted
in biographies onlv after consultation Avith other members of the
staf¥.
That this history is faultless we do not presume ; it is probably
not within the power of man to arrange a work of this kind
without mistakes of one sort or another; that it will meet the
unqualified approval of all we dare not expect, but we trust that
the inei'its of the history will ovei'balance any shortcomings that
may be discovered.
Our association with the people of IMower county has been a
most pleasant one. We have conscientiously performed our task,
and in placing the history in the hands of those Avhom it most
conceims, our hope is that we have done our work well.
H. C. COOPER, JR., & CO.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER I.
NATURAL PHENOMENA.
i'AGE.
lutroduction — Location and Area — Surface and Topog-
raphy — Material Resources 1-5
CHAPTER II.
THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
Primeval Solitude — Origin of Human Life in Minnesota — -
The Lowland Mound Builders — The Highland ]\Iound
Builders — Mower County a Hunting Place for the
Indians 5-11
CHAPTER III.
INDIAN TREATIES.
Visit to AVashington — Boundary Lines Between Indian Tribes
Defined — Territory Now Mower County Included in the
Sioux Jurisdiction — Second Treaty of Prairie Du Chien
— Some of Wabasha's Men Killed by the Foxes South of
Austin in Iowa — Strip of Territory South of j\Iower
County Ceded by Treaty — The Doty Treaty and Its
Failure — Treaty of Traverse Des Sioux — Treaty of Men-
dota, by AYhich Mower County AVas Opened to Settle-
ment 11-17
CHAPTER IV.
GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY.
Early Claims of Title — Spain, France and England — Treaties
and Agreements — The Louisiana Purchase — Indiana —
Louisiana District — Louisiana Territory — IMissouri Ter-
ritory — Northwest Territory — Illinois Territory — Alichi-
gan Territory — Wisconsin Territory — Iowa Territory —
No Man's Land — Sibley in Congress — IMinnesota Terri-
tory — Minnesota State — Compiled from Alanuscripts of
Hon. F. M. Crosby 17-36
CHAPTER V.
EARLY EXPLORATION.
No Evidence That the French Explorers Ever Saw IMower
County — United States Dragoons the First White ^len
to Leave a Record of Having Visited This Localitv —
viii COXTEXTS
PAGK.
Expedition of 1835 — Four Companies Under Lieutenant-
Colonel Stephen W. Kearney, Avith Albert Lea in Com-
mand of Company I, Cross Mower County Twice — ]Major
Lawrence Taliaferro, Dr. John Emerson and the Slave,
Dred Scott, Visit the County in 1836— Henry H. Sibley,
Alexander Faribault, John C. Fremont and William H.
Forl)es Here in 1840 — Surveying Party in 1852 — Another
in 1853 — Township and Section Lines Are Surveyed.. . .37-44
CHAPTER VI.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Colony of the Borderline Between Racine Township and Fill-
more Colony — Arrivals in Le Roy Township — Early Set-
tlement in Lyle and Lansing — Settlers of 1854 — Influx
of Population Begins 44-46
CHAPTER VII. .
ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY LINES.
Mower County Included in Wabasha and Rice Counties —
Mower County Created — Organized by Governor Gor-
man — Commissioners Meet at Frankford — Old Election
Precincts — Township Boundaries 47-53
CHAPTER VIII.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Doings of the Consecutive Boards of County Commissioners
— County Officials — Registers of Deeds — Treasurers —
Auditors — Sheritifs^ — County Attorneys — Clerks of the
District Court — Judges of Probate — Superintendents of
Schools — County Buildings — Location of County Seat —
County Court House — County Jail — County Poor
Farm 54-70
CHAPTER IX.
COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
i\Iower County in Seventh and Fourth Council District —
Fillmore and Mower Counties Made the Eighth Council
District — First Representative From This County Takes
His Seat — Constitutional Convention — Mower and Dodge
Counties Become the Thirteenth Legislative District —
Mower and Dodge Counties Become the Fifteenth Dis-
trict — Mower County Becomes the Fourth District —
Changed to the Third District— Later to the Sixth "Dis-^
trict — Congressional Representation 70-78
CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER X.
BENCH AND BAR.
PAGE.
Judicial History of IMowei- County — Judges "Who Have Pre-
sided in the Courts of This District — Their Life, Ability
and Characteristics — The Men AVho Have Made Up the
Bar of the County — Notable Cases That Have Been Tried
Here — By Attorney Lafayette French 78-05
CHAPTER XL
COMING OF THE RAILROADS.
Old Land Grant Roads "With Extensive Concessions — Road-
bed Graded Through I\Iower County — Engine Reaches
Le Roy — Freight Car Passes Through Mower County
from New York to St. Paul — Later Growth and Develop-
ment of the Railroad System in tlie County — Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul — Chicago Great Western — Illi-
nois Central 95-103
CHAPTER XII.
AGRICULTURE.
Importance of the Farming Interests of ]\Iower County —
Character of the Men Who First Came Here — Failure of
Wheat Crop — Development of Diversified Farming —
Advantages — Mail and Trading Facilities — Nature of
the Soil — Sheep and Poultry Breeding — The Pork Indus-
try — Registered Stock Predominant — Homes of the
Farmers — Agricultural Societies — Storm and Floods —
Grange Movement, Insurance Companies 104-117
CHAPTER XIII.
HORTICULTURE.
Importance of Fruit Growing in ]\Iower County — "Experi-
ences of a Veteran Horticulturist," by John C. Hawkins
— Fruit Growing in the Early Days — The Minnesota and
Mower County Horticultural Societies Organized — Diffi-
culties Encountered in Developing Mower County as a
Fruit Growing Section — Persistent Efforts — Oldest
Orchard in Mower County — Seedlings Raised Here. . .118-122
CHAPTER XIV.
COUNTY SCHOOLS.
State and County School System — First Schools and First
Districts in Mower County — State Aid — Equipment —
Literary Societies — ^Meetings for Officers, Teacliers and
Pupils — Exhibits and Contests — Institutes and Summer
Schools — Parochial Schools — Story of the Districts —
Prepared With the Assistance of i\Iiss Grace B. Sher-
wood 122-142
X COXTEXTS
CHAPTER XV.
ANECDOTES AND ADVENTURES.
PAGE.
First ]\Iarriage — Hunting and Trapping — Early Days in
Cedar City — Pioneers of Frankford — Frontier Experi-
ences by Jacob S. Decker — Independence Celebration —
Early Days in Lansing — By 0. J. Rhoades 142-151
CHAPTER XVI.
EARLY AUSTIN.
City Founded at the Old Water Ford — Coming of Austin
Nichols — Arrival of Chauncey Leverich — Beginning of
Settlement — Platting the Village — Pioneer Days — Im-
portant Events — Murder of Chauncey Leverich — Stories
of the Small Beginnings of What Has Become an Impor-
tant City 155-180
CHAPTER XVII.
MUNICIPAL AUSTIN.
Incorporation of the Village in 1868 — Incorporated as a City
— Changes in Charter — Elective and Appointed Officers
AVho Have Served the Municipality — Important Acts of
the Successive Councils — Home Rule Charter Adopted
—Edited by John H. Skinner 181-200
CHAPTER XVIII.
INDUSTRIAL AUSTIN.
Importance of the Mercantile Interests — Beginning of Indus-
try—Austin in 1867— The Railroad Era— Austin in 1876
—Austin in 1884 — The IModern Period — Manufacturing
Interests — First Mill — Former Industries — Modern In-
dustries—Edited by Charles L. West 200-211
CHAPTER XIX.
AUSTIN MANUFACTORIES.
First Mill — Former Industries — Present Interests — Story of
the Growth and Development of the Various Plants
Which Have Assisted in the Progress of the City — ]\Iinor
Activities ". 212-227
CHAPTER XX.
AUSTIN FRATERNITIES.
Masonic Orders — Odd Fellows — Pythian Orders — Catholic
Orders— Order of Elks— Oth.'r Fraternal Orders— Patri-
otic Orders — Catholic Orders — Railroad Orders — Fra-
ternal Insurance — Scandinavian and Teutonic Lodges —
Industrial — Driving Associations — Edited by Osmau J.
Simmons 227-241
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER XXI.
MODERN AUSTIN.
PACE.
Advantages of the City, Written by Rev. C. D. Belden —
Religious Activities, by Robert L. Moore — Austin Clubs,
by Miss Jennie G. Keith — St. Olav Hospital and Training
School — Austin Schools, by Prof. George A. Franklin —
Austin Hotels " 241-284
CHAPTER XXn.
BANKS AND BANKING.
Story of the Growth and Development of the Financial Inter-
ests of the County, Told by Nathan F. Bantield— First
Bank in the County — Banks of Austin, Grand IMeadow,
LeRoy, Lyle, Adams, Racine, Rose Creek, Dexter, Sar-
geant, Brownsdale, AValtham, Taopi — Summary of Bank-
ing Conditions in Mower County 285-298
CHAPTER XXIII.
PIONEER GIRLHOOD.
Reminiscences of Mrs. Lyman A. Sherwood — Trip From
Winona — Incidents on the AVay — Arrival in Austin —
Austin as a Pioneer Village — Fourth of July Celebration
- — Incidents of the Early Days — Life in "Old Headquar-
ters" — Work on the Cemetery — Off for the Civil War —
Indian Scare— Other Anecdotes 299-308
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
Introduction by Gertrude Ellis Skinner — Story of the First
Newspaper in the County — History of the Founding,
Growth, Development and Present Status of the Journals
of Mower County 309-318
CHAPTER XXV.
THE PHYSICIAN.
His Proud Achievements — His Solemn Oath — His Ethics —
The True Physician — His Reward — His Delicate Relation
to the Human Family — His Inventions and Discoveries
Free Gifts — The Pioneer Doctor — His Cliaracter and
Services — His Limitations — The Pioneer Physicians of
Mower Countv — The IMower County ^Medical Association
—Edited by A. W. Allen, M. D 319-328
CHAPTER XXVI.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY.
Outbreak of the War — The First AVar .Meeting in Slower
County — Newspaper Clippings of Stirring War Events
— List of Veterans AVho Enlisted from ]\Iower County,
xii COXTEXTS
TAGE.
AVitli History of Their Eegiments — Houoi* Roll of
Mower County Heroes AVho Laid Down Their Lives for
the LTnion — Col. Henry C. Rogers and His Record — By
Col. A. W. Wright. /. 328-346
CHAPTER XXVn.
POSTAL HISTORY.
Growth and Development of the System — First Offices in
]\Iower County — Stories of the Stage Coach Drivers —
History of the Present and Discontinued Postoffices of
MoAver County — Edited by George E. Anderson 346-358
CHAPTER XXVni.
GRAND MEADOW TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Soil of Township — Early Settlement — Organi- .
zation — Village of Grand INIeadow — Opening of the Set-
tlement and Early Business Interests — Societies —
Churches — Postoffice — Library — Catastrophes — Early
Events— Village Government." 358-373
CHAPTER XXIX.
RED ROCK AND BROWNSDALE.
Red Rock Township — Early Settlement — First Events —
Organization — Brownsdale Village — "Organization —
Early Business — Serious Water Spout — Brownsdale m
1871 — Brownsdale in 1885^Modern Brownsdale — Fra-
ternities, Churches and Industries — Edited by Hosmer
A. Brown . 374-388
CHAPTER XXX.
LE ROY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Area — First Events — Early Settlement — Or-
ganization — Old Village — LeRoy Village — Beginning the
New Village — LeRoy in 1868 — Early Business — LeRoy
in 1871 — LeRoy in 1884 — Religious — Cemeteries —
Modern LeRoy— Disasters 389-410
CHAPTER XXXI.
LYLE TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — First Events — Cedar
City — Village of Lyle — Able Articles by William Nord-
land and L. W. Sherman — Development of the Village —
City -Hall — Fire Department — Churches — Fraternal
Orders — Industries — Telephone Company — ^Municipal
History— Recollections of Early Lyle 410-428
CONTEXTS xiii
CIIAPTEK XXXIl.
DEXTER TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
p.vai:.
Dexter Township — Location and Soil — Settlement — Organi-
zation — Religious — Dexter Village — Location and Settle-
ment — Village Plats — Village Incorporation and Officers
"With Village Improvements — Churches — Edited by
Henry "Weber, Jr.— Renova— Sutton 428-439
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WINDOM TOWNSHIP.
Location, Advantages and Area — Early Settlement — First
Events — Organization of the Township — Religious —
Rose Creek Village — Location, Platting, Incorporation
and Officers — Business in the Early Days — Churches —
Edited by George Sutton and Ferdinand G. Ray 489-4.31
CHAPTER XXXIV.
LODI AND TAOPI.
Location and Area — Soil and Waters — Early Settlement —
First Events — Organization — Immense Farm — Village of
Taopi — Taopi in 1875 — Taopi in 1884 — ^Modern
Taopi 452-456
CHAPTER XXXV.
WALTHAM TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization — Reli-
gious — First Events — Old AS'altham Hoiase — Cemetery —
Old Waltham Village — New Waltham Village — Modern
"Waltham — Business Interests — Church — School and
Creamerj^ — Edited by Lorenzo S. Chapman 456-464
CHAPTER XXXVI.
RACINE TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization — Reli-
gious — Hamilton Village — Racine Village — Edited by
A. F. Stiles r 464-468
CHAPTER XXXVII.
SARGEANT TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization — Early
Hotel and Store — St. John's Church — Sargeant Vil-
lage 469-472
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
AUSTIN TOWNSHIP.
Location and Natural Advantages — First Settlement — First
Events — Organization — Religious History — IMill Sites —
Cemetery 472-478
siv CONTEXTS
CHAPTER XXXIX.
LANSING TOWNSHIP.
PAGE.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization —
Bounty — Churches — Railroads — First Events — ]\Iills —
Cemeteries — Lansing Village — Early Interests — ^la-
sonie Lodge — Ramsey Junction — Corning Village. . . .478-487
CHAPTER XL.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Advantages — Early Settlement — Organization
- — First Events — Religious — Frozen to Death — Village of
Adams 487-495
CHAPTER XLI.
FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP.
Location and Soil — Early Settlement — Frankford Village —
Bear Creek — Norwegian Settlement — History of Town-
ship and Village by Mrs. Ralph E. Crane 495-504
CHAPTER XLII.
PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization — First
Events — Religious — Town Hall and Cemetery 504-506
CHAPTER XLIII.
CLAYTON TOWNSHIP.
Location and Advantages — Early Settlement — Organization
— Name — Cemetery 506-507
CHAPTER XLIV.
MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — Organization 507-510
CHAPTER XLV.
UDOLPHO TOWNSHIP.
Location and Area — Early Settlement — First Events — Reli-
gious — Accidental Deaths — Origin of Name — Cemetery
— Madison Village — Red Oak Grove Settlement and
Church 510-521
CONTEXTS XV
CHAPTP]K XLVI.
BENNINGTON TOWNSHIP.
PAGE.
Location and Advantages — First Settlement — Early Events
— Organization — Religious — Norwegian Settlement . . .521 -.')2:?
CHAPTER XLVII.
NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
Location and Area — First Settlement — Organization — First
Events — Religious — Industries — Six Mile Grove Settle-
ment 523-.'328
CHAPTER XLVHI.
MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD.
Second Infantry M. N. G. — Company "G" of Austin — Com-
pany "G" in the Twelfth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,
Spanish-American AYar — Officers and Men — First and
Present Officers— By Col. Arthur W. AVright 528-532
CHAPTER XLIX.
EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY.
Story of Early Political Parties and Contests Told by Jacob
N. Nicholsen — East and West Side Fights — Nominees
and Results of Elections in Ante-Bellum Days — AVar
Time Politics — Exciting Days for Mower County. . . . 532-5 i2
CHAPTER L.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Land Office Records — Date of First Claims Taken in Each
Township, With the Names of the Pre-emptors — Honor
Roll of Those Who Braved the Hardships of Pioneer Life
and Fultilled the Government Requirements of Actual
Residence in the Earliest Days — Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation 542-553
CHAPTER LI.
DAIRY INTERESTS.
Importance of the Dairy Industry in Slower County — A. V.
Ellis the Father of Dairy Farming In This Vicinity —
Story of the Present Day Creameries — The Dairy Cow,
Her Worth and Virtues— By H. L. Bantield 553-555
Note — The biographical index will be found in the back
part of this volume.
History of Mower County
CHAPTER I.
NATURAL PHENOMENA.
Introduction — Location and Area — Surface and Topography —
Material Resources.
Situated iu the southeastern portion of that rolling sweep of
country known as southern Minnesota, is a pro.sperous county that
has taken its name from John E. Mower, an early member of the
Minnesota Territorial Legislature.
A rolling prairie, interspersed with natural and domestic
groves, beautified by meandering streams, and surfaced with rich,
deep soil, the county has advantages which have placed it in the
foremost ranks of Minnesota's agricultural and grazing districts.
The elevation of this stretch of land above the sea, its fine drainage
and the dryness of the atmosphere, give it a climate of unusual
salubrity and pleasantness. Its latitude gives it correspondingly
longer days in summer, and during the growing seasons about
one and a half hours more of sunshine than in the latitude of
St. Louis. This taken in connection with the abundant rainfall
in early autumn, accounts for the rapid and vigorous growth of
crops in this vicinity and their early maturity. The refreshing
breezes and cool nights in summer prevent the debilitating effect
of heat so often felt in lower latitudes. The winter climate is
also one of the attractive features. Its iiniformity and its
dryness, together with the bright sunshine and the electrical
condition of the air, all tend to enhance the personal comfort of
the resident, and to make outdoor life and labor a pleasure.
Embracing as the county does, so pleasing a prospeet to the
eye, and so fruitful a field for successful endeavor, it is natural
that the people who from the earliest days were attracted here,
should be the possessors of steady virtues, ready to toil and to
sacrifice, that their labors might be crowned witli the fruits of
prosperity and happiness. The cities and villages of tlie county
1
2 IIISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
have had their part in the general commercial upbuilding of the
state, and furnish excellent trading and shipping facilities for the
rural districts. In these centers, manufacturing is carried on to a
greater or less extent ; the milling business is naturally important ;
and the dairy and creamery interests are paramount.
The rural districts are the scene of peace, prosperity and
contentment. The homes are substantially built, and furnished
with the comforts and conveniences of modern life, stock is
humanely housed and well pastured, the farm land is extensively
tilled and productive, and the churches and schools Avhich are
seen on every side testify to an interest in the higher things
of life by a law-abiding, progressive and loyal people.
Tt is indeed in its men and women, rather than in its grains
and vegetables, its live stock and fruit, its factories and commerce
that Mower county takes its greatest pride. From her farms,
from her cities, and from her villages, have gone out those who
have taken an important part in the activities of the world, and
who whether in commerce or diplomacy, in the professions or in
the trades, have maintained that steadfastness of purpose and
staunchness of character that mark true Mower county men and
women wherever they may be found.
Usually blessed by nature with deep soil and abundant natiiral
resources, and endowed with a wealth of prehistoric and historic
lore, the county is a fitting home for the sturdy people who have
here made their dwelling place. Hard-working, progressive,
educated and prosperous, they have appreciated the gifts which
nature has spread for them, and have added their own toil, and
the fruit of their intellects, to the work of the elements, making
the country one of the beautiful spots of the earth. On the slopes
of land graze cattle and sheep, while the level lands respond to
the eiiorts of the spring-time sower and planter with a Avealth of
harvest in the summer and autumn. On nearly every quarter
section is reared a comfortable home and commodious barns,
while from the crest of every swell of land are visible the churches
and schools wherein the people worship the Giver of all Gifts,
and educate their children. Thus blessed by God and beloved by
man, the county today stands for all that is ideal in American
life and is forging ahead to still wider influence and more
extended opportunity.
Location and Area. The county of Mower lies in the south-
eastern portion of I\Iinnesota, only two counties separating it from
the Mississippi river, while it forms one of the southern tier of
counties. The county is bounded on the north by Dodge and
Olmsted counties; on the east by Fillmore county, the west by
Freeborn county; and on the south by the state of Iowa. The
county comprises an area of about 453,120 acres, or 708 square
HISTORY OF MOWEU COUNTY 3
miles. It includes congressional townships 101, 102, 103 and 104,
north, ranges 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 west of the Fifth principal
meridian, except sections 1 to 6, in township 104, ranges 34 and 15,
which were cut oft* and annexed to Olmsted county, ]\Iay 22,
1857. This territory is organized into the following civil
townships: Udolpho, AValtham, Sargeant, Pleasant Valley,
Racine, Frankford, Grand Meadow, Dexter, Red Rock, Lansing,
Austin, Windom, Marshall, Clayton, Bennington, LeRoy, Lodi,
Adams, Nevada and Lyle.
Surface and Topography, The general surface features of
Mower county can more accurately and more readily be seen by
a glance at the description of the various townships, than can
possibly be given in a general chapter. The surface of the county
is somewhat diversified; yet the whole is gently undulating.
Nowhere within the limits of the county does the surface approach
the character properly called hilly, but maintains throughout its
general smoothness, and susceptibility of cultivation. The situation
is necessarily healthful and free from malaria. The cold springs
of crystal water that burst through the surface of the soil, feed
the numerous streams that flow in every direction from the
borders. The elevation is an effectual and perpetual injunction
against the inroads of fevers of any kind. The Red Cedar river
iu the western tier of townships, receives the waters of Rose,
Dobbins' and Turtle creeks from the east and flows soutlnvard
into Iowa. The little Cedar river is in the south central part of
the county, and further south, in Iowa, joins with the Red Cedar
river to form the Cedar river, which stream in turn joins the Iowa
river and thus reaches the Mississippi. The Wapsipinicon river,
Avhich rises in the south central part of the county, flows through
Iowa to the Mississippi. A branch of the upper Iowa rises in the
southeastern part of the county. In the northeast and eastern part
of the county, are many tributaries of the Root river, which river
flowing northeast and east reaches the Mississippi river. The
county has also several small creeks, and a number of springs.
As an agricultural and stock raising region Mower county is
not excelled by any county in the state. The soil is A'ery
productive; being a rich, dark sandy loam, well adapted to all
cereals common to this latitude. It is also excellently adapted
to the production of cultivated and indigenous grasses, and the
raising of stock, both common and blooded, attracts the general
attention of the intelligent class of farmers who have located here.
Timber is found in considerable quantities along the banks of the
water courses and distributed in beautiful groves, botli natural
and domestic, all over the county. The general varieties of timber
are oak, maple, ash, hickory, walnut, basswood, elm. cottonwood,
poplar, etc. Four nuts grow here — hickoi'v nuts, walnut;'.
4 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
hazelnuts and butternuts. The wild lands are covered with the
richest and most nutritious grasses, eminently adapted to grazing.
From the Geological and Natural History Survey of
]\Iinnesota from 1872 to 1882, as compiled by Prof. N. H. Winchell,
assisted by Warren Upham, Ph. D., we make several extracts of
that portion relating to Mower county :
Estimates of the average height of the townships of this
couuly arc as follows: Racine, 1,300 above the sea; Frankford,
1,320; Bennington, 1,325; LeRoy, 1,300; Pleasant Valley, 1,350;
Grand JMeadow, 1,360; Clayton, 1,360; Lodi, 1,325; Sargeant,
1,360; Dexter, 1,360; Marshall, 1,330; Adams, 1,275; Waltham,
1,340; Red Rock, 1,270; Windom, 1,240; Nevada, 1,230; Udolpho,
1,260; Lansing, 1,225; Austin, 1,190; Lyle, 1,190. The mean
elevation of jMower county is approximately 1,300 feet above
the sea.
The soil of IMower county is everywhere dependent on the
nature of the drift. The underlying rock has affected it only so
far as it may have mingled with the general mass. It is hence
primarily a gravelly clay, that being the character of the subsoil
throughout the county. This gravelly clay, however, is not
prominently displayed as the immediate soil of the surface.
Indeed, the farmer in plowing rarely penetrates to it. It lies
below a rich loam usually at depths varying from zero to two
or three feet, or even more. The surface soil itself, which has
resulted from it through the agency of the forces of the atmosphere
and of vegetation, is of a dark color, and in general may be
designated as clayey loam, or a sandy loam, depending on the
nature and completeness of the local drainage. In low grounds
this loam is thick and of dark color. It is also apt to be more
clayey in low ground than it is on the hillsides or slopes ad.joining,
and on high hills or steep slopes it is thin or wanting, the wash
of the surface having carried it into valleys. Along the streams
it often consists of an arenaceous loam variously mingled witli
the detritus of the flood-plain.
The soil of the county is everywhere characterized by the
strength and fertility that the drift soils of the Northwest are
noted for. They are the most reliable soils for all the purposes
of the farmer that are known. The states that are regularly and
deeply l)uried in drift deposits are known as the best farming
states of the Union. Certain rock soils, endowed with special
qualities, may excel in tlie production of certain crops, especially
ill rjixorablc seasons, luit for general tillage they cannot com-
])c1(' Willi llic lioiiioiicncous drift soils, througli which are disscm-
ii);i1 cd llic <;(i(i(l (|iiali1i('s ol' tli(> various rocks concerned in their
production, in llic |)roi)oi1i()iis that make stability and diversity
c(]ually ccrliiiii.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 5
A detailed account of the geologic features of Mower county
may be found in the published reports of the "Geological and
Natural History Survey of ]\Iinnesota, " to which reference has
already been made.
Material Resources. With tlie exception of the central high
prairie portion of Mower county, it is tolerably well supplied
with wood for common fuel. On the prairies referred to wood
is rare. Along the valleys of the streams in the eastern and
western portions of the county the first settlements took place.
The principal natural wealth of the county lies in its soil and its
agricultural adaptations. The people are generally farmers. The
growth of the county in all respects will be primarily dependent
on, and co-ordinate with, the settlement of the farming lands,
and their protitable tillage. Quarrying is carried on to some
degree, lime is burned, cement is made, and from the early days
brick have been manufactured in the county. At the present
time brick and tile making in Austin is a most important indus-
try. Many wells have been sunk in the soil of the county and
the water thus obtained is uniformly excellent.
CHAPTER H.
THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
Primeval Solitude — Origin of Human Life in Minnesota— The
Lowland Mound Builders — The Highland Mound Builders —
Mower County a Hunting Place for the Indians.
From the first existence of the earth to the time of the coming
of man many aeons passed, and after countless ages this locality
awaited human habitation. Primeval nature reigned in all het
beauty.
"The buffalo, the elk, and the deer, for centuries roamed the
wild prairies and woodlands; fishes basked undisturbed in its
rippling streams; the muskrat, the otter, and the mink gamboled
upon the ice in winter with no man to molest them. Ducks,
geese, and other aquatic fowls, in countless numbers, covered
the streams in summer, and chattered and squawked and frolicked
in all their native glory and liappiness. The prairie wolves
howled upon their little hillocks, and, cowardlike, were always
ready to attack and destroy the weak and defenseless. Pocket
gophers went on with their interminable underground op<'ra-
tions, all unconscious of the inroads later to be made upon their
6 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
dominions by the husbandman. Grouse and prairie chickens
cackled, crowed and strutted in all their pride. Blizzards and
cyclones swept unheeded across its domains.
"The autumnal prairie fires, in all their terrible grandeur and
weird beauty, lighted the heavens by night and clouded the sun
by day. Age after age added richness to the soil and prepared
it to be one of the most productive fields of the Avorld for the
abode of the husbandman and for the uses of civilized man."
At some period of the earth's history, mankind in some form
took up its abode in the area that is now Mower county. The
origin of human life in Minnesota has been made a subject of
special study by Dr. Warren Upham, secretary of the Minnesota
Historical Society, and the thoughtful student is referred to his
various articles on the subject; a detailed discussion being be-
yond the scope of this work.
It is possible that this region may have been occupied by
primitive man in glacial, inter-glacial and pre-glacial times. Prof.
Edward W. Schmidt, the distinguished INIinnesota archreologist,
has investigated the mounds lying in the lowlands and on the
prairies of Minnesota and Iowa, and it is possible that a new
chapter will soon be added to the world's knowledge of pre-
historic life in this region.
There are some of these lowland mounds, so called, on the
road between Austin and Faribault, and many on the prairies
between Grand IMeadow and Le Eoy. The name lowland mounds
is given to distinguish this class of mound from the highland
mounds, so well known on eminences along the Mississippi and
its larger tributaries.
The mounds between Grand Meadow and Le Roy have thus
far l)een the subject of little more than superficial notice, but
Vv'ill be investigated more thoroughly at a later date. They are
first seen surrounding a marsh about a quarter of a mile across,
about two miles and a quarter south of Grand Meadow. About
twenty are here visible, rising each about two feet above the
surface. Farther south they increase in number, extending three
or more miles toward the south and southwest. Probably 500
could be counted, some being five feet high. They are scattered
promiscuously over the upper prairie. The surface has the ap-
pearance of having been poorly drained formerly, and was per-
haps covered with shallow water till late in the summer season.
It is thought that they occur where the ground is wet and tlie
clay near the surface. Yet south of the region designated they
do not exist, thoiigh there is no apparent diflt'erence in the prairie.
Tlie material of which they consist is the ordinary loam of tlie
surface soil. Several of them have been removed, when near
tlie higliway, and the material hauled into the street for grading.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 7
There is no record or knowledge of any human bones or oth(>r
relics having been found in them.
In regard to these lowland mounds, Professor Schmidt has
said: "These mounds are undoubtedly of the kind I have boon
studying. They are a conundrum. After examining so many
similar mounds in many different places, and in view of the fact
that so far there is no positive evidence at hand to tell us how
these mounds came to be, it is perfectly proper to ask : How are
these mounds made? Are they geological features of the coun-
try? If so, let the geologist explain them. Or have they been
formed by plants or animals? If so, let the biologist explain
them. If, for example, animals have made them, either by their
OAvn efforts or by the help of natural agencies, then it may be
that many of the highland knolls which are now counted and
mapped as Indian mounds may prove to be of a similar origin.
"A prolonged observation of these mounds in the various lo-
calities where they occur seems to justify this conclusion that by
far the greater number, if not all of them, are Indian mounds.
These mounds are either artificial or else they are not artificial.
Either view has its difficulties in our present state of knowledge.
"The following are some of the reasons which point to an
artificial origin: The mounds are invariably sound and are
made of the same kind of soil as occurs on the land on which
they are situated. Some people call them gopher hills, or ant-
hills, or remnants of haystacks, or swells in the land marking
the site of a buried boulder. As regards the view that the
mounds are the remains of haystacks, we may say that haystacks
leave no residual soil of this kind when hay is left to rot. The
mounds are often located where hay was never stacked, for
example, in woods. On one tract of land that was being cleared
of its timber some of the mounds located in the woods had
trees growing on them. Nor do haystacks leave remains of soil
with sand, gravel and pebbles in them. Nor do they occur in
woods with old trees growing on them. Some of the mounds
occur in places where, at least for a part of the year, it is very
wet, where no farmer would stack hay, nor any gopher burrow,
nor ants build their homes. It is true that ants are to be found
in the lowlands, but the structures reared to mark the sites of
their nest are never in these localities more than a fcAV inches
over a foot in height. The width of the antliills is about one
foot, and the flat truncated top usually slants in a southerly
direction, facing the sun. Very likely such frail structures
would, when deserted, disappear in a short time under the at-
tack of the elements. In no instance were ants found living in
the mounds.
"That p('0i>le call these mounds go])li('r hills is easily ex-
8 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
plained by the fact that gophers occasionally burrow in mounds.
Immediately the inference is drawn that the gophers built the
whole mound. Closer observation shows that wherever burrow-
ing animals are found inhabiting mounds, the mound loses its
smooth, convex outline and becomes roughened and warty in
appearance on account of the small heaps of dirt thrown up by
the animals. Hence Ave may readily see how, in the lapse of
long centuries, some of the mounds may have been inhabited for
a time by gophers and made rough on the exterior. This would
account for the bossed surface that some mounds have. Mounds
can be found in localities so Avet that it is doubtful if a gopher
ever lived there. .Gophers do not live in wet places any more
than in woods. Again, Ave knoAV that gophers abound in many
places Avhere no mounds Avhatever occur. Why, for example,
does not the enormous number of gopliers in other counties
build mounds on the high prairies, or along the AAiiole lengths
of riA^er courses? ^Vhy do they not build intermediate mounds
as Avell as mounds twenty to forty feet across? I never met a
man who knew of gophers building large mounds.
"These considerations seem to warrant the conclusion that
these mounds are not the accumulations of rotted grass, nor of
gopher and ant diggings. Nor does there seem to be a natural
agency to Avhich the making of so many mounds, so regularly
alike, in such different localities, can be inferred. If it be sug-
gested that they might have been formed by upturned roots
of trees that were blown over, or by the drift material of SAVollen
waters, or by springs, a number of questions can be raised at
once to throAV great imx^robability on such an origin of the
mounds. While Ave may conceive of some mounds having been
formed in this Avay in certain places, none of the suggested
modes, nor a combination of them, will explain the mounds in
these places. Why should not these agencies have formed
mounds in vastly larger areas Avhere we know there are springs,
where winds overturn trees, Avhere flooded streams form A^ery
numerous drift accumulations but not mounds? Nor are these
mounds small dunes bloAvn up by the Avind. The character of
the land is such as to preclude all possibility of their formation
by the wind. Much of the ground is too wet to permit the
drifting of soil ; some of the pebbles and rocks found in the
mounds would require a terrific Avind to transport them. Again,
dunes built by the Avind are not uniformly circular. Rather they
are oblong, Avith the highest elevation not in the middle but
tOAvards one end. It Avere odd indeed that the Avind should build
such dunes in low places, or in Avoods, or in groups, or string
them along creeks and not build them in places that are ap-
parently much better adapted to Avind-Avork. There are also
HISTOEY OF MOWEl? COUNTY 9
other considerations which give color to the conclusion that the
mounds were built by man, and that by the Indians. The shape
of all the mounds is that of the ordinary round mound. In size
they vary from fifteen to thirty feet across the top. Few exceed
thirty feet. One mound measured fifteen paces, or about forty-
five feet across. In general, the height varies from one-half to
two and one-half feet. A number exceed this and may form
very conspicuous objects on the meadow where the grass is burned
away. A number of mounds have circular depressions around
them as if dirt had been removed thence. After a thaw, water
may stand in the ring and make it very noticeable.
"At first it seemed to me very probable that the mounds
served as tenting places. The diameter and circumference of the
mounds would suggest this, but the seeming absence of the action
of fi.re does not support this view unless the Indians camping
there did not build fires. In other respects there is no reason
why Indians might not have camped there, as there was plenty
of water, and an abundance of game. In ancient times, the
region of these mounds between Grand Meadow and Le Roy was,
doubtless, a great marsh, and possibly even a marshy lake, drained
by what are now tributaries of the Root river, a probable traffic
way for the savages from the IMississippi river.
"There is no reason to doubt that fancy, or some definite cause,
such as the capture of game, brought Indians to all parts of this
country; hence it is not at all unlikely that pre-historie Indians
did the same thing. Our inability to find a conclusive reason at
present why Indians should camp or build mounds in these places
is no proof that the mounds are not of Indian origin. Should
closer study prove the mounds to be burial places, then they are
witnesses both of the large number of Indians biiried there, as
well as of the much larger number of population which was
not honored with a monument of earth.
"If it is true that these mounds are the products of human
activity in prehistoric times, then they present us Avith a new
and unexpected phase in the mound builders choice of location for
mounds. To a person accustomed to seeing large effigy mounds
in Wisconsin, or other larger mounds along the Mississippi, it
would naturally be a puzzle to find mounds in a location where
his former experience would not have prompted him to look for
mounds. The unexpected may also turn up in the experience of
the mound-hunter, and there is nothing unreasonable in thinking
that these mounds are another link in the chain of Minnesota
archeology, throwing light on the life of the prehistoric builders.
It merely shows that Indians built mounds also in other places
than on high terraces and shores.
"But should further study ever show that these mounds are
10 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY
not the work of wandering savages, then they ought to be ac-
corded a place in that science whose province it will be to ex-
plain them. So far I have utterly failed to find any adequate
cause or principle mentioned in geology, biology or physiog-
raphy, which will explain all of these in all places. If these
mounds were not built by Indians, then it may be that in any
other mounds now reckoned as Indians' mounds may also be
explained by the action of some other agency."
The first actual residents of this vicinity, whose occupation
of the region has been conclusively demonstrated, were the High-
land Mound Builders. Many relics, such as arrow heads and the
like, have been found along the Cedar river. No scientific inves-
tigation has been made of Highland mounds in Mower county,
but studies that have been made of these mounds to the north
and east, inside of a radius of 100 miles, would seemingly form
the premises of a fairly safe conclusion, that the Highland mound
building race ranged the prairies of Mower county. Scholars
at one time held to the belief that the Highland ]\Iound Builders
were a distinct race of a now exterminated people, much superior
to the Indians in intelligence and habits and related closely,
indeed, in civilization to the highly cultured Aztecs of Mexico.
Present day scholars, however, are of the belief that the High-
land Mound Builders, of North America, were the ancestors of
the Indians found here by the early explorers, and dift'ering from
them in no important characteristic of intelligence, habits, morals
or education. The Highland Mound Builders of this immediate
vicinity were, doubtless, the ancestors of the Sioux and the Iowa
Indians, it being well known that these two races were branches
of the same great family.
None of the early explorers mention any permanent Indian
villages within the present limits of Mower county, and, although
the Sioux Indians claimed this stretch of land, this prairie was
doubtless crossed from time immemorial, by bands of the Sioux,
lowas. Sacs and Foxes.
The vague traditions of the Sioux having been driven out
of "Wisconsin by the Chippewas, their settlement about Mille
Lacs, and their gradual distribution along the Avest banks of the
upper Mississippi, as well as their alleged conquest of the lowas,
who, according to tradition, formerly occupied the latter locality,
is beyond the scope of this work. The words Dakota and Sioiix,
though exactly opposite in meaning, are applied to the same race
of Indians. Dakota (variously spelled) is the name applied by
the race themselves, and means friendly or joined together in
friendly compact, the Sioux nation being a confederation of
tribes. The word Sioux comes from the word Nadowayscioux,
applied by the Chippewas and meaning enemies. The diaries of
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 11
the early hunters along the west bank of the Mississippi, lead us
to believe that the vicinity embraced in Mower county was
familiar to all the Sioux Indians living along that river, and that
annual hunting parties visited this region. Many sanguinary
wars were also fought here, for the Sacs and the Foxes were not
far away, and even the Chippewas occasionally braved the wrath
of their enemies and came here after game.
With the coming of the white settlers, the Sioux Indians
became rather plentiful in Mower county, although at that time
the treaties which relinc[uished the Indian rights of title had
already been signed.
CHAPTER III.
INDIAN TREATIES.
Visit to Washington — Boundary Lines Between Indian Tribes
Defined — Territory Now Mower County Included in the
Sioux Jurisdiction — Second Treaty of Prairie Du Chien —
Some of Wabasha's Men Killed by the Foxes South of Aus-
tin in Iowa — Strip of Territory South of Mower County
Ceded by Treaty— The Doty Treaty and Its Failure— Treaty
of Traverse Des Sioux — Treaty of Mendota, by Which Mower
County was Opened to Settlement.
From prehistoric days up to the time of the treaty signed at
Mendota, August 5, 1851, ratified and amended by the United
States senate, June 23, 1852; accepted with amendments by the
Indians, September 4 and 6, 1852, and proclaimed by President
Fillmore, February 24, 1853, the territory embraced in Mower
county remained in the undisputed possession of the Indians,
being used as a hunting ground by the Sioux Indians, but also
being visited by other Redmen. Before this treaty, however, sev-
eral agreements were made between the Indians of this vicinity
and the United States government, regarding mutual relations
and the ceding of lands.
Visit to Washington. In the spring of 1824 the first delega-
tion of Sioux Indians went to Washington to see their "Great
Father," the president. A delegation of ChippcAvas accompanied,
and both were in charge of Major Taliaferro. Wabasha, then
properly called Wa-pa-ha-sha, the head chief of the band at
Winona ; and Little Crow, head of the Kaposia band ; and Wah-
natah, were the principal memliers of the Sioux delegation. The
13 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
object of the visit was to secure a convocation of all of the upper
Mississippi Indians at Prairie du Chien to define the boundary
line of the lands claimed by the separate tribes and to establish
general and permanent friendly relations among them. The party
went in keel boats from Fort Snelling to Prairie du Chien, and
from there to Pittsburg by steamboat, thence to Washington and
other eastern cities by land.
Prairie du Chien Treaty of 1825. The treaty of Prairie du
Chien, signed in 1825, was important to the Indians of this vicin-
ity, in that it fixed certain boundaries. The eastern boundary
of the Sioux territory was to commence on the east bank of
the ^Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the "loway" (now the
upper Iowa) river, running back to the bluffs, and along the bluffs
to the Bad Ax river; thence to the mouth of Black river, and
thence to "half a day's march" below the falls of the Chippewa.
The boundary lines were certainly, in some respects, quite indefi-
nite, and Avhether this was the trouble or not, at any event, it was
but a few months after the treaty when it was evident that neither
the Dakotas (Sioux) nor Ojibways were willing to be governed
by the lines established — and hardly by any others. The first
article of the treatj^ provided: "There shall be a firm and per-
petual peace between the Sioux and the Chippewas; between the
Sioux and the confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes ; and between
the 'loways' and the Sioux." But this provision was more
honored in the breach than the observance, and in a little time
the tribes named were flying at one another's throats and engaged
in their old-time hostilities. On the part of the Sioux this treat}''
was signed by Chiefs AA-'abasha, Little Crow, Standing Buffalo,
Sleepy Eye, Two Faces, Tah-sah-gliee, or "His Cane"; Black
Dog, Wah-ah-na-tah, or "The Charger"; Red Wing, Shakopee,
Penishon and Eagle Head, and also by a number of head soldiers
and "principal men." The Chippewa signers were Shingauba
Wassa, Gitche Gaubow, Wis Coup, or "Sugar," and a number
of sub-chiefs and principal men.
Second Treaty of Prairie du Chien. In 1830, the second treaty
Avith the northwest Indian tribes was signed at Prairie du Chien.
A few Aveeks previous to the convocation, Avhich Avas begun July
15, a party of AVabasha's band of Sioux, and some Menomiuees,
ambushed a party of Fox Indians some tAvelve or fifteen miles
beloAV Prairie du Chien and killed eight of them, including a
sub-chief called the Kettle.
The Foxes had their village near Dubuque, and Avere on their
Avay to Prairie du Chien to visit the Indian agent, Avhom they had
apprised of their coming. They were in canoes on the Missis-
sippi, and as they reached the loAver end of Prairie du Pierreaux,
tliey paddled up a narroAV channel Avhich ran near the eastern
HISTORY OF M0^YEI1 COUNTY 13
shore. At this point their concealed enemies opened fire. The
Foxes returned to their village, bearing their dead, while the
Sioux and Menominees went home and danced over their victory.
A few weeks previous the Foxes had killed some of Wabasha's
band on the Red Cedar river in Iowa, a few miles south of Austin,
and the Sioux claimed that their part in the Prairie du Pierreaux
was taken in retalliation for the Red Cedar affair. In June of
the following year, a large number of Menominees were camped
on an island in the Mississippi, less than half a mile from Fort
Crawford and Prairie du Chien. One night they were all intox-
icated — men, women and children — when two hours before day-
light the Dubuque Foxes took dreadful reprisal for the killing of
their brethren at Prairie du Pierreaux. Though but a small band,
they crept into the Menominee encampment, fell upon the in-
mates, and in a few minutes put numbers of them to the gun,
tomahawk and the scalping knife. Thirty Menominees were
killed. "When the entire Menominee band had been aroused, the
Foxes, without having lost a man, retired, calling out in great
exaltation that the cowardly killing of their comrades at Prairie
du Pierreaux had been revenged.
Because of the Prairie du Pierreaux affair, the Foxes at first
refused to be present at the second treaty of Prairie du Chien, but
finally came.
Delegates were present from four bands of the Sioux, the
MedaAvakantons, the Wapakootas, the Wahpatons and the Sisse-
tons, and also from the Sacs, the Foxes and lowas, and even from
the Omahas, Otoes and Missouris, the homes of the last three
tribes being on the Missouri river. At this treaty the Indian
tribes represented ceded all of their claims to the land in western
Iowa, northwestern Missouri, and especially the country of the
Des Moines river valley. The lower bands had a special article
inserted in the treaty for the benefit of their half-blood relatives:
"The Sioux bands in council have earnestly solicited that they
might have permission to bestow upon the half-breeds of their
nation the tract of land within the following limits, to-wit : Be-
ginning at a place called the Barn, below and near the village of
the Red Wing chief, and running back fifteen miles ; thence, in a
parallel line, with Lake Pepin and the Mississippi river about
thirty-two miles, to a point opposite Beef, or O'Boeuf, river,
thence fifteen miles to the Grand Encampment, opposite the river
aforesaid, the United States agree to suft'er said half-breeds to
occupy said tract of country, they holding the same title, and in
the same manner that other Indian titles are held."
Certificates, or "scrip" were issued to many half-breeds, and
there was much speculation in them, and litigation over them,
in subsequent years, a matter of whicli will Ix' treated later in
14 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
this history. The Sioux also ceded a tract of land twenty miles
wide along the northern boundary of Iowa from the Mississippi
to the Des J\Ioines, the consideration for Avhieh was $2,000 in
cash and $12,000 in merchandise. Thus it will be seen that as
early as 1830 the Indians relinquished their title to the land just
south of Mower county. The strip in question was for many
years known as the "Neutral Land."
The Doty Treaty. The Doty treaty, made at Traverse des
Sioux, in July, 1841, failed to be ratified by the United States
senate. This treaty embodied a Utopian dream that a territory
of Indians could be established, in which the Redmen would
reside on farms and in villages, living their lives after the style
of the whites, having a constitutional form of government, Avith
a legislature of their own people elected by themselves, the gov-
'^rnor to be appointed by the president of the United States, much
nlong the plan still followed with the Cherokees in the Indian ter-
ritory, except that it embodied for the Indians a much higher
type of citizenship than is found in the Indian territory. The
Indians were to be taught the arts of peace, to be paid annuities,
Eind to be protected by the armies of the United States from their
Indian enemies on the west. In return for these benefits to be con-
ferred upon the Indians, the United States was to receive all the
lands in what is now Minnesota, the Dakotas and northwestern
Towa, except small portions,' which were to be reserved for the
Redmen. This ceded land Avas not to be opened to the settlement
i>f the whites, and the plan was to have some of it reserved for
Indian tribes from other parts of the country who should sell
their lands to the United States, and who, in being moved here,
>vere to enjoy all the privileges Avhich had been so beautifully
planned for the native Indians. B^^t no one can tell what Avould
have been the result of this experiment, for the senate, for politi-
cal reasons, refused to ratify the treaty, and it failed of going
into effect. This treaty was signed by the Sisseton, Wahpaton
nnd AYahpakoota bands at Traverse des Sioux, July 31, 1841,
and by the Medawakanton bands at Mendota, August 11 of the
^'iame year.
Treaty of Traverse des Sioux. In the spring of 1851 Presi-
dent Fillmore appointed Governor Alexander Ramsey and Luke
Lea as commissioners to open negotiations Avith the Indians for the
purpose of opening to settlement Avhat is now the greater part of
Minnesota. The conference Avas held at Traverse des Sioux, be-
tween the chiefs and head men of the Sisseton and Wahpaton, or
Upper Bands, as they were called, and the tAvo commissioners.
The Indians were accompanied by their families and many prom-
inent pioneers were also present. The meeting Avas held under a
brush arbor erected by Alexis Bailly, and one of the incidents
HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUNTY 15
of the proceedings was the marriage of two mixed blood people,
David Faribault and Nancy "Winona McClure, the former the son
of Jean Baptist Faribault and the latter of Lieut. James McClure.
The treaty Avas signed July 22, 1851, and provided that the upper
bands should cede to the United States all their land in Iowa as
well as their lands east of a line from the Red river to Lake
Traverse and thence to the northwestern corner of Iowa.
Treaty of Mendota. From July 29, 1851, to August 5, Men-
dota was the scene of the conference which opened Slower, Steele
and surrounding counties to white settlement. The chiefs and
head men of the lower bands were thoroughly familiar with the
proceedings of the Indians and the representatives of the United
States at Traverse des Sioux and all were on hand that bright
August day, waiting for the negotiations to open at Mendota.
The first session was held in the warehouse of the Fur Company
at that place, but the Indians found the atmosphere stifling, and
not in accord with their usual method of outdoor councils, so the
consideration of the treaty was taken up under a large brush
arbor, erected by Alexis Bailly, on an elevated plain near the high
prominence known as Pilot Knob. Dr. Thomas Foster Avas secre-
tary for Commissioners Lea and Ramsey; the interpreters were
Alexander Faribault, Philander Preseott and Rev. G. H. Pond;
the white witnesses were David Olmsted, W. C. Henderson, Alexis
Bailly, Richard Chute, Henry Jackson, A. L. Carpenter, W. H.
Randall, A. S. H. White, H. L. Dousman, Fred C. Sibley, Martin
McLeod, George N. Faribault and Joseph A. "Wheelock. After
much deliberation and many disagreements, the treaty was signed
August 5, 1851. Little Crow was the first signer. To the treaty
Little Crow signed his original name, Tah 0-ya-te Doota, meaning
His Red Nation. "Wabasha Avas the next to sign, making his mark.
Then the other chiefs, head soldiers and principal Avarriors
croAvded around to affix their marks. In all, there Avere sixty-five
Indian signatures.
At Mendota, as at Traverse des Sioux, Avhen the treaty Avas
concluded, each Indian signer stepped to another table Avhere
lay another paper Avhich he signed. This Avas called the tradei'fe'
paper, and Avas an agreement to pa.y the "just debts," so called,
of the Indians, including those present and absent, alive and
dead, OAA-ing to the traders and the trading company. Some of
the accounts Avere nearly thirty years old, and the Indians avIio
had contracted them Avere dead; but the bands Avillingly assumed
the indebtedness and agreed that it might be discharged out of
the first money paid them. The territory ceded by the two
treaties Avas declared to be: "All their lands in the state of
Iowa, and also all their lands in the territory of ^Minnesota lying
east of the folloAving line, to-Avit : Beginning at the junction of
16 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Buffalo river with the Red River of the North (about twelve
miles north of Morehead, at Georgetown station, in Clay county),
thence along the western bank of said Red River of the North,
to the mouth of the Sioux "Wood river ; thence along the western
bank of said Sioux AVood river to Lake Traverse; thence along
the western shore of said lake to the southern extremity thereof ;
thence, in a direct line, to the juncture of Kampeska lake with the
Tehan-Ka-Sna-Duka, or Sioux river; thence along the western
bank of said river to its point of intersection with the northern
line of the state of Iowa, including all islands in said rivers
and lakes."
The lower bands were to receive $1,410,000, to be paid in the
mamaer and form following: For settling debts and removing
themselves to the new reservation, $220,000, one-half to the ]Meda-
wakanton bands, and one-half to the single AVahpakoota band ; for
schools, mills and opening farms, $30,000. Of the principal of
$1,410,000, the sum of $30,000 in cash was to be distributed
among the two bands as soon as the treaty was ratified, and
$28,000 was to be expended annually, under the president 's direc-
tion, as follows: To a civilization fund, $12,000; to an educa-
tional fund, $6,000; for goods and provisions, $10,000. The
balance of the principal, or $1,160,000, was to remain in trust
rtdth the United States at 5 per cent interest, to be paid annually
to the Indians for fifty years, commencing July 1, 1852. The $58,-
000 annuity interest was to be expended as the first installment —
$30,000 in cash, $12,000 for civilization, $6,000 for education, and
$10,000 for goods and provisions. The back annuities under the
treaty of 1837 remaining unexpired were also to be paid an-
nually. Their reservation was to extend from the mouth of the
Yellow Medicine and Hawk creek southeasterly to the mouth
of Rock creek, a tract twenty miles wide and about forty-five
miles in length. The half-breeds of the Sioux were to receive
in cash $150,000 in lieu of lands allowed them under the Prairie
du Chien treaty of 1830, but which they had failed to claim.
The written copies of the Traverse des Sioux and the Alendotu
ti'eaties, duly signed and attested, were forwarded to "Washington
to be acted upon by the senate at the ensuing session of congress.
An lanreasonably long delay resulted. Final action was not had
until the follo^^'ing summer, when, on July 23, the senate ratified
both treaties Avith important amendments. The provisions for les-
.jrvations for both the upper and lower bands were stricken out,
and substitutes adopted, agreeing to pay ten cents an acre for
ooth reservations, and authorizing the president, with the assent
of the Indians, to cause to be set apart other reservations, wliieh
were to be within the limits of the original great cession. The
provision to pay $150,000 to the half-bloods of the lower bands
HISTOEY OF MO\YErt COUNTY 17
was also stricken out. The treaties, with the changes, came back
to the Indians for final ratification and agreement to the altera-
tions. The chiefs of the lower bands at first objected very stren-
uously, but finally, on Saturday, September 4, 1852, at Governor
Eamsey's residence in St. Paul, they signed the amended articles,
and the following Monday the chiefs and head men of the upper
bands affixed their marks. As amended, the treaties were pro-
claimed by President Fillmore February 24, 1853. The Indians
were allowed to remain in their old villages, or, if they preferred,
to occupy their reservations as originally designated, until the
president selected their new homes. That selection was never
made, and the original reservations were finally allowed them.
The removal of the lower Indians to their designated reservation
began in 1853, but was intermittent, interrupted and extended
over a period of several years. The Indians went up in detach-
ments, as they felt inclined. After living on the reservation for
a time, some of them returned to their old hunting grounds,
where they lived continuously for some time, visiting their reser-
vation and agency only at the time of -the payment of their an-
nuities. Finally, by the offer of cabins to live in, or other sub-
stantial inducements, nearly all of them were induced to settle
on the Redwood Reserve, so that in 1862, at the time of the out-
break, less than twenty families of the Medawakantons and Wah-
pakootas were living off their reservation. With the subsequent
history of these Indians this volume wnll not deal in detail ; the
purpose of treating with the Indians thus far in this chapter
having been to show the various negotiations by which I\Iower
county and the surrounding territory came into the possession of
the whites and was thus opened for settlement and development.
CHAPTER IV.
GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY.
Early Claims of Title — Spain, France and England — Treaties and
Agreements — The Louisiana Purchase — Indiana — Louisiana
District — Louisiana Territory — Missouri Territory — North-
west Territory — Illinois Territory — Michigan Territory — Wis-
consin Territory — Iowa Territory — No Man's Land — Sibley
in Congress — Minnesota Territory — Minnesota State — Com-
piled from Manuscripts of Hon. F. M. Crosby.
The liistory of the early government of what is now southern
Minnesota, is formulated with some difficulty, as, prior to the nine-
teenth centurv, the interior of the county was so little known.
18 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUXTY
and the maps upon which claims and grants were founded were
so meagre, as well as incorrect and unreliable, that descriptions
of boundaries and locations as given in the early treaties are
vague in the extreme, and very difficult of identification with
present day lines and locations.
The Hon. J. V. Brower, a scholarly authority upon this sub-
ject, says — ("The Mississippi Eiver and Its Sources"): "Spain,
by virtue of the discoveries of Columbus and others, confirmed to
her by papal grant (that of Alexander VI, May 4, 1493), may
be said to have been the first European oAvner of the entire valley
of the Mississippi, but she never used this claim as a ground for
taking formal possession of this part of her domains other than in-
cidentally involved in De Soto's doings. The feeble objections
which she made in the next two centuries after the discovery, to
other nations exploring and settling North America, were success-
fully overcome by the force of accomplished facts. The name of
Florida, now so limited in its application, was first applied by the
Spaniards to the greater part of the eastern half of North Amer-
ica, commencing at the Gulf of Mexico and proceeding northward
indefinitely. This expansiveness of geographical view was par-
alleled later by the definition of a New France of still greater
extent, Avhich practically included all the continent.
"L'Escarbot, in his history of New France, written in 1617,
says, in reference to this: 'Thus our Canada has for its limits on
the Avest side all the lands as far as the sea called the Pacific, on
this side of the Tropic of Cancer; on the south the islands of the
Atlantic sea in the direction of Cuba and the Spanish land; on
the east the northern sea Avhich bathes Ncav France ; and on the
north the land said to be unknoAvn, toward the icy sea as far as
the arctic pole.'
' ' Judging also by the A'arious grants to individuals, noble and
otherAvise, and 'companies,' AAdiich gave away the country in lati-
tudinal strips extending from the Atlantic Avestward, the English
were not far behind the Spaniards and French in this kind of
effrontery. As English colonists never settled on the Mississippi
in pursuance of such grants, and never performed any acts of
authority there, such shadoAA^y sovereignties may be disregarded
here, in spite of the fact that it Avas considered necessary, many
years later, for A-arious states concerned to conA-ey to the United
States their rights to territory Avhich they never actually ruled
over.
"Thus, in the most arbitrary manner, did the Mississippi river,
though yet unknoAvn, become the property, successively, of the
Iberian, Gaulish and Anglo-Saxon races — of three peoples who,
in later times, by diplomacy and force of arms, struggled for an
actual occupancy. Practically, hoAvever, the upper Mississippi
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 19
valley may be considered as having been in the first place
Canadian soil, for it was Frenchmen from Canada who first vis-
ited it and traded with its various native inhabitants. The further
prosecution of his discoveries by La Salle, in 1682, extended
Canada as a French possession to the Gulf of Mexico, though he
did not use the name of Canada nor yet that of New France.
He preferred to call the entire country watered by the Missis-
sippi river and its tributaries, from its uttermost source to its
mouth, by the new name he had already invented for the pur-
pose — Louisiana. The name of Canada and New France had
been indifferently used to express about the same extent of
territory, but the name of Louisiana now came to supersede
them in being applied to the conjectural regions of the West.
Although La Salle has applied the latter expression to the entire
valley of the Mississippi, it was not generally used in that sense
after his time, the upper part of the region was called Canada,
and the lower Louisiana; but the actual dividing line between
the two provinces was not absolutely established, and their
names and boundaries were variously indicated on published
maps. Speaking generally, the Canada of the eighteenth century
included the Great Lakes and the country drained by their tribu-
taries; the northern one-fourth of the present state of Illinois,
that is, as much as lies north of the mouth of the Rock river ; all
the regions lying north of the northern Avatershed of the Mis-
souri, and finally the valley of the upper Missouri itself." This
would include Mower county.
But it is now necessary to go back two centuries previous
and consider the various explorations of the Mississippi upon
which were based the claims of the European monarchs. Pos-
sibly the mouth of the Mississippi had been reached by Span-
iards previous to 1541, possibly Hibernian missionaries as early
as the middle of the sixth century, or Welch emigrants (Madoc),
about 1170, discovered North America by way of the Gulf of
Mexico, but historians give to Hernando de Soto and his band
of adventurers the credit of having been the first white men to
actually view the Mississippi on its course through the interior
of the continent and of being the first ones to actually traverse
its waters. De Soto sighted the Mississippi in ]\Iay, 15-11, at the
head of an expedition in search of gold and precious stones. In
the following spring, weary with hope long deferred, and worn
out with his adventures, De Soto fell a victim to disease, and
died May 21, 1541. His followers, greatly reduced in number by
sickness, after wandering about in a vain searching, built three
small vessels and descended to the mouth of the Mississippi,
being the first white men to reach the outlet of that great river
From the interior. However, tlicy were too weary and discour-
20 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
to lay claim to the country, and took no notes of the region
through which they passed.
In 1554, James Cartier, a Frenchman, discovered the St.
Lawrence, and explored it as far as the present site of Quebec.
The next year he ascended the river to Mont Real, the lofty hill
for which Montreal was named. Thereafter all the country
drained by the St. Lawrence was claimed by the French. Many
years later the King of France granted the "basin of the St.
Lawrence and all the rivers flowing through it to the sea," to a
company, whose leader was Champlain, tlie founder of Quebec,
which became the capital of New France, whose then unex-
plored territory stretched westward to well wdthin the bounda-
ries of Avhat is now Minnesota. In 1613-15 Champlain explored
the OttaAva river, and the Georgian bay to Lake Huron, and
missions were established in the Huron country. IMissionaries
and fur traders were the most active explorers of the new pos-
sessions. They followed the shores of the Great Lakes and then
penetrated further and further into the wilderness. As they
went they tried to make friends of the red men, established
trading posts and raised the Christian cross. In 1641 Jogues
and Raymbault, Jesuits, after a long and perilous voyage in frail
canoes and bateaux, reached the Sault Ste. Marie, where they
heard of a large river, the Mich-is-ip-e, flowing southward to the
sea, and of a powerful Indian tribe dwelling near its head-
quarters. Stories of vast fertile plains, of numberless streams,
of herds of buffalo, and of many peoples, in regions far to the
west and south, roused missionaries and traders anew, and the
voyages and trips of the explorers became more frequent.
In 1659-60 Radisson and Groselliers, proceeding westward
from Lake Superior, entered what is now Minnesota. They spent
some time in the "forty villages of the Dakotas," in the vicinity
of Mille Lacs, and probably were the first white men to set foot
on the soil of this state. The contention that these adventurers
spent a part of the years 1655-56 on Prairie Island, in the Mis-
sissippi just above Red Wing, is disputed by most historians, but
still forms au interesting subject for study and conjecture.
Some writers also claim that the Frenchman, Sieur Nicollet,
who should not be confused with the Nicollet of a later d;)te,
reached the Mississippi in 1639.
Rene Menard, a Jesuit missionary, reached the Mississippi in
1661 by way of Wisconsin. This was twelve years prior to its
discovery by Marquette and Joliet, and to Menard historians in
general give the honor of the discovery of the upper waters of
the great river. Menard ascended the Mississippi to the mouth
of the Black river. Wis., and was lost in a forest near the source
of tliat stream while attempting to carry the gospel to the
HISTOEY OF MOAVER COUNTY 31
Hnrons. His sole companion "called him and sought him, l)ut he
made no reply and could not be found." Some years later his
camp kettle, robe and prayer book were seen in the possession
of the Indians.
In the summer of 1663 the intelligence of the fate of ]\Ienard
reached Quebec, and on August 8, 1665, Father Claude Allouez,
who had anxiously waited two years for the means of convey-
ance, embarked for Lake Superior with a party of French
traders and Indians. He visited the Minnesota shores of Lake
Superior in the fall of 1665, established the Mission of the Holy
Spirit at La Pointe, now in "Wisconsin, and we are told "was
the first to Avrite 'Messipi' the name of the great river of the
Sioux country," as he heard it pronounced by the Chippewas, or
rather as it sounded to his ears.
May 13, 1673, Jaques Marquette and Louis Joliet, the former
a priest and the latter the commander of the expedition, set out
with five assistants, and on June 17 of the same year reached
the TMississippi at the present site of Prairie du Chien, thence
continuing down the river as far as the mouth of the Illinois,
which they ascended, subsequently reaching the lakes.
In 1678, the Sieur Duluth, Daniel Graysolon, under commis-
sion from the governor of Canada, set out from Quebec, to ex-
plore the country west of the Lake Superior region. He was to
take possession of it in the name of the king of France, and
secure the trade of the native tribes. Duluth entered IMinnesota
in 1679, reaching the great Sioux village of Kathio at Mille Lacs,
on July 2. "On that day," he says, "I had the honor to plant
His Majesty's arms, where a Frenchman never before had been."
La Salle, however, was the first to lay claim to the entire
valley in the name of his sovereign. After achieving perpetual
fame by the discovery of the Ohio river (1670-71), he conceived
the plan of reaching the Pacific by way of the northern Missis-
sippi, at that time unexplored and supposed to be a waterway
connecting the two oceans. Frontenac, then governor-general
of Canada, favored the plan, as did the King of France. Ac-
cordingly, gathering a company of Frenchmen, he pursued his
way through the lakes, made a portage to the Illinois river, and
January 4, 1680, reached what is now Lake Peoria, in Illinois.
From there, in February, he sent Hennepin and two companions
to explore the upper ]Mississippi. During this voyage Hennepin,
and the men accompanying him, were taken by the Indians as
far north as Mille Lacs. He also discovered St. Anthony Falls.
Needing reinforcements, La Salle again returned to Canada. In
January, 1682, with a band of followers, he started on his third
and greatest expedition. February 6, they reached the IMissis-
sippi by Avay of Lake Michigan and the Illinois river, and ^lareh
22 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUJsTTY
6, discovered the three great passages by which the river dis-
charges its waters into the Gulf. Two days later they reascended
the river a short distance, to find a high spot out of the reach
of inundations, and there erected a column and planted a cross,
proclaiming with due ceremony the authority of the king of
France. Thus did the whole Mississippi valley pass under the
nominal sovereignty of the French monarchs.
The first definite claim to the upper Mississippi is embodied
in a paper, still preserved, in the colonial archives of France,
entitled "The record of the taking possession, in his majesty's
name, of the Bay des Puants (Green bay), of the lake and rivers
of the Outagamis and IMaskoutins (Fox rivers and Lake Winne-
bago), of the river Ouiskonche (Wisconsin), and that of the
Mississippi, the country of the Nadouesioux (the Sioux or Dakota
Indians), the rivers St. Croix and St. Pierre (Minnesota), and
other places more remote, May 8, 1689." (E. B. "Callahan's
translation in 1855, published in Vol. 9, page 418, "Documents
Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York")
This claim was made by Perrot, and the proclamation is supposed
to have been issued from Fort St. Antonie (Anthony) near the
present site of Trempealeau.
The previous proclamations of St. Lusson in 1671 at the out-
let of Lake Superior, of De Luth, in 1679, at the west end of
the same lake and at Mille Lacs, had no definite bearing on the
land now embraced in Mower county, but nevertheless strength-
ened the French claims of sovereignty.
For over eight decades thereafter, the claims of France were,
tacitly at least, recognized in Europe. In 1763 there came a
change. Of this change, A. N. Winchell (in Vol. 10, "Minnesota
Historical Society Collections") writes: "The present eastern
boundary of Minnesota, in part (that is, so far as the Mississippi
now forms its eastern boundary), has a history beginning at a
very early date. In 1763, at the end of that long struggle during
which England passed many a mile post in her race for world
empire, while France lost nearly as much as Britain gained —
that struggle, called in America the French and Indian war — -
the Mississippi river became an international boundary. The
articles of the definite treaty of peace were signed at Paris, on
February 10, 1763. The seventh article made the Mississippi,
from its source to about the 31st degree of north latitude, the
boundary between the English colonies on this continent and
the French Louisiana. The text of the article is as follows:
(Published in the "Gentleman's Magazine," Vol. 33, pages 121-
126, March, 1763).
"VII. In order to re-establish peace on solid and durable
foundations, and to remove forever all subjects of dispute to the
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 33
limits of the British and French Territories on the continent of
America; — that for the future, the confines between the domains
of his Britannic majesty and those of his most Christian majesty
(the king of France) in that part of the world, shall be fixed
irrevocably by a line drawn down the middle of the river Missis-
sippi, from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence, by
a line drawn along the middle of this river, and the Lake Maure-
pas and Pontchartrain, to the sea." The boundary from the
source of the river further north, or west, or in any direction,
was not given ; it was evidently supposed that it would be of no
importance, for many centuries, at least.
This seventh article of the definite treaty was identical with
the sixth article in the preliminary treaty of peace signed by
England, Spain and France, at Fontainebleau, November 3, 1762.
On that same day, November 3, 1762, the French and Spanish
representatives had signed another act by which the French king
"ceded to his cousin of Spain, and his successors forever * * *
all the country known by the name of Louisiana, including New
Orleans and the island on which that city is situated." This
agreement was kept secret, but when the definite treaty was
signed at Paris the following year, this secret pact went into
efi'ect, and Spain at once became the possessor of the area
described.
At the close of the Revolutionary war, the territory east of
the Mississippi, and north of the 31st parallel, passed under the
jurisdiction of the United States. By the definite treaty of peace
between the United States and Great Britain, ratified at Paris,
September 3, 1783, a part of the northern boundary of the
United States, and the western boundary thereof was established,
as follovv'S: Commencing at the most northwestern point of the
Lake of the Woods and from thence on a due course west to the
Mississippi river (the Mississippi at that time was thought to
extend into what is now Canada), thence by a line to be drawn
along the middle of said Mississippi river until it shall intersect
the northernmost part of the 31st degree of north latitude. (U. S.
Statutes at Large, Vol. 8, page 82.)
In 1800, by the secret treaty of San (or Saint) Ildefouso
(signed October 1), Spain receded the indefinite tract west of the
Mississippi to France, which nation did not, however, take formal
possession until three years later, when the formality was made
necessary in order that the tract might be ceded to the United
States, Napoleon, for France, sold the tract to the United States,
April 30, 1803. The region comprehended in the "Louisiana
Purchase," as this area was called, included all the country west
of the Mississippi, except those portions west of the Rocky
24: HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
mountains actually occupied by Spain, and extended as far north
as the British territory.
By an act of congress, approved October 31, 1803, the presi-
dent of the United States was authorized to take possession of
this territory, the act providing that "all the military, civil, and
judicial powers exercised by the officers of the existing govern-
ment, shall be vested in such person and persons, and shall be
exercised in such manner as the president of the United States
shall direct." (United States Statutes at Large, Vol. 2, page
245.)
December 20, 1803, Louisiana was formally turned over to
the United States at New Orleans, by M. Laussat, the civil agent
of France, Avho a few days previous (November 30) had received
a formal transfer from representatives of Spain.
Louisiana District. By an act of congress, approved ]\Iarch
26, 1801:, all of that portion of the country ceded by France to the
United States under the name of Louisiana, lying south of the
33d degree of north latitude, was organized as the territory of
Orleans and all the residue thereof was organized as the district
of Louisiana. That act contained the following provision: "The
executive power now vested in the government of the Indiana
territory shall extend to and be exercised in said district of
Louisiana." The area set oif as the territory of Orleans was
admitted as the state of Louisiana in 1812.
Louisiana Territory. By an act of congress approved March
3, 1805, all that part of the country, embraced in the district of
Louisiana, Avas organized as a territory, called the territory of
Louisiana.
Missouri Territory. By an act of congress approved June 4,
1814, it Avas provided that the territory hitherto called Louisiana
should be called Missouri, and Avas organized as a territory.
The struggles in congress Avhich led to the Missouri compromise ;
the agreement that all territory west of Missouri and north of
parallel 36° 36' should forever be free from the curse of slavery,
and the final admission of Missouri Avitli her present boundaries,
by presidential proclamation, August 10, 1821, are outside of
the province of this history. Sufficient is it to say here that this
admission left the land to the northAvard, including MoAver
county, Avithout a fountain head of territorial government from
1hat date until June 28, 1834, Avhen it Avas attached to Michigan.
It is noAv necessary to turn to the events that had been
trans]>irJiifr in regard to tlie government of the area east of the
^Mississippi and iiort Invest of the Ohio river.
The Northwest Territory embraced all the area of the United
States nortliAvcst of the Ohio river. By the provisions of the
HISTOIJY OF MOWER COl'NTY 25
famous "Northwest Ordinance, " passed July V\ 1787, by the
Congress of the Confederation (the constitution of the United
States not being adopted until September 17), tlie Ohio river
became the boundary of the territory. The fifth article of the
ordinance reads as follows: "Art. 5. There shall be formed in
the said (i. e., the Northwest) territory, not less than three, nor
more than tive states," * * * the western state in the said
territory shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio and the
Wabash rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post
Vincents, due north, to the territorial line between the United
States and Canada; and by the said territorial line to the Lake
of the Woods and the Mississippi. (See Executive Documents,
3d session, 46th congress, 1880-81, Vol. 25, Doc. 47, Part 4, pages
153-156; also United States Statutes at Large, Vol. 1, page 51,
note a.)
Indiana Territory. Tlie ordinance of 1787 provided for the
organization of three "states'' out of the Northwest Territory.
That same year the constitution of the United States was adopted.
In 1799, Ohio organized a territorial government, but the middle
and western "states" did not have, separately, sufficient popula-
tion to warrant the establishment of two separate governments.
Congress solved the difficulty by uniting the two under the name
of Indiana. The act was passed May 7, 1800, and its first section
reads as follows: "Section 1 — Be it enacted, etc., that from and
after the fourth day of July next, all that part of the territory of
the United States, northwest of the Ohio river, which lies to the
westward of a line beginning at the Ohio opposite the moutli of
the Kentucky river, and running thence to Fort Kecovery, and
thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between
the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of tempo-
rary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called
the Indiana Territory." (U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 2,
page 58.) Indiana was admitted as a state in 1816.
Michigan Territory. By an act of congress passed June 11,
1805, Michigan territory was fornfed. The boundaries were
described as follows: "All that part of the Indiana territory
which lies north of a line draAvn east from the southerly bend or
extreme of Lake Michigan until it shall intersect Lake Erie, and
east of a line drawn from the said southerly bend througli the
middle of said lake to its northern extremity, and thence due
north to the northern l)Oundary of the United States, shall for
the piu'pose of temporary government constitute a separate terri-
tory, to be called iMichigan. (U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 2,
page 309.) Additions, noted further along in tliis artich", were
later made to this territory.
Illinois Territory. In 1S09, settlers had comk' in so fast timt
26 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
there were sufficieut citizens in Indiana territory to snpport two
governments. Accordingly, the territory of Illinois was estab-
lished, February 3, 1809, by the following enactment: "Be it
enacted, etc., That from and after the first day of March, next, all
that part of the Indiana territory which lies west of the Wabash
river and a direct line drawn from the said Wabash river and
Post Vincennes, due north to the territorial line between the
United States and Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary
government constitute a separate territory, and be called Illinois.
(U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 2, page 514.) Illinois was admitted
p.s a state in 1818.
Michigan Territory. The population of Illinois continued to
increase, and the people were eager for a state government. The
southern portion was therefore granted statehood privileges, and
the northern portion, mainly unoccvipied, Avas cut off and added
to the territory of Michigan, previously created. This transfer
of territory was authorized in section 7 of the act passed April 18,
1818, enabling Illinois to form a state government and constitu-
tion. The terms of the act are as follows: "Section 7. And be
it further enacted. That all that part of the territory of the
United States lying north of the state of Indiana, and which was
inebided in the former Indiana territory, together with that part
of the Illinois territory which is situated north of, and not
included within the boundaries prescribed by this act (viz., the
boundaries of the state of Illinois) to the state thereby authorized
to be formed, shall be and hereby is, attached to and made a
part of the Michigan territory. Thus matters remained for
sixteen years.
Missouri, in the meantime, had been admitted as a state
(1821), and the territory north of that state, and Avest of the
Mississippi, was practically without organized authority from
that year until 1834, when the increase of settlement made it
advisable that the benefits of some sort of government should be
extended to its area. Consequently, Michigan territory Avas
extended to include this vast region. The act so enlarging
Michigan territory passed congress June 28, 1834, in the folloAA'-
:ng terms : "Be it enacted, etc.. That all that part of the territory
of the United States, bounded on the east by the Mississippi river,
on the south by the state of Missouri, and a line drawn due Avest
from the northwest corner of said state to the Missouri river; on
the soutliAvest and Avest by the Missouri riA^er and the White
Earth river, falling into the same, and on the north by the north-
era boundary of the United States, shall be, and hereby is, for the
purpose of temporary government attached to and made a part
oi, the territoiy of Michigan." (U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 4,
page 701.) In less than two years, certain territory Avas set apart
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 27
to form the proposed state of Michigan. This act passed congress
April 20, 1836, but Michigan was not admitted until January 26,
1837. (U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 5, pages 10-16.)
Wisconsin Territory. When AVisconsin territory was organ-
ized by an act of congress, April 20, 1836, all the Louisiana pur-
cliase north of the state of Missouri was placed under its jurisdic-
tion. This included Mower county. The boundaries as given
at that time were as follows: "Bounded on the east by a line
drawn from the northeast corner of the state of Illinois through
the middle of Lake ]\Iichigan to a point in the middle of said
lake and opposite the main channel of Green Bay and through
said channel and Green Bay to the mouth of the Menominee
river, thence through the middle of the main channel of said
rivr-r to that head of said river nearest the Lake of the Desert,
1 hence in a direct line to the middle of said lake, thence through
tlie middle of the main channel of the Montreal river to its
mouth ; thence with a direct line across Lake Superior to where
the territorial line of the United States last touches said lake,
northAvest, thence on the north with the said territorial line to the
White Earth river (located in what is now Wood county. North
Dakota). On the west by a line from the said boundary line, fol-
lowing down the middle of the main channel of the White Earth
river to the Missouri river, and down the middle of the main
channel of the Missouri river to a point due west from the north-
Avesi corner of the state of Missouri; and on the south from said
point due east to the northwest corner of the state of Missouri, and
thence with the boundaries of the states of Missouri and Illinois
as already fixed by act of congress. (U. S. Statutes at Large,
'Vol. 5, page 18.) It is interesting to note in this connection that
two sessions of the Wisconsin territorial legislature were held at
whfit is now Burlington, Iowa.
Iowa Territory. The territory of Iowa Avas created by the
act of congress, June 12, 1838, which act divided the territory
of Wisconsin along the Mississippi river and named the western
part, Iowa. The act provided : ' ' That from and after the third
day of July, next, all that part of the present territory of Wis-
consin AA'hich lies west of the INIississippi river and west of a line
draAvn due south from the head waters or sources of the Missis-
sippi to the territorial lines, shall, for the purpose of temporary
government, be and constitute a separate territorial government,
by the name of loAva." The area noAV embracing ]\IoAver couuty
Avas included Avithin these lines.
loAva remained a territory from 1838 to 18-16. The greater
part of southern and southeastern INIinnesota Avas Avithin the
jurisdiction of Clayton county. Henry 11. Sibley Avas a justice
of the peace in that county. The county seat Avas 2r)0 miles
28 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY
distant from his home iu ^leudota, and his jm'isdietion extended
over a region of eountry, which, as he expressed it, was "as
large as the empire of France." A convention of duly authorized
representatives of the people remained in session at Iowa City
from October 7 to November 1, 1844, and framed a state consti-
tution. It was provided that the constitution adopted, together
with any alterations which might subsequently be made by con-
gress, should be submitted to the people of the territory for their
approval or re.jection at the township elections in April, 1845.
The boundaries of the proposed new state, as defined in the con-
stitution, were in part as follows: '' * * * Thence up in the
middle of the main channel of the river last mentioned (the
I\lissouri) to the mouth of the Sioux or Calumet river; thence in
a direct, line to the middle of the main channel' of the St. Peter's
(Minnesota) river, where the Watonwan river — according to
Nicollet's map — enters the same, thence down the middle of the
main channel of said river to the middle of the Mississippi river ;
thence down the middle of said river to the place of beginning."
This would have included in the state of Iowa Mower county, and
in fact, all the counties of what is now IMinnesota that lie south
and east of the Minnesota as far as Mankato, also including Fari-
bault county and nearly all of Martin, the greater part of Blue
Earth and portions of AVatonwan, Cottonwood nd Jackson.
Congress rejected these boundary lines, and March 3, 1845,
in its enabling act, substituted the following description of the
proposed boundaries: "Beginning at the mouth of the Des
Moines river, in the middle of the Mississippi ; thence by the
middle of the channel of that river to the parallel of latitude
passing through the moiith of the IMankato or Blue Earth river ;
thence west along said parallel of latitude to a point where it is
intersected by a meridian line 17° 30' west of the meridian of
Washington City; thence due south to the northern boundary
line of the state of Missouri; thence eastwardly following tliat
boundary to the point at which the same intersects with the Des
Moines river ; thence by the middle of the channel of that river
to the place of beginning." Thus the soutliern boundary of
Minnesota would haA^e been on a line due east from the present
city oC ]\Iankato to the Mississippi river and due west from the
same point to a point in Brown county. This would have included
in Iowa all but a small fraction of the counties of Winona, Olm-
stead. Dodge, Steele, AVaseka and Blue Earth, portions of Brown,
Watonwan and Martin; and all of Faribault, Freeborn, Slower,
Fillmore and Houston. This reduction in its proposed territory
was not pleasing to those citizens of Iowa who wished the state
to have its boundaries to include the Minnesota river from the
Blue Earth to the ^Mississippi and the Mississippi from the Minne-
HISTORY OF MOWEU COUNTY 29
sota river to the Missouri state Hue. This chaugiug in the bound-
ary was really a political measure, a part of those battles in
congress over free and slave states which preceded the Civil war.
The boundaries as proposed by congress were rejected by the
people of Iowa after a bitter campaign. August 4, 1846, congress
passed a second enabling act, which was accepted by the people
by a narrow margin of 456, the vote being 9,492 for and 9,036
against. This second act placed the northern boundary of Iowa
still further south, but added territory to the west. The northern
boundary of Iowa, as described in the enabling act, was identical
with the parallel of 43° 30' north, from the Big Sioux river east-
ward to the Mississippi. This, with the exception of the short
distance from the Big Sioux river to the present western boundary
of Minnesota, is the present southern boundary of our state.
Minnesota's southern boundary, as thus described, was carefully
surveyed and marked within six yeai's of its acceptance by Iowa.
Tlie work was authorized March 3, 1849, and two appropriations
of $1,500 each were soon made. The survey was completed during
the years 1849 to 1852, at a total cost of $32,277.73. Although the
work was done with the best instruments then known, an error of
twenty-three chains, evidently due to carelessness, was discovered
within a year. Iowa was admitted as a state December 28, 1846.
Wisconsin State. Wisconsin soon wished to become a state.
The northwestern boundary provoked considerable discussion
both in congress and in the two constitutional conventions whicli
were called. There were some who wished to include all the
remaining portion of the northwest territory within the boand-
aries of the new proposed state. The two prevailing coteries,
however, were the ones between whom the fight really centered.
One body wished the northwestern boundary of the new state
(Wisconsin) to extend up the Mississippi as far as the Rum river,
where the city of Anoka is now situated, thence northeastAvardly
to the first rapids of the St. Louis river and thence lo Lake Supe-
rior. The residents of the St. Croix valley, and those living on
the east side of the Mississippi, between the St. Croix and the
Hum river, constituted the other party and objected to being
included in the proposed state of Wisconsin. They declared tJuit
they were separated from the settled portions of Wisconsin l)y
hundreds of miles of barren land, and still more greatly separated
ty a ditiPerence in the interests and character of the inhabitants.
They proposed that the northwest boundary of the new state
should be a line drawn due south from Shagwamigan bay, on Lake
Superior, to the intersection of the main Chippewa river, and
from thence down the middle of said river to its debouchure into
the Mississippi. Residents of the district affected and also about
Fort Snelling and on the west bank of tlic ^Mississij^pi furtlicr u|>
30 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
joined, in a memorial to congress, citing the grave injustice tliat
would be done the proposed territory of ]\Iinnesota if it were left
without a single point on the Mississippi below St. Anthony's
falls, the limit of navigation. Among those who signed this
memorial were H. H. Sibley and Alexander Faribault. The result
of the controversy was a compromise adopting a middle line along
the St. Croix and St. Louis rivers.
The enabling act for the state of AA'isconsin, approved August
6, 1S46, provided: "That the people of the territory of AViseonsin
be and they are hereby authorized to form a constitution and
state government * * * with the following boundaries, to-wit :
* * * thence through the center of Lake Superior to the mouth
of the St. Louis river, thence up the main channel of said river
to the first rapids in the same, above the Indian village, according
to Nicollet's map; thence due south to the main branch of the
River St. Croix ; thence down the main channel of said river to
the Mississippi ; thence down the maua channel of said river to tlie
northwest corner of the state of Illinois, thence due east * * *."
This is the first and incidentally the present description of Alinne-
sota's eastern boundary. (United States Statutes at Large, Vol. 9,
page 56.)
The convention that framed the constitution of AVisconsiu in
1847-48 strongly desired the Rum river as their eastern boundary.
After accepting the boundary chosen by congress the convention
recommended a line which, if agreeable to congress, should replace
the one in the enabling act. The proposed boundary, which was
rejected, was described as follows: Leaving the aforesaid bound-
ary line at tlie first rapids of the St. Louis river, thence in a
direct line, bearing southwestwardly to the mouth of the Isko-
dewabo or Rum river, where the same empties into the Missis-
sippi river, thence down the main channel of the said Mississippi
river to the aforesaid boundary. (Charters and Constitutions of
the L'nitod States, Part ii, page 2030.)
Minnesota Territory. The events which led up to tlie estab-
lishing of Minnesota as a territory can be given but brief mention
here. Sulficient is it to say that for three years after the admis-
sion of Iowa (in 1846) the area that is now Minnesota, west of
the Mississippi, Avas practically a no-man's land. December 18,
1846, Morgan L. Martin, delegate from AVisconsin territory, gave
notice to the house of representatives that "at an early day" he
would ask leave to introduce a bill establishing the territorial
government of Minnesota. The name, which is the Indian term
for Avhat was then the river St. Peter (Pierre) and has now become
its official designation was, it is believed, applied to the proposed
territory at the suggestion of Joseph R. BroAvn. During its con-
sideration by congress the l)iU underwent various changes. As
HISTOL'Y OF .MOWKR COlWrV 31
reported back to the house, the name "Minnesota" had been
changed by Stephen A. Douglas to "Itasca." Mr. Martin imme-
diately moved that the name "Minnesota" be placed in the bill in
place of ' ' Itasca. " " Chippewa, " " Jackson ' ' and ' ' Washington ' '
were also proposed. After many motions, counter motions and
amendments, "Minnesota" was placed in the bill, which with a
minor change passed the house. In the senate it was rejected.
A second attempt was made two years later. January 10, 1848,
Stephen A. Douglas gave due notice to the senate that "at a
future day"' lie would introduce a bill to establish the territory
of Minnesota. He brought in the bill February 23. It was several
dmes read, was amended, referred to committee and discussed,
but congress adjourned August l-l without taking ultimate action
on the proposition.
In the meantime "Wisconsin Avas admitted to the Union ]\Iay 29,
1848, and the western half of what was then St. Croix county was
left outside the new state. The settled portions of the area thus
cut off from Wisconsin by its admission to statehood privileges
were in the southern part of the peninsula of land lying between
tlie ]\tississippi and the St. Croix.
The people of this area were now confronted with a serious
problem. As residents of the territory of Wisconsin they had
enjoj'ed the privileges of citizenship in the United States. By
the creation of the state of Wisconsin they were disfranchised
and left without the benefits of organized government. Thus,
Stillwater, which had been the governmental seat of a growing
county (St. Croix), was left outside the pale of organized law.
Legal minds disagreed on the question of whether the minor civil
officers, such as justices of the peace, created under the territorial
organization, were still qualified to exercise the authority of their
positions. At a meeting held at St. Paul, in July, 1848, the citizens
of that (then) village considered the necessity for the formation
of a new territory. August 5 a meeting of citizens of the area
west of the St. Croix was held at Stillwater, and it was decided
to call a general convention at that place, August 26, 1848, for a
three-fold purpose : 1 — To elect a territorial delegate to congi-ess.
2 — To organize a territory with a name other than Wisconsin.
3 — To determine whether tlie laws and organization of the old
territory of Wisconsin were still in effect now that a part of that
territory was organized as a state. In the call for this meeting,
the signers called themselves, "AVe, the undersigned citizens of
Minnesota territory." Tlie meeting was held pursuant to tlie
call. Action was taken in regard to the first proposition by the
election of II. H. Sibley, who was authorized to proceed to Wash-
ington and use such efforts as were in hi^s power to secure the
organization of the territory of ^Minnesota. In regard fo the
32 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
second proposition a memorial was addressed to the president oC
the United States, stating the reasons why the organization of
Minnesota territory was necessary. The third proposition pre-
sented technical points worthy of the attention of the wisest legal
minds. The state of "Wisconsin had been organized, but the terri-
tory of Wisconsin had not been abolished. AVas not, therefore,
the territory still in existence, and did not its organization and
its laws still prevail in the part of the territory that had not been
included in the state 1 If territorial government was in existence
Yvould it not give the residents thereof a better standing before
the nation in their desire to become Minnesota territory ? IMight
not this technicality give the delegate a seat in congress when
otherwise he must, as simply the representative of an unorganized
area, make his requests in the lobby and to the individual mem-
bers? John Catlin, who had been secretary of the territory of
Wisconsin before the organization of that state, declared that the
territory still existed in the area not included in the organized
state and that he was the acting governor. Accordingly, the
people of the cut-off portion organized as the "Territory of Wis-
consin," and named a day for the election of a delegate. In the
closely contested election, held October 30, 1848, Sibley won out
against Henry M. Rice and accordingly made his way to Wash-
ington, technically from the "Territory of AVisconsin," actually
as a representative of the proposed territory of Minnesota. As a
matter of fact, indeed, Sibley, living at Mendota, had ceased to be
a citizen of the territory of Wisconsin in 1838, when Iowa territory
was created, and was a resident of the part of Iowa territory
which the organization of the state of Iowa had left without a
government, rather than of that territory in question (between
the Mississippi and the St. Croix) which the admission of Wis-
consin as a state had left without a government. Sibley was, how-
ever, after much opposition, admitted to congress and given a
seat January 15, 1849. He at once set about securing friends for
the proposition to create Minnesota territory. December 4, 1848,
a few days previous to Sibley's admission to congress, Stephen A.
Douglas had announced that it was his intention to introduce
anew a bill to establish the territory of Minnesota. Like the pre-
vious attempt, this bill underwent various vicissitudes. As passed,
March 3, 1849, the act creating the territory read as follows: "Be
it enacted, * * * That from and after the passage of this act,
all that part of the territory of the United States which lies
within tlie following limits, to-Avit : Beginning in the Mississippi
river at a point where the line of 43° and 30' of north latitude
crosses the same, thence running due west on said line, wliieli is
the northern boundary of the state of Iowa, to the northwest
corner of the said state of Iowa ; thence southerly along the west-
HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY 33
ern boundary of said state to the point Avhere said boundary
strikes the Missouri river; thence up the middle of the main cliau-
nel of the Missouri river to the mouth of the White Earth river ;
thence up tlie middle of the main channel of the White Earth river
to the boundary line between the possessions of the United States
and Great Britain ; thence east and south of east along the bound-
ary line betvi^een the possessions of the United States and Great
Britain to Lake Superior ; thence in a straight line to the northern-
most point of the state of Wisconsin, in Lake Superior; thence
along the vpestern boundary of the state of Wisconsin to the
Mississippi river ; thence down the main channel of said river to
the place of beginning, and the same is hereby erected into a
temporary government by the name of the territory of
Minnesota."
The executive power of the territory of IMinnesota was vested
in a governor, (appointed by the president, whose term of office
was four years, unless sooner removed by the president), who
was also superintendent of Indian atfairs. The legislative power
was vested in a governor and a legislative assembly, consisting
of a council of nine members, whose term of ottice was two years,
and a house of representatives of eighteen members, whose term
of office was one year. It was provided that the number of mem-
bers in the council and the house might be increased by the legis-
lative assembly from time to time in proportion to the increase
in population, but that the whole number should not exceed fifteen
councillors and thirty-nine representatives. It was provided that
the first election should be held at such time and place and be con-
ducted in svich manner as the governor should appoint and direct.
and that the persons thus elected to the legislative assembly should
meet at such place, and on such days as the governor should
appoint, but thereafter the time and place and manner of holding
and conducting all elections by the people, and the apportioning
the representatives in the several counties and districts, to tlie
council and house of representatives, according to the population,
should be prescribed by law, as well as the day of the com-
mencement of the regular sessions of the legislative assembly, but
that no session should exceed sixty days.
Every white male inhabitant above the age of twenty-one, who
was a resident of the territory at the time of the passage of the
act organizing the same, was entitled to vote and eligible to
office at the tirst election. But the qualification of voters and of
holding office at all subsequent elections should be such as should
be prescribed by the legislative assembly. It was provided by
the act that all laws passed by the legislative assembly should bi-
submitted to congress, and if disapproved by it. should be null and
of no effect. The laws in force in tlie li-rrilory of Wisconsin after
34 HISTORY OF .AlOWEIf t'OUXTY
the date of the admission of the state of Wisconsin Avere con-
tinued to be valid and in operation in the territory of ^Minnesota
so far as not incompatible Avith the provisions of the act of organi-
zation of the territory of jMinnesota, subject to be altered, modified
or repealed by the governor and legislative assembly of said terri-
tory. All justices of the peace, constables, sheriffs and all other
judicial and ministerial officers who were in office within the limits
of the territory at the time of law organizing the territory was
approved were authorized and required to continue to exercise
and perform the duties of their respective offices as officers of the
territory of Minnesota temporarily and until they, or others,
should be appointed and qualified in the manner therein described
or until their offices should be abolished.
The governor was given the veto power, and the council and
iiouse could pass a bill over his veto ])y a two-thirds vote. The
judicial power of the territory was vested in a supreme court,
district court, probate court and in justices of the peace. Tlie
supreme court consisted of a chief justice and two associate jus-
tices, appointed by the president, whose term of office was four
years and whose salary was $1,800 a year.
The territory was by the act of organization required to be
divided into three judicial districts, and the district court to be
held therein by one of the judges of the supreme court at such
times and places as might be prescribed by law, and the judges
thereof were required to reside in the districts assigned to thorn.
The clerks of said courts were appointed by the judges thereof.
The United States officers of the territory were a governor,
secretary, chief justice, two associate justices, attorney and mar-
shal, appointed by the president with the advice and consent of
the senate of the United States. The governor received a salary
of •'l!l,500 a year as governor and $1,000 a year as superintendent
of Indian affairs. The chief justice and associate justices and
secretary received a salary of $1,800 a year, and the members of
the legislative assembly $3 a day during their attendance upon
the sessions thereof and $3 each day for every twenty miles tniv-
eled going to and returning therefrom.
State of Minnesota. Tlie people of the territory of ]\Ininesota
were ]]ot long content with a territorial government. In the
wovds of A. N. AVincliell, "December 24, 1856, the delegate from
tlie territory of .Minnesota introduced a l)ill to authorize the
people of that territory to form a constitution and state govern
ment. Tlie l)il] limited tlie proposed state on the west liv tlie
]^-<1 Kiver of file Xortii antl the Big Sioux I'iver. It was I'cferred
to the committee on territories, of which Mr. Grow, of Pennsyl-
vania, was eluiiinum. January 31, 1857, the chairman reported a
subslitute, whicii dift'ei'ed from the original bill in no essential
16^0831
HISTOIJY OF MOWKIf CorX'l'V 35
respect except in regard to the western boundary. The change
tliere consisted in adopting a line through Traverse and Big Stom;
lakes, due south from the latter to the Iowa line. The altered
boundary cut ott' a narrow strip of territory, estimated by Mr.
GroAv to contain between five and six hundred square miles.
Today the strip contains such towns as Sioux Falls, Watertowu
and Brookings. The substitute had a stormy voyage through con-
gress, especially in the senate, but finally completed the trip on
February 25, 1857."
The enabling act, as passed and approved February 26, 1857,
defined the boundaries of Minnesota as follows: "Be it enac^ted,
* * * That the inhabitants of that portion of the territory of
Minnesota, which is embraced with the following limits, to-wit :
Beginning at the point in the center of the main channel of the
Red River of the North, where the boundary line between the
United States and the British possessions crosses the same ; thence
up the main channel of said river to that of the Bois des Sioux
river ; thence (up) the main channel of said river to Lake Travers ;
thence up the center of said lake to the southern extremity
thereof ; thence in a direct line to the head of Big Stone lake ;
thence through its center to its outlet ; thence by a due south line
to the north line of the state of Iowa ; thence east along the north-
ern boundary of said state to the main channel of the Mississippi
river; thence up the main channel of said river and following
the boundary line of the state of AVisconsin, until the same inter-
sects the St. Louis river; thence down said river to and through
Lake Superior, on the boundary line of Wisconsin and IMichigan,
until it intersects the dividing line between the United States and
the British possession ; thence up Pigeon river and following said
dividing line to the place of beginning; be and the same are
thereby authorized to form for themselves a constitution and state
government, by the name of the state of Minnesota, and to come
into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, accord-
ing to the federal constitution."
These boundaries were accepted witliout change and are the
boundaries of the state at the present time. The state Avas
admitted May 11, 1858.
It will therefore be seen that the territorial claim of title to
IMower county was first embraced in the papal gi-ant to Spain,
May 4, 1493. It was then included in the indefinite chiiins made
by Spain to lands north and northwest of liei- sett leiiieiils in Mex-
ico, Florida and the West Indies; by tiie Englisli to jjinds west of
their Atlantic coast settlements, and by tlu^ French to hinds south,
west and southwest of their Canadian setllemenls. 'I'he first
definite claim to territory now embracing .Mowei- county was made
by La Salle cit tlie mouth of the Mississi|)i)i. .Maivli S. 1(1S2. in tin-
36 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUXTY
name of the king of France, and the second (still more definite)
by Perrot near the present site of Trempealeau, Wis., May 8, 1689.
This was also a French claim. France remained in tacit authority
until February 10, 1763, when, upon England's acknowledging
the French authority to lands west of the Mississippi, France, by
a previous secret agreement, turned her authority over to Spain.
October 1, 1800, Spain ceded the tract to France, but France did
not take formal possession until November 30, 1803, and almost
immediately, December 20, 1803, turned it over to the United
States, the Americans having purchased it from Napoleon April
30 of that year.
]\Iarch 26, 1804, the area that is now ]Mower county was
included in Louisiana district as a part of Indiana and so
remained until March 3, 1805. From March 3, 1805, to June 4,
1812, it was a part of Louisiana territory. From June 4, 1812,
until August 10, 1820, it was a part of Missouri territory. From
August 10, 1821, until June 28, 1834, it was outside the pale of
all organized government, except that congress had general juris-
diction. From June 28, 1834, to April 20, 1836, it was a part of
Michigan territory. From April 20, 1836, to June 12, 1838, it was
a part of Wisconsin territory. From June 12, 1838, to December
28, 1846, it was a part of the territory of Iowa and was included
in the boundaries at first proposed for the state of Iowa. From
December 28, 1846, to March 3, 1849, it was again without terri-
torial affiliation. From March 3, 1849, to May 11, 1858, it was a
part of Minnesota territory, and on the latter date became an
integral part of that sovereign state.
HISTORY OF MOWKlf CorXTY 37
CHAPTP]R V.
EARLY EXPLORATION.
No Evidence That the French Explorers Ever Saw Mower County
— United States Dragoons the First White Men to Leave a
Record of Having Visited This Locality — Expedition of 1835
— Four Conipanies Under Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen W.
Kearney, with Albert Lea in Command of Company I, Cross
Mower County Twice — Major Lawrence Taliaferro, Dr. John
Emerson and the Slave, Dred Scott, Visit the County in 1836
— Henry H. Sibley, Alexander Faribault, John C. Fremont
and William H. Forbes Here in 1840— Svxrveying Party in
1852 — Another in 1853 — Township and Section Lines Are
Surveyed.
From time immemorial until some time after the coming of
the whites, the territory now embraced in Mower county was the
hunting ground of the Indians. As there were no permanent
Indian villages here, and little of geographic interest in the sweep
of prairie now embraced in southern Minnesota and northern
Iowa, none of the earlier explorers, so far as we know, visited
Mower county. Hennepin with his two companions, Pickard du
Guy (Auguelle) and JMiehael Accault (Ako), who explored the
upper Mississippi in 1680; Perrot, who had trading posts about
Lake Pepin as early as 1685 ; LeSueur, who built a fort near Red
Wing on Prairie Island in 1695, and one near ^Mankato in 1700;
La Hontau, who wrote marvelous accounts of adventures, and
who is now entirely discredited by historians; Jonathan Carver,
who ascended the upper ^Mississippi in 1766 ; Lieutenant Zebulon
M. Pike, who explored the upper jMississippi in 1805-06 ; Colonel
Henry Leavenworth, who is 1819 started at IMendota in what is
now Dakota county, the fort which was afterward moved across
the river and became Fort Snelling; ]Major Stephen H. Long, who
explored the upper iMississippi in 1817 and 1823; Governor Lewis
Cass, who in 1820 explored the principal sources of the :\Iissis-
sippi and then descended the river; William ^Morrison, Avho vis-
ited Lake Itasca in 1802 and is usually credited as tlie discoverer
of the source of the ^lississippi ; Henry R. Sclioolcraft, who in
1832 explored northern ^Minnesota ; George Featlierstone, who
made a geological survey of the ^Minnesota valley in 1835; George
Catlin, who made a faitliful study of the Indians of Minnesota;
Jean Nicollet, whose activities in the thirties and forties con-
tributed much to ^Minnesota geography, and David Dale Owen,
who explored large portions of tlic state in 1847. '48, '4!) ami '50,
38 HISTOKY OF MOWKi; ("OFXTY
and whose names are honored as the early explorers of Minne-
sota, all failed, so far as we know, to make Mower county a visit.
The explorers of the rivers of Iowa which have their source in
Mower county, also failed to reach this county in the early days.
It is possible that missionaries, renegades, traders or hunters
visited this region, in the days of the early exploration, but of
this historians have no record or knowledge, although those who
enjoy speculation and conjecture think it quite possible the
Frenchmen from the posts of Perrot on Lake Pepin, the stockades
at Frontenac, or the forts at Prairie Island and Mankato may
have come here after game.
The first record that historians have obtained of a visit to
Mower county by the whites is contained in a manuscript edited
and published by the Iowa Historical Society, and entitled "A
Journal of Marches by the First United States Dragoons, 1834-
45," and published in the July, 1909. issue of the "Iowa Journal
of History and Politics."
The First United States Dragoons was a military organization
created by Congress in March, 1833, for the more perfect defense
of the frontier, and was as fine a body of men as had ever been
gathered for a similar purpose, having been recruited from espe-
cially selected men in every state in the Union in the summer
months of 1833. Tlie commanding officer of this regiment of ten
companies were Colonel Henry Dodge. The rendezvous of the
regiment was Jetiferson Barracks, near St. Louis, where tlie com-
panies were drilled and instructed in the fall of 1833.
The Journal records the four distinct marches or campaigns
in which Company I participated. Of these the fourth only is of
interest to the people of IMower county. The authorship of the
Journal has not yet been determined. At two different places
the author has signed himself as "L" and he states that he was
a member of Company I, commanded by Captain Browne. At
one time the authorship was attributed to Colonel Albert ]\Iiller
Lea, but internal evidence in the Journal would seem to prove,
hoAvever, that such is not the case, and that it was written either
by an officer of lower rank or by a private.
The fourth trip, which has so much interest to the people of
Mower county, records the story of a march of 1,100 miles by
Companies B, H and I, under Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen AV.
Kearney. On June 7, 1835, this detachment left Fort Des ^loines
and marched between the Des Moines and Skunk rivers to near
the mouth of the Boone river. Then taking a northeastwardly
convse across Iowa, they entered what is now ^linnesota. crossed
Mower county, and reached AVabashaw's village on the ^lissis-
sip])] ;it in-actically the present site of Winona. After remaining
tlici'c a})Out a Avcek, the comiianics marclied somewhat to the
HISTORY OP MOWER COUNTY 30
soutli of westwardly. They crossed the present ]\Io\ver county
and continued westward, then turning southward, and entering
Iov.\i in what is now Kossuth county, reaching tlie Des Moines
river safely. After crossing this river, they descended it on the
lower side and reached Fort Des Moines on August 19. 1835.
without the loss of a single horse or man. Lieutenant Albert
INIiller Lea, commanding Company I, of the expedition, was the
ofTicial topographer, and in his honor Nicollet afterward named
a previously undesignated lake which the expedition passed in
the present Freeborn county.
On the evening of Sunday, June 28, 1835, tlie Dragoons, on
their northeasterly course from the Des Moines river, camped on
the banks of the Red Cedar river in Mitchell county, Iowa, near
Osage. The soldiers killed several buft'alo and captured a buffalo
calf. The next day they crossed the Red Cedar and marched
twenty-five miles, bringing them well into Mower county. The
following entry is found in the Journal: "Tuesday, June 30,
1835, marched twenty-five miles. Land, kind of oak barren. By
the appearance of some deserted wigwams, we suppose the Soux
(Sioux) have been here lately." The next day's march of twelve
miles, carried the soldiers out of the coiinty and toward the
present site of Winona.
On the return journey, the expedition reached ]\Iower county
on ]\tonday, July 27, 1835. The soldiers crossed the upper Iowa
near the present site of Le Roy and the Red Cedar near the pres-
ent site of Austin, continviing on their way into the present Free-
born county. The entries in the Journal are as follows: "]\[on-
day, July 27, 1835. An early start. Came only ten miles. Crossed
the Iway (the upper Iowa). Spent seven hours in crossing. Bad
traveling and bad encampment. Tuesday, July 28. This day
we marched fifteen miles. Crossed the south fork of the Iway
(now the Red Cedar river). Spent three hours in passing.
Marching bad. Encampment good." It will be seen from this
that the writer of the Journal underestimated the distance that
the Dragoons traveled from the upper Iowa to the Red Cedar
river.
In 1836, one year after the trip of the Dragoons, and six years
after the ceding of the "Neutral Strip" (just south of Mower
county), a party of officers started on a hunting trip from Fort
Snelling. They reached the present site of Faribault, came down
the source of the Straight river, touched tlu^ head waters of the
Zumbro branch east of Blooming Prairie, and then reached the
Red Cedar, passing tlirough what is now Slower county. Some-
where after leaving the Zumbro, and l)efore reaching the
"Neutral Strip," they camped for the night, and from the loca-
tions given in TaliaFcrro's jouiMiiil. tlic ciim]) must have b.'cii
40 HISTORY OF MOAVER COUNTY
somewhere neai' what is now Austin. Tlie party was headed by
Major Lawrence Taliaferro, and among the hunters was Dr. John
Emerson, the surgeon at Fort Snelling. ' With Dr. Emerson was
his slave Dred, who had just been married to Harriett, whom
Major Taliaferro had sold to Dr. Emerson. This Dred afterward
became world famous in the "Dred Scott case," which was on;.-
of the incidents in the train of events which did not end until
tlif close of the Civil Avar.
A party of famous pioneer hunters visited IMow^er county in
1840. In the fall of that year Henry H. Sibley, Alexander Fari-
bault, William H. Forbes and John C. Fremont started with a
party of Sioux and two Canadian voyageurs for the "Neutral
Land" which the government had purchased from the Sioux, the
Sax and the Foxes. Jack Eraser joined the party near the pres-
ent city of Faribault. The party reached the Red Cedar river
somewhere in the present ]\Iower county. At some point on this
river a camp was made, and Sibley, Eraser and two Canadians
accompanied Fremont to Prairie du Chien, where Jean N. Nicol-
lett aw^aited him. Leaving Fremont at that point, the four
returned to the camp, being accompanied a part of the way by
a hunter named Reed. A few days later the party of white men
left the Sioux in camp on the Red Cedar and returned to
Mendota.
In October, 1841, H. H. Sibley, then thirty years of age, was
agent at Mendota, across the river from Fort Snelling, Minne-
sota, for the American Fur Company. He was active and vigor-
ous to obtain skins and peltries for the company. He made a
feast, invited the Sioux, killed two fat oxen and provided wild
rice and other inducements suitable for an Indian holiday. Invi-
tations had been sent out to the neighboring villages, and nearly
a thousand men, squaws and children came to the feast. After
the Indians had satisfied their hunger and had smoked his tobacco,
Sibley explained to them that his object was to enlist a party to
go to the south that coming winter and hunt on the neutral ground
and around the headwaters of the Red Cedar. Small sticks six
inches long and painted red were produced and one was offered to
each grown hunter. It had been explained to them that whoever
voluntarily accepted one of these red sticks thereby enlisted for
the winter's hunt. About one hundred and fifty men thus
enlisted. These men then assembled a short distance from the
scene of the feast and chose ten of their number, whom they
called soldiers, to have control of the hunting. These ten, after
consulting together, announced the rules to govern the hunt and
notified the enlisted men to appear on the hill south of j\Iendota
in six days thereafter with their ponies, squaws, dogs and buffalo
skin tcnis ready to start.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 41
At the appointed time the party assembled and started south.
The chief Indian of the party was Little Crow, father of the cliiei
of the same name who took part in the massacre of 1862. Tlie
usual day's progress was about ten miles. They went from j\Ien-
dota south over the prairie until they struck the Cannon river,
near Northfield, then up that, and the Straight river, by Fari-
bault and Owatonna, to near Cooleysville, in the southeastern
part of Steele county. There they crossed over to the Cedar river
and came down its right hand bank to the timber at this place,
Austin, or a little south of here, and camped for the winter.
Sibley was with them, clad in Indian costume, with double-
barreled rifle, pistols and two big wolf dogs at his heels. He had
with him two French-Canadians and a number of kegs of powder
and other goods on carts, to sell to the Indians and hold claim
to the furs and skins which the hunt should produce.
On his advice, the Indians built here a stockade. Posts with
crotch on their tops were set firmly into the ground. Poles were
laid on top from post to post. Then other posts, ten feet or more
in length, Avere set, one end on the ground and the other leaning
against the poles. Brush and the tops of trees were cut and piled
by the squaws with great industry, outside against the line of
posts until it was impossible for an enemy to break through with-
out consuming a good deal of time, all the while exposed to the
fire, through loopholes, of the good marksmen within. This was
the first structure of any kind built in what is now Mower county.
Sibley and the Indians alike put small trust in the treaty of amity
concluded at Prairie du Chien. They well knew that such treaties
between Indians usually end in treachery and bloodshed. Now
that they were on the border of their own country and about to
hunt over the neutral ground, where in fact they had no right,
they deemed it expedient to build this stockade as a safeguard.
There was a great abundance of game on this neutral ground, as
it had not been hunted over since its relinquishment eleven years
before, to the United States, by the treaty of July 15, 1830.
One day Sibley Avent out early with his two wolf dogs for a
still hunt, alone. In his absence Little Crow, always reckless and
daring, Avent off south, down toward the forks of the Cedar, near
Avhere Charles City now stands, for a three days' hunt on the
border or even over the line in the enemies' country. He took
Avith him nearly all the young men of the camp. "When Sibley
returned at sunset, the squaAvs told him of Little CroAv's absence
and that a hostile Indian spy had been seen lurking in the vicin-
ity. He at once sallied forth Avith liis dogs to verify the report.
There Avas no mistake, for in the light snoAv on the ground he
saAv the moccasin tracks of the spy. He armed the old men and
boys remaining in the camp, assigned to each his place jind
42 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
awaited the expected attack. About three o'clock in the morn-
ing, the Indian dogs outside began to bark furiously. The
women screamed and the old men sang their death songs. Sibley
ordered silence and directed that every pistol and gun be shot oft'
as rapidly as possible and reloaded. He himself fired five shots
from his gun and pistols. The enemy were thereby deceived as to
the number of fighting men in camp and made no attack. After
sunrise next morning the ground was examined and it was appar-
ent that at least fifty hostile warriors had tied their horses to trees
in a grove at some distance away. An Indian boy Avas sent with
all speed to Little Crow's camp doAvn the river, to tell the news
and order him to return without delay. About midnight the
hunters returned and Sibley's tense nervous anxiety abated.
At the close of each day, when the Indians ca-me in, the ten so-
called soldiers would announce the direction and limits of the
next day's hunt. This limit would be about ten miles away, indi-
cated by a stream or slough or a grove or by some other natural
object. Early next morning some of these soldiers would go
forward and station themselves along the limit line, to detect and
punish anyone who should attempt to pass and frighten away the
game beyond. The penalty for violation of the rules was in the
discretion of these ten so-called soldiers. In aggravated cases
they would slit down and cut up the offender's lodge, break his
kettles and do other damage. This enterprising trader (after-
ward first governor of this state) says, in his narrative of the
winter's events, that on one occasion he inadvertently got beyond
the line fixed for that day's hunt. One of the soldiers, hid in the
tall grass, sprang up and rushed upon him, seized his fine double-
barreled gun, snatched his fur cap from his head and ordered him
back to camp, saying lie would cut up his tent when he returned
in the evening. It was a cold day and Sibley had to ride bare-
headed, ten miles to camp. The soldiers had supreme command of
the hunting and all its rules and regulations. It was considered
very disgraceful for any one whether hunter, trader or even chief
of the tribe to disobey or resist these governors of the hunt. On
the M^ay in he devised a plan to mollify the soldiers and save his
fine buffalo skin lodge. He got together all the good things he
could muster and when the soldiers came in that night, he went
out and invited all the ten to have supper with him in his lodge.
The temptation was too strong and they accepted, ate his
supper, smoked his tobacco and each accepted a small present and
agreed with him to overlook for once, his infraction of the rules.
His cap and gun were restored, and as they say in diplomacy, the
incident ended. But he fiunigatead that cap before wearing it
again.
The hunt was successful. Over 2,000 deer, fifty elk, as many
HISTOKY OF MOAVEK COUNTY , 43
bears, five panthers and a few buffalo skins Avere ol)taine(l. Tlie
fur company sold for $20 guns tliat cost $6 in St. Louis. They got
pay not in money but in furs, at their own price. This is a speci-
men of the profits of the fur trade. The Indians broke camp and
returned to Mendota in March, before the spring thaw rendered
the sloughs and streams impassable.
From 1849 to 1852 the northern boundary of Iowa was sur-
veyed, the Mower county portion of the line being surveyed by a
party under Captain Andrew Talcott in 1852.
The First, Second and Third Guide Meridians, the second being
just east of Austin, were surveyed by the late Hon. Thomas Simp-
son, of Winona, in 1853.
The First Standard Parallel, which forms the northern bound-
ary of Udolpho, Waltham and Sargeant, was surveyed in 1853
by E. S. Morris.
The boundaries of townships 101, 102, 103 and 104 in rajige 14,
were siirveyed in 1853 by John Ball, and subdivided into sections
the same year by John Tylor.
The boundaries of townships 101, 102, 103 and 104 in range 15,
were surveyed in 1853 by John Ball, and subdivided into sections
the same year by John Quigley.
The boundaries of townships 101, 102, 103 and 104 in range 16,
were surveyed in 1853 by John Ball. Andrew Talcott subdivided
township 101, range 16, in 1854; John Quigley, townships 102 and
103, range 16, in 1853 ; and John Fitzpatrick, township 104, range
16, in 1853.
The boundaries of townships 101, 102, 103 and 104, in range 17,
were surveyed in 1853 and subdivided the same year. In town-
ship 101, range 17, John Ball and Andrew Talcott surveyed the
boundaries and C. Phipps and E. Fitzpatrock surveyed the sec
tion lines. In townships 102 and 103, range 17, the boundaries
were surveyed by John Bell and E. S. Morris, and the section
lines by AVilliam J. Anderson. In township 104, range 17, E. S.
Morris surveyed the township boundaries and John Fitzpatrick
surveyed the section lines.
The boundaries of townships 101, 102, 103 and 104, in range 18,
were surveyed in 1854 and the section lines drawn the same year.
In township 101, range 18, the boundaries were surveyed by J. B.
Reymond and E. S. Morris and the section lines by AYilliam A.
Anderson and Andrew Talcott. In township 102, range 18, the
boundary lines were siu'veyed by J. B. Reyman and E. S. ]\Iorris,
and the section lines by AVilliam A. Anderson. In townships 103
and 104, range 18, the boundary and sections lines were surveyed
as in township 102, range 18, l)y the same persons.
In 1872, while digging a well on Bridge street, L. G. Basford
discovered at a deptli of twelve feet, two spherical shells of iion.
14 HISTORY OF M0WP:R COUXTY
eio]!t inches in circumference, containing coarse white sand and
Avhat was believed to be evidences of black powder. No authori-
tative theory has ever been advanced to account for the presence
of these relies.
CHAPTER VI.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Colony of the Borderline Between Racine Township and Fillmore
Colony — Arrivals in Le Roy Township — Early Settlement in
Lyle and Lansing — Settlers of 1854 — Influx of Population
Begins.
The first settlement within the present limits of ]\Iower county,
of which tiiere is any record, was probably made July 4, 1852, in
what is now Racine township, section 1, township 103, range 14.
by Jacob McQuillan, Sr., and his party, which consisted of nine
eldldren — of whom Jacob, Jr., brought his wife and family — and
a son-in-law, Adam Zadyger. At that time no survey had been
made, and as a matter of fact the land was not open to settle-
ment, for although the Indian treaty of Mendota, which ceded the
land to the whites, had at that time been signed by the Indians,
and approved with amendments by the senate, the amendments
had not been accepted by the Indians, nor the official proclama-
tion issued by the president. Upon their arrival, the party camped
by what is now known as the Hamilton spring. Before unhitch-
ing his team, ]\Ir. McQuillan nailed a coffee mill to a tree, as a
visible sign of his claim to a homestead. For a time the family
lived in the wagons, later they took up their abode in a rude cabin
of rough poplar logs. Near the place of the settlement were two
springs, some ten rods apart. Jacob McQuillan, Sr., took the Avest
spring, and the land west of it, while his son, Jacob, Jr., took tlie
land east of this line, thus including in his property the most
eastern of the two springs. The county line now runs a few rods
to the eastward of the line between the claims of the McQiiillans,
Senior and Junior.
In 1854 a man named Booth pre-empted the quarter sectioii
that young IMcQuillan had claimed, the claim being located in
what is now Fillmore county. This created trouble, and a force
of the McQuillans" friends congregated, well armed, to put the
intruder out of the way. Booth's friends gathered to meet the
opposition, and a party of them spent the night in readiness for
the fray. Tlie ^IcQuillfui party sent out an advance guard, which
HISTOEY OF MOWEE COU^^TY 45
was met by a few of Booth's friends, near tlie present site o\'
Hamilton. When the McQuillan party discovered tliat Booth ;iiu'
his friends were prepared to meet them and defend his claim, they
soon dispersed. The place was in litigation for some time, nnd
resulted not only in a victory for Booth, but also in the financial
ruin of the McQuillans. This land, as has already been stated,
was just over the line in Fillmore county, and included the site
of the village of Hamilton.
Jacob McQuillan, Sr., occupied his claim in ]\Iower county
several months and then moved to Fillmore county, renting his
claim to Thomas W. Corey. About a year later he sold his Mower
county property. He improved a claim in Fillmore county, and
there lived until after the war. At the age of seventy-three he
returned to Ohio, and there died shortly afterward. He was a
powerful man with an iron constitution; very kind and hospit-
able, and well liked generally, though he was uneducated, and
possessed of the roughness and gruffness of the typical fore-
runners of pioneer settlement.
Thomas W. Corey, already mentioned, made the second set-
tlement in Racine township in the spring of 1853. He was a native
of Massachusetts, and came from Illinois, overland, by way of
Davenport and Decorah. He settled on the McQuillan claim and
erected a log cabin, 18 by 22, in which he often entertained trav-
elers, the cabin being on the then traveled route between Decorah
and Mantorville. The charge was usually forty cents for two
meals and lodging. Their postofflce and trading point was
Decorah, Iowa.
After a time Mr. Corey moved across the line into Fillmore
covinty and erected the first hotel in Hamilton. In 1880 he
removed to Tennessee and died there two years later.
The second point of settlement in Mower county was also
near the border line. In 1852 Isaac Van Houghton, who assisted
in surveying the boundary line between the state of Iowa and the
then territory of Minnesota, was much pleased with the vicinity
of what is now Le Roy township. A year later he induced several
of his fellow citizens of Lansing, Iowa, to join him in a colonizing
venture. Consequently, some time during the summer of 1853,
Isaac Van Houghton, George Squires, J. S. Priest, ]\Ioses Niles
and Isaac Armstrong came to the extreme soutlieastern part of
Le Roy township. Van Houghton claimed the southeast quarter
of section 36 and Squires the northeast quarter of flu-! same sec-
tion. Tliis, however, was before the survey, and wlicii the lines
were laid it was found that their claims were on scliool lands and
not subject to homestead entry. Armstrong clainuHl the west half
of section 33, while Priest and Niles claimed the southeast half
of section 35. These ehiims ;ire located ni)pr()xiinately, for, as
46 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
before stated, no section lines were drawn until later in the year.
All five of these claimants sold out within a short time.
The western part of the county received four settlers in 1853.
"Hunter" (H. O. or 0. P.) Clark, who settled in Lansing town-
ship ; one Woodbury and his son-in-law, Pinkerton, who settled in
Lyle township, and Austin Nichols, who settled on the present site
of Austin.
Clark took a claim and settled in the northwest quarter of
section 3-1, in Lansing township. He built a log cabin a short dis-
tance northeast of where Oakwood cemetery is now located. May
8, 1855, he sold his claim to "William Baudler and moved west.
The last seen of him was in Idaho.
One Woodbury, accompanied by a son-in-law, Pinkerton, came
to Lyle township in the fall of 1853 and claimed a large tract of
land bordering on the Red Cedar and on the creek that bears his
name. He erected a log cabin on the northwest quarter of sec-
tion 33. AVoodbury sold his claim in June, 1855, and moved to
Olmsted county.
Austin Nichols hunted along the Cedar in 1852, and in 1853
reached the present site of Austin. In his reminiscences he does
not state whether he spent the winter of 1853-54 here. At any
rate, he drove his first claim stake June 8, 1854.
In 1855 the real influx of settlers began, and from then until
1860 the pioneers came in rapidly. A full account of the settle-
ment of the various localities in the county is found in the sepa-
rate township histories in this volume.
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY 47
CHAPTER VH.
ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY LINES.
Mower County Included in Wabasha and Rice Counties— Mower
County Created — Organized by Governor Gorman — Commis-
sioners Meet at Frankford — Old Election Precincts — Town-
ship Boundaries.
Mower county was included in the original limits of AValiasha
county (then spelled Wabashaw), which was one of the nine
counties created by the first territorial legislature.
Governor Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor,
arrived in St. Paul, May 27, 1849, and on June 1, 1849, issued his
first proclamation. June 11 he issued a second proclamation,
dividing the territory into three judicial districts. Mower county,
then unpopulated, was included in the third judicial district, with
Judge David Cooper on the bench. Court for this district was
to be held at Mendota.
July 7, 1849, the governor issued a proclamation dividing the
territory into seven council districts and ordering an election.
Mower county was included in the seventh district.
The first session of the legislative assembly of the territory of
IMinnesota was held at St. Paul, commencing September 3, 1849.
By an act approved October 27, 1849, the territory was divided
into the counties of Washington, Ramsey, Benton, Itasca, Waba-
shaw, Dakota, Wahnahta, Mahkahto and Pembina. Only the
covinties of Washington, Ramsey and Benton were fully organ-
ized for all county purposes. The others were organized only for
the purpose of appointment of justices of the peace, constables,
and such other judicial and ministerial offices as might be spe-
cially provided for. They were entitled to "any number of jus-
tices of the peace and constal)les, not exceeding six in numl)er,
to be appointed by the governor, and their term of office was
made two years, unless sooner removed by the governor,"' and
they were made conservators of the peace.
Wabashaw county, as "erected'' by tbe act of October 27,
1849, comprised practically all of the southern part of the ])n'S(Mit
state of Minnesota. Its northern boundary was the parallel I'liii-
ning through the mouth of the St. Croix and the moutli of (ln'
Yellow Medicine rivers; its southern boundary was the Iowa line:
its eastern the ^Mississippi, and its westci-ii the Missouri, mikI it
also included the big peninsula l)etweeii the .Missouri jiikI the Hiir
Sioux rivci's, ami all of wlint i.s ;it prcsciil southeast cni South
48 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Dakota. Of this A'ast county the present ]\Iower eovuity was a
part.
Chapter 1, Bevised Statutes of Minnesota of 1851, divides the
territory in Benton, Dakota, Itasca, Cass, Pembina, Ramsey,
AVashington, Chisago and Wabashaw counties and defines their
l)oundaries. Under the revised statutes, all the territory west of
the Mississippi river and east of a line running from jMedicine
Bottle's village at Pine Bend, due south to the Iowa line, was
erected into a separate county to be known as Wabashaw. This
included in Wabashaw county a portion of what is now Dakota
county as well as all the present counties of Goodhue, AVabasha,
Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Mower, Fillmore and Houston. The line
south from Pine Bend in the Mississippi strikes practically the
western boundary of Mower county, the exact line being impossi-
ble of verification as the Medicine Bottle tepee were differently
located at various times, always, however, being within a few
rods of the bend in the river.
Rice county was created by act of the territorial legislature,
March 5, 1853. Section 7, Chapter 15, General Laws of Minne-
sota, 1853, gives the boundaries as follows: Beginning at the
southwest corner of Dakota county, thence west along said county
line to Lake Sakatah, thence south to the Iowa state line, thence
east along said state line to the southwest corner of Fillmore
coiiuty, thence along the west lines of Fillmore, Wabasha and
Goodhue counties to the place of beginning.
It will thus be seen that the starting point of Rice county,
as tlien constituted, was at the "southwest corner of Dakato
county." The west and south lines of Dakota county are
described in the act as follows: "Beginning in the Minnesota at
the mouth of the Credit river, thence on a direct line to the upper
l)ranch of the Cannon river, thence down said river to its loAvest
fork." The upper branch of the Cannon river is the Straight
river, and consequently this boundary line of Rice county started
at the confluence of these rivers, at the present site of Faribault,
ran southwestward to Lake Sakatah ; and thence south, crossing
Waseca and Freeborn counties about on the range line between
ranges twenty-two and twenty-three, to the Iowa line. Thence it
ran along to the Iowa border to a little village called Granger in
township 101, range eleven, Fillmore county. Thence it ran in a
direct line, due northwest to the place of beginning.
Rice county therefore took in only a part of tlie present Rice
<'()uiity. 11 iiichidcd tlic I'dur castci-n townsliips in Waseca county,
and all lint llic foui' wcsIcimi townsliips in Freeborn county. It
;i]so look ill i)rac1ically all of Mower and Steele counties, about
oiie-Hiii-d of Dodge, a \rvy small jioi'tioii of Fillmore and Good-
line, and possibly a few sections in Olmsted eoniity.
Ill Kebniarv, IS.')!, the government sin-\'ey having been made.
H18T01?Y OF MOWER C'OUXTY 49
the eastern boundary was altered somewhat and assumed definite
lines, the line between what is now Fillmore, and that part of
tlu^ then Rice county which is now Mower county, being the pres-
ent boundary between ]\Iower and Fillmore counties.
February 20, 1855, the counties of Mower, Brown, Carver,
Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Olmsted, Renville, Steele, Stearns
and AVright were created by the legislature, and some changes of
name made in others. Mower county included townships, 101, 102,
103 and 104, north; ranges 14, 15. 16, 17 and 18, west of the Fifth
principal meridian. In May, 1857, sections 1 to 6, inclusive, in
township 104, ranges 14 and 15, were cut off and added to Olm-
sted county. Since then, no changes have been made in the
boundary lines of the county. The county contains 453,120 acres,
or 708 square miles. The congressional survey was made in
1853-54, being completed in February, 1854, sufficiently for a
definite description of the coimty boundaries by the legislature.
March 1, 1856, Governor Gorman, agreeable to the act of the
legislature, and upon representations made to him that Mower
county was sufficiently populated to warrant its being duly fur-
nished with county government, organized the county, and
appointed a temporary board of county ocmmissioners, consisting
of George "White, Philip Howell and William Russell. This boara
was given full power and authority such as usually devolves upon
such boards, with the additional duty of locating, temporarily, the
county seat.
These commissioners met April 7, 1856, iu the village of Frank-
ford, and presumably located the county seat temporarily in
that place. They appointed officers as follows: Register of deeds
and clerk of the board of commissioners, Timothy M. Chapman ;
treasurer, Lewis Patchin ; judge of probate, C. J. Felch ; surveyor,
Moses Armstrong ; sheriff, G. AY. Sherman. These Avere the only
ofKcers for which appointments were then made.
OLD PRECINCT BOUNDARIES.
Tile early county commissioners divided the county into elec-
tion precincts, road districts and school districts. The old elec-
tion precincts were the parents of the present townsliips and in
many cases the original names still survive.
Following is the summary of the precincts, created from the
time of the meeting of the first elected board of county cominis-
sioners, April 7, 1856, down to April 16, 1858, when the t()wnshi])s
of the county were defined and given the authority to mainlaiii
local government.
Austin. Originally created as an eh'ction precinct Ai>rii 7.
1S56, and contained at tliat liuie the present lowns of Tidlpho,
50 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Waltliam, Lansing, Red Rock, Austin, Windom. Tjyle and Nevada.
July 7, 1856, the boundaries of the preeinct were curtailed, and
made to contain the south halves of the present towns of Lansing
and Red Rock, and all of Austin, "Windom, Lyle and Nevada.
April ]6, 1856, it was still further curtailed, leaving only the south
halves of Lansing and Red Rock, and all of Austin and AVindom.
April 16, 1858, the township assumed its present boundaries, and
was duly organized May 11, of that year.
High Forest. Originally created as an election precinct, April
7, 1856. It comprised the present towns of Racine, Pleasant Val-
ley and Sargeant.
Frankford. Originally created as an election precinct, April 7,
1856, and contained at that time the present towns of Dexter,
Grand Meadow, Frankford, Marshall, Clayton, Bennington,
Adams, Lodi and Le Roy. Le Roy was cvit ofif July 7, 1856. April
27, 1857, a piece was taken oft' at the north, and Adams, Lodi and
Clayton were also cut off. April 6, 1858, the town was given its
present name and boundary, but for purposes of local government
all of the present Grand Meadow and the north halves of Clayton
and Bennington were attached to it. It was on this date that
Frankford lost the six sections that are included in its congres-
sional township, but politically belong to Racine. The northern
half of Bennington was cut off from Frankford in 1860, the north-
ern half of Clayton in 1873 and Grand Meadow in 1863.
Red Rock. Originally created as an election precinct, July 7,
1856, out of what had previously been Austin. At the time of
its creation it consisted of the present towns of Udolpho, Waltham
and the north halves of Red Rock and Lansing. The southern
part of what is now Red Rock township remained in Austin.
April 27, 1857, the present town of Udolpho was cut off', under
the name of Madison. By the act of the county commissioners,
April 16, 1858, Red Rock assumed its present boundaries, but all
of the present town of Dexter, and the southern part of Sargeant,
was attached to Red Rock for purposes of township government.
According to the records, Dexter was then known as Grand
Meadow, and Sargeant as Beaubien. In 1866, Avhen Waltham
was organized, it took in the western part of what is now Sar-
geant, but whether the eastern part remained attached to Red
Rock the records do not state. At any rate, Dexter Avas organ-
ized in 1870 and Sargeant in 1873, thus leaving Red Rock witli
its present boundaries and government.
Le Roy w;is created as an election pr(M'inrt July 7, 1856, out
of Frankford, with its present boundaries. April 27, 1857, the
present towns of Lodi and Adams were added to it. but later in
the same day Adams was <ulded to Six I\Iile Grove, and Clayton
Avas added to Le Rov, tliiis livning Li' Kov coiisisling of the iii-cs-
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 51
ent towns of Le Roy, Lodi and Clayton. April KJ, IS.IS, tlic Idwii
assumed its present boundaries, but Lodi, and the southern lialvcs
of Clayton and Bennington, were attached to it for government
purposes. Clayton was then called Providence, and Bennington
was then called Audover. Bennington was cut off in 1860, Clay-
ton in 1873 and Lodi in 187-1, leaving Le Roy with its present
boundaries and government.
Six Mile Grove was created as an election precinct August
16, 1856, out of what had previously been Austin. It consisted
of the present towns of Lyle and Nevada. April 27, 1857, th^-
present town of Adams, which up to that day had been included
in Frankford, and which a few hours earlier in the day had been
added to Le Roy, was added to Six Mile Grove, while the present
toM^n of Lyle was cut off and created as Cedar City election pre-
cinct. April 16, 1858, Adams and Nevada were each given their
present names and boundaries, and Adams was annexed to Ne-
vada for purposes of local government. Nevada was organized
in 1858. Adams was cut off and organized 1859.
Madison was created as an election precinct April 16, 1858,
and consisted of the present town of Udolpho. It was created
out of a part of Red Rock, which precinct had, in turn, been
originally a part of the precinct of Austin. April 16, 1858, the
name of Madison was changed to Udolpho, and that townslup
assumed its present boundaries. "Waltham and the northern pi.'.rt
of Beaubien, now Sargeant, were attached to Udolpho for pur-
poses of local government. The present boundaries and goAern-
ment have remained unchanged since 1866, when Waltham was
organized.
Cedar City was created as an election precinct April 27, 1857,
and comprised the present township of Lyle. Lyle was organized
Avitli its present boundaries April 16, 1858.
Hamilton was created as an election precinct April 27, 1857,
and occupied an irregular piece taken from what was then the
precincts of High Forest and Frankford, and consisting of por-
tions of what are now the towns of Pleasant Valley, Racine,
•jrrand Meadow and Frankford. The name Hamilton was given
lo the present town of Racine April 16, 1858, but on .May 11 of
Ihat year the people changed it to Racine. May 22, 1857, the tier
of six sections to the north were cut oft' and added to Olmsted
30unty, and on April 16, 1858, the six tiers to the s(nith were
added to Hamilton, now Racine.
TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES.
On April 16, 1858, tlic state (•(nislilutiou havin<r Ix'cm adoplcd.
tl e- (■>)^nt^ ('(iminissifjiicrs iiu't for tlic jJiirposc of dividing the
53 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
cGunty into townshij's. On May 22, 1857, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and
6, in township 10-i, ranges IJ and 15, had been cut off and added
to Olmsted county. AA''ith l]i]s exception Mower county w.'is and
is a parallelogram, thirty miles by twenty-four miles, compris-
ing congressional townships 101, 102, 103 and 104, ranges 14, 15,
in, 17 and 18. AVith the exception of the tier of six sections
in tlie northern part of township 103, range 14, which was at-
tached to the township north, the townships which were created
to the number of tAventy followed the congressional division, as
follows: Township 101, range 14, Le Roy; 15, Lodi; 16, Adams;
17, Nevada; 18, Lyle. Township 102, range 14, Andover; 15,
Providence; 16, York; 17, Brooklyn; 18, Austin. Township 103,
range 14, Frankford; 15, Poplar Grove; 16, Grand Meadow; 17,
Red Rock; 18, Lansing. Township 104, range 14, Hamilton,
Weet; 15, Farmington; 16, Beaubien; 17, AA^altham : 18, Udolpho.
It will thus be seen that the name Grand ]\Ieadow was given to
Avhat is now Dexter, while the present Grand AleadoAV Avas then
called Poplar Grove. Lansing, Austin and Lyle were ordered to
liHA^e separate and distinct organizations for tOAv^nship purposes.
The olliers Avere grouped in various Avays.
Udolpho Avas organized at once. To it Avere added AValtham
and the northern part of Beaubien, now Sargeant. AValtham.
then consisting of the present town of AA^altham and the Avestern
half of the present toAA-n of Sargeant, Avas cut off and organized
in ]866.
Waltham Avas organized in 1866 and consisted of the present
toAvn of AValtham and the Avestern part of Avhat is noAV Sargeant.
Sargeant Avas cut off and organized in 1874.
Sargeant, Avhich Avas originally known as Beaubien and then
as Stanton, after being attached in part successively to Udolpho,
AValtham and Red Rock, Avas organized in 1873.
Pleasant Valley, called liy the county commissioners Farm-
ington, was ordered to ])e attaclied to Hamilton, uoav Racine, for
government purposes, but tlie records shoAv tluxt it Avas duly
s('[)arat(>ly organized Alay 11, 1858.
Racine, called by the county commissioners Hamilton, or more
formally Hamilton AVest, Avas ordered to liave Farmington, noAV
Pleasant Valley, attaclunl to it, Init, as in the case of Pleasant
A'^alley, the toAvn Avas organized separately and distinctly and
Avith its present boundaries May 11, 1858.
Lansing Avas organized as at present Alay 11, 1858.
Red Rock Avas organized in 1858, and Grand AleadoAV, now
Dcxlci', and th(> southern half of Beaul)ien, noAV Sargeant, Avere
ad ached to it for townshii) i)uri)OHes. AVliat Avas then Grand
Alrjidow Avas organized in 1870 and is now Dexter. AVImt Avas
ilieii Heaubien Avas oi'gani/ed in 1873 and is now Sargeant.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 53
Dexter, originally called Grand ]\readow. and for some years
attached to Red Rock, was organized in 1870.
Grand Meadow, formerly called Poplar Grove, and originally
attached to Frankford, was organized in 1862.
F'rankford, from whose congressional township, the northern
tier of sections is detached, was organized in 1858 and to it were
attached Poplar Grove, now Grand Meadow, and the northern
halves of Providence and Andover, now Clayton and Bennington.
Grand Meadow, formerly Poplar Grove, was organized in 1862 ;
Clayton, formerly Providence, in 1873, and Bennington, formerly
Andover, in 1860.
Austin was organized in 1858 as at present.
Windom included the towns of Brooklyn and York and was or-
ganized in 1858. Brooklyn became Canton, then "Windom. York
was cut otf in 1870.
Marshall, originally York and later Beach, was organized in
1870, having previously been attached to what is now AVindom.
Clayton, originally called Providence, the northern half of
which was originally attached to Frankford and the southern
half to Le Roy, was organized in 1873.
Bennington, formerly called Andover, the northern part of
which was originally annexed to Frankford and the southern
half to Le Roy, was organized in 1860.
Lyle was organized in 1858, as at present.
Nevada, to which was originally attached Adams, was organ-
ized in 1858. Adams was organized in 1859.
Adams, originally a park attached to Nevada, was organized
in 1859.
Lodi, originally attached to Le Roy, was organized in Febru-
ary, 1874. For a time the town was known as Belleview.
Le Roy was organized in 1858, and to it were attached the
southern halves of Providence and Andover, now Clayton and
Bennington, and all of Lodi. Lodi was cut oft' in 1874 ; Clay! on
m 1873 and Bennington in 1860.
54: HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
CHAPTER VHI.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Doing's of the Consecutive Boards of County Commissioners —
County Officials — Registers of Deeds — Treasurers — Auditors
— Sheriffs— County Attorneys — Clerks of the District Court
— Judges of Probate — Superintendents of Schools — County
Buildings — Location of County Seat — County Court House —
County Jail — County Poor Farm.
Tiie first meeting of the board of county eonmissioners ap-
pointed by Governor Gorman, was held in the village of Frank-
ford, April 7, 1856, Frankford having been established as the
temporary county seat. The county commissioners present were
Phillip Howell and George White. The first business to come before
the board was the appointment of the first county officers, which
resulted in the selection of the following named: Timothy M.
Chapman, register of deeds and clerk of the board of county
commissioners ; C. J. Felch, judge of probate ; Lewis Patchin,
county treasurer; M. K. Armstrong, county surveyor; G. AA^. Sher-
man, sheriff and collector of taxes.
The precincts created were named High Forest, Frankford
and Austin. High Forest embraced ranges l-i, 15 and 16, of town-
ship lOJr. Frankford comprised townships 101, 102 and 103,
ranges 14, 15 and 16. Austin embraced townships 101, 102, 103
and 104, ranges 17 and 18. In High Forest precinct Thomas Arm-
strong was appointed justice of the peace ; Orson Lyon, consta-
ble ; John Robinson, assessor, and J. S. Stimson, Nathan Lyon and
Geo. I. Covin, judges of election. In the Frankford precinct
David D. Frazier was appointed Justice of the Peace ; John Far-
quer, constable ; George Hunt, assessor ; D. D. Frazier, G. AV.
Sberman and Griffin Frazier, judges of election. In Austin pre-
cinct, Silas Dutcher was appointed justice of the peace ; L. AA"a-
tions, constable; Orlando AVilder, assessor; J. H. Burns, A. B.
A'^aughan and V. P. Lewis, judges of election.
Alay 30, 185(), the second meeting of the board of commission-
ers was held. This meeting was attended by tlie full board —
Philip llowcll. chairman; George AVliite and AVilliam Russell. It
was found that certain officers appointed at the previous meeting
had failed to ([luilify, and in consequence of this Sylvester Smith
WHS appointed justice of the peace in the Austin precinct; AVash-
ington Mason, assessor, and Charles Ferris, constable. July 7,
1856, the commissioners again met, with Phillip Howell chairman,
George AVhite and William Russell, present. At this time a peti-
HISTORY OF M0WP:R COUNTY 55
tion was presented from W. B. Spencer and others, asking that a
new election precinct be created under the name of LeRoy, to
comprise township 101, range 14. The petition was granted and
the following officers were appointed for the new precinct : Sam-
uel P. Bacon, justice of the peace ; William B. Spencer, constable,
and Henry Edmunds, S. P. Bacon and AV. B. Spencer, judges of
election. At the same session the precinct of Red Rock was cre-
ated in response to a petition from John L. Johnson and other.'-.
It then embraced the north half of township 103, and the whole of
township 104, ranges 17 and 18. The following officers were ap-
pointed: Moses Mapes, Andrew Brown and Charles F. Hardy,
judges of election, and Charles F. Hardy, justice of the peace,
and Hilliard Tilton, constable. Opposite this entry, regard-
ing the creation of Red Rock, on the record, is written
the word "error"; but as nothing is found in the record to
contradict the entry, it is here presented. Several school districts
were created at this time, and the first bills against Mower county
M'ere allowed. The first bill was that of Lewis Patchin for $19 for
services as road commissioner. From a report made to the board
it is learned that in 1856 the taxable real and personal property
in the county was as follows : Frankford district — personal jDrop-
erty, $24,473 ; real property, $233,855. High Forest district— per-
sonalty, $17,257 ; realty, $77,743. Austin precinct — personalty,
$12,132 ; realty, $92,072. Total in county, $457,533. The amount
of tax levied by the commissioners was $2,287.60. The amount of
orders issued to defray the expenses of the county was $1,753.
The first general election was held October 14, 1856, at which
374 votes were cast, and the following officers elected: J. M.
Berry, representative ; R. L. Kimball, register of deeds ; J. B.
Yates, sheriff'; S. P. Bacon, treasurer; M. K. Armstrong, county
surveyor ; A. B. Vaughan, judge of probate ; Dr. 0. Allen, coroner ;
W. B. Spencer, George H. Bemis and H. C. Blodgett, commission-
ers.
The first meeting of the new board was held on January 6,
1857, at the village of Frankford, when George H. Bemis was
chosen chairman. After organizing, the board adjourned until
the following day, when they again met. At this session the
county seat question came up, and a resolution was offered by H.
B. Blodgett and adopted by the board, locating the county seat on
section 3, in Austin village. In ]\Iarch, 1857, the county com-
missioners engaged the office of A. S. Everest, in Austin, to lie
used as an office for the register of deeds, and a. place of meeting
ror the board. At the same meeting Ormanzo Allen was ap-
pointed the first county attorney for ]\Iower county. In the mean-
time additional election pi-ecincts had been created under the
names of Six ]\Iile Grove, Brownsdale, ]\Iadison, Cedar Citv and
56 msTOJJY OF MOWER COUXTY
Hamilton. July G. 1857, the fouuty seat question again occupied
the attention of the board, and a resolution was passed locating
the county seat in block 23, in Davidson's addition to Austin.
The total valuation of real and personal property is stated as
being $1,108,304.
The board of county commissioners for 1858 consisted of
George H. Bemis, W. B. Spencer and C. F. Hardy. Mr. Bemis was
again elected chairman. On January 5, 1858, the resignation of
M. K. Armstrong as county surveyor, was tendered the board.
April 16, 1858, the commissioners organized twenty townships,
but attached a number of them to neighboring ones for the pur-
pose of township government.
SUPERVISOR SYSTEM.
In 1858 there began in ^linnesota a system of county govern-
ment still in vogue in AVisconsin and other states. Under this
system, the county was governed by a board of supervisors, con-
sisting of tlie chairman of the board of supervisors of each town-
ship.
In all of the counties then organized in the state, this board of
supervisors, or "Court," as it was commonly called, met in the
summer of 1858, and it is supposed that such a meeting was held
in Austin, but no record has been preserved. The same system
was in operation in 1860, but these records are likewise lost in
Mower county. The minutes of these two boards, that of the
latter half year of 1858 and that of the year 1859, were doubtless
kept in a separate book, and then mislaid. The present commis-
sioner system came into being in 1860, and the county conunis-
sioners of jMower county, three in number, met in January of
that year. Should the old record of the year and a half Avheu
IMower county was under the commission system ever lie l)i'ought
to light,, it will be of untold historical value.
COMMISSION SYSTEM.
In 1860 tlir lioani ronsistcd of Oi'inanzo Allen (chairman). C.
F. Hardy and S. P. Bacon. In Sei)teinbcr. 1860, i). H. Johnson,
Jr., resigned the of^fice of county auditor. Ormanzo Allen re-
signed as chairman of the l)oard, and was ai)pointed auditor. S.
P. Bacon was elected chairman of llic lioai-d. J. Stewart was
elected commissioner to fill vacancy.
On New Year's day, 1861, th(> hoard of coimly commissioners.
HISTOIJY OF MOWKH COT XT Y 57
for the ensuing year met and qualiticd. Tlic nicinlicrs wci'c Milo
Frary, Samuel Looinis and J. Stewart. Tlic l)()ai'<l organized l)y
the election of ]\Iilo Frary, chairman.
On January 7, 1862, the commissioners convened for tlie sixth
annual session. At this time the board consisted of G. T. Angell,
R. C. Heath and 6. II. Bemis. The last named was elected chair-
man. In February, 1862, the name of Brooklyn township was
changed to Canton. At the same time a petition was presented
from the legal voters ol! township 103, range 15, asking that the
territory be organized as Grand Meadow township. The petition
Avas granted. On August 13, 1862. a special meeting of the board
Avas held, at which it was "resolved, that $50.00 be paid to each
and every volunteer who should, before August 20, 1862, enlist in
the sixth, seventh or eighth Minnesota Regiments and be credited
to Mower county." Later tlie time was extended to October 1.
1862. In September the following school examiners were ap-
pointed by (he board: H. T. Parker, for the first commissioner
district; Richard Hoppiu, for the second, and A. J. Harris, for the
third.
The seventh annual session of the board began on January 6,
1863. The board was composed of R. C. Heath, G. T. Angell and
Alanson Beach, the latter being the newly elected member. Mr.
Beach was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The second
day of the session the board divided the county into military dis-
tricts as follows: First, to be composed of the townships of
Adams and Nevada; second, Lyle, Windom and Austin; third,
Lansing; fourth. Red Rock and Udolpho; fifth. Pleasant Valley
and Grand Meadow ; sixth, Racine ; seventh, Frankford and Ben-
nington; eighth, LeRoy. Bennington township was ordered or-
ganized at the same time. In September, 1863, the commission-
ers appointed the following school examiners: J. B. Talhnan. C.
F. Hardy and Saekett Sears.
On January 5, 1864, the board convened for the eightl; annual
session. Charles N. Stimson had been elected to succeed R. C.
Heath, so the commissioners for the ensuing year were Alanson
Beach, W. B. Spencer and C. N. Stimson. Alanson Beach was
elected chairman for the ensuing year. J. B. Tallman was ap-
pointed superintendent of common schools of Mower county, at
an annual salary of $100; to hold his office one year from Septem-
ber 1, 1864. On ]\Iay 2, 1864, the board of commissioners voted
"to allow each volunteer soldier who had gone into the service of
the United States and been accredited to ]\Iower county, the sum
of $100; and for eacli veteran soldier who has gone or may go,
$100 nu)re; provided that no bounty shall be issued to deserters;
that the anu)unts already drawn as bounty he deducted from the
$100; provided further, that no soldier who has been discharged
58 IIISTOKY OF MOWER COUXTY
from service shall receive a bounty, unless he has been permanent-
ly disabled while in service." "Provided further, that where
towns have, during the last year, paid a bounty of $100 to soldiers,
the bounty from ^Mower county shall be paid to the towns instead
of the soldiers ; or if the said towns have paid soldiers any fraction
of the $100, then the town shall receive the fraction and the sol-
diers the balance."
January 8, 1865, the board convened pursuant to law for its
ninth annual session. W. E. Harris had been elected commission-
er to succeed W. B. Spencer, so that the board for the ensuing
year was composed of Alanson Beach, C. N. Stimson and AV. E.
Harris. No record is found of the election of a chairman. In
September, 1865, Ormanzo Allen tendered his resignation as
county auditor, which was accepted, and II. iM. Allen was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy. At about' the same time Charles N.
Stimson, one of the commissioners, sent in his resignation, and the
judge of probate, register of deeds and county auditor appointed
C. F. Hardy, of Red Rock township, to fill the vacancy. J. B.
Tallman was appointed county superintendent of schools, for one
year, commencing January 1, 1866. His salary was fixed at .$;300
per year. C. J. Short, the county attorney, was allowed an annual
salary of $100.
At the annual meeting which commenced January 2, 1866,
there were present Alanson Beach, C. F. Hardy and AVilliam E.
Harris. ]\Iessrs. Beach and Hardy were the newly elected mem-
bers. Alanson Beach was chosen chairman for the ensuing year.
The first business to come before the board was the offering of a
reward for the apprehension of Patrick ]\IcEntee, who, December
18, 1865, had murdered I. AV. Padden. A reward of $400 was
offered. At this session the board voted to allow A. B. Alorse.
rharles E. AVhite and Thomas Talbot the sum of $50 each as sol-
diers' bounty, their names not appearing upon the adjutant gen-
eral's list of credits. At the same time township 104, range 17,
and the west half of township 104, range 16, was set off as A\'al-
tham township, and civil organization was authorized. On Sept-
ember 5, 1866, Sherman Page, of Austin, was appointed Superin-
tendent of schools. His salary was fixed at $400 per annum.
Oil January 11, 1867, the l)oard of county commissioners (net
in Miiiiual session pursuant to law, at the auditor's office in Austin.
K. .1. Slimsoii, the commissioiicr-cl('<-t succeeding 0. F. Hardy,
(|u:ililit(l, aiKJ look his seat. Tiu' lioard for the year consisted of
Alan.son lieacli, AVilliam E. Harris and E. J. Stimson. Alanson
Beach was elected chairman for the ensuing year. In Septemlier.
Slicrman Page was re-appointed superintendent of scIukJs. His
sahiry was fixed at the same amount as in tlie preceding year.
January 7, 1868, the l)oard nu>t for their twelftii amiual ses-
HISTOIJY OF MOWKi: CorXTY 59
sion. At this time the members were Alanson Beaeli, E. J. Stim-
son and Joseph McKnight. The last named was the member-elect
succeeding William E. Harris. Mr. Stimson was elected chairman,
but in April resigned and A. Beach was elected. At this session
the board divided the county into five commissioner districts in
place of the former three, it being found that there were a suffi-
cient number of votes to entitle a representation on the county
board of two additional members. The districts as then set oft'
comprised territory as follows: District No. 1, embraced Udol-
pho, Red Rock, Waltham and Pleasant Valley townships, E. J.
Stimson. District No. 2, embraced Racine, Frankford and Grand
Meadow townships, D. P. Putney. District No. 3, was composed
of Adams, LeRoy and Bennington townships, J. H. ]\IcKnight.
District No. 4, embraced Lyle, Nevada and Windom townships,
Alanson Beach. District No. 5, embraced Austin and Lansing
townships, George AV. Bishop. At the same session the board
directed the sheriff to offer a reward of $500 each for the appre-
hension of Oliver Potter and AVilliam Kemp, two of the supposed
murderers of Chauncey Knapp. At the March session, 1868, D.
P. Putney and George AY. Bishop, members-elect from the ncAvly
created districts, appeared and qualified. At the same meeting a
committee, consisting of J. McKnight and G. W. Bishop, was ap-
pointed to examine farms that had been offered the county as a
poor farm. This matter culminated on ]March 14, Avhen it was
A^oted to accept Mr. Caswell's proposition to sell his farm in Le-
Roy township to the county for a poor farm, and also to buy
eighty acres of W. Hayes, adjoining the Caswell farm, at $23 per
acre. On April 9, it was resolved "that the register of deeds be
instructed to take the necessary steps to transfer all records of
deeds and mortgages (not satisfied) now recorded in Houston
county, Minnesota, on lands lying in Slower county, to the records
of this county." At this meeting bids were received for the erec-
tion of a new county building, and that of D. J. Tubbs being the
lowest, the contract was awarded to him in the sum of $6,450. A
building committee was appointed, consisting of ^lessrs. Beach.
Stimson and Bishop. The building was to be completed September
5, 1868. On September 11, the commissioners passed a resolution,
declaring tliat they had the greatest confidence in the integrity
and efficiency of the county officials. In October, Sheldon T. ()tis
was appointed county superintendent of scliools for the ensuing
year.
On January 5, 1861), the l)()ar(l iiu't in annnal session. Alanson
Beacli, I). 1'. Putney and George W. Bishop, commissioners-elect,
qualified. Tlie members holding over were Josepli McKnight an<l
K. J. Stimson. Alanson Beach was cho.sen chairman for the ensil-
ing yeai'. On ]March 13, 18()!), Sylvester Smitli resigned tlu^ office
60 IIISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
of county treasurer, and Solomon Snow, the treasurer-elect, was
appointed to fill the unexpired term.
On January 4, 1870, the Board convened for their annual ses-
sion, with Alauson Beach, G. W. Bishop, D. P. Putney and J. Mc-
Knight, members holding over, present. John P. AVilliams, the
member-elect from the first district, qualified and took his seat
Avith the board. Alanson Beach was unanimously chosen chair-
man for the ensuing year. In May, 1870, the township of Dexter
was created and ordered organized. It embraced Congressional
tOAvnship 103, range 1(J. At the same time township 102, range 16,
was set off and "ordered organized as Beach township. In Decem-
ber, 1870, II. E. Turner presented his credentials as member-elect
of the board, and qualified. He succeeded ^Ir. AYilliams.
On January S, 1871, the board met in annual session, pursuant
to law. At this time the following named gentlemen were mem-
bers : Alanson Beach, H. E. Tanner, C. J. Felch, G. AV. Bishop and
E. F. IMcKee. Alanson Beach was chosen chairman for the ensuing
year. In February, G. AY. Bishop resigned, and was succeeded by
^Y. AI. Howe. On June 26, 1871, a special meeting of the board
was held at which it was decided to bring legal action against
Sylvester Smith, former treasurer of the county, for alleged irreg-
ularities in connection Avith the county finances. This was a mat-
ter which for a ninnber of years agitated the county. In justice
to .Mr. Smith, it should be stated in this connection that his honor
and integrity came out unscathed from the long and bitter litiga-
tion which followed. In September, L. Bourgard presented his
resignation as county attorney, and E. O. AVheeler was appointed
to fill the vacancy.
On January 2, 1872, the board met in annual session. A. C.
Bisbee, commissioner-elect from the fourth district, qualified. The
board for tiie ensuing year was composed of C. J. Felch, AV. M.
Hov.-e, II. E. Tanner, E. F. McKee and A. C. Bisbee. Organization
Avas effected by the election of C. J. Felch, chairman.
The annual meeting for 187."} commenced on January 7.^ 11. E.
Tanner had been re-elected from the first district, so the board re-
mained as before, the members being C. J. Felch, AV. M. Howe, A.
C. Bisbee, E. F. iMcKee and II. E. Tanner. C. J. Felch was elected
chairman for the ensuing year.
On September 3, 1873, township 104, range l(i, t'oi'nici'Iy known
as Beaubien, was set off and ordered organized as tlie civil town-
sliip Stanton. Clayton township was created at tlie same time,
comprising lownsliip 102, range 15, fornu'rly known as Provi-
dence.
On January 6, 1S74, llir hoard met again in annual session. C.
J. F(4cli liad 1 n rc-rlrrfd. Tlic iii.'nilins liolding over were AV.
HISTORY OF MOWER (Ol'XTY 61
M. Howe, H. E. Tanner, A. C. Bisbee and James Grant. C. J.
Felch was elected chairman for the ensuing year. On ]\Iareh 19,
1874', E. F. Morgan, of LeRoy township, was appointed superinten-
dent of schools for the ensuing year. In July, Lafayette French was
appointed county attorney to fill a vacancy. At the same meet-
ing in response to a circular from the governor, the board appro-
priated $500 from the county funds, for the relief of grasshopper
sufferers.
On January 5, 1875, the board of commissioners met in annual
session, with the following as its members: C. J. Felch, II. E.
Tanner, James Grant, \Yilliam Richards and R. J. French. C, J.
Felch was elected chairman for the ensuing year.
The board of county commissioners for 1876 was composed of
C. J. Felch, \Yilliam Richards, James Grant, A. J. French and F.
W. Kimball. AYilliam Richards was elected chairman of the
board at the annual meeting January 4, 1876. On June 14, 1876,
the following resolution was adopted by the board of county
commissioners : Resolved, That the sum of $100 or so much there-
of as may be necessary be set apart for the purpose of collecting
and preparing a statistical history of IMower county, in accord-
ance with the proclamation of the president. Messrs. Richards
and French were appointed a committee to carry out the inten-
tion of the board.
The annual session for 1877 began on January 2. At tliis
time the members were "William Ricliards, A. J. French, F. W.
Kimball, G. W. Allen and W. B. Spencer. AYilliam Richards was
elected chairman for the ensuing year. During the summer 1877,
O. C. La Bar succeeded Commissioner Kimball.
For the year 1878, the board consisted of AYilliam Richards,
G. W. Allen, W. B. Spencer, 0. C. La Bar and M. M. Trowbridge.
"William Richards was elected chairman on January 1, 1878, for
the ensuing year.
The annual session of 1879 began January 7. wluni the board
organized, by the election of "William Richards, chairman. Tlie
board was composed of AYilliam Richards, O. C. La Bar, G. W.
Allen, "W. B. Spencer and ^M. ^I. Trowbridge. P. T. :\lclntyre, in
August, 1879, was appointed county treasurer to .succeed I. Ing-
mundson, deceased.
On January 6, 1880, the board met in regular session, with the
following named as members: "William Richards, M. ]\I. Trow-
bridge, 0. C. La Bar, O. AV. Case and AV. B. Mitson. Mr. Rich-
ards was chosen chairman. 'Slv. Case died in ^lay, 1880, and
Charles L. Schro^ler, of Racine, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
On January 4, 1881, the board met and organized for tlie ensu-
ing year, by electing O. C. La Bar, chairman for the ensuing
G2 IIISTOI.'V OF MOWKIJ COUNTY
year. The members of the l)oard of commissioners at this time
were : O. C. La Bar, AY. B. Mitson, R. A. Donaldson, O. Avers
and Hans C. Anderson.
The board for 1882 was composed of AY. B. Mitson, II. C.
Anderson, Oscar Ayers, J. B. Graves and R. A. Donaldson. AV. B.
INIitson was elected chairman for the ensuing year.
At the annual session which began January 2, 1883, the fol-
. lowing were the members : Oscar Ayers, H. C. Anderson, J. B.
Gravfs, C. L. Schntder and John Gilligan. Oscar Ayers was
chosen chairman for the ensuing year.
On New Year's day, 1884, the board convened for tlieir annual
session. Oscar Avers was elected chairman for the ensuing year.
Tlie iiienibers were: Oscar Ayers, H. C. Anderson, J. B. Graves,
C. L. Schra^der and John Gilligan.
In January, 1885, the l)oard consisting of H. C. Anderson, J. B.
Graves, C. L. Sehnrder, John Gilligan and Oscar Ayres, met and
named the latter as chairman.
Since 1885, the commissioners have been elected as follows:
1886— P. Christ gau, C. H. Lockwood, AY. AY. Sweet, John Beach,
E. C. Dorr. 1888— AY. T. Johnson, C. H. Lockwood, AY. AY. Sweet,
John Beach, A. E. Christie. 1890— N. T. Johnson, AYilliam
Brown, W. AY. Sweet, John Beach, A. E. Christie. 1892— INI.
Stephenson, AYilliam Brown, AY. AY. Sweet, John Beach, J. AY. C.
Dinsmoor. 1894 — AI. Stephenson, AYilliam Brown, AY. AY. Sweet,
K. Amundson, J. AY. C. Dinsmoor. 1896 — AI. Stephenson, AYilliam
Brown, Frank E. Hambrecht, K. Amundson, J. AY. C. Dinsmoor.
1898 — M. Stephenson, AYilliam Brown, Frank E. Hambrecht, K.
Amundson, J. AY. C. Dinsmoor. 1900 — AI. Stephenson, AYilliam
Brown, Frank E. Hambrecht, K. Amundson, Joseph Keenan. 1902
— AI. St(^phenson, AV. P. Lewis, Frank E. Hamlirecbt, P. O'AIalley.
Joseph Keenan. 1904- D. L. Tanner, AV. P. Lewis, Frank E. ILim-
l)reciit, John R. Johnson, AVilliam Ciiristie. 1906 — D. L. Tanner.
AV. H. Goodsell, Frank E. Hambrecht, John R. Johnson, William
Christie. 1908— Cliarles L. Schwartz, AV. II. (Joodsell, Frank E.
Hambrcclil, Jolui H. Johnson, AYilliam Christie. 1910— Charles
L. Schwartz, W. II. Goodsell, Frank E. IIainl)recht, John R. John-
son. William Christie.
The (Miuiily commissioners" districts are at present divided as
Follows: 1, Dexter, Sargeant, AYaltham, Udolpho and Red Rock;
2, Frankford, Hacine, Pleasant Valley and (irand .Meadow; .'?, Le-
Roy, Bennington, Lodi and Adams; 4, .Marshall, Wiiidnm. Nevada
and Lvle; T), Austin and iiansing.
HISTORY OF :\I()\VKI{ ("Or.NTV
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Following is a list of the elective ofticei's ol' .Mower coiiuty,
since its organization in 1856 :
Auditor — The office of county auditor was cr-ciilcii to take ct-
fect in 1859. The business now performed liy liiiii. Iiad liccii |)ci--
formed prior to that date by the register of deeds and clerk.
The auditors have been as follows: D. B. Johnson, Jr., 1859-18fiO;
Ormanzo Allen, 1860-1865; H. M. Allen, 1865-1871, Henry M.
Shook, to fill vacancy; J. P. Williams, 1871-1875; P. T. McTntyre,
1875-1879; J. M. AVyckoff, 1878-1880; II. AV. Elms, 1880-1887; C.
H. Wilbour. 1887-1893; R. L. Johnson, 1893-1903; George Robert-
son, 1903-1913. The deputy at the present time is C. H. Wilbour.
Treasurer — Lewis Patchin, 1856-1857 (appointed) ; S. P.
Bacon, 1857-1858; A. S. Everest, 1858-1860; T. J. Lake, 1860-1862;
Sylvester Smith, 1862-1869; Solomon Snow^ 1869-1870; J. S.
Irgens, 1870-1874; I. Ingraundson, 1874-1879; P. T. Mclntyre,
1879-1881 ; G. L. Case, 1881-1887 ; A. Requa, 1887-1893 ; G. Seebach,
1893-1903; S. A. Smith, 1903-1913.
Register of Deeds — Timothy M. Chapman, 1856-1857 (ap-
pointed) ; R. L. Kimball, 1857-1858; David Blakely, 1859-1861;
Solomon Snow, 1861-1869; R. L. Hathaway. 1869-1871 ; George AV.
Robinson, 1871-1875 ; AVilliam IM. Howe, 1875-1882 ; ^I. I\I. Trow-
bridge, 1882-1887; Eugene AVood, 1887-1913.
Sheriff— G. AV. Sherman, 1856-1857; J. B. Yates, 1857-1859;
George AV. Bishop, 1859-1861; E. D. Fenton, 1861-1865; AV. F.
Gruramons, 1865-1867; D. J. Tubbs, 1867-1869; Allan iMollison,
1869-1873 ; George Baird, 1873-1875 ; R. 0. Hall, 1875-1878 ; H. B.
Corey, 1878-1885 ; Allan Mollison, 1885-1895 ; John C. Johnson. Jr.,
1895-1905; Nicholas Nicholsen, 1905-1913.
Attorney — Ormanzo Allen, 1857-1859; D. B. Johnson, Jr., 1859-
1860; C. J. Shortt, 1860-1864; H. R. Davidson, 1864; D. B. John-
son, 1864-1865; C. J. Shortt. 1865-1867; E. O. AVheeler, 1867-1869;
C. J. Shortt, 1869-1871; L. Bourgard, 1871-1874; Layfette French,
1874-1878; C. C. Kinsman, 1878-1880; George F. Goodwin, 1880-
1882; John M. Greeman. 1882-1887; L. F. (Mausen, 1887-1889; D.
B. Johnson, Jr., 1889-1893; S. D. Catlierwood, 1893-1899; R. E.
Shepherd, 1899-1903: A. AV. AVri-lit. 1903-1911; Otto Baii(!!er.
1911-1913.
Probate Judgt — C. J. F.'Ich. lS5(i-1857 (ai)p()inled ) ; A. B.
Vaughn, 1857-1859; G. M. Camcn.n. 1859-1861 ; Robert Lylc, 1861-
1866; Ormanzo Allen, 1866-1869; C. F. Hardy, 1869-1870; E. O.
AVheeler, 1870-1871 ; Jesse Rose. 1871-1874: AV. H. Crandall, 1874-
1875; S. Ilarter, 1875-1876; G. M. Cameron. 1876-1879; John O.
Farmer. 1879-1S,S0: Onuau/.o .Mien, 1SS()-]SS7: \V. W. Raiinev.
64 HISTOK'Y nv :\i()\vi:i; rorxTY
1887-1891; S. S. Washl)urn, 1891-1903: John :\r. Greeimian. 1903-
1911; Henry Weber, Jr., 1911-1913.
County Surveyor— G. H. Allen, 1885-1893; M. N. Clausen.
1893-1897; G. H. Allen, 1897-1901; M. N. Clausen, 1901-1903; V.
A. Nason, 1903-1907: :\1. N. Clausen. 1907-1909; Y. A. Nason,
1909-1913.
Coroner— J. P. Squires, 1885-1889: A. W. Allen, 1889-1893; W.
L. Ilollister, 1893-1905; AY. N. Kendriok, 1905-1907; Charles S.
Lewi.s, 1907-1911; A. E. Henslin. 1911-1913.
Clerk of the District Court — V. P. LeM'is (by appointment),
1855-1858; J. E. AVillard, 1858-1861; L. A. Sherwood, 1861-1870:
J. F. Atherton, 1870-1874; F. A. Elder. 187-1-1877; S. Sweningson,
1877-1895; 0. J. Simmons, 1895-1907; George S. Burnham, 1907-
1913.
Court Commissioners — Ormaiizo Allen, 1885-1887; AV. V. Ran-
ney, 1887-1891 ; S. S. Washburn, 1891-1899; A. C. Page, 1899-1913.
School Superintendent— J. B. Tollman, 1864-1867; Sherman
Page, 1867-1869; 0. T. Otis, 1869-1870; A. S. Pike. 1870; J. T.
Williams. 1870-1872; A. A. Harwood, 1872-1874; E. F. Morgan,
1874-1875; N. M. Holbrook, 1875-1877; A. H. Tuttle, 1877-1881; C.
D. Belden, 1881-1891; Gertrude C. Ellis. 1891-1901; Fannie G.
Gies, 1901-1909; Grace B. Sherwood, 1909-1913.
LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.
The location of the county seat was the first official question
of importance that occupied the attention of the people of the
ncAvly organized county. The first board of county commission-
ers, Avho were appointed by Governor Gorman in 1856, were
George White, Phillip Howell and William Kussell. On April 7,
1856, these temporary commissioners nu^t in the village of Frank-
ford and appointed the various county officers. It was also their
business, iinder authority of the legislature, to locate a county
seat and the record of such an act siiould have been made in the
county commissioiici-s book of record ; l)ut no such record was
tlicn iiia.ic. I)u1 some liiiic liitrr tlic rollowiiig record appeared on
llic lly leaf of HooU ••.\'" of deeds and marked "iiage 1." Tiiis is
Ihe (inly record of the location of the county seat of Frankford :
'■ Accordiiijr to an ;ict of tlie Minnesota liCgisiature. approvi'd
-Miircli 1, bsr.ti, (;eor-e Wliite. I'liillip [lowell, and William Kus-
sell, were ai)poin1ed coniinissioners to locate the seat of Mmver
county. Said commissioners met A])ril 7. 1856, and located the
county seat of Mowei- county at the following place, to-wit: In
the vilhi'.'e of KranUford. situate on the southwest (piarter. of the
southeast (|uarter. and the southeast (piarter of the southwest
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 65
quarter, of seetion 13, township 103, range 14, west of the fifth
principal meridian. AVitness our hands this 7th day of April.
1856. Phillip Howell, William Russell, George White, commis-
sioners. Attest: Timothy N. Chapman, clerk of the board of
county commissioners."
Mower county at that time was entitled to one representative
in the legislatiire, and his election took place in October, 1855, the
first election held within the county. The polls at High Forest
were located under an oak tree, a board with the ends placed on
two barrel heads served as a judge 's desk. The east side nomin-
ated W. B. Covell, a Democrat, and the west side A. B. Vaughan,
a Republican. Ninety-seven votes were polled ; Vaughan received
the majority, and received his certificate of election from the
judges, and applied at the house for his seat. In the meantime
Covell had made the retiu-ns of the election to the register of
deeds, in Houston, and from him received his certificate of elec-
tion, proceeded to the house, and Avas duly qualified as the first
member of the legislature from ]Mower county.
The first general election held in the county occurred October
14, 1856. Two local tickets, without regard to politics, were put
in nomination. On the west side, the People's ticket, with J. M.
Berry, for representative ; R. L. Kimball, for register of deeds ; J.
B. Yates, sheritf ; S. P. Bacon, treasurer ; N. P. Todd, surveyor ; W.
B. Spencer, of LeRoy, G. H. Bemis and H. C. Blodgett, as commis-
sioners ; A. B. Vaughan, judge of probate, and Dr. 0. Allen, for
coroner.
On the east side the Union ticket placed in the field, T. II.
Armstrong, for representative ; W. B. Covell, register of deeds ; J.
S. Pierson, sherift'; G. P. Covell, treasurer; M. K. Armstrong, sur-
veyor; William Spencer, of LeRoy, C. F. Hardy and N. Goodsell,
as county commissioners; C. J. Felch, as judge of probate, and J.
Pierce, as coroner.
The "People's ticket" was elected with a majority of 46 votes
out of 374 polled, with the exception of Mr. Todd, who was de-
feated by 74 votes. Heretofore the east side had had all except
three minor offices, but in this election the west side gained the
power.
The first question of any importance wliich came l)cfore tlie
newly elected county commissioners was that of estalilishing a
permanent county seat.
The people of the west side of the county argued that it would
be easier to locate the county seat at Austin, than it wduld he to
go to Frankford to transact the county l)usiness.
When it was established at Frankford by the tii-st ( tcinijoi'ary)
county commissioners, it was by them declai'cd tliat it could not
be removed except by a vote of tiie peoj)!)' of the county. Twn of
66 HISTOJJY OF MOWKIJ COUNTY
the newly elected commissioners, George H. Bemis and H. C. Blod-
gett favored its removal, and took it upon themselves to remove it
to Austin, having passed the following resolution at the meeting
or January 7, 1857. "That, whereas, the act of the territorial leg-
islature of ^Minnesota, of A. D. 1856, made it the duty of the com-
missioners appointed under the provisions of said act to locate the
county seat of the county of INIower, and, whereas, it does not ap-
pear upon the records of the doings of said commissioners on the
first Monday in January, A. D. 1857, that any such location was
made, or any place provided for the transaction of the county
husiness according to law ; therefore, resolved, that we do hereby
locate the county seat of said ]\Iower county at the village of
Austin, on section 3, in township 102, range 18 west, until otlier-
wise provided by law. This entry is signed by George H. Bemis,
chairman of the board, and Joseph Badger, deputy register.
As the county had erected no building, the records and little
tin box which contained them, constituted the county seat, and
wherever these were there it was also.
About noon Sheriff Yates and Vaughan, with the little tin box
on which rested the future of both Frankford and Austin, in their
sleigh started for Austin. That night they stopped at the Tatter-
soll House, in High Forest. The landlord took the tin box and hid
it away, with instructions to deliver to no one but Yates and
Vaughan. In a short time Sheriff Sherman (Yates had not yet
duly qualified) with a posse of men from Frankford. arrived and
arrested Yates, Vaughan, Bemis and Tattersoll (who was the land-
lord), for grand larceny. He then posted guards around the hotel
and went to obtain a search warrant, as the landlord would ]iot
give up the tin box containing the records. "While lie was gone,
Yates made a bargain with W. Sykes, by which Sykes was to re-
ceive $20, if he woiild ol)tain the box and deliver it to Yates, in
case they succeeded in removing the county seat, if not he was to
have $5.00 which was paid down. At a signal from Yates (he was
to pass out of the door) tlie man was to take it out and hid'- it.
The evening being quite cold, Yates soon induced the guards to
come in and take a drink, and they became quite convivial, and
supposed as long as they watched the persons imder arrest that
their duty would be i)erformed, and that the box would be safe.
Soon Yates passed out of the front door (the signal agreed upon)
and down into the timl)er a sliort distance. Three of tlie guards,
wlio saw him go out, foUowed him, but he eluded them by taking
advantage of a short turn in the road, and jumped into the brusli,
wliih' llic tlii'cc guards |)ass('il dii-cctly on. In the meantime Sykes
li!id co-opci'alcd willi Yates in caiTving out the plans already laid,
and was seen liy Y;itcs in liic act of hiding tlw liox. Yates th(Mi
took Die l)ox and al'tci- Sykes had gone to the iiouse took the box
HISTOKY OF M0WP]1{ COUNTY 67
some distance and hid it beneath the mantles of snow which then
covered the earth to quite a depth, and covered it with rails; it
remained there for three or four days. After hiding the box,
Yates went about a half mile and stopped a few hours at the house
of ?.rr. Pierce, and then returned to the hotel. He afterward deew
a diagram of the grounds where the box had been hidden, and
gave it to John Patterson and C. C. Hanehett, who dug it up from
beneath the snow and conveyed it to Austin, where it was secreted
in the hardware store of E. L. Kimball. The officers procured a
search warrant, which only allowed them to search within the
store proper, and not in the upper story, which was used by Mr.
Kimball as a residence. While search was being made about the
store room, it is said that some one carried the tin box under
cover of a shawl to the cellar and there stowed it away within a
pile of potatoes. Thus it will be seen the search was made in vain.
George Bemis had the book containing the proceedings of the
county commissioners under his coat the night they all remaiaed
at Tattersoll's House, and the following morning he and Yates
walked about eighty rods from the hotel and there deposited it
under the snow, at the foot of an oak tree, disguising the marks
they had necessarily made in the snow, by a certain method which
their quick wit suggested.
The book remained there a short time, and was then taken
back to Frankford and carried by Mr. Bemis throughout the trial,
closely guarded beneath his coat and vest.
Armstrong, Morse, Willis and Belden appeared in the trial for
the prosecution, and Jones Ripley and Gordon E. Cole for the de-
fense. The citizens from the west part of the county having hefird
of the arrests which had been made, proceeded at once to Frank-
ford, to liberate the prisoners, all going well armed as it Avas
feared by some that something serious might transpire. But all
soon passed off without the shedding of blood, and with the ex-
ception of a false alarm that caused no little consternation among
about tifteen men, who Avere sleeping in Levi Patchin's old log
tavern, the examination proceeded without further trouble. Yates
and Bemis were each bound over for the sum of $3,000, to appear
at the next term of the Pilmore county seat.
Before the session of the court convened the matter had been
settled.
In jMarch, 1857, the county board engaged the office of A. K.
Everest, in Austin, to be used as the county seat headquarters.
June 1, 1857, the people of the county voted on the county seat
question, and decided in favor of Austin, consequently the county
seat controversy, both among the people and in the courts was
dropped. At this election, the people of the eastern part of the
county voted not for Frankford, but for Brownsdale. But High
68 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Forest with its voters was cut off from IMower county just iu time
to give Austin the balance of power.
July 6, 1857, the board passed the following resolution : —
"Pursuant to an act during the eighth session of the legislative
assembly of the territory of Minnesota, convened on the 7th day
of January, and adjourned on the 7th of March, 1857, granting
the legal voters of the county of Mower, the privilege of perma-
nently establishing the county seat of said county, by an election
to be held for that purpose on June 1, 1857; and, whereas, it ap-
pearing by a canvass of the votes cast at said election, that a ma-
jority of the votes were cast for the location of the county seat on
Davidson's addition to Austin. Resolved, That we, the commis-
sioners of said county of Mower, at this our regular session, July
6, 1857, in accordance with the wishes of a majority of the legal
voters of said county, as expressed by the election, do hereby
locate the county seat of Mower county on block 23, in David-
son's addition to Austin, as said addition appears on record iu
the office of the Register of Deeds of IMower county."
COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
In March, 1857, the country board of commissioners engaged
the office of A. S. Everest, in Austin, to be used as county seat
headquarters. The register of deeds offieed there and this was
the place for holding the meetings of the board of commissioners.
This and other small office rooms served for county seat buildings
until the fall of 1868, when a court house was completed, through
an act of the board of commissioners of April 9, 1868. At this
meeting bids were received for the erection of a county building,
and D. J. Tubbs being the lowest bidder, the contract was
awarded to him in the sum of $6,450. A building committee was
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Beech, Stimson and Bishop. Tlie
building was to be completed by September 5, 1868. This was a
two-story brick structure and was located on the corner of IMain
and IMaple streets, opposite the present court house. This build-
ing served the county well until 1881, when it was the will of the
people that a new, larger and better court house be provided the
rapidly progressing county. In accordance with this manifest
wish, tlie board of county commissioners commenced laying plans
to erect more spacious quarters. At a meeting of the board of
corrunissioners, held ]\rarch 29, 1881, block 13, the old public
square, owned l)y various parties, was piirchased for the total
sum of $1,925. A building committee was tlicn api)ointed, wliich
consisted of Oscar Ayers, O. C. L;iBar and AV. B. IMitson. l^ids
were solicited for const i-uctiiig the l)as(Mn('iit of tlu' contemplated
court house.
^^^^^
m^;mj:-^. 1 !J?5t - ^-^^^
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^HWBHH^^^H ffi^2.!^rT^^^^^H
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B^
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MOWER COUNTY POURT TroUSK.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 69
D. J. Tubbs, whose bid of $9,200.00 was the lowest ofifered,
was awarded the contract and completed the work in a very satis-'
factory manner. H. J. Anderson was appointed as superintend(!nt
of construction, and received for his services $30 per week.
The building committee took much pains to become thorough-
ly conversant with the various kinds of architecture, making trips
to Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis and other points, to view
and study into the plans of such building, and finally engaged the
services of W. H. Dennis, of Minneapolis, as their architect and
designer. June 14, 1882, the contract for erecting the super-
structure was awarded to Snow & Allsip, of Chicago. Mr. Snow
was the Solomon Snow whose name appears throughout this
history, as one of the early residents of Mower county. The
amount called for in this contract was $52,291. The work of con-
struction went on, and the building was completed and first occii-
pied in the month of March, 1884.
About seven years before the completion of the new court
house, the board of county commissioners began to stOAV away a
fund for that purpose, by levying a light tax each year, thus the
tax payers were not burdened by a heavy tax any one year, or
compelled to pay interest on a large bonded indebtedness, as
most counties have done, in this and other states. No small credit
is due to the enterprise and public spirit of the city of Austin,
who taxed herself to the amount of $6,000 as an aid toward erect-
ing the court house. The total cost of the building, lots, and
heating apparatus, Avas, in round numbers $67,900, divided about
as follows: $51,500 for building; $1,925 for grounds; and $4,500
for furniture and fixtures. After deducting the $6,000 paid by
the city of Austin, the cost to the people of Mower county, was
about $61,916.
The new court house was fittingly dedicated by the formal
opening of the first session of court within its walls.
In the early part of 1879, an effort Avas made to have the
county seat removed to Ramsey. The effort was made on the part
of the people of Racine, Frankford, Pleasant Valley, Grand
Meadow and other towns. A remonstrance was signed by 2,204
legal voters of the county, this being more than two thirds of tlie
total vote east at the previous general election. The removal bill
failed to pass the legislature.
COUNTY POOR FARM.
Prior to 1868 the paupers of ]\Iower county W(>re cared for by
some of the citizens, who were paid by the county. At that dite
a farm was purchased by the county in LeRoy towusliip find
fitted up for that purpose. April 16, 1868, the l)oard of couiify
70 HISTOK'Y OF MOWER C'OFXTY
eommissiouers, purchased seventy-five acres of land on the north-
west quarter of section 28. township 101, range 14, of Daniel Cas-
well and wife, for the sum of $1,500; and also eighty acres of W.
Hayes for $1,8J:0. This constituted the first poor farm in the
county. Proper improvements were made and the poor were
cared for at that place until 1876, when it was deemed best to
exchange this property for the present poor farm, which is lo-
cated on the northeast quarter of section 31, township 103, range
18, which is in the township of Lansing, and is about three miles
distant from the city of Austin. This place was bought (or
traded for) of John S. Lacy and wife February 11, 1876. This
farm is an excellent piece of land and now contains very good
improvements, including all necessary buildings.
County Jail. The county jail is a brick structure with stone
trimmings. It is fireproof, steam heated and sanitary throughout.
The sheritf's residence is a good brick building with stone trim-
mings. It adjoins the jail and is located a few rods from the court-
liouse on the east side of Chatham street.
CHAPTER IX.
COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
Mower County in Seventh and Fourth Council Districts— Fillmore
and Mower County Made the Eighth Council District — First
Representative From This County Takes His Seat — Consti-
tutional Convention— Mower and Dodge Counties Become the
Thirteenth Legislative District — Mower and Dodge County
Become the Fifteenth District — Mower County Becomes the
Fourth District — Changed to the Third District— Later to the
Sixth District — Congressional Representation.
On July 7, 18-1!), Governor Alexander Ramsey, l)y proclama-
tion, divided the territory into council districts; Mower county,
with ihc rest of southern ^linnesota (exclu.sive of the settlements
on the banks of tlic ^Missi.ssippi"), coming witliin tlie limits of the
Hcveiith district.
184i) — The first territorial legislature met on Septeiulier 3, and
adjourned November 1. The seventh district was represented in the
council by Martin McLeod, of Lac qui Parle; and in the house by
Alexis Biiilly, of .Meiidola. and Oideon II. Pond, of Oak Grove.
Although Mower county was included in the seventh district, no
HISTOT?Y OF MOWER COUNTY 71
settlers had at that time located within the present limits of the
county.
1851 — The second territorial legislature assenihled January 1
and adjourned IMarch 31. The seventh district was represented
in the council hy IMartin McLeod, of L/ae qui Parle ; and in the
house by B. H. Randall, of Ft. Snelling, and Alexander Faribault,
of Faribault. IVIower county was still without settlers. By the
apportionment of this legislature, the territory having been di-
vided into counties, the fourth district was made to constitute
Wabasha and Washington counties, and the precincts of St. Paul
and Little Canada jointly. It was understood that Wabasha
county was to be one representative district. The present Mower
county was then included in Wabasha county.
1852 — The thii-d territorial legislature assembled January 7,
and adjourned ]\Iarcli 6. The fourth district was represented in
the council by Lorenzo A. Babcock, of Sauk Rapids; and in the
house by Fordyce H. Richards, of Reed's Landing.
1853 — The fourth territorial legislature assembled Januar}^ 5,
and adjourned March 5. At this session the boundary lines of
many of the counties were changed, and Mower county was in-
cluded within the limits of Rice county. The boundaries of the
legislative districts, however, remained the same, and the present
j\Iower county remained in the district -which comprised the area
included in Wabasha county by the act of 1851. At the session
of 1853 the fourth district was represented in the council by
Lorenzo A. Babcock; and in the house by James ("Bully")
Wells, of a settlement at the head of Lake Pepin.
1854 — The fifth territorial legislature assembled January 4
and adjourned March 4. The fourth district was represented in
the council by AVilliam Freeborn, of Red Wing; and in the house
by 0. M. Lord, of what is now Dodge county.
1855 — The sixth territorial legislature assembled January 3
and adjourned ilareh 3. The fourth district was represented in
the council by William Freeborn; and in the house by Clark AY.
Thompson, of the present Houston coimty. At this session Mower
county was created with practically her present boundaries, with
the exception of the twelve sections that were annexed to Olm-
sted coiinty. May 26, 1857. The creation act passed February 20,
1855. At the same session, Houston, Fillmore and Mower county
were constituted the eighth district.
1856 — The seventh territorial legislature assembled Jamuiry
2 and adjourned ilarch 1. In the meantime tlie Republican party
had been organized, and a convention met at St. Paul, July 25,
1855. Of sixteen delegates selected from Freeborn and ^Mower
counties. l)ut one was present. Tlie Democratic convention as-
73 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
sembled July 25, 1855. and was better represented from this
county. A third party had also been organized by delegates se-
ceding from the Democratic convention. Clark W. Thompson,
of Houston county, and Benjamin F. Tillotson, of Fillmore county,
represented the eighth district in the sixth territorial legislature.
The representatiA'es in the house from this district were W. B.
Gere, Samuel Hull. "William F. Dunbar, William B. Covell and
Martin G. Thompson. "William B. Covell was a Democrat from
the east end of Mower county. At the election of October 9, 1855,
there had been two candidates for the legislature in this county,
Covell, Democrat, from the east end, and Alanson B. "Vaughan,
Republican, from the west end. Vaughan was elected by a good
majority and obtained a certificate of election from the judges,
but upon application to the house for admission, he found that
Covell had made returns of election to the register of deeds in
Houston, and thus equipped, had been dvily admitted to a seat in
the house. Thus "Vaughan was the first elected representative
from Mower county, and Covell the first to hold the seat.
1857 — The eighth territorial legislature assembled Januarj^ 7
and adjourned j\Iarch 7. Clark "W. Thompson and Benjamin F.
Tillotson again represented the eighth district in the council. The
representatives in the house were "William B. Gere, D. F. Chase,
"W. J. Howell, John M. Berry and M. G. Thompson. Berry was
from Mower county. An extra session of this legislature assem-
bled April 27 and adjourned ]\Iay 23. It was this eighth terri-
torial legislature that on May 26, 1857, set off twelve sections of
]\rower county and added them to Houston county.
Under the enabling act of congress, approved March 3, 1857,
a constitutional convention of 108 members (each council dis-
trict to elect two delegates for each councilman and representa-
tive it was entitled to) was authorized to meet at the capitol on
the second Monday in July, to frame a state constitution, and
to submit it to the people of the territory. The election was held
on the first Monday in June. July 13 the delegates met, but a
disagreement arising in the organization, the Republican mem-
])ers organized one body and the Democrats organized sepai-ately.
Each of these bodies claiming to be the legal constitutional con-
vention, proceeded with the work of forming an instrument to be
.submitted to the people. After some days an understanding was
effected between them, and by means of a committee of confer-
ence the same constitution was framed and adopted l)y both
bodies. On being sul)initfcd to the ]ieopl(\ ()ctol)er 13. it was
ratified.
In tlie Kcpiihlican wiiij;', the eighth district was represented by
Alanson B. Vaughan, C. W. Thompson, John A. Anderson,
Cli.irles A. Coe, N. P. Colburn, J. A. :\rcCann, II. A. Billings.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 73
Charles Hanson, H. W. Holley, John Cleghorn, A. H. Butler,
Robert Lyle and Boyd Phelps. In the Democratic wing, the
eighth district had but one representative, James C. Day.
By the apportionment of 1857, set forth in the state consti-
tution adopted October 13, Mower and Dodge counties were con-
stituted the thirteenth district, with two representatives in the
senate and three in the house.
1857-58 — The first state legislature assembled December 2,
1857. On March 25, 1858, it took a recess until June 2, and
finally adjourned August 12. The thirteenth district was repre-
sented in the senate by Edward W. Somers and Boyd Phelps.
For some reason the records show only one member, George 0.
Way, in the house from this district, though the district was en-
titled to three representatives.
1859-60 — The second state legislature assembled December 7,
1859, and adjourned March 12, 1860. Henry C. Rogers and A. J.
Edgerton represented the thirteenth district in the senate, and
T. F. Hunt, Peter ^Mantor and B. F. Langworthy in the house.
This legislature reapportioned the legislative districts, and Mower
and Dodge counties became the fifteenth.
1861 — The third state legislature assembled January 8 and
adjourned March 8. The fifteenth district was represented in
the senate by J. AY. Flake : and in the house by Peter Mantor and
Thomas J. Hunt.
1862 — The fourth state legislature assembled January 7 and
adjourned ]\Iarch 7. The fifteenth district was represented in
the senate by Joseph H. Clark, and in the house by S. Bostwick
and H. C. Rogers. On account of the Indian outbreak, an extra
session was called by the governor, and it assembled Septem-
ber 9 and adjourned September 29.
1863 — The fifth state legislature assembled January 6 and ad-
journed March 6. The fifteenth district was represented in the
senate by Joseph H. Clark, and in the hoiise by B. D. Sprague
and S. P. Bacon.
1864 — The sixth state legislature assembled January 5 and ad-
journed March 4. D. B. Sprague represented the fifteenth district
in the senate and Royal Crane andAugustus Barlow in the house.
1865 — The seventh state legislature assembled January 3 and
adjourned IMarch 3. The representatives from the fifteenth dis-
trict were D. B. Sprague in the senate and Royal Crane and C. D.
Tuthill in the house.
1866 — The eighth state le"gislature assembled January 2 and
adjourned March 2. The fifteenth district was represented in the
senate by Samuel Lord, and in the house by C. J. Felch and D. B.
Johnson, Jr., botli from Mower county. This legislature reappor-
74 IIISTOIJY OF MO\Vf:K COUNTY
tioncd tlic tlistricts, hut Mower and Dod^e founties reinaiiu'd the
tiftci'iitli district with one senator and two representatives.
18fj7 — The ninth state legislature assemhled January 8 and
adjourned Mareh 8. The tifteenth district was represented in the
senate hy Samuel Lord, and in tlie liouse by C. J. Feleh and D. B.
Johnson, Jr.
1868 — The tenth legislature assembled January 7 and ad-
journed ]\Iareh 6. The fifteenth district Avas represented in the
senate by W. E. Harris, and in the liouse l)y D. A. Shaw and E. K.
Proper.
1869 — The eleventh legislature assembled January 5 and ad-
journed ^lareh 5. W. E. Harris represented the fifteenth district
in the senate, and T. J. Hunt and E. K. Proper in the house.
1870 — The twelfth legislature assembled January 4 and ad-
journed ]\Iarch 4. The fifteenth district w^as represented in the
senate by Samuel Lord, and in the house by G. ^L Cameron and
H. A. Brown.
1871 — The thirfeenth legislature assembled January 8 and ad-
journed March 3. The fifteenth disfrict was represented in the
senate by Samuel Lord, and in the house by Harlan AV. Page, of
Mower county, and AV. G. Telfer. This legislature reapportioned
the state, and for the first time Alower county became a district
by itself, being designated the foui-th district, with one senator
and two representatives. Since that time Mower county has re-
mained in a separate district.
1872 — The fourteenth legislatiu-e assemhled January 2 and
adjourned ]\Iarch 1. Sherman Page represented the fourth dis-
trict in the senate, and John T. AVilliams and J. ]\L Wyckoff in the
house.
187;? — The fifteenth legislature assembled Januai-y 7 and ad-
journed Marcii 7. Tlie representatives from the fourth district
were N. K. Nobh- in the senate and O. O. Finhart and E. J. Stim-
son in the house.
1874 — The seventeentli h'gisjature asst
adjourned .March 6. Mowei' (•dunty was I'e
by E. H. Wells and in the liouse by (iundc
Perd<.
187.") — The scvcuteentli legislature assembled Janiuiry .") and
adjourned .Man-ii .'>. K. II. Wells represented Alow-er eounly in
the senali', and John S. ii-gens and (Muirles F. (Ii-eening in flic
house.
187() — The eigliteenth legislature assembled January 4 and ad-
journed March 'A. Mower county was represented in the senate
by 1{. 1. Smith, and in the house by IL F. Deming and C. F. Green-
1877- Tiu> niiiclcrnth Icgislatuiv assembled Jammry 2 and ad-
mbh
'd
January
6 and
)res(
'lit
ed in
the
S(uiat(
r Ha
lV(
;)rson
and
A E
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 75
journed March 2. Mower county was represented in the senate
by R. I. Smith, and in the house by S. J. Sanborn and Hosmer
A. Brown.
1878 — The tAventieth legislature assembled January 8 and ad-
journed IMarch 8. Mower county was represented in the senate
by George W. Clough, and in the house by S. J. Sanborn and H.
K. Volstad.
1879 — The twenty-first legislature assembled Jamiary 7 and
adjourned jMarch 7. IMower county was represented in the senate
by \V. H. Officer, and in the house by J. F. Goodsell and J. D.
Allen.
1881 — The twenty-second legislature assembled January 4 and
adjourned March 4. IMower county was represented in the senate
by W. H. Officer, and in the house by J. D. Allen and P. A. Peter-
son. An extra session called to consider a constitutional question
in regard to action taken on the state railroad bonds at the regular
session, assembled October 11 and closed November 13. This legis-
lature reapportioned the state and Mower county became the
third district.
1883 — The twenty-third legislature assembled January 2 and
adjourned March 2. The third district was represented in the
senate by "W. L. Hollister, and in the house by John Frank and
J. F. Carson.
1885 — The twentj^-fourth legislature assembled January 6 and
adjourned March 6. Mower county was represented in the senate
by W. T. Wilkins, and in the house by H. W. Light! ey and J. F.
Carson.
1887 — The twenty-fifth legislature assembled January 4 and
adjourned March 4. IMower county was represented in the senate
by O. W. Gibson, and in the house by J. J. Furlong and E. S.
Hoppin.
1889 — The twenty-sixth legislature assembled January 8 and
adjourned April 23. Mower county was represented in the senate
by O. W. Gibson, and in the house by E. S. Hoppin and H. W.
Lightley.
1891 — Although a reapportionment had been made in 1889,
Mower county still remained the third district. The twenty-
seventh legislature assembled January 6 and adjourned April 20.
The third district was represented in the senate by Oscar Ayers
and in the house by J. -J. Fiirlong and G. W. Benner.
1893 — The twenty-eighth legislature convened January 3 .nid
adjoiu'ned April 18. IMower county was represented in the third
district by Oscar Ayers and in the house by J. J. Furlong and G.
W. Benner.
1895 — The twenty-ninth legislature convened January 8 and
adjourned April 23. Mower county was represented in the senate
76 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
by S. Sweuingson, and in tlie liouse hy J. J. Furlong and John
]\Iathison.
1897 — The thirtieth legislature assembled January 5 and ad-
journed April 21. Mower county was represented in the senate
by S. Sweningsen, and in the house of C. L. "West and L. C.
Seribner. In the reapportionment of this legislature IMower
county became the sixth district, with one senator and two repi'e-
sentatives.
1899 — The thirty-first legislature assembled January 3 and
adjourned April 18. The sixth district was represented in the
senate by S. Sweningsen, and in the hoiise by C. L. West and L. C.
Scribner.
1901 — The thirty-second legislature assembled January 8 and
adjourned April 12. Mower county was represented in the senate
by S. Sweningsen, and in the house by George W. AV. Harden and
W. A. Nolan. An extra session assembled February 4, 1902, and
adjourned ]\Iarch 11 of the same year.
1903 — The thirty-third legislature assembled January 6 and
adjourned April 21. i\Iower county was represented in the
senate by A. S. Campbell, and in the house by W. A. Nolan and
H. W. Lightley.
1905 — The thirty-fourth legislature assembled January 3 and
adjourned April 18. Mower county was represented in the
senate by A. S. Campbell, and in the house by W. A. Nolan and
G. W. W. Harden.
1907 — The thirty-fifth legislature assembled Januar.y 8 and ad-
journed April 24. Mower county was represented in the sen-
ate by A. S. Campbell, and in the hoi;se by W. A. Nolan and W.
L. ITollister.
1909 — The thirty-sixth legislature assemliled January 5 and
adjourned January 5. jMower county Avas represented in the
senate by A. S. Campbell, and in the house by "W. "\V. Nolan and
Hubbard Carey.
1911 — The thirty-seventh legislature assembled January 3,
1911. Mower county was represented in tlie senate by Charles F.
Cook, and in th(> house by Ralph Crane and Frank S. Christie.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
The first congressional district, in which, from the time of
the admission of Minnesota as a state, IMower county has l)een
included, has been represented in congress as follows: J. A.
Cavanaugh, Democrat, IMarch 12, 1858, to ]\Iarch 4, 1859; Will-
iam Windom, Republican, I\Iarch 4, 1859, to March 4, 1869;
Morton S. Wilkinson, Republican. :\Iarcli 4, 18()9, to :\rarch 4,
1871; Mark 11. Dunnell, Republican, .Alareh 4, 1871, to IMarch 4,
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY 1
1883 ; Milo White, Republican, March 4, 1883, to March 4, 1887
Thomas Wilson, Democrat, March 4, 1887, to March 4, 1889
Mark H. Dunnell, Republican, March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1891
W. H. Harries, Democrat, March 4, 1891, to March 4, 1893
James A. Tawney, Republican, March 4, 1893, to March 4, 1911
Sidney A. Anderson, pro^essive Republican, 1911-13.
Until Minnesota became a state it had only one representa-
tive in congress, a territorial delegate, who was not allowed to
vote. The first territorial delegate from Minnesota was Henry
H. Sibley, who was first sent ostensibly as a delegate from the
territory of Wisconsin, though living on the present site of
Mendota, at the mouth of the Minnesota river. He sat as a ter-
ritorial delegate from January 15, 1849, to December 5, 1853.
He was succeeded by Henry M. Rice, who served imtil December
7, 1857. W. W. Kingsbury was elected to succeed him and served
until December 6, 1858. As has been noted, the United States
senate, February 23, 1857, passed an act authorizing the people
of Minnesota to form a constitution preparatory to their admis-
sion to the union. In accordance with the provisions of this
enabling act, a constitutional convention was held July 13, 1857,
at the territorial capital. October 13, 1857, an election was held,
when the constitution was adopted and a full list of state officers
elected. Three congressmen were also elected at this time —
George L. Becker, W. W. Phelps and J. M. Cavanaugh — but it
was afterward found that Minnesota was entitled to only two
congressmen and the matter was amicably adjusted by the with-
drawal of Mr. Becker. By this election, the Messrs. Phelps and
Cavanaugh became the first members of congress from the state
of Minnesota.
In the winter of 1857-58 the legislature divided the state into
two congressional districts, the southern part becoming the first
congressional district and the northern part the second. Mower
county thus becoming a part of the first congressional district.
By the apportionment of 1872, the state was divided into three
congressional districts. The first district contained the counties
of Winona, Houston, Olmsted, Fillmore, Dodge, Steele, Mower,
Freeborn, Waseca, Faribault, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Martin,
Jackson, Cottonwood, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock.
By the apportionment of 1881, the state was divided into five
congressional districts. The first district contained the counties
of Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Freeborn, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted,
Winona and Wabasha.
By the apportionment of 1891, the state was divided into
seven congressional districts. The first district contained tlie
counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, IMower, Olmsted,
Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona.
78 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
By the apportionment of 1901, the state was divided into nine
congressional districts. This apportionment has continued to
the present day. The first district now consists of the counties
of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn. Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele,
"Wabasha, "Waseca and "Winona.
CHAPTER X.
BENCH AND BAR.
Judicial History of Mower County — Judges Who Have Presided
in the Courts of This District — Their Life, Ability and Char-
acteristics — The Men Who Have Made Up the Bar of the
County — Notable Cases That Have Been Tried Here — By
Attorney Lafayette French.
Nearly forty years ago there came to this county a young
lawyer, just starting his career, who at once took an active part
in the stirring events which for so many years made Slower
county the maelstrom of political and legal conflicts. He has
continued to remain here, has filled various offices, and has al-
ways stood for clean, vigoroiis manhood in public and private
life. As an attorney he is particularly gifted, having a thor-
ough knowledge of the law, forensic abilities, acute perceptions
and keen mind. Few lawyers in the state have tried as many
cases before the higher courts, and none have won a higher per-
centage of important suits. In securing such a man to write of
the Bench and Bar, the publishers of this work are especially
fortunate, for aside from his other equipment, he came here only
sixteen years after the arrival of the first Mower county attorney,
and has since been in active practice. Therefore the following
article by the Hon. Lafayette French will not only be of deepest
interest at the present time, but will also be a valuable work of
reference tlirougbout the coming years.
THE BENCH.
By an act of the legislature passed ]\Iarch 1, 1858, the county
of Mower was declared to be an organized county. Commission-
ers were appointed lo establish llie (-(tunty s(>at. and later it was
made a pari ol' Hie liflh .judiciiil district, lion. N. M. Donaldson
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 79
was elected the first judge of the fifth judicial district, and the
first term of court held in Mower county was September, 1858.
"When the fifth judicial district was organized there were but
six judicial districts in this state. Judge Donaldson presided
over the fifth judicial district until January 1, 1872, when his
successor, the Hon. Samuel Lord, ofificiated. At the time of his
retirement Judge Donaldson was a man well along in years.
He possessed a good deal of dignity, candor and fairness. There
was little business during his term of office to transact in this
county, and the suits involved were chiefly those for money
demand. He resided at Owatonna, and died a few years after
he ceased to be judge. Judge Samuel Lord, who was elected as
Judge Donaldson's successor, lived at Mantorville, Dodge county,
Minnesota, and held but two terms of court in this county.
He was a fair judge and gave general satisfaction. In the winter
of 1872 a new judicial district was created composed of the
counties of Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Freeborn, and at fall
election the Hon. Sherman Page was elected judge of the newly
created district. Judge Page held office during the term of six
years. He was a man of marked ability and possessed of an
analytical mind of large perception, and was quick to dispatch
business, but he was too much of a partisan to be a judge. Nat-
urally combative, quick to form conclusions, he took sides on
every matter that came before him. He was a man of strong
feelings, but when he did not allow his judgment to be warped
by prejudice against the attorneys of parties of the cause before
him he was a very able judge. In the fall of 1878 the lower
house of the legislature prepared articles of impeachment and
he was put upon his trial in May. 1878, before the senate sitting
as a court of impeachment. The prosecution lacked the requisite
number of votes to convict him and he was acquitted. The
charges consisted largely of allegations of" wrongful, malicious and
oppressive conduct, while judge." After his impeachment trial
he again was a candidate for election, but was defeated by Hon.
J. Q. Farmer, of Spring Valley, Fillmore county. Judge Farmer
continued to preside over the district for thirteen years, when
he voluntarily and of his own motion retired from office. "While
Judge Farmer was not a student, he possessed a judicial mind,
and was eminently fair. Jurors, suitors and attorneys in his
court felt instinctively that they had been dealt with in all fair-
ness. He was loved and esteemed by both the laity and the bar
of his district. He was one of the most conscientious and fair-
minded men that presided over the courts of this state. He was
not a learned lawyer, did not profess to be, but he had a judicial
mind with rugged common sense and a love of justice that
80 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
iiiado him almost an ideal judge. There are few judges that
were more universally loved and esteemed by the people of his
judicial district than he. Judge Farmer, refusing to serve longer
upon the bench, was succeeded by the election of the Hon. John
Whytock, of Albert -Lea, Freeborn ccTunty. He acted as judge
for the full term of his office, six years, and at the November
election he was re-elected. In November, 1897, while holding
court at Preston, Fillmore county, he was taken ill and a few
weeks after died at his home in Albert Lea. Judge Whytock
was a good lawyer and had many qualifications that fitted him
for a jiidge, but he was hard of hearing, and considerably more
so than he realized. There was some difficulty in transacting
business before him. He did not hear all of the testimony and
hence in ruling upon questions of the admissibility of evidence
appeared to disadvantage, but he w^as a good man, intended to
be fair, and aside from the defect of hearing, made a good judge.
Governor Clough appointed as his successor the Hon. Nathan
Kingsley, of Austin, Mower county, and he has been re-elected
judge of this district without opposition to the present time.
He has served with entire satisfaction to the bar and the people
of this district. He is peculiarly fitted and qualified for a good
judge. He has, in a marked degree, a judicial mind. He is
studious, painstaking and careful and above all he possesses that
candor and fairness which is becoming to a judge. Industrious,
he is diligent in his search for the right, and his sense of justice
is tempered by his mild and humane manner. Patience, studious^
ness and the love of justice are some of his distinctive character-
istics. He is still the presiding judge. Judge Kingsley is also
a prominent Mason, and is Grand High Priest of the Grand Chap-
ter, R. A. M.
THE BAR.
The first attorney to establish himself in the law business at
Austin was Ormanzo Allen, who came from Wisconsin, July 2,
1856. He continued to reside here until his death a few years
ago. He was engaged in the trial of but few cases. He Avas an
office lawyer and confined his labors to conveyancing and giving
advice. He was an exemplary citizen, and at one time was con-
sidered quite wealthy, but in later years lost the l)ulk of his
property in speculation.
The second lawyer lo ('stal)]isli liiiiiscll' in Austin was Aaron
S. p]verest. He came from High Forest in Augu.st, 1856, and
was formerly, it is believed, a resident of the state of New York,
His education was limited, but he possessed a good deal of native
al)ility and was naturally a good lawyer. He was quite active
in ]in]iti('s while lie resided in tliis cnnnty. In ISTO lie rcnioved
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 81
to Athison, Kansas, where, in connection with his partnei", j\Ir.
Wagner, he built up a large and lucrative business. He died
some seven or eight years ago at Atchison, Kansas.
Another lawyer of considerable note was D. B. Johnson, Jr.
He came to Austin in 1856. He engaged in surveying and mer-
chandising until the term of court held in September, 1858, when
he was admitted to the bar. Like most lawyers he was engaged
in politics, and held the offices of justice of peace, county attorney
one term, and county auditor one term. In August, 1871, he was
appointed one of the associate justices of the territory of New
Mexico, but resigned in 1872. From 1858 until 1871 he was
associated in the practice of laAv under the firm name of Cameron
& Johnson. After his retirement from the bench in 1872 he was
in practice alone until 1888, when he formed a partnership with
S. D. Catherwood. Later in the eighties he was elected county
attorney, and after his retirement from office moved to Portland,
Oregon, where he died twelve or fifteen years ago. Judge John-
son was a man of more than the ordinary ability. He was pos-
sessed of a fair education and was quite studions. He possessed
a quick and logical mind, and would have been a splendid trial
laAvyer if he had been more aggressive and possessed of con-
fidence in his own ability. He was regarded as one of the ablest
trial lawyers in the county.
C. J. Short came to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in North-
field, where he engaged in surveying. He was educated- in the
Vermont State University, where he graduated in 1855. He com-
menced the study of law in 1857, with Bachelor & Buckam, of
Faribault, and in 1858 was admitted to practice. In the spring
of 1859 he removed to Austin and formed a partnership with
Ormanzo Allen, which continued for several years. He was
elected county attorney in 1860 and held that office in 1860-61-
62-63-65-66-69 and 70. He then moved to the town of Dexter,
in this county, where he engaged in farming for six years. In
1881 he returned to Austin, where he resided until his death.
He lacked the force and energy necessary to make him a suc-
cessful lawyer. He was studious, and was reputed, in his day,
to be the most scholarly lawyer at the bar.
George M. Cameron came to Austin, November 27, 1856. He
was a Canadian by birth and educated in the district school and
at the State University at Madison, "Wisconsin. In 1858 he was
admitted to the bar at Austin to practice in the courts of jNIinne-
sota. He always enjoyed a good practice while he lived and
was in practice. He was elected to the office of probate judgf in
1860 and was again elected in 1876 and 1878. He was the first
mayor of the city of Austin. He wa.s honorable in his profession
and ranked high as a trial lawyer. When not serving as probate
83 HISTORY OF MOAYER COUNTY
judge he was constantly in active practice nntil he retired in
1887. He possessed a logical mind and a keen perception of
what a controversy in question was about. He was looked upon
as an able and honest lawyer. The fact of his being repeatedly
chosen to important offices testifies as to his popularity as a man
and recognition of his worth as a citizen. He was engaged as
chief or associate counsel in all of the important eases that were
tried in this county while he was in active practice. He was
kind and benevolent to the poor. His charges for his services
were reasonable and just. In 1887 his mind gave way, and he
remained on his farm near Brownsdale in this county until the
time of his death.
In 1866 Sherman Page and E. 0. Wheeler came to Austin and
formed a partnership in the practice of law. Mr. AVheeler coming
direct, it is believed, from New York, which was his home, Mr.
Page coming from Decorah, Iowa. Prior to that he had been
at Lancaster, "Wisconsin, for a number of years engaged as super-
intendent of the schools of both Decorah and Lancaster. Mr.
Page was originally from Vermont. The firm of Page & AVheeler
continued until the election of Mr. Page as judge of this district
in 1872. They did a large commercial business and also dealt
largely in real estate. Mr. Wheeler was a tine office lawyer, as
well as a good counselor. After Mr. Page was elected judge
Mr. Wheeler continued the practice of law either alone or in
partnership with his brother, R. B. Wheeler, until 1879, when
he moved to Auburn, New York, to engage in the practice of his
profession with Judge Howland of that city. Judge Page re-
mained upon the bench until his term of office expired January 1,
1880. He practiced until 1882, when he removed to California.
Judge Page was a forcible and pleasant speaker. As a trial
lawyer he had few equals, if any, in the state.
L. Beauregard practiced law for a short time in Austin. He
was a law student in the office of Aaron S. Everest and was ad-
mitted to the bar under his tutelage. He was elected county
attorney, but subsequently had to resign the office, and he re-
moved to ITtali and from there to New ]\Iexico.
In 1871 John J\I. Greenman came to Austin. He was a native
of New York, but when a young man removed to the state of
Wisconsin. He formed a partnership with I. N. Hawkins and
llic fii-in (-(mtinued initil 1873. Tii 18D() he formed a partnership
witli R. J. Dowdall. He has served as county attorney, city
attorney and judge of probate. Except while holding the office
of judge of probate IMr. Greenman has been in active practice
and one of the prominent attorneys of this county. He is a
pleasant gentleman and a good lawyer.
Mr. Hawkins discontinued Ihe ])ractice of law after tlie dis-
HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY 83
solution of the firm of Greenmau & Hawkins. He served as city
attorney, and in 1873 was a candidate for senator but was de-
feated for that office. His defeat was due to the Grange move-
ment, which swept the entire state, except that the Republicans
elected their candidate for governor. Mr. Hawkins was suffering
from a wound, which he had received in the civil war. He was
a pleasant and amiable gentleman, and was a man possessed
of considerable means. He removed from the state shortly after
his defeat for the legislature.
In the early fall of 1871 Lafayette French came to Austin,
and at the September term of court of that year was admitted
to the bar. January 1, 1872, he formed a partnership with W.
H. Crandall in the practice of law. In 1878 the firm was dis-
solved, Mr. Crandall retiring for the purpose of going into the
insurance business. Mr. Crandall was a fair lawyer, but the
turmoil and strife of an active life in the legal profession was
distasteful to him. Mr. French has continued in the practice of
his profession until the present time.
In 1870, Eugene B. Crane opened an office and commenced
the practice of law. He soon engaged in the real estate business.
He remained in Austin for several years and afterwards removed
to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is engaged in his profession.
W. H. jMerrick studied law with his father in ]\Iilwaukee,
Wisconsin. He came to Austin and engaged in merchandise.
Some years later he was admitted to the bar and practiced four
or five years. In 1882 he removed to Portland, Oregon, where
he now resides.
In 1875 or 1876 C. C. Kinsman came to Austin and opened
an office for the practice of law. In the fall of 1878 he was
nominated and elected county attorney. In January, 1880, he
declined a renomination and was elected court commissioner.
In 1881 he moved to Cumberland. Wisconsin, where he continued
in practice until his death. He was a well read lawyer, but lacked
force and aggressiveness. He was a gentleman of splendid habits
and a good citizen.
In 1882 James D. Sheedy was admitted to the bar of this coun-
ty. He served as justice of the peace and was in the office of
Lafayette French about four and a half years, but the profession
of the law was not lucrative enough and so, finally, he drifted into
real estate and became connected with the Alliance Fire and Hail
Insurance Company and afterwards became president of that com-
pany. The law was not to his taste. In his chosen field of labor
he has been very successful and is a prominent worthy citizen.
In 1883 R. B. Wheeler, who succeeded the firm (^f E. O.
Wheeler and R. B. Wheeler, removed to St. Paul. The tinn of
Richardson & Day succeeded to his business.
84 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Richardson & Day -were young men who had graduated at our
high school in Austin. They did a commercial and real estate
business similar to that of R. B. Wheeler. They associated with
them L. A. Pierce, who came from Auburn, New York, in 1887.
Mr. Pierce was an able lawyer, but his desire for office and ex-
travagant habits prevented him from succeeding as a lawyer. In
the fall of 1887 AV. E. Richardson and F. A. Day removed to Du-
luth in this state, where they continued to follow the law and real
estate business.
In 1887 Arthur AV. AVright and LaFayette French bought out
the business of Richardson & Day and formed a co-partnership
under the firm name of French & Wright, Mr. Wright looking
after the real estate and loans of the office and Mr. French seemg
to the law business of the firm. Tliey continued in business until
1898, when the lirm dissolved by mutual consent, ]\Ir. Wright suc-
ceeding to the business and Air. French continuing the practice of
law alone. Since then Mr. AVright has had a large business in
commercial law and real estate. He was elected county attorney
and re-elected without opposition for eight years, when he volun-
tarily withdrew as a candidate for that office. Perhaps the cou-aty
was never more fortunate than in the selection of Colonel AVriiz:lit
for county attorney. For honesty, efficiency and ability the coun-
ty has been well served. He is still in active practice, with many
years of usefulness before him. He served as major in the Span-
ish- Amei-ican war and is one of the prominent men at the bar in
this coiinty. His correct life and high sense of lionor and clean
habits make him justly an ornament to the bar.
In 1886 or 1887 Nathan Kingsley and R. E. Shepherd moved
over from Chatfield, Alinnesota, to Austin. They opened an office
under the firm name of Kingsley & Shepherd. The firm continued
until Governor Clou<i:h, about t^^'elve years ago, appointed Air.
Kingsley judge of the tenth judicial district. Both gentlemen
were possessed of a higli sense of honor and were leading attor-
neys here until the dissolution of the firm. The firm was continu-
ously engaged on one side or the other of important litigation in
this and adjoining counties. The firm did a successful business.
Air. Kingsley })eing especially strong as a trial lawyer. Upon the
dissolution of the firm Air. Shepherd was alone some two weeks
and was succeeded by tlie firm of Shepherd & Catlierwood. Air.
Slicplni'd was ch'clcd county jittorncy for two oi- three terms and
made ;i good and efficient oriiccr. lie was a good lawyer and an
enterprising citizen. Ue ])ossesse{l a lovable nature. conil)i]u^d
with Avit ami lininor. that made him wry popular with his brother
lawyei-s. Some four or five years ago tlie firm was dissolved and
he removed to liillings, Alontana, where he engaged in tlie real
estate Mud liankiu''- business, which was moi'c congenial to his
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 85
taste than the practice of law. His partner, S. D. Catherwood,
succeeded to the business of the firm. Mr. Catherwood spent
most of his life in Austin or in the adjoining county of Freeborn.
Pie is a graduate of the State University and not only possesses
a good academic education, but is Avell grounded in the law. He
was admitted to the bar in 1888, and has since been engaged in
the practice at the city of Austin. He has been county attorney
for tlu-ee terms, and that is the only office he has aspired to. He
has not engaged in any other business except the practice of law.
He stands high in the rank of lawyers in southern Minnesota, and
in the state. His life demonstrates what a young man who has
fair ability, with industry and close attention to business can ac-
complish in a lifetime. ]\Ir. Catherwood is in the prime of life and
enjoys a lucrative business. He is a good all around lawyer. One
year ago he formed a co-partnership with J. N. Nicholsen, and the
firm promises to be one of the strongest in the southern part of
the state.
Mr. Nicholsen is a graduate of the Austin high school, read
law in the office of Kingsley & Shepherd, and attended the law
school at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was thoroughly equipped for
the practice of his profession when he was admitted to the bar in
3902. Shortly after his admission he formed a partnership with
Frank E. Putnam at Blue Earth, under the firm name of Putnam
& Nicholsen. The firm continued until 1909, when it was dis-
solved, j\Ir. Nicholsen coming to Austin and forming a partner-
ship with S. D. Catherwood. Tlie firm lias a Avide and extensive
practice.
W. W. Ranney is a graduate of the law department in the
State University of Iowa, in 1876. In 1878 he located at Grand
Meadow in this county, where he practiced his profession for a
number of years. He then removed to Austin, where he was
elected to the office of probate judge. He has been more of an
office than a trial lawyer. He is a good citizen and highly re-
spected by all who know him.
In 1882 Lyman D. Baird was admitted to the bar. He was
city attorney of Austin in 1884. Since 1885 he has confined him-
self chiefiy to the real estate business, in which he has been a de-
cided success. Mr. Baird is considered a shrewd man of business
and an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and one of the
most progressive young men in the city of Austin.
In April, 1884, L. F. Clausen moved from Blooming Prairie to
Austin, opened an office and engaged in the practice of law until
about 1902, when he removed to North Dakota, where he is still
engaged in the practice of his profes.sion. Mr. Clausen was elected
county attorney of this county a short time after moving here.
He was born in Mitchell countv, Iowa, in 1856, and is a son of
86 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Rev. C. L. Clausen, the founder of the Lutheran church at Austin,
and one of the earliest ministers of that denomination in Austin,
^Minnesota.
In 1896 R. J. Dowdall, a Canadian by birth, came to Austin
and formed a partnership with J. M. Greenman for the practice
of law. Mr. Dowdall was a gentleman of fine ability and came
from a family of some prominence in Canada. He continiu-d in
the practice of law at Austin some five or six years, when he re-
moved to the northern part of the state. He was a strong trial
lawyer, but was not discriminating enough and often appeared
on the wrong side of a ease.
Ten years ago T. H. Pridham came to Austin and engaged in
the practice of law until the summer of 1910. Mr. Pridham was
industrious and painstaking in the business entrusted to his care.
He was city attorney for six or eight years and resigned that office
when he removed to Helena, Montana. He is a young man of
good habits and cpiite promising in his profession.
In 1900 Fay W. Greenman was admitted to the bar. He is a
son of J. M. Greenman and upon his admission became a member
of the firm of Greenman & Dowdall, the name being changed to
Greenman, Dowdall & Greenman. "When the firm was dissolved
and his father elected to the office of judge of probate, he prac-
ticed his profession alone. He graduated from the high school of
Austin with honors. He is a young man of good habits, studious
and industrious. In his social relations he is a most agreeable
young man. In the ten years that he has been in practice he has
built up a good business for a young man. He has tried a good
many cases and many with credit to himself.
In 1909 Frank G. Sasse came to Austin from Fairmont, IMinne-
sota, and formed a co-partnership with LaFayette French. Mr.
Sasse graduated from the academic departnu^ut of the State Uni-
versity witli honor in 1898 and from the law department of that
institution in 1900. He practiced his profession at St. Charles,
^Minnesota, for two or three years, when he removed to Fairmont
where lie formed a partnership under the name of Mathwig &
Sasse. In the fall of 1908 he was elected county attorney of
.Martin cuiuity, but resigned the office when he moved to Austin
to become associated with ^Ir. French. He is very studious and
has all the qualifications for making a successful lawyer.
In addition to the lawyers of Austin there have been several
at LeRoy village. Grand Meadow village and the village of
Rrownsdale. F. .M. Goodykoontz was the first lawyer at the
village of LeRoy, coming there in 1867 from Iowa. He formed a
co-partnership with J. M. AVykoff. AVhen the firm was dissolved
he removed to Nora SpriYigs, and from there to Mason City,
Iowa, and in 1884 he moved to South Dakota. He was a lawyer
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 87
of a good deal of ability and his removal from tlic state was a
decided loss to the profession.
J. M. Wykofif continued to do business alone, but his practice
has been confined chietly to real estate, conveyance and office
work.
Joseph McKnight Avas admitted to the bar at Austin in 1882.
together with J. P. Trask, E. J. Kingsbury and J. S. Bish.op.
They constituted the bar at LeRoy until about 1895.
G. W. W. Harden is a graduate of the law school of the State
University, has been village attorney, and in 1901 was elected a
member of the state legislature. He is a good lav/yer but his
work is confined mostly to commercial business and real estate.
He is still in practice at LeRoj^.
Judge Ranney was formerly at Grand IMeadow, but being
elected judge of probate, moved to Austin.
About 1878 George F. Goodwin opened an office at Grand
Meadow. In 1880 or 1881 he was elected to the office of county
attorjic}'. Ho prosecuted, while county attorney, the case of the
state vs. John A. Riley for attempt to murder Judge Page. He
was assisted in that case by Hon. J. M. Burlingame, of Owatonna;
Minnesota. In 1884 he removed to North Dakota and was elected
attorney geiieral of that state shortly after it -was admitted into
the Union. He held the office one term and then moved to Salt
Lake City, Utah. He is a studious, painstaking young lawyer,
and since leaving this state has gained considerable prominence.
Capt. A. J. Hunt came to Brownsdale village in 1873. He was
formerly from Wisconsin, He opened an office and was engaged
in the practice of law and dealt in real estate until 1888, when
he moved to Georgia.
Otto and Carl Baudler are graduates of tlie Austin liigh
school, and from the law department of the State University.
They commenced the practice of law three years ago at Blooming-
Prairie, in Steele county. In 1909 they moved to Austin and
opened an office. In the fall of 1910 Otto Baudler was elected
county attorney of this county by a handsome vote. They are
brothers and sons of William Baudler, who is one of the pioneers
of Austin. They are clean, studious young men and they promise
to be quite an acquisition to the bar. This comprises the law-
yers who reside and practiced in ]Mower county.
In 1890 A. C. Page was admitted to the bar. since which time
he has been in the office of L. D. Baird. He is a young man of
exemplary habits and is given more to real estate and collections
than to trial practice. At present he is alderman at large in the
city of Austin.
In 1903 Edward P. Kelly was admitted to the bar. For three
years he read law under the direction of Lafayette Frencli and
88 HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY
attended the Summer Law School at Ann Arbor, Mich., for two
years. After his admission to the bar he formed a partnership
•with Lafayette French under the firm name of French & Kelly,
which continued until 1905, when he removed to Carrington,
N. D., where he is still engaged in the practice of law. Mr.
Kelly is well equipped for the practice of his profession and from
the time of his admission until the present time he has met with
splendid success in his profession.
In 1907 Henry Weber, Jr., was admitted to practice law. He
was located at Dexter, in this county, and continued in the
practice until the fall of 1910, when he was elected probate judge
of this county, which office he fills at the present time. ^Ir.
Weber is an exemplary citizen and his honor and integrity are
beyond question.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES.
Tliis article would be incomplete Avithout stating some of tli'^
most important criminal and civil cases witli which the lawyers
of this county were connected.
The first homicide ease was that of Chauncey Leverich. Lever-
ieh was in a saloon in Austin in the month of August. 1856, and
was killed by Horace Silver and "William Oliver. Silver and
Oliver were arrested for assault and battery and Silver fined
$20.00 and Oliver $10.00. The prosecution was conducted bj^
Jolm Tift and the defense "i)y Arron S. Everest and 0. Allen.
When the defendants learned that Leverich would not recover,
they paid their fines and left the country. Leverich died from
the wounds he received a Aveek later. The county Avas ucav and
this case illustrates the ci-ude Avay in Avliicli justice Avas adminis-
tered in an early day.
In 1868 John and Oliver Potter and George and William Keni])
with others Avere arrested for killing Chauncey Knapp. C. J.
Short appeared for the state and John Q. Farmer, of Fillmore
county, Avho afterAvards became district judge of this district,
and his brother, J. D. Farmer, appeared for the defendants.
George and AVilliam Kemp were tried and acquitted. A change
of A'enue was granted the Potters and the case sent to Fillmore
county. Judge Donaldson Avas the presiding judge. None of the
parties Avas ever punished for tliis foul murder.
In 187:3 the case of tlie State of ^Minnesota against OK' Bang,
charged Avith homicide, Avas tried. Bang Avas convicted of man-
shiughter and sentenced for four years in the state prison. The
prosecution Avas conducted ])y Vj. O. Wheeler, the then county
Mflonicy. Till- (Icrcndaiit 's couscl was Sliei'mau Page, .ludge
Saiiiurl Lord |)resi(ling.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 89
The most important criminal case was tried at the March
term of the district court in 1881, the State of Minnesota vs. John
A. Riley. Riley was charged with an attempt to assassinate Judge
Sherman Page. George P. Goodwin was the then prosecuting
attorney, and he was ably assisted by J. M. Burlingame, Esq., an
able attorney from Owatonna. The defendant was represented
by Lafayette French, G. M. Cameron, of this city, and W. W. Er-
win, of St. Paul. Judge Daniel A. Dickenson, who was then dis-
trict judge at Mankato and later one of the associate justices of
tlie Supreme Bench, was called by Judge Farmer to preside in his
place. The case was an important one. It probably created as
much talk and newspaper comment as any case tried in the
county. Judge Page, whom Riley was charged with attempt
to assassinate, was a prominent person. Riley was brought
by Pinkerton's detective from the neighboring state of Wiscon-
sin into Minnesota to answer to the charge. He was confined in a
jail outside the county. The sentiment in favor of and against
Page was intensely partisan. There was a great deal of feeling
displayed during the trial by the atto"rneys and parties interested
in t]ie case. After a lengthy trial the jury brought in a verdict
of "not guilty" and Riley was discharged from custody. The
case Avas ably handled by the attorneys for the state. Mr. Erwin
made (he closing argument for the defense. He was then in his
prime, forty or forty-five years of age, and had a great reputation
as a criminal lawyer. Probably his argument was the finest ever
made to a jury in this county. Two years ago he died in Florida.
In January, 1874, was tried the case of the State of Minnesota
vs. AV. D. Jaynes. The defendant was indicted on the charge of
rape. The immediate parties stood high in social circles and the
arrest of Jaynes created a great sensation in this county. The
state was represented by LaFayette French, the county attornej^,
and Colonel Kerr, of St. Paul, and the defendant by E. 0. Wheeler
and Gordon E. Cole, of Faribault. Judge Page was presiding
judge. The first trial resulted in the conviction of Jaynes, but
a new trial was granted on the ground that the prisoner was not
present in court but was confined in the county jail at the time
the jury returned the verdict. The case was afterwards tried
twice. The second time the jury disagreed and the third time
Jaynes was acquitted. In the last two trials the state was repre-
sented by Lafayette French and M. J. Severance, of Mankato,
and the defendant by Wheeler and Cole. During the trial there
was an immense crowd, and only about half of the curious ones
could get into the court house. i\[. J. Severance closed for the
•state and Gordon E. Cole for the defendant. They were both able
lawyers and had a state wide reputation.
In June, 1898, the case of the State of .Minnesota v.s. :iiilt
90 HISTORY OF MOAVEK COUNTY .
Williams was tried. "Williams was charged with the murder of
one Flymi. Williams' mother kept a hotel in the city of Austin.
Flyun and "Williams had been drinking one evening, and while
engaged in conversation with t\A'o girls who worked for ^Irs.
Williams, ]\Ii]t shot Flynn. Williams was a young man, twenty-
six years of age, who had been petted and humored by his mother.
He was mixed up in several fights before this one. The state was
represented by S. D. Catherwood, who was then county attorney,
and Lafayette French. Greenman & Dowdall represented thu
defendant. Judge Whitoek was the presiding judge. The trial
lasted for several days. There was a good deal of excitement
during the trial. The jury found the defendant guilty as charged
in the indictment. Afterwards W. W. Erwin was called into the
ease and a motion made for a new trial and argued and the same
denied by the court. An application to the pardoning board was
made in behalf of Williams and Erwin succeeded in getting Wil-
liams' sentence commuted from murder in the first degree to
murder in the second degree, and he was sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for life. He and Iris counsel stipulated that no further
pardon or commutation of his sentence would be asked for. Too
much credit cannot be given to Mr. Catherwood, the then county
attorney, in his management of the case. Flynn 's body had been
shipped to Buti'alo within a day or two after the shooting and
without Mr. Catherwood 's knowledge. There were several things
in the prosecution that would have prevented the conviction had
it not been for the skill and industry displayed by the county at-
torney. The conviction of Williams, who had an unsavory repu-
tation, Avas due to the efforts of Mr. Catherwood.
Jn 1900 John B. Anderson was indicted, charged with the
crime of murder. Anderson was a farmer living in the town of
^larshall, and had a wife and several small children. He killed
his wife by beating her brains out with a flat-iron. When the
neighbors discovered her she was lying on the floor in a pool of
blood. A nursing child who had attempted to reach its mother's
breast to nurse had crawled through tliis blood. Anderson
was found concealed in a straw stack. It was a horrible crime
and the community was very much wrought up. On his arraign-
ment he entered a plea of not guilty. The state was repre-
sented by R. E. Sheperd, the then county attorney of this county,
and the defendant by Lafayette French, who had consented to ap-
pear for Anderson through the entreaties of his friends. After
a thorougli investigation of the matter, the defendant's counsel
became convinced that Anderson was insane at the time he com-
mitted the crime. He had fallen from a mast of a ship years
before, receiving an injury to his head, from which he suffei'ed
thereafter. This injury to the brain, liis counsel l)elievod. had
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 91
affected his mind to sucli an extent that he was not responsible
for the act, but that he was a man that onght not to be turned
loose, and for the protection of society ought to be confined in
some safe place. After mature deliberation and a conference witli
the attorney general, it was deemed advisable to have him with-
draw his plea of not guilty and to enter a plea of guilty of mur-
der in the second degree. The action of the court and the counsel
in the disposition of this case was generally commended through-
out the county.
In January, 1903, Frank W. Bell was indicted and charged
with murder in the first degree. The state was represented by
Col. A. W. Wright, the then county attorney, and S. D. Cather-
wood, and the defendant was represented by Lafayette French.
Judge Kingsley was presiding judge. Bell was the station agent
of the Chicago Great Western Railway Company at Elkton, in
this county. A man by the name of Cole had shipped a car of
lumber to Elkton to be unloaded and to be hauled by team near
the village of Grand Meadow. Cole employed Nelson S. Green,
with his team, to draw the lumber. The ear had been at Elkton
for several days and there was some demurrage charges against
it. Green came after the lumlier in the morning but Bell refused
to break the seal and open the car until the demurrage charges
were paid. Gr'^en was a large, muscular man, while Bell was
a dinjinutlve, frail man. Green attempted to break the seal of
the car and Bell tried to prevent him. Cole telephoned Green
to break the seal and, if necessary, break Bell's head. Green
picked up a piece of board for the purpose, it was claimed by the
state, to l)reak tlie car seal, but defendant claimed that it was for
the purpose of striking Bell. Bell drew a revolver and shot
Green twice. Either shot would have proved fatal in time. Green
died within a few hours afterwards. There was a great deal of
feeling. Green being a prominent farmer, a Mason and a Grand
Army man. It was almost impossible at the first trial to secure
an impartial verdict. The jury rendered a verdict of giiilty
within a few moments after retiring. The defendant moved for
a new trial, which was granted, and a special term held in March.
1903. On a second trial the defendant was acquitted. The
trial of this case illustrates how easily public sentiment can be
changed by a knowledge of the facts. At the beginning of the
first trial the people clamored for the defendant's conviction, but
at the second trial public sentiment had changed and he was ac-
quitted. Bell was a weak man physically and mentally. He was
unbalanced, and shortly after the last trial lie became insane and
was sent to an asylum in IMichigan.
In 1871 the board of county commissioners of Mower county
commenced an action against Sylvester Smith. Smith had been
93 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
county treasurer of the county for eight years. The system of
bookkeeping in vogue in the several county offices was very lax
and crude. Smith was considered an honest man hy people who
knew him, but an accountant hired by the county to examine
the books found that he was short about $42,000. Suit was
brought by the county against Smith to recover this sum. Page
& Wheeler and Bachelor & Buckham were attorneys for the
county and Cameron & Johnson, Gordon E. Cole and R. A. Jones
appeared as attorneys for Smith. The case was referred to three
referees, whom the court appointed to hear and try the ease and
report judgment. After a somewhat lengthy trial the referees
so appointed found a judgment of about $20,000 against Smith.
Smith appealed the case to the Supreme Court and the case was
sent back for another hearing. Mr. Page in the meantime had
been elected judge of the District Court, and having been of the
counsel was ineligible to sit and try the case. The parties agreed
and the court appointed three other referees. The case came
on for second trial, and Lafayette French, the then county attor-
ney, E. 0. Wheeler and Bachelor & Buckham appeared for the
county, and Cameron & Johnson. Gordon E. Cole and R. A. Jones
appeared for Mr. Smith. After a lengthy trial the referees re-
ported judgment in favor of Mr. Smith. The county records were
kept so imperfectly that it was impossible to tell whether Smith
should be charged with the shortage or not. Smith was believed
to be honest, and that the discrepancy of the books and shortage
in his accounts were due to the loose manner of keeping the
books and accounts.
In 1870 a complaint was sworn out against Sherman Page for
tearing up a sidewalk. A warrant was issued and placed in
the hands of Allan Mollison, the then sheriff, for service. He
went to the office of Page & Wheeler to make the arrest late one
afternoon. After a scuffle and words with the defendant, who
refused to go, the curtains were pulled down and Page lit his
lamps. The sheriff then stepped to the window and called his
deputy, Colos Fenton, to a.ssist him. He found the door leading
to the office locked, and after calling to Page to unlock the door
and a refusal on his i)art to do .so, he knocked the door down
and went in and arrested him. Mollison was sued by Page for
false imprisonment, holding that as the charge was a mere mis-
demeanor he could not legally be arrested after dark. Fenton
Avas sued for breaking the door and entering the office in an action
of trespass. The case against Fenton cmiiic on for trial at the
September term in 1871. Page & Wheilcr wci'c tlicir own attor-
neys and G. ^L Cameron and R. A. Jones, of Rochester, were
attorneys for Fciitoii. The case came on for trial before Judge
Donaldson and a jui'V. The case hinged largely upon llie point
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY 93
whether the ari-est was in the night time. Mr. Page summed
up for the plaintiff and R. A. Jones for the defendant. It is a
comment on the crude manner in which the courts were conducted
in those days to note that all the counsel did in the summing up
of the case was to abuse each other. The .jury after being charged
returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $(500. Judgment
was entered and later paid in full.
In 1884 a fire occurred at Brownsdale in the saloon and cloth-
ing store of George E. Rolph. The insurance companies, three
in number, under a pretext that they were investigating the facts,
required that Rolph submit to an examination, before a justice
of the peace at Grand Meadow. The examination disclosed noth-
ing but what the loss was a legitimate one and ought to be paid
by the insurance companies, but they refused to pay it. Proofs
of loss had not been made or submitted to the companies. Later
proofs of loss were made and served upon the companies. They
were returned and rejected on the . ground that they were not
made within the time required by the policies. Suit was then
commenced against the companies to recover the insurance. The
companies answered and claimed that Rolph had set fire and
destroyed the property; that he had sworn falsely in his state-
ment in regard to the amount of property he had; that proofs
of loss were not furnished in time as provided in the policies, and
that the policies were void because he had no license to sell in-
toxicating liquors at the time. The case against the insurance
companies came on for trial before Judge Farmer and a jury.
Lafayette French appeared for the plaintiff and Laing & Moly-
neaux appeared for the defendants. The plaintiff had to rely
for the most part upon a waiver. The jury found a verdict for
the plaintiff in the three cases. One of the insurance companies,
the Concordia, of Milwaukee, after the trial, paid up the amount
recovered against that company. The other two companies, the
Milwaukee Mechanics' Mutual and The German, of Freeport, made
a motion for a new trial, which was denied, and the cases were
taken to the supreme court on appeal. "While the two civil suits
against the companies were pending in the supreme court Rolph
was arrested, charged with the crimes of arson and perjury. He
had testified in the civil suits as to what property was in the build-
ing at the time of the fire and that he did not know how the fire
took place. In the criminal cases of the state vs. Rolph, J. M.
Greenman, the tlien county attorney, and J. W. Lusk, of St. Paul,
appeared for t'.'c state and John A. Lovely and Lafayette French
appeared for the defendant. The state claimed that Rolph fired
the building, and that some of the property, a large anuiunt of
liquor, was r('mi)V('<l l)y Rolph and l)uri('(l upon llie farm of one
"Warren. Tlic insin-aiicc coinpanics had liircd Pinkerton de-
94 HISTORY OF MOWEl? COUNTY
tectives and they had found the liquor concealed on Warren's
farm. Warren and his wife had made the confession to the
detectives that they had assisted Rolph in concealing the liquor.
Rolph was tried on the indictment charging him with perjury.
Counsel for the state and for the defendant agreed to submit
the case upon the evidence and the judge's charge, without argu-
ment, although it was well known that J. W. Lusk, who appeared
for the state, was one of the most able and skillful jury advocates
while John A. Lovely had a reputation for being a most eloquent
and able advocate. The jury retired and returned a verdict of
"Not guilty.'' The state dismissed the other indictments. The
appeal cases of the insurance companies were likewise dis-
missed. The liquor, Avhich had been found on Warren's
farm by the detectives, was turned over to the county attor-
ney to lie used upon the trial of the ease against Rolph. After
the termination of the criminal cases the court entered an order
for the county attorney to turn over the liquor to his counsel,
who had taken a bill of sale of the liquor from Rolph. After
the arrest the liquor was safely kept in the cellar of the county
attorney. When the liquor was opened and counsel were ready
to dispose of it, they found that the liquor had been drawn out
of the casks and water substituted in its place. While consider-
able fun was had at the expense of the county attorney, no one
thought seriously that he was responsible for disposing of the
liquor.
Probably the most important civil case that was ever tried
in this county was the suit brought by Louis Rex Clay, by his
guardian ad litem, Ida B. Clay vs. the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul Railroad Company and Thomas H. Bennett, to recover
damages, Avhich the plaintiff sustained at the village of Lyle,
^Minnesota, on December 7, 1905. The case came on for trial at
the January term, 1907. On the first trial the jury disagreed
and the second trial of the case came on a few weeks
later. At both trials the plaintiflf, Louis Rex Clay, was unable
to be present in court. On the suggestion of his counsel, the jury
and the lawyers, clerk of court and the sheriff, as well as Judge
Kingsley, who jircsidcd at the trial, adjourned to his father's
residence and his testimony was given while l.ying in bed. He
was paralyzed from his should(>rs down. He wa.s a mere skeleton
and unable to use any part of his body from below his head,
lint his iniiid iind intellect was as cb'ar as it ever was. He entered
the ciniiloyinciit of liic compniiy in the fall of 1905 as a freight
brakcman. He wa.s struck by an elevated jilatform at the station
of Lyle and was thereby swept from the west side of a coal car
lui whicli lie was hanging and Ihcreliy injured. Tlie plaintiff was
;i vdnnii' in;in nlinnt eighteen years ohl, bi'ight and intelligent.
HISTORY OF MOAVER COUNTY !J5
His father was an old conductor in the employ of the {'Oiiipany.
The negligence charged in the complaint was that the company
constructed and maintained the elevated platform in question
in too close proximity to passing cars; that without any advice
or instruction or information as to the dangerous character of
the platform, he was directed and ordered to ride upon a gondola
car of unusual width by this platform. The second trial lasted
several days, and when the ca.se was submitted to them the jury
returned a verdict for $35,000 against the company. Eighteen
days after the verdict the plaintiff died from his injuries. The
company made a motion for a judgment, notwithstanding the
verdict, and in case that was denied, for a neAv trial. Both motions
were denied and the case was taken on appeal to the supreme
court. Owing to the importance of the case the rule was sus-
pended and counsel were allowed as much time as they wished
for argument, and were unlimited as to the number of counsel
who were to argue the case. The case was ably argued by counsel
for the railroad company, but after due consideration by the court
the case was affirmed. In the trial the plaintiff was represented
by Lovely & Dunn and Lafayette French, and the defendant by
S. D. Catherwood and M. B. AVebber, of Winona. On May 4,
1908, the company paid this verdict, which amounted to .$37,857.93,
the largest verdict in a personal injury case that the supreme
court of this state has ever affirmed.
CHAPTER XL
COMING OF THE RAILROADS.
Old Land Grant Roads With Extensive Concessions — Roadbed
Graded Through Mower County — Engine Reaches Le Roy —
Freight Car Passes Through Mower County from New York
to St. Paul — Later Growth and Development of the Railroad
System in the County — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul —
Chicago Great Western — Illinois Central.
]\Iower ccmnty is crossed by the lines of three great railways:
The Chicago, ^Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago Great Western
and the Dubuque & Sioux City, operated by the Illinois Central.
The Chicago, ^Milwaukee & St. Paul has two lines and five divisions
in the county. The Iowa & ^Minnesota line has stations in this
county at Lansing. Ramsey, Austin, Rose Creek, Adams, Taopi
and Lc Rov. The :\Lis()ii Citv to Austin line lias stations in tliis
96 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
county at Lansing, Ramsey, Varco and Lyle. These two lines
embrace the following divisions : Iowa and Minnesota ; Mason City
to Austin; St. Paul, Minneapolis and Des Moines; and the Minne-
apolis, St. Paul & Kansas City. The Southern Minnesota division
has stations in this county at Ramsey, Brownsdale, Dexter and
Grand Meadow. The Chicago Great Western has also three lines
in this county. The Minneapolis & St. Paul-Council Bluffs &
Omaha Short line has stations in this county at Waltham, May-
ville, Austin, Varco and Lyle. The Minneapolis & St. Paul-
Chicago & Dubuque line, which in this county is identical with
the Minneapolis & St. Paul-Des Moines, St. Joseph, Leavenworth
& Kansas City short line, has stations in this county at Sargeant,
Renova, Elkton and Taopi. The Minneapolis, St. Paul, Red "Wing,
Rochester and Osage line, leased from the "Wisconsin, Minnesota
& Pacific Railway Company, has stations at Racine and Le Roy
in this county. The Dubuque & Sioux City, operated by the Illi-
nois Central, has one branch, the Cedar Falls & Minnesota in this
county, and one station, Lyle.
These roads have been built at various times, and under vary-
ing circumstances. The proposition for a railroad in Mower
county was made in 1854, when the JMinnesota & Northwestern
Railroad Company was incorporated by the legislature to con-
struct a line from Lake Superior by way of St. Paul, by the most
practicable route to the Iowa line. This company was given a
grant of alternate sections, six sections wide, on either side of
the road it should build from the Iowa line northward, anywhere
^between ranges 9 and 17. This would have made it possible for
the company to have secured control of considerable land in
Mower county. In 1838 the grant to this company was made
still more definite, and inchuling the building of a line road that
should leave the Iowa line west of section thirteen and pass
through Austin. The provisions of the grant were not complied
with by the road, and the company never came into possession
of the grant. In 1858 the grade for the Minneapolis & Cedar
Valley road was made in this county. Then came nine years of
waiting, during which time various propositions and wildcat plans
were afloat. After this, on September 9, 1867, the first railroad
engine ever operated in I\lower comity reached Le Roy.
The Minnesota & Northwestern. On June 29. 1854, the T'nited
States congress passed an act to aid the territory of ^Minnesota
in the construction of a railroad from the southern line of the
territory, commencing at a point between ranges 9 and 17; thence
by way of St. Paul, by the most practicable route to the eastern
line of the territory of Lake Superior. The act granted every
alternate section of land, six sections in width, designated by odd
numbers on both sides of road as it should be built. In the terri-
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 97
torial legislature of 1854, Joseph R. Brown introduced a bill to
incorporate the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad Company.
It was passed at midnight, on the last day of the session, and,
contrary to expectation, Governor Gorman signed it. The route
designated was from some point on Lake Superior by way of St.
Paul to the Iowa line in the direction of Dubuque. As will be
seen, the proposed route of the Minnesota & Northwestern Rail-
road Company was identical with that mentioned in the land
grant. After alterations and amendments, and charges of fraud
both in the territorial legislattire and in Congress, the land grant
act was repealed by congress. The company, however, contended
that congress had no right to appeal the act. The higher courts
also upheld the congressional repeal. The matter caused much
discussion in succeeding sessions of the legislature, but in 1855
the legislature passed an act to amend the incorporation of the
Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad Company over the governor's
veto. In 1856 the time for the building of the road was extended,
and the extension approved by the governor. The road was
chartered May 23, 1857, to build a line from the Iowa state line,
somewhere west of section thirteen, via Austin, Mankato, etc.,
to New Ulm, Minn. In 1858, in a joint session, the legislature
confirmed the territorial land grant of 1854, congress in the mean-
time having made liberal provision for the giving of land grants
to such railroads as should build in Minnesota. It was as the
Minnesota & Northwestern that the Chicago Great "Western line
from Hayfield to Omaha was first laid in this county.
THE LAND GRANT ROADS.
An act Avas approved by the Minnesota territorial legislature
May 22, 1857, creating four railroad corporations, and granting
them alternate sections, designated by odd numbers, six miles in
width on each side of the roads and their branches, this being
in accord with the liberal railroad land grant by congress. These
four railroad corporations, viz.. the Minnesota & Pacific Railroad
Company (changed to St. Paul & Paeifie Railroad Company) : the
Minneapolis & Cedar A^alley Railroad Company; the Transit Rail-
road Company (changed to Winona & St. Peter Railroad Com-
pany) ; and the Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad
Company. The first named was created originally by this act.
The latter three had already been organized. The companies
were to pay three per cent of their gross earnings in lieu of taxes
and assessments, and the lands granted by congress were to be.
exempt from all taxation vantil sold and conveyaneed by the com-
panies. The corporations were generally given ten years to con-
98 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
struct their respective roads. The financial embarrassments of
1857 -retarded the progress of railroad building; and it also be-
came evident that the parties who had obtained the railway char-
ters mentioned had neither the money or credit to complete these
great highways of internal improvements.
The territory of ]\Iinnesota was admitted to statehood May 11,
1858. The constitution ratified and adopted October 13, 1857,
provided in article 10, section 2, that "no corporations shall be
formed under special acts except for municipal purposes"; and
it still further provided that "the credit of the state shall never
be given nor loaned, in the aid of any individual, association or
corporation. ' ' Notwithstanding the strong feeling worked up over
the talk of getting bonds in the aid of railroads so badly needed
in the state, the first act of the legislature, which was approved
March 9, 1858, before the state was admitted, was to submit an
amendment to the constitution, providing for loaning the state's
credit to the four land grant roads to the extent of $1,250,000
each, or $5,000,000 in all. provided $100,000 for every ten miles
to be graded, and $100,000 for every ten miles when the cars were
running regularly. In return it required the roads to pledge the
net income to pay the interest on the bonds, and to convey the
first 240 sections of land from the government grant to the state,
and to deposit in first mortgage bonds an amount equal to the
loan from the state for security. This proposal occasioned much
uneasiness among the most prudent of the citizens in the state;
and though public meetings were held denouncing the measure,
it was, however, upon being submitted to the people, on the ap-
pointed day of a special election, April 15, 1858. carried by a
large ma.jority, there being 25,023 in favor to 6,733 against the
amendment. The measure afterward became known as the Five
Jlilljon Loan Bill. The state bonds were of $1,000 denomination,
had twenty-five years to run with interest at seven per cent, the
railroad companies to pay the interest, and were to be delivered
to the incorporators of the companies when ten miles of the road
was graded and ready for the superstructure. Owing to techni-
calities it was extremely difficult to market these bonds. Times
were luird jind tlie companies were unable to pay the required
interest.
On the ;isseiul)liii<,' of llie le-i-islatun^ in 18(i0 the inlerest on
the state ])onds liaviiig l)een defaulted, an amendment to the con-
stitution was ad<)])ted and submitted to tlie people expunging the
section sanctioned and approved by them. April 15. 1858. reserv-
ing only the state's rights. The electors of the state at the general
election of Novemlx'i- G, 18(i0. with unanimity, by a vote of 27.023
1(1 733, ;i|i])i-(ive(l of llie jiuiendineiit. For Iwo years tliereafter
i-aiii'iiad mnllei's in the slate laid dormant.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUA'TY Of)
CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY.
The Minneapolis & Cedar Valley Railroad Company was cIimi-
tered Marcli 1, 1856. with a capital stock of $3,()()0,()00 to construct
a railroad from Minneapolis to a point of junction with the Root
River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad in Dakota county,
from one to six miles from IMendota, and thence in a southerly
direction via Faribault, through the valley of the Straight river,
to the southern boundary line of the territory at the Cedar river.
They were also to have the right to build at any time a line from
the Mendota Junction to St. Paul; also a like road to Hastings.
After the passage of the amendment to the constitution in 1858
a mortgage was executed and bonds issued and deposited with
the state, for which the company received .$600,000, state bonds.
The company defaulted in the payments. September 1, 1859, the
foreclosure was demanded. The trustees advertised and sold the
property August 16, 1860, and bid it in for the state. The prop-
erty, franchise, etc., were conferred March 10, 1862, upon the
Minneapolis. Faribault & Cedar Valley Railroad Company. Quite
an amount of grading had been done, but no track liad been laid.
The Minneapolis, Faribault & Cedar Valley Railroad Company
was incorporated by the legislature of Minnesota March 10, 1862.
Under this name the state transferred to Alexander James, Syl-
vester Smith, William H. Dike, Charles A. Wheaton, Franklin
Steele, Henry Chapin, Thomas A. Harrington, Eli B. Ames, John
]\r. Oilman, William Gr. LeDuc and Rufus J. Baldwin all the prop-
erty, franchises, etc., of the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley Company
acquired by foreclosure August 16, 1860, and authorized a re-
organization under the original charter. The same rights had
been conferred upon Erastus Corning and associates in ]\Iarch.
1861, and upon N. D. Barney et al. in March, 1863, but they failed
to comply with the conditions and forfeited them. By an act
of the legislature which was approved February 1, 1864, the name
was changed to the Minnesota Central Railway Company.
The Minnesota Central Railway Company was named in ar.
act of the legislature, approved February 1, 1864, to take over the
franchise and rights of the Minneapolis, Faribault & Cedar Valley
Railroad Company. Acts Avere passed at different times extend-
ing the time of completion of the road, also an act authorizing the
connection with the Iowa road at the state line. The road was
completed from ^linneapolis via ^lendota to Owatonna, a distancr
of seventy-one miles, in 1866, and the branch was built from ]\Ien-
dota to St. Paul. September 18, 1866, tlie capital stock of tlie
road Avas sold to the ^McGregor & Western Railroad Company for
.$2,000,000, payable in a like amount of the latter company's
100 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
stock. All the property except the land grant lands was con-
veyed June 26, 1867. This sale was practically a consolidation.
The corporate existence of the company was continued by virtue
of its land stock, and no interest in its lands ever passed to the
McGregor & Western Company or its successors. The company
was required by the land grant to build from Austin to the state
line, but had not done so when it was transferred to the McGregor
company. The ^Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company (which
later on, February 7, 1874, became the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul), after acquiring the line of the consolidated company,
August 5, 1867, reconveyed to the Minnesota Central Company in
April, 1868, that part of the line between Austin and Mona, a dis-
tance of eleven miles, to enable it to earn the land grant.
As before stated, the first regular passenger train reached Le
Roy from Cresco September 9, 1867. This was an important day
for Mower county, and on that day, for the first time, the county
had connection by rail with the Atlantic seaboard. In October,
1867, the line was completed from Owatonna to Austin, and for
a short time the lines ending at Austin and Le Roy were con-
Qected by the stage route of Nichols & Cotter. Later in the month
the line was completed from Austin to Le Roy. In the same
month a through freight car passed through Austin from New
.York to Minneapolis, thus bridging by rail the distance from the
Atlantic ocean to the head of Mississippi navigation.
Work was also pushed to the southward from Austin to the
state line, and trains started running in January, 1870. April,
1870, the Milwaukee & St. Paul road took a deed to the line from
Austin to Mona, paying 1,760 shares of common stock and a like
amount of preferred stock. In January, 1870, the Illinois Central
started running its trains from the state line south in Iowa.
November 3, 1870, the portion of the Iowa Central from the
Minnesota state line to Mason City, now owned by the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul, was completed, and cars were put in oper-
ation. In December, 1871, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & i\Iin-
nesota Railway tapped this line at Plymouth, in Cerro Gordo
county, Iowa, and leased a right of way to Austin, thus practic-
ally extending its line to Mower county. A year later th6 Central
Railway of Iowa began running trains from Austin to St. Louis
over the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and TMinnesota, via the Iowa
Central.
The McGregor and Western Railway Company was organized
January 19, 1863, and was authorized to construct a road from or
from near McGregor, westward and northwestward in Iowa.
Later the charter was modified, allowing the company to con-
struct a line from the state line to Austin, in ]\Iinnesota. In 1866
the company purchased the I\linnesota Central Railway Company,
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 101
and gave in return $2,000,000 of its bonds. Tlie McGregor com-
pany was authorized March 7, 1867, by the Minnesota legislature,
to construct a road via Austin, to Owatonna, and to exercise the
franchise of the IMinnesota Central Railway Company. Articles
of incorporation Avere filed in Minnesota June 8, 1867, and later
in the month a deed was taken of the IMinnesota Central Com-
pany, then built from Minneapolis to Owatonna. The line was
immediately transferred to the Milwaukee & St. Paul Company,
which February 7, 1874, became the Chicago, INIilwaukee & St.
Paul. The building of the McGregor line is recorded elsewhere
in this chapter.
The Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad Avas
chartered by the territory of Minnesota March 2, 185.3. The act
to incorporate was passed on the above date by the territorial
legislature, and amended February 27, 1857. The charter granted
the privilege of covering almost everything in the southern end of
the state, provided the eastern terminus remained at Hokah, viz. :
"from the village of Hokah, in the county of Houston, and terri-
tory of Minnesota, westward by the most feasible and practicable
route to some point between the south line of the territory and
the point where the township line between 110 and 111 crosses
the Minnesota river, thence west by the most direct and practi-
cable route to the great bend of the Missouri river, with the priv-
ilege of a branch starting from Hokah and running to the west
bank of the Mississippi, via Target Lake to Eagle Bluff in AVinona
county. Also the privilege of building a branch from some point
on the main line east of range 12, west of the fifth principal
meridian, and Avestward through the counties of MoAver, Free-
born and Faribault, to the Avest line of the territory; also the
privilege of constructing a ship canal from the main channel of
the Mississippi river to Target Lake." May 22, 1857, the terri-
tory of the road was extended, and all the land grants applicable
to its route duly conferred. This was one of the original land
grant roads bought in by the state of Minnesota, Avhich later re-
issued its charter and loaned the credit of the state.
The Southern Minnesota Railroad Company Avas the name
taken by the Root River Valley and Southern ^ilinnesota Railroad,
]May 23, 1857, the day after the land grant Avas conferred. The
company executed a mortgage, issued bonds and deposited them
Avith the state, receiving therefor $575,000 in state bonds. The
company defaulted on the payments April 1, 1860, and the gov-
ernor advertised and sold the property and conveyed the sani'i to
the state. The state conferred the property, etc., on divers o.jca-
sions to various parties during the years 1861 and 1863, but tliey
failed to comply Avith the conditions. The rights pertaining to
the line througii the southern tier of counties Avere conferred upon
102 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
T. B. Stoddard and associates March 4, 1864, under the name of
the Southern J\Iinnesota Railroad Company, thus reviving the old
title. The company received aid from various municipalities. The
road was completed to Rushford in 1867 ; to Lanesboro in 1868 ;
from Ramsey to Wells in 1869 ; Lanesboro to Ramsey and from
Wells to W^innebago in 1870, making a total of 1671/2 miles. After
various litigation the Southern Minnesota Railway Company was
organized under chapter 50 of the laws of 1876.
The Southern Minnesota Railway Company was organized
I\Iareh 8. 1877. Tlie Southern Minnesnfa Railway Extension Com-
pany was also organized. January 1, 1880, the Southern Minne-
sota, after receiving a deed from the Extension company, deeded
its road from the Mississippi river to Sioux Falls, and the branch
from Wells and Mankato, to the Milwaukee & St. Paul Compauy,
the latter issuing bonds and taking possession of the road INIay 1,
1880.
The year 1887 was an eventful one for Austin. The C, M. &
St. Paul moved its shops here from "Wells, and also built a '"Y"
from Ramsey so that the trains on the old Southern Minnesota
line ran into Austin, thus doing away with the old stage coach
that liad hitherto done duty between Austin and Ramsey. As a
bonus for locating the shops here Austin gave $10,000 and ten
acres of land.
CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD.
The Chicago Great Western Railroad Company, operating
what is known as the Corn Belt Route, in 1910 succeeded the Chi-
cago Great Western Railway Company, which operated what v.-as
then known as the Maple Leaf Route. The latter company was
organized in Illinois January 5, 1892, to effect the reorganization
of tlie Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway Company, which
was an Iowa corporation and had absorbed the ]\Iiunesota and
Northwestern. The early construction of the route in ^Minnesota
was commenced in 1884 and completed in the summer of 1885,
when one hundred and ten miles were built from Minneapolis to
the Iowa state line, passing through Mower county, touching
points that are now Waltham, Mayville, Austin, Varco and Lyle,
and connecting at the latter place with the Illinois Central. The
station at Austin Avas opened July 24, 1885, with 0. B. Johnson as
first agent. A grand excursion to St. Paul took place August 20,
1885. In the fall of the same year a junction was made with the
Iowa (Central Railroad at Manley Junction, Iowa. In 1887 the line
from Ilaytield to Dubiuiue, Iowa, passing through INIower county
and luiving stations at points that ai'c now Sargeant. Renova. Elk-
ton and Taopi. was completed, as was the line from Chicago to
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 103
South Freeport, Illinois. The next year the missing link between
Dubuque and South Freeport was completed, thus completing the
line from ]Minneapolis and St. Paul to Chicago. On August 1,
1887, the first passenger train made the run between Chicago and
St. Paul in thirteen and one-half hours. This was the inaugura-
tion of the' fast passenger train service in the West. Under an
agreement with the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railway-
Company, the Chicago Great Western operates their lines of 271
miles from Mankato to Red Wing and another from Red Wing
to Osage, Iowa, with branches from Winona to Simpson and from
Claybank Junction to Claybank. The line from Red Wing to
Osage crosses the extreme eastern portion of Mower county, pass-
ing into Fillmore county and then curving back into Mower coun-
ty. In this county it has stations at Racine and LeRoy. The Wis-
consin, Minnesota & Pacific Raihvay Company is a reorganization
of one of the early ^Minnesota companies and was incorporated
in Minnesota in April, 3894. This line was started in 1890, the
company at that time being the Winona & Southwestern.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD.
The Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, which is operated by the
Illinois Central Railroad Company is a reorganized company hold-
ing its franchises by charter granted by the state of lovs-a, with
the exception of the Albert Lea & Southern Railroad Company, in-
corporated September 20, 1899, under the general laws of Minne-
sota. This road, which extended from the Iowa state line to
Gleuville Junction, thus crossing IMower county from Lyle west-
ward, was consolidated with the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad
Company, July 1, 1902.
Aside from the roads mentioned scores more have at various
times been projected, in which Austin people have been inter-
ested. But they have not yet reached IMower county, though even
to the present day there is talk of another road being put through.
104 HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COUXTY
CHAPTER Xn.
AGRICULTURE.
Importance of the Farming Interests of Mower County — Char-
acter of the Men Who First Came Here — Failure of Wheat
Crop — Development of Diversified Farming — Advantages —
Mail and Trading Facilities — Nature of the Soil — Sheep and
Poultry Breeding — The Pork Industry — Registered Stock
Predominant— Homes of the Farmers — Agricultural Societies
—Grange Movement — Storm and Flood — Insurance Companies.
Mower county is acknowlodg't'd as being among the best and
most prosperous agricultural and stock raising counties in Minne-
sota. Its people are wide awake and keep step with the pro-
gressive march of the times in all that pertains to a civilization of
happiness, industry and culture. Like all this portion of the
Northwest, the agricultural history of Mower county must record
some disastrous failures. The whole southern and soutliAvestern
portions of Minnesota, as well as the greater part of Iowa, have
had serious disadvantages to contend with and obstacles to en-
counter. The first settlers of the county were mostly farmers,
and they were, with but few exceptions, poor men, as is the case
in the history of every agricultural region. In fact, few had more
than enough to barely get settled upon their lands ; but they
came with that which was in those days equal to it — training in
agricultural pursuits, brawny hands that Avere able and not
ashamed to work, and, in connection with industrious habits, the
energy and determination to win success. The country Avas new,
and there was no alternative but that success must be wrought
from the soil, which was their only wealth and their only hope.
And, in spite of all the obstacles and inconveniences, notwith-
standing the fact that the whole aim of the farming community
has changed, success has attended their efforts. Nor is the end
yet reached, but the county has a mine of wealth yet undeveloped,
which, as years roll on, will grow more and more valuable as the
agricultural population become more and more able to utilize it.
Early in the development of this country wheat Avas the main
product, and for a juunber of years excellent crops were raised
with scarcely a failure. At the present time wheat has given up
its former place to other cereals, and farmers find many other
avenues in which- to devote their time and energy.
Mower cotuiIv is in tlic most southern tier of the counties of
Minnesota. Its soiillicni boundary forms a portion of the state
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 105
line between the great wheat state of Minnesota and the great
corn state of Iowa. It lies in the grain belt and also in the corn
belt. It is also the center of the great dairy belt.
Mower county occupies with but few exceptions, all of which
are in northern Minnesota, the highest land in the Mississippi
valley. The mean elevation above the sea is 1,300 feet, the highest
point being in the central and southern portion where the eleva-
tion rises to 1,360 feet. The lowest elevation of the county is
1,119 feet, which is 600 feet higher than the Union station at St.
Paul. Owing to the gradual rise toward the center, Mower county
has perfect drainage, it being one of the few counties of the state
without a lake or large pond. Numerous small streams flow
through the county, which is blessed with an abimdance of good
Avater. Beside the creeks and rivulets, there are innumerable flow-
ing springs, gushing from the earth, many flowing 300,000 gallons
a day and some to exceed a million gallons in twenty-four hours.
The high altitude gives to Mower county an ideal climate. Its
mean temperatiire for summer is 70 degrees, the same as middle
Illinois, Ohio and southern Pennsylvania. The extreme heat that
is felt in these states is here tempered by the breezes of the ele-
vated plateau. Its higher latitude gives two hours more of sun-
shine than at Cincinnati. This with an abundance of rainfall,
26.36 inches annually, on a rich soil, accounts for the rapid and
vigorous growth of crops and their early maturity. There is a
uniformity of temperature during the winter season in southern
Minnesota, with bright sunshine, dry atmosphere, good sleighing
and infrequent thaws that make life a pleasure in this bracing,
healthy climate.
The soil is for the most part a deep, rich, warm loam with clay
subsoil. There is but little gumbo soil in this county. Cultivation
is easy and "irrigation and dry farming" that one hears so much
about to-day, and which is so necessary to secure a crop on much
of the new lands that are being opened up in the West, at so great
an expense, are not needed here. During the past few years a
number of farms have been tiled and with such marked success
that within a few years most of the farms will be improved in
this respect. The lay of the land is such that almost every farmer
gets good drainage without difficulty. Two large factories, one
manufacturing a cement tile and the other a clay tile, are located
at Austin and have a tremendous total output.
Mower county ha.s good roads and in several road districts its
roads are as fine as a city's street, thanks to the efficient work
of townships good road organizations and to the use of the King
split-log drag.
Mower county Avas the first county in the United States to
have a coiiiiilcte i-ni-al mail route system installed. Tliis was done
106 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
in 1904, and there is hardly a farm in the county that is above
half a mile from a rural route. The entire population, aside from
the county seat and the villages with postofifices, is served by this
excellent system. Each route serA^es llO^families or an average
of 600 people, and each route has an average length of twenty-
seven miles. Mower county's rural routes center as follows: Aus-
tin, BroAvnsdale, Dexter, Grand Meadow, Taopi, Rose Creek,
Adams, Le Roy, Lyle, Racine, Elkton. Waltham, Sargeant.
Mower county's farms are all within easy access of a market,
there not being a farm above seven miles from a village and not
above a score are a greater distance from a village than six miles.
]\Iower county is a great corn country, raising over a million
and a half bushels yearly. Mower county is one of the big barley
counties of the country, raising a million bushels yearly. Mower
county's oat crop exceeds 4,000,000 bushels yearly. Mower
county's other big crops are wheat. 200,000 bushels, and potatoes,
400,000 bushels. Mower county also raises the finest of hay on its
73,753 acres of meadow. Mower county is annually sliipping thou-
sands of dollars' worth of apples from its 100,000 apple trees.
Mower county's phmis, picked from 20,000 trees, are of excellent
({uality and find a ready market. Mower county has two large
nurseries, selling home-grown fruit, ornamental and shade trees,
guaranteed to be true to name and to grow. Mower county has
two farmers' mutual insurance companies, the Mower County
Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Company, carrying $5,250.-
000 of insurance, and the Austin Mutual Hail Insurance Company
of Minnesota, insuring crops from loss by hail all over the state.
Mower county has a splendid system of bridge building, a ma-
jority of the bridges being of iron and concrete. It is the policy
of the county board to replace old bridges with those of iron and
concrete. Mower county's all-grain farmers have been moving to
the unbroken prairies, leaving their farms here to be taken by
progressive diversified farmers of the older states. Mower county
is one of the great thoroughbred cattle counties of the state.
]\Iower county farmers find a ready market for their hogs with
the Hormel Packing Company, located at Austin, which has a
daily capacity of turning 5,000 milk-fed hogs into the famous
Dairy Brand hams and bacon. iMower county farmers find a ready
market for garden truck in the city of Austin and the villages
of the county.
The farms of Mower county are similar to the farms of any
other county having a rich soil. It has its good farms and its
poor farms. Or better stated, it has its good farmers and its
poor farmers. Agriculture, like every other trade or profession,
his its successes and its failures, but perhaps not as many com-
plete failures.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 107
The first settlers found here a rich, unbroken virgin soil, a
land that had had none but nature's care from time immemorial.
Century after century, year after year, the grasses grew in all
their richness and the prairie tiowers bloomed to waste their fra-
grance on the summer air. No foot trod the unbroken stretches
save that of wild beast or bird, or the red warrior. No plow-
share turned the green sod, nor was it torn by the iron tooth of
the harrow, from the time an almighty power had unrolled it like
a carpet until 1852, when Jacob McQuillan and party drove to
this land from Ohio in wagons and nailed their coffee mill to a
tree in what is now Racine township. They turned the first sod
and sowed "wheat," and wheat was the crop that the land of
Mower county raised in abundance until 1878. Then came the
wheat failure. For over a quarter of a century the land had let
man take crop after crop of the finest cereal from her without
putting anything back, and then it protested. Then the farmers
tried the next year and the next and hardly got their seed back.
Then those who could afford it went further north and west
where there were other virgin lands. But some were too poor
to go. Some of these turned their attention to other crops and a
few to stock raising. But as late as 1884 Mower county had but
four creameries. In that year came the discussion of diversified
farming for ]\Iower county, but for several years but little was
done along that line. Within the last few years the dairy farmer
has come upon the scene. Some came from other states and have
thriven and grown prosperous on the land which the wheat
farmer thought was exhausted. The county has grown prosper-
ous with this change of farming and during the last few years
hundreds of up-to-date farmers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and
Wisconsin have taken up their abode on Mower county farms.
Here they find a rich soil from two to five feet deep, ready for
them, a land covered with rich grasses and ready to yield abun-
dance in oats, barley and other small grains, and producing corn
that vies with that of the states above mentioned. Here they
find land as rich and yielding as heavy crops as the $150 land
they had left and selling at from $50 to $80 an acre, because the
owners were ready to retire or desired to go to the land of a
single crop, wheat. With their coming there is a great increase
in tlie valuation of farm property, farm products and live stock.
With the coming of these farmers from the older states has
come farm tiling — open ditches have been used for years but
hardly a rod of tile was laid by the all-grain farmers. Now there
are thousands of rods being laid each year.
There is at present a strong movement toward sugar beet ( ul-
ture. It has been found that the warm, deep loam of Slower
county permits of large development of root. Two large sugar
108 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
beet factories, one at Waterloo, Iowa, and the otlier at Chaska.
Minnesota, take all the crop raised.
AYhile Mower county is not a sheep raising county, it is the
breeding place of thoroughbreds which are in demand in Mon-
tana, Wyoming and Idaho, to which places many find their way.
Following are the leading breeds in Mower county: Merinos,
Cotswold, Shropshire, Soutlulowns, Lincoln, Oxfords, Hampshires
and Horned Dorsets.
The poultry fanciers are the most numerous of all the thor-
oughbred raisers. Space forbids mention of all the varieties of
poultry that are to be found in this county. At a recent county
fair 123 A'arieties Avere shown, of which 99 were of the hen, six
of the turkey, eleven of the duck and seven of the geese family.
Alfred Ziemer, of this city, has a Buft' Orpington cock valued at
$1,000, the highest priced bird of the breed in the United States.
The Mower County Poultry Association is the largest organiza-
tion of its kind in the state, and its annual show is larger than
any other except those held at St.^Paul and Minneapolis. Slower
county birds in the last shows in the Twin Cities took more prizes
than any other county in the state.
There is one farmer in the county who claims that every do-
mestic animal on his place, from the driving horse to the family
cat, is thoroughbred and registered.
I\IoA\er county has no state highways of macadam. Tlie roads,
which are made of the soil of the county, on the whole are good,
and some of them are kept in the best of condition. This county
was one of the first in the state to undertake road building, and
it is interesting to note that the first bill ordered paid by the
first board of couny commissioners Avas a bill presented Jul\ 7.
1856, by Louis Patchin, for work as road commissioner.
There was a time iu ]\lower county when like all new lands,
the first consideration Avas to build good barns for tlie housing of
the liocks and lierds and the home Avas the most inconspicuous
object in the landscape. As the farmers prospered the log house
disappeared and now there are not a half dozen log hoiises in
th>' entire county. Now the farmers' house vies Avith the city
residence and has many of tlie modern conveniences. AVhere elec-
tric light and poAver cannot be secured, gasoline engines furnish
power and a number of farm houses are lighted by their OAvn gas
plants. By the use of elevated tanks in the house or barn, or
pneiunatic tanks in cellars, farm houses often have all the sani-
tary conveniences of a house in tOAvn. Our farmers recognize
the value of keeping their ])roperty in the best of shape. Houses
and l)arns are Avell painted. laAvns are carefully kept and fioAver
gardens sliow iliat our jx'ople recognize that the things Avhich
beautify add a value to life as well as to property.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 10!)
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
Mower County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanics'
Society. On the third of September, ]86;i, the l)oard of eounty
commissioners, consisting of R. C. Heath, Alanson Beach and G.
T. Angell published a call for the organizing of a society of the
farmers of the eounty. Agreeable to this notice a number of
prominent citizens of the county met at the postoffice in Austin
September 22, 1863. The meeting was called to order by B. F.
Jones, upon whose motion J. P. Jones, of Nevada township, was
elected chairman. B. F. Jones was elected secretary. After some
discussion Ormanzo Allen, Olivar Somers and Sylvester Smith
were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the gov-
ernment of the soeiet}^
The following gentlemen were elected first officers of the so-
ciety : President, Hon. Robert Lyle ; vice-presidents, John M.
Morrell, Geo. N. Conkey and John M. Wyckoff from the first,
second and third districts respectively; recording secretary, B.
F. Jones ; corresponding secretary, Solomon Snow ; directors —
Austin, V. P. Lewis; Lyle, S. R. Hughson; Windom, Alonzo Fair-
banks; Red Rock, A. D. Brown; Udolpho, Charles Stimson; Ne-
vada, J. P. Jones; Lansing, J. J. Rosenberg; Pleasant Valley,
Robert Reed; Grand MeadoAV, Col. B. F. Langworthy; Racine,
Addison Harris; Frankford, N. Goodsell; Bennington, Edwin
Angell; Adams, Mathew Rooney: LeRoy, Daniel Caswell. This
society held its first fair at the village of Lansing during the sec-
ond week of October, 1864. It Avas an acknowledged success..
Mower County Agricultural Society. During the year 1868
the project of organizing a second agricultural society was agi-
tated. On July 31, 1868, a number of prominent citizens met at
the brick school house in Austin. J. L. Davidson was chosen
chairman, and Lyman A. Sherwood, secretary of the meeting.
A committee was appointed, consisting of C. H. Davidson. Capt.
A. S. Everest, G. G. Clemmer and Thomas Gibson, to draft a con-
stitution and by-laws.
Tlie following were the first officers elected: President, An-
drew D. Brown ; secretary, E. C. Door ; treasurer, S. Snow ; vice-
presidents, Sylvester Smith, Austin City; Abe S. Lott, Austin
township ; Alanson Beach, Lyle ; Guitder Halverson, Nevada ;
^latthew Rooney, Adams ; W. B. Spencer, LeRoy ; G. T. Angell,
Bennington ; D. P. Putney, Frankford ; ^V. E. Harris. Racine -. B.
F. Langworthy, Grand Meadow ; Richard Iloppin, Pleasant Val-
ley: James H. Stewart, Red Rock; A. B. Vaughan. Lansing;
Thomas Richardson, Udolpho ; A. P. Lounsberry, AValtham ; John
Tiiompson. AVindom. Executive committee — V. P. Lewis, chair-
man: AV. L. Austin, Austin; Thomas Gibson, Lansing; Orlando
110 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Wilder, Lyle : Alanson Wright, Windom ; J. J\I. Wyckoff, LeRoy ;
Harvey Anderson, Red Rock ; D. Chandler, Austin ; J. W. Gregg,
Nevada; H. M. Irgens, Adams; Capt. J. S. McKnight, Benning-
ton; Chas. Lamb, Frankford; Jonathan Stewart, Racine; 0. W.
Case, Grand Meadow; Ben. Carll, Udolpho; H. Edward, Wal-
tham.
This society held its first fair on October 14 and 15, 1S68.
The present society was organized at the meeting of the
Grange council, held October 1, 1874, when it was found that the
farming class was anxious to organize an agricultm-al society,
such as existed in many other counties. After the usual pre-
liminaries, the farmers proceeded to organize a society by elect-
ing officers both from within and without the Grange. The society
was to be called the Mower County Agricultural Society, and its
object was the promotion of agriculture, horticulture and the
mechanical arts. G. W. Grimshaw was elected president ; C. J.
Felch, vice president; Miles M. Trowbridge, secretary; H. F.
Deming, treasurer. The executive committee consisted of nine
members: S. Y. Paddock, M. C. Potter, Merril Mason, N. H.
Thompson, William Rutherford, H. Knudson, E. I. Stimson, J. F.
Cook and W. L. Austin. The society was incorporated March 31,
1875. The annual county fair is now held at Austin, and the live
stock exhibit at the fairs exceeds that of any county fair in the
state.
The Mower County Poultry Association is one of the strong-
est organizations of this nature iu the state, and there is nut a
more enthusiastic class of breeders tJiau the men who form this
association. The association holds an annual poultry show which
is largely attended. A. W. Edson is president of tlie association
and Alf. A. Ziemer is secretary.
THE WHEAT FAILURE.
In 1877 Mower county farmers reaped the last of the liig
wheat crops, which for twenty years had made this the land of
Eldorado of the settler from the East. The history of this county
from the year of the wheat failure in 1878 to the present time is
of unusual interest. To give the reader an idea of the time of
the failure, we quote the diary of one of the early settlers. ' ' Au-
gust 19, 1877. To-day I threshed forty acres of wheat, got 1,156
bushels, which went sixty-two pounds to the bushel." August 26,
1878. It has rained almost every day, mud everywhere; have
tried to cradle a little wheat for seed, and have saved but little.
Am very blue."
"Am very liliic" is tli(> e]iitoine of the history of almost every
farmer of that section, for not only 1878 but for the next five
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 111
years. During these years the farmers tried time and time again
to raise wheat as they had for a quarter of a century previous,
and each year saw the debt against the farmer growing larger
and larger. Many who could do so left the county and went west
to the Dakotas. But from the year of the big wheat failure dates
the real growth of the county. In the failure of the wheat the
farmer was driven to adopt other methods of agriculture, and
diversified farming took the place of the one-crop system. The
adoption of the new plan was necessarily slow. To the farmer
who had in 1876 purchased 160 acres and paid for it with his
wheat crop in 1877 diversified farming seemed a long and hard
road to the material prosperity of the individual. But there were
men who in their younger days were raised in this school and
who were quick to see what could be done with the rich early-
worked soil, and they became the pioneers of the movement. To-
day they are the rich and prosperous farmers of the county.
Thirty years ago the county from boundary to boundary line was
one great sea of golden wheat. To-day its surface is like a great
mosaic of corn, barley, oats, clover, timothy, and pasture bh;e
grass. Herds of pure-bred Shorthorn, Holstein, Jersey, Gallo-
ways, Aberdeen- Angus, Hereford, Red Polled, Guernseys, and Ayr-
shires may be found in all parts of our county, and thousands of
pure-bred sheep of Merino, Cotswold, Shi'opshire, Southdown, Lin-
coln, Oxford, Hampshire, and Horned Dorset breeds may be found
there. The following breeds of horses are raised in the county:
Norman, Persian, Clydesdale, French draft and English shires,
besides a high grade of coach, draft and trotting horses. Hog
raising is a feature of every farm, and the following breeds are
found : Berkshire, Poland-China, Chester White, Duroc-Jersey,
Sutfolk, improved Yorkshires, and small Yorkshires. At the
annual fairs of the Mower County Agricultural Society all the
above breeds are shown in registered animals. The livestock
exhibit is one of the greatest attractions of the fair, and is yearly
growing larger. It is not the intention of the writer to mention
the individual efforts that have brought about the present pros-
perity and demonstrated the value of diversified farming. Their
work speaks for itself. But we are glad to say that many of
those pioneers of diversified farming in Minnesota yet live to
see their plans come to fruition and to see those who laughed at
them when they entered upon the breeding and raising of regis-
tered stock here adopt a similar method in order to keep up with
the progress of the age. But the farmer of thirty years ago did
not realize these advantages, and if he did, the single crop method
was the most advantageous up to the year 1878. Mower county,
lying on the boundary line of Iowa, lies witliin the corn belt aiul
at the same time is within tin' small ^-I'aiii belt. Coi'n of as iine
113 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
a growth as that of Iowa is raised in great quantities to fatten
the droves of hogs to be found on every farm. At Austin, the
county seat, is a packing house with a capacity of 2,000 a day,
where the highest market price is paid, and which is within easy
reach of the farmer with hogs to sell. Oats and barley are the
other big crops raised in the county, and there are fourteen
trading points besides the city of Austin at which the farmer
can dispose of his produce. Reaching from Austin are two tele-
phone systems that ramify every corner of the county and reach
over 1,100 farm houses, besides the 950 homes within the city.
Mower county Avas the first county of Minnesota to have in-
stalled a complete rural mail route. Three lines of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul, three lines of the Chicago Great Western,
and one of the Illinois Central traverse the county so that bi;t
little land lies as far as ten miles from railroad facilities. These
are the changes of a quarter of a century of diversified farming
not fully perfected. But Mower county is yet to be known along
another line — that of apple raising. It has been sufficiently
proven that apples can be raised on her soil. For instance, F. W.
Kimball, of Austin, in 1907 shipped his apples to Illinois and
netted from his two and a half acres of orchard over $700, after
paying $148 for barrels, besides the expense of picking and pack-
ing. Within the past few years more and more apple trees have
been planted by the farmers of the county, and this industry will
count among the valuable assets when some future writer twenty-
five years hence shall speak of the remarkable prosperity and
growth of one of the richest and most representative agricultural
counties of the Northwest.
(By C. L. Rice.)
Tlie Grange movement in Mower county has been an important
one, and although but two of the original societies remain within
the county at the present time, the movement accomplished its
purpose in the bettering of farm conditions and the dignifying of
the agricultural interests of the county. In 1873 and 1875 the
Grangers elected E. II. Wells, of Lansing, to the Minnesota senate,
on a Farmers' Alliance ticket, and in several campaigns took an
active part in the Anti-Monopolist movement in politics. In addi-
tion to this the prices paid by farmers for commodities were low-
ered by the establishment of Grange stores at various places, and
in fact it may trutlifully be said that the Grange in this county
Avas the forerunner of the general idea of farmers' co-operation
which has resulted in creameries and stores on the community
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 313
plan. It also fathered the Mower County Agricultural Society,
which has held successful fairs at Austin for so many years.
On March 18, 1873, and in the few months following, nineteen
granges were started in this county. They were : Hope Grange,
Andrew Peters, master ; Pleasant View Grange, George Elliot ;
Brownsdale Grange, H. E. Tanner; Rose Creek Grange, D. S. B.
Mollison ; Lyle Grange, R. B. Foster ; Union Grange, D. Austin ;
Enterprise Grange, No. 181, J. C. Hawkins; Frankford Grange,
G. Tryer ; Prairie Grange, B. F. Langworthy ; Cedar River Grange,
M. Teeter; Nevada Grange, G. Halverson; Hamilton Grange,
E. W. Elder; Cedar Valley Grange, W. J. Merrick; Riverdale
Grange, M. M. Trowbridge ; Woodlawn Grange, A. K. Vander-
walker ; Lansing Grange, L. Hawley ; Nevada Union Grange, Sher-
man Clow. These Granges were very progressive and did a great
deal of good for the interests of agriculture, horticulture and
animal industry. Many advantages were also received in a social
way, as the farming people became better acquainted with each
other.
June 30, 1873, a County Grange was organized at the Baptist
church in Brownsdale. This was designated the Mower County
Council. The meeting was called to order by F. A. Elder, the
deputy. B. F. Langworthy was elected chairman and George C.
Weed secretary of the temporary organization. Twelve Granges
were represented, seventy-five delegates being present. The fol-
lowing officers of the council were elected to serve for one year:
Master, J. S. Bowers ; overseer, L. E. Pearco ; secretary, George
C. "Weed ; chaplain, George' Elliot ; steward, De Los Tanner ; lec-
turer, F. A. Elder ; assistant steward, S. R. Pearco ; gate keeper,
D. D. Pratt ; treasurer, G. AV. Grimshaw ; Ceres, Mrs. B. F. Lang-
worthy ; Flora, Mrs. Bettie Peters ; Pomona, Mrs. L. E. Pearco ;
lady assistant steward, Mrs. A. J. Hunt.
At the meeting of the council held October 1, 1874, it was
found that the farming class was anxious to organize an agricul-
tural society, such as existed in many other counties. After the
usual preliminaries, the farmers proceeded to organize a society
by electing officers both from within and without the Grange.
The society was to be called the Mower County Agricultural So-
ciety and its object was the promotion of agriculture, horticul-
ture and the mechanical arts. G. AV. Grimshaw was elected presi-
dent ; C. J. Felch, vice president ; Allies AI. Trowbridge, secretary ;
H. F. Deming, treasurer. The executive committee consisted of
nine members : S. Y. Paddock, Ar. C. Potter, Alerril Alason, N. H.
Thompson, AVilliam Rutherford, H. Knndson, E. J. Stimson, J. F.
Cook and AV. L. Austin.
The Agricultural Society continued to live, l)ut after a while
the interest in the Grange movement died out. On April 2, 1910,
114 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY
after many years of inactivity, Enterprise Grange, No. 181, was
reorganized as No. 604 by C. B. Hoyt at the Enterprise school-
house. The following officers were elected : Master, C. L. Rice :
overseer, C. B. Sayles ; lecturer, Mrs. C. B. Sayles ; steward, E. V.
Hart ; assistant steward, Arthur Loucks ; chaplain, Mrs. C. L. Rice ;
secretary, F. G. Page; treasurer, H. R. Mills; gate keeper. Con.
Downey ; Flora, Rosabel Pike ; Pomona, Mrs. F. G. Page ; Ceres,
Mrs. E. B. Loucks ; lady assistant steward, Ruth Eraser; organist,
Mrs. F. G. Page. The officers were installed by C. B. Hoyt and
the members were obligated. At that time Enterprise Grange had
a membership of 103. It is now the banner grange of the state.
This and Lansing Grange, No. 605, Arthur Parkins, master, are
the only ones now in existence in the county.
The grange is considered of great benefit to all patrons of
husbandry, agriculturally, educationally, and a great help in co-
operative buying in large quantities, greatly to the benefit of the
consumer. Educationally and socially it is a great benefit to any
community. It was the cause of getting rural free delivery, and
long defunct Granges are now rapidly springing into new life on
every side. It is surely a great organization to get the producer
and consumer together, thus avoiding too many middlemen's
profits. It is also against the big combination and trusts. It has
subordinate county, state and national Granges which are doing
a splendid work.
STORM AND FLOOD OF 1908.
The month of June, 1908, brought to Mower county a series
of severe storms that culminated on the afternoon of Saturday,
June 20, with the most disastrous one that has ever swept the
county vdthin the memory of man. The loss to buildings and to
crops was estimated at the time to be about $750,000, and this
was followed on June 22 by a flood at the city that did damage
to the amount of many thousands of dollars.
For several days there had been an unusual degree of
humidity. On Thursday, June 18, there were cyclonic conditions.
That evening a brilliant electrical storm swept the entire county
and several buildings were destroyed by lightning. At 9:30 p. m.
a tornado struck the village of Adams, doing damage to the
amount of $2,500. The path of the tornado was four rods wide
and e."xtended a quarter of a mile. There were small twisters in
Dexter and Sargeant townships. The lightning caused a $10,000
fire at Sargeant village. The bolt set fire to the ]\Iartin Stephen-
son grain elevator which liurned to the ground. The fire extended
to the coal sheds, to the Chicago Great Western depot and a
freight car was there totally destroyed. Lightning also struck
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 115
the steeple of the German Lutheran church in the Seebach dis-
trict in Dexter, practically destroying it. Several barns were
destroyed by fire, caused by lightning, and much live stock was
killed.
On the succeeding night, Friday, June 19, another wonder-
fully brilliant electrical storm SAvept the county, killing inuch
live stock and burning several barns.
Saturday, June 20, came with an increase of the cyclonic con-
ditions. The morning was warm and the air was filled with
moisture. As the day wore on the sultriness increased. Soon
after noon the storm, clouds again appeared. By 3:15 it was so
dark that lamps were lighted in stores and workshops. Just
i)erore i o'clock a deep black cloud came up from the southwest
Avith an advance line of foaming whitish cloud that reminded om-
of the surf beating against the shore. Just behind this lighter
cloud appeared the sign of the approaching tornado — a copper
colored band. The storm cloud caused intense fear and hun-
dreds sought shelter in cellars. The tornado marked cloud
veered to the west of the city, but the black cloud that followed
passed directly over Austin. A few drops of rain, followed by
hail varying from the size of a pea to the size of a walnut, fell.
"With the hail came a wind storm which lasted forty minutes.
The course of the wind in that short space of time changed from
the southwest to the north. Houses were racked to the founda-
tion and many Avere unroofed. Barns and sheds Avere bloAvn
doAA'n, trees that had AA-eathered the elements for half a century
were torn out by the roots and rolled about as playthings of the
storm king. The electric current Avas turned off from the station,
for hundreds of electric light, telephone and telegraph Avires were
strcAvn about the streets. Hardly a street was passable and the
fire department, street department and half a hundred men AA'erc
put to work as soon as the storm abated to cut a direct Avay
along the streets of the city. At Evergreen Farm a thousand
evergreen trees were destroyed. Great damage Avas done at
beautiful OakAvood cemetery. Some of the heaviest losers bj"^ the
storm in Austin Avere : The Hormel Packing Company, Avhich
had fine l)uildings partly unroofed, thousands of doUars Avorth
of sugar and saltpeter spoiled by tlie rain, Avhich also ruined a
large amount of printed labels. Loss about $15,000. At the
county fair grounds the grand stand, fine art building, ladies'
building, poultry exhibit hall, besides many of the sheds and
barns, Avere destroyed. The loss there was about $10,000. The
round liouse and machine shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul road Avere damaged about $8,000. A. N. Kinsman's green
houses Avere riddled Avith hail and tlic aaIiuI tAvisted the frames.
His loss Avas estimated at $5,000. 'I'hc two tdeplione systems
116 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
were damaged $5,000 each. "Wind and rain damaged the Grand
hotel about $2,000. Some of the other heavy losses by the storm
were Austin Cement Stone Company, building damaged $3,000;
Austin Steam Laundry, $2,000; George Hirsh, $1,500; Donovan
& Goslee, $2,000; S. M. Normal College, $1,000; Franklin school
Iniilding, $1,000; Gripman Bros., $1,000. Twenty-two other
buildings, damaged $200 to $1,000. Besides this almost every
building in the city was damaged to some extent. Lightning
struck the steeple of St. Augustine's church and tore out a rock
of brown stone Aveighing 300 pounds.
The loss in the country to buildings and crops ran into hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars. A tornado swept across the town-
ship of Udolpho, cutting a path two to three rods wide and
extending to Waltham township. Along this line the wind and
hail destroyed every blade of the growiag crops. The damage
at Lansing was light, most of it occurring near the Austin line.
The storm at Dexter made the fields look as if they had been
plowed. At Grand Meadow the hail storm v.'as so severe that
scarcely a pane of glass was left in the windows on the north
side of any iiouse in the township or village. Racine escaped
Avith little rain and hail. In Waltham and Sargeant the storm
did damage estimated at $30,000. In Adams village 600 panes of
glass were broken by the hail. This township suffered severely
in loss of crops, windmills and barns. Lodi suffered heavily from
liail. In some parts of the county the hail congealed into jagged
chunks of ice as big as a man's fist and hogs and horses were
killed in the fields. Trees were stripped of every vestige of
bark. There seems to have been several tornadoes connected
Avith the storm, for the ruins left in Avidely separated toAvnships
shoAved the marks of tlie tAvister.
THE TLOOD OF JUNE 22.
On Sunday everybody was out viewing the ruins of the Avind
storm. There was no thought of more damage to come. Monday
morning found the Cedar river rapidly rising and before the
day ended the Avaters had taken out the iron bridge which
spanned the Cedar on Bridge street, swept through the Kinsman
greenhouses, doing thousands of dollars Avorth of damage. They
fiooded the electric light station, shutting doAvn the poAver and
leaving the city in darkness. The Austin gas plant Avas sub-
merged and damaged $2,000. The plant of the Austin Weed
Externiinator Company Avas under water and damaged about
$1,000. The Avater Avas so high a couple of men rowed a boat
into Brown's barber shop Avhich was then located in the basement
of the George Hirsh block. There was no way to drive across the
HISTORY OF MO WEE COUNTY 117
Cedar river as all the bridges were submerged excepting the
Chicago Great "Western railroad bridge. Practically all work in
the city was suspended and the people went out to watch the
greatest flood the city had ever seen.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The Mower County Farmers' Fire and Lightning Mutual
Insurance Company is a permanent feature in this county. It
has 2,499 policies in force at the present time amounting to some
$5,717,-758. The company was organized as the Mower County
Fire Insurance Company at a meeting held at the court house
September 16, 1885. W. D. Medbery Avas in the chair and R.
Eckford acted as clerk. The nine directors elected were: G. L.
Case, Robert Eckford, H. W. Lightley, J. J. Furlong, G. Seebach,
J. A. Thompson, Daniel Williams, Ole 0. Finhart and E. S. Hop-
pin. The officers were: President, G. L. Case; secretary, R.
Eckford; treasurer, E. S. Hoppin. The name was soon changed
to the Farmers' Fire and Storm Mutual Insurance Company.
Business was commenced December 1, 1885, and one year later
203 policies were in force, covering insurance of $271,226. In
1891 the name was changed to the Austin Farmers' Fire Insur-
ance Company. Early in 1901 it became the Austin Farmers'
Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, and on May 8 of the
same year it assumed its present name. The present officers are :
President, J. J. Furlong : secretary, A. Hotson ; treasurer, C.
Proeschel; J. H. DeRemer, Frank Haney, D. L. Tanner, C. L.
Schroeder, H. F. Kezar and Nils Anderson.
The Austin Mutual Hail Insurance Company A\as started in
]Mankato in 1896 and Avas moved to various places. Senator
Charles F. Cook took hold of the concern some two years ago
and moved the headquarters to Austin. This has given it new
life, and it is growing rapidly. About one thousand policies are
in force and some hundred agents employed. The officers are:
President, C. F. Cook ; vice president, Andrew French ; treasurer,
H. L. Banfield.
118 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
CHAPTER XIII.
HORTICULTURE.
Importance of Fruit Growing in Mower County — "Experiences
of a Veteran Horticulturist," by John C. Hawkins — Fruit
Growing in the Early Days — The Minnesota and Mower
County Horticultural Societies Organized — Difficulties En-
countered in Developing Mower County as a Fruit Growing
Section — Persistent Efforts — Oldest Orchard in Mower
County — Seedlings Raised Here.
There are no statistics of a more recent date than 1900 which
could be secured on which to base an estimate of the number
of apple trees growing in Mower county, but a conservative esti-
mate built on the number reported in 1900 and the sales of local
nursery men puts the figure well past the two million mark.
Apples are yearly shipped out of the county to Illinois and other
states. The State Horticultural Society does a splendid work in
educating our people and also in the encouragement of fruit
growing and the raising of seedlings. Hundreds of horticulturists
are now experimenting in the hope of getting a winter apple
that will equal the Baldwin in all particulars and exceed it in
some, and also win the reward of $1,000 which the state society
offers for such an apple. Good winter apples are now raised,
but the state wants an apple that will bring to jMinnesota as
much fame as its butter has done. Mower county horticulturists
are members of the Southern jMinnesota Horticultural Society,
which meets yearly. The society has over one hundred members,
Avho are enthusiastic in the work.
Some idea of the horticultural resources of our county was
given at our county fair held at Austin in September, 1909, when
sixty varieties of apples and twenty-three varieties of plums were
displayed for premiums. Grapes, pears and peaches were also
shown.
John C. Hawkins is one of the veteran entliusiasts in Mower
county on the subject of apple and plum growing in this vicinity.
For many years he has labored in this cause, and has lived to
see his work bear fruit. The folloAving article, entitled "Ex-
])eriences of a Veteran Ilorticultnrist," has l)eeii prepared by
him expres.sly for this history.
What do 1 knoAV about horticulture^ from tlie standpoint of a
veteran? Veteran, I suppose, means old j'nd worn out, and in
that respe-t ! nm .-iblc 1o fill Hie lull. 1 mi;,'ht as well state before
T begin that "1 w;is horned on the liorder of the Old Dominion,
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 119
right dare among the niggers, but was fetched up among de
white folks and know'd some of de fust families berry well."
They always wore seedy hats and manifested a general appear-
ance of that sort, talked politics exclusively and knew but little
else.
We had no horticultural societies then. They are all creatures
of a later growth. Our friiits were all seedlings, and no one sup-
posed that we could improve on nature. We now claim that some
of our best fruits have originated from sports widely different
from the parent tree. All the "sports'' we knew anything about
at that time were our fast young men. If one tree happened to
bear better fruit than the other, all the boys in the neighborliood
knew about it, and the owner must be content with what he
could get. Hence he did not care to improve his fruits — not
even for the sake of the boys. I was there, and I know.
We used to have glorious times at the apple parings which
Avere held around in the neighborhood, and where each boy
paired off with his best girl, or at least tried to. We had no
such thing as fruit dryers then. The sun did the business with
the assistance of the flies, the bees and the bugs. The fruit was
placed upon scaffolds out of doors, or hung on strings about the
old fire place. Pumpkins were sliced and strung up in the same
manner to dry, and such delicious pies Auntie could make !
"Auntie," you understand, was not a real name, but meant par-
excellence and denotes the highest degree of honor bestowed
upon the darkey cook.
The fruits grown at that time were not very inviting, and
consequently there was little market for them ; in fact, no one
thought of growing fruit for that purpose. I never saw a culti-
vated strawberry until after I was grown. There were some
wild ones growing along a ditch in my father's meadow, and he
used to trounce me for tramping down the grass to get a taste
of those berries, so is it any wonder that I am such an enthusiastic
horticulturist ?
I believe it was Massachusetts that first set the ball in motion
with such men as Marshall P. Wilder in the lead. What has been
the result? Horticultural societies have been formed and ex-
tended throughout every state and almost every county in the
Union. What are we doing? Experimenting; not blindly, but
scientifically in the production of newer and better varieties of
fruits and flowers, always holding fast the best until something
better is attained. But how has tliis wonderful result been
brought about? Through the means of influence of any particu-
lar section or society? No; but through the united eft'orts of all
the societies of all the states combined working together for the
common good. This concentrated action in a measure controls
1?0 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
the markets, systematizes the handling, packing and shipping of
fruits, and regulates charges, commissions, etc.
Now let us turn to Minnesota as one of those states having
a distinct yet undivided interest in common Avith all the other
states. She has been the child of circumstances from her birth,
located so far north as to be almost beyond tlie limits of fruit
growing. It has been said, and I believe truthfully, that any
country that could not grow its own fruits sufficient for the
common wants of the people could never attain to a high state
of civilization. Does anyone suppose if all the difficulties that
lay in the way could have been foreseen that anyone of these
veterans would have been crazy enough to have attempted to
form a horticultural society in Minnesota 1 But necessity knowa
no law. We must have fruit, and we "went it blind," often-
times reaching out our hands in error, expecting a prize but
receiving only a blank. When I look into the face of experience
it reminds me of the chaplain in the Confederate army who
prayed most fervently that the Lord would give the soldiers
more courage, when a veteran cried out, "We have courage
enough already: pray for victuals." Ye veterans who have been
fighting so long against such fearful odds, going a little here
and a little there, begin now to see the silver lining that skirts
the cloud that reflects the light from the opening gates of heaven !
But in order to carry out this great work there must be united
effort on the part of every horticulturist, and I would especially
call your attention to the efficiency of the ladies. Nothing in
life stimulates action so much or makes our burdens so light
as the sound of a happy voice with the light of a pleasant eye.
Those who wish to attend the apple paring should always come
in "pairs." Our younger members in all probability will not
be required to sacrifice time and means with so little reward
a.s those who have preceded them. The work of the Minnesota
society has been well laid out and skillfully managed. We have
the State Experimental Farm that is doing a grand work in
the interests of horticulture, and then we have auxiliary stations
in different parts of the state that make their annual reports to
the central head station. All these reports come before this
society and are published in its transactions, and in addition
runners are sent abroad everywhere to spy out the land and
gather in goodly fruits for the benefit of the commonwealth at
large.
In regard to myself, I can only say that my pride runs parallel
with that of a friend of mine who always boasted of having
been born in Boston, and declared if he had to be born again a
hundred limes he would go straight back to Boston every time.
I have 111) wisli to live my time over again, not even to correct
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 121
the "mistakes of Moses," but if the mantle of youth could be
thrown around me again I should fall in with this society and
pitch my tent within some garden of roses.
Small fruits of all kinds can be successfully grown in Mower
county. I planted my first fruit trees in 1868, bought of Jordan
& Co., Rochester, ]\Iinn. They survived a few years — and went
to the brush pile. Then I tried Rockford, 111. They soon went
the same way. About this time I joined the Minnesota State
Horticultural Society and got aeciuainted with J. S. Harris, of
La Crescent, Minn., who kindly gave me much fatherly advice
and direction in planting and care of a young orchard. My
neighbors began to take notice and ask questions. Do you ex-
pect to grow apples and plums in this cold, bleak climate? "Why,
certainly!" "Well, I guess not." But I kept tramping along,
leaving my footprints all over this county, so that I am known
to everyone as the "Apple Crank and Plum Fool." We finally
felt the need of a local organization. So Bro. F. W. Kimbal,
of Austin, and Bro. Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, got together
and organized the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society. It
was a success from the start. Fillmore county came in, then
Steele county, and we now have four counties 'in our territory.
There are hundreds of young orchards in this county just
coming into bearing, ranging in size from a few trees to fifteen
hundred and two thousand.
Some time ago I visited the oldest orchard in this county,
planted by E. D. Ames, of Lyle township in 1857. Mr. Ames
said that in 1863 this orchard bore some fruit, in 1864 a fair
crop, and has borne every year since with the exception of this
last year. A great many varieties died, but there are some
"grand old trees" left yet that are producing fine crops every
year. I especially noticed two varieties, "Haas" and "Dutchess"
are inscribed on their trunks and they are good for another half
century.
There are several seedlings originated in this county. E. D.
Ames has a fine Avinter variety. Decker's seedling has been
growing between thirty and forty years on the farm of J. S.
Decker, just east of the city of Austin. This is a large apple,
somewhat in shape and color between Malinda and Northwest
Greening. L. W. Prosser has a seedling apple named after him-
self. It is probably a seedling from the Wealthy. This is a fine
apple, medium size, color yellow, ground splashed with red, mild,
sub-acid. Some trees are more prepotent than others. The
Wealthy is remarkable in this respect. It has produced the
Peter, almost identical with itself, and the Evelyn and Perfect
hav<' many jxiiiits in coiinuon witli it. The Pros.ser, supposed
to be a seedling of it, i-csciiil)l('s it in size and color of fruit.
123 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
The Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society a few years ago
(distributed hundreds of seedlings from the Wedge nursery at
Albert Lea that will be heard from in the near future.
CHAPTEE XIV
COUNTY SCHOOLS
State and County School System — First Schools and First Dis-
tricts in Mower County — State Aid — Equipment — Literary
Societies — Meetings for Officers, Teachers and Pupils — Ex-
hibits and Contests — Institutes and Summer Schools — Pa-
rochial Schools — Story of the Districts — Prepared with the
Assistance of Miss Grace B. Sherwood.
In the story of American civilization the establishment of the
school and the church has been coincident with the building of
home.
However, at the formation of the Union, and later, when the
federal government was established, there was no definite line of
action as to public education, although at the same time that
the Constitution was adopted the last session of the Continental
Congress was being held in the city of New York, and the Ordi-
nance of 1787 was passed, regulating the affairs pertaining to the
Northwest territory, including that portion of Minnesota lying
east of the Mississippi river. In this ordinance much attention
was given to the question of providing a means of public educa-
tion, by giving one section in each congressional township for
educational purposes. Later, Avhen the purchase of Louisiana
was effected, and Minnesota sought admission into the Union,
still further provision Avas made for education by giving two
sections in each congressional township for such purposes. This
gave impetus to the natural tendency toward educational mat-
ters, and we find that one of the first efforts in the ncAv settle-
ments was to prepare to educate the children. The church and
the school building, Avhen not one and the same, Avere practically
always found side by side. The hardy pioneers of the Great
NorthAvest — of which Minnesota was a part — did not Avait CA^en
for a territorial government, but set to work at once to establish
schools. The first one in Minnesota, for the education of Avhite
children, Avas organized by Dr. Williamson, at the present site
of the city of St. Paul. We are told that investigation demon-
strated thiit tlicrc Avei'c about tliirtv-six children in the settle-
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 123
ment who might attend a school. A log house, 10x12 feet, covered
with bark and chinked with mud, previously used as a black-
smith shop, was secured and converted into a schoolhouse, and
taught by Miss Bishop. Here, then, while the United States
troops were gaining such signal success in the war with Mexico,
was begun the system of education which has become one of the
best in this great nation. In this same little schoolhouse, in
November, 1849, Avas held a meeting for the purpose of estab-
lishing a system of public education, based upon the congressional
act of March, 1849, establishing Minnesota territory. Alexander
Ramsey, of Pennsylvania, when appointed governor, proceeded
at once to assume the duties of his office. In his first message to
the territorial legislature, in the fall of 1849, he emphasized the
need of wise measures looking to the establishment of a system
of public education in these words: "The subject of education,
which has ever been esteemed of first importance in all new
American communities, deserves, and, I doubt not, will receive
your earliest and most devoted care. From the pressure of other
and more immediate wants it is not to be expected that your
school system should be very ample, yet it is desirable that what-
ever is done should be of a character that will readily adapt itself
to the growth and increase of the country, and not in future
years require a violent change of system."
In response to this appeal for legislation in school matters we
find that a committee on education was appointed, and a very
able report was made by the chairman, Hon. Martin McLeod.
This report was formulated into an act relating to public schools
in Minnesota, which act was passed on the last day of the
session, November 1, 1849. It organized the territory into
districts, of which the township was the unit, and provided that
if a township had within its limits five families it should be
considered as one district, but if it contained ten families it
should be divided into two districts. Tax levy was provided,
and a system of management arranged. The first superintendent
of common schools for the territory was Rev. E. D. Neill, who
served till 1853. His salary was $100 a year.
The first school instruction in IMower county was given in
the pioneer homes by mothers, who, though they had come to a
new country, did not wish their children to grow \\p in ignorance.
The public system in the county started in 1856, and in that year
many schools and school districts were organized. It is not
known definitely where or when the first public school was opened
in Mower county, l)ut the school taught by IMaria Vaughan, in
Austin, in a log house on the north side of what is now AVater
street, west of the ("liieago Great Western tracks, was one of
the earliest. Tliis was in 1855. A school was also opened in
1-ii HISTOEY OF MO^YER COUNTY
Le Roj' at about the same time. The first sehoolhoiise erected in
the county was in what is now district No. 4, in Le Roy town-
ship. This was built of logs, donated and put up by the citizens
on the southeast corner of the southwe.st quarter of the north-
west quarter of section 29. township 101, range 14. This land
Avas donated for school purposes by J. M. "Wykoff, still a resi-
dent of Le Roy, the site of this pioneer school being now a part
of the John Frank farm. The old building is still in existence,
and is located on the farm occupied by George Klapper. The
first teacher in this old schoolhouse was Melissa Allen, daughter
of David Allen, and afterward wife of Isaac C. Spencer. The
teachers who followed her were N. B. Todd, A. J. Porter, Isaac
Smith, Celinda Burnap, Eliza Pierce and Emma Knapp. N. B.
Todd, the second teacher, was a brother-in-law of J. M. Wykoff.
Probably the only pupil still remaining in this vicinity who
attended the session of this early school is Mrs. L. "W. Prosser,
who lives near Le Roy. Mrs. Prosser is a daughter of W. B.
Spencer, who was a prominent pioneer of the early days.
The ^rst three districts organized by the commissioners of
]Mower county, July 7, 1856, Avere district number 1, now dis-
trict number IG, in Frankford township; district number 2, all
of what is now Red Rock township, and district number 3,
now districts number 35 and 36 in Racine township. District 1
included sections 13. 14, 23, 24, 25 and 26 and the east half of
sections 15, 22 and 27 in township 103, range 14. The petition
was presented by J. "\V. Farquir and others. District 2 included
all of township 103, range 17, and the petition Avas presented by
John L. Johnson. District 3 included the south half of section
1 and all of sections 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12, toAvnship 103, range 14.
The petition Avas presented by Louis Chamberlain. March 16, 1856,
the county commissioners levied a tax for school purposes equal
to one-quarter of one per cent on the amount of the assessment
roll as returned in July.
The schools in the coiimioii disti-ic-ts arc under tlie immediate
supervision of a board of trustees in each district, consisting of
three members, the special and independent districts having a
board of education, consisting of from five to seven members.
The county superintendent liiis general supervision of the schools
in the county. It is lier duly to visit each school, advise teachers
and school officers in regard to the best methods of instruction,
the most approved plans for building, improving and ventilating
schoolhouses and ornamenting school grounds: conduct teachers'
and officers' meetings and make reports to the state superin-
t'udent of public instruction.
The state grants special aid to schools coming up to certain
standards of requirements — $1,750 to high schools, $600 to graded
HISTORY OF MOWER COLT>s^TY 125
seliools, $300 to semi-graded schools, $150 to first class rural
schools, and $100 to second class rural schools. Mower county
at the present thne receives special state aid for four high schools,
three graded schools, five semi-graded, twenty-seven first class
rural and twenty-seven second class rural schools.
Progressive educators hopefully look forward to tlie time, in
the near future, when the country boys and girls will be af-
forded facilities equal to the best in the cities — when, as a re-
sult of consolidation and the establishment of local agricultural
graded and high schools, each teacher will not be required to
teach more grades than she can handle to best advantage, and
the pupils be enabled to secure a good elementary and high
school education without leaving home.
There are now 139 organized districts in the county. Of these,
four, Austin, Lyle, LeRoy and Grand IMeadow, are city schools
with first class high schools. Three are graded schools, Adams,
Brownsdale and Dexter, each with four teachers. Five are semi-
graded, Taopi and Lansing and Waltham, each with two teach-
ers, and Racine and Rose Creek, each with three teachers. The
others are one-roomed schools. There are ten districts which are
joint with other counties and of these eight have their school-
houses out of Mower county. Eleven schools have an enrollment
of less than ten pupils and forty-two have an enrollment of from
ten to twenty. The largest enrollment is forty-eight pupils, in
district 65, in the northern part of Adams, and the smallest is
five pupils, in district 6, in the southwestern part of Adams.
During the past year seventeen districts had nine months of
school ; seventy-one schools, eight months ; twenty-two schools,
seven months; sixteen schools, six months, and three schools,
five months. Most of the short-year school districts have a de-
nominational session a part of the year. Four of the districts
have no school in session.
During the year 1909-10 seventy-two pupils received cei-tifi-
cates certifying that thoy had completed eighth grade studies
v/ith credit. During the present year some 300 are planning to
take the examinations.
Most of the schools are well equipped Avith those things which
are required for efficient work. IMany of the schoolhouses are
new and the old ones are in an excellent state of repair. In
the whole county there are probably not more than six schools
that could be called in poor condition. Eighty schools have pat-
ented lieating plants and fifteen of the rural schools have fur-
naces, wliich are well looked aftcf. All but three have libraries.
During the present yeiii- eiglity seliools will meet the require-
ment for state aid in addition to the seven higb and graded
schools.
126 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
The teachers' training schools, which are conducted in the
county every other summer, do much to increase the efficiency
of the teachers. These schools are paid by the state and are
conducted under the direction of the county superintendent and
a conductor appointed by the state department of public in-
struction. Instruction is given in all the branches required for
ji teacher's cei-tificate. In addition, there are classes in various
other subjects. These schools are free and are well attended.
It is expected that 225 will be enrolled this year.
There are various literary and debating societies in the schools
and the reading circle for the teachers is well patronized. An
institute is held every other spring and three teachers' meet-
ings are held annually. A school officers' meeting and a spelling
contest are also held each year. The annual graduating exercise
were held last year at Dexter, with a picnic, sports and various
other profitable and pleasant events. At the county fair each
year the exhibits of the children make an excellent showing, a
building having been erected for this purpose. Last year 280
prizes were aAvarded to children between the ages of eight and
sixteen for the excellence of their exhibits.
Parochial schools have l)een conducted in various communities
ever since the early days. There are various types of these
schools. The Catholics have excellent schools in Austin, Adams
and Johnsburg (Adams). In these schools the usual graded and
high school subjects are taught, and religious instruction is also
given. There is a Norwegian school in section 15, Nevada
township, and German schools are located in section 29,
"Waltham township, section 32, Dexter township and section 18,
Pleasant Valley township. In some communities, as has already
been noted, the district schoolhouses are used for sectarian in-
.struction when the regular public school is not in session. Schools
are held also in several of tlie churches of the county.
One commercial institution, tlie Southern IMinnesota Normal
College, is located at Austin.
In the graded and high schools of the county there are 2.020
jmpils enrolled and in the country schools there are 2,899. There
are 204 teachers employed. La.st year the expense for graded
and high schools was .^96,675.97 and the expense for the common
schools was .^88,629.50.
Udolpho. Tlie first school in what is now Udolpho township
was a select school taught by Eliza A. Wilcox in a part of heB
fatlier's residence. This was a three months' term in the Avinter
of 1856-57. Eliza also taught a term of district school in the
summer of 1857 in the house of Thomas Richardson, in section 16.
For lier services the teacher received $2 a week and boarded
around. District 49. The first school in this district was kept
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY 1^7
in the summer of 1857 in the home of Thomas Richardson, by
Eliza A. Wilcox. The district was organized in 1859, and a log
schoolhouse was built in section 16. Eliza A. Wilcox was also
the first teacher in this house. It was used for school purposes
until 1870, when it was replaced by a frame building located on
the southeast quarter of section 8. Rosa Carey taught the first
school in this building. District 50. The first school in this dis-
trict was a summer school, in 1857, and Priscilla Miller Avas the
first teacher. The school was held in a log house erected for the
purpose by the neighbors, in the northwest corner of the north-
east quarter of section 26. This building was used for school
purposes until the spring of 1866, when it was replaced by a brick
building, erected during the fall of 1865, on the southwest cor-
ner of section 24. This building has been replaced with a wooden
structure. District 119 joint. This district was organized as
district 57 October 9, 1869, and the first school was held that
winter at the house of John Tuekerson in section 30, Carlos Man-
chester being the teacher. School was held in this house until
1872, when a small house was erected in the southeast corner of
section 19. Mr. Manchester was also the first teacher in this
house. District 60. This district was organized in the winter of
1868 or 1869. A schoolhouse was erected the next spring in the
southeast corner of section 2. This was a frame house and the
lumber was hauled by team from Red Wing. The first school
after the completion of the building was a summer session kept
by Mrs. Mary Timber, wife of E. Thuber, then living in section
10. The schoolhouse was afterward moved to the northeast
corner of section 11. District 76. This district was organized in
1869. The first school was held in the house of S. H. Smith in
section 33, the teacher being Hattie L. Sanford. School was held
in the house of Mr. Smith until 1876, when a new frame house
was built in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of
section 28. Hattie Ricker was the first teacher. District 111
joint was organized by the legislature during the session of 1881-
82, and the schoolhouse is located just over the Freeborn county
line in Neury township. Myra Maxwell was the first teacher,
the first session being the summer term of 1882. District 70 and
district 70 joint. The first school in this district was held in
the dwelling house of John Torkelson, in 1868-69. Carlos Man-
chester was the teacher. In 1870 a schoolhouse was built on the
old Knut Thompson place. Carlos Manchester was also teacher
here. That school was maintained until 1888. In 1889 there was
a division, and each district erected a new schoolhouse. The first
teacher in the new schoolhouse in district 79 joint was Gertrude
^r. Carll. of Fdolpho. The above facts were gatliercd by Jolm T.
Aldal.
128 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Lansing. District 43. The first school in Lansing township
Avas a summer school held in 1858. by Ann ]\Iathieson, in a small
house built for a residence by John Pettibone, in section 11.
The first schoolhouse was a frame building erected in the fall
of 1858, on the northeast corner of section 11. The first term
was taught that winter by George Wood. The material for this
was native lumber sawed at the steam mill at Lansing. The
district failed to pay for the lumber and the house reverted to
the parties who furnished it. It was sold to Mrs. C. S. Rolph.
In 1866 a brick building was erected, in the southwest corner of
section 2. The first school in this house was a winter term
taught by John E. Robinson. In the fall of 1871 a frame addi-
tion was built. District 43 embraces the village of Lansing. Dis-
trict 44, Ramsey village. The first school in this district was a
small log house situated in the southeast corner of the southwest
quarter of section 27. The first school was kept by Charles Oaks,
in the winter of 1857-58. The old log house was used for school
purposes until the summer of 1866, when a brick building was
erected. This house was located near the section line on the
east side of section 22. The first school in this house was kept
by Romanda S. Carpenter. In 1909 a modern brick building was
erected. This is one of the best rural schools in the state,
equipped with all the latest improvements. Alice ]\IcCarthy was
the first teacher. In 1910, Mrs. Addie Cook, who owns one of
the largest farms in the district, presented the school with a
piano. District 45. This district was organized in 1858, and a
log house was built, gratutiously, by the neighbors. The first
school was taught by a Miss Richardson in the summer of 1858.
This house was used as a school until 1868, when a frame house
was built. Ella J. Cook was the first teacher in this building.
District 101. A frame schoolhouse was erected in section 13
in the fall of 1876, with Patrick Gilroy as teacher. District 122
was organized in 1893, and a schoolhouse built the same year in
section 20. Paula Brown was the first teacher. District 72,
joint. This school is located in Corning village, section 6.
Austin. District 27. This district embraces the city of Aus-
tin. The first school in Austin township outside the limits of
the city was taught in the winter of 1857, in the building of
Robert Autis. District 26. The first school in this district was
taught in the house of M. J. Woodson by his son Henry in the
summer of 1858, the young man receiving $10 a month for his
services. James Johnson tauglit the second term of school in
the same liouse. In 1859 a log liouse was erected on the north-
east quarter of section 10. George and Oliver Beemis gave the
h)gs wliicb wcic cut and drawn to the spot l)y M. J. and W. A.
Woodson and II. Van AVinkle. Abbie Litchfield, now Mrs. Eu-
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 120
gene Crane, of ^Minneapolis, was the first tear^her in this house.
George Emery was tlie first teaclier in the frame house built on
the southwest corner of section 11. District 28. This district
was originated at a meeting held at the house of D. L. Chandler
in the winter of 1856-57. Welcome Osborne, D. L. Chandler and
George Phelps were the first officers in this district. In the
summer of 1857 a log schoolhouse was built on the northeast
corner of the southeast quarter of section 32. Delang Richard-
son was the first teacher in this house, which was in use five
years.. Then a house was built in the southwest corner of sec-
tion 28. Mary Hoag Avas the first teacher. District 29, Varco
Station. The first schoolhouse in this district was erected in
1857, at a "bee" of the neighbors, being built from logs. Money
was raised by subscription to complete the building. Delang
Richardson was the first to teach in this house. The building
was located in the southeast corner of section 23. In 1864 the
building was burned and a stone house was erected on the south-
west corner of the northwest quarter of section 25. Forest
Marsh was the first teacher. In 1879 this building was torn
down and a frame building was erected. Mary Hood was the
first teacher in this house. District 55. The first school in this
district was taught by Elizabeth Stone, in a claim shanty located
on the southwest corner of section 8. This was in 1865. In
1869 a frame building was erected on the southwest corner of
the northwest quarter of section 17, Mary Scullen being the
first teacher. District 128 has a schoolhouse in the eastern half
of section 21. The house was built in 1900 and Pearl Bowers
was the first teacher.
Lyle. District 13. The first school in this district, as well
as the first taught in the town, was in session during the sum-
mer of 1856. taught by IMaria Vaughan, in a log house built by
one Pinkcrton on the northeast quarter of section 32. Zillah
Beach afterward taught in Lorenzo Moshier's house, on the north-
west quarter of section 29. Thomas Parker was an early teacher
here. Rev. Samuel Loomis taught in Samuel Surface's house.
In 1860 the district purchased a frame building in Otranto and
moved it to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of
section 23. T. J. Locke, C. R. Houston, ErAvin Lyle and Dora
Clappsaddle were early teachers in that house, which was in
use until 1874. In this year was built a house in the northeast
quarter of section 32. S. Anna IMcCune was the first to teach
in this house. In the spring of 1908 this building was burned'
and was replaced by a modern frame building on the same site.
The first teacher in this l)uilding was Dora Drcwes. District 12.
About the year 1859 the first school was taught in this district
by Rev. Samuel Loomis in a log house standing in section 3. Not
130 HLSTOUY OF MOWEK COUNTY
long after this a schoolhouse was built through the united efforts
of the people. James Foster fui-nished poplar logs for the body
of the house. C. H. Huntington furnished the burr oak logs for
the foundation. The men of the district cut down trees and
erected the building. A new house was erected on the same site
about 1879. Al. Hieock was the first teacher in this house. Dis-
trict 14. A log house situated on the southeast quarter of sec-
tion 5 and formerly owned by John Tiftt, housed the first school
in the district. School was kept here four terms, beginning in
1856, with Nellie Hawkins as first instructor. In 1870 a frame
building was erected for the school on the southeast corner of
the southwest quarter of section 5. The first who taught in
tliis house was Amelia Houghton, afterward Mrs. M. B. Slocum.
The building was later removed to the southeast quarter of
section 5. District 15. The first school in this district was taught
by Thomas Parker in a log house on the property of Josopli
Thompson in the southeast corner of section 27. This was re-
placed in 1867 by a frame building in the northeast quarter of
section 34. The first teacher in this Avas a Miss Carpenter from
Michigan. Five years later in 1872 a larger house was erected
on the same site, J. W. Weiser Avas the first teacher in this
building. This building was destroyed by cyclone and replaced
with a frame edifice. A beautiful surrounding grove was also
destroyed by the storm. District 70. This district was organ-
ized in 1867 and the first school taught by Emma Smith, in a
small frame house on the northeast quarter of section 19. In
1874 a larger building was erected on the old site. District 54.
This district was organized in 1867 and the first house was built
of logs on the southwest quarter of section 12, the first teacher
being Cynthia Addington. In 1881 a good frame house Avas
erected on the southAvest quarter of section 13. Nina Bisbit
Avas the first teacher in this house. District 57. This school
is located in the southeast quarter of section 15. District 57,
according to \V. G. Pace, was organized August 17, 1892, and a
schoolhouse built the same fall on the west side of the south-
east quarter of section 15. Araminta W. Ileseman was the first
teacher. District !)0. Tliis district has a fine school in the vil-
lage of Lyle. Kxcclb'iit Avork has been done in manual train-
ing and agriculture in addition to the usual school duties. The
schoolhouse is a Avcll-cquipii.'d building of brick and nine teach-
ers are employed. A liistory of tliis district is given in connec-
tion Avith tlie history of the village of Lyle.
Waltham. Di.strict 58. Waltham village. This district Avas
organized in 1866 and a frame house erected on the nortlnvest
corner of section 15. Tlic first school was a Aviiiter term in 1868.
Dorothy Johnson AValkcr was llic iir-st teacher. The school is
HISTOKY OF MOWER COUiNTY 131
now housed in a two-roomed frame building, one of the best
equipped in the county. The pupils have a reputation for win-
ning more prizes in industrial and educational contests than any-
other school in this part of the state. District 61. This district
was organized in ]866. The first school was a summer term in
18G7, taught by Emma Hoy. in a schoolliousc completed
Ihat year, located on the northwest cornc%r of section 27. Dis-
trict 89. This district was organized in the fall of 1874. A
frame house was erected during the summer of the following
year on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of sec-
tion 35. The first school was the winter term of 1875-76 and
was taught by J. L. Dole, siibstituting for his daughter Addie,
who after being engaged to teach was taken ill. The schoolhouse
is now located in the soiithwest qiiarter of section 26. District
93. Tliis Avas organized in the fall of 1875 and the following
spring a frame schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of
section 30. The first school was taught by Belle Leighton. Dis-
trict 110 was organized in 1881 and the first school kept by
Flossie Brown, a frame hoiise having been erected, in the south-
east corner of section 6. District 124 has a school in the south-
east quarter of section 1. According to John P. Johnson, the
district was organized in 1893 and a schoolhouse Iniilt the same
year on the present site. Nora 0. Chandler was the first teacher.
In 1910 the foundation was raised and laid with cement blocks,
a new fioor was put in and a Smith heating and ventilation sys-
ti'm installed. District 126 has a schoolhouse in the north half
of section 23. This district Avas organized in 1897. The school-
house was brought from district 107 and moved west to its pres-
ent location.
Red Rock. District 38, Brownsdale village. This district
was organized in 1856 and -a schoolhouse built that year. The
first teacher was Sarah Ticknor. This house was burned in 1858,
but immediately rebuilt. This house in turn was burned in 1871
and at once replaced by a fine building. The village now has a
four-room schoolhouse set in a beautiful grove. It became a
graded school last year and is well equipped for excellent work.
District 37. The first school taught in this district was a select
one under the management of Mrs. Angeline A. Tanner, in tlie
summer of 1859 at the house of Elder Milo Farril in section 13.
The first district school was in the winter of 1860-61, held in
tlie log granary of E. E. Tanner in section 12. In 1862 a frame
house was erected in section 11. The first school in this house
Avas taught l)y S. P. SteAvart. District 39 Avas organized in the
summer of 1858 and a two months' term of school taught by
Tina Perry in the Redbu.sh house in section 5, sessions being held
in the homes of the district until 1864. Avhcn a frame house Avas
132 HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY
built. The school was erected in section 5. The first school in
this house was under the management of Eliza A. Simes. Dis-
trict 41. The first school in this district was in the summer of
3863, kept by Emma Hoy in a small house in section 33. The
following summer the neighbors erected a temporary building
of poles set in the ground and board up in section 34. The first
school in this building Mas kept by Mary Lynch. This district
was organized in 1865 and a frame house erected in section 34
the following summer. The first school in this house was also
kept by Emma Hoy. District 42. The first school in this dis-
trict was the summer term of 1865 in a board shanty erected
for the purpose by the district and located in section 23. Susan
Bacon was the first teacher. In the fall of 1866, the district
erected a schoolhouse on the site of the shanty and Mrs. Sarah
E. Brown was the first teacher. In the fall of 1876 the build-
ing was removed to section 24. District 68. In 1869 an eifort
was made to organize this district, but owing to some irregu-
larities nothing further Avas done until 1876, when the district
Avas fully organized and a frame house erected in time for the
summer term, Avhich Avas taught by Lyle Lynch. The school is
located in section 29. District 115. This district AA'as organized
in 1878 and a frame schoolhouse erected the folloAving spring
on the southwest corner of section 35. The first school in this
house was taught by ]\lary HathaAvay, Avho later became ]\Irs.
EdAvard Slocum. District 116 Avas organized by the legislature
of 1881. and the first school AA^as taught that spring by jMary
Rugg. The school is in the northwest corner of section 23.
Windom. District 40. This district Avas originally a part of
district 23. The first school was taught in the spring of 1857 by
Jane Reeves in a board shanty in section 6, oAvned by Henry Fero.
In the fall of that year a log schoolhouse Avas erected in the
southAvest corner of the northeast quarter of section 6. This Avas
the first building erected for educational purposes in the toAvn-
ship. ]\Iaria Slocum Avas the first teacher in this building. In
1867 the district Avas divided, and district 40 assumed its present
number. Lumber was purchased for a schoolhouse, but for a
time school was taught in a temporary shanty erected on the
northeast corner of section 6. ]\laggie Smith, now Mrs. Man-
chester, of Minneapolis, taught the first term there. Soon after
a frame building was erected on the same site, and Amelia Hough-
ton was the fir.st teacher. District 23 originally included the pres-
ent district 40. After the separation, in 1867, a temporary build-
ing was erected in the southAvestern part of the northAvest quarter
of section 7. Amanda Streavor taught the first term in this
building. In 1868 a frame house Avas built. R('l)ecca Otis taught
the first seliddl in this building. l)istri<'t 24 Avas organized in
HISTOKY OF MOWEI{ COUNTY 133
i ^
1857. The first school was taught by Mrs. Horatio Marsh in her
home. Mary Slaven completed the term. The following year a
schoolhouse was erected on the north half of the southeast quarter
of section 20, by subscription. Kate Bailey was the first teacher
in the house. In 1868 a frame house was erected on the north-
east quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29, Avith Agnes
Hull as the first teacher. District 88 originally included dis-
trict 25, which now embraces Rose Creek village. The district
vv-as organized as No. 25, in 1859, and the first school was taught
in Patrick O'Maley's house, with Sarah Slaven as first teacher.
School was afterward taught in Michael Slaven 's house. In 1864
a log house was erected on the northeast quarter of the southeast
quarter of section 23, in which Eosetta Fuller taught the first
term of school. In 1874 the district was divided, and the south
half, now Rose Creek village, retained the old number. In
1876 a frame house was erected in the south part of section 13.
District 25. After Rose Creek was designated as district 25, in
1874, and the remainder of the district set off as No. 88, a frame
house was erected in the village and Mary J. Gregory taught the
first term. In the summer of 1908 a four-room bi'ick building
was erected in Rose Creek, modern in every respect. District 22.
This district was organized in 1865 and a frame house erected on
the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 10, in
which ]\Ielinda Brown taught the first school. Roswell Slocum
donated half an acre for the schoolhouse site. The lumber was
drawn from Winona, Obadiah Smith erecting the building. Dis-
trict 46 was organized in 1869. During the following yea:r a
board shanty was erected on the southwest corner of section 32.
The first term of school was taught in that building by Maggie
Smith. In 1874 a frame house was erected on the same site.
James Woodard was the first teacher in this house. District 73
was organized in 1869. The first building was a cheap struc-
ture erected on the southwest corner of section 14. Alice French
Avas the first teacher. In 1876 a good building was erected on
the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 22, in
which Newell Slocum was the first teacher. District 82. The
first school in this district was taught in 1867 by Maggie Smith
in a house erected by Thomas Smith in the northeast quai'ter of
section 12. After three weeks a frame house was erected on the
southeast corner of section 1, in which Addie Fairbanks was the
first teacher. District 123. This district was organized and a
schoolhouse erected in 1893. Olive Savage was the first teacher.
Nevada. District 9. In 1857 the scholars living within the
present limits attended a school taught by Osroe Peterson in the
home of Hans Swenson. School was taught in other private
houses until the winter of 1865-66, when a log schoolhouse was
134 HISTORY OF MOWP]U COUNTY
built on the northeast corner of section 31, the money being raised
by subscription. Afterward a tax was levied and the money
refunded. Christiana Goby was the first teacher in this house.
In 1882 a frame house was erected a few rods west of the old
site. District 11. The first school in this district was held in a
board shanty owned by James Gerard, located in section 21. The
next term was taught by Belinda Robinson in a claim shanty in
section 22. The first schoolhouse in the town and district was
built in 1858, on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of
section 28, Martin Hanson having given one acre for school pur-
poses. In 1872 a new house was erected on the old site. The
first teacher in this house was Nels Kalkon. District 10. The
first school in this district was taught by Sarah Austin in 1858,
in a claim shanty belonging to Gregg & Austin. In 1860 a log
house was erected for school purposes in the southeast corner of
section 7. Delang Richardson was the first teacher. Later a
frame house Avas erected, and S. Clow was the first teacher.
District 87. This district was organized in 1870 and a school-
house erected the following year in the southeast quarter of
section 23. IMary Gregg was the first teacher. District 104 was
organized in 1878 and a frame house erected that same year, in
the southwest corner of section 3. The first teacher was ]\Iinda
H. Ruland. District 56. A* frame schoolhouse was erected in
this district in 1865 and the first school was taught the follow-
ing year. The house is located in the southwest corner of
section 1.
Sargeant. District !»1. The first schoolhouse built in the
town was in this district, in 1875, in the northeast corner of
section 15. Jn the summer of that year Eliza W. Sargent taught
the first scliool. A Norwegian school was started in the same
house, with Knud Arhns as the first teacher. The schoolhouse
is located in the southern half of section 2. District 111 was
organized in 1879. A schoolhouse was built that year on the
northeast quarter of section 26. Ella King was the first teacher.
District 113 was organized in 1880, and a schoolhouse built on
!). Tiie first school was taught
The srhoolhouse in this district
located .just over tlic line in sce-
Tliis is tlie village school of
.'hoolhousc in this disti'ict is lo-
cated in the northeast quarter of section 32.
Dexter. District 78. The first school in this district was the
first in the touii of Dexter, and was taught by Mrs. G. \V. Bowles,
at her home in a log house at the northeast (juarter of section 33.
in 1868. A sciiooliiouse was built the following year on the
southwest corner of the southwest <|uarter of section 27. Dis-
the s(
)uthwc
st (|U<
irtcr of
sectio
by T.
II.
Ro
unds.
Distric
t 107.
was (•
Olll]
:)lct
ed in
ISSO. ai:
1(1 wa:
tioii
13.
W
althai
III town
ship.
Sarg(
■ant
Distri
ct 114.
The
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 135
trict 108 was organized in 1877. The schoolhouse was built the
same year on the northwest quarter of section 36. The first
teacher was Jennie L. Schryver. District 106 was organized in
1877, and a schoolhouse erected in 1878 in the southwest quarter
of section 29, Jennie Fairbanks being the first teacher. District
98 was organized in 1878 and the first school taught that year in
the home of Nelson Huntington, by his daughter Mary, with a
single pupil, her sister Rose. Later the territory of this district
was attached to Dexter village. In 1877 the district was set apart
and a schoolhouse built on the northeast corner of the northwest
quarter of section 2. Andrew Quinn and Cora Chadbourne were
two of the earliest teachers in this building. District 86. Dexter
village. This district was organized in 1874. The first school
was a temporary building, put up that year. School was taught
in the winter of 187J:-75 by Jesse King. In 1877 a new building
was erected. At present there is a modern four-room school, well
equipped in every .respect. District 121. The schoolhouse is
located in the sovithwest quarter of section 16. This district,
according to William Newbauer, was organized February 4, 1889,
and a schoolhouse built the same year on the present site. The
first teacher was Mary Siegel. District 125. The pupils of this
district attend school in a schoolhouse on the northwest corner
of the southeast quarter of section 11. According to G. B.
Harvey the district was organized about 1895, and the school-
house erected the same year. Ethel H. Wilsie was the first
teacher. District 129. This district has a school in the south-
west quarter of section 5. It is the youngest of all the IMower
county school districts, and was organized July 12. 1905, under
the good offices of W. L. Lewis. D. L. Tanner, F. E. Hambreeht,
J. Johnson and William Christie. A schoolhouse was built the
same year, and Anna Hanson was the first teacher. W. M.
Phillips was the first clerk.
Marshall. District 65 was organized in 1867. The first term
of school was taught in Helga Errickson's house, by Rosella
Bourgard. The school was built in the southeast quarter of
section 85. In 1879 it was moved to the northwest quarter of
the southwest quarter of section 25. Ida Waite was the first
teacher after the removal. District 81 was organized about the
year 1876. when a frame house was erected in section 2. School
was first taught in 1878 by Ida Waite. This is the village school
of Elkton. District 105 was organized in 1879 and a school-
liouse erected in the northwest corner of section .84. the first
school being taught by Annie Christopherson. District 108.
This district was organized Se|)tember 20, 1879. A hou.se was
erected tiiat fall in the sontlieast coimht of seetion 17, and the
first term was taught by Georgf Kmery in tlie winter of 1879-80.
136 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
District 120. The school in this district is located on the north-
east corner of section 9. According to C. E. Thompson the dis-
trict was organized in 1888 and the schoolhouse built that fall.
Adams. District 6. This district was organized in 1858 and
a small schoolhouse was erected of logs and covered with hay.
The building was located in section 29. The term of school in
this house was taught in the winter of 1858-59 by R. M. Rooney.
The house was burned by a prairie fire the following summer.
Another log house was erected on the site of the old one, and in
this Mr. Rooney was also the first teacher. This building was
likewise burned and a good substantial frame was erected one-
half mile south of the old one in section 32. The first teacher in
this house was Nils Nason. District 7 was organized in 1858.
A schoolhouse was located in section 8. The house is now located
in section 9. District 8 is the village school of Adams. It was
organized in 1858, and a schoolhouse was erected in section 11 in
1873. At present there is a four-room graded school. District 71.
This district was organized in 1871, and the first school was held
the same year at the house of John Fagans, Robert Carter being
the teacher. In 1872 a frame schoolhouse was erected on section
25. The first teacher in this house was Lizzie Boding. The pres-
ent building is in section 26. District 72 Avas organized in 1871
and the first schoolhouse was built in section 22. Catherine Mad-
den taught the first school. The school is now located in
section 27.
Pleasant Valley. The first school in this township was taught
by Carolina Hoag in the summer of 1858. The sessions were
held in a small cabin, twelve by twelve, and eight feet high.
This house stood on runners and during winters was used as a
preemption shanty, remaining on one claim long enough for the
occupant to "prove up," and then being hauled by an ox team to
another claim. In siunmers it was generally stationed on sec-
tions 11 or 12 and devoted to school purposes. Later it was
converted into a wood shed. District 47. In the winter of
I860, before the organization of this district, a school was taught
Avithin its limits in the house of John Rowley. The first teacher
was Alden Douglas. The district was organized in 1862. A
schoolhouse was built the following season on the northern part
of section 29. The first teacher here was C. D. Douglas. Dis-
trict 48 was organized in 1863. Two early terms were taught
in the house of E. B. Blakelec by Alden Douglas. The school-
house was built in 1864 in the southwest part of section 15.
Mary Iloag taught the first school. The present house is about
half a mile north of the old site. District 51. The first school
in this district was taught in 1861, by jMary lloag, in Robert
Reed's milkhouse. The organization was in 1865, and a building
HlSTOJfY OF MOWEH COUxXTY 137
was erected in 1867, in the southwest corner of the northwest
quarter of section 8. The first teacher was Alice Sargent. Dis-
trict 62. A school was taught in Dan. AVilliam's house in this
district in 1865. The district was organized March 30, 1867, and
the schoolhouse built the same j^ear, in the southeast cjuarter of
section 11. In 1909 a new schoolhouse was built a mile south
of this site. District 75. The first school in this district was
taught by Artemisia Way. The district was organized in 1869
and a frame building erected in section 32. The first teacher
was Hattie Hoppin. District 94. The first school in this dis-
trict was erected in 1874 on the northeast quarter of section 35,
but was afterward moved a mile west to where it now stands.
Alba G. Paddock was the first teacher.
Grand Meadow. The schools in this township are located
as follows: District 112. northeast quarter, section 7; District
53, southwest quarter of section ]0; District 26, northwest quar-
ter of section 12; District 21, south half of section 35; District
77, village of Grand Meadow, section 22 ; District 69, southeast
quarter of section 29. District 20, according to G. J. Gilbert-
son, was organized May 1, 1868, with A. O. Finhart as treasurer,
0. W. Case as clerk and B. F. Langworthy as director. A new
schoolhouse was built in 1884, replacing the one erected when
the district was organized. Later a belfry was added and a
fine bell purchased. The building is equipped with the Smith
heating and ventilating system, a good supply of slate black-
hoards and a sanitary water fountain. A first grade teacher
has been employed for the past ten years, and the school is doing
excellent work. District 21, according to C. A. Grimm, waa
organized some forty-three years ago. The records have all
been lost, and the memory of the old inhabitants is vague on the
subject. District 53 is also one of the old districts of the county.
James Joyce has interviewed a number of old settlers on the
subject, among them being Patrick Conlon and wife, who came
liere in 1860, and according to the information which he has
gathered, there was a sod or sod and log schoolhouse in this
district in the earliest times, and a Miss Anker was the first
teacher. All records have been lost. June 3, 1873, a half acre
in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 9 was
deeded to the district, and in 1897 the schoolhouse was moved
from that location to the present site on the southwest corner of
the southwest quarter of section 10. District 69, according to
Fred Dickens, was organized in 1869, and a house built that year
on the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 29.
In 1879 it was moved to the southwest corner of the Northeast
quarter of section 29. In 1890 a new schoolhouse was built across
the street, in the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of
138 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
section 29. The first teacher in the district was Ella Austin.
Her father, Gus Austin, built the first schoolhouse. The records
of the early days in the district has not been kept. District 77
is treated at length in the history of the village of Grand Meadow.
Clayton. The first school in Clayton town.ship was a summer
term kept at the house of W. S. Root in 1872, by Mina Hanna.
District 74. This district had the first schoolhouse in the town-
ship. It was erected on the southwest quarter of section 28, and
the first teacher was Henrietta Bevier. The house is now located
on the southeast corner of section 28. District 83. A schoolhouse
was erected in this district in the northwest corner of section 32
in 1876. Miss D. K. Lee was the first teacher in this building.
The present site is one-half a mile north. District 109. The first
teacher in this district was G. G. Dallen. and the building is
located in the south half of section 11. District 117. The school-
house in this district is in the west half of section 25. It was
built in March, 1885, and three months' school held before it was
finished. It was then plastered and seats piit in, so that school
was held that winter. The first teacher was Delia McDonnough.
District 127. The pupils in this district attend school in the
northwest quarter of section 8. The district was organized Jan-
uary 4, 1900, and Sarah Seanlan was the first teacher.
Lodi. District 67. The school in this district was the first in
the township, and was built in 1868 on section 14, the first teacher
being Nettie Spencer. This house was burned by a prairie fire
in 1871. A new schoolhouse was erected in the same section abotit
80 rods from the old site. Mary Gregory taught the first term
of school in the new building. The modern schoolhouse now
standing is equipped with the only school hot water heating
plant in the county. District 96 was provided with a schoolhouse
in 1876, located on section 29. A Miss Haley taught the first
school. Prior to this, however, a school had been held at the
home of John Hubbard by ]\Iaggie Carr. The district was organ-
ized in 1865 through the efforts of John Hubbard, who gave one-
half acre of ground for a building site. District 80. A school
was erected in this district on section 26 some time before the
organization of the district in 1877. Etta Bevier was the first
teacher. In 1909 a modern building was erected on the old site.
District 100 was organized in 1877 and a schoolhouse built oil the
northeast cornc'r of the northwest quarter of section 7. Ella
Smith was the first teacher in the house. A modern building
now occupies the site. District 99 is the village school of Taopi
and was organized in 1878. The first school in the village was
laiuglit in the winter of 1877-78, in a private house. In 1880 a
frame sclioolhouse was l)uilt in the village, the first teacher therein
being Ida Wells. A two-roomed l)uilding has since been erected.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 139
Racine. The first school in this township was built in 1856.
Rev. Thomas J. Lake was an early teacher. Old district 3. which
included the present districts 35 and 36, was organized July 7,
1856. The schoolhouses in Racine are located as follows: Dis-
trict 30, southwest quarter of section 11 ; District 31, southeast
quarter of section 7; District 32, southeast quarter of section 19;
District 33, west half of section 27 ; District 34, village of Racine ;
District 36, southeast quarter of section 5 ; District 64, southeast
quarter of section 6 ; Di.strict 66, south half of section 34. District
30. The records of this district have been lost. The old school-
house stood on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of
section 11. In 1892 a new house was built on the southeast cor-
ner of the same quarter. The first teacher in the new building
was Jennie Kelly. For this information the publishers are
indebted to Aug. Buekholz. District 31, like so many of the
districts, has not preserved its early records. According to H. 0.
Lewis, a schoolhouse was built in section 7 in 1863 and was burned
in September, 1905. It was rebuilt the same fall on the old site.
District 32 was organized in 1867. William Brown, clerk for fif-
teen years, says: "The schoolhouse was built in 1868 and still
stands on the same spot, although it has been raised and shingled.
The early records were burned when Henry Schroeder's house was
destroyed. We cannot find whether school was taught in 1868, but
we think not. Alden Douglas taught in 1869-70. Frank Glover,
now of Racine, taught the school in 1871. We came in 1868, but
lived in section 8, Pleasant Valley, and did not move to section 24
until 1870." District 33, according to L.H.Eastman, was organ-
ized about 1860, and the schoolhouse erected the same year on the
southwest corner of the south sixty of the northwest quarter of
section 27. Miss Quigley was the first teacher. In 1884 a new
schoolhouse was built on the corner of the north half of the south-
west quarter of section 27. District 34 is treated elsewhere. Dis-
trict 36, according to John Hovda and Arne Anderson, Avas organ-
ized in 1857 and Mrs. Henry Moore was the first teacher, the board
consisting of Ola Finhart, Sr., Hans Anderson and a IMr. Conkins.
For two years school was taught in a farm house. In 1859 a log
schoolhouse was built on the northwest corner of the northeast
quarter of section 5, once Frankford, now Racine. A Miss Connor
was the first teacher in this schoolhouse. This was truly a pioneer
school, the seats being hewn out of logs. The funds were derived
from local subscription. Until 1883 district 36 Avas three miles
square. In that year the district was divided and District 64 set
off. The school in section 36 stands on the southeast corner of
section 5. District 64 was a part of District 36, as above. After
the division in 1883 a schoolhouse was erected in section 6 in 1884,
and here school has since been held. District 66 was organized in
140 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
1869 and the sehoolhouse was built the same year in the southwest
quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34. The first teacher
was Mrs. S. B. Gove. In 1900 the sehoolhouse was rebuilt on the
same site.
Frankford. District 16. This district was originally organ-
ized as District 1 and Avas the first district in the county. The
first school taught in Frankford township was in a room over
Francis Tebout's store in the village of Frankford in 1856. Miss
Cunningham was the first teacher. The first sehoolhouse built in
this district was in 1867. in section 24. It was built of stone.
The first teacher was N. W. Boyes. District 17. The first per-
manent school in this district was built in 1873, on section 36, and
G. A. Elder taught the first school in this building. Prior to this
time a temporary board shanty 12x14, costing $25, was used. The
first teacher was Mrs. Lamberton, who taught three months at
$25 a month. District 19. The first school in this district Avas
taught by AV. F. Grummings, in 1857, in a log house built by
Bothomel Canady, on the northwest quarter of section 22. In
1870 the district erected a frame building on the northeast corner
of the southeast quarter of section 21. District 35. The first
sehoolhouse in this district was erected of logs in 1856, and was
located on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of sec-
tion 11. The first teacher was either Frank Johnson or John Fell.
In 1877 the log house was torn down and a new building erected.
District 84. The first sehoolhouse in this district was erected in
1877 in the northwest corner of section 34. The first teacher was
Lyda Goodsell. District 97. This district was organized in 1876.
The first teacher Avas A. S. Woodworth. The house is located in
the southeast quarter of section 31.
Bennington. District 3. The first school in this toAvnship Avas
taught by Mary IMcKinney. A sehoolhouse Avas erected about 1860
in the southeast quarter of section 30. A new modern building
occupies the old site. District 85. A sehoolhouse Avas built in this
district in 1874 and the first teacher Avas Clai'a Mehurin. District
18. The sehoolhouse in this district Avas erected in 1875 on the
southeast corner of the southAvest quarter of section 12. The
sehoolhouse is noAV located one-half mile Avest of the old site.
District 92. The sehoolhouse in this district was built in 1875
on the southAvest quarter of section 25. The first teacher Avas
Katie ^lehurin. District 95. The sehoolhouse in this district A\'as
built in 1876, on the southwest quarter of section 8. The house is
on the northAvest corner of section 9. District 102. A school-
house was erected in 1877 on the northwest quarter of section 34.
The first teacher Avas N. 0. BorsAvold. District 118. The school
in this district is located in the Avest half of section 17.
Le Roy. District 4. The early history of this district has
HISTOIJY OF MOWEIf ("OUXTV 111
already beon related. In 1871 the present site was selected and a
building erected on the northeast corner of the northwest quar-
ter of section 31. 'Around the schoolhouse in this district there
still cling fond recollections of pioneer days. Here the Metho-
dist Episcopal class was organized, and here the first revival
meeting was held by Rev. Norton. Then there were the debating
society gatherings and many other public meetings of much
importance in the social and political life of the early days.
District 1 had its first school within its present limits at the
home of Henry Meyers in the summer of 1866. The school was
taught by Adaline Gates. The next season Emma Klapper
taught in the same house. In the summer of 1867 a stone school-
house was erected on the southwest quarter of section 1. In
this building Emma Peters taught the first term in the summer
of 1868. A new modern building has been erected one-half mile
west. District 59. This district at an early date was provided
with a school, which was kept in the building of Elihu Morse,
built for a granary. The first teacher was Syreua Lytle. In
1868 the district erected a frame schoolhouse on the northeast
corner of section 7, in which A. M. Maxfield taught the first
school. In the fall of 1882 this building was moved to the south-
west quarter of section 6. This district now has a beautiful
modern building. District 52. The first school in this district
was taught by Mrs. J. T. Williams in the summer of 1863 at
J. M. Morse's house. That fall a house was built on the south-
east quarter of section 18, in which John T. Williams was the
first teacher. In 1869 a grout or concrete school building was
erected on the southwest quarter of section 20, in which Julia
Crittenden was the first teacher. A modern building now occu-
pies the site. District 2. This district was provided with its
first schoolhouse in 1861. It was located on the northwest
quarter of section 9. The first teacher here was Flora Raynolds.
In 1871 a new frame building was erected on the northeast quar-
ter of section 9. James Pierce taught the first term of school in
this house. The children from this district are now transported
to the village school of Le Roy. District 79. This district had
its first school in a house belonging to Charles jMcNeal, located
on the northeast quarter of section 22. This was in 1870. Later
the district purchased a log house from James Sample, together
Avith an acre of land, on the northeast quarter of section 22. This
was used a short time, after which a frame building was erected.
A modern building now occupies the site. District 5, Le Roy
village. The first school in this district was held in a house be-
longing to Daniel Caswell, in the sunnner of 1857. That fall a
stone schoolhouse was built in Die old villiige of Le Roy. Tliis
building "served as schoolhouse, I'liiiicli and |)iililii' hall. AI'tiT
14-2 HISTORY OF MOWEU COUNTY
the advent of the railroad and the building up of the new village
of Le Roy this was sold to the Lutheran church organization and
a new schoolhouse was erected. Le Roy now has a fine high
school building. District 63. The first school in this district
was taught in 1857 by Lydia Bonestell, in a small frame house,
located in the southwest quarter of section 36. Soon afterward
a small building was moved from Fillmore county and located
on section 35. Serena Lytle and Mary Prentice were early teach-
ers in this house. Later a frame building was provided near the
same site, on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of
section 26.
The first superintendent of schools of i\Iower county was J. B.
Tollman. He was appointed by the county commissioners, Jan-
uary 5, 1864, at an annual salary of $100, to serve one year, from
September 1, 1864. He served until 1867. Following him the
superintendents have been : Sherman Page, 1867-69 ; 0. T. Otis,
1869-70; A. S. Pike, 1870; J. T. Williams, 1870-72; A. A. Har-
wood, 1872-74; E. F. Morgan, 1874-75; N. M. Holbrook, 1875-77;
A. H. Tuttle, 1877-81; C. D. Belden, 1881-90; Gertrude Ellis,
1890-1900: Fannv Gies. 1900-07; Grace B. Sherwood. 1907.
CHAPTER XV
ANECDOTES AND ADVENTURES
First Marriage — Hunting and Trapping— -Early Days in Cedar
City — Pioneers of Frankf ord — Frontier Experiences by-
Jacob S. Decker — Independence Celebration — Early Days in
Lansing by 0. J. Rhoades.
To some historians cold facts and exact dates alone are in-
teresting. Others study the great underlying causes of the
world's movements, and are interested in detailed events only
as they constitute a visible effect of these eternal causes. But to
tlie reader of local history nothing is so interesting as the remi-
niscences of the old settlers, in which real actors in the stirring
adventures of frontier days relate for the benefit of posterity
llioso stories and anecdotes that form so intimate a jKU-t of the
life of the pioneer, but which liiid no ))iacc in wi-itlen records.
In preparing the "Hi.story of .Mower County" it has been the
aim to gather as many ol' llusc I'cminiscences as possible, and
tliey are here presented for the perusal of the present and future
generations, that they may learn here the sunshine and shadows
ill tlie lives of those wlio l)l;izc(l 1li(> trail for civilization to follow.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 143
FIRST MARRIAGE
The first mari'iage in Mower county was that of Caleb Stoek
and Mary Watkins, Avigust 24, 1856. The golden anniversary
of this event was celebrated in Austin, August 24, 1906, and on
that occasion was read an address prepared by Mr. Stock. The
address, in part, Avas as folloAvs : In i\Iay, 1856, a company was
getting ready to go to IMinnesota, and among them were my
friends from Burlington, AVis.. conspicuous among them being
Mary Watkins. The AYatkins family, father and mother, five
boys and three girls, were starting then to Mower county, Minne-
sota, overland with prairie schooners. I took the railroad to
the Mississippi, then the steamboat to Brownville, then the stage
to Elliota and Frankford, and then on foot over the prairie to
Austin. "VYe crossed Dobbin's creek and the Cedar river and
found Austin, only a few log houses and a store, Yates & Lewis',
with no hotel. I took my first meal with Father Brown, who
was living in a tent and a Avagon. This was early in June, 1856.
Mv. Lewis showed me around and took me down to see friends,
Phelps and Chandler, who were boarding with Uncle Eben
JMerry. Inquiring for the friends who were coming by schooner,
I learned that they had not arrived. Soon, however, we heard
that the caravan was in camp on Rose creek. The next morn-
ing after, we surprised them by an early call. They were glad
to find a haven of rest after six weeks, with ox team over wild
prairies, crossing creeks and rivers without bridges. There were
tvrenty-seveu in the company. Their hotel had been their camp-
i;]g ground, and their bill of fare their own cooking by the camp
fires. We all crossed the Cedar river at Tiff's ford, and here
we built our first log house. There were no shingles in the
country and we had hard work to find boards for our roof. We
found some at Otranto, Iowa. We could get no lime to plaster
with, but our house was up, and the next move was to get a wife.
I went to Austin to find a minister, but the one who had been
there was gone. This fact was a great setback to me. I learned
there was a justice of the peace in town, 'Squire Smith. I found
him and told him my business. He thought he could do the job
correctly. The day was settled, Augvist 24, 1856, and 'Squire
Smith tied the loiot so tight it was never broken. Father Wat-
kins settled on the farm now owned by David Watkins. Caleb
Stock and John PJielps erected a saw mill at Cedar City in 1856,
and in 1857 Ave added a run of burrs to grind Avheat and corn.
In 1856 the AvintiT Avas the most severe I can remember. In
1856 and the early ])art of 1857, times were good but money
failed, and the iHttcr part of 1857 it Avas hard to get it at from
25 to 40 pel- cent interest. The crop of 1857 Avas a failure.
lU HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Scarcely any wheat was raised, and the corn was frost-bitten.
Supplies came mostly from West Union and Auburn, Iowa, where
Ave secured our first stock for housekeeping. We brought the
outfit with two ox teams over the prairies and through the
streams. In 1858, the spring and most of the summer were very
wet, and in August our mill Avas washed down the river. Pro-
visions were very scarce. Streams were high, and we could not
get out for supplies. We were nearly destitute. I remember
well Avheu we started with five teams for flour and corn meal.
Those who were to share in the supplies left their bags with old
Mr. Brown at the store. He numbered them and arranged
them in order to be filled when the goods came. We had to go
nearly to Mississippi for our goods, and some families lived on
little but fish until we returned. There were a few Indians about
during our first years, and my wife was very much alarmed
lest they should take away our little babe, Ella.
Our early markets were LaCrosse and McGregor. We had to
pay $1 a bushel for potatoes, oats, corn or Avheat. The first
wheat Avo sold we drcAV to the ]\Iississippi and sold for fifty cents
per bushel. Eggs brought four cents a dozen, dressed pork .$2.50
per hundred in ]\Ic6regor. Cows Avere worth $10 to $20 each.
Men's AA-ages Avere from fifty cents to $1 a day. Money still
brought 25 per cent interest in 1858-59.
But those pioneer days have passed and the ox cart is sup-
planted by more modern vehicles. The market of the world is
at the end of our telephone. We have battled Avith fate and
with the elements and avc noAV enjoy the moniunents that our
struggles have builded.
HUNTING AND TRAPPING
Tlie folloAving i'l'oiu tlic pen of S. D. ^lead, Avhile difl:'ering
from generally accepted historical accounts, is nevertheless in-
teresting as coming in evident sincerity from one Avho claimed
to have visited the present site of Austin in 1853. The "Austin
Nickles" spoken of therein is evidently the Austin Nichols Avho
Avas the first settler on the present townsite of Austin.
'The first Avintc innii tliat came to Aiistin was Austin Nickles,
wlio <'niii(' as a Imiitcr in 1lii' fall of 1852 from his home in Clay-
ton county. Towa. 'I'lie next fall, 1853. he came back to this
locality, and 1 caiuc with him. T Avas then fourteen years old.
Nickles sflecti-d a claiui enihracing a part of Avhere Austin now
stands. Thai a\ inter we look nine ])uft"alo skins and many deer,
mink, otter and hcavei', but F do not knoAv hoAV many. I do
remember that Avhat T killed Nickles gave me, and I sold them
Avhen T reached home for $190 in gold. I got one elk near Avhere
HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY 145
the Mihvaukee station now stands that measured nine feet from
tip to tip. I have hunted some in my life, but I was never in
a place where the game was so plentiful and where such a great
variety was to be found. At that time we could get out and
kill a deer in an hour any tin\e in the morning or evening, and
we did kill all that we wanted. Prairie chickens were plenty,
and geese and ducks could be found in any place on the river.
Mink, otter and beaver were plenty, with now and then a
panther, but the latter were scarce. Prairie wolves were every-
where.
"The next year (1854) Nickles sold his claim and went to
Blue Earth. The next year (1855) my step-father (Horace Sil-
ver) with four other families moved to Austin. Robert Autis,
Lym. Gifford, Wilson King and the widow Lockwood, each with
their families, comprised the company, but the latter did not
settle here. The rest took claims along Turtle creek, Autis and
King near the mouth, Gitford about due south of the present fair
grounds, and my step-father, Horace Silver, took his claim
farther up the creek, near the large boiling spring on the west
side. My step-father worked for Chauncey Leverich that sum-
mer in a saw mill which stood about ten rods down the river from
wliere the grist mill now stands, and on the same side of the
liver.
"My step-father owned oxen, as did also Autis, and with these
I helped break the first ground ever broken in or near Austin,
O. "W. Shaw's residence stands on the east side of the first
twenty acres of land ever broken in Austin. There was con-
siderable heavy timber along the Cedar, and a little south of
where the packing liouse now stands there was a maple sugar
camp where the Indians made sugar. The Sioux Indians Jmd
their camp on the ])ank in front of the 0. W. Shaw residence,
a little to the south. In the winter of 1855 and 1856 there Avere
about 200 Sioux Indians wintered on the bottom lands in back
of the Gibson hotel. There was heavy tiniber there then. The
Indians and the whites were always friendly."
EARLY DAYS IN CEDAR CITY
In regard to early d^iys in Slower '•ounty, my wife and I
drove from Burlington, Racine county, Wis., with a team of
liorses, to find a home in the territory of ^linnesota. "We arrived
at David Chandler's farm, October 13, 1856. In the spring of
that year I was married to Hannah Phelps, the daughter of
-Jerimiah and Margarette Phelps, who moved to iMower county,
from Burlington, Wis., with tlie following families: Thomas Bor-
mella, George and AVilliam Phelps, Diadamy and ]\Iary Phelps
146 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
and John "Watkins and family, composed of eight sons and
daughters. John Phelps had preceded them and was on the
ground with E. Merry and family, David and John Chandler,
John Osborne and family, Caleb Stock and a Mr. Smith. The
two last named with John Phelps composed the mill company.
Next came Welcome Osborne and his family, also Joshua Welch
and Abijah Pinkham with their families. These with a Mr.
McKee and Means comprised the neighborhood settlement in
the winter of 1856-57. In the spring came Welcome Chandler
and Andrew Gemmel and tlioir families. Before my wife and I
arrived, Caleb Stock and Mary Watkins had spent their honey-
moon. After their marriage John Phelps went back to Racine
county, AVisconsin, and tliere married a INIiss Lyon, which made
another very valuable addition to our young but growing society.
Then Timothy Gosley won the affections of Ann Watkins. These
three were the first on the list of marriages of Cedar City.
Cedar City mill Avas pushed to completion and began grinding
in due time. But alas, the June freshet took the pioneer mill
down with its rapid current and our young city grew no more
and like many western towns ceased to live.
Several houses were erected by these families. The first
covering for houses were indeed novel, hay, bark, rails and sod.
Abraham Dickerson and father built the first good frame
liouse and barn in the community. A school house was built on
land owned by Caleb Stock. The logs and other timber were
donated by the settlers, and it was built in the spring of 1857.
Diadamy Phelps was the first teacher; she afterward married
John B. Niles, who owned Tefts mill property. Stephen and
David Chandler, Solomon Custer, and John and Evan Watkins
also married early school teachers of Cedar City.
The earliest birth, I think, was a son born to ]\Ir. and Mrs.
«Tohn Osborne. The second, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred
Cressey, and perhaps the third to Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Stock.
Perhaps it may be of interest to record the style of preparing
breadstuff in those early times — no mills, no railroads and
pretty nearly no food at times. Personally, I went to Austin
three times, with money in my pocket, to buy flour, and finally
succeeded in getting eleven pounds of flour of old Mr. Brown of
the Log Store. When corn was nearing maturity the settlers
took tin pans and punched holes through the bottom, and upon
these circular graters managed to get enough corn grated to
furnisli bread Un- a time till they could do better. Welcome
Chandler hollowed out a Iol''. i)ut it in the ground, attached a
sweep similar to a well swcc]) and by means of a pounder, work-
ing like a druggist "s nioi'tjM-, succeeded in pounding out corn,
wbicli irood Sistei- ( 'Imiullei- iiiiide into a first-rate "Johnny
HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY 147
cake." Others resorted to their coffee mills aud ground corn in
them.
The settlement saw close times financially as the days one by
one rolled away. Money was hard to obtain, and the money
loaners often charged as high as three or four per cent a month
for loans on the very best of security.
Among the first of the good men to preach the gospel were
Eevs. Beach and Loomis. The traveling peachers of that time
Avere Revs. Mapes and J. L. Dyer, of the Methodist denomination.
Rev. Dyer held a "protracted meeting" in the log school house
which his own hands helped to make. He had a voice which
could be readily heard a half mile away. Most of the neighbor-
hood were converted and a grand reformation followed. I did
not like him, he was too rough ; a sample of his talk, by way
of introduction to me, was: "You are going to hell, ain't you?"
However, I attended his meetings afterward, and now honor
him for his work's sake. In those early times we were building
and found it best to use oxen and carts for drawing logs, etc.
One night I took my young wife and babe on one of these rude
carts and went to meeting. On going home we had to cross the
creek, and my wife with her babe in her arms slipped off the
cart, but she held on to the babe with one hand and to the cart
with the other, the oxen drawing her and the infant to the shore.
I can testify to the good, honest work of Brother John L.
Dyer, the pioneer preacher. God honored him by his brethren
of a frontier conference sending him as a delegate to the general
conference. I joined afterwards under another preacher in
charge.
Such are a few of the notes in early days. Jeremiah
and M. Phelps had four sons in the Civil war. Mr. AVatkins two,
Essler two and Chandler one. So I think Cedar City and her
people have done something for God and our country worthy a
place in the history of Mower county. — Alfred Cressy.
PIONEERS OF FRANKFORD
]\Iy father, James B. Glover, Avith his family of four children,
three daughters and one son, moved to the then far "West, from
Skancatels, Onondaga county, N. Y., arriving at Frankford
Minn.. June, 1856. There were but few houses to be seen here
at that time, but new arrivals were quite frequent and houses
went up as if touched by magic hand. AYhere in early morning
would be a bare clearing at nightfall the gleam of a lighted
candle could l)e seen from the windows of some rude yet cosy
cabin home, showing the progress of a single day.
The first church in iMower county was built here tlie Jiext
148 niSTOIJY OF MOWEU COUNTY
year, the principals in the work being Elders Reeves and Wal-
dron. The following Avinter it was formally dedicated as a house
of worship. About the same time Frank Teabout built the first
public hall. This was 24x60 feet. It was used that Christmas
day and evening for a ball, over 100 couples being present. Mrs.
Heidel, an aunt of the proprietor, and Henry Metzgar provided
the bountiful supper for the gay and happy company.
The company was composed of all classes, from Fillmore and
i\rower counties. Goodly numbers came from Austin and Chat-
field. The music was furnished by our own home pioneer band,
the greater part of Avhom were married men living near here,
George Hunt, Samuel ]Metcalf, Hazard Titus and Gideon Sherman
being among the number who constituted this band.
We had a good and large school at this point that winter.
It numbered about seventy pupils. Professor Hotehkiss, of Ober-
lin, Ohio, was the teacher, with myself as his assistant. At that
time we had the county seat at this place and felt quite im-
portant. But the county seat honors were taken away from us,
and our dreams were not realized. — Mrs. Matilda Lamb.
FRONTIER EXPERIENCES
At the time of my arrival in Minnesota, and settlement east
of Austin, in 1856, there were but two stores in Austin. J. B.
Yates and V. P. Lewis were the proprietors of one and A. B.
Vaughan of the other. One was located on the corner of Mill
and Chatham streets and tlie other was south of where J. F.
Fairbanks now has his warehouse. A. B. Vaughan was post-
master. Mr. Day had a blacksmith shop built of logs on the
corner of Main and Water streets. Chauncey Leverieh, com-
monly called "Chance," liad a saw mill located about where
A. S. Campbell's mill is now standing. George H. Beemis had
a shoe store on the corner of Chatham and ]\Iill streets. Frank
Blank had a shingle machine located where the electric light
and pumping station is now located. There was a log hotel
located on Water street, between Franklin and Chatham streets.
At the time T ai'i-ivcd there were no clnirches or schoolhouses.
Til 1h(' moiiUi of June, on a beautiful Sunday morning, we
lieard the iir.st sermon in Austin preached by a ^Methodist min-
ister iiauicd Erastus Mapcs. Tlic meeting Avas held in a frame
house which I\lr. Levciidi was l)uilding for a hotel. In August,
Rev. Stephen Cook arrived in vVustin from 01)erlin, Oiiio, with
a commission from tlie American Home Missionary Society to
organize a Congregational eluirch. He held meetings in private
houses nntj] Avinter. Ijate tliat fall the town people erected a
HI STORY OF MOWKU COUNTY 14!)
building called "Headquarters," foi- a store and mccliii>;' place,
and for day school and Sunday school.
The second trip I made from home after arriving in Austin
was to "Winona with two yoke of oxen for lumber for this "Head-
quarters" building. I arrived home October 34 and found that
the prairie fires had sAvept the whole county in my absence.
During the summer of 1856 I joined ox teams with one of my
neighbors and broke about fifteen acres, on Avhieli I raised some
buckwheat. In December, John "Willson, one of my neighbors,
joined teams with me, took my wood-shod sled and started Avith
my buckwheat for Preston, Fillmore county. Arriving at Carri-
mona, we found a grist mill and exchanged the buckwheat for
flour. "\Ve obtained wheat flour, corn meal and shorts, and started
for home. Ours was the last team to cross the prairie between
Frankford and Austin that winter. The road between Austin
and High Forest and thence to ^\"inoua was kept open all winter.
The county seat Avas then at Frankford.
In the spring of 1857, I sold my two yoke of oxen and took
up a note I had given to pre-empt my land. Consequently I had
no team. I raised corn enough that season to trade for a yoke
of oxen with John Phelps. In the summer of 1857 I exchanged
work with mj"- neighbors and had sixteen acres broken. In the
winter of 1857-58 I cut and split oak rails enough to exchange
with George N. Coukey for fourteen bushels of seed wheat. T
sowed the wheat in the spring of 1858. In the fall I cradled and
bound, threshed and cleaned, and thus secured seven bushels of
wheat all told. In the spring of 1859 I sowed that seven bushels
and never raised better wheat. That same spring a party con-
sisting of James T. Sargent, Hugo ]\Iills, John Whalasky, "Will-
iam Baker and myself went to Ilesper, a Quaker settlement in
Iowa, and secured flour, corn meal and middlings. In the fall
of 1860 I went to Mitchell county, Iowa, for flour. This time I
took wheat of my own raising. That same fall I exchanged my
yoke of oxen and a small stack of wild hay for a three-year-old
Arabian horse. I also exchanged 120 bushels of wheat for a
three-year-old mare. The first trade was made with James
Carver and the latter with Abraham Lott. Then I had no har-
ness. I worked for a neighbor, John "Watkins, and took a mule-
iron tug harness for pay. This harness had no lines, but I
bought a bell cord and made a pair of lines which I used two
years. In the latter part of December, 1862, I loaded forty
bushels of wheat and a 400-pound dressed hog for a merchant of
Austin, George B. Hayes, and started for Winona, our nearest
wheat market. "When about luilf way between Brownsdale and
Beaubien Grove the tire on one of the wheels of my wagon
liroke. I stopped immediately. There 1 was. all alone. The
150 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
around was frozen hard and there "was no snow. But fortune
favors the brave. The porker was on top of my load. I took the
end boards out of my wagon box, piled up the wheat sacks as
high as the bottom of my box, slid the hog out on sacks, un-
leaded the balance of the wheat, and then took the broken tire
and returned to Brownsdale, where I had it set. Then I went
back as far as Mr. Tanner's, the last farm house, and there
stayed all night. The next morning after breakfast I started for
my load of wheat and pork. "When I reached the spot everything
was as I had left it, and the prairie Avolves had not scented the
feast. I backed up to the pile of wheat, slid the hog in the box,
reloaded the pile of wheat and made another start for Winona,
Avhich place 1 reached Avithout further mishap.
In the winter of 1865-66, I think it was in January, Obadiali
Smith, A. V. Ellis and myself planned to start on a Friday
morning for Casson with wheat. In the morning it looked very
stormy, so I was the only one that started. I arrived in Casson
in time to sell and unload my wheat. That night it snowed all
night. I started for home the next morning. The roads were
badly drifted. When I came to the last farm house I had the
farmer go with me and start me across the lone prairie. After
looking around, he advised me to go back with him and stay
until Monday morning. This was Saturday afternoon. I did
so. Monday morning was cloudy and it looked like snow. There
was nothing to guide me, no sun Avas visible, and it Avas not less
than fifteen miles to the settlement north of BroAvnsdale. How-
ever, I started. There Avas no evidence of the summer road to
guide me. The grass, weeds and hazel bushes Avere all snoAved
under. The railroad had been finished to Casson the fall ])efore.
After I had gone about tAvo miles, it w^as apparent that the team
was lost. I stopped, tied the lines to the box, dropped on my
knees and prayed to the Lord to guide, the horses to the settle-
ment on the other side of the prairie. I did not touch the lines,
but let the team go as thej' pleased, and did not hurry them.
In the afternoon T came to the settlement about one mile north
of the right road. I Avas very happy after striking tlie right
road. That is the only time I Avas ever lost.
In February, 1865, James T. Sargent, George N. Conkey,
Henry Carter, Isaac N. Peterman, Hugh IMills, James Mills and
myself started for St. Paul Avith loads of oats. The Avheeling
was good, and all the ground, except the roads, Avas about cov-
ered Avith snow. We sold our oats in St. Paul and drove across
the country to Minneapolis. That Avas my first trip to the TAvin
Cities. The rest of tlie parly loaded tlicir wagons Avith lumber
for a Methodist chui'di. 1 loaded mine Avith pine siding and
flooring to finisli an addilioii to my lionse.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 151
May 5. my house was destroyed by fire and we lost every-
thing except AA'^hat we had on our backs. The building was
insured with the Madison Mutual of Wisconsin for $300. In Au-
gust of the same summer, I took a load of wheat to Winona,
accompanied by our oldest son, Calvin. We camped out along
the way and slept under our wagon nights, except when in the
city. At AYinona we sold our wheat, purchased a carload of lum-
ber, and shipped it by rail to Rochester. We followed the train
to Rochester, unloaded the lumber, brought a load home and
finished the house in time to move in November 16.
My wife helped me in all my work until the boys were old
enough to take her place. With heroic fortitude she loaded and
stacked hay and grain, cut corn, dug potatoes, milked the cows
and did her housework. My Avife and I are charter members of
the Congregational church of Aiistin, Avhich we helped to organ-
ize July 6, 1857. We also had the pleasure of assisting in the
celel)ration of the fiftieth anniversary, July 6, 1907. I am a life
member of the American Board of Foreign Missions, a life mem-
ber of the American Home IMissionary Society, a member of the
JMinnesota Territorial Pioneers' Association; helped to organize
the Austin Co-operative Creamery Association, and Avas its first
president; was president of the Mower County Old Settlers'
Association eighteen years, and have been a member of the Aus-
tin toAvn board for a number of terms, as well as town treasurer
and a justice of the peace. — Jacob S. Decker.
INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION
M. J. Slaven has furnished this Avork AA'ith an interesting
account of an early Fourth of July celebration in Rose Creek.
'"What an event our first Fourth of July celebration was to
those of us who had knoAvn no play for a year! It was the
people along Rose Creek Avho took the lead. A fcAV days before
the Fourth we called our neighbors together to prepare for the
coming of the great day. Mrs. Aaron Draper and i\Irs. Catherine
Slaven were appointed as a flag committee. They procured their
OAvn material and experienced something of the satisfaction and
joy of Betsy Ross at the wonderful results accomplished. Mrs.
Patrick 0']Malley, Mrs. Thomas Smith, Mrs. Stephen Sutton and
]\Irs. AndrcAv Robertson planned the feast and the men AA'ent at
their Avork Avith zeal. At sunrise on the Fourth the sound of
Draper's anvil awoke the echoes and people began to gather at
the O'Malley farm, near the site of the i)resent village of Rose
Creek. People came from Austin, BroAvnsdale, Frankford, Le
Roy, Nevada, and in fact from the whole length of Rose Creek.
AVhat a jolly crowd it was that greeted our tiag, Avhich floated
152 HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY
from the top of an oak tree which had been stripped of its
branches. There was a program, of course. Thomas Smith read
the Declaration of Independence. James Slaven delivered the
oration and then came a bountiful dinner, followed by games and
races. Then the tables were spread again, for we were a healthy,
hungry race, and though not epicurean in our tastes the joys of
the table certainly appealed to us. As evening came on the
older people prepared to go home. Not so the younger ones,
who clamored for a dance. The Fourth did not end for them
until the dawn of the following day, when after a hot breakfast
they were obliged to start for home. Perhaps it was this gath-
ering more than any other which promoted a feeling of interest
in one another among the people, and that interest has not
entirely died out, as witnessed by the yearly gathering of the
steadily decreasing circle of those who are privileged to call
themselves old settlers."
EARLY DAYS IN LANSING
Clymer, Chautauqua county, N. Y., was the place of my birth,
September 17, 1845. From there I moved with my parents to
Warren county, Pennsylvania, and stayed six years. Then, in
the fall of the year, our family started for Iowa with a team.
After a long journey we reached Maquoketa, Jackson county, the
night before Christmas. Then we went to a farm near where
Delmar Junction is now located. There we stayed four years.
Then we changed our horses for two yoke of oxen, and made our
way to Gundy county, Iowa. We arrived there in May, 1856.
We did not like the place, however, and in August of that year
we started for Minnesota. We found a place that suited us and
on August 25, 1856, we pitched our tent in what is now section
22, Udolpho township. There we started to make a home.
When we reached here father had two yoke of oxen, one cow,
and thirty-five cents in money. The third day after we arrived
father was taken ill with malaria and rheumatism and had to be
helped to get out of bed. We badly needed some hay cut for
the winter use of the cattle. I mowed what I could, but I was
barely eleven years old, my eleventh birthday coming in Sep-
tember of that year. Mother bunched up what hay I could mow
and then we hauled it and stacked it around some crotches and
poles, thus making a place to sleep in. We had the stove in a
tent made of the wagon cover. We had an early frost and this
killed the grass, so I could cut no more hay. Then I started to
cut logs for a house, father being just well enough to get out and
show me how. Our first visitors were five Indians on horseback,
who seemed mucli interested in al! tluit we were doing. Later
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 153
the forest fires began to run. I secured a plow and plowed some
guards. I thought this made us safe, but one windy day a fire
came and while mother and I were getting father where it was
safe the fire jumped the guards and burned everything we had,
except the clothes on our bodies, and even those clothes were
of the very poorest. I went out and found the frightened oxen
and took father and the rest to one of the neighbors, where we
spent the night. The next day we went to Austin and sold one
pair of oxen, thus securing money to buy provisions and clothes.
While we were gone the neighbors had been about and gathered
some bedding and clothing for us, so with what we purchased
we managed to get along. Some of the men from Lansing came
and cut logs, with which they built us the body of a house, one
story high. We laid some poles across and a neighbor loaned us
a tent to put over for a roof. We chinked the cracks and plas-
tered the logs with mud, and in this edifice we lived, keeping
the cattle in the other end. In November I went to Brownsdale
and got a load of oak timber for floors and doors. Provisions
were scarce and high. Corn meal was $5 a hundred and pork
$15 a hundred. Flour we did not dare even think of. Winter
set in early and very cold. We had to sell our last team and
wagon to get food and clothing for the winter. In the spring
we wanted to get some breaking done. It cost us $5 an acre.
Wages were fifty cents a day, when one was fortunate enough to
get work. Father secured the use of two yoke of oxen for
br,eaking ten acres each. Then he joined with another man who
had two yoke and secured a twenty-four-inch grub plow and
broke all summer. Thus we lived through the summer. I drove
four yoke of oxen and father worked out when he could find
anything to do, in the meantime doing things to make the house
more comfortable. Our clothes wore out and mother colored
cotton meal sacks with bark and made dresses for herself and
the girls, and trousers and jumpers for father and me. We
killed game and caught fish for food, and had one cow to furnish
milk. The second winter father worked at burning charcoal.
He also had some traps made and caught animals, from which he
sold some fur. W^ith this money we purchased a little flour and
some clothing. In the spring I worked four days for a bushel
of potatoes, so small that each one would go through an inch
tiole. But they made good seed and we raised good potatoes,
[n the spring of 1859 father had $15, which he had received from
curs. With this he hoped to buy a hog, but the man who brought
ihem in from Iowa wanted fourteen cents a pound and would not
cut one up. So we could not buy. But a man said he Avould
sell a three-year-old cow for $15, so we brought the cow home.
This we traded for a four-year-old bull. Soon avo j)urchased
154 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
another bull at Brownsdale for $17 and broke in the pair to
work together. We had a wagon, so we made a wooden sled,
which had to answer for freight and pleasure. Then we joined
with two of our neighbors and broke ten acres apiece. One of
the neighbors had a stag and a cow for his team, the other had a
good yoke of oxen, and we had the bulls. In the spring of 1862
we sowed fifteen acres to wheat and broke some more land.
August 9 we commenced to harvest. Father cut with a cradle,
mother raked in the sheaves, and I bound, while the two girls
placed it in shocks. That day father enlisted in Company C,
Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantrj', and went to Ft. Snelling,
from which place he went out after the Indians. Mother and I
harvested the crop. I cradled, mother raken in, and then would
carry the cradle back and I would bind it. This took a long
time. Father came home on a furlough and helped stack it.
Then I secured a threshing machine and threshed it. We had
no granary, so I laid iip a rail pen and thatched the sides and
roof with straw and put the wheat in. We needed some clothing
and desired to change the wheat into money. So we had to get
it taken to Winona. I could not haul with my team, so we hired
a neighbor to take a load for us. He charged twenty-five cents
a bushel. When we reached Winona all he could get for it was
thirty cents a bushel. It cost seven cents to get it threshed.
So he took it to the Stewartville mill and had it ground into
flour. He gave me half the flour and kept the bran and the
shorts to feed his team. That is the way I made money. But I
got enough to eat and managed to get along. Father went
south with his regiment and was taken prisoner at the battle of
Guntown. Pie was starved to death by the rebels in Milan
prison. I stayed in Udolpho, paid for the place and took care
of mother and furnished a home for the girls until they were
married and had homes of their own. Mother died January 1,
1910. I have never had time to get married, so I am still single.
—0. J. Rhoades.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 155
CHAPTER XVI
EARLY AUSTIN
City Founded at the Old Water Ford — Coming- of Austin Nichols
— Arrival of Chauncey Leverich — Beginning of Settlement —
Platting the Village — Pioneer Days — Important Events — Mur-
der of Chauncey Leverich — Stories of the Small Beginnings
of What Has Become an Important City.
Austin, the county seat of Mower county, is situated, broadly
speaking, in sections 2, 3, 10 and 11, in Austin township, and
sections 34 and 35, in Lansing township. The exact incorporate
limits are as follows:
All of section 3 ; the north half and the southwest quarter,
and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 2 ;
the northeast quarter of section 10 ; and the northwest quarter
of section 11, all in township 102, range 18. Also the south half
of the south half of section 34, and the south half of the south-
west quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter
of section 35. Also a strip of land, 40 feet wide, oE from the
west side of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of
same section 34. Also the land within and known as Oakwood
cemetery, being in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter
of the same section 34, township 103, range 18.
The city is three miles from the western line of the county and
midway- north and south. It is built on both the east and the
west banks of the Red Cedar river, which raises in Dodge county
to the north and flows south into the state of Iowa. Austin was
laid out in the fall of 1855 by Chauncey Leverich and A. B.
Vaughan. and regularly platted in the spring of 1856.
FIRST SETTLEMENT
The first settler on the present site of the city of Austin was
Austin Nichols, who located here in 1853. He sold his claim in
1854 to Chauncey Leverich.
Chauncey Leverich was a young man. from twenty-five to
thirty years of age. naturally bright and ambitious, with an eye
to business. He pre-empted 160 acres of land, described as fol-
lows : The south one-half of the northwest quarter of section 3,
and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of the same
section, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of
section 2. The latter piece of hind inclndcd the mill site. He
immediately commenced building a saw mill, whieh was com-
156 HISTOBY OF MOWER COUXTY
pleted early the next year. He started in business with good
prospects, but his career was suddenly brought to an end in 1856.
During the same year, 1854, the following named came: D. J.
Tubbs, Benedict Brown, Robert Dobbins, David L. and Willard
Smith, and a inan named Pinkham. Late in 1854, or early in
1855, Winfield Loveland and Francis Stuhfell came.
D. J. Tubbs was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1825.
On coming to this county he entered and bought land in this
vicinity, but continued to work at his trade. He built a saw mill
in 1854 on the site of the present flouring mill of Engle & Co. lu
1856 he built a saw mill for himself about one and a half miles
south of Austin on the Cedar river. These were among the first
mills erected in ]\Iower county. Mr. Tubbs remained in Austin,
engaged in contracting and building, and became a substantial
citizen.
Benedict Brown was a son of Aloysius Brown. He erected a
small frame building near Fay R. Smith's residence and enter-
tained travelers for a time. He pre-empted the northwest of
section 3. In January, 1856, he sold three forties of this land to
Yates & Lewis. He remained a resident of the place two or
three years. He afterwards engaged in farming in Lansing.
In 1879 he removed to the Dakotas.
Robert Dobbins claimed the southwest of section 3. In the
fall of 1855 he sold to David Oliver. He then went to Lansing
and later to Clarksville. Butler county, Iowa.
David L. Smith was born in Genesee county. New York, Jan-
uary 22, 1820. In 1854 he and his wife, Emma Tierney, started
in a prairie schooner to seek a home in the territory of Minne-
sota. He arrived at Chauncey Leverich's house on October 19.
He had left his family in Fayette county, Iowa. After remaining
here two weeks, returned for his family, bringing them to Mower
county. They spent the winter on the present site of the city of
Austin. In the spring of 1855 he built a cabin on his claim in
the town of Lansing; lived there a few months, then purchased
eighty acres in section 2, town of Austin, where he lived ten
years, after which he sold and bought a farm in section 5, town
of Windom.
Willard Smith, brother of David L., spent the winter of
1854-55 in Austin. He afterward settled in section 2, where he
resided until the time of his death.
Pinkham made but little impress upon Austin, and after a
short time departed without leaving even a record of his first
name or initials.
Winfield Loveland was a blacksmith by trade. He purchased
a piece of land now occupied by ]Mrs. G. jM. Cameron and there
erected a set of log l)uil(liiigs. He was a lover of fast horses.
HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUNTY 157
and was the owner of a running horse that was so well trained
that after having been once led over a piece of road he would go
over the same stretch to beat another horse or against time
without a rider. Loveland remained here but two or three years.
After his removal the stable which he had used was taken down
and moulds for making gold and silver coins were found secreted
between the logs. It was remembered that he had several times
passed counterfeit money, but had always willingly redeemed it,
and thus avoided trouble.
Francis Stuhfell was a Canadian Frenchman. He purchased
the lot later occupied by Sylvester Smith's family. He erected a
shanty and made shingles for a time. In the fall of 1855 he sold
to Sylvester Smith and located elsewhere. He went away with
Loveland. A part of the time while living here he kept a saloon.
SETTLERS OF 1855
The people who spent the Avinter of 1854-55 here were obliged
to subsist to quite an extent on wild game, which was quite
abundant. The spring of 1855 opened with brighter prospects,
quite a number of settlers coming that year. Among those that
came were the following: George and Oliver Bemis, J. B. Yates,
V. P. Lewis, Sylvester Smith, Levi Watrous, Abe Haveling and
"Wild Cat" Brown, G. W. Mason and a man named Hayes.
George Bemis settled on the lot east of Sylvester Smith's place ;
was one of the men prominently connected with the "stealing of
the county seat." He was an honored resident of the county
until 1869. when he removed to Utah, where he engaged in
mining. His death occurred there in August, 1884.
Oliver Bemis, from Maine, in 1855 pre-empted 160 acres near
the present city, built a shanty and started breaking the land.
The following year he sold this land and purchased a farm in
section 11. Four years later he sold this place and bought a
farm in section 3, Windom township, at about the same time
starting, with his brother George, the first shoe store in Austin.
J. B. Yates and V. P. Lewis were both natives of York state
and of a speculative turn of mind, and were engaged in business
here for many years. Yates continued to reside in Austin.
Lewis remained here iintil 1882, when he removed to Hopkins,
Mo., where he engaged in mercantile trade.
Sylvester Smith was from Canada. He purchased Stuhfell's
place. He snon became prominent in county affairs and remained
a resident of Austin until his death.
Abe Haveling (or Haling) Avas a hlacksinith by trade, was
one of a roving disposition; remained here but a short time.
"Wild Cat" Brown was a frontiersman of the roughest type.
l.-iS HISTORY OF MOWER COU^'TY
Civilizcitioii did not seem to agree with hiiu, so he left iu 1856.
G. W. Mason purchased an interest in the town plat from
Leverich. It was he with Vaughan that had the race to Frank-
ford to beat Yates and Lewis and get their plat recorded first,
but like otliers that raced with the same parties got left.
Levi Watrous was from Iowa and with his brother had a claim
in section 12. He lived here about two years. Afterward he
entered the ministry. He was a chaplain in the army. The last
heard from he was near Elkader, la., pastor of an Adventist
clnu'ch. It is said that iu the spring of 1855 Watrous. Leverich
and ]Mason were one day sitting under a tree speculating as to
the future of the place and during the conference named it
Austin, in honor of Austin Nichols, the first settler. The place
at the time was known as Leverich 's mill.
Hayes was generally called Black Hayes, to distinguish him
from G. B. Hayes. He was a speculator in land; remained here
but a short time.
SETTLERS OF 1856
In 1856 the following named were among those who came:
J. H. McKinley, Charles Ferris, George E. AVilbour, Solomon
Snow, R. L. and W. S. Kimball, Orlenzer and Ormanzo Allen,
Joshua L. Davidson, Hiram L. Coon, G. B. Hayes, D. B. Johnson,
Jr., Aaron S. Everest, G. ]\I. Cameron, Colbert C. Hanehett,
Loyal AV. Sjirague, Dr. J. N. Wheat, Rev. Stephen Cook and his
son, John F., Harvey M. Allen, Samuel Little, S. W. Rice, Luther
S. Morgan, James C. Ackley, Albert Galloway and L. N. Griffith.
J. H. McKinley cMinc early in Ihc spring and purchased a
frame bnilding. which he opened as a hotel, the first in the place.
He managed it but a few months, when he sold and moved to
^Mitchell county, Iowa.
Charles Ferris Avas ]\lcKinley 's son-inJaw. He came at the
saiii(> time and went away witli him. lie was a carpenter by
traile.
Solomon Snow and George E. Wilbour were from j\Iassachu-
setts. They Ijonght the liotel fi-oni :McKinley and entertained
travelers three years, wlicn Wilbour returned to ^Massachusetts.
In 1869 he cam.' back.
R. L. and W. S. Kimball, natives of New Hampshire, came
Ajn-il. They soon opened tiie first hardware
Ormanzo Allen were twin hrotiu'rs, natives of
•a me iiere from AVisconsin. The former was a
;t to locate in Austin. He practiced here until
loved to ^lilan. Rock county, AVis., where he since
I'lM
mi Illinois
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iri' in the j)
lac
Orlenzer a
lid
Yd
rk slate, ai
id
I'll
ysicifin, the
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(■(), when he
m-
IIlSTOh'Y OK MOWKK' COUNTY 15!)
died. Ormanzo was a lawyor by profession, lie caiiu" in tlie
month of July and lived here luitil his death.
Joshua L. Davidson was born in New Hanii)shii-e, in Deeeniber.
1812. AVhen a lioy he moved with his parents to Allei^heny
eouiity. New York, in the town of New Hudson, near Cul)a. lie
married in his young manhood Phoebe Ann Woodford, who was
own cousin to Lucius Robinson, ex-governor of New York. Fi\e
or six years after their marriage they moved West, settling in
Lake county. Illinois, near Chicago. He there engaged in farm-
ing. xVfter four years there he removed to Rockford, 111. This
was about 1851, and he remained there till 1855, during wliich
time he made several trips into the great Northwestern territory,
of which Minnesota is now a part. In the spring of 1855 he came
to Winona. Minn., where he purchased a large interest in the
town site of that city. His wife died the spring he left Rockford.
1855, and November 24, 1856, in Fond du Lac, Wis., he married
his second wife. Mrs. H. Attilla Albro. In the early spring of
1856 he came to Austin and bought large interests, among which
was the land known as ''Davidson's addition to Austin." He
was a speculator in real estate and a busy worker at whatever
his hands found to do. He moved his family to Austin in the
spring of 1857, having already, in company with John F. Cook,
D. M. V. Stuart and 11. C. Bolcom, built the first frame building
of any size. This was known as the "Headquarters." The
pine lumber used in the erection of this old landmark was hauled
from Winona, a distance of nearly a hundred miles. During the
Civil war he built the Davidson House — the second hotel of the
place. He leased this property until the last year of his life,
when he operated it himself. I\Ir. Davidson was deacon of the
Austin church from the time of its organization until the time of
his death, which occurred February 27, 1873. He donated the
lots upon which the Congregational church now stands at Austin.
Hiram L. Coon was a physician. He remained but a short
time.
G. B. Hayes was a native of New Hampshire. He was the
leading merchant of Austin for somi^ years.
D. B. Johnson, Aaron S. Everest and G. M. Cameron weie all
lawyers liy profession. Tlie two foi'mei- wci-e natives of York
state, the latter of Canada.
Colbert C. Hanchett and Loyal W. Sprague cauie fi-om Wis-
consin and ciigagcd in mercantile trade, in \\liicli tlicy contiiuied
anout tlii'ce years. Ilanchclt was aftci'ward in tiic army as a
sutler. He died in tiic South during tiic war. 'I'iie last licai'd
from Sprague he was at Whitewater, AVis.
J. W. Wheat was a native of New Ilampsiiire; a physician.
James C. Ackly pui-cliascd a oni'-fourth interest in the village
160 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
plat. He afterward engaged in the boot and shoe trade. After
the war he moved to southern Missouri and later to Atchison,
Kan., where lie died.
Albert Galloway was born in the town of Newburg, Orange
county, N. Y., October 6, 1822. In 1856 he started for Minne-
sota, intending to locate at Minneapolis. ^Yhile on the boat
between Dunleith and Winona he met friends who induced him
to go to Chatfiield with them. They started from "Winona on
foot and walked to Chatfield. After a short stop there they pro-
ceeded on their journey and walked to Frankford. He there
procured a ride to Austin. This was in the fall of 1856. He
immediately pre-empted a claim in section 17, town 102, range
18. He proved up on that claim in November of that year and
engaged diiring the following winter as clerk in Hanchett &
Sprague's store. In 1857 he formed a partnership with D. R.
Johnson, Jr., and engaged in 'mercantile business. He had cut
some logs, which he sawed at Leverich's mill, and erected the
store building. The lumber for siding and floor he drew from
Winona. Galloway & Johnson dissolved partnership about one
year later, after which Mr. Galloway continued in business alone,
carrying a good stock of goods. He remained in business until
1868.
L. N. Griffith was born in Allegany county, New York, No-
vember 18, 1824. He removed when a child to Lorain county,
Ohio. He was postmaster of Austin postoffice from 1857 to 1858,
and was also justice of the peace for many years.
Others that were known to have been here as early as 1856
were Dennis Crandall, John E. Hallett, Samuel Wheeler, C. P.
Carpenter, Charles and George Bodle, J. M. V. Stuart, John M.
Fleming, A. W. Billings.
John E. Hallett engaged for a time clerking in Yates & Lewis'
store.
J. M. V. Stuart and John M. Fleming were from Canada.
The former had money to invest in land. After two or three
years he moved to Kansas. Fleming was a young man with a
good education. He was for a time deputy register of deeds.
He remained a resident of Austin until the time of his death,
whicli occurrrcd in an early day.
Charles Bodle remained here two or three years, during which
time lie drove stage.
C. P. Carpenter was also a stage driver. Two or three years
later he went back to New Hampshire, where he lived a fcAV
years. Then returned to Austin, where he died.
Ill STORY OF MOWER COUNTY IGl
FIRST EVENTS
The first man to locate in the vicinity of Austin was "Hunter"
Clark, who built a log cabin near the grounds of Oakwood ceme-
tery in the fall of 1853. The first frame house in Austin was
erected by Chauncey Leverich, in the autumn of 1855. In 1866
the first brick dwelling house in town was the Congregational
parsonage, corner of Maple and St. Paul streets. The second
by J. B. Y''ates, corner of Kenwood avenue and Mill street. The
bricks were made in Austin by Y^ates & Lewis, who started the
first brick yard. The first white child born in Austin was Austin
Bemis, son of George H. and Eleanor Merrick Bemis, born No-
vember 17, 1855. The second child born in the place was Carrie
]\I. "Wheat, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Wheat. She was
born December 6, 1856. She became the wife of E. G. Bascorab,
of Rochester, Minn. The first piano owned in the city was pur-
chased by Dr. J. N. Wheat. The first church organ was played
by Mrs. Johnson, at the Methodist church, in 1863. The first
brick business house in Austin was erected in 1866, by Harlan
Page, for a bank, with laAV offices above. This was destroyed by
fire in 1869, and the present First National Bank building erected
on its site. The first goods were sold by A. B. Vaughan, in 1855.
George H. Bemis ran the first shoe shop. The first death within
the place was that of Chauncey Leverich, in the early fall of
1856. Old settlers declare that David Oliver broke the first
ground on the forty acres now platted and known as "Parker &
Brown's addition to Austin."
EARLY DAYS IN AUSTIN
Judge Ormanzo Allen, some years ago, in an address before
the Old Settlers' Association, admirably summed up the early
histoiy of Austin in the following words :^
In the year 1853 the territory embraced in Mower county was
surveyed into townships and seetionized. Prior to that time
and, as for that matter, several years thereafter, Mower county
was the home and hunting grounds of the wild Indian, and the
early settlers of Mower county have seen them in their native
independence as they have been by scores in their teepees and
wigwams along the Cedar river ; and many of you have seen
them in their native dependence as they have begged for bread
in your houses, where they have entered \inannounced and un-
invited, and you have heard their simple language.
In the fall of 1852 some camps were made along the Cedar
river by trappers from Iowa, but were al)andoned in tlie follow-
ing wintiM-. In thi' fall of 1853, near where Oakwood cemetery
162 HISTOKY OF MOAVEE COUNTY
now is, a man by the name of "Hunter" Clark settled and built
there the first log house in the eastern part of Mower county.
About this time came Austin Nichols, who built a log house just
back of where Judge Cameron's house afterward stood. Austin
was named in honor of tliis first settler on the to-\vn plat of Aus-
tin. Austin Nichols soon moved west. That same winter of
1853-54 and in the spring of 1854 other settlements were made
along the Cedar river and Deer creek and loAva river, Lewis
Patchin being among the number of settlers along Deer creek.
In the latter part of the year 3854, and in the year 1855, set-
tlers began to come in from Iowa and Wisconsin, among whom
were Alanson B. Vaughan, who settled at Lansing; John Rob-
inson, who settled near High Forest ; John Tift, who settled eight
miles south of iSustin; Chauneey Leverich, who bought out
Austin Nichols; Abraham 8. Lott, C. H. Huntington, James and
Return B. Foster, who all settled four or five miles .south of
Austin along the Cedar river. September 14, 1855, the first land
was taken and proved upon by Chauneey Leverich, Jeremiah B.
Yates and Velorous P. liewis. Sylvester Smith, Henry and Will-
iam Baudler and many others came this year, 1855.
During the year 1856 hundreds came to Austin and ]\Iower
county, and among them your obedient servant. So that at the
close of the year 1856 there were estimated to be 600 people in
Mower county and abcnit 100 people in Austin.
The first deed for the conveyance of real estate in Mower
county is now on file at the office of the register of deeds of
Goodhue county, in the city of Red AVing. Many deeds were
filed and recorch^d in Houston county, and several years ago
William Carey Snow, then deputy register of deeds for Mower
county, went to Caledonia and copied such deeds upon our
records.
The first minister tluit ever preached a sermon in Austin Avas
the Rt^v. Ml". IMapes, then stopping f(n' a sliort time near Browns-
dale. Following close on to this was a sermon by the Rev. ^Mr.
Phelps. These sermons were l)oth by Methodist ministers, and
botli preached in the Snow & AVill)our hotel. Rev. Stephen Cook,
John F. Cook's father, a Congregational minister, was the third
person to i)i'c;icli in Austin. lie preached during August, 1856,
and tlic succecdiim' iVw moutlis in a small house, then iised as a
schoolroom, and on 1lu" spot wlici-e Tliomas Riley's dwelling Avas
later en-tcd. Duriiit:' 1hc winter of 1856-7, Rev. E. F. Gurney
and Steplu'n Cool^ prcjirlicd in pi'ivate liouscs about town as they
were invited.
The first sdionl in Ausliii was laugiif by Alaria Vauglian in
a log bouse, whicii was afterwards occupied by yours truly
and liis wilV lor a (iwcUing house and stood on the north side
HISTOEY OF MOWE]J COUNTY 16a
of Water street, where James Anderson's was later erected. The
second school was taught by one Sarah Berais, sister of Oliver
and George Bemis. The third by Kate Conkey, sister of George
N. Conkey. Both these schools were located in a small building
where Thomas Riley's dwelling house was later erected. The
fourth and last primitive school was taught in the winter of
1856-7 by a young gentleman by the name of Saxon, the pay-
ment of whose wages caused the arrest and sale of several thou-
sand shingles, by your most obedient as district clerk, belonging
to two merchants whose names I forbear to mention. Those
young merchants severely threatened that faithful clerk of the
school district with a long and tedious lawsuit, but the suit has
never come oflP yet, as I have heard. The first schoolhouse built
in Austin was later occupied and used as the Methodist Episcopal
church.
The first ])arties married in the county were Caleb Stock and
^lary "\Yatkins. This was in 1856, Sylvester Smith, a justice of
the peace, officiating. The first birth was that of Austin Bemis,
son of George and Eleanor Bemis, in the year 1855. The first
death was that of Mary Robinson, of High Forest, daughter of
John Robinson, in the year 1855. The first town site recorded
was the town of Austin, M^hich was partly surveyed and platted
by Yates & Lewis and is now Y''ates & Lewis' addition to Austin.
Then followed the village of Au.stin.
Several once live and famous town sites have long since
passed in their chips. I refer to the city of Madison, ten miles
north of here on the Avest side of Cedar river, which once had its
hotels, stores and saw mill. I refer also to the city of Two Rivers,
one mile and a half south of here, at the confluence of the Turtle
and Cedar rivers, which 6nce had a famous hotel, kept by Robert
Autis, and for a time bid fair to eclipse Aiastin. I refer also
to Cedar City, six miles south of here, wlijch once had its saw mill
and its flour mill, and Justice Meanes, before whom long suits
at law were wont to be tried in ancient days. But the floods of
August, 1858, swept out the last vestige of that city. I refer
also to Troy City, eight miles south of here, which, unlike its
predeees.sor of ancient lore, never had any wooden horses to
l)eguile the unsuspecting and overcredulous, but it had its hotel
and saw mill and grist mill, which the floods of 1858 and finan-
cial reverses swept away. There were also some misadventures
upon the east side of the county in founding cities, like Frank-
ford and old LeRoy, which have nearly faded oiit.
The first frame house built in the county was built by Chaun-
cey Leverich on lot 5, in block 2, in the village of Austin, near
where the dwelling house of James T. Sargent was later erected.
By so doing the Leveriehs were accused, at that time, of putting
164 HISTOEY OF MOWER COr>s'TY
on "airs," •which frame house long since went down before the
corroding tooth of time. The first saw mill built in the county
was built by Chauncey Leverieh in the year 1855, where Eugle's
was later erected.
The first newspaper ever published in the county was by
David Blakely in Austin in the fall of 1858, called the ]\Iower
County Mirror. Blakely started this paper in consideration of
being elected to the lucrative office of register of deeds of Mower
county. He published this paper for about one year, and was
succeeded by Rufus K. Crum, Avho published the paper for about
another, at which time the paper was removed to Rochester,
]\Iinn. About four months thereafter B. P. Jones commenced the
publication of the Courier, which, by various devices, was con-
tinued for some two years, when Jones went into the United
States service, and in July, 1863, the Mower County Register
•was started by Herman R. Davidson, just out of Oberlin college,
and son of Joshua L. Davidson, who published the paper for
about one year and until his death, when C. H. Davidson con-
tinued the publication of the paper. Then came the Transcript
and other papers.
The hasty glance Avhich we have taken contrasting the present
with the past shows that IMower county has indeed made great
progress in every material and A-ital matter pertaining to and
affecting the interests and the true interests of her citizens, and
that Mower county is well abreast with other counties in our
state in her mechanical and agricultural interests, as well as
schools, churches, railroads, buildings, bridges and every in-
ternal improvement calculated to build up and develop the
wliole country. , ,
HEADQUARTERS
In the winter of 1856-57, the building known as Headquarters
was built. It was built by Joshua L. Davidson, J. F. Cook,
J. M. V. Stuart and H. C. Bolcom. It was located on Main street.
The lower story was used as a store for many years. The upper
story was all that can possibly be meant by the word "head-
quarters." Within tliis building the Mirror, the first paper in
Mower county, was started by David Blakely, and its newspaper
honor did not close till it had been used as the office of the INIin-
nesota Courier, the Register and Transcript, thus being the birth-
place of four of Mower coiinty's solid journals. The first court
ever held in Mower county convened here. It was also used
for school and religious purposes. Some of the early settlers
will remember how the pioneers came in from the country with
ox- tenms to worsliip at tliis place. There were the old and
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 165
young, and among the number might have been seen pretty
maidens with their shaker bonnets, and sometimes in their bare
feet. This was also the place for holding all the public gather-
ings, festivals, dances and other events. Could its walls but
speak, what a tale it would tell of days long since passed into
oblivion. The Austin National Bank now occupies the site.
OLD TERRITORIAL ROAD
In the early fifties of the last century, a half-broken trail
wound its way from the Iowa state line to what are now the
Twin Cities. In time the trail became known as the territorial
road. At one point it made an abrupt turn to take advantage
of a ford in a beautiful stream that bubbled and gurgled over
pebbles and ever-shifting sand. Along the trail and down to
the ford came army horses and mules to plunge fetlock deep and
thrust their dust-filled nostrils in the cooling water. Here the
troopers used to tarry on their way through the Northwest.
Here emigrants in canvas-covered wagons rested while their
tired oxen browsed on the rich herbage. The Sioux from his
tepee on the banks watched the ever-increasing, never-ending
tide of caravans that were to crowd the red men toward the
setting sun. Trappers of the mink and of the otter, and hunters
of the deer, came and pitched their tents beneath the cotton-
woods.
In the meantime came Austin Nichols. Others followed. Then
came Chauncey Leverich. He came to the crossing of the Avaters
on his way to the Northwest, where he sought the fur-bearing
creatures of forest and stream. Standing on the banks of the
Cedar, he said: "Here will I pitch my tent, here Avill I found a
city." Here, therefore, the city was built upon the bank of the
Cedar, whose waters once swept noisily through this valley to
join the far away Mississippi, now harnessed for the needs of
man, forms a lake dotted with islands, among which dart the
swiftly driven launches of pleasure seekers. Along the banks
of the river, parks are laid out, not to spoil but to preserve the
wildness of spots which nature made lovely in wanton, reckless
prodigality. There are some places where it would seem that
nature had set out to make more beautiful than any other spot
some places where she seemed to have worked to display what
the poet has called "her wilder majesty." Aeons of time she
spent to enrich the soil and then set the deep and everlasting
springs, some to pour forth like fountains, some mere trickling
streams of liquid crystal to flow from the black loam, others
she set to form deep pools and put in perpetual motion the sil-
very sands to roll about the bottom as thougli blown by some
166 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
spirit of the deep. luto the soil she scattered with a prodigal
hand the seed of a thousand flowers and grasses that the land
might flow with milk and honey. After they who spied out the
land had returned with the grapes of Esehol, others came to
this goodly land. The pioneer followed the trail of the trappex\
The lowing of the kine was heard where the wolf's long howl
had echoed down the flights of years. The preacher came to
plant the cross where the Indian had pitched his wigwam. The
teacher came and the schoolhouse was set like a lamp upon a
hill. The railroad supplanted the trail itself and the electric
spark told that Austin was born on the spot where Chauncey
Leverich stood when he declared to his trappers fifty-three years
ago, ' ' Here Avill I build a city. ' '
That was over half a century ago. The old ford is no more.
The rapids above it are harnessed and the wheels they turn grind
the grain that grows where the hunter lay in wait for the buffalo
and deer. The trapper comes no more to the stream, for he has
passed on with the Indian, the mink and the otter. The terri-
torial trail has become a legend with which the old settlers love
to beguile an hour with the newcomer. Its windings were long
Hgo made straight, and brick paving covers the soil once trod
by trooper and emigrant. Automobiles rush along the city
streets where the covered wagon caravan creaked over the prairie
trail. The cottonwoods are no more. They were patricians in
those days but plebeians in this. The places they occupied are
now filled with graceful elms, fragrant catalpa and handsome
maples, spirea bow their wreaths in the boulevards over a car-
pet of deepest green. The sky line, once formed by the trees
of tlie virgin forest, is now marked by the spires and crosses of
a half a score of ehvirches and by the smokestacks of factories and
the roofs of happy homes. — John H. Skinner.
Leverich bought out Austin Nichols and settled on the original
village of Austin, Davidson's, Berry's, Brown's and Parker's
and a forty of railroad additions; D. J. Tubbs built a saw mill
for Leverich; Robert Dobbins settled on the Balcora quarter;
Benedict J. Brown on Yates & Lewis' and Brown's additions. In
.September, C. H. Huntington. A. S. Lott, Calvin Powers and
Moses Rolfe took claims east of the Cedar in the southern part of
the town, and D. L. Chandler began the Cedar City settlement.
The Averys, father and two sons, settled the Strever farm and
other land near. David L. and Willard Smith came in October.
1S.")4. Fi-ancis Stuhfell and Winfield Lovel, or Loveland. a
l)l;i<ksinith, came later, perhaps early in 1855. The first mad<'
shiiigh^s and for a time ran a saloon ; the last loved fast horses
and, so the old settlers allege, made counterfeit money. Game
wns abundant ;ind n principal means of sii])sist(>nce. In 1855
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 167
George and Oliver Bemis, shoemakers; J. B. Yates, V. P. Lewis,
Sylvester Smith, Levi Watrous, Abe Haling, A. B. Vaughn, G. W.
Mason, Black Hayes and Wild Cat Brown and others were added
to the city population. There settled in the town Robert Autis,
on section 10 ; Alexander Nigus, on the Ellis farm ; Reuben Wat-
rous, Widow Lockwood, George and Thomas Phelps, Clem Smith,
Daniel McPherson and M. J. Woodson. In 1856 there came
early J. H. McKiuley, and built the first hotel, Avhich he sold to
Sol Snow and G. E. AVilbour, arriving later, and Charles Ferris,
carpenter ; R. L. and W. S. Kimball, hardware ; four attorneys,
Ormanzo Allen, Aaron S. Everest, D. B. Johnson, Jr., and G. M.
Cameron; three doctors, Orlenzer Allen, H. L. Coon and J. N.
Wheat, and G. B. Hayes, Hanehett and Sprague, merchants;
-J. L. Davidson, John F. Cook, Luther S. Morgan, James C. Ack-
ley and L. N. Griffith, town proprietors ; Rev. Stephen
Cook, Albert Galloway, S. W. Rice, Samuel Little, H. M.
Allen and J. j\I. Berry, afterwards judge of the supreme
court. That year there settled in the township, among others,
Jacob S. Decker, AV. A. AVoodsou, John Chandler, H. VanAVinkle,
John AA^atkins, Caleb Stock, Alfred Cressey, Thomas Bonnallie,
John Rose, H. E. Case, Thomas Varco, H. G. Prouty and AVel-
come Osborne.
In the fall of 1855, Leverich, with the services of A. B.
A^aughn as surveyor, staked out a village, including the village
of Austin and Davidson's addition, but did not properly survey
and record the same. Yates and Lewds had bought the S%, of
B. J. Brown's claim, NEJ4 of 3, and tried in vain to have Lever-
ieii make the principal street on the quarter line of three, now
AA'est Main street. Leverich platted tlie sides of his lots clear
up to the line. Abates and Lewis, with ]Moses Armstrong as sui--
veyor, laid out their addition and Brown's, but in the evening,
learning of the movements of A^'aughn and INIason, platted Austin,
consisting of blocks 1 to 6 in their addition, so as to be entirely
surrounded by their future addition and coming only wnthin a
block of AYest IMain street. Vaughn and Mason had bought in
with Leverich, and in his absence learned of Armstrong's sur-
vey, completed their survey of the fall before and late in the
evening. April 16, 1856, crossed the Cedar in a boat and started
on foot for Frankford, the county seat, to file tlieir plat. A'ates,
Lewis and Armstrong drew tlieir plat, mounted horses, tried at
various points to ford the swollen Cedar, gave it up, the night
being very dark, staid all night at John Pettibone's in Lansing,
crossed in his boat in the morning, swimming their horses behind,
and passed Afason and Vaughn about four miles this side of
Frankford. They found the .iustice al)sent, sent for Felcli, pro-
bate judge, and acknowledged and filed their plat. A''aughn and
168 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
i\:rason arrived half an hour late, altered their plat by dropping
the forty that became Davidson's addition, and christened the
other forty "Village of Austin," and filed two hours later.
Leverieh's saw mill was the first business established. A. B.
Vaughn and son, P. D., opened the first store in the spring of
1855, and sold out to Aloysius Brown in 1856. Yates & Lewis
opened the second store; Sprague.& Hanchett and the Kimballs
opened stores soon after.
The growth of the town was from the mill westward on Water
street and the street south. Yates and Lewis moved the few
buildings erected in their town to the village. The increase in
numbers was less in 1857 than in 1856. J. S. Lacy built tlie sec-
ond hotel pretty well out of town, where the Fleck House stands.
In 1858 Avas the first period of railroad construction. What is
now the Milwaukee line from IMinneapolis south Avas surveyed
in 1857, and in 1858 graded for half the distance, not continu-
ously, but in patches. Bank notes secured by bonds issued by
the state for each ten miles of this grading, furnished circulating
medium till they collapsed in the spring of 1859. The crops
succumbed to the high water in the summer of 1858. A. Brown
distributed the supply of flour and meal that kept the inhabitants
alive. ]\Tost of it was drawn from Chatfield and Decorah, Iowa.
The state of the roads was such that it often required many days
to make the journey. When it Avas noised that teams Avere gone
for a ncAV supply, sacks and cash Avere deposited to make sure of
a portion. The demand sometimes exceeded the supply, so that
but ten or fifteen pounds could be allowed to a family. Gold
Avould not buy more and everyone received in proportion to their
family. ToAAmship and A'illage together in 1860, 462 ; in 1865,
760; in 1870, 2,632, toAvnship being 592 and the village 2,040;
in 1875, the village had 2,601; in 1880, 2,305; in 1885, 2,505; in
1890, 3,901; in 1895, 5,087; in 1900, 5,471; in 1905, 6,489; in 1910,
6,960.
LETTER FROM A. R. NICHOLS
In 1906, John II. Skinner Avrote to A. R. Nichols, tlie first
white settler on the present site of Austin, and asked his help in
ascertaining certain facts. At that time Mr. Nichols was liA'ing
at Nichols, Minn., of AA'hich he had previous to his resignation
been postmaster for twenty years. In reply, Mr. Nichols gave
the folloAving interesting information: "I Avas born in the town
of Hopkinton. St. LaAvrence county, Juno 13. 1814. In 1817 I
was taken to Livingston county, in tlie same state, and in 1818
Avent by sleigh through Canada to Detroit, ]\Iich., Avhich at that
time contained a cnmplpnu'nt of Ignited States soldiers quar-
iiJ STORY OF MOWEK COUNTY IGi)
tered in the historic fort, and a few French settlers along the
river. In the fall of that year we went back to Michigan and
settled at the lakes on the Huron river. In 1841 we "set sail"
in a prairie schooner for the West, crossing the Mississippi on
Christmas day, 1841. Then I went to the lead mines in Galena,
111., and Avorked five or six years, then came back to Iowa and
spent a winter at Cedar Lake, hunting buffalo. The following
summer I went to Cedar river at St. Ansgar. That summer the
state line was located. That fall, 1852, and again the following
fall, 1853, I hunted along the Cedar river, and possibly the first
fall got as far north as Austin. When I reached Mower county
in the late fall of 1853, there were only three settlers in this part
of the county : Mr. AVoodbiiry and his son-in-law, Mr. Pinkerton,
at Woodbury creek, north of the Iowa state line, and O. P. Clark,
in a shack to the north of what is now Austin. June 8, 1854, I
drove the first claim stake in Austin, and a short time afterward,
O. P. Clark brought his family and several head of cattle to his
claim, which Avas above mine. The next settlers were Eobert
Dobbin, jMiller Clayton and ]\Ir. Pinkham. I sold to Mr. Leverich.
Then I left Austin and went to Blue Earth river in Faribault
county and settled doAvn to farming until after the close of the
war. I then sold out and went to IMinneapolis, stayed there sev-
eral years, and then came to ]\Iille Lacs lake, Avhere I am at
the present time."
PLATTING THE VILLAGE
In the fall of 1855, Chauncey Leverich and A. B. Vaughan
staked out a village on the southeast quarter of the northeast
quarter of section 3, but did not properly survey and record the
name. On April 16, 1856, J. B. Y'ates and V. P. Lewis procured
the services of M. K. Armstrong, county surveyor, and com-
menced to plat a village on the northwest quarter of section 3.
The siirvey Avas not completed until late that evening. Vaughan
& Mason (the latter having bought an interest in the plat) saAV
Yates and LcAvis at Avork. Their suspicions Avere at once aroused,
and thinking to checkmate them they also effected a regular sur-
vey of the lands Avhich they had staked off the previous autumn,
and late in the evening Mason and Vaughan (Leverich being
absent) crossed the Cedar river in a boat and started on foot to
Frankford, the county «eat, to file their plat ahead of Yates and
Lewis. But the latter party, being fully equal to such an emer-
gency, mounted their horses and rode up the river several miles,
trying at various points to ford the sAVollen stream and get to
the county seat in advance of them. The night being very dark,
they finally .stayed all night at John Pettibone's, in the tOAvnship
170 HISTOEY OF MO WEE COUXTY
of Lansing. In the morning Mr. Pettibone took them across the
river in his boat, while they swam their horses behind. "When
tliey came within about four miles of Frankford they overtook
Mason and Vaughan, who had started the night before on foot,
and had spent the night upon the prairie, and when first seen
were hun-ying along at a rapid gait for the county seat, in order
to have their plat placed on file first. Neither party had had
their papers acknowledged by a .justice of the peace, as was
required by law, and when Yates and Lewis, who arrived at
Frankford first, found that the justice of the peace was not at
home, they sent for Judge C. J. Felch to come and acknowledge
their papers that they might place them on record at once.
Vaughan and ]\Iason arrived a half hour later, but were too
.late, as Yates and Lewis had filed a plat of "Austin." Two or
three hours later Mason and Vaughan filed their plat as the
"Village of Austin."
Recorded Plats — Tlie following describes the filing of each
plat in what now comprises AiTstin: Austin, Yates & Lewis, filed
April 17, 1856; M. K. Armstrong, surveyor. Village of Austin,
April 17, 1856; A. B. Vaughan, surveyor; proprietors, "Washing-
ton Mason, Chauncey Leverich, A. B. Vaughan. Bolcom's Addi-
tion, August 25, 1856; N. F. Hilbret, surveyor. John iNI. Berry's
Addition, October 7, 1856; D. B. Johnson and A. W. Billings,
surveyors. Davidson & iMorgan's Addition, March 17, 1857;
D. B. Johnson, surveyor. Brown's Addition, August 6, 1857;
Charles E. Carter, surveyor. Yates & Lewis' Addition, August 3,
1857; Daniel B. Johnson, surveyor. Parker & Brown's Addition,
August 19, 1867; C. J. Shortt, surveyor. Railroad Addition,
January 1, 1868; James A. Case and A. B. Rodgers, surveyors.
Palmer's Addition, December 22, 1869; James A. Case, surveyor.
Yates' Addition to Austin, December 17, 1872; George W. Clough,
surveyor. Fay R. Smith's Addition, November 1, 1883; E. B.
Crane, surveyor. Galloway's First Addition, April 8, 1872;
Galloway's Second Addition, ^Vlay 5, 1887; Galloway's Third
Addition, May 16, 1887; Lewis Park Addition, July 4, 1887;
Blaven's Addition. July 2, 1887; Duggan's Addition, December
31, 1887; outlots, section 30, November 21, 1887; Lake Park Ad-
dition, December 9, 1887; outlots, section 2, December 7, 1888;
Oak Park addition, August 1, 1890; Ranney's Addition, June 6,
1891 ; West Park Addition, September 5, 1891 ; Woodlawn Park
Addition, May 7, 1892; Hayes' Addition; May 31, 1892: outlots,
section 11, June 13, 1893; outlots, section 26, June 13, 1893; out-
lots, section 2. June 13, 1893; Elmwood Addition, August 9,
1893; outlots, section 11, August 2, 1894; outlots, section 2, Au-
gust 10, 1895; Galloway's Addition to AVest Park Addition. Oc-
tober 4, 1893; Varco's Addition to Austin, December 4, 1895;
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 171
outlots, section 9, December 31, 1895 ; outlots, section 2, April 22,
1896; outlots, section 2, May 18, 1896; irregular survey, in sec-
tion 4, December 31, 1896; outlet, section 2, May 21, 1898 ; Jacob's
Addition to Austin, June 24, 1899.
MURDER OF CHAUNCEY LEVERICH
In August, 1856, Chauncey Leverieh. one of the first settlers
of Austin, came to an untimely death at the hands of a crowd
of drunken roughs. The affair has been generally believed to
have happened in about the following manner: It took place at
a saloon where the new Elk hotel now stands. The parties
committing the crime were intoxicated and making loud noises
and acting very boisterous about Mr. Leverieh 's place, and he
finally put them out of doors and they began pounding the side
of the building, whereupon Leverieh went out determined to
drive them away, but in the engagement he was struck by a bar
of some kind, which fractured his skull. He lived about a week
and was buried upon the corner of the same lot upon which his
building stood. The parties charged with the crime of killing
him were Horace Silver and William Oliver, who were tried for
assault and battery, and fined respectively $20 and $10. Upon
learning of Mr. Leverieh 's serious injury they both left the
place.
S. D. Mead, a stepson of Horace Silver, one of the men who
was convicted of the assault on Leverieh, has the following to
say of this tragic incident: "I was not in the saloon at the time
of the affair which cost Leverieh his life and my people their
home, but I have my information from Autis, who was there and
saw the trouble, as well as from vay own people. This saloon
row occurred, as most such affairs do, when the whiskey was
flowing freely. Now this was a friendly gathering. Silver and
Leverieh were the best of friends, as were Oliver and Leverieh.
But this was the grand opening night of the saloon and free
whiskey flowed plentifully. The crowd grew merry and was
liaving all kmds of fun, but the fun, as is usual in such cases, soon
turned into a row, which ended in a general fight, during which
no one seemed to know or care M^ho was hit or what thej' hit
Avith. The consequence was that in the general melee Leverieh
received a blow which laid him oiit. I heard the trial of Silver
and Oliver before Justice Smith, but tlien- wns no evidence pro-
duced to show who struck the blow or witli wlint it was struck.
My father always said he had no enmity against Leverieh and
always mentioned that he did not strike the fatal blow. He
always said that the first he knew that Leverieh was hurt he
heard someone cry out in the crowd: 'For God's sake, stop the
173 HISTOHY OF MOWEK COUXTY
row; Leverich is killed.' This was the story he still held to on
his deathbed. After the trial he said that if Minnesota were a
state and had state laws he would stay in Austin and stand trial.
But it was a territory and he was told that he better get away
or he might be lynched. So he and Oliver left on foot. My
step-father walked all the way to Michigan, where his brother
lived, and we neither saw nor heard from him for two years.
"After he had gone my mother was nearly insane with grief
and anxiety. I worked and cared for mother and four children
for nearly two years. I then disposed of our cattle and personal
property and went back to Michigan. Our home in Austin was
taken from us on an execution for a debt of $15. Father then
took his family and was a good father and husband as long as he
lived. The loss of everything he owned, however, broke him all
up and he was never the same man after the unfortunate atfair
took place. He died in Michigan in 1874 and my mother lived
until 1886."
Samuel Rice is an early settler whose veracity is absolutely
relied upon. His story differs decidedly from the other versions
of the affair, is as follows: "In the summer of 1856 Chauucey
Leverich built a store on the southeast corner of Bridge and
Chatham streets, "where subsequently stood the buildings until
recently owned by D. B. Smith, which, after his death, were sold.
He planned to open a saloon on the north side of the store and a
grocery department on the south side. Samuel Rice had hauled
the first load of groceries from Wabash, arriving the very eve-
ning of the murder. On the way to Austin the rear spring of
his democrat wagon broke, so he removed it, and arriving at his
destination left the spring outside of the building by the door-
way. The store was unfinished. A carpenter bench stood in
the center of the floor and rubbish lay about the place, which
as yet had not been opened for business. Leverich had suggested
that he and I\Ir. Rice go to a dance at Ed Merry's when the inci-
dent occiirred which resulted instead in the death of Leverich.
Horace Silver and William Oliver were lounging about. Lev-
erich, smoking a cigar, seated himself on the carpenter bench
near Silver, who carelessly picked up a chisel laying on the bench
and deliberately knocked the cigar from Leverich 's mouth, who
exclaimed, 'Quit that!' bent down, picked up the cigar from the
floor and resumed smoking. Silver knocked it out of his mouth
a second time, at which Leverich became angry and swore that
if he did it again he would lick him. Leverich put the cigar in
his mouth again and Silver delil)erately, when the opportunity
presented itself, tapped the cigar with the tool again, sending
it to Ihr floor. Levei-ich swore violently, jumped up and struck
Silver a I)low wliicli sent him staggering against the wall.
HISTOIJY OF :M()\VEI{ COUNTY 17:3
Oliver theu stepped forward and taking hold of Leveridi liy llic
arm, said, 'Hold on, Chauncey; you are too hasty.' Lcvcridi
swung around, saying, 'You take it up, will you, you,'
and struck him a hard blow. Silver and Oliver went out of the
store by the front door. A few minutes later they told Leverich
to come out and they would fix him. It was a very dark night.
One of them picked up the spring with the heavy wood piece
attached, laying near the door, and when Leverich came out
threw it at him, point first. The wood hit him over the eyes
and crushed his skull. He fell, unconscious. Bystanders in the
building lifted him up, carried him in and laid his senseless body
on the buffalo robe spread on the carpenter bench. Dr. O. Allen
was called, and under his direction Leverich was taken home.
"He died in about three days. In the meantime Oliver and
Silver were arrested, arraigned before Justice Sylvester Smith,
and fined $15 and $20, respectively. After the death of Leverich
and before papers charging them with murder could be served,
they escaped. Silver returned to town secretly some years later
to settle his affairs. The body of Leverich was buried under the
back window of his store. His wife moved to the rooms upstairs
and for years the kitchen slops Avere thrown on his grave. Later
it was disinterred by his heirs and moved away. Leverich was
an extensive land owner and a prosperous, progressive man. He
owned several sections of land and also city property, besides
other interests. His wife, according to well authenticated reports,
was deliberately robbed by several men of the town. The various
pieces of land Avere auctioned off for but a fraction of their real
value. Although Chauncey Leverich Avas a man of rough exterior,
he Avas at heart good, and his progressive spirit might have done
much for the groAving toAA'n."
IMPORTANT EVENTS
The folloAving accounts of important events of the early days
are Avorthy of preservation in this work, as they recall pictures
of life in the sixties and seventies, long since forgotten by all
except the oldest inhabitants.
January 2 the Lake building, after having tAvice caught fire
tlie previous day, Avas entirely consumed before help could be
obtained to extinguish it. In the loAver room Avas the store of
]\Ir. Keeny. The most of his goods Avere saved. Upstairs Avas
the photograph gallery of A. B. Davidson and the drug store of
3Iorse, Daily & Co. All the stock of both firms Avas entirely
consumed. The insurance on the gallery AA'as $150; on the drug
store, $400.
January 27, 1865, a schoolhouse situated a fcAv miles south of
174 HISTORY OF MOWEK COUXTY
Austin, on Rose creek, was consumed by fire. The building was
a small log structure. During the afternoon of the same day
some timbers remaining from the fire were carried from the
spot to Mr. Ames' house, near by. for fuel and placed in the
woodshed, with the result that some smouldering embers caused
the house to burn down.
On May 3, 1865, the residence of Jacob S. Decker, about two
miles east of Austin, was destroyed by fire, together with nearly
all its contents. The loss reached .$1,000; insurance, $300. The
fire originated in the roof.
On June 10, 1863, it is said by the Courier: "Horse thieves
are getting very numerous in this section of the country and
that portion of Iowa bordering on Fillmore, j\Iower and Free-
born counties in particular. We have had calls during the past
week from no less than seven persons on the lookout for horses
stolen. Three horses were stolen on Wednesday evening last
from C. H. Owen and Daniel Ames, residents of Lyle tOAvnship.
They will get $100 for the recovery of the horses and the thieves,
or $25 apiece for each horse or thief."
October 20, 1868, the Democrat said: "The Austin Academy
and Commercial Institute, for ladies and gentlemen, will open
without fail on Monday, October 26, 1868, in the third story of
Hunt & Basford's brick block, corner of ]\Iain and Bridge streets,
with J. H. Johnson as principal."
Austin's Disastrous Fire. ^Marcli 3, 1869. Austin was visited
by its, first big fire. There was a strong wind blowing froni the
north at the time and the thermometer stood 15 to 18 degrees
below zero, which tended to prevent the citizens fron: collecting
as soon as would otherwise have been the case. However, quite
a number were promptly on the ground, but the fire had got under
such headway that it was found impossible to extinguish it with
the facilities at hand. In three hours from the time the fire
was first discovered four two-story brick buildings on the east
side of Main street were burned to the ground, nothing being left
but the demolished walls. The fire was first discovered in the
dry goods store of Case & Shepley, the north building of the four,
the direction from which the wind was blowing. How the fire
originated was a mystery, but it was supposed it caught from the
stove. Witliiii a short tiiiu> a ci-owd of three or four hundred
X)ersons were on llie ground and it was decided as impossible to
save tlic brick l)uildings, so the first thing to be done was to save
111! cdntcnts as far as possible and to prevent the fire from
sju-eading. The major part of the dry goods and groceries of
JMessrs. Solner & Morgan were saved, and a few things from the
second storv over Paddock Bros.' store. Nearlv all the contents
HISTORY OF ^iOWKR COUNTY ITo
of the First National Bank building, consisting of the fixtures
belonging to the bank and to the law and land office of Page &
"Wiieeler were saved. The contents of the post office and Griffith's
book store, also a portion of the dry goods and groceries of
Austin & Richardson, and the liquors from the billiard saloon
of W. Simpson were removed. The small frame building belong-
ing to J. F. Atherton, and occupied by him as a grocery store,
standing next door north of the row of brick buildings was
promptly torn down and remo^'ed. Soon the fire reached the
corner building and it was found necessary to tear away the
small frame building occupied as a meat market to prevent the
spread of the fire to the east along Bridge street. This was
promptly done and the fire was confined to the brick structures.
At the time the entire loss Avas estimated at from $40,000 to
$50,000.
The following is a list of losses as published at the time of
the conflagration: J. F. Atherton, one brick building and a small
frame, household goods and part stock of groceries; insurance,
$2,200. Case & Shepley, stock of dry goods and groceries, books,
papers, etc.; insurance, $4,000. Creditors of Paddock Bros.,
stock of dry goods and groceries. Solner & Morgan, part of
stock of dry goods and groceries; insurance, $5,000. First Na-
tional Bank, brick building, counters, etc. ; insurance, $2,000.
Barnes & Baird, brick building; insurance, $2,000. Lewis & Rob-
erts, bi-ick building : insurance, $2,000. Dr. E. C. Dorr, dental
tools and machinery, books, papers, etc. Dr. E. P. Hudson, dental
tools, etc. Page & Wheeler, furniture, a few books, papers, etc.
A. Galloway, frame biiilding. Frederick & Sammons, a few tools,
meat, etc. IMrs. INIarshall and ^Miss Nerton, dressmakers, sus-
tained some loss. J. AVoodward and Mr. Carter lost their house-
hold goods. Dr. Barnes sustained some loss in his office. Austin
& Richardson, W. Simpson, R. Griffith and Postmaster Phelps all
sustained some loss by the removal of goods.
In June, 1869, complaint was made to Sheriff' IMollisou, by a
gentleman from the rural districts, to the eff'ect that a woman
had stolen a horse from him, and giving a description of the
woman and horse. It seems that before the woman had got a
great distance from the starting place the horse escaped and
came to town. The gentleman recovered his horse, and the thief
was heard from, being in the country a])0ut three miles distant.
The sheriff desired to let the woman come to town and claim
the horse before arresting her, but was urged on until he pro-
ceeded into the country with papers and brought the woman to
town and to trial. It seems that she "smelt a mice" and con-
cluded that hers was a "horse of another color." She swore
176 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
that she had aeyer seen the horse, which was alleged to have
been stolen, and there being no proof, the horse not being found
in her possession, she Avas discharged. The authorities came to
the conclusion that it took a sharp man to trap a woman.
June 26, 1870, William Simpson was drowned in the Cedar
river at Austin, just back of his residence, near the foot of St.
Paul street.
On September 22, 1868, Henry Hyer, a boy about twelve years
of age, was accidentally killed near the depot. The boy at-
tempted to jump upon a handcar, when in motion, and the lever
struck him on the head, crushing in his skull and killing him
almost instantly.
In its issue of December 1, 1868, the Democrat contained the
following item: "Three native Americans — no carpet-baggers —
stopped at the Central House in this place last night. Two of
them were chiefs of the Menominee nation, one of Avhich killed
five Sioux Indians in the war of 1862-63, fighting on the side of
the whites. He has five marks made in India ink upon his arm to
'designate the fact.' The tribe lives upon the Black river, in
"Wisconsin. These chaps have been out west trapping, and are
now returning to their tribe. They are very large, robust men,
capable of taking care of a large amount of rations."
The Austin Democrat, February 23, 1869, states that "genuine
stone coal has been foimd in Mower county." In that issue ap-
pears the following article: "Thomas Smith, of "Windom town-
ship, in this county, has left with us a very fair sample of stone
coal, and informs us that he has taken from the mine which he
is now prospecting, some lumps as good as any ever taken from
a Pennsylvania coal field. ^NTr. Smith is something of a geologist,
and had discovered signs of coal on his place, in the bluff along
Rose Creek, some time since, and a few days ago determined to
investigate the matter and prospect for a large deposit which he
had reason to believe existed in the vicinity. He employed an
experienced miner, and the two went to work, tunneling into the
bluff, and the present indications are that a rich bed of coal will
soon be discovered. Two or three Aveeks more will tell the story.
The importance wliich would attend the discovery of an exten-
sive bed of coal in Windom, lying as it does, in the center of a
large prairie country, could not be overestimated. * *
On April 1, 1870, Carl Chanbery, a young man who, the pre-
vious spring, li;i(l come with his aged mother from SAveden, and
settled in Austin, Avas drowiu'd in CcMlar river.
On Sunday afternoon, .July 17, 1870, David Caswell, a iiroiii-
inent citizen of LeRoy, left his residence for the purpose of look-
ing at some grass land nearly a quarter of a mile distant on the
farm, ;ni(l as w;is soinctinics bis cusloni. look Avith liiiii a double-
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 177
barreled shot gun. Later in the day his dead body was found
with a shot gun wound in the left side, with every indication that
the gun had gone off while he was in the act of loading it.
On August 14, 1870, a Norwegian named Jens Jenson, about
54 years of age, who lived a short distance from Adams station,
committed suicide by hanging himself in a grove.
. On September 2, 1870, John Fredell, a Swede, 23 years of
age, was drowned in the Cedar river. The young man had come
from INIinneapolis about three Aveeks before his death and had
been in the employ of the railroad company. He had shown un-
mistakable signs of insanity.
On Monday, February 13, 1871, at between 3 and 4 o'clock
in the morning, the warehouse of Guns & Anderson, at Browns-
dale, was discovered to be on fire. The flames soon reached the
warehouse of Mr. Eowell, and the building was entirely de-
stroyed. The Avarehouse of Guns & Anderson contained 6,000
bushels of wheat, 3,300 bushels of flax seed, 1,000 pounds of tow,
about 1,000 grain sacks, a fanning mill, and the articles usually
kept about a grain warehouse. Nothing at all was saved and
tlieir loss Avas about $13,000, Avhieh, however, Avas fully covered
by insurance. Mr. RoAvell's Avarehouse was empty at the time.
The total loss on both Avas about $15,000.
On February 20, 1871, Austin Avas visited by a disastrous fire.
At about 1 o'clock the Fleck House Avas discovered to be on fire,
and the flames spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save
the building. There were about sixty persons in the house at
the time, and all succeeded in making their escape. The property
was valued at $9,000, including the grounds, and Avas insured
for $3,500. The hotel at the time Avas under the management of
George Hay, who had leased it and taken possession about ten
days prcAHous to the time of the fire. The fire caught from a
defective flue.
On May 9, 1871, a fatal accident occurred at the depot of the
C, M. & St. P. R. R. in Au.stin, resulting in the death of "William
AValsh.
On December 27, 1875, the iron foundry belonging to Geo. B.
"Wright, located on the east side, Avas burned to the ground. The
cause of the fire Avas unknoAvn. The building and contents were
a total loss of about $10,000. The foundry Avas the only one in
the city, and its loss not only fell heavily upon its owners but
upon the business interests of Austia as Avell.
On the morning of December 30, 1873, tlie building on the
corner of Chatham and IMill streets, occupied by tlie store of
the Farmers and IMfchanics Grocery Association, Avas l)urned to
tho ground. A portion of the goods Avas removed. Tlicre Avas
an insurance on the stock of $2,000.
178 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
On April 22, 1873, Ole Gordon, of Northwood, Iowa, was in-
stantly killed while grinding plov>'s in the shop of Seymour John-
son, in Austin, by the bursting of the revolving stone. One frag-
ment weighing nearly 500 pounds, struck the unfortunate man in
the forehead, at the corner of the right eye, and carried away a
large portion of his skull and scattered his brains over the entire
room. It passed through one end of the building and struck in
the street some sixty feet distant. The stone was entirely new
and, as far as could then be discovered, perfectly sound. It Avas
driven by horse power, and at no more than the usual speed.
The month of January, 1877, was a disastrous one in Austin,
three fires occurring within six days. The first of these took
place on the morning of January 13, when six stores and one shop
were cleaned out, the historic row of wooden buildings, long
landmarks in Austin, on the west side of Main street being laid
in ashes. Buildings on the east side of the street were also dam-
aged by an explosion of powder in one of the burning buildings.
The total loss was about $13,000, the firm of Hazelwood & Tuttle
being the heaviest losers. On the same day a dwelling house on
Maple street, owned by C. W. Freeman and occupied by W. D.
Phillips, was entirely consumed. Four days later three frame
buildings on the corner of Mill and Chatham streets, owned by
A. Matson, were destroyed.
On October 5, 1880, Austin M-as visited by a fire that laid in
Avaste four business buildings and caused a loss of about $24,000.
F. A. Richardson, dry goods, and Fernald & Kimball, furniture,
were the heaviest losers. Others who lost were Ferd. Kirchoil",
meats: Mrs. R. I. Smith, millinery; J. E. Slocum, sewing machine
agent; Dr. J. N. "Wheat; L. N. Griffith; J. J. Hayes & Bro., jew-
elry: Clemmer & Pooler: ]Mrs, N. C. Mc^Iillan, millinery; Mrs.
John Morrison, restaurant.
The Tenvperance Leagues, among the ladies, were powerful
infiuences toward preserving the law and order of the com-
munity in the early days. In writing on this subject in 1876, Mi-s.
R. L. Kimball. said:
Til" crusade against whisky began in Austin in the winter of
IS'iG. At that time not a saloon was to be foiuid in the place, but
at some of the stores intoxicants could be purchased. Accord-
ingly tlie women started a crusade and threatened to boycoit
merchants who sold strong drinks. To this agreement thirty-
two ladies — at that time all but three of them lady residents of
Austin — subscribed their names. Twenty-eight of these names
liave been preserved, and arc as follows: Imogene A. Kimball,
Hattie A. Adams, Ilainiali E. Leveiich, Jennett W. Cook, Julia
A. Wheat, Triphcna Griffith, Lucy L. Wheeler, Bettie M. Vande-
grift. Eleanor Biiiiis, Sai-ah Iv l^cmis, Cornelia Benson, 'Mary
HISTORY OF MOAVEH C'OFXTY 179
Ann H. Decker, Amanda Adams, Elizabeth Brown, Mary Mc-
Daniels, Eunice L. Smith, Lois Brown, Martha L. Sanford, Emma
Allen, Almeda E. Allen, Mary A. Colwell, Eliza A. Allen, ]\Iaria
M. Everest, Mary A. Padden, Naomi M. Revord, Harriet Ferris,
Eliza A. McKinley, Elizabeth Tubbs. The merchants were then
■visited and asked to pledge themselves not to sell liquors. Three
signatures were obtained, Rufus L. Kimball, W. I. Brown, and
Aloysius Brown. In 1857, a Ladies' Temperance Society was or-
ganized by ]Mrs. ,1. L. Davidson
The Father i\ratthew Temperance Society was organized Feb-
ruary 5, 1871, with eighteen charter members. February 19, they
decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and appointed a committee
to make arrangements. The committee deciding to have a ban-
ner called on the printers but failed to obtain satisfactory samples
for even a temporary article. Mrs. W. I. Brown's proposal to
embroider one, with green silk on white merino, was accepted,
and work commenced. They were soon out of silk and sent a
sample to St. Paul, but found none there. A few skeins were
found in IMcGregor, but not enough. Luckily, Mrs. Oscar Ayers
had enough to complete it. The committee found it necessary to
employ all the ladies they could to get it completed in time, and
their fingers w^rought on each successive letter until the "Father
Matthew Temperance Society of Aiistin" was complete. Mrs.
L. A. Sherwood was among these ladies. At the first annual con-
vention held in St. Paul, February 12, 1872, the society joined
the state union wdth only eight members. The majority of those
lost were by resignation or non-payment of dues, and not for
violation of pledge, which has been the case up to this time. At
the second convention the society won the Gold Medal for having
gained the greatest percentage of membership of any society in
the State, being 100 per cent. At the third convention, held at
Winona, May 6, 1874, the society had seventy-five members, l)ut
lost the medal, it being won by Father Ostar's Society of Belle
Plaine. At th""" fourth convention, in Faribault, June 18, 1875,
Austin reported sixty-eight membei-s. The Catholic church at
Austin has still a strong Total Abstinence Society.
The Sewing Societies of Austin have always been an impor-
tant factor in its charitable and social life. In 1876, ^Irs. "\V. AV.
Brownson spoke as follows in regard to those at that time in
existence :
One can scarcely estimate all that has Ix-cii accomplished
and all we enjoy today that has been obtained through the perse-
vering efforts of little bands of ladies in our different churches,
known and often spoken of derisively as sewing societies. To
them is due the credit of many of t!io comfortable surroundings
of our churches, the result of sonicthing very different from
180 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
gossip. Tn early times, Avhile men were anxiously planning and
toiling to secure comparatively comfortable homes for their fam-
ilies, and provide houses of worship, their wives and daughters
were not idle. They organized sewing societies with good re-
sults. The ladies of the Methodist church organized the first one
in Austin, jNIay 17, 1865, since which time it has furnished $1,500
of the money raised by the society for church erection and char-
itable purposes.
June 12, 1865, the ladies of the Baptist church organized their
sewing society, and in less than two years it raised and paid .$125
of the expense of the bell to their chux-ch edifice .and other pur-
poses.
November 8, 1865, the ladies of the Congregational church or-
ganized their sewing society, which has contributed about $2,200
to the charitable and other objects of the church. A Circle of
Industry, belonging to the church, has also raised $550 to apply
on the purchase of the bell.
The Busy Bees, a society of children, organized in the fall of
1874, for the purchase of chandeliers for the church, have raised,
through public entertainments and fairs, $40.
In 1868 the ladies' sewing society of the Presbyterian church
was organized, but there are no records of its Avork until 1870,
between which time and May, 1873, it raised for church purjioses
$330. Since then the sewing society has had no existence.
In 1865 the ladies of the Episcopal church organized their
society, which has since had a vigorous existence, but no records
have been kept, and I am unable to give results.
The Universalist sewing society was organized in 1868, and
has earned $360.
The Universalist Sunday School Gleaners, a society organized
in 1875, for the purchase of a Snbbath School library, have raised
$60 toward their object.
The ladies of the Lutheran church, soon after its organiza-
tion, organized a sewing society, which existed about a year and
a half. They raised $75, Avhieli Avas paid toward the debt of the
cbureh.
LYMAX D. BAIKD.
HISTOEY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY IS]
CHAPTER XVir
MUNICIPAL AUSTIN.
Incorporation of the Village in 1868 — Incorporated as a City-
Changes in Charter— Elective and Appointed Officers Who
Have Served the Mvinicipality— Important Acts of the Suc-
cessive Councils — Home Rule Charter Adopted— Edited by
John H. Skinner.
In the early part of 1868, the people living in the hamlet of
Austin began to feel the need of a government other than the
supervisor system under Avhieh hamlet and township in common
had been existing. Consequently a petition was circulated
among the citizens and presented to the legislature, asking for a
village government. There being no real opposition to the
measure the act was passed IMarch 6, 1868, and a tract of laud
taking in the hamlet and lying west of the Red Cedar river in
tlie north-central part of the township was duly set aside and in-
corporated as the village of Austin.
The act provided that Tyler W. AYoodward, William L. Aus-
tin and Jeremiah B. Yates should act as .judges of the election,
which was ordered to be held May 5. The charter authorized
the election of a mayor, a recorder, an assessor, a justice of the
peace who should be village justice and three aldermen. The
aldermen and mayor were to appoint a treasurer, a marshal, an
overseer for each of road districts into which the village should
be divided, an attorney and a village surveyor.
At that time factional feeling ran high in city and county
and a fusion ticket, proposed by some of the more conservative
minds, did not materialize. Instead, there were two Republican
and one Democratic ticket in the field. One Republican party,
which will be here designated as the independent Republican
party, held a caucus without having published a formal call, and
nominated a ticket. Another faction, which will be here desig-
nated as the regular Republicans, held a meeting in pursuance
to a call, and nominated a ticket, taking W. L. Austin from the
independent ticket and placing him in nomination as mayor, and
also borrowing the name of Seymour Johnson from the independ-
ent ticket and nominating him as alderman. The independents
then informally nominated two other candidates for aldermen to
take the place of the IMessrs. Austin and Jolinson. The Dein-
oerats nominated a regular ticket.
The Republicnii party, wliich liad llio majority of votes in
the city, being tluis split, hist tlic cUTtion. There were some
182 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
charges of fraud, it being alleged that many of those voting were
railroad men who were not, in the strict meaning of the word,
residents of Austin. G. M. Cameron was elected mayor. W. L.
Austin, the regular Republican, received 126 votes and Dr. 0.
W. Gibson, the independent Republican, received fifty-six. B. J.
VanValkenburgh, with 166 votes, and J. B. Yates, with 159 votes,
were elected aldermen. C. C. Hunt, with 150 votes, was tied with
Jacob Johnson for alderman, with 150 votes. Of the other two
regular Republicans, E. P. VanValkenburgh received 137 votes
and Seymour Johnson 125. Of the independent Republicans, H.
AV. Page received sixty-two votes. C. M. Fernald, forty-three, and
A. Matson, thirty-nine. For recorder, George Baird, Republican,
received 155 votes and L. R. Hathaway, Democrat, 188, the latter
being elected. E. Maloney, Democrat, was elected assessor with
161 votes, against J. C. Ackley, regular Republican, avIio received
118 votes, and J. F. Atherton, independent Republican, who re-'
ceived sixty-two. L. N. Griffith, Democrat, Avas elected village
iind civil justice, with 166 votes. C. J. Shortt, regular Repub-
lican, received 135, and Robert Mathes, independent Republican,
received thirty-two. The Democrats thus appear to have won
out for every office. A A-ote was also cast for civil justice and
constables, though no provision for such election was made in
the charter.
The first meeting of the Austin village council was held in the
law office of Cameron & Johnson, ]\Iay 16, 1868. The council was
called to order by Mayor Cameron, and Aldermen B. J. Van
Valkenburgh and J. B. Yates were present. By reason of the
tie vote, the office of the third alderman was declared unfilled,
and the appointment of Jacob Johnson Avas made to fill the va-
cancy, wliereupon Mr. Johnson took his seat. The folloAving ap-
pointments Avere made: Treasurer, "William T. Brown; attorney,
A. S. Everest; surveyor, D. B. Johnson; marshal, Carlos Fenton.
The road overseers Avere selected as folloAvs: 1, east of Main
street, W. T. Manderville; 2, south of Maple and Avest of IMain ;
8, north of Maple and AA'est of j\Iain, James Kennevan. Fire
limits Avere established, and a lock-up provided for.
In 1868, about the time of incorporation, the Aallage contained
six churches, two schoolhouses, one of Avhich was a brick struc-
ture, costing about $6,000, two newspapers, nine dry goods stores,
four grocery stores, three drug stores, four hardware stores, tAVO
clotliing stores, one book store, two confectionery stores, three
boot and shoe stores, four millinery stores, tAvo jcAvelry stores, four
fiour and feed stores, and one agricultural store. In the manufac-
turing line there Avere one ploAV manufactory, one foundry and
machine shop, one planing mill, one sash and blind factory, one
steam saAvmill, three flouring mills, three brick yards, four lum-
HISTORY OF MOWEK' COUNTY 183
ber yards, one carriage shop and two furniture manufactories.
There were also two livery stables, three restaurants and three
billiard halls. Already four large business blocks had been built.
There were six tloui-ishing churches, one Masonic lodge, one lodge
of Odd Fellows and two bodies of Good Templars. 11. W. Page
had a bank here, three good hotels were in operation, and the
C., M. & St. Paul was still the only railroad, although there were
rumors of many others.
In 1869 an amendment to the charter passed the legislature,
providing, among other changes, for the election by the people of a
maj'or, recorder, assessor, justice of the peace who should be
village justice, two other justices of the peace, a marshal, a city
treasurer, and three aldermen. A road overseer, a village attor-
ney and a village surveyor were to be appointed.
At the election of 1869, two tickets were presented. The
People's Reform ticket Avas largely a temperance move, while
the opposition party called itself the Citizens" Union ticket. W.
L. Ausli.i headed the People's Reform ticket, P. B. Basford Avas
nominated for mayor on the Citizens' Union ticket, and John F.
Cook was the rallying point of those w^ho favored neither of
these parties. AA'ith two exceptions, the entire People's Reform
ticket was elected as follows : Mayor, "W. L. Austin ; aldermen,
A. J Phelps, J. S. Day and Orlenzer Allen; recorder, L. Boure-
gard ; treasurer, Stephen M. Darrah ; marshal, Ilenrj^ J. Gillham
(Gillham ran on the Citizens' Union ticket and defeated Andrew
Knox); assessor, E. Maloney; ''city and civil justice," C. L.
Chase: "civil justice," J. H. MeClentic (McClentic ran on the
Citizens' Union ticket and defeated AY. L. Manderville of the
People's Refoi'm ticket and B. J. Jones, who ran independently).
The charter of the village provided for the election of a village
justice and tAvo justices of the peace, and it will be seen that
neither the designation nor the number of justices elected agreed
Avith the charter. A village surveyor and constables were also
voted for, although there Avas no proA'ision for such balloting in
• the charter, and in spite of the fact that it had expressly been
proA'ided that the A'illage surA'cyor should be appointed and not
elected. E. D. Fenton and George Litchfield Avere the tAvo receiv-
ing votes for the office of constable, and S. Burke Aviis tlie only
one A'oted for as A-illage surveyor. The council, at its first meet-
ing, shoAved a like disregard for the charter, Avhen three road
overseers instead of one Avere appointed as follows: 1. J. F. Key-
ser; 2, A. S. Hall; 3, J. C. Smith. D. B. Johnson. Jr., was ap-
pointed attorney. Later McClentic Avas replaced by "\Y. T. Man-
derA'ille as "Civil Justice," Hall AA^as replaced by O. W. Firkins
as road overseer of district No. 2 ; and D. B. Johnson. Jr., Avas re-
placed hy A. S. Everest as attorney. January 18, 1870, Orlenzer
18i HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUXTY
Allen resigned as alderman and was replaced by W. W. Brown-
son, and on July 3, 1870, Sylvester Smith took the place of Alder-
man Day, who also resigned.
In 1870 the charter was still further amended. It was pro-
vided that the village limits should be all of section 3, the north-
west quarter of section 2, and the Avest half of the west half of the
northwest quarter of section 2, all in township 102, range 18.
It was also provided that there should be elected a mayor, three
aldermen, two justices of the peace (to serve for two years), a
recorder, an assessor, a treasurer, and two constables (to serve
for two years). The marshal, the attorney and the road over-
seer were to be appointed by the council.
The election of 1870 resulted in a victory of a Union ticket
over the Republican and Independent tickets, the entire Union
ticket, with the exception of one constable, being elected as fol-
lows : Mayor, J. F. Cook ; aldermen, W. ^A^. Brownson, P. B. Bas-
f ord and H. S. Smith ; recorder, John AA'alsh ; treasurer, I. A.
Wood; assessor, R. I. Smith; justices, A. J. Phelps and W. H.
Merrick; constables, 0. J. Johnson (Republican) and T. K.
Kaiser. The council appointed G. M. Cameron, village attorney;
John Minette, marshal; H. L. Percival, road overseer. I. A.
Wood died October 11, and G. G. Clemmer was named in his place
as village treasurer.
In 1871, the Adllage received practically a new charter. The
people were to elect six aldermen, three justices of the peace,
three constables and one assessor. The six aldermen, who were
to represent the three wards into which the village was divided,
were to appoint a president, a recorder and a treasurer from
their own number, and in addition to this Avere to name road
overseers, attorney, marshal and printer.
For the first time, the election Avas held in each of the three
Avards. In the first Avard, Avhere three tickets, Citizens', Repub-
lican and Democratic, were presented, the Citizens' ticket Avon,
and Sylvester Smith and L. N. Griffith Avere elected aldermen.
In the second Avard the Democratic candidates, H. J. Gillham
and J. H. C. Huxhold, Avon against the Republican candidates.
In the third ward the Republicans Avon out against the Dem-
ocrats and elected E. W. Kells and Charles Cook. William Rich-
ards, Democrat, was elected assessor. At the organization of the
council, Sylvester Smith Avas appointed president, L. N. Grif-
fith, recorder, and H. J. Gillham, treasurer. The folloAving ap-
pointments were also made : Road oA^erseers : 1, T. Hinchey ; 2,
BreAver ; 3, R. J. Tyler ; attorney, G. M. Cameron ; mar-
slial, Carlos Fenton. During the year, Kells resigned as alder-
man, and on December 1, 1871, his place Avas taken by T. W.
Hazleton.
HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUNTY 185
In 3872, the charter was again amended. The amendment
took the appointive power practically ont of the hands of the
council. The people were to elect six aldermen, three justices of
the peace, three constables, one assessor, one street commissioner,
one village attorney and three road overseers, while the coun-
cil was to select from its own numbers a president, a recorder
and a treasurer.
The election was devoid of much of the discord that had char-
acterized the previous selection of officers. A straight Republican
ticket was placed in nomination against Citizens', People's and
Democratic tickets. The following officers were elected: At
large: J. M. Greenman ; assessor, D. J. Tubbs; street commis-
sioner, J. B. Yates. First ward, aldermen, G. G. Clemmer and
Seymour Johnson ; justice of the peace, W. H. Merrick ; constable,
W. B. Graham; road overseer, Thomas Hinchy. Second ward,
aldermen, H. J. Gillham and J. H. C. Huxhold (Huxhold, W. T.
AVilkins and N. K. Noble were tied, but upon the casting of lots
the choice fell iipon Huxhold) ; justice of the peace, T. W. Wood-
ard; constable, James Konkel; road overseer, Patrick Garaghty.
Third ward, aldermen, W. W. BroAvnson and G. L. Seofield ; jus-
tice of the peace. Jesse Rose; constable, John Minette ; road over-
seer, Thomas Hinchy. The only ones elected on the straight
Republicaji ticket were Rose, Clemmer and Whipple. Brownson,
Seofield and Minette were elected on a straight Democratic
ticket. The others were elected on People's or Citizens' tickets,
or in the ease of the three officers at large, on a combined Dem-
ocratic, People's and Citizens' ticket. At the organization of the
council, G. G. Clemmer was made president; Seymour Johnson,
recorder, and "W. W. Brownson, treasurer. Mr. Clemmer re-
signed July 22, and his place was taken by A. J. Phelps ; Mr.
Seofield resigned April 22, and his place Avas taken by F. A.
Engle.
February 23, 1873, the village charter was amended in several
particulars, and the word "city" substituted throughout for
"village." Each ward was to have three aldermen, one con-
stable and one overseer of roads. There were to be elected at
large a city recorder, a city treasurer, a street commissioner, a
city attorney and a city assessor.
Two tickets were in the field, one put up by tlio Republicans
and the other by a mixture of Democrats and Republicans, called
the People's ticket. The latter was victorious, witli the excep-
tion of one alderman eacli, in the second and third wards respec-
tively, and the city attorney. These candidates were tied in the
returns, but as two votes had been cast for T. '^L Hawkins the.
judges decided to regard the intention, and counted these votes
in favor of I. N. Hawkins, giving him the election by two votes
186 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
over J. X. Greenman. The ticket elected follows : At large: At-
torney, I. N. Hawkins ; treasurer, W. T. Wilkins ; recorder, 0. H.
Shepley; assessor, D. T. Tubbs; street commissioner, C. P. Ken-
yon. First ward, aldermen, P. 0. French, A. Frederick and C. N.
Beiseker ; road overseer, Geo. B. Morse ; constable, Knut Good-
son. Second Avard, aldermen, Peter Gies, D. B. Smith and H. A.
Fairbanks; road overseer, P. Geraghty. Third ward, aldermen,
J. H. Benson, L. B. Abbott and J. H. Totten ; justice of the peace,
John Houk ; road overseer, A. Whipple ; constable, John Minette.
It will be seen that only the third ward voted for a justice, and
practically only the third ward for constable, Mr. Goodson re-
ceiving but six votes. The council selected D. B. Smith as presi-
dent. J. H. Totten resigned October 6, and his place was filled
November 4, by T. F. Armstrong ; 0. H. Shepley resigned October
6 and his place was filled November 4, by Russ B. Davis; Isaac
N. Hawkins resigned October 13, and his place was filled Novem-
ber 4, by G. M. Cameron.
In 1874 and 1875 there were no changes in the city charter.
In 1874, two tickets were in the field. One was designated as
the ''Anti-Monopolists' " and the other as the "People's." In
the third ward, the former party only was in the field, though
there were several independent candidates in the field in that
ward. A preconcerted efi^ort was made throughout the city to de-
feat the Anti-Monopolists' candidates for justice of the peace in
all the wards, but the cfi'ort Avas successful only in the second
Avard, where R. I. Smith defeated T. ^Y. Woodard. The ticket
elected Avas as folloAvs : Recorder, R. B. Davis ; city attorney, G.
M. Cameron ; city assessor, "William Richards ; city treasurer, C.
W. Austin; street commissioner, Christian Johnson; aldermen,
-John F. Cook, Seymour Johnson and B. F. Morgan ; J. C. Kaiser,
R. N. Paden and D. B. Smith ; J. F. Atherton, John Bache and
John Varger ; justices of the peace L. N. Griffith, R. I. Smith and
J. S. Putnam ; constables, "William Olson, George Martin and John
Minette ; road overseers ; R. J. Tyler, P. Geraghty and J. Gal-
lagher. Bache resigned and Varger did not qualify. An election
was held April 17 to fill the vacancies, and Thomas Meany and
C. B. Slade Avere elected. The president of the council this year
Avas D. B. Smith.
In 1875, the folloAving officers Avere elected: Recorder, Robert
Griffith; city attorney, John T. Carey; treasurer, Rudolph Dun-
kelman ; assessor, John Walsh ; street commissioner, John F.
Cook ; aldermen, R. 0. French, 0. E. Anderson, A. Friedrich ; E.
C. Dorr, F. J. Mayhew, D. B. Smith, Michael Collins, Charles B.
Slade, D. G. Wachlin ; road overseers, S. Gates, Patrick Geraghty,
Patrick Conlon: constable, C. H. Gatfield.
Till' iiicorporntiou of tbe city of Austin really dates from
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY 187
February 28, 1876, although the name "city" had been used
since 1873. The new city charter described the limits of the city
as follows: The north half of section 3; all the south half of
section 3 lying west of the Cedar river ; all that part of the south-
west quarter of section 2, surveyed and platted as part of Bal-
com's addition to the village of Austin; the northwest quarter
of section 2 ; and the west half of the northeast quarter of section
2, all in tOAvnship 102, north of range 18, west. There were to be
tliree wards, one on the west side of the Red Cedar, and two on
the east side, divided by the center line of Bridge and Center
streets. There Avere to be elected a mayor, treasurer, recorder
and one assessor, at large ; and from each ward, two aldermen,
one justice of the peace and one constable.
The election took place March 12. Not for several years had
there been exhibited so great an interest in a local election.
There were two tickets in the field, the People's and the Repub-
lican. In the first and third wards the former ticket won out,
while in the second the latter triumphed, with the exception of
the constable. W. T. Wilkins, the candidate for treasurer on
the People's ticket, threw his influence on the side of the oppos-
ing candidate, but even then was defeated by but one vote. The
following were elected, all being on the People's ticket unless
otherwise indicated. At large : !Mayor, P. 0. French ; assessor,
William Richards (Republican) ; recorder, Robert Griffith (no
opposition) ; treasurer, R. Dunkelman. First ward, Joseph
Schwan, H. E. Anderson, aldermen; L. N. Griffith, justice;
Thomas Riley (independent), constable. Second ward, E. P.
VanValkenburgh, Oscar Ayers (both Republican), aldermen: T.
"W. Woodard (Republican), justice; James Konkle, constable.
Third ward, Thomas Meany. Lewis Beckel, aldermen; J. S. Put-
nam, justice; John iMinette, constable. The office of Lewis
Beckel was taken in January, 1877, by C. C. Kinsman. Patrick
Geraghty was appointed street commissioner and Thomas Riley,
chief of police.
The election of 1877 was cjuiet, and while there were two
tickets in the field, the candidates for most of the important of-
fices were identical on both sides. In the second ward, Joseph
Reinsmith and E. J. Phillips wc-re tied for alderman, and by lot
the choice fell on the former. It was also found that the electors
had made a mistake in the middle initial of C. A. Pooler, but
that matter was also satisfactorily settled. The following officers
were elected: ^Mayor, E. C. Dorr; treasurer, C. A. Pooler; as-
sessor, Robert ^McDonald : recorder. Robert Griffith ; aldermen
first ward. George H. "Wilbour; second ward, Joseph Reinsmitii :
third ward, C. C. Kinsman. Aldermen Schwan, VanValkenburgh
{<nd ]Meany held over from the previous year.
188 HISTORY OF MOWER COU^sTY
In 1878 the question of license and no license was the principal
issue, the temperance people winning out on the no license propo-
sition by a vote of 406 to 155. Republican and Democratic tick-
ets were in the field. In the following list of officers the word
"Union" does not signify a Union ticket, but indicates that the
candidate mentioned was nominated on both tickets : Mayor, E.
P. VanValkenburgh (Union) ; recorder, Robert Griffith (Union) ;
treasurer, C. A. Pooler (Republican) ; assessor, Oscar Ayers (Re-
publican). First ward, aldermen, J. B. Yates (Democrat); jus-
tice, L. N. Griffith (Democrat) ; constable, Thomas Riley (Union).
Second ward, aldermen, James McGrath (Union) ; justice, N. K.
Noble (Republican); constable, R. J. McDonald (Republican).
Third Avard, aldermen, Thomas Meany (Democrat) ; justice,
Jesse Rose (Republican) : constable, John Minette (Democrat).
Aldermen "\Yilboiir, Reinsmith and Kinsman held over from the
preAdous year. J. B. Yates retired October 21, 1878, and his
place was taken by Seymour Johnson. Joseph Reinsmith re-
tired the same date and his office was filled by E. C. Dorr. Pat-
rick Geraghty, wlio was appointed street commissioner, resigned
July 1, and his place Avas taken by J. Woodard. Thomas Riley
Avas chief of police.
In 1879 the city Avent back to the license plan, the vote being
283 to 239. The People's ticket Avas Adctorious, AAath the excep-
tion of one instance in the second Avard, AA'here H. W. Page, the
temperance candidate, Avon out over W. L. Hollister. The entire
list of officers for the year 1879 is as folloAVs: Mayor, H. B.
Ball; aldermen, Seymour Johnson (held OA^er), George E. "Wil-
bour, James McGrath (held over), Harlan "VY. Page, Thomas
Meany (held over), and Jacob Weisel; recorder, Robert Griffith;
treasurer, C. A. Pooler; assessor, Oscar Ayers; street commis-
sioner, T. K. Keyser ; chief of police, Thomas Riley.
In 1880, the officers of the city were as folloAvs : Mayor, H. B.
Ball ; treasurer. Fay R. Smith : recorder, Robert Griffith ; assessor,
E. D. Fenton ; aldermen, Peter Gies, E. J. Phillips, A. Fairbanks ;
justices, L. N. Griffith, N. K. Noble, E. H. Gerard; constables,
Thomas Riley, James Konkle, John IMinette. The vote in favor
of license Avas 249 to 180. The hold-over aldermen w^ere George
E. Wilbour, Harlan W. Page and Jacob "Weisel. The place of A.
Fairbanks Avas taken by D. J. Ames, May 7, 1880. Patrick
Geraghty was appointed street commissioner and Thomas Riley
chief of police.
In, 1881, the Republican ticket Avas elected throughout, Avith
the exception of one alderman in the first Avard, George W. Fish
being elected over George E. Wilbour. The complete list of of-
ficers follows: 'Mayor. E. C. Dorr: recorder, Robert Griffith;
treasurer. F. R. Smitli ; assessor, Josepli Adams: aldermen, George
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 18!^
W. Fish, R. 0. Hall, Jacob Weisel. Vote in favor of court house
bonds, 398 to 14; vote in favor of license, 246 to 106. Alderineu
Gies, Phillips and Ames held over. The street commissioner and
chief of police were the same as during the previous year.
In 1882, the following officers were elected: Mayor, E. C.
Dorr; treasurer. Fay R. Smith; assessor, G. E. Wilbour; recorder,
Robert Griffith; aldermen. Orris Hayes, E. J. Phillips, Thomas
Meany : justices, L. N. Griffith, N. K. Noble and J. B. AYaddick ;
constables, Thomas Riley, Y. T. Cameron and William Way.
In 1883 the officers elected were: Mayor, E. C. Dorr; asses-
sor, George E. Wilbour; treasurer, J. H. Patterson; recorder,
Robert Griffith ; aldermen, H. S. Smith, R. 0. Hall, J. Weisel. A.
Frederick, who was nominated for mayor, declined to run.
In 1884, E. C. Dorr was again elected. The other officers
elected were : Assessor, G. E. Wilbour ; treasurer, J. H. Patter-
son; recorder, Robert Griffith; justices, James D. Sheedy and N.
K. Noble ; aldermen, Ed. A. Dallager, Geo. II. Litchfield and C. J.
Miller; constables, Thomas Rilev, Y. T. Cameron and William
H. Way.
In 1885, Lafayette French became mayor. The other officers
elected were: Recorder, Robert Griffith; treasurer, J. H. Patter-
son ; assessor, F. K. Keyser ; aldermen, Joseph Adams, P. C. Sul-
livan and H. Herzog.
In 1886 all the Republican candidates were elected except one,
A. H. Loucks, a Democrat, being elected treasurer. The full list
of officers elected consisted of: Mayor, Lafayette French; re-
corder, Robert Griffith ; treasurer. A. H. Loucks ; assessor, George
E. Wilbour ; aldermen, C. H. Davidson. Andrew Knox, C. J. Mil-
ler; justices, N. K. Noble, M. J. Engle, J. D. Sheedy; constables,
Thomas Riley, Jolm Beckel, William Way.
In 1887 the new charter provided for the election of an alder-
man at large as well as one from each of the wards. The officers
elected were : Mayor, Lafayette French ; recorder, J. H. JNIake-
peace ; treasurer, A. H. Loucks ; assessor, George E. Wilbour ;
aldermen, C. N. Beiseker, L. E. Day, B. W. Lovell, D. A. McFad-
den: constables (to fill vacancies), E. R. Earl, John Beckel.
In 1888, the Democrats elected a mayor and the alderman at
large. The officers elected were : Mayor, O. W. Gibson ; recorder.
Johan Wold ; assessor, George E. Wilbour ; trea.surer, N. F. Ban-
field ; aldermen, William Todd, Seymour Johnson. C. L. West, C.
J. Miller; justices, James Sheedy, N. K. Noble, E. Myers; eon-
stables, C. Ed Clark, Jerry Ingalls, John Beckel. The council
elected Patrick Geraghty street commissioner. ^Tayor Gib.son
nominated Y. T. Cameron chief of police, but the council refused
to confirm the appointment. As soon as the vote was announced.
Mayor Gibson nominated J. H. INFakepeace for the place and he
190 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
also failed of confirmation, so Jerry Ingalls continued to hold
the office of chief of police. Dr. Phillips resigned as chairman
of the board of health and Dr. J. N. Wheat was appointed to till
the vacancy. It was in this year that Ira Padden, who for so
many years represented the third ward, came to the city council.
A special election was held on April 19 of this year to elect an
alderman. Thomas Meany received 102 votes and William Du-
gan 103 votes. When the council came to canvass the vote, it
passed a resolution declaring the election invalid ; the returns
appeared illegal on the face. Another election Avas held May 1,
Avhen Ira Padden secured all but seven of the votes east at the
election. J. M. Greenman was elected city attorney and superin-
tendent of the water works. J. H. Makepeace, who failed to
become chief of police, was made fire marshal July 6.
In 1889, the following ticket was elected: Mayor, 0. W.
Gibson ; alderman at large, T. F. Leonard ; treasurer, N. F. Ban-
field ; assessor, George E. Wilbour ; recorder, Johan Wold ; alder-
men, L. E. Day, E. J. Phillips, Ira Padden; justice of the peace,
E. Myers. Appointments were made as follows: Chief of po-
lice, J. E. Ingalls; J. M. Greenman, city attorney and superin-
tendent of the water Avorks ; E. J. Ames, fire marshal. Alder-
man Phillips resigned November 1, and B. 'W. LoA'ell Avas chosen
by the council to fill the vacancy.
In 1890 the ticket elected was: Mayor, 0. W. Gibson; treas-
urer, N. P. Banfield ; assessor, George E. Wilbour; recorder,
Johan Wold; aldermen, Joseph Adams, Seymour Johnson, C. L.
West, J. T. Sargent, L. G. Campbell ; justices, J. D. Sheedy, N. K.
Noble, F. H. Stokes; constables, F. Riley, J. E. Ingalls, John
Beckel. The folloAving appointments were made: Joseph
Lamping, street commissioner : E. J. Ames, fire marshal. October
3, Lamping resigned and E. J. McGovern was elected to fill
the vacancy. Greenman continued to hold the offices of superin-
tendent of Avater Avorks and city attorney and Ingalls Avas
chief of police.
In 1891, the folloAving ticket Avas elected: ]Mayor, C. H.
Johnson ; treasurer, N. F. Banfield ; assessor, George E. Wil-
bour ; recorder, Johan Wold; aldermen, Joseph Adams, L. A.
Foots, J. T. Sargent, Ira Padden ; justices of the peace, W. H.
Hazel, W. W. Ranney. The following appointments Avere made:
J. I\r. Girreenman, city attorney and superintendent of Avater
Avorks; Jerry Ingalls. chief of police; E. J. Ames, fire marshal;
E. J. McGovern, street commissioner. William Todd was appointed
to succeed M. Becker, chief engineer of the Avater works. This
year the council voted to use the old Methodist church for a
city linll. T!i(> building stood on the site of the Carnegie Public
HISTOKY OF MO\VEI{ COUN'J'Y l!il
Library. The question of liquor license had been submitted to
the people, the vote being, for license 498, and against 119.
In 1892, the officers elected were: Mayor, C. II. Johnson;
treasurer. N. F. Banfield; assessor, G. E. Wilbour; recorder,
Johan Wold; aldermen, Joseph Adams, John Robertson, Wilson
Beach (for one year), H. S. Merrill (for two years), L. G. Camp-
bell ; justices of the peace, C. J. Short, W. AV. Ranney, F. II.
Stokes ; constables, Frank Riley, J. E. Ingalls, Grant Miller. The
following appointments were made : City attorney and superin-
tendent of water works, J. M. Greenman ; fire chief, E. J. Ames ;
street commissioner, E. J. McGovern ; chief of police, Jerry In-
galls. On May 20, Alderman Foote resigned and George Burn-
ham was elected by the council to fill the vacancy. H. S. Merrill
also resigned from the board and T. F. Leonard was elected
hy the council to fill the vacancy. It is interesting to know that
the council passed the first street-paving resolution and also
inaiigurated the present sewer system as mapped out by Expert
Engineer Tchirgi.
In 1893, the following officers were elected and appointments
made : Mayor, C. H. Johnson ; recorder, Johan Wold ; treasurer,
J. L. Mitchell; assessor, George E. Wilbour; aldermen, E. C.
Dorr, A. W. Wright, T. F. Leonard (to fill vacancy), R. E. Shep-
herd, Ira Padden; constable, third ward, N. N. Wilsey. For
license 395, against 233. City attorney and superintendent of
water works. J. M. Greenman; fire marshal, Thomas Dugan;
chief of police, J. E. Ingalls ; street commissioner, Chris Han-
son; chairman board of health. Dr. Wheat. The records show
that on ]\Iay 5. James M. Gait became chief of police.
LTp to this time Austin had used the ordinary kerosene lamps
for street lights and each council was called upon to decide who
should be official lamp lighter from among a large number of
applicants. In the summer of 1893, a private concern known as
the Austin Electric Light Company asked the city to enter into
a contract for lighting the city with electricity. This innova-
tion met with unanimous approbation of the council and the of-
ficial lamp lighter, like Othello, lost his occupation.
In 1894, a Republican mayor was elected for the first time in
seven years, being placed in office by a majority of twenty-
five votes, out of 1,049 cast. The complete ticket elected was:
Mayor, Lyman D. Baird : recorder, Johan Wold ; treasurer, H. L.
Banfield ; assessor, J. C. Belding : aldermen. Jacob Weisel, John
Robertson. Henry Curtis. John Gulden: justices. J. E. Robin-
son, AV. AV. Ranney. F. II. Stokes: constables. J. AI. Gait, John
Alanning, L. N. AAlllsey. Tlie year 1894 was a strenuous one.
The great railway strike had thrown many men out of work,
and the council, to keep the unemployed, hired many of them
193 HISTOKY OF MOWEE COUNTY
to work on city improvements. Feeling against the railroads
ran high and when, the C, M. & St. P. road built a high board
fence along the east side of its yards, shutting off all travel on
certain streets that crossed the yards, there was great indigna-
tion. The council held a special meeting and passed a resolu-
tion condemning the action of the railroad in "unlawfully ob-
structing some of our streets" and ordered street superintendent
Chris Hanson to tear down the fence where Bridge street crossed
the tracks. Tlie railroad got busy and at the next meeting of
the council, which was held March 2, 1895, the same council
that ordered the fence torn down, ordered the same street
superintendent to erect the fence and put it in as good condi-
tion as if was originally. A petition addressed to the railroad
company by the council asked that the company allow the use
of a foot-path across the tracks, the city agreeing to pay the
salary of a flagman to be stationed at the crossing. The coun-
cil also asked the county commissioners to erect a A'iaduct
over the tracks. That body Avas not sure that the county funds
could be expended for such a purpose, but agreed to erect such
a structure, provided the city would agree to repay the county
the sum of $5,000, the cost of the viaduct, should the courts
decide that the couny board had ordered contrary to law. The
iron bridge which spans the yards at the east end of Water
street is a monument to the council of 1894. That council elected
was : L. D. Baird, mayor ; Jacob Weisel, alderman at large ;
John Robertson, Henry Curtis and J. L. Gulden; H. L. Banfield,
treasurer; Johan Wold, recorder. The latter died in October
and Herman Gunz was elected to fill the vacancy. Other elective
officers that year were : Justice of the peace, J. E. Robinson, W.
W. Ranney, F. H. Stokes; constables, J. AV. Manning and L. N.
Wilsey. The city voted for license, 664 to 302. The appointive
officers were: J. M. Gait, chief of police; Chris Hanson, superin-
tendent of streets ; Thomas Dugan, fire chief, and J. M. Green-
man, city attorney and superintendent of tlie water works.
In 1895, three independent candidates were elected, C. H.
Johnson, T. M. Foster and A. W. Wright. The entire list elected
was as follows : Mayor, C. H. Johnson ; treasurer, H. L. Banfield ;
recorder, T. M. Foster; assessor, J. C. Belding; aldermen, A. W.
AVright, S. A. Emerson, M. J. Haney and Ira Padden. The city
voted for license, but a curious fact is that the records of the
city do not show what the vote was, the statement being made,
"On motion the license vote was placed on file." The appointive
officers that year were, cliief of police, J. M. Gait; city attorney
and superintendent of water works, J. M. Greenman ; fire chief,
Tliomas Dugan ; street superintendent, B. Maxwell.
The year 1896 found the city divided into two factions, the
HISTOIJY OF .A[()\VP]R COUNTY i:);i
uorthenders and the southeuders. 'I'lie foi'inci- Avanlcd llic noi'lli
end of the city developed, the others wanted to sec tlie south,
end grow. The fight came on in a contest for the k)cation of a
city hall. L. D. Baird ofifered the city a deed for land at the
north end of Main street. F. A. Ticknor, acting for the south-
enders, ofifered the city the McKenna lots at the corner of Bridge
and River streets. The council adopted a resolution accepting
Mr. Baird 's land. The newly elected Mayor, F. I. Crane, promptly
vetoed the resolution. The council as promptly passed it ovet
his head and an architect Avas ordered to draw plans for the
new biiilding. Those plans are now buried under the dust and
await other years for city development. The election of 1896
resulted as follows : IMayor. F. I. Crane ; treasurer, J. L. Mitchell ;
recorder, T. M. Foster : assessor, J. C. Belding ; aldermen, George
A. Hormel, Joseph Adams, H. A. Avery, J. L. Gulden; justices
of peace, J. E. Robinson, W. AY. Ranney, F. H. Stokes ; constables,
J. M. Gait, John Manning, John Beckel; chief of police, J. M.
Gait; street superintendent. Burr Maxwell; attorney and superin-
tendent of water Avorks, J. M. Greenman. Dr. AA^heat, Avho for
many years had been chairman of the board of health, was suc-
ceeded by Dr. McKenna.
In 1897 the result of the election was: Mayor, F. I. Crane;
trea.surer, J. L. ^Mitchell ; assessor, J. C. Belding ; recorder, T. N.
Foster; aldermen, George Hormel, S. A. Emerson, John Robert-
son, ]\I. J. Haney and Ira Padden. James D. Smith was ap-
pointed street commissioner. The other officers remained the
same as in 1896. License carried by a majority of sixty-one,
wliich was an indication of the.groAving "dry" sentiment.
In 1898 there Avas a strenuous temperance campaign, result-
ing in a victory for no license by 102 votes. This Avas the first
time that Austin had been "dry" in tAA'enty years, and the usukl
crop of "blind pigs" resulted. The entire ticket elected AvaS:
Mayor, F. I. Crane ; treasurer, J. L. Mitchell ; recorder, T. M.
Foster ; assessor, J. C. Belding ; aldermen, AY. C. Holmes, John
Robertson, Percy Bump and Alex. S. Campbell; justices, John
E. Robinson, AY. AY. Ranney. F. H. Stokes; constables, J. M.
Gait and Herbert Bordy. The appointments Avere as follows:
Chief of police, J. M. Gait; city attorney, A. AY. AN^right. This
year the Austin Gas. Light & Heating Company Avas granted a
franchise. A controversy arose as to Avhat caused the death of
shade trees on Chatham street. Some belicA-ed that gas leaking
from the mains Avas the cause. The council held several meet-
ings, at which the subject AA'as thoroughly discussed. In July;
1899, the company surrendered its charter. It is perhaps sig-
nificant tbat the city council began to look for an additional
Avater supply Avitliin three months after the citj' had voted out
194 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
the saloons. Tliis year the Herzog, Holmes and Saehse springs
were measured, pipe was purchased and the right of way se-
cured for bringing the water to the city. The council of the
following year sold the pipe, rescinded the resolution to buy the
springs and had several new wells sunk at the Avater works
station.
The year 1S99 was one of much discussion of the liquor ques-
tion. The Prohibition forces printed a weekly paper called
the "Search Light," which was edited by a number of the Austin
clergymen. Many who had voted "dry" in 1898 felt that public
sentiment was not strong enough to secure law enforcement and
they swung over to the "wet" side. The discussion grew most
bitter as election day, March 14, drew near. On election morn-
ing an extra edition of the "Search Light" had been distributed
before breakfast to the home of every voter. At 8 a. m. the
"W. C. T. U. paraded the streets in a snow squall. They carried
a large picture of Frances Willard and a score of banners with
inscriptions, "Will Austin Surrender to Rum Rebellion?" "Woe
to the Man Who Putteth the Bottle to his Neighbor's Lips," etc.
When the votes were counted it was found that Austin had gone
Avet by a majority of 216 A'otes. That night the extreme "wet"
element, provided with brooms, bottles and other articles, pa-
raded the streets. The ticket elected was: Mayor, Alex. S.
Campbell: treasurer, J. L. Mitchell; recorder, T. M. Foster; as-
sessor, S. A. Smith ; aldermen, H. Birkett, C. F. Cook, Thomas
Mann, Ira Padden ; justice, J. C. Hemer.
Mayor-elect Campbell resigned his position as alderman of
the third ward, and the council elected George H. Sutton to fill
the vacancy. J. M. Greenman was chosen city attorney. Dr.
W. L. Hollister became chairman of the board of health. Thomas
Dugan, fire marshal : J. D. Smith, street commissioner, and J. M.
Gait, chief of police.
The council had the names of its members inscribed on a
marble tablet and set in the Avails of the municipal plant. The
contract that the city had Avith the Austin Electric Light plant
expired in 1899 and the company asked for a reneAval. The
council's ansAver was a resolution passed April 8, 1899, authoriz-
ing the purchasing committee to bviy machinery for an electric
light plant. On May 5, this resolution Avas rescinded and the
committee Avas ordered to secure information as to the cost of an
electric light plant. June 2 an expert electrician was brought to
the city from St. Paul to give the desired information. On Sep-
tember 15 plans were adopted and bids were accepted for a plant.
The Austin Electric Company secured an injunction. The coun-
cil held a special meeting and passed a resolution to sever all
business relations Avitb the comiKiny October .'11. Tlie eas(^
HISTOIJY OF .MOWFK COUNTY 195
dragged on through tlie rest of the year and M^as not settled
until tlie council of 1900, on April 10, purchased the Electric
Light plant for $16,000 and added it to the new one. The coun-
cil of 1899 had other troubles, for Austin had an epidemic of
smallpox and the council purchased a piece of land in tlie
southeast part of the city. The building was just ready for oc-
cupancy when it was burned to the ground. The council offered
a reward of $500 for evidence leading to the discovery of the
fire bug, but the city never had to pay the reward.
1900 — Officers were elected this year as follows: Mayor,
Alexander Campbell; recorder, T. M. Foster; treasurer, Alfred
Johnson ; assessor, S. A. Smith ; aldermen, H. Birkett, John Rob-
ertson, Percy Bump, George Sutton; justices, J. E. Eobinson, H.
N. Lane, J. Hemmer; constables, R. A. Carmiehael, J. M. Gait
and Tony Beckel. License carried by a majority of 356. The
following appointments were made: Chief of police, J. M. Gait;
city attorney, A. W. "Wright; city surveyor, M. N. Clausen; fire
marshal, J. L. Gulden: street commisisoner, J. D. Smith; chair-
man board of health. Dr. AV. L. Hollister. The council received
a petition that remains a novel one to this day in the annals of
the city. This petition came from the saloonkeepers, asking that
the council nail up all rear and side entrances to the saloons and
enforce the law in regard to minors entering saloons.
1901 — Officers were elected as follows: Mayor, C. L. West;
treasurer, Alfred E. Johnson; recorder, T. M. Foster; assessor,
S. A. Smith; aldermen, George A. Hormel, Fred E. Gleason, Dr.
H. A. Avery and John L. Gulden. License vote 677, against
228. The following appointments Avere made : City attorney,
A. AY. AYright : surveyor, M. N. Clausen ; fire marshal, Thomas
IMann ; street commissioner, Barney Bushman ; chief of police, J.
M. Gait ; chairman board of health. Dr. AY. L. Hollister ; superin-
tendent of water works, AYilliam Todd. George Sutton resigned
as alderman on April 5, and the council elected John A. Ander-
son to fill the vacancy. On July 19, the council ordered another
v;ell to be driven to increase the water supply of the city and
installed water meters. On November 28, Lafayette French an-
nounced to the council that Mr. and IMrs. Thomas Beatty had
given three acres of land, E. G. Tompkins three acres of land,
and that five acres more had been purchased by popular sub-
scription, all lying on the east bank of the Cedar and south of
the city for park purposes. Later two acres more were pur-
chased. The council in recognition of the work done by Afr.
French in securing the land for park purposes, gave it the name
of Lafayette park. The folloAving summer a "grubbing bee"
was held, at which lawyers, doctors, merchants and laboring
men devoted a day to improving the property.
196 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
1902 — The following officers were elected: Mayor, Dr. C. II.
Johnson; treasurer, A. E. Johnson; recorder, T. M. Foster; as-
sessor, S. A. Smith; aldermen, George A. Hormel, John Robert-
son, P. Bump, John Konovsky; justices, J. E. Robinson, H. N.
Lane, J. Hemmer; constables, R. A. Carmichael, J. M. Gait and
Tony Beckel. The following appointments were made: City
attorney, A. W. Wright; surveyor, G. Allen; fire marshal, Thos.
Mann ; eliief of police, J. M. Gait ; street commissioner, Barney
Bushman. In Api-il, 1902, a meeting was held, to Avhich the
property owners of Main street had been invited to discuss the
question of paving that street. Tliere was much opposition to
the proposed improvement.
On May 20. the property of the Christian church at the corner
of Maple and Chatbam streets was purchased for a hose houst,'
and the church altered for this new usage.
On Juno 30, the sum of $15,000 was appropriated to erect a
building for the Southern Minnesota Normal College.
On August 5, the council decided to install a day electric
service to be ready for use November 1. F. H. McCuUoch, a
printer, was the first to use the new power.
During the years 1900 and 1901 there had been much agitation
for the paving of ]\Iain and Water streets. The charter restricted
the action of the council along permanent improA'ement lines. On
March 26, 1902, a petition of ten per cent of the voters who had
voted at the last election, Avhich had been held but two weeks
previous, was x^resented to Judge Kingsley of the district court,
requesting him to name a board to prepare and submit to the
voters a new charter. In compliance with that request the fol-
lowing were named : James D. Sheedy, Seymour Johnson. La-
fayette French, C. I. Johnson, H. A. Avery, Ed Barr, C. L. West,
A. W. Wright, George Merrick, J. M. Greenman, E. C. Kenney,
Alex S. Campbell, J. L. Gulden, Ira Padden and Joseph Regner.
The board met and elected C. L. West president, and Arthur
Wright secretary. It held frequent meetings during the ensu-
ing months, and on January 2, 1903, the new charter was pre-
sented to the city council. It Avas signed by but nine of the
board, C. L. West, A. W. Wright, J. L. Gulden, C. I. Johnson,
Lafayette French, Hoyt A. Avery, J. ]\I. Greenman, E. C. Kenney,
and J. D. Sheedy,
On January 16, a petition signed by eighty-tAvo citizens Avas
presented to the city council requesting that a special election
be called for February L3, to vote upon the charter. In the
raeanAvhile the proposed charter had been printed in the daily
papers and much opposition had appeared. The people of the
third Avard objected to a redistricting of the city into four AA-^ards,
Avliifli Avould make material changes in the boundaries of that
HISTOIJY OF MOAVER COUNTY 197
■ward. The no license people objected to a provision that made
it necessary to secure twenty-five per cent of the voters on a
petition to have the liquor question submitted to the people.
'Under the old charter it required but ten per cent. Many of
the voters objected to a section that barred ail but free holders
from holding office. The liquor interests opposed the new meas-
ure because it provided for the mandatory revocation of liquor
licenses for the violation of any city ordinance or state law per-
taining to the business.
In order to pass the charter four-sevenths of the votes cast
were required to be in favor of the charter. The vote was 272
in favor and 262 against.
The board again met and on March 3 were ready with an
amended charter. This was printed in full in the daily papers
Avith explanatory notes by A. W. Wright. A mass meeting was
also held at the court house. The objectionable features hacj
been eliminated and the charter went before the people at an
election held March 10. There was still much opposition to the
proposed measure and it was carried by a majority of less than
one vote.
The new cliarter provided for biennial election, all of the
old aldermen's terms to expire at the same time, the aldermen
holding office at the time of the passage of the charter to hold
until their time expired. Under the new charter the municipal
electric plant and water works passed into the hands of a com-
mission, and from the control of the city council.
The new charter has been of great advantage in some re-
spects, but in others there is no doubt but the city could have
made more permanent improvements under the statute laws of
tlie state than under the home-rule charter.
The officers elected in 1903 were: Mayor, C. F. Cook; treas-
lu-er, J. L. Mitchell ; recorder, T. M. Foster ; assessor, E. P. Kelley ;
aldermen, P. H. Zender, Peter Johnson, Frank Hall and George
Beckel. The new charter went into effect April 11, 1903. Mayor
Cook appointed as commissioners of the electric light, power and
water board, S. D. Catherwood, for one year; J. D. Sheedy, for
tAvo years; A. S. Campbell, for three years; George A. Horrael,
for four years, and J. L. Gulden for five years. ]Mr. Catherwood
resigned from the board November 6, and was succeeded by
A. M. Smith.
Mayor Cook appointed for the first park board, Thomas
Beatty, one year; F. E. Gleason, two years; George A. i^uttoii,
three years; Lafayette ^''rencli, four years, and Anton Friedrich
for five years.
The council elected B. Bushman, street commissioner; Tliomas
Dugan, fire chief, and Thomas Pridham, city attorney.
198 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
The council granted a franchise to the new organized Inter-
state Telegraph & Telephone Company, passed an anti-spitting
on the sidewalk ordinance and in January, 1904, condemned the
opera house and several other places of public amusement, as
fire traps. The owners of the opera house announced to the
council: "The building will never again be opened as an opera
house." Later a part of the stage caved in.
1904-1905— Mayor, C. F. Cook; treasurer, J. L. Mitchell; as-
sessor, L. B. Fairbanks ; aldermen, Thomas Riley, Percy Bump,
W. J. Bell, Peter Johnson, F. 0. Hall, Geo. Beekel, Ira Padden;
justices, J. E. Robinson, H. N. Lane, George Bailey. The fol-
lowing appointments were made : T. H. Pridham, city attorney ;
Nels Jensen, fire chief; Barney Bushman, street commissioner;
G. H. Allen, city surveyor. On September 16, received a peti-
tion for the paving of Main street. On September 26, the council
met with the property holders, several of whom were much op-
l)0sed to the proposed improvement. The city had a floating in-
debtedness of something over $20,000, and a special election was
held November 8, at which bonds were voted to take up this iu-
debtetlness and at the same time an amendment to the charter
On March 5, 1905, the council passed the necessary resolu-
tions for the paving of Main street between Oakland avenue and
Lansing avenue, a block each way on each of the intei'secting
streets, and Water street from Railway street to St. Paul street.
1906-1907 — Mayor, George Sutton; treasurer, J. L. Mitchell;
assessor, L. B. Fairbanks; aldermen, Peter Johnson, AY. J. Bell,
T. C. E. Officer, Dr. A. M. Lewis, C. J. McNally, Ira Padden.
P. H. Zender ; justices, John Fairbanks, H. N. Lane, J. C. Hemer.
T. M. Foster was appointed recorder. The following appoint-
ments were made : City attorney, T. H. Pridham ; city engineer,
M. N. Clausen; fire chief, N. P. Jensen; street superintendent.
B. Bushman. The council appropriated $250 for the San Fran-
cisco earthquake sufferers. The paving question was taken up
February 1, 1907, and on February 15 the council advertised for
Inds for paving Water street with brick. A strong remonstrance
was made by some of the property owners, who engaged Attorney
Fay Greenman and H. H. Dunn, of Albert Lea, as counsel for the
protestants. A special meeting of the council was held, at which
the attendance was so great that the meeting was adjourned to
the court room. As a majority of the property owners favored
]iaving, the woi'k was carried to completion.
1908-1909— ^layor, George Siitton ; treasurer, J. L. Mitchell;
assessor, Jacob Gute ; aldermen, Joseph Fitzhun, C. F. Stillmau,
C. M. Emmons, Percy Bump, Ira Padden, Jolm j\IcCormick,
P. n. Zender; justices, Jolui ?'iiirl)iinks, W. W. Ranny, David
IlISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 1!)!)
Cooper. T. ]M. Foster was appoiuted recorder. The election was
a close and bitter one for the position of alderman-at-large, P. H.
Zender defeating Peter Johnson for the office. The latter asked
that the council appropriate the sum of $500 to investigate the
charge that there had been illegal voting at the election, his point
being that certain (S. M. N.) college students had voted who
v/ere not residents of the city. The council took no action on
tlie matter.
The board of aldermen took up the question of building a fire
engine house, armory and city hall, all in one building, and had
plans drawn which were accepted. It went before the people
at a special election, when the proposition was carried to build
a city hall, armory and engine house at an expense "to exceed
$5,000." The council then voted to build, but before it got to
work the terms of the aldermen had expired and another set of
plans and specifications were added to those already accepted
ten years previous. Mayor Sutton presided over the council
for the last time April 7, 1909, and Alderman Zender became
acting mayor. He then went to Omaha and entered the Omaha
General Hospital for treatment, where he died July 1, the news
being broken to the people by the tolling of the church bells.
The body Avas brought to the city over the C. G. W. road, and
was met at the depot by a large and sorrowing body of citizens.
On Saturday, July 3, the body was taken to the corridor of the
court house, where it lay in state, guarded by four members of
Co. G, M. N. G., in uniform. From 4 to 5 o'clock all the stores
were closed, and 970 of our people filed past the casket. The
funeral occurred on Sunday, July 4, the escort being Co. G,
Mclntyre Post, G. A. R. ; the firemen, Austin Lodge, 414, B. P.
0. E., and other orders. The service was held in Christ Epis-
copal church and the body was buried in Oakwood cemetery.
1910-1911— :\Iayor, Alex S. Campbell; treasurer, J. L. Mitch-
ell ; assessor, John Reding ; aldermen, A. C. Page, W. J. Bell, F. E.
Gleason, A. Hotson, P. A. Reilly, Ira Paden, Franklin Clay;
justices, John Fairbanks, W. AY. Ranney, Ray Chaffee. The fol-
lowing appointments were nuide: Recorder, Frank Cronon; chief
of police, J. M. Gait; chief of fire department, N. P. Jensen;
chairman of board of health. Dr. H. F. Pierson; street commis-
sioner, Robert Parkins. T. H. Pridham, who was appointed
attorney, moved from the city and the council elected Jacob
Nicholsen for the unexpired term.
A special election was held and bonds to tlie amount of
$.30,000 were voted to purchase the Sargeaut Springs and to
bring the water to the city for domestic purposes. The council
was also authorized to purchase the farm on which the si)rings
200 HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUXTY
Avere located for the sum of $18,500. The council at once bought
the farm and springs and closed a contract for bringing the
■water to the city. The work was completed June 1, 1911.
CHAPTER XVIII
INDUSTRIAL AUSTIN
Importance of the Mercantile Interests^Beginning of Industry —
Austin in 1867— The Railroad Era— Austin in 1876— Austin
in 1884 — The Modern Period — Manufacturing Interests — First
Mill — Former Industries — Modern Industries. — Edited by
Charles L. West.
Austin's Avholesale and retail trade covers twenty-two blocks
of the city's streets. Every line of commercial trade is repre-
sented. Not for ten years has there been a commercial failure
of any importance. Austin's business houses are all on a tirm
financial basis and are conducted conservatively. Several of the
merchants have been in business here for over thirty years. The
stores are modeim and the stock carried up-to-date, the mer-
chants going to Chicago and New York to personally inspect the
stock of goods which they place before the people. Prices are
reasonable in all lines, and it is not an unusual thing for an
Austin merchant to ship goods to St. Paul and Minneapolis to
customers who have found it cheaper to buy certain lines of
goods in this city.
BEGINNING OF BUSINESS
The first move toward business here was in the fall of 1854,
when Chauncey Leverieh commenced the building of a saw mill,
which was completed in the spring of 1855. The first store in
the place was opened by A. B. Vanghan and his son, P. D.
Vaughan, who came here in the spring of 1855, bringing a stock
of goods with them from Wisconsin. In 1856 they sold to
Aloysias Brown, and moved to Lansing.
Aloysius Brown was born near Emmetsburg, Md., January
18, 1793, and married Elizabeth Drury. In 1856, he came to Aust;
tin and engaged in trade as before stated. His stock of goods
was procured at Winona and IMcGregor, and were drawn here by
ox teams. In 1857-58 the people depended upon ^Nlr. Brown to
furnish thoni with flour and corn meal, wliicli was drawn from
HISTOEY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY 201
Chatfield and Decorah, lo^va. At times the roads were so bad
that it was almost impossible for a team to pass over, or rather
through them, and it required many days to make the journey.
As soon as it was learned that teams had been dispatched for a
)iew supply of meal, gold coin and sacks with the names of the
owners and amount of meal required securely tied to each, were
deposited with Mr. Brown to make sure of a portion of the meaj:
On its arrival the amounts were put into each sack and set away
for those who had paid for it. The demand Avould sometimes
exceed the supply, so the amount dealt out to each would be
diminished until ten or fifteen pounds would be the most he would
sell to any one family. "When the meal Avas all distributed and
there were yet families not supplied, a raid would be made on
the sacks that were filled and the contents distributed among
tliose that had no flour or meal to eat. In, one instance a Nor-
wegian woman, having a large family, came before noon and
stayed until 9 o'clock trying to buy more than fifty pounds of
meal, but when she saw the last of the meal carried away by
littles, she gave it up and Avent home. Mr. Brown's death oc-
curred February 23. 1864; Mrs. Brown's, April 3, 1868.
The second store in Austin was opened by J. B. Yates and
V. P. Lewis.
General Stores. In the winter of 1856-57 George B. Hayes
started into mercantile business in a building located in the block
east of the Windsor House. He afterward did business in the
building known as "headquarters." He carried a large stock
of general merchandise and was the leading merchant here for
some time. Hanchett and Sprague opened a general store here
in 1856. in a frame building north of the present iMcCuUough
printing plant. They were in business two or three years
George ^Jlitchell came here from Geneva, New York, in 1857, and
•started the first furniture store. Albert Galloway and D. B.
Johnson. Jr.. foi-med a partnership and opened a general store in
July, 1857, in a building east of where the postofifice now stands.
The next spring they dissolved, Galloway continiiing in the trade
until 1868. He then sold to Olfson & Peterson, who ran two years
and closed out. In the fall of 1858 Ruford Kimball erected a
small frame building and embarked in the grocery and dry goods
trade, and failed the coming season. In 1859 James Clock started,
a general store. He operated the same about a year, when he
failed. F. King opened a general store in 1863 and in 1878
George M. Fish. Jr.. became a partner, under the firm name of
King & Fish. Philips, Sawyer, Smith, Baird and others were in
business here in the sixties. N. P. Austin opened a general store
in 1865.
Meat Dealers. The first meat business in Austin was done bv
-202 HISTOEY OF MOAVER COUNTY
W. A. "Woodson, in 1856. He was living about two miles from
town, where he dressed the beef. He brought the meat to town
In a wagon and drove from house to house to supply his cus-
tomers. Eyre & Rankin opened a market here in 1865.
Drugs. The first drug store in Austin was started by Dr.
Orlenzer Allen, in 1856. He closed out in war times. Dr. Brewer
was the second druggist, closely followed by Dr. Barnes. Early
in 1866 Woodard & Dorr opened a drug store. J. J. and G. G.
Clemmer opened a little later the same year.
Millinery. The first milliner in Austin was Mrs. Sarah H.
Bemis, who settled here in 1855. She was in the business until
after the war.
Smithing-. The first blacksmith in Austin was Winfield Love-
land, who is spoken of as coming late in 1854, or early in 1855.
In 1857 he moved away. During that time Abe Haveling and a
man named Day worked at the trade here for a short time.
Other early black.smiths were Samuel Rice and Llewellyn and
Piper.
Tailoring. In 1861 Henry Jacobs, a merchant tailor by trade,
opened a shop here and put in a stock of ready-made clothing.
He is .still in business here. Mr. Jacobs has been in business
longer than any other man in Austin.
Boots and Shoes. George and Oliver Bemis put in the first
stock of boots and shoes in the spring of 1857.
Livery. The first livery stables in Austin were started in
1864. In that year there were two stables opened : one by A. B.
Davidson and William Brown, the other by E. D. and Calos Fen-
ton. In 1868 W. T. Mandeville succeeded to the business started
by Davidson & Brown. Leonard Gillett, Joshua Davidson, Hicks
& Phelps, Cobb & Son, M. C. Gratton engaged in the livery busi-
ness here in an early day.
Jewelry. Gustav Schleuder has been in the jewelry business
in Austin since 1863, and next to Henry Jacobs has been in busi-
ness longer than any other man in Austin.
Hardware. Charles C. Hunt opened a hardware store in
Austin in the sixties.
Express Companies. The first express business done at Austin
was that operated by Nichols & Cotter, who ran the stage line from
.Rochester, also from AVaverly, la., northwest into Minnesota.
The United States Express Company establi.shed a regular otfice
at this point and Harlan W. Page was appointed the first agent.
A little later the American J]xpress Company established an office
also, and made Mr. Page joint agent. This was the first joint
office of these two companies in Minnesota.
Mr. Page Avas succeeded by Phelps and Hathaway, wlio lield
the offices till tliey divided, each having a separate office. C. J.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 203
Paddock was the first agent for the United States Company after
they divided, and James Hutchins for the American Company.
Abont 1870 AV. T. Wilkins became agent for the United States
Company and he in 1872 was succeeded by L. M. Ober. L. R.
Hathaway was finally succeeded in 1875 by L. E. Day, who con-
tinued till 1884, when J. E. Crews took the office.
AUSTIN IN 1867
A directory of Austin, published in June, 1867, gives the fol-
lowing names of those engaged in business and in the professiolis
here at that time. Attorneys : Ormanzo Allen, Cameron & John-
son, Everest & Wright, Page & Wheeler, Shortt & Jones. Auc-
tioneer: LeRoy Hathaway. Band: Austin Cornet Band, R. L.
Kimball, leader. Agricultural implements : E. D. Fenton,
Wi'ight and Azure. Architects and builders : Andrews Brothers,
C. Chapin, George Baird, D. Bosworth, Campbell & Dodge, W. C.
Cassell. Oscar Eyres, C. Ford, George Johnson, L. W. Smith,
Thomas Tremple, William Tucker, James Williams. Banker:
Harlan W. Page. Billiard hall: William Simpson. Bakery:
Stephen Rice. Blacksmiths: Hunt & Clark. Allan Mollison, L.
Piper, Hiram Smith. Boots, shoes, etc. : J. C. Ackley & Co.,
J. B. Revord. Barber : W. H. Bullock. Brick makers : Morse
& Tuttle, Webb Brothers. Churches: Baptist, PI. I. Parker;
Congregational, Alfred Morse ; Episcopal, L. W. Gibson ; Metho-
dist. W. Carver; Presbyterian, H. A. Mayhew; Roman Catholic,
Father McDermott. County officers: H. M. Allen, auditor; Syl-
A-ester Smith, treasurer ; Soloman Snow, register of deeds ; D. J.
Tubbs, sheriff; E. 0. Wheeler, attorney; Ormanzo Allen, probate
judge: L. A. Sherwood, clerk of district court; Sherman Page,
superintendent of schools. Clothing and cloths: J. C. Ackley
& Co., R. Buckelmann, A. J. Phelps. Dentists : Dr. E. C. Dorr,
Dr. E. P. Hudson. Dry goods and groceries: X. P. Austin,
George B. Hayes, Johnson & Brother, F. King, Olson & Cnutson,
Paddock Brothers, Soule Brothers. Drugs and medicines: J. J.
and G. G. Clemmer, Johnson Brothers & Co., Woodard & Dorr.
Express companies: American, Harlan W. Page; United States,
same. ^Merchants' Union: Charles W. Sawyer. Fanning mills
and washing machines: William Truesdell. Furniture: Hop-
kins & Fernald. William Ludwig. Flour and feed : AV right &
Azure. Good Templars : Austin Lodge, No. 14, I. O. G. T. Gro-
ceries : J. C. Ackley & Co., J. F. Atherton, Cook Bros, A. Matson,
Wright & Azure. Hotels: Davidson's Hotel. Fleck House,
Farmers' Home. Hardware, stoves, etc.: Austin & Sniout, J. F.
Atherton. Kimball & Hunt, V. P. Lewis. Harness and saddlery:
Hathaway & Kaiser, Frank Raymond. Insurance agents : LeRoy
204 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Hathaway, Page & Wheeler, Harlan AY. Page, C. AY. Sawyer, R. I.
Smith, Soloman Snow. Ice dealer : B. F. Jones. Jew6lry, etc. :
Gustav Schleuder. Job printing : Register office. Lumber deal-
ers : Crooker & Brother & Lamoreux, Clay & Leach, A. Matson.
Livery stables : A. B. Davidson, E. D. Fenton & Brother. Ma-
sonic : Fidelity Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M. ; Austin Chapter,
IT. D. Millinery and dressmaking : Cook & Bemis, Mrs. S. Hed-
ding, Mrs. D. A. Lord, Miss M. A. Sample, Mrs. Q. A. Truesdell.
Merchant tailors : D. Banks, R. Dunkelmann, A. Matson. Meat
market: Eyre & Frederick. Newspaper: Mower County Reg-
ister. Physicians and surgeons : Dr. Orlenzer Allen, Dr. R. A.
Barnes, Dr. P. C. Berry, Dr. 0. AY. Gibson, Dr. W. C. Jones.
Photograph gallery : R. I. Smith. Painters : AVeseman &
Hickok. Plasterers: R. J. Tyler, AYilliam Vandergrift. Res-
taurants : Huxhold & Yan Campen. Sewing machine agents :
J. C. Ackley, Mrs. Orlenzer Allen, C. H. Davidson. Stone and
brick masons : Patrick Barrett, AYilliam Gutherless. U. S. offi-
cers : Deputy collector, Sol. Snow ; deputy assessor, H. M. Allen.
A'^eterinary surgeon : Dr. M. M. AYalker. AA^agon shops : AY. I.
Brown, Holt & jMaloney.
THE RAILROAD ERA
Prior to the advent of the railroad to Austin the business of
the place was not classified, but general stocks prevailed. But
at this time a revolution took place which really marked a new
era in the commercial history of Austin. The history of a ma-
jority of the business houses which operated previous to the
coming of the railroad has already been given. In this connec-
tion will be given the general development of the various branches
of trade from 1867, when the railroad was completed, up to 1884,
when the modern period begins.
Mercantile. Soon after the coming of the railroad N. P. Aus-
tin sold an interest in his general store to F. A. Richardson and
later sold his remaining interest to Frank Mayhew and went to
California. After a few years Mayhew sold his interest to Rich-
ardson and followed Austin to California. Richardson continued
in the business until 1880, when his stock was destroyed by fire.
James C. Day started in the dry goods business early in this era.
After about one year he sold to Stoaley & AYilliams. Their busi-
ness was managed by AY. H. Merrick two years, when they closed
out. The C. L. AYest Dry Goods Company. In the spring of
1869 C. L. AYest left Osage, la., where he had been employed
as a clerk in the general stores of II. AY. ]\IcNabb and Fonda and
Redfearn for three years past, and engaged as a clerk in the drug
store of Johnson Bros, for about three months, after which he
iiisTOijY OF :\i()\vi<:i,' coiwi'v ^o:.
was employod iu the general store of Austin & Richardson for
about three years. In the fall of 1871 he decided to go into busi-
ness for himself. He first thought of going into the grocery busi-
ness in some small town, but on counting the cost of a small
grocery stock he decided that the small amount of money he had
was not enough. He finally decided that the biggest show for
the least money was in the crockery business. He went around
town and persuaded the dealers to sell their stocks of crockery to
him and agree to keep out of the business. He conducted this
business until June, 1873, when R. 0. Hall moved from Dixon,
111., to Austin, when they went into partnership under the firm
name of Hall & West, and opened a general store. After two
years the grocery department was discontinued and an exclusive
dry goods business continued until June, 1899, when Mr. Hall
retired, since which time the business has been continued by ]Mr.
"West up to the date of this writing, making a continuous period
of forty years that Mr. West has been in business in Austin. No
sensational or radical methods have been employed, only such
methods as have appealed to an old merchant as progressive and
honest have been the governing policy of this store. L. S. Wil-
lard established a dry goods business in Austin in 1876. Christian
tian Johnson engaged in the mercantile trade in Austin a few
years after the railroad was built with his brother Jacob, who
died a fev/ months later. After eight years Mr. Johnson sold out
and engaged as a clerk.
Groceries. Among the grocery dealers at the commencement
of this era was L. G. Basford, who continued in the business until
the falling of the Basford block in 1883. James C. Day, after
selling his stock of dry goods, opened an extensive grocery store,
from which he drove the first delivery wagon in town. He was
succeeded by S. W. Day. Dalager Bros, engaged in the grocery
business in 1880, one of the brothers, Edward, having been in the
same line since 1872, while the other brother, Andrew, had been
engaged in the sale of farm machinery since 1878. Edward A.
Dalager is still engaged in the grocery business in Austin. Fred
Radermaeher opened a grocery store in Austin in 1869, and in
1876 engaged in the bakery and restaurant business.
Fiirniture. The furniture trade of Austin was represented in
1867 liy George Mitchell, Hopkins & Fernald. Mitchell continued
in the trade until his death. Hopkins & Fernald continued the
business until 1875, when Hopkins sold and moved to Boston,
^Mass. Fernald was joined in business by A. W. Kimball. They
continued in business until their stock was destroyed by fire.
Fernald started in business soon after. S. C. Olson, who at first
worked in Fernald 's store, commenced l)usiiiess for liimsi'lf. lie
was in trade in 1884.
206 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Drug Trade. The drug business at the commencement of this
era was represented by Woodard & Dorr, and J. J. & 6. G. Clem-
mer. The firm of Woodard & Dorr was soon changed to Door &
Wold. K. 0. AVold is still in business here. The Clemmer Bros,
were in business but a few years when G. G. withdrew from the
firm and went to Hampton, la. J. J. was never a resident of
Austin. Soon after G. G. withdrew the firm became Clemmer &
Pooler. Charles A. Pooler is still in business here.
Lumber. The business was first represented in Austin by Mr.
Washburn, in 1866, and he remained in the business two years.
The same year a yard was started by P. G. Lamoreaux on Main
street. William Leach opened a yard in the fall of the same
year on Mill street, east of the yard established by Washburn.
JMr. Leach continued in business about one year. The lumber
trade in Austin in 1867, after the completion of the railroad, was
an immense business. From this point, all the territory between
Albert Lea and ]\Iason City had to obtain lumber from Austin.
The lumber manufacturers of Minneapolis had yards of their own
for several years and did an extensive business. In 1868 there
were six yards in the city. Among the dealers who continued in
the trade after the boom had ceased was William Richards, whose
yard was at the depot. He sold to E. H. Gerard and he to S. B.
Woodsum. Bray & French were also early dealers in lumber.
Frank I. Crane succeeded Bray & French in 1876. William M.
Leach came to Austin in 1866, engaged in the lumber trade, and
later took charge of the lumber yards of Frank I. Crane. The
Crane yard is still in existence and is in charge of Ralph P.
Crane.
Grain Business. The first to engage in the grain business at
Austin in the railroad era Avere B. J. and E. P. Van Valkenburgh,
who located a warehouse soon after the railroad came in. Among
the other earl.y dealers were Ames & Co., William W. Cargill, John
Crandall and Yates & Lewis. The railroad company built a low,
flat v/arehouse shortly after the road was built in and about the
same time the firm of B. J. and E. P. Van Valkenburgh dissolved.
Bassett & Iluntting built an elevator about 1875, which had a
capacity of 60,000 bushels, and B. J. Van Valkenburgh managed
it, having an interest in the same. In 1868 Yates & LcAvis built
a warehouse and handled grain a few years. In 1884 the grain
l)usiness was in tlie hands of Bassett & Hunting and Charles
Whitton.
Leather Goods. The first harness made in Austin was by
LoRoy Hatliaway, in I860. Mr. Hathaway was at that time at
work for George B. Hayes, Avho started the first harness shop. In
the spring of 1865 Hathaway engaged in business for himself, and
in Octobci- of that year ~S\v. Kaiser l)ecame his partner in business.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 207
This partnership eoutinued about one year. Mr. Kaiser was then
alone in business until July 25, 1868, when Mr. Guiney became
associated with him.
Boots and Shoes. Joseph Schwan is the oldest established boot
and shoe dealer now in business in Austin. He began business
October 23, 1867. He began on a small scale in a small frame
building only ten feet in width, kept a small stock of ready-made
goods and also did custom work. Mr. Schwan is still successfully
engaged in business. In December, 1867, James Truesdell, of
Syracuse, N. Y., started an exclusive boot and shoe store. In
1869 he moved to Ira Jones' building, where he remained two
years, and from there moved to the east side of Main street, into
a building which he bought. In 1880 Mr. Truesdell sold his stock
to Frank Tieknor. J. C. Ackley purchased the boot and shoe
stock which George B. Hayes carried in connection with his gen-
eral store and operated until 1873, and then sold to J. P. Revord.
In two or three years he sold to John Lambert, continued a few
years and moved to southern Iowa. Samuel Sweningsen and
Charles I. Johnson embarked in the boot and shoe business in
1880 and were among the dealers in 1884. Charles I. Johnson is
still engaged in the footwear business in Austin. Amos H. Hill
came to Austin in February, 1876, and for a time was in partner-
ship with John Lambert in the general grocery and boot and shoe
trade.
Clothing. The clothing business has always l^een well repre-
sented in Austin. Henry Jacobs, the pioneer dealer, was still in
trade in 1884. R. Dunkleman established business here late in
1866, and Joseph Levy early in 1867. Dettleburgh Brothers,
better known as Cheap Charley, established their business here
about 1878.
Photographers. Dr. Brewer was the first photographer to
locate at Austin. He was assisted by A. B. Davidson, who suc-
ceeded him in the business. In 1884 Orville Slocum and G. S.
Hildahl were each engaged in the business.
Hardware Business. Charles C. Hunt, who is spoken of as
being in the hardware business previous to the railroad era, con-
tinued in trade until 1870, when he sold to Ira Jones, who was in
trade the greater part of the time until 1883, when he was suc-
ceeded by Cook & Davidson. J. H. Patterson, general hardware
dealer purchased a building of J. B. Reeurd in 1883. The busi-
ness of Mr. Patterson was established by Crane & Patterson in
1880. The latter purchased his partner's interest in February.
1882. H. O. Jahren and H. S. Hammond engaged in the sale of
farm machinery in the firm name of Jahren & Hammond in 1884,
purchasing the business established by Goodwin & Jalircn in 1S74.
A. O. Jahren, a lirother of H. ()., suecedcd to tlic Imsiufss t'ol-
©
208 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
lowed by H. O. W. H. Sutton engaged in the general hardware
business in Austin in November, 1883, under the firm name of Fish
& Sutton. Mr. Si;tton became sole owner in May, 1884. In
August, 1883, he sold his hardware stock to J. F. Andrews & Son.
D. B. Smith started dealing in general farm machinery in Aiistin
in the fall of 1871. Austin Foundry was established near the
Milwaukee depot in 1867 by William W. Brownson, who continued
the business successfully until his death in 1873. In the agricul-
tural implement business there have been numerous dealers.
William Allen, about the first regular dealer, after railroad times,
operated about five years and then closed out and removed to
Wells, Minn. Next came Alanson Wright, Avho did quite an
extensive business in this line. Next came E. P. Van Valken-
burgh, who was succeeded by Oscar Ayers, who was in business
for a few years.
AUSTIN IN 1876
In 1876, Centennial year, the business and professional prog-
ress of Austin was represented as follows :
Main street — Austin & Chase, hardware ; Noble & McWhorter,
grocers; Oleson, Smith & Co., dry goods; C. H. Brewster, mer-
chant tailor; J. J. Hayes & Bro., jewelers; George Baird & Son,
stationers ; L. L. Gable, organs ; Miss W. C. Soper, milliner ;
Charles Rommel, meat market ; Hall & West, dry goods and gro-
ceries; Fernald & Kimball, furniture; Clemmer & Pooler, drug-
gists; C. B. Staples, dentist; J. A. Dunston, barber; Robert Grif-
fith, groceries and stationery ; Mrs. E. M. Benson, milliner ; John
B. Revord, groceries and boots and shoes; Bullock & Pierce, bar-
bers ; AVitham & Robinson, painters ; James Cronou, cigars, to-
bacco and notions ; George Foote, confectionery ; W. H. Anderson,
baker and grocer; Joseph Levy, clothing; M. M. Brey, tobacco
and cigars ; F. King, dry goods ; Dorr & Wold, druggists ; G.
Schleuder, jeweler; M. T. Grattan, reaper agent; E. Dunkle-
mann, clothing ; Solner & Morgan, general store ; Davidson & Bas-
f ord, publishers Register ; Rabe & Avery, dentists ; T. W. Wood-
ard, justice of the peace; Merrick & Knox, hardware; H. A.
Fairbanks, harness maker ; L. Piper, blacksmith ; Smith, Wilkins
& Easton, Mower County Bank ; L. M. Ober, express agent and
deputy revenue officer; J. A. Waters, sewing machines; P. Zeller,
proprietor European hotel ; Dr. W. L. Hollister, pliysician and
surgeon; Dr. S. P. Thornhill, physician and surgeon; First Na-
tional Bank, O. W. Shaw president, II. AV. Page cashier; E. 0.
Wheeler, lawyer and real estate agent; E. Mapes, groceries;
H. F. Kunz, dry goods; Joseph Schwan, boots and shoes; H.
Luithlen, confectionery and restaurant; D. B. Jolinson, Jr., at-
HISTORY OF MOWER (XJLLXTY 300
torney at law ; Crandall & French, lawyers ; L. W. Griffith, justice
of the peace ; H. H. Harwood, proprietor of the Transcript ;
George B. Hayes, loan hroker; Kaiser & Guinney, harness makers;
Frank Raymond, harness maker; Padden & Noble, druggists;
James Truesdell, boots and shoes; Tallmadge & Ball, grocers;
F. A. Richardson, dry goods ; Greenman & Abbey, insurance
agents and lawyers; George E. "Wilbour & Son, merchant tailors
and clothiers; Engle & Co., miller's office; L. Ed. Day, express
agent; Hazlewood & Tuttle, hardware; H. M. & S. Cowing, milli-
ners ; Col. J. H. Mansfield, proprietor DaA'idson House ; L. Hturte-
vant, musical instruments.
Mill street — John Walsh, grocer; William Newman, shoe-
maker; Frank Gibbons, confectionery; J. J. O'Maley, wines and
liquors; S. Chandler & Bro., grocers; Adrian Drost, silversmith;
H. L. Burgess, gunsmith ; A. 0. Jahren & Co., farm machinery ;
Leo Anderson, bakery : C. 0. Berg, tailor ; Sever Oleson, pro-
prietor Scandinavian House ; A. Nelson, liquors ; H. J. Minar,
marble yard; S. Hutchins, proprietor Ramsey stage line; Henry
Kothe, proprietor Austin House ; J. S. Corning, proprietor Grand
Central Hotel ; D. Heffner, billiard hall ; Frank Anderson, liquor
dealer; M. J. Cuddy, liquor dealer; Katz & Driesner, wholesale
liquor dealers; 0. E. Slocum, photographer; T. F. Armstrong,
liquors ; John McCormick, liquors ; Kyle & Feihn, meat market ;
Henry Jacobs, tailor; Mrs. D. A. Lord, millinery; P. Zender,
liquors; A. M. Radermacher, grocer; H. S. Smith, plow manu-
facturer; Dr. J. N. Wheat, physician and surgeon.
Bridge street — L. G. Basford, grocer ; G. K. Hanson, wagon
maker; W. A. Hotehkiss, proprietor Republican ; Dr. J. P. Squires,
physician and surgeon ; A. H. Alsip, brick maker ; Joseph Rliein-
smith, blacksmith: AY. I. Brown, farm machinery; H. S. Smith,
blacksmith ; J. Cota, shoemaker ; Ole Sorenson, shoemaker ; A. E.
]\Ieigs, postmaster; S. AY. Day, notions; Frederich & Gies, meat
market: James Geraghty, liquors; Cameron & Crane, lawyers and
land agents ; Anderson & Royce, coal dealers ; H. G. AA^achlin,
liquors; James Bates, wagon shop; J. A. Donaldson, wood and
iron worker; AL Feeny, boarding and liquors; John O'Brien, pro-
prietor American House: A. AI. Delaire, blacksmith; T. Dugan.
blacksmith ; Oleson & Nieholaison, furniture.
Around Public square — D. B. Smith; J. AYeisel, iniiicral wjitoi-:
Fleck & Hay, proprietors Fleck House; T. Hillam. billiard hall;
Carlos Fenton, livery; W. Patterson, blacksmith; Thomas Ed-
-vards, photographer; E. P. A^'an A^'alkonburgh, farm machinery;
George C. Alartin, hardware.
Aliscellaneous— Dr. O. AY. Gibson, ])liysiciaii and surgeon:
P. O. French, pump manufacturer and agent For farm luachiuer;. :
Grattan & Cox, livery; Brey & French, hiiiilxr: AV. T. Afaiidc-
210 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
ville livery; J. F. Atherton. proprietor railroad eating house;
AVilliara Richards, lumber; J. Fischer, proprietor Burlington
House ; C. W. Ransom, grain buyer ; J. M. Flowers, grain dealer ;
George B. Wright, foundry; A. W. Powers, manufacturer of
fanning mills ; V. Richard, manufacturer of fanning mills ; Thos,
Meaney, liquors : Michael Collins, liquors ; W. H. Valleau, grain
buyer: J. H. C. Huxhold, brewer; Frank Livingstine, brewer;
J. S. Putnam, justice of the peace; C. N. Beiseker, cooper; Peter
Parker, painter ; W. H. Officer, miller ; Jonathan Gregson, miller ;
Mathew Gregson, miller; Warner, Crane & Co., millers; J. Mc-
Grath, station agent; William Olesou, painter; D. Banks, tailor;
Peter McCormick, proprietor Farmers' Home.
AUSTIN IN 1884
The commercial interests of Austin in August, 1884, were
represented as follows : Dry goods : Hall & West, J. Solner &
Co., L. S. Willard and F. King. Groceries : C. W. Taylor & Co.,
Dalager Bros., F. P. McBride, A. H. Hill & Co. Boots and shoes :
J. Schwan, Sweningsen & Johnson and F. A. Ticknor. Clothing :
R. Dunkleman, Dettelbach Bros., ("Cheap Charley") J. Levy
and F. E. Jacobs. Hardware : Cook & Davidson, J. H. Patterson,
J. 'R Andrews & Son. Drugs: Dorr & AVold and Clemmer &
Pooler. Agricultural machinery: D. B. Smith, Oscar Ayei'S,
Keenan Bros., Jahren & Hammond. Restaurants: G. F. Rode-
macher. R. P. Boyles. Harness shops: Kaiser & Guiney and
Frank Rayman. News depot: James Cronan. Jewelers: G.
Schleuder and Hayes Bros. Hotels : Fleck House, kept by A. M.
Fleck ; Mansfield House, kept by J. H. Mansfield ; Windsor House,
kept by John E. Robinson ; Davidson House, kept by S. F. Gib-
bons; Railroad House, kept by Bannard & Horrabin; American
House, kept by Andrew Noonan ; Burlington House, kept by J.
Fischer; German House. Lumber yards: F. I. Crane and S. B.
Woodsum. Grain buyers: Bassett & Hunting (per H. A. Fair-
banks) and C. H. Whitton.
The folloAving named were ones wlio at one time had carried
on business in Austin, but who, as early as 1884, had gone out of
business : Groceries : Noble & McWharter, Paddock Bros., S. W.
Day, Sprague & Co., Paden & Simmons. . Drugs : Noble & French.
Hardware: Austin & Smith, C. L. Chase. Dry goods: Fleetwood
& Merril, J. C. Smith & Co., Walker & Lidgerwood, Knud Knud-
son. Agricultural implements: W. J. Brown, E. J. Gratton,
Nelson Bros., II. H. Kent, G. H. Azure. Boots and shoes : Jehial
Woodward.
Of those in business here in 1884, Ihe following are still act-
ively engaged in iiicrcantile pursuits in 1911 : Chas. L. West, dry
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 211
goods, cloaks and suits; Edward A. Dalager, groceries; Frank
P. McBride, groceries; Charles I. Johnson, footwear; Joseph
Schwan (J. Schwan & Son), footwear; Gustav Schleuder, jew-
elry; Knud 0. AVold, drugs; Charles A. Pooler, drugs; Frank
Raymond, harnesses, and Hayes Bros. (J. J. and Orris), jewelry.
Ralph Crane conducts the lumber business of his father, Frank I.
THE MODERN PERIOD
In 1885 began the modern mercantile period of Austin. The
companies that have started in business, lived for a time and
then sold out, have but little historical importance. There are at the
present time a number of business houses which have been estab-
lished for mgny years and which by reason of their stability and
standing are worthy of their names being handed down to future
generations as representatives of the mercantile interests of
Austin at the present time. Among these may be mentioned:
George Hirsh, clothing (see biographical sketch) ; Philip H.
Friend, clothing (see biographical sketch) ; Hormel Provision
House, food products (see sketch of George A. Hormel) ; John
A. Maurek, general store ; Ernest Myers, tobacco business ;
Holmes Hardware Company ; Donovan & Goslee, furniture ; Aus-
tin Furniture Company' ; Decker Bros., hardware (see biograph-
ical sketch); G. Fred Baird, undertaker; Urbatch Bros., hard-
ware; Frank O. Hall, groceries; Lars P. Nelson, harness maker;*
John Briebach, meats ; Fred E. Gleason, jeweler, established in
1890 ; Joseph Fitzhum, harness maker ; M. J. Keenan, musical
instruments ; John F. Fairbanks, fuel ; Fiester & Thomas, general
store; J. S. R. Seoville. jeweler; Mathias S. Fisch, department
store (see biographical sketch) ; Frank M. Zender, cigars; W. C.
Horrooin, groceries ; Paul H. Zender, bakery ; Dunfee Bros.,
cigars ; Fred L. Williams, cigars ; Austin Cigar Company ; Robert
R. ]\Iurphy, dry goods; William D. Bassler, clothing; Albert
Thon, dry goods ; Ormanzo J. Benton, footwear ; John E. Malloy,
drugs; William R. Earl, furniture; Guy H. Burlingame, notions;
Austin Candy Company ; OAvatonna Fruit Company ; Austin
Plumbing Company, Clefton Pluming Company.
212 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
CHAPTER XIX.
AUSTIN MANUFACTURIES
First Mill — Former Industries — Present Interests — Story of the
Growth and Development of the Various Plants Which Have
Assisted in the Progress of the City — Minor Activities.
"While not primarily a manufacturing town, Austin neverthe-
less has a number of important factories, and the packing, rail-
road, printing, milling, clay products, cement, farm implement,
Tagon making, creamery, bottling, corrugated iron, bookbinding,
rugmaldng, gunmaking, farm machinery, bakery, post card,
greenhouse, nursery, building and illuminating industries are
important.
Naturally the milling industry was the first to occupy the
attention of the people of this vicinity.
FIRST MILL
The first mill and factory in Austin is the subject of an article
prepared many years ago by Q. A. Truesdell. "The first mill
in Austin was of a primitive kind, made and used by the Indians.
' It Avas located on the west side of the Cedar river, about twenty
rods above Engle's (now Campbell's) dam. A white oak stump
v.'as hollowed out in the top in the shape of a mortar, and with
a wooden pestle the corn was pounded fine, mixed up with
Avater and baked in the hot coals. Some of the corn was begged
from the inhabitants and some stolen. In the month of Novem-
ber, 1858, the Truesdell brothers started up the first water mill.
The; mill was made of iron, and ran night and day part of the
time. It Avas valuable at the time for grinding corn, there being
no other mill nearer than a distance of thirty miles. Mr. Rose,
of Rose Creek, brought the first sack of Avlieat and had it ground
into flour, and when we met afterwards he told me the bread
made from the flour \\^as very black and not fit to eat. Most
of the pioneers well remember what was called the "Water
Johnny Cake Period," when there was little else than corn meal
for bread, and not enough of that. Aloysius Brown Avas in trade
at that time and did a large business in furnishing flour to the
settlers. He had teams draAving flour from Chatfield and Deco-
rah, loAva; but this whole country Avas Avet and soft that but
small loads could be brought in and it took a long time to make
a trip. Our supplies Avere chiefly draAvn from Winona. They
could not be procured to keep up Avith the demand, and such
HLSTOUY OF .AIOWEII COUXTY ai3
was Mr. Brown's imijartiality that he caused tlio sacks to be
distributed in such a manner that every family should receive
each a sack before any supplied were allowed to purchase the
second. The settlers who came in years later knew but little
what privations the first ones endured. The first steam mill was
built by J. Bourgard and Asa jMarsh, on the east side of town,
and after a while it was fitted up with buhrs for grinding, and it
was operated by Mr. Bourgard. In the fall of 1856, Q. A. and
W. Truesdell put machinery in a building where "Warner's mill
(on Dobbin's creek) now (1876) stands, and for a long time
manufactured furniture, but after a time the dam went out and
the premises were abandoned. ' '
FORMER INDUSTRIES
In the seventies and eighties, Austin had four important in-
dustrial plants, the Engle mill, now Campbell's; the "Warner mill,
now the lower Campbell mill; the plow manufactory of Johnson-
& Smith, which is still in operation, and the Austin Canning
Company, now out of existence. Quarrying, lime burning and
brickmaking were also important in those days. The brick manu-
factured here has entered into the construction of many im-
portant buildings in the Northwest, including the postoffice at
LaCrosse. The stone quarried here, however, has shown an
inclination to crumble and is not Avell suited for building pur-
poses.
The Austin Pressed Brick Company was started in 1887, and
for a time was very successful. Tlie plant was burned and never
rebuilt.
The Engle Mill was owned by Joe Engle & Sons, who oper-
ated a fine corrugated roller mill erected in 1881. These gen-
tlemen came to Austin in 1871 and purchased Anderson's mill.
The mill at that time was a small aflt'air, containing but one run of
stone, and was built by Mr. Anderson in 1864. Immediately
after their purchase the firm began reconstructing the property,
and practically rebuilt the mill, enlarging the building and
adding two sets of Imhrs, which, with other improvements, added
to the first cost of the property, amounted to $30,000. They
operated this mill until February, 1881, when it was destroyed
by fire. They began immediately to rebuild, but on a much
more elaborate plan. The site of this mill, just east of "Water
f;treet bridge, is now occupied by A. S. Camp])ell
The Austin Canning Factory. — The idea of establishing a
canning factory al Austin was conceived by C. H. Davidson, the
propiietor of the Austin Transcript. Ilis attention was called
lo the matter by a gentleman who had a factory of this nature
214 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
at Gilman, Iowa. Mr. Davidson agitated the matter by talking
up the project with some of the leading business men of Austin
and G. Schleuder, Eev. A. Morse, John Walsh and others were
awakened to the fact that it would be an important enterprise
among Austin's industrial interests. This Avas in the fall of
1882. The company began canning September 4, 1883, arrange-
ments having been made with the farmers in the vicinity for the
raising of sweet corn. The factory had been in operation but
three days when the boiler of the engine exploded, instantly kill-
ing the engineer, Fred G. Knox. This sad occurrence ended the
work of the factory for 1883. The company was organized
]\Iarch 28, 1883. The first board of directors was composed of
the following named gentlemen: John "Walsh, C. H. Davidson,
H. W. Page, G. Schleuder, W. H. Sutton, D. J. Ames and AV. T.
Wilkins. John Walsh was elected president and C. H. Davidson
secretary. The company prospered for a time, but is now out of
existence. The buildings were located on the south side of Bridge
street, just east of the river. A. B. Hunkins also conducted a
canning concern here in 1896 and 1897.
The Austin Plow and Harrow Works is the oldest of Austin's
industries, putting out ploAvs and harroAvs of exceptional Avear-
ing qualities. The company Avas formerly knoAvn as the Smith &
Johnson Company and its name is a familiar one to all agricul-
tural implement dealers and farmers of the NorthAvest. The
^^ Everlasting steel harrOAV, made in the Austin PIoav and HarroAV
Works, is shipped to all agricultural states. It is a hand-made
product and the best of material enters into its construction.
The company Avas established in 1867 by Seymour Johnson and
R. 0. Hunt. In 1870, L. S. IMitchell entered the firm in place of
Islr. Hunt, and in 1872, H. S. Smith replaced Mr. Mitchell. jMr.
Smith died in 1893, and in 1900, ]\Ir. Johnson sold out to the
Smith heirs.
MODERN INDUSTRIES
George A. Hormel & Co., pork packers and provision dealers,
operate Austin "s largest industry ; and Avith the railroads this
company constitutes the eliief source of revenue of Austin's
laboring population. It has also been an impoi'tant factor in
deA'eloping the dairy and swine interests of the surrounding
country districts. Dui'ing the past year tlie sales of this com-
pany have amounted to over $4,000,000. The total tonnage of
this year's business Avas 59,179,521 pounds, an increase of some
4,000,000 over the previous year. Tlie product is marketed in
Jill parts of the United States and in England, AA'hen conditions
ill tliat market are favorable.
GEORGE A. TIORMEL & CO.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 215
In 1887, a young man, George A. Hormel, who had previously
had considerable experience in the provision and packing trade,
selected the prairies of southern Minnesota as the field of his
future operations; and, as a beginning of greater work which
he hoped l^ater to accomplish, came to Austin, and with Albert
L. Friedrich engaged in the retail meat business under the firm
name of Friedrich & Hormel. October 1, 1891, this partnership
was dissolved and in Janiaary, 1892, IMr. ITormel started in the
retail meat business, this being the beginning of the present
institution of George A. Hormel & Co. In November, 1901, the
company incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, equally
divided between preferred and common, the organizers being
George A. Hormel, Herman G. Hormel, A. L. Eberhart, John G.
Hormel and B. F. Hormel. These gentlemen are still identified
with the company, and being particularly well fitted for their
positions they have labored together for what has become the
Hormel "idea" and "ideal." Realizing that the superior quality
of the Hormel product is responsible for the growth of the busi-
ness, the men Avho have been active in its development have had
an unusual incentive to maintain its high standard. In their
personal supervision of the various departments, this is their
constant aim. The first officers were as at present: President,
George A. Hormel ; vice president, Hennan G. Hormel ; secretary,
A. L. Eberhart; treasurer, John G. Hormel; director, B. P,
Hormel.
The packing business of the concern was inaugurated on the
present site of the plant, in a small frame building, in 1892.
During that year €lO hogs were slaughtered. From this begin-
ning the plant has increased until it now has a capacity of 2,000
hogs daily. Buildings have been erected and extensive altera-
tions made every year as the business has increased. At the
present time the plant has 224.000 square feet of floor space, and
from 300 to 550 men are employed, according to the season of
the year. April 13, 1906, the capital stock was increased to
$1,000,000. and May 1, 1909, to $1,150,000. Aside from the pack-
ing plant the company conducts a model provision market, which
is one of the most modern and sanitary in southern ^Minnesota.
Ever since the beginning, it has been the aim of the company
to reacli out for the fancy meat trade, which is supplied with
Dairy Brand hams, bacon and lard, which for quality and fine
flavor have no equal. The hams and bacon are cured by a special
Tirocess discovered by ^Ir. Hormel after a quarter of a century
of experimenting. The brand "Dairy" is placed upon the highest
grade of meats only. The pig from which this brand of meats is
made is found only in the dairy districts of southern ^Minnesota.
This pig is fed on skim milk from the creameries and upon corn.
216 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUXTY
This kind of food produces a rich lean ham and bacon. In estab-
lishing the plant in Austin the purpose was to be at the center of
the dairy districts, where hogs, fattened under ideal conditions
of climate, pasturage, pure air and sparkling spring water, might
find a market at home, with none of their excellencies marred
by long travel. Absolute cleanliness has been the idea and per-
fection the ideal. In addition to the minute care exercised by the
Hormel company, the government also maintains a corps of skilled
veterinarians and inspectors at the plant.
With Austin as headquarters, lirauc-hes are maintained at
IMinneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth, and the business is constantly
growing'.
The Minnesota Farmers' Brick and Tile Company is one of
Austin's newer industries, but already gives promise of becoming
one of its most im_portant. The Indians who hunted through this
county used clay from the vicinity of Austin for their rude pot-
tery. Soon after the settlers came, the value of the clay deposit
here was realized, and at various times efforts have been made
to manufacture and market clay products. For various reasons
none of these efforts except the latest one continued, although
each successive effort demonstrated more thoroughly the excel-
lence of the clay and shale found here.
In the fall of 1909, a body of men determined to take advan-
tage of this rich deposit by manufacturing tile and brick on an
extensive scale. A company was therefore duly organized and
incorporated and capitalized at $400,000, divided equally between
common and preferred stock. The officers were: President,
L. A. Smith; vice president, AY. PI. Gleason; treasurer, R. L.
Johnson ; secretary, "W. H. Gleason, Jr. The directors were L. A.
Smith, W. M. Colby, K. L. Johnson, W. H. Gleason, W. H. Glea-
son, Jr., J. A. Sullivan and "W. M. Sweiger.
The buildings were started December 16, 1909, and the first
carload of finished product was shipped July 16, 1910. The daily
oulput is now about ten carloads. The present officers are as at
first. About one hundred men are employed. The company owns
100 acres lying on the main line of the Chicago Great AVestern,
and it is expected that quite a village will spring up around the
plant. At the present time the site is occupied by an office
building wliich demonstrates the beauty of the brick manufac-
tured by the company, twelve kilns, a large brick dryroom four
stories high, a millroom where the manufacturing is done, a boiler
and engine house and an electric light and power plant, as well
as the large clay pit.
The process starts at the clay bed. This deposit of clay is
fully described in the United States geological survey report, and
is too lengthy for reproduction here. It is sufficient to say that
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY ;il7
i'or its own particular purpose this deposit has no superiors in
the Northwest, its peculiarity being its conjunction Avith a fine
quality of shale. The clays are varied in color, running through
bright greens, blues, reds and yellows, with all their shades and
tints. The quantity and quality of the deposits have been thor-
oughly examined and tested, both chemically and structurally.
It has been demonstrated that the material is practically pure and
entirely free from any substance that can be detrimental to its
use. The discovery of this deposit will be more fully appreciated
Avhen its physical properties are fully understood. The bed of
clay lies high above the railroad and has an absolutely perfect
natural drainage. It is easily secured, as it is covered by an
average drift of less than twelve inches, and in some spots no
stripping at all is required.
The material, which is soft and putty-like as it lies in its
pocket, is excavated and placed in storage, where after a few
days it becomes thoroughly seasoned. From this storage the clay
is loaded into iron cars and is drawn by steel cables to the mixer,
which is at the top of the building. From the hopper into which
the material is dumped the clay goes into the granulator, where
whatever is coarse is ground into powder. Never ceasing its
motion from the time it leaves the pit, the clay, now graulated,
moves in to the pug mill, is there dampened and then forced out
through the die, in one continuous piece, of the shape and size
desired. An automatic cutter cuts the product the desired
length, and the pieces of brick or tile, as the case may be, are then
loaded on cars and run through the drier. The product as soon as
cured is taken to the kilns and burned with soft coal, after which
it is loaded into railroad cars or piled in the yard and is ready for
shipment. The principal product of the plant is biiilding mate-
rial and drainage tile, though other departments of the clay-
working industry are being investigated and experimented with.
The product thus obtained is a much superior one. The tile
is of a ware practicably indestructible. It is as hard as stone,
it rings like a bell when struck, its glazed surface is as smootli
as glass, it is waterproof and dustproof and impervious to acids
and alkalies. Nothing sticks to it and nothing harms it. Frost
and heat, wear and weather have no eflfect on it. It lasts prac-
tically forever. The government has accepted the brick as meas-
lu-ing fully up to government contract standard.
Tlie company has done much and will do still more for the
development of southern ]\linnesota. It furnishes (>in])lovment
for a number of men, it is increasing the manufacturing im-
portance of Austin, it affords an oppoi-tunity for safe investment,
and it is becoming a campaign of education by which the farmers
218 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
are coming to realize more and more the advantage of subsoil
drainage.
The Gilbert Improved Corrugated Company conducts one of
the growing industries of Austin. The heavily galvanized steel
culvert which this company manufactures is unlike that of any
other make, by reason of a fastener used in joining the parts.
This fastener is not a rivet, which leaves an unprotected line the
entire length of the culvert which sooner or later rusts out, but a
contrivance which is galvanized and lasts as long as the culvert.
The company's i:)lant is located on the Chicago, IMilwaukee & St.
Paul line, so that the product, which is shipped to all parts of the
Northwest, can be loaded onto the cars at the firm's very doors.
The machinery for making the culverts and the fasteners was
invented and patented by the company. A branch is maintained
at Aberdeen, S. D., and there, in addition to culverts, tanks and
smokestacks are made. The concern was incorporated October
20, 1908, with a capital stock of $25,000. The incorporators were
Jens Larson, John Larson, W. E. LeBaron, C. E. Gilbert, A. O.
Nelson, J. F. Austin, T. E. Wilson and L. A. Sherman. The first
officers were : President, Jens Larson ; vice-president, W. E.
LeBaron ; treasurer, A. O. Nelson ; secretary, L. A. Sherman ; gen-
eral manager, C. E. Gilbert. The present officers are the same,
with the exception of L. A. Sherman is now both secretary and
treasurer. The capital stock has been increased to $35,000.
The Austin Weed Exterminator Manufacturing' Company,
manufacturers of the Austin Quack Grass Destroyer, conduct one
of Austin 's growing industries. The officers are : President, A.
W. Wright; vice-president, Matt. Smith; secretary, E. H. Smith;
treasurer, T. A. Revord ; assistant secretary and manager, T. A.
Revord; directors, A. W. Wright, R. R. Murphy, Matt. Smith,
T. A. Revord, E. H. Smith, J. L. Gulden, J. E. Pitzen, N. Nicholseu
and C. A. Hegge. This company was incorporated in 1905 and for
the first three years put out a machine which, while it did good
work, was far too expensive. About two years ago the company
started another Quack Grass Destroyer, which sells for half what
the first machine did and still does very much better Avork. No
farmer need have nnich fear of this pest while such a machine can
be obtained. The company is selling a great many of the ma-
chines, being behind on orders most of the time. Several dealers
buy the machines in carload lots, as where they have been intro-
duced thry sell very easily.
The Austin Gas Company supplies some 600 customers and
puts out about 1. 000, 000 culjic feet of gas a month. The company
was incorporated for the maniifaeture and distribution of gas
August 25, 1905, with the following officers: President, John R.
Howie; vice-president, F. J. Gates; secretary, C. Leckbank. The
HISTOEY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY 21!)
incorporators were these gentlemen and R. J. Breckinridge and
LaFayette French. The present officers are : President, John R.
Howie ; vice-president, R. J. Breckinridge ; secretary, F. J. Gates.
The capital stock is $60,000. The office of the company is at 133
Bridge street and the plant is on the east side of River street,
north of East Winona. May 6, 1911, the plant was sold to Z. T. F.
Runner, of Freeport, Illinois.
The F. H. McCulloch Printing Company Avas established in
1892 under the lirra name of Hunkins & McCulloch, Mr. Ilunkins
then publishing the Austin Daily Herald and Mr. McCulloch
having charge of the job printing. This partnership was dis-
solved in 1894: by the purchase by Mr. McCulloch of Mr. Hun-
kins' interest in the job department. The job printing business
was then conducted separate from the Herald under the firm name
of the F. H. McCulloch Printing Company. This business was
first conducted in the rooms over the building on the corner of
IMain and "Water streets. Later it was moved to the south end
of Main street, and after a period of one year removed back to
the old quarters. Owing to increasing business in 1900 larger
quarters were secured in the Schleuder block, Avest of the court-
house, and in 1902, again becoming cramped for space, they
removed to the Joseph Keenan one-story building, on Bridge
street, where they occupied the entire building until 1910, when
they removed to the present location, 200-202 Chatham street.
In 1908, owing to the fast increasing business and the necessity
for more capital, the business was incorporated under the firm
name of The F. H. iMcCulloch Printing Company, with an author-
ized capital of $50,000. The first officers under the corporation
being: F. H. McCulloch, president and manager; A. M. Lewis,
vice-president; W. B. Edwards, secretary, and J. L. Mitchell,
treasurer. The same officials are holding the same positions at
the present time. Printing and publishing is the business of the
company, making a specialty of the finest kind of catalog work,
both in color work and half-tones. Their product is shipped to
every state in the Union west of the Mississippi river and to a
few states in the East. An up-to-date linotype plant is run in
connection, setting the type for from twelve to fifteen newspapers
in this section. From fifteen to twenty people are constantly
employed and the prospects indicate that this number will be
doubled in the next two years. At the present time tAvo floors of
the building occupied are devoted to the business, with the third
floor held in reserve for future needs. This year a new line of
business has been added in the importing and jobbing of wall
pockets, leather goods, aluminum goods, advertising novelties
and the manufacture of calendars, which necessitated a salesman
being placed on the road. This establishment is equipped with
220 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUXTY
the latest and best maehinery for the execution of high class
printing and its present large clientage is an excellent criterion
for its future success.
Tlie Peerless Rolling Mills. Since the earliest days the east
side of the Red Cedar river, near where Water street crosses it.
has been the site of a mill. For many years the Engle mill was
there, and in modern times the Peerless Roller Mills, owned and
operated by A. S. Campbell, occupy the same site. The modern
history of the mills dates from 1886, when A. S. and L. G. Camp-
bell purchased a small mill near the C, M. & St. P. railroad sta-
tion. In 1890 they purchased the old Engle mill. Alexander S.
Campbell is now the sole proprietor. The mills are run partly
by power derived from a water wheel, but the greater part of
the power is generated in the lower mill, some miles down the
river, and transmitted by wire to the mills on Water street,
where it is belted to the main driving shaft.
The Austin mills have a capacity of 200 barrels of flour every
twenty-four hours. They manufacture the celebrated Peerless,
Diamond White and White Rose wheat flour, not only for domes-
tie trade, but for export, the company making large shipments
to Great Britain. They also manufacture buckwheat flour and
corn meal. A. S. Campbell is the proprietor of the Peerless Flour
Mills in Austin and also of the Red Cedar Mills, which are located
five miles south of the city. These mills run ' constantly, never
shutting down except for repairs. The product is the equal of
any in the great flour state and enjoys a reputation with the best.
It is in greatest demand by the discriminating housewife and
baker.
The Red Cedar Mills, located south of the city, are under the
same ownership as the Peerless Roller Mills. The mills were
built in 1867 and 1868, by Jonathan Gregson. In 1875 the build-
ing was enlarged and improvements were again made in 1879.
The first roller system in this county was introduced in this mill.
The plant is now equipped with a dynamo, which furnishes power
for the mills and also for the Peerless Mills at Austin.
The Schleuder Paper Company, wholesale paper dealers and
manufacturers of souvenir postal cards, was started in January,
1901, at 305 Main street. Later it was moved to 124 Bridge
street, where the company expects soon to open a large retail
store, to be devoted exclusively to the stationery business. The
building and warehouses were erected in 1903, and all the build-
ings now occupied by the concern furnish a floor space of about
15,000 square feet. About twenty hands are employed. The
printers' stock, wrapping paper, stationery and bags handled by
the company find a ready market in Minnesota, Iowa and North
and Soutli Dakota, while 1lic souvenir postal cards made liere are
HISTORY OF MOAVEIl COUXTY 221
sold from coast to coast. The concern manufactnres a great
many of its specialties, such as tablets, etc.. and has a large plant
devoted to the making of souvenir postal cards and to the hand
coloring of local view post cards. The officers of the company
are : President, G. Schleuder ; vice-president and treasurer, F. A.
Schleuder.
Sven Anderson & Son started in the implement and carriage
business ]\Iarch 1, 189(). in a building at 212 Bridge street, on the
present site of the Elk Hotel. About January 1, 1897, the monu-
mental and cut stone business was added to the implement busi-
ness. During the winter of 1899-1900 the building at 216-218
North Chatham street was erected and occupied. There the busi-
ness was conducted until February 15, 1909, when the implement
department was sold to Anderson & Brown. The monument de-
partment was continued at its present location. January 1. 1906.
the shop, stock, etc., of T. J. Abrahams was purchased and con-
ducted at the corner of Water and Franklin streets until the
lease of the grounds expired, August 1, 1908, at which time the
present shop building was completed and occupied. The business
is principally confined to the making and setting of monumental
work in this and adjoining counties, although work has also been
done in all of the adjoining states. The soldiers and sailors'
monument and in fact all the larger monuments in the local ceme-
tery are from this concern, as indeed are most of the larger
monuments throughout the county. In connection with the
monumental work the company furnishes cut stone work and has
executed many heavy contracts in this line in Mower and Free-
born counties, as well as in other parts of ]\Iinnesota and in Iowa.
Railroad Industry. The railroads in Austin give employment
to some one hundred and fifty men. In 1867 the machine shops and
roundhouse of the C, JM. & St. P. were constructed here. In
1887 this company moved its shops here from \Yells, receiving as
a bonus from the city $10,000 in money and ten acres of land.
Austin is one of the big railroad centers of Minnesota. Here
passengers change cars going north, south, east and west, for
Austin is the division point of six divisions of the Chicago, ilil-
waukee & St. Paul railroad. Through the heart of the city runs
the through line of the Chicago Great Western, between St. Paul
and Omaha. Through the city will pass the fast freights from
Pugot Sound to Chicago over the Chicago, ]\Iilwaukee & St. Paul
road. Fourteen passenger trains and forty freight trains run
into and out of Austin on an average every day in the year. The
Chicago. ^Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company pays from
$23,000 to $2r),000 every month to its employes in this city. The
shops and roundhouse of this company give employment to a
large and increasing force of the best mechanics, for here every
•2-22 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
engine on 1,000 miles of road eomes to be repaired and refitted at
stated intervals. Forty-six of these iron horses are eared for
exclusively in these shops. Every day from thirty to thirty-five
locomotives may be counted in the yards and the roundhouse.
Austin is the inspecting point and every time, night or day, that
a train comes into this city on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
line, every Pullman car, every day coach, every freight car is
inspected. There are fifty-tM'o Pullman and day coaches cleaned
here daily and their sanitary condition inspected.
The Austin Dairy Company was organized April 1. 1903, under
the name of Austin Co-Operative Milk Company, for the pur-
pose of bottling and selling milk and cream, and later for buying
hand-separated cream for making butter. The company was
organized with a capital stock of $6,000-, with F. W. Kimball,
president ; C. B. Dibble, treasurer, and J. J. Rugg, secretary and
manager. The business was located on the corner of Chatham
street and Oakland avenue. On September 30, 1905, a meeting
of the stockholders was held, at which time the capital stock was
increased to $20,000, the name changed to Austin Dairy Com-
pany, the same officers, except treasurer (D. H. Stimson being
elected for that place), elected, and the company incorporated.
The building at 112 East Maple street was bought and put in
shape to be used as a milk station and creamery, and the latter
part of October, 1905, the company moved from their old quar-
ters to their own building. In the fall of 1906 the building Avas
enlarged and ice cream machinery piit in, since which time they
have manufactured ice cream during the summer time. After
the death of Mr. Stimson in July, 1907, ]\Irs. D. H. Stimson was
elected treasurer. Othei-wise the officers have remained the same.
In the fall of 1910 the company bought the property on the corner
of Mill and Franklin streets, known as the Majors building, since
which time they have been carrying on a produce business in
eggs and poultry. The company employs six men and two women
regularly, and in rush seasons a half a dozen more men are
employed.
The North Star Dairy Company also does a flourishing busi-
ness. A history of this concern is found in the biographical
sketch of Charles B. Dibble, elsewhere in this volume.
Austin's Cement Products. Cement drain tile has been dem-
onstraled to bo one of the best materials for farm drainage.
Nels Mickelson manufactures not only cement block, brick and
tile, but also cement sewer pipe two feet in diameter. The city
of Austin has used much of this sewer pipe and finds it as satis-
factory as the vitrified clay product.
C. E. Dickens is one of the oldest of the cement Avorkers and
HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY 223
beside the oi'dinary cement product he produces much orna-
mental cement work.
Thomas Rochford also manufactures fine grades of cement
block. He makes a steel reinforced cement post that is much in
use for fencing pastures and fields.
M. P. Underberger lays cement sidewalks and does cement
working.
The Austin Cement Stone and Tile Company was organized
and incorporated under the state laws of Minnesota, April, 1908,
for the purpose of manufacturing cement drain tile, building
blocks, brick, fence posts and such other articles as pertain to
cement construction. The original capital stock Avas $50,000
preferred and common, the incorporators and first officers being :
President, C. H. AVebber : secretary, J. L. Mitchell ; treasurer and
manager, E. W. Marsh. The officers still remain the same. The
plant is located in the city of Austin, just south of the George
A. Hormel & Co. plant, and the building is of heavy concrete
block, equipped with the latest modern machinery, including a
forty horse-power boiler and a twenty-five horse-power electric
motor. The plant has a floor space of 9,000 square feet, including
three steam-tight curing rooms. Some fifteen to eighteen men are
employed. The daily output of the drain tile varies from 3,000
to 5,000 per day, according to the size. The drain tile and build-
ing blocks find a large market in Austin and vicinity, but much
i.s also shipped to distant points. This plant is the first of its
kind started in this city, and has been very successful. Its aim
is to excel in the quality of its manufactured goods, and all its
products are steam-cured and made by the latest improved
methods. The company owns the land upon which the plant is
located and also a fine sandpit of fifteen acres. The office is at
321 North ^Main street.
Woodworking. Austin lias two Avoodworking establishments,
those of r. F. Stillman and Henry Waterman. The story of tliese
plants is told in the sketches of their respective owners.
Printing and Binding. Austin has an excellent book bindery,
that of J. M. Beck, and each of the newspapers have .iob printing
departments. The MeCulloeh company is mentioned elsewhere.
Machine and Wagon Shops. Austin has two splendid machine
sliops, each employing mechanics capable of doing any repair
work and doing it well and quickly. There are two Avagon shops
Avhere A'ehicles are not only repaired but AA'here ncAV ones are
built for the trade. A gunmaker is also located here. The ma-
cliine shop proprietors are J. E. Hanson and Arthur Carlson:
the Avagon makers, J. Z. Rogers and "W. ]\r. Hanson, and the gun-
maker is Henry C. "Waldecker. There are three exclusive l)lack-
smith establishments, Sorenson & Neilson and Lars Hansen.
224 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Austin Candy Company manufactures all grades of pure con-
fections from taft'y to creams. It ships goods as far west as
McLeod, Mont. It also manufactures for the jobbers in the
Twin Cities and for the local trade. Experienced candy makers
are employed.
The Cummings Brush Manufacturing Company has been in
operation since August, 1910, and while only a new business, it
lias created a great demand for its manufactured goods. The
Cummings brushes are on the market in many of our largest
cities, handled by jobbers and wholesalers in Cincinnati, New
York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Des Moines, Kansas
City, Omaha, Council Bluft's, Minneapolis, St. Paul, LaCrosse/,
Dubuque, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and many other towns and vil-
lages. Mr. Cummings has put out a very neat and up-to-date
catalogue and his system of putting manufactured goods on the
market has proved a success in every line he has undertaken.
Mr. Cummings will add more machinery and increase the capacity
to meet the demands for liis manufactured goods.
T. F. Cummings Bottling Works. — In February, 1894, this con-
cern was started in a small way and now its daily capacity is
500 cases. All kinds of soft drinks are made and bottled here.
The water used is from the Trio Siloam springs. These springs
are of the purest water and as they have medicinal qualities are
carbonated and bottled. Mr. Cummings prides himself that
every constituent that is used in the manufacture of his bottled
goods is the purest that the market affords. Mr. Cummings also
has a large trade in table and bar glassAvare.
E. H. Smith Land & Loan Company. This business was estab-
lished November I, 1900, with E. H. Smith as manager and
remains the same at this date. For several years the business
consisted principally of buying and selling western lands par-
ticularly in western Minnesota and North Dakota, also doing
considerable business in western Canada. Since 1905" the firm
has done a large business in Montana in both irrigated and dry
lands. Commencing with the fall of 1909 it has done a large
business in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa selling prin-
cipally to central Iowa and northern Illinois farmers, and during
this period has located nearly one hundred well-to-do farmers
from the east and south in southern ]\Iiunesota and northern
Iowa. It also does an extensive farm loan business, marketing
its securities principally in the east. It also has one of the lead-
ing fire insurance agencies in the city. The E. H. Smith Land &
Loan Company was the first exclusive real estate and loan busi-
ness established in the county. Mr. Smith was born and raised in
Mower county, has traveled extensively through the middle and
JIISTOHY OF MOWKK I'OUXTY 2-^-)
western states, aud is, witliout tloulit. one of the best j)()slc,l i-eal
estate men in the Noitliwest.
Austin Cement Works. Jn the s[)ring- of tlie year 1893 Frank
Fowler, the senior meinlier of the eopartnership of Fowler & Pay.
quarry owners and nianut'aeturers of building materials of IMan-
kato, Minn., finding that the. trade required something better for
stone and briek building purposes than the mortar in general
use at that time, and being a geologist of more than the average
knowledge and a chemist of no mean ability, he started a general
search for a particular kind of stone from which a first class
grade of natural cement could be manufactured. After much
seeking over this and adjoining states aud an almost discourag-
ing number of fruitless experiments with the different kinds of
stone found, the particular kind of stone wanted was finally
located in Mower county, Minnesota, three and one-half miles
south of the city of Austin on the banks of Rose creek (a tribu-
tary of the Cedar river) near both the Chicago Great Western
and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railways, thereby affording
the best of shipping facilities. The necessary land containing
this stone was immediately secured, all preparations made and
the building of this works stai'ted early in the following year
(189-i). This work, consisting of opening a stone quarry, grad-
ing for the railroad tracks, erecting buildings containing about
two acres of floor space and installingthe machinery was rushed
to completion in record time under the able personal supervision
of the then, as now, only members of the firm, Frank Fowler and
Frank B. Pay, at a cost of about $50,000 and named the Austin
Cement Works. After a short period of successful manufacture
of a first class grade of cement known as Austin natural cement,
the entire works were destroyed by fire. This calamity coming
so soon after the expense of building the works and creating a
demand for its product would naturally be very discouraging to
the strongest hearts and a much larger bank account, but the
owners of the remaining pile of ashes and ruined machinery being
men of the "never say die" type immediately resumed work
where they had so recently finished and erected buildings one-
third larger than those destroyed by the fire. This work, as
before, was rushed to completion aud the finished product placed
on the market in the shortest possible time without having sold
or offered any stock for sale. Fowler & Pay still being the sole
owners and operators. The works have been in almost constant
operation since the time of rebuilding and employ twenty-five
men daily, improvements having been made from time to time
that have increased the capacity to 100,000 barrels annually of a
better grade of natural cement and bricklayers" cement than any
natural cement works in this country. This cement is recom-
226 H18T0KY OF MOWEK COU^'TY
mended for all kinds of brick and stone building purposes, under
street paving, cellar floors and cisterns, as it sets quite rapidly
under water; a market for the bulk of this material is found
throughout the great Northwest. In connection with the Austin
Cement Works there are five family houses and a large boarding
house for the convenience of the employees who desire to live
near their work, also a large farm, a part of which the resident
employees have for pasture and gardening purposes, rent free.
It has always been the policy of this firm to treat its customers,
employees, neighbors and friends with the utmost consideration
in all business or other affairs, and they have shown their appre-
ciation for seventeen years by there never having been any
serious litigation, labor troubles or any disturbance that is so
disastrous to the good will that should exist between all parties
concerned.
Other industries of Austin are as follows : Real estate and
insurance: E. H. Smith Land Company, Four Counties Land
Company, Southern Minnesota Land Company, Gilbert Sorflaten,
James Sneider, F. P. Dawes & Co., F. A. Tichenor, Lyman D.
Baird, Alfred C. Page, Rockford Land Company, C. H. Webber,
J. D. SheedJ^ Fuel : Gripman Bros., John F. Fairbanks, Mower
County Co-operative Elevator and Fuel Company, and all the
lumber yards. Stock dealers: F. P. Dawes, A. R. Thompson,
W. P. Miner, Elihue B. Smith. Horse dealers: Edward D. and
Michael J. Feeney. Junk dealers: Charles Dubinsky, R. Rosen-
thal. Telephones: Interstate, Northwestern. Liveries: Furtney
& Bassett, H. 0. Peck. Hacks and carriages: John R. Mears.
Bakeries: Home bakery, People's bakery, A. V. McConnell.
Barbers: Roy Woodard, Martin, Lee, A. M. Lee, A. C. Hanson,
Gyp. Ilillam, George Heimer, C. W. Brown, Roy Chaffee, William
Bump, Putnam & Casper. Tailors : H. 0. Herman, F. C. Price,
AVilliam Cutter, Henry Jacobs. Auctioneers: Lovell & Herzog,
J. S. Attlesey. Contractors and Iniilders: Sullivan & Schroedel,
George Beckel, Lars P. Erickson, T. Beatty, Torger Martinson,
C. F. Stillman, Henry Waterman. Greenhouse : A. N. Kinsman.
Nurseries: J. M. Lindsey. C. F. Woodle. Painters: W. J. Avery,
J. L. Cooley. Theaters: Idle Hour, Bijou. Photographers: Fair-
banks Bros., George Bucklin, II. C. Bishop, ^l. II. Vosburgli.
Tee: Gripman Bros., S. L. Young. Austin Rug Co. Austin Brush
AVorks. Fjuinlx'i' yai'ds: F. T. Ci-ane, Slower County Liunl)ei-
Company. Ei']ii)S(' l^uinljci- Company. Elevators: Iluntting Ele-
vator Company, W. TJ. Symes. Gi-iin buyers: E. T. Beemis,
Af. B. O'llalloraii, AV, TI. Syuu-s. Restaurants: Normal res-
taurant, the Gem, Antliony .N. Roble. PTotels: Elk, Fo.x. Grand.
Depot, Harrington, Central, German, American. Agricultural
ittipleiiicnts : .\ustiti I'luiiibing and Healing Com]>any, AV. A. Alur-
HISTOEY OF MOWEPi COUNTY 227
ray, AVm. Christie & Son. Meat dealers: J. P. Zender, 11. P.
Zender, Central Market. Laundries: Austin Steam Laundry,
Austin Purity Laundry. Electricians: liursli & Wood, Iluinmcl
Company.
CHAPTER XX.
AUSTIN FRATERNITIES
Masonic Orders — Odd Fellows — Pythian Orders— Catholic Orders
— Order of Elks — Other Fraternal Orders— Patriotic Orders —
Catholic Orders — Railroad Orders — Fraternal Insurance —
Scandinavian and Teutonic Lodges Industrial — Driving Asso-
ciation — Edited by Osman J. Simmons.
The sociability and spirit of brotlierliness which exists in
Austin is shown by the number of societies and clubs tliat flourish
here. Practically all the standard organizations are represented,
some of the local lodges dating back to the seventies. In order
to furnish a meeting place for this large niimber of orders, halls
have been equipped as follows: ^Masonic hall, Elks' hall, Colum-
bus hall, Kinsman's hall, G. A. R. hall, Harmona hall, I. O. O. F.
hall. Commercial Club rooms, and the "Woodmen's hall (Hirsch).
All these halls are conveniently located, nicely furnished and
well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended.
In this chapter it has been the aim to give briefly the history
of the leading fraternities of Austin. The societies Avhose his-
tories do not appear here are those whose secretaries have re-
fused to furnish the desired information.
MASONIC ORDERS
iMasonry in Austin dates back to the first year of the Civil
Avar. The Masons of the city now have a fine liall and are rep-
resented by four local bodies: Austin Chapter, No. 14, R. A. ^I. ;
St. Bernard Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; Fidelity
Lodge, No. 89. A. F. & A. :\r.. and Unity Cliapter, No. 29, O. E. S.
Fidelity Lodge, No. 39, A. F. & A. M., was organized Dccembei-
5, 186], under a dispensation granted by tlie Right AVorshipful
Grand ^Master of tlic State of Minnesota, tlie meeting Ix'ing held
at "Masonic hall. The officers and members pn'sciil were as fol-
loAVS: B. F. Jones, AV. ^[.- E. W. Lord, S. AV. : A. S. Lott, J. AV. :
II. C. Huntington, treasurer; Oliver Somers, secretary; E. Parli-
nuvn, T. ; J. L. Clark, A. Galloway. A charter was granted by the
228 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUXTY
grand lodge October 28. ]863, and sigued by the folloAving grand
officers : Most Worshipfnl A. T. C. Piersou, grand master ; Right
Worshipfal S. Y. ^Mc^Masters, D.D., LL. D., depi;ty grand master ;
Right Worshipful Levi E. Thompson, grand senior warden;
Right Worshipful Clark W. Thompson, grand junior warden.
The following were named as officers : B. F. Jones to be ^Y. M.,
James C. Ackley to be S. W., and Oliver Somers to be J. W. The
lodge was constituted February 3, 1864, and AY. M. James C. Ack-
erly, who had previously been installed by A. T. C. Pierson,
G. M., installed the following officers : 0. Somers, S. W. ; V. P.
Lewis, J. W. ; A. D. Fenton, treasurer ; LeRoy Hathaway, secre-
tary; 0. W. Sawyer, S. D. ; J. C. Smith, J. D. ; H. Houseman, T. ;
H. C. Huntington, S. S. ; A. S. Lott, J. S. The following have
been grand masters: B. F. Jones, 1861-63; James Ackerly, 1864;
Oliver Somers, 1865-66; LeRoy Hathaway, 1867-70; Daniel B.
Johnson, Jr. ; A. J. Phelps, 1869 ; G. G. Clemmer, 1871-73 ; John
M. Greenman, 1874; William T. Wilkins, 1875-1880-81; I. Ing-
mundson, 1876-1878-79; J. AY. Eldridge, 1877; Charles L. AVest,
1882-1886; Joseph Adams, 1883-84-85; William Todd, 1887-88-
89-1905; Lewis E. Day, 1890; Sumner A. Emerson, 1891-92-93;
Russell E. Shepherd, 1894-95 ; Alfred C. Page, 1896-97 ; Fred B.
Wood, 1898-99; John H. Anderson, 1900-01-02; John H. Robert-
son, 1903-04; M. O. Anderson, 1906-07; George Dutcher, 1908:
Peter Hanson, 1909-10 ; Fred C. IJlmer, 1911. The present officers
are : Fred C. Ulmer, W. M. ; Fred L. AYilliams, S. AY. ; Gustave
Butzke, J. AY. ; Charles L. AA'^est, treasurer ; Floyd H. Ober, sec-
retary; O. J. Benton, S. D. ; AA'illiam P. Bennett, J. D. ; Rev.
B. H. AA^histon, C. ; J. AY. Hare, S. S. ; Guy V. Burlingame, J. S. ;
Charles E. AA^arren, T. The present Masonic hall on the second
floor of the Schleuder building is owned jointly by the Blue
Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. A site has been purchased
on AA'ater street, facing the north end of Chatham street, for the
purpose of erecting thereon a Masonic temple. John AL Green-
man is the oldest living past master of the lodge, and Charles L.
West, one of the past masters, is pa.st deputy grand master of
the state grand lodge.
Austin Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons, was organized
under a dispensation, Alarcli 8, 18(17, tlie following officers having
been appointed by Grand Iligli Priest B. F. Smith: Charles H.
Paddock, H. P.; Solomon Snow, K. ; A. B. Vaughan, S. The
companions present were E. C. Dorr, C. B. Staples, AA^. AA^. Brown-
son, B. F. Jones, J. F. Sargent and C. Tripp. The dispensa-
tion had been granted to the following companions : Charles H.
Paddock, C. B. Staples, E. C. Dorr, Solomon SnoAV, S. Partridge,
B. F. Jones, A. W. Wliite, A. B. Vaughan and AA^. AY. Brownson.
A charter was <.'raiife(l by 1he grand chapter, October 23, 1867,
HISTORY OF MOAVP]H COUNTY 229
and sig-ned by tlio following grand officers: B. F. Smith, G. H. P.;
Charles N. Danils, D. G. H. P. ; A. T. C. Pierson, G. K. ; C. W.
Nash, G. S., being consecrated December 25, 1867. The following
officers, who had previously been elected, were installed: C. H.
Paddock, II. P. ; S. Snow, K. ; A. B. Vaughan, S. ; H. M. Allen,
C. of H. : C. J. Paddock, P. S. ; L. R. Hathaway, R. A. C. ; B. F.
Jones, M. of third V. ; L. A. Sherwood, M. of second V. ; G. G'.
Clemmer, 31. of first V. ; S. Smith, treasurer ; J. C. Smith, secre-
tary; L. W. Smith, sentinel. The following have been high
priests: Charles H. Paddock, 1867-68; C. J. Paddock, 1868-69;
A. J. Phelps, 1869-70; C. J. Paddock, 1870-71; Solomon Snow,
1871-73; A. J. Phelps, 1873-74; R. B. Davis, 1874-75; I. Ingmind-
scn, 1875-76 ; Charles L. West, 1876-77 ; I. Ingmundson, 1877-78 ;
Charles L. West, 1878-82 ; Eugene Wood, 1882-88 ; Nathan Kings-
ley, 1888-90 ; Charles L. West, 1890-93 ; William Todd, 1893-97 ;
George W. Bliss, 1897-1900: R. L. Johnson, 1900-01; George
Doehne, Jr., 1901-03; Wallace Gregson, 1903-07; Thaddeus S.
Thompson, 1907-08; John H. Anderson, 1908-09; I. T. Tollifson,
1909-10; Thaddeus S. Thompson, 1911. The present officers are:
Thaddeus S. Thompson, H. P. ; Peter Hanson, K. ; G. ]\I. F. Rogers,
8. : William Todd, treasurer : Floyd H. Ober, secretary ; F. L.
AYilliams, C. of H. ; R. L. DeGroodt, P. S. ; Guy Burlingame,
R. A. C. ; AY. P. Bennett, M. of third V. ; C. A. Carlson, M. of sec-
ond Y. ; Irvin Fox, M. of first V. ; C» E. Warren, sentinel. Of the
past high priests, C. L. West, William Todd and Nathan Kingsley
are past grand high priests of the state grand chapter, and Judge
Kingsley is grand high priest of the genei'al grand chapter of
Royal Arch Masons of the United States of America and her
dependencies.
St. Bernard Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar, had its
beginning January 20, 1881, when the Grand Commander of the
State of Minnesota granted to D. B. Smith, as E. C. ; Eugene
Wood as G. and J. S. Anderson as C. G., permission to organize
a commandery at Austin. The first conclave was held January
31, 1881, and the above named officers were present. The emi-
nent commander appointed the following officers: D. B. Johnson,
Jr., prelate ; J. G. AYarner, S. A\\ ; Stephen Ives, J. AY. ; E. C. Dorr,
treasurer: C. H. Davidson, recorder; John ]\Iahoney, standard
bearer ; AI. E. Frisbee, S. AY. ; John Frank, warden : A. K. A'^andei--
walker, sentinel. The charter was granted by the grand com-
mandery, January 24, 1881, and was signed by the following
grand officers: AYilliam AA^'illiston, G. C. ; Robert L. AlcCormick,
D. G. C: Luther Z. Rogers. G. G. ; AYilliam G. Bronson. The
commandery was duly constituted July 28, 1881, by Grand Com-
mander R. L. McCormiek, assisted by L. Z. Rogers, G. ; Henry
Birkett, C. G.-. L. AViieelock, P. Tbo-e were present twenty-tliree
230 HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY
Sir Knights of the eomniaudery at Owatonna, and the following
officers were duly installed: D. B. Smith, E. C. ; Eugene Wood,
G. ; J. S. Anderson, C. G. ; E. B. Crane, P. ; E. C. Dorr, treasurer ;
C. H. Davidson, recorder ; W. H. Sutherland, S. W. ; F. D. Decker,
J. W.; A. Friedrich, St. B. ; E. R. Daniels, S. B. ; E. H. Gerard,
warden; J. B. Beecher, George Haraberg, H. W. Wilson, guards;
A. K. Vanderwalker. The following have been the commanders:
D. B. Smith, 1881-85; Eugene Wood, 1885-87; J. S. Anderson,
1887-88; A. Friedrich, 1888-89 and 1894-95; C. L. West, 1889-90;
C. I. Johnson, 1890-91 ; B. F. Farmer, 1891-92 ; Nathan Kiugsley,
1892-94; N. S. Gordon, 1896-97; Henry Birkett, 1897-98; A. Mol-
lison, 1898-99; George W. Bliss, 1899-1900; F. B. Wood, 1901-02;
John Ober, 1902-03; George Doehne, Jr., 1903-04; George E. An-
derson, 1905-06; William Todd, 1906-07; Wallace Gregson, 1907-
08; C. F. Lewis, 1908-09; A. C. Page, 1909-11; J. H. Anderson,
1911. The present officers are: J. H. Anderson, E. C. ; William
Crane, G. ; A. C. Page, C. G. ; F. L. Williams, S. AY. ; G. M. F. Rog-
ers, J. AY. ; J. L. Mitchell, treasurer ; W. P Bennett, recorder ;
C.L.AYest, prelate ; Peter Hanson, St. B. ; Jacob Nicholson, Sw. B. ;
AA'illiam Cutter, AY. ; C. E. AYarren, sentinel. Eugene AA^ood is the
oldest living past commander. C. L. AYest, a past commander,
lias been grand commander of the state commandery.
Unity Chapter, No. 29, 0. E. S., was organized INIarch 20, 1890.
Tlie first officers were: Mrs. Alibie L. Crane, worthy matron;
Eugene AVood. worthy patron ; Sirs. Fannie Gordon, secretary.
Tlie present officers are: Airs. Eloise AYilliams, Avorthy matron;
Floyd Ober, worthy patron ; Mrs. Edith K. Robinson, secretary ;
Mrs. Lena Dawes, treasurer ; Cora Dovenburg, conductress : Kate
Todd, assistant conductress ; Ada, Airs. Gladys Dockstader ;
Ruth, Helen Olson; Esther, ATrs. Eva Hope; Alartha, Airs. Alice
Hall ; Electa, Frances Lewis ; chaplain. Airs. Rose Pettingill ; mar-
slial. Airs, Jesse Hall; organi.st. Airs. Nellie Allen; warden. Airs.
Nellie DeGroodt : sentinel, Airs. E. C. Sutherland.
ODD FELLOWS
Odd Fellowship in Austin dates from 1867. The order is now
represented in Austin l)y tliree bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 20,
I. 0. 0. F. ; Austin Encampment, No. 29, T. 0. 0. F., and Esther
Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. O. 0. F.
Austin Lodge, No. 20, L 0. 0. F., received its charter, Decein-
l)cr 5, 1807, and tlie lodge was instituted with the following
cliartcr members; II. A. Alaliew, E. P. LeSuer, O. S. Druery,
Stephen Ives, L. G. Dudley. Oliver Somers, Aaron S. Everest,
I>.;isil Smout. L. AY. Smitli. Tyler AY. AA^iodard, A. J. Phelps, L.
HISTORY OF MOAVER COUNTY 231
Bouregard, N. P. Austin, R. J. Smith and Joseph Schwau. Tlie
first meeting was held in a building on the site now occupied by
the Austin Furniture Company. Afterwards meetings were held
on the third floor of Richards' block, corner of Main and Mill
street. The lodge owns the west half of Odd Fellows block, and
is free from debt, with a good surplus in its treasury. It has at
tlie present time 420 members on the register, and is in a most
flourishing condition. On two occasions it has been honored
signally by the selection from its ranks of grand masters as fol-
lows: H. A. i\Iahew, 1869; D. II. Stimson, 1897. Both of these
gentlemen served the state lodge with credit and distinction. The
first elective oiificers of Austin lodge were H. A. Mahew, N. G. ;•
Oliver Somers, V. G. ; E. P. LeSuer, secretary ; 0. S. Druery, treas-
urer. The present elective officers are Frank Felch, N. G. ; James
King, V. G. ; E. F. Peck, secretary ; Fialler Mann, treasurer ; H. P.
Chapin, chaplain.
Following is a list of the early No))le Grands : H. A. May-
hew, Oliver Somers, A. S. Everest, R. I. Smith, C. H. Davidson,
Joseph Schwan, Herman Gunz, A. G. Lawyer, George F. Fren-
vvith, E. P. Van Valkenburgh, John Chandler, Rush B. Davis, F.
J. ^layhew, A. E. Meigs, P. 0. French, Joseph Reinsmith, Lafay-
ette French, D. H. Stimson, A. W. Kimball, C. H. Wilboiir, H. W.
Elms, Edward Bigelow, "\Y. H. H. Bullock, John V. Owens and
S. Sweningsen.
Esther Rebekah Lodge, No. 4, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted
March 10, 1870. with twenty-four charter members. It has been
prominent in charitable work and has furnished a pleasing so-
cial feature to Odd Fellowship in Austin. The present officers
are : ilrs. ^laria Edson. N. G. ; Mrs. Fannie Herzog, V. G. ;
]Mrs. Inez ]M. Elward, secretary ; ]Miss Myrtle Edson, treasurer.
PYTHIAN ORDERS.
The principles of the Pythian fellowship are represented in
Austin by two bodies, Austin Lodge, No. 55, K. P., and F'lora
Temple, No. 26. Pythian Sisters.
Austin Lodge, No. 55, K. of P., was instituted May 27, 1889,
with forty-three charter members. The first officers were: C. C,
H. R. Wood; V. C, L. Dettlebach; prelate, R. O. Hall; M. of E.,
A. B. Ilunkins; M. of E., William INI. Rol)erts; M. of A., Fred B.
Wood; I. G., Sam. L. Collins; O. G., W. H. Benedict; trustees,
E. B. Sterling, E. G. Potter and R. 0. Hall. The present officers
are: C. C, W. J. rrl)atch ; V. C, W. L. Van Camp; prelate, C. F.
Cook; K. of H. and S. and M. of F.. William Cutter; M. of E..
II. A. Goslee; M. of W., O. J. Simmons.
2'62 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
ORDER OF ELKS.
Tlie Elks in Austin are in flourishing condition, the member-
ship is of a high degree, and the quarters are very pleasant.
Austin Lodge No. 414, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks was instituted February 16, 1898, by District Deputy Grand
Exalted Ruler Jolm E. King, of St. Paul. The ceremony of in-
stitution was held in the court room of the court house. The
lodge then leased what is noAv known as Odd Fellows' hall and
remained there until February 15, 1901, Avhen they dedicated
their present home. The first officers of the lodge were : Exalted
ruler, R. J. Dowdall; E. L. K., J. J. Furlong; E. L. K., R. R,
Murphy; E. L. K., T. C. Grant; secretary, W. A. Kubat; treas
urer, E. Wood; tyler, J. J. Hayes: trustees, J. M. Greenman, Jos
Keenan and S. Sweningsen. The following have served as pre
biding officers of the lodge: R. J. Dowdall, J. J. Furlong, 0. J.
Simmons, A. S. Campbell, L. D. Baird, W. N. Kendrick, W. D
Rosbaeh, J. S. Wood, A. C. Page, J. L. Gulden, C. I. Riley, and
E. H. Elward. The present officers are : Exalted ruler, Harry
Rutherford ; E. L. K., R. A. Woodward ; E. L. K., J. J. Scallan ;
E. L. K., M. F. Dugan; secretary, J. S. Wood; treasurer, W. J.
Urbatch ; tyler, A. P. ]\loonan ; trustees, P. Bump, 0. J. Simmons
and W. E. Terry. This lodge has been honored in the fact thf\t
0. J. Simmons was district deputy grand exalted ruler under
Grand Exalted Ruler William J. 'Brien in 1904-05.
OTHER FRATERNAL ORDERS.
Lookout Aerie, No. 703, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and a nest
of the Order of Owls, are located here, and have a fair member-
ship among the young men of the city.
Lookout Aerie, No. 703, F. 0. E., was instituted May 3, 1904,
by J. AV. Shadewald, 8. D. G. P., with a charter list of sixty-six
members. The fir.st officers were: J. H. Bryon, P. W. P.; J. J.
Adams, W. P. ; W. R. Terry, W. V. P. ; J. D. Smith, W. C. ; W. L.
Van Camp, W. S. ; Frank Sargent, W. T. ; George Dolan, W.
Cond. ; Max Erdman, I. G. ; C. A. Gibson, 0. G. ; trustees, Charles
Kaufman, H. J. Zender, J. E. Pitzen ; aerie physician, C. J. Lewis.
The present officers are: P. W. P., C. F. Lewis; W. P., George
Robertson ; W. V. P., H. W. Boody ; W. C, J. C. Taney ; W. Cond.,
L. G. Kappauf ; secretary, F. M. Zebder; treasurer, F. C. Wilbour;
trustees, W. R. Terry, M. A. Morgan, L. H. Grau ; physician,
H. F. Pierson. The present membership is 360. Since the organi-
zation i|^6,200 has been paid in sick benefits. Funeral benefits
liave amounted to .$350. The society pays a seven-dollar-a-week
HISTOIJY OF MOAVEK COliXTY 233
sick benefit and a $50 funeral benefit. The aerie has at present
$2,000 at interest and $600 in the treasury as a working balance,
with an income of about $270 a month.
The Order of Owls is one of the youngest of the local fra-
ternities. The charter officers were: President, II. J. Zender:
past president, Thomas Rochford; vice president, T. Lembrick;
invocator, AY. J. Rice ; treasurer, Ben Hart ; secretary, Peter Ca-
pretz; warden, Lester Woodward; sentinel, Tracey Smith;
picket, Thomas Tracy; trustees, M. J. Mayer, Joseph Wolf and
Otto H. Jensen. The present officers are: President, H. J. Zen-
der ; past president, Thomas Rochford ; vice president, A. Speck ;
invocator, B. Speck ; treasurer, Ben Hart ; secretary, Peter Ca-
pretz; warden, C. Ward; sentinel, Eldred Ondrick; picket, J. C.
Harris; director, C. H. Johnson; trustees, M. J. Mayer, Joseph
Wolf and Otto H. Jensen.
PATRIOTIC ORDERS.
There are four patriotic orders in Austin, the Mclntyre Post,
No. 66, G. A. R. : Mclntyre Corps, No. 27, W. R. C. ; the Ladies of
tlie G. A. R., and tlie Spanish-American War Veterans.
Mclntyre Post, No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic. About
1872, a Post was organized at Austin and conducted for a time,
but like many of the original G. A. R. posts, it soon disbanded.
jNIcIntj^re Post, No. 66, Avas organized March 7, 1884, by A.
Swift, assisted by Comrades C. A. Warren, M. B. Johnson, B.
iNlaxwell, N. N. Parmenter, B. E. Stimson and others, of the
Henry Rogers Post No. 11, G. A. R., at Brownsdale. The fol-
lowing were the first officers: Capt. W. H. Sutton, post com-
mander: A. E. Christie, sen. vice commander; G. L. Case, jun.
vice commander ; Rev. W. E. Stanley, chaplain ; H. W. Lightly,
officer of the day ; John V. OAvens, quartermaster ; C. N. Beiseker,
officer of the guard; Seymour Johnson, adjutant; M. M. Trow-
bridge, sergeant major; H. B. Corey, Q. M. sergeant. It was
voted to call the Post Mclntyre, after Capt. P. T. Mclntyre, of
the 18th Wisconsin, and formerly county auditor and treasurer,
wlio died in Austin about 1881. The vote stood twenty-six for
"]McIntyre," and twenty-five for "INlcPhorson, '' in honor of
General ^NlcPherson.
Below is appended a list of tlu^ members who joined Alarch
1 and lo, 1884, with the regimental connection of each: P. J.
Cratzer, Co. F, lolst Ind. ; Seymour Johnson, Co. A, 32d Wis.;
W. H. AYhitham, Co. B, 106th N. Y. ; W. E. Stanley, 29th Co.,
Mass. II. A. Vol. : J. A. Pierce, Co. A, 3d Wis.; George Fiehn, Co.
A, 13th Wis.: J. R. Evans, Co. H. Batal. V. S. I. 16th Reg. ; J. IT.
^VLansfield. Col. Keng's Staff: D. E. Bero, Co. C, 9th Minn.; Sam.
234 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
H. Judd, Capt. Co. H, 153d Til. ; H. W. Lightly, Co. H, 29th Wis. ;
Francis Neller, Co. H, 2d Minn. ; Jerry Ingalls, Co. I, 26th N. Y. ;
R. M. Boyd, Co. B, 37th AVis. ; Chas. J. Miller, Sergt. Co. A, 1st
Wis.; Wilson Beach, Corp. Co. H, 1st Minn. M. R. ; Geo. W.
Varco, Co. B, 2d Minn. Cav. : J. H. DeRemer, Co. F, 3d Minn. ;
J. C. Hawkins, Corp. 2d Ohio H. Art. ; William Bracken, Co. C,
9th Minn. ; John Connor, Co. G, 6th Wis. ; Abram Newell, Co. I,
17th 111. Cav. ; M. M. Trowbridge, Sergt. Co. C, 1st Wis. ; A. E.
Christie, Sergt. Co. D, 19th Wis. ; Henry B. Corey, Corp. Co. A,
2d ]\Iinn. Cav. Reg. ; John V. Owens, Co. K, 5th N. Y. H. A. ; W.
H. Sutton, Capt. Co. I, 31st Ohio. ; G. L. Case, Capt. Co. H, 122d
IT. S. C. T. ; Samuel Pinkham. Co. C, 3d Wis. Cav. ; H. H. Kent,
Landsman U. S. Navy ; J. D. Woodward, Co. I, 1st N. Y. L. Art. ;
Orrin H. Brown, Sergt. Co. B, 115th N. Y. ; W. D. Hogan, Corp.
Co. K, 1st Conn. H. Art.; James Donaldson, Sergt. Co. E, 28th
Wis. ; S. AA". Rice. Co. C, 9th Minn. ; M. Becker, Co. D, 22d Wis.
Inft.; G. S. Cooper, Co. G, 12th AVis.; Simeon Chapman, Co. I,
105th Pa.; H. G. Case, Sergt. Co. A, 2d Minn.; John E. Robin-
son, Corp. Co. B, 2d Minn. Cav. ; E. P. Spooner, Sergt. Co. C, 9th
Minn. ; R. Brooks, Co. C, 17th Ind. ; C. N. Beiseker, Co. F, 67th
N. Y. ; Jos. Stephenson, Co. C, 117th N. Y. ; Isaac N. Howe, Co.
M, 12th 111. Cav.; Jehial AVoodward, Co. B, 116t.h N. Y. ; A. J.
Sharpstine, Co. K, 142d N. Y. ■ Henry Peck, Co. B, 2d Minn. ; D.
B. Johnson, Jr., 1st Lieut. 1st Reg. INIinn. M. R. ; AValter F.
Sutherland, Sergt. Co. B, U. S. Eng. Bat. ; E. L. Merry, Co. F,
5th Minn.; John Robertson, Sergt. Co. F, 42d AVis.; Robert
O'Brien, Co. H, 44th AA^is. ; William H. AA^aye, Co. I, 38th AVis.;
C. P. Bell, Co. B, 2nd Minn. Cav. ; M. C. Little, Co. K, 32d AVis. ;
E. R. Lathrop, chaplain, 10th Minn.; L. B. Fairbanks, Co. I, 3d
A^t. •. Henry A. Chapin, Co. I, 1st Minn. ; A. H. Chapin, Co. C, 9th
Ivlinn. ; L. Griffin, Co. H, 1st Minn. Rangers ; I. J. Densmore,
Sergt. nth AVis.; J. S. Anderson, Co. I, 24th AVis.; A. D. Fair-
banks, Co. E, 2d United States sharpshooters; P. Bump, 1st Lieut.
Co. E, 22d Wis.; C. R. Paddock, Co. C, 115th N. Y.
In all 220 veterans have joined Melntyre Post. Of these
sixty-six are still members and eighty-seven are dead. Sixty-
seven have moved away or been suspended. The Post has a
meeting hall of its own, having purchased a lot and building
December 15, 1890. The present officers are: Commander, John
Fairbanks ; senior vice commander, Peter Cratzer ; junior vice
commander, R. N. Boyd ; quartermaster serge.ant, P. Bump ; officer
of the day, J. C. HaAvkins: officer of the guard, E. AVatkins;
chaplain, J. D. Smith ; siu'geon, John Harpraan ; adjutant, J. H.
DeRemer. The Post is one of the most flourishing in the state.
In June, 1889. it had the pleasure of entertaining the Southern
^Minnesota G. A. R. Association.
HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY 235
Mclntyre Corps, No. 27, W. R. C, was organized April 5,
1887, with twenty-two charter members. The first officers were
as follows : President, Elizabeth Mclntyre ; senior vice presi-
dent, Lottie Baird; junior vice president, Louisa Engle; secre-
tary. Lizzie Sutton: treasurer, Mary Lovell; conductor, Lida
Sutherland ; assistant conductor, Emma Dorr ; guard, Katie
Jolmson : assistant guard, Maggie Ingalls ; chaplain, Mary Beach.
The corps is now in a flourishing condition, with 102 members.
The present officers are: President, Madge Smith; senior vice
president, Mary Horrobin; junior vice president, Anna Gregg;
secretary. Marietta Bump; treasurer, Clara Urbatch ; chaplain,
Emma Neller ; conductor, Mattie Fairbanks ; guard, Abbie Hilker ;
patriotic instructor, Elizabeth Mattice ; press correspondent, Eva
Davison ; assistant conductor, Anna Seares ; assistant guard,
flattie AVilliams; musician, Lulu Pitcher; color bearers, Nellie
Hartley, Lou Hendricks, Laura Eddlebeck and Libby Roebuck.
The corps is working in harmony with IMcTntyre Post, and in
1906 erected a •i<l,200 monument on the soldiers' lot in Oakwood
cemetery.
The I. K. Mertz Circle, No. 44, Ladies of the G. A. E., was or-
ganized in Austin. November 3, 1898, by Julia E. Lobdell. This
organization is a patriotic one, similar in many respects to the
Daughters of the American Revolution, and its membership is
restricted to the wives, sisters, blood nieces, and direct female
descendants of veterans of the Civil war ; war nurses. Civil war
veterans, and male deseendents of Civil Avar veterans being ad-
mitted to honorary membership. The organization will be per-
petuated by lineal deseendents. The first officers of the local
circle were : President, Maggie Goodwin ; senior vice president,
Hannah Bazter; secretary, Eva Webster; treasurer, Anna Fo-
garty; chaplain. Frances Rice; conductress, Ella jNIady; assistant
conductress, INFay Carter; guard, INIaria Hall: assistant guard.
]\Iary E. Bero. The present officers are : President, Eva Web-
ster ; senior vice president, Florence Chapin ; junior vice presi-
dent. Frances Watkins; chaplain, Eva Carter; treasurer, Eunice
Floyd : conductress, Florence Wait ; assistant conductress, Sarah
Ondrick ; guard, ]\Iary Boyd ; assistant guard, Isabelle Watkins.
CATHOLIC ORDERS.
Four organizations in Austin recruit their members from tlie
Catliolic chuj'ch. They are: St. Augustine Court. No. of)?, Cath-
olic Order of Foresters; St. ^Monica Court, No. 374, Women's
Catholic Order of Foresters; Austin Council, No. 1201, Kniglits
of Columbus and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society.
236 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
RAILROAD ORDERS.
The importance of the raih-oad industry in Austin naturally
brings hundreds of railroad employes to make their home here,
and as a consequence all the great railroad orders haA^e Austin
divisions. Cedar River Division, No. 283, Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen ; Austin Division, No. 215, Order of Railroad Con-
ductors: Austin Division, No. 102, Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, and Comet Lodge, No. 126, Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Engineers, each have a goodly membership, and
the ladies' auxiliary to each of these organizations are also im-
portant features in the life of the railroad people of the city.
Austin Division, No. 215, Order of Railroad Conductors Avas
organized August 30, 1 906, with the following charter members :
E. E. Brooks, W. F. Clay, E. T. Dexter, A. J. Fox, W. B. Harter,
Harry Hill, "William James, Martin Keavy, Thomas Keating, C.
T. Paine, "W. R. Terry, AVilliam Plummer, Peter Gallagher, George
Franklin, F. C. Tipp, Jacob Oleson, H. M. AVarfield, A. F. Mc-
Lean, Frank McAdams, John Richard. The first officers were:
Chief conductor, Thomas Keating; assistant chief conductor, H.
M'. Warfield; secretary and treasurer, W. R. Terry; senior conduc-
tor, W. F. Claj' ; junior conductor, William Plummer ; inside sen-
tinel, George Franklin; outside sentinel, Jacob Oleson. The
present officers are: Chief conductor, J. D. McCormiek; assist-
ant chief conductor, Joseph Tucker ; secretary and treasurer, W.
B. Harter; senior conductor, W. F. Clay; junior conductor, W.
K. Terry ; inside sentinel, Joseph Kane ; outside sentinel, Ole Tol-
bertson. From a membership of twenty, Austin Division has
grown to a membership of fifty-three. This division is one of
tlie best in its class -and nearly every conductor running out of
Austin on the five divisions of railroad is a member of Division
215. Each member is a good citizen and all are ready at all
times to boost for Austin. The growth of the division has kept
pace with the progress of the city and every member is true to
the motto, Fidelity, Justice and Charity.
Volunteer Division, No. 123, Ladies Auxiliary to the Order
of Railroad Conductors, Avas instituted May 19, 1898, with the
folloAving officers: President, Mrs. W. B. Terry; vice president.
Mrs. Ida Clay: secretary and treasurer, Mrs. W. D. Plummer.
The present officers are : President, Mrs. J. D. McCormiek ; vice
president. Mrs. George Taylor; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. H.
:\I. Warfi(>ld.
Austin Division, No. 102, Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, is one of the oldest fraternal societies in Austin. It Avas
organized Fe])ruary 19, 1870, by Simon R. Clark, assisted by
T. "NV. TIazelton. R. R. dark Avas elected chief engineer and ^l.
HISTORY OF ]M0\VP:1{ COLLXTY 237
E. Telfair first assistant engineer. William Anderson is the
present chief engineer and Harry Matthews is the secretary and
treasurer. The Austin division has a membership of ninety, witli
$130,000 life and accident insurance in force.
The J. D. Beeoher Division, No. 187, Ladies Auxiliary to the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was organized January
25, 1894, by Mrs. C. J. Clark, grand organizer, of Winona, with
the following chapter members: Mrs. Wm. Anderson, Mrs. J. D.
Beecher, Mrs. C. Campbell, Mrs. A. F. Mattice, Mrs. P. Cham-
bers, Mrs. G. Smith, Mrs. M. Davey, Mrs. D. Sharrah, Mrs. H.
Furtney, Mrs. J. Shook, Mrs. Thos. Flannigan, ]\Irs. J. Taylor,
Mrs. C. Gilleece, Mrs. C. F. West, Mrs. J. Harriman, Mrs. E. G.
Goth, Mrs. D. Hunt, Mrs. J. E. Ober, Mrs. R. Haseltine, Mrs. T.
Claneey, Mrs J. McDonald, Mrs. J. Murphy. Of these there are
twelve who are still members of the order. The first officers
were : President, Mrs. AVm. Anderson ; vice president, Mrs. E.
Goth ; secretary, Mrs. H. Furtney ; treasurer, Mrs. G. Smith ; in-
surance secretary, Mrs. Harriman; chaplain, Mrs. A. F. Mattice;
guide, Mrs. C. Campbell: sentinel, Mrs. T. Claneey; pillars, Mrs.
C. Gilleece, Mrs. J. McDonald, Mrs. J. Harriman, Mrs. R. Hasel-
tine. At present this order consists of thirty-seven members.
The present officers are : Past president, Mrs. D. S. Barr ; presi-
dent, Mrs. M. Mclnerny; vice president, Mrs. C. Gilleece; insur-
ance secretary, Mrs. S. E. Pettengill; secretary, Mrs. E. H.
Kough ; chaplain, Mrs. D. Hunt ; treasurer, Mrs. L. Nelson ; guide,
Mrs. C. Erickson ; sentinel, Mrs. M. Lang ; marshals, Mrs. A.
Damm, Mrs. R. Haseltine; musician, Mrs. Wm. Cook; pillars,
Mrs. J. Lorenz, Mrs. T. Damn, Mrs. A. F. Mattice, Mrs. H. J.
]\reDonald.
Pearl of Cedar Lodge, No. 223, Ladies Auxiliary to the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, was organized July 29, 1901,
with fifteen charter members and with the first vice grand mis-
tress, Jeanette Turner in the chair. The meeting was held in
the Engineers Hall, on East Water street, and the following of-
ficers were elected: Councilman, George C. Taylor; past mis-
press, Lizzie Brohm ; mistress, Mary Nockels; vice mistress, Julia
Dineen; treasurer, Mary Taylor; chaplain, Luej'- Ellingson; sec-
retary, Mayme Bi;shman : conductress, Ada Plum ; warden. Olga
Gordon; inner guard, Mai-y Bushman; outer guard, Emma
Franklin. The charter Avas a gift to the ladies from the Cedar
River lodge, No. 283, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. The
present officers are: President, Mayme Bushman; vice presi-
dent, Nellie Smith ; chaplain, Anna Jeffries ; treasurer, Mattie
Fairbanks; secretary. Hazel Harmaney; conductress, Viuuie
Montey; warden, Ijouisa Darr: inner guard. Blanch Larson;
outer guard, Elizabeth Bloomfield; delegate, Nellie Smith; alter-
238 ITISTOIIY OF MOWER COUNTY
iiate, Kate Weise. There are at present thirty members, and
meetings are held in the Order of Railroad Conductors Hall.
FRATERNAL INSURANCE.
The oldest fraternal insurance order in Austin, antedates in
its date of organization, all the present orders in Austin except
the Masons, the Odd Fellows and tlie Brotherhopd of Locomotive
Engineers. The fraternal insurance orders now in existence in
Austin are: Austin Homestead, No. 443, Brotherhood of Amer-
ican Yeomen; Austin Tent, No. 16, Knights of the Maccabees;
Queen Hive, No. 20, Ladies of the Maccabees ; Austin Council, No.
53, jModern Samaritans ; Van Dusko Camp, No. 243, Modern
Woodmen of America; Austin Council, No. 1654, Royal Ar-
canum ; Cedar Camp, No. 205, Royal Neighbors ; Austin As-
sembly, No. 204, Equitable Fraternal Union; Austin Lodge, No.
31, Degree of Honor; Austin Lodge, No. 840, Mystic AYorkers ot!
the World.
Austin Lodge, No. 32, Ancient Order of United Workmen was
organized in Austin, October 24, 1877, with charter members to
the number of thirty. The first officers of the lodge Avere : Past
master workman, D. B. Smith; master workman, L. 6. Wheeler;
foreman, A. W. Kimball ; overseer, F. A. Richardson ; recorder,
C. H. AVilbour; financier, E. P. Van Valkenburgh; receiver, Ed-
win French ; guide, W. K. Hunkins ; inside watchman, F. H.
Sterling; outside watchman, John Chandler. The ma,jority of
the first officers and members are still living. Some have dropped
from the order, l)ut a large number are still faithful members ■
after nearly thirty-four years of continued membership. The
A. 0. U. AV. was the pioneer fraternal insurance order and the
first to establish lodges in Minnesota and also the first in
Austin. Austin Lodge, No. 32, has grown from a few members
to an enrollment of over 600, and a present membership of
225, and has paid to the widows and orphans of its de-
ceased members jfi85,000. A record of which it may well be
proud. The records of the lodge show that the men who
have governed the lodge and helped to build it up are scat-
tered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as the following list
of the past master workmen will show : D. B. Smith, L. E. Day,
Jas. Cronan, P. PL Zender, 0. H. Harris, C. J. Hull, S. A. Smith,
Geo. Robertson, E. C. Dorr, E. J. Phillips, Thos. F. Leonard, I. R.
Wagner, John Rustad, E. W. Brennan, Peter Hanson, H. A.
Gosler, W. K. Hawkins, L. Dettlebach, K. 0. AVold, N. J.
Strever, A. E. Hall, S. H. Harrson, L. C. Fairbanks.
The officers for the year 1911 are: Past master workman, H.
A. C.nsler: mnstcr workman, AI. P. Underberger : foreman, Lafay-
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 239
ette Crandall ; overseer, John Evenson ; i-ecorder, L. C. Fair-
banks; financier, P. H. Zender; receiver, J. L. Mitchell; guide,
E. J. Blomily; inside watchman, Jos. Leohmen; out'side watch-
man, Frank i^dams; grand representatives, P. H. Zender and
H. A. Gosler; trustees, E. A. Dalager, Gorm Hanson, Peter Han-
son. The A. O. U. W. order rates of assessments were changed
two years ago to an absolutely adequate basis of rates and a
large surplus has been accumulated. This year the Minnesota
jurisdiction seceded from the national organization and Minne-
sota is now an independent organization with over 21,000 mem-
bers. Aiistiu lodge is adding new members and is in a very
prosperous condition, with prospects of paying many more
thousands to more firmly establish the home for those who are
left to mourn.
Van Dusko Camp, No. 243, Modern Woodmen of America, was
organized September 18, 1886, with thirty-seven charter members.
The charter was granted October 20, 1886. Among the first
officers were G. T. ]Mills, C. A. Pooler and L. F. Clausen. The
cainp now has a membership of 467. There have been forty-three
deaths in the camp and over $80,000 has been paid in benefit
certificates. The present officers are: Consul, R. L. Furtuey;
advisor, R. J. Thomson; banker, H. A. Goslee; clerk, E. H.
Sterling; managers, William Cutter, J. E. Detwiler and H. C.
Waldecker.
Austin Council, No. 1654, Royal Arcanum, was organized
and chartered October 7, 1895, with thirty-six members. The
first officers were : Regent, N. S. Gordon ; vice regent, G. F.
Baird ; orator, A. M. Lewis ; past regent, A. C. Page ; secretary,
E. "W. Davis; collector, J. A. Sands; treasurer, H. M. McGill-
vary; guide, H. F. George; chaplain, H. D. Fairbanks; warden,
A. E. Dearborn ; sentry, F. A. Brietlow ; trustees, G. Schleuder,
T. J. Abrahams, C. F. Cook. The officers for the year 1911 are
as follows: Regent, R. L. DeGroot; vice regent, F. W. Green-
man; orator, A. C. Page; past regent, F. E. Daigneau; secre-
tary, J. M. Beck; treasurer, G. F. Baird; collector, J. E. Crip-
pen; chaplain, H. D. Fairbanks; guide, Charles Mady; warder,
F. G. Page; sentry, F. B. Davison. Since the organization of
Austin Council there has been but one death claim paid, on the
death of a local member. Mayor George F. Sutton, at the time
of his death, was a member of the Royal Arcanum, and his widow
was paid the death benefit. The Royal Arcanum is a fraternal
insurance order, organized in Boston, ^lass., June 23, 1S77,
and has been successful and economical in its inanagcineiit dur-
ing the thirty-four years of its existence
Cedar Camp, No. 205, Royal Neighbors of America, Avas or-
oanized October 2.'). 189.'). witli a good iiienibcrsliip. :\rrs. Alma
240 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
Kessler Avas the first oracle and Mrs. Flora E. Cota the' first re-
corder. They were assisted by a band of loyal workers. The
lodge membership has grown to nearly 200, and the present
officers are: Oracle, Mrs. Mattie Fairbanks; vice oracle, Mrs.
Libbie Aultfather; past oracle, Mrs. Lania Dawes; chancellor,
Mrs. Carrie "Wright; recorder, Mrs. Tracy Young; receiver, Mrs.
Ida Wyatt; marshal, Mrs. Mabel Boyd; assistant marshal, Mrs.
Lillian Peterson ; inner sentinel, Mrs. Mary Horrobin ; outer sen-
tinel, Mrs. Ella Mayland; managers, Mrs. Jessie Ward, Mrs.
Ellen Brown and Mrs. Maud Cutter.
Austin Tent, No. 16, Knights of the Maccabees, received its
charter May 23, 1893. The fi.rst oflfieers were: Commander, E.
C. Kinney; record keeper, G. M. Merriman; finance keeper, P.
Goodwin. The present officers are: Commander, A. E. Hilker;
record and finance keeper, J. "W. Gebhart.
Austin Council 53, Modern Samaritans, was organized several
years ago and the present officers are: Good Samaritan, F. H.
Mayer ; past, ~W. J. Bell ; vice, Sallie E. Hill ; high priestess, Mrs.
R. Peterson ; financial scribe, Peter Capretz ; treasurer, John Ur-
batch ; C. M., Carl Johnson ; J. M., Roy Pace ; centurian, Mrs.
Carl Johnson; Avatchraan, John Jensen; medical examiner, Dr.
C. P. Lewis.
Austin Homestead, No. 443, Brotherhood of American Yeo-
n*en, has some 260 members. The officers are: Honorable fore-
man, L. H. Gran ; master of ceremonies, Carrie Wright ; cori'e-
spondent, A. L. Lickteig ; master of accounts, Mattie Fairbanks ;
chaplain, Mary NeAvcomb.
SCANDINAVIAN AND TEUTONIC LODGES.
The Scandinavian and Teutonic element in Austin is repre-
sented by three societies: Als Lodge, No. Ill, Danish Brother-
hood; Hamar Lodge, No. 84, Sons of NorAvay, and the Harmonia
Germania Society.
INDUSTRIAL.
The Carpenters' Union in Austin has been in existence for
some time, and is of much mutual benefit to its members.
DRIVING ASSOCIATION.
The Austin Driving Association was organized February 26,
1909. The first officers were: Geo. Sutton, president; H. W.
Hurlbut, treasurer, and A. C. Page, secretary. Shortly after its
organization, tlie president, Mr. Sutton, was taken sick and went
to a sanitarium for treatment. E. D. Feeny Avas elected vice
president and acted as executive officer during that year's race
meet. The association has given tAvo very successful summer
HISTOKY OF MOWEK COUNTY 2-11
race meetings during the month of June, 1909 and 1910. They
are planning their race meet for the current season for July 3,
4 and 5. The present officers are as follows: 0. J. Simmons,
president; M. F. Leffingwell, vice president; H. W. Hurlbut,
treasurer; A. C. Page, secretary.
CHAPTER XXI.
MODERN AUSTIN.
Advantages of the City Written by Rev. CD. Belden — Religious
Activities by Robert L. Moore — Austin Clubs by Miss Jennie
G. Keith — St. Olav Hospital and Training School — Austin
Schools by Prof. George A. Franklin — Austin Hotels.
Austin, the Pearl City of southern Minnesota and the county
seat of Mower county, is located in one of the most attractive
and fertile portions of the great Northwest. It has a population
of 6,960, according to the United States 1910 census, and it is
large enough to enjoy all the advantages and improvements
found in much larger centers. Mower county has steadily in-
creased in population during all the migrations and changes of
the past decades, as each succeeding census has shown. Today
we have 22,640 within our county borders. From the early pio-
neer days this city has been on the great highway of travel and
has attracted the best class of residents by her pre-eminent
advantages.
Sixty years ago there were two streams of travel coming into
this section. One was from the east by way of Chatfield, where
a land office had been established, and the other came in from
the southeast following up the banks of the Cedar river and con-
tinuing on in the old territorial road to St. Paul. Austin was
on this latter route. In the early settlement of Mower county
the county seat was established on the east end at Frankford,
but the Cedar valley soon gathered a larger immigration and
the county seat was changed to Austin. The old stage route
from Dubuque to St. Paul passed through Austin and the outer
world soon discovered that this was a vcrital)le garden spot.
Here were timber, the purest of water, the Ijrightcst of sunshine,
the healthiest of climate, the most fertile of soil. Tln' Cedar
river flowing thrcmgh the city furnished abundant water i)Ower
for saw mill and grist mill .md .\nstin soon came into its deserved
prominence.
2A2 HISTORY OF MOWEK COU^vTY
The pioneer problems of 1854 were very different from what
are known today. Then the railroads were slow in extending
west and they waited until the settlers had pushed ahead and
had made improvements and established centers. Today the
railroads reach out hundreds of miles into uninhabited regions
and carry the first settlers to their locations and furnish them
with transportation and abundant communication with the out-
side world. It was not so with the pioneers of this locality who
waited for years for the railroad while they hauled their grain
a hundred miles to the Father of Waters. In 1859 there was not
a mile of railroad in Minnesota and the nearest railroad point
was Dubuque. But shut in as were the pioneers so largely, they
were thrown together in an intimacy and equality which the so-
cial sets of the later years never know of. Thrown upon their
own resources and with everything new and unplanned, they were
really the foundation builders and we today enjoy a substantial
superstructure. The first settlers in this locality were largely of
sturdy native American stock with a valuable addition of thrifty
emigrants from northern Ei;rope. They brought high ideals in
education, morals and home life and their influence is a posi-
tive factor for good today.
The city of Austin is located on both sides of the Cedar river.
It is surrounded by a finely improved and productive prairie-
country in all directions. From the days of Austin Nichols, who
came here in 1853 and from whom the city was named, and of
Chaimeey Leverich, who bought out his claim in 1854. there
has been a healthy, persistent growth. Its location, about a hun-
dred miles from Minneapolis, La Crosse and other large shipping
points, gives it a territory largely its own. It is an industrial
and railroad center of prominence. The first railroad to enter
here was in 1867 and today we have five lines of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul road coming here, and we are on the
direct line of the Great Western between Minneapolis and Omaha.
Our shipping facilities are superior. The division point of the
Milwaukee road and one of its car shops are here and they have
an Austin payroll at present of $55,000 each month.
Austin is pre-eminently a city of homes. A larger propor-
tion of the residents own their own in most cases. The resi-
dences are the pride and joy of the city, many of them built with
the latest improvements and with attractive architectural ideas.
The Austin Civic Improvement League is helpful in keeping the
general appearance of the city neat and attractive. Two very
pretty parks give the people ample chance for convenient outing.
Lafayette i)ark lies at the foot of Main street where the Cedar
is bridged. Central park is adjacent to the city water plant on
Water strei't.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 243
The schools of Austin are of the highest efficiency. The pub-
lic schools are provided with the large central high school build-
ing and also five up-to-date grade ward schoolhouses. The year
of 1910-1911 required a total force of thirty-eight teachers, with
special work, domestic science, manual training, music, normal
department, drawing and gymnastics. The graduating class of
1911 consists of thirty-one members. In addition the St. Augus-
tine's parish has established the Columbus parochial school with
eight departments, all of them in grade work. The Southern
Minnesota Normal College, founded in 1897, is located here and
has a yearly enrollment of over 1,000 pupils from all the north-
western states. In this connection we mention the splendid li-
brary facilities of the city. In addition to the fine school and
private libraries we have a public library, the building for which
was provided by Andrew Carnegie. This building was completed
in April, 1904. There are about 7,000 volumes at present. The
nucleus of this library was a gift of 3,500 volumes from the
Austin Floral Club, which was organized in March, 1869, to
promote taste and skill in horticulture and to establish a circu-
lating library. Austin is a city of churches. There are eleven
fine church buildings and the clergymen rank high in preaching
ability and in personal worth and influence. Fifteen of the prin-
cipal denominations are well represented in the city.
Austin is a prominent business city and commercial center.
Its wholesale and retail trade covers twenty-two blocks of our
streets. Every line of commercial trade is represented. Its hand-
some business blocks fronting upon its brick paved streets and
its enduring cement sidewalks are a mark of enterprise and
thrift that attract all visitors. In the way of manufactures we
excel. Roller mills, tow mills, plow and harrow works, cement
tile factories, immense Farmers' Brick and Tile plant, weed ex-
terminator plant, the second packing house in size in Minnesota,
Austin greenhouses, marble and granite works, steel culvert fac-
tory, machine shops, foundries, carriage building are among our
prominent industries. "We have two telephone systems connect-
ing with all the surrounding country and bringing us in touch
also with the large centers. A city hospital shows advanced serv-
ice for the afflicted.
Although Austin is essentially a liomo town, tliere is fine hotel
service here for the traveling public and the four loading hotels,
the Fox. the Grand, the Elk and tlie Railway, make this city an
attractive stopping place sought by all who can make it con-
venient. In connection with the business interests we mention
the three national l)anks. whose total deposits in March. 1911,
were $3,072,120.81. and a total capital and surplus of $625,729.71.
The Austin Commercial Club, the successor of the Board of
244 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
Trade, organized in 1874 and reorganized in December, 1903, is
an active body looking after the development and growth of the
city.
One of the commanding buildings of the city is the fine county
courthouse, occupying a w^hole square on Main street. It Avas
occupied in March, 1884, and is the just pride of the county. A
new federal building for the postoffice and other government
officials was commenced in the fall of 1910 and will be completed
at the close of 1911. It is 50x65 feet and will cost $50,000. Plans
are also accepted for a new city hall to cost $40,000.
Austin feels proud of its military company. Back in the war
of '61- '65 this community sent its full quota to the front and
the soldierly spirit has never Avaned. Company G, Second Minne-
sota National Guard, was organized by Capt. James S. Ander-
son in September, 1882. An appropriation from the state legis-
lature in April, 1911, gives the company $10,000 for an armory
here and the city will add to this to make a suitable permanent
drill hall for them.
Austin has one of the most successful municipal water, elec-
tric light and power plants in the United States. Its low rate
for electric power has made it famous. The city owns and con-
trols its own plant. Previous to about 1885, Austin's water
supply Avas AvhoUy from pri\^ate wells and its fire protection was
from cisterns. With the growth of population the demand was
for modern Avater supply. A 132-foot Avell Avas put doAvn and
Smedley & Co., of Dubuque, put in the first pumps, tAvo of them,
each with a million-gallon daily capacity. John M. Greenman
Avas the first superintendent. From this beginning other and
deeper wells were sunk later as the demand increased and in
1910 a more ample supply of water Avas obtained by the pur-
chase of the famous Sargent's springs east of the city with a
flowage of 1,300,000 gallons of purest water daily. This water
Avas piped into the city in the summer of 1911. It comes wholly
by gravity to the reservoir at the power plant. The Avater mains
Avhich at first covered only our principal business section noAV
run to all parts of the residence portion.
The city municipal electric and poAver plant Avas established
in 1900, when the city bought out a private concern for the sum
of $16,000. The Pierce Brothers put in the original plant in
April, 1889. This furnished only the stores at first AA^th light,
but later the city made contracts for street lighting and the use
of electric lighting was extended to residences. The city rebuilt
the plant when it bought it in 1900 and in 1903 the entire man-
agement was placed in the hands of a board of water, electric,
gas and poAvor commission. The plant has been steadily devel-
oped until it had iu May, 1911, a 750-horsepoAver dynamo sys-
HISTOfiY OF MOWEH COUNTY 24.1
tern, supplying lights to 940 different consumers, power to fifty
users and light for 121 arc street lights, besides seventy-five
smaller street lamps. It is a fact that the Austin municipal plant
furnishes cheaper power and light to consumers than any other
successful electric plant in this country. The present members
of the water and electric board are : John L. Gulden, president ;
Mayor A. S. Campbell, J. D. Sheedy, Al. M. Smith and C. A.
Pooler; superintendent, "William Todd. Austin lias an efficient
fire department and excellent fire protection.
The streets of Austin are Avorthy of mention. There are many
miles of cement sidewalks wnth many bovilevards, which give a
substantial appearance. In the summer of 1906 the main business
portion of the city along Main street and adjacent blocks was
paved with vitreous brick and in the following summer ten blocks
were paved from Main street to the Milwaukee station, making
it possible to reach all the business poi-tions by it. This makes
Austin one of the best paved cities of its size in the Northwest.
The city has kept pace with its growing population and the
improvements of the day, and the resident here finds every con-
venience afforded much larger cities. The Austin Gas Company
is a private corporation, whose service adds to the comforts of
the home, and with annual Chautauqua in summer and lecture
and concert courses in the winter, with churches and schools and
library of the highest merit, with ample water supply and ex-
tensive sewerage, with the best of electric light and power and
in the midst of a prosperous farming commimity, located
near the height of land in southern ]Minnesota and with a cli-
mate unexcelled for its many healthful conditions, Austin knows
the reason why during business depression and prosperity she
has maintained a steady and permanent growth.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
A^^stin has excellent fire protection and a well-equipped fire
department. Hose Company No. 1 has its house at the corner of
Chatham and Maple street and Hose Company No. 2 has its house
at the foot of Bridge street. There are also companies at the
Plormel plant and at the ]Milwaukee yards. Plans are under way
for the building of a combination city hall fire house and armory
at the corner of Chatham and Maple streets. The state has ap-
propriated $10,000 for the building of an armory, and plans have
been drawn for a combination l)uilding. to be erected at a cost
of some .$42,000.
The fire department, whidi is a volunteer one. is organized as
follows: Fire warden. Xcls 1'. .Iciis.'ii ; liosc cart No. 1. fore-
man, Frank E. J. Christie; jissistaiit. .1. .1. Kugg: liydrantmen,
246 HISTORY OF MOWEE COUNTY
Leonard Hall and Archie Moreland; pipemen, George Fitzthuvn
and James Anker; steward and treasiirer, Edward H. Elward;
secretary, Louis Duclos. Hose Comany No. 2: Foreman, M. J.
.Mayer; assistant foreman, George Umhoefer; hydrantmen, C. W.
MeNally and J. Mayer, Jr. ; nozzlemen, Frank Hummel, Alvin
Setterloff, D. J. Sheehan ; secretary, J. H. Mayer; treasurer, Frank
jMayer; steward. J. Mayer, Jr.
The Austin Volunteer Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company was
organized March 11, 1870. The first officers elected were: Presi-
dent, W. I. Brown ; foreman, Capt. H. J. Gilham ; first assistant,
J. D. Jennings; second assistant, H. L. Burgess; secretary, A. M.
Hutchinson; treasurer, George H. Litchfield. On April 27 No.
2 of the east side was organized. In Septemher, 1895, the city
hired its first team and driver, Oscar Hill securing the position.
Among those who in the past have assisted in fire department af-
fairs in some official capacity may be mentioned : A. J. Phelps,
H. B. Hall, D. B. Smith, Tom Eiley, John Walsh, C. A. Pooler.
C. Bieseker, Tom Dugan, Jesse Makepiece (the first chief of the
Austin fire department), E. J. Ames, Henry Trenary, John Gul-
den, Edward Elwood, Tom Mann, Mile Mhyre, Nels Jensen, Frank
Eeynolds and many others.
OAKWOOD CEMETERY.
Austin -was a village of 400 people before a move was made t.p
have a place to lay its departed. The dead were laid away in the
vacant lots of the platted city. The body of Chauncey Leverieh,
who was murdered, was buried near where the Swen Anderson
building stands on Chatham street. On the banks of the Cedar
near the South Bridge the bones of Don and Jack Fleming molded.
They came here from New England for their health, as they were
both suffering with consumption. It was not until 1862 that a
move was made to secure a cemetery. A few of the ladies of the
city got talking about the needs of the city and a meeting was
called February ], 1862, at the home of J. L. Davidson for the pur-
pose of organizing a society for the purchase of suitable lauds
for a burial ground. At that first meeting Mi's. J. L. Davidson
was elected president and Mrs. Ormanzo Allen secretary.
The name adopted for the society was "The Mite Society and
Cemetery Association" and the meetings were to be held every
tv.'o weeks at the homes of the members in alphabetical order.
Each member was to pay ten cents at each meeting. The at-
tendance at these meetings was between eighty and 100, for there
was little doing in the pioneer village in those days.
Th*^ first regular meeting was held at the home of ]\lrs. J. L.
Clnrlc. Here it was voted to have the men buv the land and the
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY 247
Mitt; society promised to build the feuee. A subscription paper
was passed among the business men and twenty agreed to take
lots at $5 each. On March 15, 1862, the men met and organized
the cemetery association. Solomon Snow was chairman of the
meeting and Ormanzo Allen secretary. The following trustees
were elected: For one year, L. N. Griffith and Ormanzo Allen;
for two years, John S. Lacy and Oliver Somcrs; for three years,
Solomon Snow. A committee had been sent out to secure land
and on the suggestion of the Mite society looked over the Baudler
farm. The committee found the land suitable evidently, for it
purchased five acres at a cost of $100. D. B. Johnson surveyed
the laud, laying it off in lots twenty feet square, and Squire
Giifnth made a map. The $100 was raised by twenty men, each
of wiiom bought a lot at the cost of $5.
The story of the cleaning up of the grounds l)y the ladies, as-
sisted by the men, is told elsewhere by Mrs. L. A. Sherwood. ]\Irs.
Sherwood says that the first body buried in the cemetery was
that of Katie, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L.
Clark. The little girl died of diphtheria and Mrs. Sherwood as-
sisted in the care of the little girl. That was the first case of diph-
theria that had appeared in the little village of Austin. Having
bought the land and laid it out as a place to bury the dead, the
cemetery seems to have received but little attention, each lot
owner being supposed to care for his own lot. In 1895 the Oak-
wood Cemetery Association bought 160 acres of land of the Adler
farm adjoining the cemetery. They sold about thirty acres lying
east of the river to D. B. Smith. D. H. Stimson was one of the
prime movers in this purchase. Anton Friedrich was elected svi-
perintendent of the cemetery and has been in charge from that
day to this. The cemetery was graded, the imsightly grave
mounds all being leveled, flower gardens were laid out and each
year saw the place still further beautified. Now it is one of the
most beautiful resting places for the dead in the state. On March
7, 1904, the trustees were authorized to erect a chapel and vault,
not to exceed the sum of .$5,000, and this beautiful Imilding was
dedicated in the fall of the same year. William Baudler had
opened up a private cemetery on the northern line of his farm
adjacent to the Oakwood cemetery and the lot owners of this
cemetery wanted those lots taken in as a part of beautiful Oak-
wood. This petition Avas presented by Mrs. Hiram Smith at a
meeting held November 12, 1904. She stated that $430 had been
subscribed and guaranteed that $70 moi'e would be raised, mak-
ing the amount $500 for the purchase of the unsold lots in the
Baudler cemetery. On December 3, 1904, a meeting of the ceme-
tery a.ssociation was licld to consider the proposition. At that
meeting the Baudlci- cciiKtcry lot owners were ready to pay $500
248 HISTORY OF MOAVER COrXTY
to the Oakwood cemetery to secure possession of the Baudler lots
so that the two cemeteries might be united. The board of trus-
tees offered to take over the Baudler cemetery, lots, alleys, streets,
etc., on the payment of $2,000. N. F. Banfield said he would be
responsible for the amount and the proposition was accepted.
Soon after the old fence was torn down, both cemeteries were
made one, the Baudler cemetery being graded and beautified to
conform with Oakwood. On August 23, 1905, the cemetery asso-
ciation purchased four rods of land adjoining the old Baudler
cemetery on the east, paying for it $75. On March 2, 1906, Mc-
Intyre Post G. A. R. exchanged their old lot for a lot in the cen-
ter of Section 3 of the new cemetery and the bodies of the dead
heroes were removed to their new sleeping place. On this lot a
beautiful soldiers' monument was erected and dedicated in 1907.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES.
(By Robert L. ^Nloore.)
AVhile Austin is on seven railroad divisions, it is also on fif-
teen divisions of the King's highway, all having one grand termi-
nal point. These are the divisions : Roman Catholic, Episcopal,
Lutheran, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, Chris-
tian, Jewish, Christian Scientist, Seventh Day Adventist, German
Evangelical, Universalist, Children of the Dawn and Christadel-
phian. Eleven of these denominations have church buildings, all
practically free from debt.
The many church spires like indices pointing heavenward sug-
gest to the stranger that Austin is a city of churches. Approach-
ing the city from any direction the first object to greet the eye
is the cross of Christ in the skyline. The rays of the rising sun
first rest upon it and the last dying rays of day are reflected by
it. Austin is a religious city, but it is not a bigoted one. Sec-
tarianism that has rent other communities has never been known
here. No man disputes with another which is the direct route
to heaven. Religious 4iberty is here enjoyed to the fullest. Aside
from the distinctly church organizations, the club and social or-
ganizations never consider church affiliation as a qualification for
membership.
All the churches are liberally supported and well attended.
The buildings are as a rule superior to church buildings in cities
of the size of Austin.
First Congregational Church. — Members of this denomination
had their fii'st incotings in Austin in what was known as the
"Headquarters," which stood on the corner where the Austin
National Bank now stands, gathered there together by their first
pastor. Rev. Stephen Cook, on July fi, 1857. There were fifteen
HISTOIJY OF MOWKK COUNTY 21!)
cliarter members, as follows: J. L. Davidson, Mrs. II. A. David-
son, Rev. Stephen Cook, Mrs. Jeunett Cook, J. N. Cook, Mrs.
L. A. Cook, J. N. AVheat, J. S. Decker, Mrs. M. A. Decker, Oba-
diah Smith, Mrs. M. A. Smith, Mrs. Amanda Adams, J. Baker,
Miss E. Bennett. Rev. Cook served as pastor of the church for
three years, resigning in May, 1860. His successor was Rev. Nel-
son Cook, who held the pastorate from May ], 1860, to October,
1860. He was, in turn, followed by Rev. Stephen Cook, who held
services from October, 1860, until May, 1861. Next was Rev.
C. C. Humphrey, May, 1861, until May, 1863. Following the last
named Rev. W. S. Clark preached from May, 1863, to November,
1863.
In March, 1864, Rev. W. J. Smith was called to Austin, dur-
ing which year the Baptist church was completed, and an invita-
tion was extended to the Congregationalists to worship there.
The invitation was accepted and for two years both sects wor-
shiped there. In November, 1864, Rev. Smith resigned the pas-
torate and was succeeded in December by Rev. Alfred Morse,
who continued until December, 1868. During his stay here or
in the year 1866 the next place of worship was the "Brick School
House" on the site where the Carnegie Library now stands. In
October, 1868, the first building of this denomination was dedi-
cated, it being built on the same site as the present building, the
lot having been donated by J. L. Davidson some years before.
Soon after its dedication Rev. Morse tendered his resignation and
he and his beloved wife left for other fields of duty. His suc-
cessor was Rev. E. M. Williams, December, 1868, until December,
1870. Other ministers in close proximity were : Rev. J. T.
Graves, from January, 1871, to January 1873, and Rev. Henry
Ketcham, from June, 1873, to September, 1874. Rev. C. E. Wright
eonmienced his labors Avith the church in December, 1874. He
was a man of great personality and influence and his long stay
of twenty-four years were fruitful ones to the church. Not only
by the spiritual help were the people of this church benefited,
but also by a new building, which was erected in 1892 and dedi-
cated February 26, 1893. While the new edifice was being erected
Sunday school services were held in the coui'troom of the Court-
iiouse and devotional meetings in the Grand Army hall. The
dedicatory hymn sung on the occasion was one of rare merit,
being the same as was sung at the dedication of the old build-
ing twenty-seven years l)efore and composed by ^Irs. Samuel
;\[orris, wife of the former pastor. When the resignation of Mr.
Wright was tendered, November, 1898, it was met with a feel-
ing of deep regret, for those who had known him so long and
to whom he had administered in their sorrow and cares were wont
to say that in the loss of him the church had lost one of its most
250 HISTOEY OF MOAVEE COUNTY
valuable assets. The other ministers after him were Rev. E. T.
AYheeler, 1898 to 1902, and Eev. Arthur Dascumb, 1902 to 1904.
The present pastor, Rev. F. E. Knopf, came to the church in
September, 1905. He was born of German parents at Columbus,
Ohio, 1858. But upon the death of his parents while he was yet
seven years of age, he was brought up on a farm twenty-eight
miles from Columbus, where in the district school he received his
common school education. His desire to rise in the world, how-
ever, did not keep him on a farm, for later he entered the Univer-
sity of Wooster, Presbyterian College, where after a few years
he completed the prescribed courses. After leaving the univer-
sity he was elected superintendent of schools at Columbus Grove.
Later he held the position of professor of Latin and Greek at the
Tri-State Normal college, remaining with that institution for four
years. In 1889 he was ordained minister and labored with the
Congregational church at Elkhart, Ind. Since then he has held
pulpits at Michigan City, Ind., Sabetha, Kans., and Cheyenne,
Wyo., from which last named place he came to Austin. During
his pastorate up to date one hundred members have been added
to the church. In 1907 occurred the fiftieth anniversary of the
church and many of the former pastors were present. The church
has two of its members in missionary work, Arthur McBride,
missionary teacher, stationed at Bombay, India, and Olive
Vaughan at Hadfin, Turkey. The societies are few in number,
being the Ladies' Aid, president, Mrs. E. H. Smith; vice-presi-
dent, Mrs. Dr. M. J. Hardy ; secretary, Mrs. F. I. Crane ; treas-
urer, j\Irs. Eunice Rice. The Sunday school is a very large one
and is lead by Eansome Thompson as superintendent. The Y. P.
S. C. E. was organized during Rev. Wright's pastorate and since
then has grown to a very prominent organization. It first met
at the home of Harlan Page, with Fanny Eastman as presi-
dent. The present officers are : President, Helen Banfield ; vice-
president, Leonard Decker; secretary, Josephine Catherwood;
corresponding secretary, Alice Hayse; treasurer, Neil Cooke;
pianist, Thekla Knopf. The Woman's Missionary Society was
organized by ]\Irs. E. M. Morse, wife of the former pastor, who
was president of the state missionary board, first president of the
society here and also founder of the Floral Club of Austin. The
present officers include Mrs. C. H. Decker as president; Mrs.
IT. A. Avery, vice-president ; Mrs. John Rutherford, secretary, and
Mrs. Arthur Cole, treasurer. The Boys' Junior Endeavor has at
the head Harry Emery as superintendent. The church officers
are: Deacons, O. W. Shaw, F. P. McBride. H. A. Avery, C. L.
West, W. 0. Page, Jacob S. Decker. The latter and Mrs. J. S.
Decker and llrs. Obadiah Smith were original charter members
of tlic cliurcli and arc vet active mcnil)ers. The trustees of the
IIISTOKY OK .MOWEi; COUNTY 251
C'luu-L'li include Mr. C. F. Cook, Dr. A. M. Lewis, Mr. A. L. Eber-
hart, A. C. Page, J. E. Crippen, L. A. Sherman and II. L. Ban-
field. The two latter are elerk and treasurei', respectively.
St. Olaf Lutheran Church. The Lutheran church of Austin
was organized by Kev. C. L. Clausen, October 28, 1867. The
same pastor had preached the first sermon of this denomination
at Austin about two years previous to that time. The first serv-
ices were held at the home of Nels Johnson, with the following
persons as charter members : Syver Olson and family, Peter Knud-
son and family, Iver Nelson and family, Carl M. Bolnner, Nels
Johnson and family, John Halverson, Jacob Johnson, Ole Jacob?
son, Ole Mickleson and family, F. B. Frost and family, Nels Olson
and family. On November 14, 1867, the second meeting was held
at the home of Seymore Johnson, at which time by-laws were
adopted and Carl M. Bolnner was elected secretary of the church.
During the illness of Eev. Clausen in 1869 the devotional meet-
ings were held in the courtroom of the Courthouse. On October
5, 1870. a meeting was called together at the office of John Ir-
gens. This was for the purpose of deciding on the name and the
incorporation of the church and upon the advisability of pur-
chasing the old Methodist Episcopal church. The name selected
was the St. Olaf Evangelical Lutheran church of Austin. The
old ]\Iethodist church was purchased and trustees chosen : J. S.
Irgens, Carl M. Bolnner, O. J. Johnson, 0. H. Johnson, the two
former being treasurer and secretary, respectively. On May 25,
1870, Rev. Ostby commenced his labors with the church and all
continued well during his pastorate. Resigning in November,
]878. he was succeeded bj' Rev. Clausen, who continued serving
with Svend Strand as assistant (appointed 1879) until January,
1885, at which time he tendered his resignation. Rev. Ostby was
recalled in May. 1885, owing to the severe illness of Rev. Clausen,
and remained with the church until the arrival of Rev. 0. Glasoe,
December, 1889. who held the pastorate until September, 1891.
Next to succeed him was the Rev. E. T. Rogne, who came in
]March, 1892. During his labors with the church the congrega-
tion increased so that it was deemed necessary to erect a new
building. Subscriptions being secured the new (present) build-
ing, costing $16,000, was commenced in the early part of 1895
and dedicated in 1896 by Rt. Rev. G. Iloyme. On the occasion
all the former pastors were present, excepting Rev. Clausen, who
had previousl.v passed to his eternal reward. Rev. Rogne resigned
in the fall of 1898 and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Roseland.
who entered upon his duties in February, 1899, and served eight
years until the fall of 1907. During Rev. Roseland 's work with
the church the Hayfield church services, which liad been in charge
of the former pastors, was discontinued. He introduced the F]ng-
253 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COU:sTY
lisli language into the services of this church, which resvilted in
holding six English conducted services and tvi'o of Scandinavian
for the month. Kev. Koseland went from Austin to Chicago and
a call having been issued to Kev. J. A. E. Naess, the present pas-
tor, he came in December, 1907. Mr. Naess is a young man of
about thirty-nine years of age, alert and ready to fulfill the needs
of his parish. Born on a farm in Iowa county, Wisconsin, he
learned early the labors of life. He received his grammar school
education in the town of Boscobel, Wis., from Avhich place he
graduated and entered the St. Olaf college at Northfield, Minn.
Upon the completion of prescribed courses at that institution in
1895, he affiliated himself Avith the United Church seminary of
Minneapolis. On June 12, 1898, he was ordained a minister and
shortly afterward went back to Boscobel and served the parish
there for four years. Resigning that position, he next went to
Albert Lea, Minn., from whence he removed to Austin. In the
course of construction now is an addition to the church Avhich
Avhen completed will nearly double the seating capacity of the
church, and aside from that is to be the installation of a pipe
organ which will cost $2,000. Throughout the history of thjs
denomination the growth has been of a steady nature and prog-
ress marks the path of years gone by. At this time the member-
ship shows the enrollment of 750 souls. The church has no par-
sonage, the present minister having purchased his own home. The
societies of the church are as follows: Ladies Aid, president,
Mrs. C. I. Johnson ; vice-president, Mrs. W. R. Earle ; secretary,
Mrs. Carl Johnson ; treasurer, Mrs. W. E. Brown. Young People's
League, president, Harry Rassmussen ; vice-president, Erwin John-
son ; secretary, Allen Peterson ; treasurer, Minnie Johnson. Men's
Society Social and Literary, president, George E. Anderson ; vice-
president, Peter Hanson; secretary, Carl Johnson. The Sunday
school has an attendance of 190 and the superintendent is W. M.
Peterson.
Seven Day Adventist. The organization of this sect was
began in Austin, September 22, 1889, with Elder A. Kinsman as
presiding officer and eleven members. Mrs. Hattie E. Varco was
elected clerk and their first meetings Avere held at the home of
A. N. Kinsman. During the year 1890, on September 14, a sub-
scription was taken with which to erect a place of worship. The
church became an organization in October of that year and A. N.
Kinsman, M. E. Varco and H. Hanson were elected trustees. It
then became a part of the Northern Union Conference. During
the summer of 1891 a church was built and on December 20 of
that year it was dedicated by Elder A. J. Breed, president of
the conference. Unlike other churches, this one instead of sup-
porting a resident pastor bonds every effort and contributes to
IIISTOIJY OF -M()\VK1{ CorXTV j;n;j
the maintenance of such in the foreign fields. Among the elders pre-
siding since the organization in Austin are as follows : A. N. Kins-
man, 1889 until 1896; Elder H. Hanson, January 10, 1896, until
January 18, 1899; Elder Rien, March. 1899, until March, 1900;
Elder A. N. Kinsman, 1900 until 1901; J. Jaeobson was elected
January, 1901, and continued as leader until January 13, 1907.
Succeeding him was Mr. A. N. Kinsman, who still continues to
serve. The present officers are': Mrs. A. Hobson, clerk; Charles
Rosenthal, deacon and treasurer; Mrs. Hattie Vareo, secretary
of mission work. The church has fifty souls.
Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal. The first services of this
church can be said to have had their beginning in the year 1862,
at which time Bishop Whipple made Austin a stopping place in
which to hold services. For three years or until 1865 occasional
services were held by this good bishop, during which time the
children of E. W. Ford and James L. Clark were baptized by him.
Other occasional preachers during that period were Rev. Messrs.
Woodard, Burleson and Johnson. However, in October, 1865, the
Rev. E. Steele Peake, a pioneer missionary, was stationed at Aus-
tin and gathered around him a flock of worshippers to whom he
preached the gospel in a portion of the Baptist church. During
the year 1886 Christ's church parish Avas organized as a branch
of the diocese of Minnesota, Rev. Peake as rector electing the
vestry, J. M. Vandergrift and James Clark as warders, with I. M.
Lewis, Andrew Grinnel, Samuel Dodge, D. L. Merrell, D. P. Bos-
worth and S. F. Austin as members. Rev. Peake remained until
June 24, 1866, at which time he went to California. Succeeding
him, however, on January 30, 1867, was Rev. L. W. Gibson, Avho
was appointed to the Austin parish by Bishop "Whipple. Some
time in i\larch of that same year land Avas purchased for church
property and during the following ]May a church 22x26 was
erected at a cost of $800. In November, 1867, the southern eon-
vocation met at Austin and the cornerstone was laid by Bishop
Whipple. The first services were held in the new church on
Thanksgiving day, 1868. In 1869 Rev. Gibson resigned and his
successor the following year Avas Rev. Thomas E. Dickey, who
retained the position until February, 1872. During the month of
April, that year. Rev. Jerome I. Townsend became the resident
pastor and during his rectorship the church was consecrated by
the Rt. Rev. Henry Ben.i'amin Whipple, D. D. Resigning his posi-
tion on November 30, 1875, Rev. ToAvnscnd Avas succeeded by Rob-
ert Reed Goudy, Avho continued the pastorate for one year, resign-
ing June, 1877. The next rector Avas Rev. John Anketell, coming
to Austin April, 1878, and resigning his post February, 1880. The
church was then without a rector, holding occasional services un-
til the coming of Rev. C. H. Beaubien, Jr.. in February, 1882, who
254 lllSTOI.'Y OF MOWEIJ COUNTY
remained with the parish until 1883. After that time and up
until the year 1886 the church was again without a pastor, and
held occasional services until the coming of the Rev. Peabody in
September of that year. Other rectors who followed in succes-
sion were: Rev. Edwin Johnson, July, 1888, until October, 1889;
Rev. AVellington McVetter, January, 1890, until January, 1892;
Rev. Charles Pullen. June. 1892, until August. 3896; Rev. J. S.
AV. Somorville. November, 1896, imtil November, 1904; Rev. J. S.
Budlong. April. 1905, until September, 1909. During the rector-
ship of the last named the church building was remodeled and
rectory enlarged. In .November, 1909, Rev. C. "\V. Holmes was
appointed to the Austin parish. He was born at Seneca, Kaus.,
1867, of English parentage. Later, at the age of twelve, he re-
moved to Racine. Wis., where ho attended the College Grammar
school. At the age of twenty he graduated from that institu-
tion and went out into commercial work. In the year 1906 he
entered the Seabury Theological school at Faribault and was or-
dained deacon in 1907 and priest, December, 1908. Mr. Holmes
is a man much liked by his congregation, one who is firm in his
purpose of advancing the cause to which he is now engaged, and
a man greatly interested in the welfare of the community. Un-
der his rectorship the church has greatly increased in membership,
having now 200 communicants. The present officers are: Sen-
ior warden, C. F. Lewis; .junior warden, F. L. "Williams; E. S.
Selby, secretary: J. W. Hare, treasurer. The societies of the
church are: Woman's Guild, Mrs. J. W. Hare, president; Mrs.
Cassius Terry, vice-president; Mrs. T. L. Williams, secretary;
IMrs. W. L. Van Camp, trea.surer. Woman's Auxiliary, Mrs. Ar-
nold Johnson, president ; Mrs. C. W. Holmes, vice-president ; Mrs.
F. L. Williams, secretary and treasurer. St. Agnes Guild, presi-
dent. Edna Clegget; vice-president. Lulu ]\Ieyers; secretary and
treasurer, Dorijie Abrahams. Junior Aiixiliary, Mrs. C. W.
Holmes, directorist; president, Edna Eastman; secretary, Dorris
Gregson; treasurer, Dorothy p]astman. Rev. Holmes is superin-
tendent of the Sunday school and has for officers : Secretary,
Inez Eastman : treasurer, Lulu ]\leycrs.
Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church, U. A. C. In Septem-
ber, 1907. Rev. C. A. Affeldt. after locating four German Lutheran
families northwest of Austin and, being urged to look after spii--
itual welfare of German Lutheran students attending the South-
ern Minnesota Normal college and such of his Waltham charge
as lived in Austin permanently and temporarily, began to conduct
services in the Adventist's church building, corner College and
Kenwood aveinie. Tliese services lieing appreciat<'d by many, new
families arriving and an organization being thought expedient,
a meeting was held at the home of Julius ]\Iaas, 711 Park avenue,
HISTORY OF MOWKI! COrNTY j}55
and a previously drawii-up constitution was adopted. This was
September 18, 1908, at 10 p. m. Present were Julius Maas, Jacob
TIartje, Adolf Ott, Gustav Klingfuss, H. Klingfuss, Franz Jung-
l)lut, Adolf Gruenwald, August Kranz, L. Kalinsky, Willie Mar-
tin, J. W. Gruenwaldt. At present services are conducted every
two weeks at the Adventist's church. The present membership
is twelve voting members, fifty-one souls and thirty-one commu-
nicants. Preliminary measures have been taken towards estab-
lishing its own pastorate with the aid of the missionary board
of the Minnesota and Dakota district of the Missouri Synod. The
officers are: C. A. Aflfeldt, Waltham, Minn._, pastor; Franz Jung-
lilut. Rose Creek. Minn., and Ide Louden, Austin, Minn., elders.
The First Baptist Church. The First Baptist church of Aus-
tin has a worthy history. It was organized in "Old Headquar-
ters,"' January 31, 1858. Rev. Edward F. Gurney, a graduate
of Granville college and of Rochester Theological seminary, was
the first pastor. There were nine constituent members. The church
was formally recognized by a council June 20, 1858. He labored
without fixed salary for the first two years and then received $400
a year. He preached in surrounding centers also. In the summer
of 1861 a subscription of several hundred dollars was gathered
for a meeting house of their own and the present site of the church
property was purchased. Elder Gurney resigned in November,
1861, on account of failing health. Rev. Hervey I. Parker, the
second pastor, was with the church from February, 1862, until
November, 1872, when he went to California. The church building
project was revived by him and in January, 1863, a building com-
mittee took hold of the work. The building, 28x40, was occupied
for the first time in January, 1874, and was formally dedicated
June 14, 1864. The Congregationalists occupied this house for
a while on alternate Sundays. The church prospered under Elder
Parker and there were 155 additions. Rev. C. T. Emerson was
a faithful pastor for one year from October, 1873. Rev. C. D.
Relden commenced an eight years' pastorate in November, 1874.
resigning in 1882 to take charge of the county public school work.
There were 119 additions under him and the church was very
active in work in the surrounding country. Rev. "\Y. E. Stanley
became pastor in October, 1882, remaining until January, 1891. At
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the church held in 1883 it was re-
jiorted that the church had received a total membership of 340,
of whom 135 at that time remained. Rev. C. T. Hallowell became
l)astor in ]\Iay, 1891, remaining two years. During his pastorate
tlic mutter (if a new church edifice was agitated and the work was
plaiuird, Tlie foundation of the present beautiful hou.se of wor-
sliip, (17x75 and costing over .+17.000. was laid in the fall of 1893.
Rev. F. C. AVhitncy comiuem-cd his ])astorate September 1, 1893.
356 HISTORY OF ]\rOWErj COUNTY
remaining until October, 1900, when he went to Eochester. The
new church was dedicated February 26, 1895, and four months
later the fine chapel built by the Oakland branch of the church
was dedicated. There was a total of 282 additions during Eev.
Whitney's pastorate. Rev. Frank L. Anderson became pastor in
December, 1900, and gave the church four years of splendid serv-
ice, resigning in February, 1905. Rev. R. E. Sayles Avas pastor
from May, 1905, to October, 1907. A large accession of members
came under him from the "W. A. Sunday tabernacle meetings. Rev.
H. B. Ilazen became pastor in November, 1907, resigning March 1,
1909. The semi-centennial of the church was held Januarj^ 31,
1908. A total membership for the fifty years was reported as
1,033, with a present membership of 420. Average pastorate over
five and a half years. Rev. J. H. Carsteus was pastor from May 1,
1909, until November 15, 1910. The present pastor, Rev. W. L.
Riley, of Detroit, Mich., took up his work as pastor April 1, 1911.
The First Baptist Church of Austin has a worthy record and has
been one of the strong factors for righteousness in this whole
community.
St. Augustine's Church. In the year 1858 Rev. Father Pender-
gast, of AYinona, came to Austin to conduct services in this vicin-
ity. They were held at the residence of Aloysius Brown, in what
is now the German hotel. After two- years of occasional services
by Fatlier Pendergast, he Avas followed by Father George Keller,
of Faribault. This reverend gentleman held services once every
two months up until the fall of 1866. As a result of his laborious
work in this vicinity, to Father Keller is due the honor of estab-
lishing and putting on a firm basis the first congregation of St.
Augustine's parish. Soon after the leave of this gentleman he
was succeeded in 1866 by Father McDerraot, the first resident
priest, who remained and worked with his parish until 1869. Dur-
ing this time money for the erection of a church was solicited
and three gentlemen of Austin, Messrs. Lewis, Yates and Fake
(non-Catholics), generously donated a lot, comprising a whole city
block. Then came Father C. Geuis, a French clergyman, who la-
bored incessantly and with profit for the spiritual necessities of
his little parish. He remained until the year 187-4 and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Father Pavlin, who remained but one year. Father
Arthur Hurley was next appointed priest of the Austin parish.
He carried on his good work until the year 1882 and then Avent to
Rosemound, near St. Paul. Father Genis returned during that
year and immediately set to work building the present parsonage,
but was unable to finish it. Following closely after the leave of
the last named priest Avas the late Daniel 'Sullivan, to AA-hom Ave
are indel)ted for the present structure. He Avas a much beloved
priest ;uid to liiiii may be attributed many of the good Avorks
IIISTOUY OF :\rOWET^ COUNTY '457
accomplished in this vicinity. His death occurred in June. 1896.
and was a great loss to the parish. In the year 1895, or the last
year of Father 'Sullivan's pastorate, Kev. Father E. H. Devlin,
the present pastor, came as a resident priest of Austin. He is of
Irish descent and was born on a farm in Kenosha county, AViscon-
sin. where he worked until the age of thirty years. He then went
to St. Thomas College, where he completed the prescribed courses
of that college. Upon graduating from St. Thomas he went to
Eome and remained there more than three years. Upon his re-
turn he held pastorate in New Richland five months and was then
transferred to Austin. Father Devlin may be characterized as a
man of great executive ability, educated in many branches, and a
man firm in his purpose of elevating the cause of humanity. Dur-
ing his pastorate the St. Augustine church, started by Father
'Sullivan, was dedicated on Thanksgiving day, November i6,
1896. This is a handsome red pressed brick building with trim-
mings of red sandstone to match the substantial looking founda-
tion. It has a frontage of seventy-seven feet and a depth of 169
feet. Two towers stand out slightly from the main body of the
church, the larger being 170 feet in height and the smaller, while
not near as tall, is of no less pleasing architecture. Both are sur-
mounted by a gilded cross ; thus they become the striking features
of the facade of magnificent beauty. The arched doorways and
the six granite columns which support them give the approach of
the church a somewhat classic finish. On the cornerstone, which
is a highly polished block of granite, is inscribed, "Deo et Sancto
Augustino dictum. J. B. Cotter. Antistite. D. 'Sullivan, Rec-
tore. A. D. MDCCCXCIII" ("To God and St. Augustine. J. B.
Cotter, Bishop. D. O 'Sullivan, Rector"). But impressive as is
the outside of the church, it is the interior that gives the pleasure
to one who has any love for what is beautiful. The combined
eifects of statuary and rich colors to be found therein is "as if
Nature had fashioned this edifice and placed it here as a fitting
place in which to worship her God." From the 250 families of
which the congregation was composed upon the arrival of Father
Devlin this number has been increased to 350 families, thus show-
ing a steady growth of this parish.
Not alone to the woi'k of the parish has this pastor's attention
been turned, but through his efforts a magnificent school has been
erected at a cost of $35,000. There the rich and poor alike may
share the advantages of an education. This school is known as the
Columbus school. It was started in the spring of 1908 and dedi-
cated in the year 1909. The sisters, or teachers, are furnished by
the Franciscan order, and none better are to be found anywhere.
Children of all ages may be found here, as the school is graded
from the primary to the second year high school. There are at
258 inSTOIIY OF .MoWEIf l'()r^■TY
present eight teachers and about 275 scholars enrolled, the school
being a non-tuition one and supported by the parish. Father
Devlin has also attained distinction in his profession, having been
first appointed vicar general by Bishop Ileft'ron and later ap^
pointed bj' the Pope as Domestic Prelate of the People of the
Household.
Perhaps one of the oldest yet still existing societies of the
church is the Catholic Order of Foresters, founded in the early
seventies, and ■which still continues to flourish under the leader-
ship of J. M. Lindsay, who is present chief ranger. Next in line
are the Knights of Columbus, T. M. Callihan, grand knight ; also
the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, originally the "Father
Mathew Total Abstinence Society," Avith present officers: Presi-
dent, Lou O'Malley ; vice-i)residcnt, Fred Dugan ; secretary, Frank
Christie.
Then there are the women's societies, which take an important
part in the welfare of the church. There is the Con-Fraternity of
the Rosary ; Mrs. J. D. Sheedy, president.
Then there is the Woman's Order of Foresters; Mrs. J. E. Mal-
loy the presiding officer. Last but not least is the order of the
unmarried women, the Sodality of the Sacred Heart; Elizabeth
Kelly, president; Addie Kennan, secretary; Ella Sheedy, treas-
urer. Among those prominently identified with the early history
of the Roman Catholic church at Austin may be mentioned the
following gentlemen : A. Brown, Thomas Gibson, William Ruther-
ford, William Furlong, Jr., Cornelius Kenavan and W. I. Brown.
McCabe Methodist Episcopal Church, -The Methodist move-
ment ill tlie vicinity of Austin had its beginning in 1854, when
Samuel Clayton and wife came to Mower county and settled in
what is now Lansing township, on the big bend of the Red Cedar
river, just above the present city of Austin. To their cabin early
in 1855 came a Rev. W. E. Ilolbrook from more than 100 miles
down the Red Cedar valley and preached the first Methodist ser-
mon in I\Iower county. The first class was organized at this cabin,
with R. Dobbin as leader, and P^lsie Dobbin, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
Chiytnii and Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Perry as members. The first
(|n;irlcily meeting was held at this same cabin in June, 1855, and
Hir \\rv. ^\y. Colctn/m, presiding elder, was present. The Rev.
.Mr. Ilolbrook di'sci'vcs more than passing mention. .He was a man
of loiii,'!! exterior and appearance but with a heart of gold. He
had a rrooked nose and distorted mouth, and on making his first
appearance in a locality was wont, lialf facetiously, half seriously,
to remark thai il' sudi a crooked stick as he eonid be of any serv-
ice he would be a very willing servant.
Shortly afterward the Rev. Sylvester i1ieli)s organized what
was known as the Cedar Mission within the [iresent limits of
HlSTOJi'Y OF .M()\Vi:i,' COlNI ^' -^jl)
Austin city. The first quarterly conference was held at the home
of Silas Dutcher in the village of Austin, October 18, 1856. In
the fall of 1857 came Moses Mapes, who had just been licensed to
preach. These early services were held in the old Headquarters
building, and also in the Lake building on Mill street, on the land
now occupied by the H. C. Waldecker buildings. In December,
1S57, under his pastorate the first movement was made toward
securing church property in Avistin, and a committee was ap-
l)ointed at that time to confer with the town authorities with
reference to purchasing lots for a church and parsonage, l)ut it
was not until May, 1861, that the lots were fully secured.
In the spring of 1858 came a most interesting character in
Kev. J. C. Dyer, who was known as "Father" Dyer. He had
been a miner in "Wisconsin, and was a man of splendid physique
and very strong. He became a circuit rider through this and
Freeborn counties. He wore a dilapidated plug hat and rode a
raw bone horse. He did not possess much of this world's goods,
and L. N. Griffith, who was second postmaster of Austin, recalls
giving Father Dyer stamps for his letters, as the reverend gentle-
man never had anything to buy with. He conducted revival serv-
ices at Cedar City and won all the inhabitants to the church except
three or four. He also held a camp meeting, the first ever held
in the county, on the land now used for Oakwood cemetery. A
life story of this rough but noble soldier of the cross would be
one of intense interest. In the state capitol at Cheyenne, Wyo.,
is the statue of this early circuit rider of Mower county, the statue
being in memory of the work that this rough old crusader did
among the mountaineers and miners of Wyoming. Father Dyer
was on the circuit but a year.
In 1859 Moses Mapes again returned, and in the fall of 1860
came Rev. F. A. Conwell, with whom was associated Rev. George
E. Strobridge. The latter remained but part of the year. In the
fall of 1861 Rev. D. Tice became preacher in charge, with J.
Lambert.son as assistant. In 1862 the circuit, which had embraced
fourteen appointments, Avas divided, and Austin became a part of
the Austin circuit. In the fall of 1863 S. T. Sterret became pastor,
lie was followed in 1864 by William C. Shaw. In 1865 Austin
was attached to the Lansing circuit, with W. II. Soule and S. N.
Phelps as pastors. At this time the Cedar City circuit was organ-
ized. In the fall of 1866 Austin was made a station, with Wayne
Carver as pastor.
The first Methodist meetings in Austin were held at the lionie
of ^Irs. Chauncey Leverich. Other early Methodist services were
held in the old Headquarters building and in a building on the
corner of Mill and Chatham streets, both these l)uildings being
siiared as meeting places with the Congregationalists and the Hap-
260 II I STORY OF MOWER COUNTY
tists. In 1861. under the Rev. Tire, the first flmreli was built.
There were only twelve members of that early ehureh. and most
of these were women. They purchased the land where the Luth-
eran church now stands, and there erected their building. The
preacher himself dug the rock from the river bed with a erow
bar. A bell was put in the steeple, and its peal was the first that
broke upon the air of Mower county in call to wor.ship. The
church cost $1,400 in money, and much more in sacrifice. Soon
after the completion of this building a revival was held, and many
names added to the church rolls. A cabinet organ was purchased
later, this being the first ever brought into iMower county. The
church was in debt $300, but the people Avent ahead and built a
parsonage, and it was not imtil 1876, ten years later, that the $300
del)t could be paid.
In 1868 came that unfortunate affair that nearly wrecked the
church and retarded its progress many years. The pastor. A. J.
Nelson, and some of the members conceived the plan of buying
three lots on the southeast corner of Main and Water streets, and
erecting a two-story building. The upper floor was to be used for
an auditorium or church, and the lower floor was to be rented for
stores, thus providing an income for the church. To carry out the
plan the church already erected was mortgaged, and paid in on
the lots which were to cost $3,000. No money could be raised
for the building, and the previous indebtedness, with the failure of
the scheme, cost the Methodists their church and parsonage. The
St. Olaf Scandinavian church, which was organized in 1867, pur-
chased the mortgaged church for $1,500, and the building was oc-
cupied by the Lutherans until they were ready to build, at which
time it was moved to the west part of the city. Rev. Nelson
resigned in the fall of 1868 and was followed in the fall of 1869
by J. M. Rogers, who only remained one year, and was succeeded
by Rev. J. R. Creighton. The last named gentleman resigned in
October, 1870.
In. 1871, under A. B. Bishop, a new place of worship was se-
cured. An excursion to Minneapolis netted the church a goodly
ain'ount after paying all outstanding debts, and the old brick
school house on the corner where the Carnegie library now stands
Avas rented from December, 1871, to June, 1873. On the latter date
the society bought the building for $1,500, making the last pay-
ment JuTTO 6, 1883. In 1887 the building was sold back to the
cily.
After the affairs of the church were practically straightened
Rev. Bishop resigned his position here and for a long while the
work of the church went on practically the same. Those who suc-
ceeded the Rev. Bishop were as follows: Rev. Levi Hall, 1873 to
1875; Rev. IT. J. Crist. 1S75 until 1877: Rev. A. Williams. 1877 to
IIISTOK'Y OF MOWHU COUNTY 261
1879: Rev. Alfred Cresscy, 1879 to 1881; Rev. E. R. Lathrop, 1881
until June of 1883, Avhen Rev. E. P. Robinson eame to fill the un-
expired year. Rev. A. AV. Edwards came 1884 and remained until
1887. In October of that year the Rev. S. II. Dewart came to
Austin and under his pastorate, or the year 1888, the congregation
dedicated a wooden church on the present site of the IMcCabe
church at a cost of about $7,000. After his resignation in the year
1890 the next succession of pastors were : Rev. S. L. Shumate for
one-half year and Rev. George Cook for the balance of that year ;
Rev. G. S. Briggs, 1891 to 1893 ; Rev. S. C. McAds, 1893 to 1896 ;
Rev. F. H. Cone, 1896 to 1900; Rev. J. M. Brown, 1900 to 1904.
Rev. G. W. Lutz commenced his labors with the church in October
of 1904. He set to work building up the congregation of his
church and during the great revival campaign, conducted by
"Billy" Sunday, the noted CA'angelist, in the spring of 1906, many
members Avere added to the church. In July of 1906 the old
Avooden church, Avhich had done service for twenty years, was torn
doAvn to make room for the present building. The foundation Avas
started in September of that year and the work Avas in progress
for tAvo years. The beautiful ncAV edifice Avas dedicated June 28,
1908, the cost of the structure being about $40,000. The building
is of the Roman style of architecture, Avith a Greek gable to the
south and an approach of fourteen steps. It is 78x98 feet, sur-
mounted by a beautiful art glass dome. The auditorium occupies
the entire main floor, AAdth the exception of vestibule, choir loft,
choir room and pastor's study. It Avill seat 800 people and has a
gallery seating 400, making an entire seating capacity of 1,200.
The building is practically fireproof, Avith nothing A\'hich could
burn except the furniture, AvoodAvork and OA^erlying floor. The
basement, which is finished in white brick, contains an assembly
room seating 300, around Avhich are eleven class rooms. There are
also laA'atories, cloak rooms, dining room, kitchen and boiler room.
The fuel house is outside the church.
Rev. Lutz remained AA-ith the church here until 1909, at Avhich
time he moved to Minneapolis, and the Rev. J. F. Stout, of the St.
Paul district, Avas called to serve the Austin congregation. He is a
broad-minded man, of executive influence, firm in his purpose to
administer to the Avants of his pulpit. Dr. Stout Avas born in the
hamlet of Potter, Yates county, Ncav York, from Avhere at the age
of five he moved into the state of loAva and attended the country
schools. At the age of eighteen he entered NortliAvestern Uni-
versity, at Avhich place he took both the preparatory and regular
university courses, and graduated 1875. Upon leaving college he
.ioined the Illinois conference and preached at a number of places,
including Pittsfield, Springfield, Quiney, Danville and Blooming-
ton. After the last named place he removed to Minnesota, 1887,
262 mSTOUY OF MOWER COUNTY
aud served the Clinton Avenue Church, St. Paul, afterward the
First Church of Minneapolis ; also at Mankato and Red Wing, and
thence again to St. Paul, from which place he Avas called to Austin.
The church continues to flourish and many societies are in
prominence, the Woman's Home Missionar.y Society, the Foreign
Missionary Society, Ladies' Aid, the Priscillas, the Young Men's
Club, and Sunday school, of which last named Roy Furtney is
superintendent.
Presbyterian Church. In 1867 Rev. H. A. Mayhew visited Aus-
tin for the special purpose of looking up Presbyterians who had
not connected themselves with any church organization. He col-
lected a number together and preached to them at such times as he
could procure a room. August 20, 1867, he, assisted by Rev. Shel-
don Jackson, by authority of the Presbytery of Southern Minne-
sota, organized the first Presbyterian church of Austin. On the
20th of October, 1867, Rev. Mayhew organized the society into a
business meeting, which elected the following board of trustees :
Ira Jones, Lyman A. Sherwood, James C. Day, T. W. Woodard
and Joseph G. "Warner. The board organized by electing Ira
Jones chairman, L. A. Sherwood clerk and James C. Day treas-
urer. The congregation authorized the trustees to purchase a lot
and erect a suitable house of worship. This they did, and pur-
chased property on the corner of North St. Paul street and West
]\Iill street, and in the spring of 1868 erected the house of worship
where June 11, 1868, the congregation met and elected George
Johnston and Robert F. Rankin ruling elders. On the twenty-
fourth of the same month the church edifice was dedicated to the
services of God, the dedicatorial sermon being preached by Rev.
Sheldon Jackson. At the close of the service $500 was raised by
subscription to pay off the church debt. At that time the mem-
bership numbered seventeen, with Rev. H. A. Mayhew as pastor.
This building is now used by the Grand Ai'ray of the Republic.
However, the Presbyterian cause grew dimmer and not until the
fall of 1877 did it show much progress. In that year the Pres-
bytery of AYinona revived the organization, changing the site to
the Third ward, placing in charge Rev. D. P. Grosscup, who re-
mained four years. During 1890 a building was erected there,
and after a long effort was paid for. Following Rev. Grosscup
was Rev. Llewellyn for two years. 1891 to 1893. In March. 1894,
Rev. William Henry Hormel came to Austin and during his pas-
torate the organization of the Central Presbyterian Church was
projected, and January 24, 1895, the new organization was
launched. ]\rcanwhile the Third ward church Avas closed and the
mcml)ers invited to join the Central Presbyterian Church. After
the starting of the neAV Baptist church by that denomination the
old one framed in native oak was purchased and removed to the
HISTORY OF JIOWER COUXTY 2G3
corner of West Water and North St. Paul streets. It was remod-
eled and became the church home of the new organization. Mr.
Ilormel ministered to this church continuallj^ until December,
1900. During his term, of service the church grew rapidly and
prSmised speedily to develop into a strong church. The next
minister was Rev. Rhinehart, who began his labors February 1,
1900, resigning November 1 of the same year. Mr. Rhinehart was
succeeded by Rev. B. H. Kroeze, who served as stated supply
from March 1, 1901, to January 1, 1903. After a vacancy of .three
months, Rev. Arthur B. Miller became pastor April, 1903, and re-
signed January 1, 1904. A vacancy of six months followed. July
1, 1904, Rev. T. M. Cornelison began as pastor, resigning November
1. 1905.
The chiirch. weakened by vacancies and short pastorates,
racked with dissensions, which naturally arise under such condi-
tions, was illy prepared to endure another six months without a
minister. It was a dreary outlook, when March 1, 1906, Rev.
AVilliam E. Sloan, Ph. D., took charge. In seven months the or-
ganization grew to a solid membei'ship of 205. In addition to the
splendid growth a new house of worship was erected at a cost of
.$15,000. Rev. Sloan resigned and was followed by Rev. J. C.
Davis, who remained a time, and since his leaving the church has
been without a pastor. The societies represented in the church are
the "Woman's Missionary, Ladies' Aid, Help-a-Man Brotherhood,
and the Sunday school.
Christian Science. The birth of Christian Science in Austin
Avas in the year 1889, when Mrs. Mary A. Engle, who was tlieu
an invalid, hearing of its wonderful cures, procured a copy of its
text-book. Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures, by
]\Iary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian
Science. She was soon healed of all her ailments and began to
hold regular services in her own home with only a few members
of the family for audience. This was continued for three years,
with two or three others becoming interested. In the spring of
1893 interest had grown sufficiently to enable this little band to
form a class for Christian Science teaching by one of ]\Irs. Eddy's
loyal students. These students organized a Christian Science
society and held regular services in the Engle home until the
year 1896, when the growth of the society demanded larger
quarters and a more public meeting place. The Woodman hall
on Main street was rented for this purpose. In 1897 the .society
organized into First Church of Christ, Scientist, according to the
statutes of the state of Minnesota and in conformity with the
rules and l)y-laws of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston,
]Mass. There were five charter mcml)ers. Francis A. Engle, Mrs.
Mary A. Engle, :\Irs. Uu-inda Bm-k, .Miss Isabell Pliillii)s and
■2(U HISTOIJY OF MOAYEK COU^'TY
Robert AVaddell. At the first communion, which was held in
April of the same year, twelve new members were admitted.
Early in 1898 a move was made to the Hayes Bros, hall, which
was better fitted for religions services. Another move was made
in 1900 to the Elks' neAv hall, Main street, which was finely
located and beautifully finished and furnished. Public reading
rooms were opened in the same building. In the year 1905 the
church edifice on Maple street was purchased from the Univer-
salists for a church home. At that date the membership num-
bered between fifty and sixty. The consideration for this prop-
erty was $2,500 and they proceeded at once to refurnish it
entirely, within and without, until it reached its present valua-
tion of $5,000. From the date of its organization, 1898, to 1911
this church has given thirteen free public lectures by members
of the board of lectureship of the mother church, the First Church
of Christ, Scientist, Boston, ]\Iass. According to the rules and
by-laws of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass.,
"The Bible and the Christian Science text-book are our only
preachers." The "scriptural texts, and their correlative pas-
sages from our denominational text-book" are read by first and
second readers, elected by ballot at the annual church meeting.
At the time of the organization of the Christian Science Society,
Mrs. Mary A. Engle was first reader and John C. Engle second
reader. At the present time (1911) the first reader is Mrs. Etta
M. Ousley and ]Mrs. Anna Franklin is second reader.
It is not the custom of Christian Science churches to dedicate
their churches until free from all indebtedness. First Church of
Christ, Austin, Minn., is now free from all financial incumbrances
and announcement has been made for its dedication on May 21,
1911.
Christian Brotherhood. The Christian Brotherhood is an inter-
denominational organization composed of some 600 men. Its pur-
pose is to upbuild the kingdom of God in the most practical and
effective manner possible and tends to promote a feeling of
brotherly love and co-operation. It is purely a laymen's organi-
zation. Meetings are held every Sunday afternoon in Music Hall.
The officers are : A. M. Lewis, president ; F. H. McCulloch, vice-
president ; L. H. Stefflre, secretary ; E. A. Dalager, treasurer, and
it is governed by an executive committee composed of two lay
members of each church.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY.
Tlie Austin Carnegie Lil)rary is one of the important features
of Austin life. The library building is of the Grecian style of
architecture, one story, with basement throughout. It is built of
HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY ^65
Bedford (Indiana) buffstoue, with stone cornice and roofing. All
the roof valleys and gutters are of copper.
The building measures 56 by 56 feet. The main entrance is
from the corner, facing northeast, the vestibule, the lobby and the
stack room running continuously across the building, diagonally to
the southwest corner. On entering one comes first into the spacious
vestibule 16 by 16, with floor of terrazzo tile and Mosa'ic border.
The lobby, 20x20 feet, is in the center of the building, with desk
at the further end. The book stack room, 20 by 20 feet, is in the
southwest corner. East of the lobby is the main reading room, 15
by 30, fronting along St. Paul street. A reference room, 14x14
feet, is on the south side between the reading room and the stack
room, and on the north side is the children's room, 15 by 24. The
librarian also has a private room. The whole interior is in quar-
tered oak, and the floors throughout are covered with heavy lino-
leum. The basement contains a large audience room, as well as
smaller rooms. In addition to the main entrance there is a side
entrance on the northwest corner.
Frank I. Crane, the first president of the library board, served
until his death in 1909. A. S. Campbell, then vice-president, was
elected president in 1910. The present librarian, Mrs. Flora
Crane Conner, has served since the building was opened. She
received her training in the University of Minnesota summer
school. The library contains some 7,000 volumes, appropriately
divided into reference books, fiction, biogi-aphy, literature, travel
and history.
Historical summary : On March 16, 1869, twelve ladies, as has
been noted in the history of the social activities of the city, met
and organized the society known as the Austin Floral Club. They
adopted a constitution and by-laws and elected officers. Meetings
were held semi-monthly and the annual membership fee was 25
cents. Austin was then a village of some 2,040 inhabitants. The
first money received was expended for plants and seeds with
which to beautify the village homes and develop a taste for flori-
culture. Their marked success in this encouraged them to give a
floral show together with a literary entertainment and concert,
from which they realized $100, which was expended for books.
One hundred and twenty-three volumes were received by donation.
Thus with about 225 volumes the ladies laid the foundation for.
the Austin Circulating Library. November 9, 1869, the library was
formally opened. The constitution and by-laAvs of the Floral club
were amended so as to constitute it a library association ; a charter
Avas secured and the membership fee increased to $1. The by-
laws were subsequently amended making $2 the annual fee for the
use of the library by persons not members of the association. The
club then had a membership of fifty. The ladies for many years,
266 HISTORY OP MOWER COUNTY
through literaiy entertaiuments, concerts, lectures and the like,
made constant additions to the library by the purchase of books
and through the donations from the government and individuals.
]\Iarch 28, 189-4, was observed the silver anniversary of the club.
The records showed that there had been 227 members up to that
date. Upon completion of the new court house in 1886 a room
in the basement was fitted up and set apart by the county com-
missioners for the use of the library, Avhere the library has re-
mained until removed to the new library building. For some time
the members had been actively engaged endeavoring to found a
new public library. At the solicitation of its members, acting
through W. G. Cameron, they received a proposition from the Hon.
Andrew Carnegie to donate to the city of Austin $12,000 to be
used in the construction of a library building on condition that
the city donate a proper site for the building and agree to raise a
tax of $1,200 a year to maintain and keep up a library. While the
proposition was being considered, Lyman D. Baird made a trip
to Washington and secured an interview with Mr. Carnegie's rep-
resentatives. Later the donation of Mr. Carnegie Avas increased
to $15,000 for the erection of the library building.
On November 1, 1901, the common council of the city of Austin
accepted the generous gift of Mr. Carnegie and agreed to annually
levy a tax of $1,200 and also set apart the lots on the corner of St.
Paul and Bridge streets for a site.
On July 19, 1902, a library board was elected at an election
held for that purpose. The board elected was organized July 23,
1902. The board took the necessary steps to procure plans and
specifications and immediately thei'eafter commenced the construc-
tion and erection of our present beautiful library building. The
building was completed in April, 1904. Upon completion of the
building the Floral club turned over, without cost to the library,
about 3,500 volumes.
AUSTIN CLUBS.
(By Jennie G. Keith.)
Austin is pre-eminently a social town. Not only is there a club,
society or coterie for every class, age and condition of residents,
but it would be hard to find, in places twice the size of Austin, so
many hospitable homes and accompli.shed hostesses where enter-
tainment is so royal. Good cheer and hospitality are among the
first articles of the creed of Austinites. Strangers soon find their
social status where they are most at home with congenial com-
panions and find the entertainment which they most enjoy. Every
one of our many diurches have their own particular societies,
where members may enjoy the social life which the church fur-
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 267
iiishes. For those who desire study there are reading eireles and
clubs in which the membership is not limited and where one can
follow his own particular line of study with intelligent, able lead-
ers. Those who turn to works of charity and find their chief
pleasure in lending a helping hand can find societies of this nature
already organized, where they will be Avelcomed as workers. Those
who look to society for recreation and enjoyment can surely find a
place in the score or more of purely social clubs of our city.
Austin is distinctively a home-keeping city. The ladies since
the earliest days have taken their share in all public movements,
and in fact many improvements have been inaugurated by the
ladies, unassisted by the sterner sex. But Austin is not a club
city. The women are domestic, and care for clubs not from a
liking for club life but simply for the work which the clubs may
accomplish. Consequently we do not find in Austin that multi-
jilicity of clubs which is criticised in some places.
There arc but two federated clubs in the city. Some organiza-
tions have sprung into being as the women have seen the neces-
sity for effort along particular lines, and have been allowed to die
out when the work which called them into existence has been
accomplished. Others, however, are still in a flourishing condi-
tion.
The first women's movement in Austin was an effort in 1856 to
keep the general merchants from illegally selling whisky, and the
Avomen pledged themselves not to patronize the merchants who
refused to sign a resolution promising not to sell intoxicants.
A regular temperance organizatioji was perfected by the women
in 1857. The next women's movement of consequence was the
organization of the Mite Society on February 1, 1862. This society
was formed for the purpose of procuring and improving a ceme-
tery plot. Many ladies' aid societies were also organized at an
early day.
An event of historic importance to Austin took place in March.
1869. when the Floral Club was organized. This club is still in
existence and has affiliated with the IMinnesota Federation of
"Women's Clubs. The other federated club in Austin is the Art
and Travel Club. Another women's organization is the Era Club,
which affiliates with the National federation.
The Stoddard and St. Augustine Reading clubs hold interest-
ing meetings. The Sunshine Society, which is independent of the
state society, has done much in a charitable way ; the Y. "W. C. A.
is working for the young ladies, and the W. C. T. U. is aggressively
engaged in temperance activities. The Esperanto Club has at-
tracted considerable attention, and the High School Alumni Asso-
ciation and the Birthday Club have been pleasant and important
social factors. Two organizations among the high school boys, the
268 IllSTOUY OF :\I()\VEi; COI'XTY
Duodecim and the Kuights of the Round Table, have done much
to advance literary interest among the younger portion of the
population.
Youngf Women's Christian Association. In 1906 a Y. W. C. A.
was perfected in Austin, ]\Irs. Charles L. West being one of the
prime movers in the organization. Neat and attractive rooms were
fitted up, and these have served as rest rooms for people in the
city and from the country as well as a place for social and re-
ligious gatherings by the young ladies. In 1906 there were 275
members, with forty in the Bible class. A year later the member-
ship Avas 250, and still a year later it was 200. In 1909 it had
dropped to 150, and that year a general secretary, Miss Ruby St.
Amour, was engaged. The membership is now 540, and the work
is in a most flourishing condition. The Philathea Bible class has a
large membership, and the gymnasium classes under a special
physical director are well attended. Monthly Sunday vesper serv-
ices are held, and, aside from work along the regular lines, life
talks are given and information is imparted in domestic science,
household art, home nursing, and other subjects. Mrs. C. L. West
was president until 1910, when the present president, Mrs. F. I.
Crane, was elected. The other officers are : Vice-president, Mrs.
AV. R. Terry; treasurer, Helen S. Banfield; secretary, Mrs. M. J.
Sorflaten; county secretary, Gertrude B. Sly. Work has been
done toward perfecting a county organization, with a view to
special work in the villages and rural districts.
The Ladies' Floral Club. This club has been an important
factor in the literary, social and moral development of Austin,
and is worthy of more extended mention than can be given it in
this volume. Its concerts and entertainments have been a part
of the history of Austin, and many public movements have re-
sulted directly from its efforts. March 16, 1869, twelve ladies
met at the home of Mrs. Orlenzer Allen and organized the Austin
Floral Club. The following were the original members : ]\Irs.
H. I. Parker. Mrs. M. J. Mayhew, Mrs. E. M. Morse. Mrs. Q. A.
Truesdell, Mrs. H. A. Davidson, Mrs. F. A. Brownson, Mrs. M. S.
Lamoreaux, ]\Irs. A. E. Allen. Mrs. C. C. Crane, Mrs. L. A.
Sherwood, Mrs. J. G. Warner, Mrs. P. I. Sargent, and Miss A. J.
Lowry. Mrs. E. M. Morse will ever be venerated as the real in-
stigator of the club. She was a great lover of nature, and the
club was the result of her proposition that the ladies assist in
developing a taste for horticulture and floriculture. ]\Irs. Morse
was the first president and IMrs. F. A. Brownson the first secre-
tary. The .season was favorable for flowers and it Avas decided
to give a floral show, and with the proceeds therefrom to lay .the
foundation for a Ladies' Circulating Library. The shoAV ex-
tended several days, and truly beautiful displays of flowers
HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COFXTY 5^6?)
-were made. Books were purchased with the proceeds, and many-
were donated, so that November 9, 1869, the library of 225 vol-
umes was formally opened in the old court house, southwest of
the present court house. During the next few years entertain-
ments of various sorts were held to provide funds. Mrs. J. N.
Wheat, Mrs. J. L. Davidson and Mrs. J. M. King each in turn
opened her hovise to receive the books and to serve as librarian.
In 1884 the library was moved to quarters in the basement of
the present court house. The first regular librarian was Miss
Sarah Beatty, who afterward became Mrs. J. R. Webb. She was
followed by Mrs. H. H. Kent, who served for many years. Mrs.
Morse served as president thirty-tAvo years. Her work lives in
the hearts of her associates. Mrs. F. A. Brownson and Mrs.
Sarah L. Davidson served many years as secretary. Mrs. Gibson
was for ten years treasurer and eight years chairman of the
hook committee. Mrs. L. A. Sherwood gave much time and effort
in the early years in arranging for concerts and musicals. Others
who assisted in many ways were the Mesdames N. P. Austin,
O. Ayers, E. B. Crane, J. F. Cook, C. H. Coates, H. H. Kent, D. B.
Johnson and many others. The club was federated in 1908 and
Mrs. 0. H. Hegge is the president. The club celebrated its silver
anniversary in 1894. As the work of the library increased the
bui'den became too heavy for the Floral club to carry alone and
in 1892, at the request of the ladies, a library board of the city
of Austin was elected. When the Carnegie Library opened in
1904 the ladies turned over 3,500 volumes.
Art and Travel Club. This club was organized in 1903 for
the purpose of mutual improvement, a prime mover in the or-
ganization being Mrs. L. D. Baird. The club is limited to thirty
members and meetings are held twice a month at the home of one
of the members. At each meeting papers are read prepared by
various members and roll call is responded to by some current
event item. The club has taken up for study the important cities
of the United States, the West Indies and South America, Eng-
lish cathedral towns, English history, London and vicinity, the
British empire. The present year the club is engaged in study
of the Mediterranean countries. Mrs. J. H. Skinner is president.
Era Club. The Era Club, whose members are of the opinion
tliat the name is more attractive than "The Woman Suffrage"
club, is devoted to political equality. It was founded by Miss
Laura Gregg, of Kansas, national organizer, ten years ago. Miss
Gregg was accompanied to Austin and otlier points by Rev. Ida
C. Hultin. The women of all the Austin churches were invited
to attend and meetings were held in the afternoon and evening
in an edifice since used as a Christian Science church. Mrs.
Boostrom was elected president when the club was formed and
2'*<0 lUSTOliY OF :\I()\VEH COUXTY
served in the executive capacity seven years. ]\Irs. John D.
Smith is now serving as president. • The club has entertained the
state suffrage convention twice in its history and its influence is
wide.
A prominent member is jNIrs. Lizzie Catherwood, through
whose efforts the local end of the organization was brought to a
successful issue ten years ago. At the monthly meetings, held
throughout the year at the homes of members, the attendance is
notably large, particularly at the evening meetings. Lawyers,
ministers, teachers and newspaper Avriters have addressed the
meetings from time to time and the influence of the suffragists is
brought to bear on all visitors. The club membership numbers
157. Its aim is to create interest in political equality for women
and it takes a part in all efforts to advance the interests of
women and childi'cn. It has invariably sent delegates to the
state convention, and occasionally to the national convention.
Esperanto Club. The Esperanto Club has been organized
several years and has numbered a considerable membership. Dr.
F. E. Daigneau, who was instrumental in the organization of the
club, and who has been president since it was organized, has re-
ceived a preliminary diploma and advanced diploma, and is first
vice-president of the American Esperanto Association. Consider-
able foreign correspondence has been the result of the study of
this universal language.
The Duodecim. The Duodecim Society is composed of young
men in and graduates from our high school. The object is good
fellowship, self-improvement and development along the lines of
debate and extemporary speaking. The society was organized in
1903 and is limited to a working membership of twelve. The
alumni members are formed into an honorary society, which
numbers fifty. The society meets every other week and renders
a ju-ogram consisting of two or three papers on some up-to-date
topic and a debate.
An elaborate annual l)an(|uet is one of the features of the
year's woi"k.
The Knights of the Round Table liave an organization similar
in many ways to tlie Duodecim. dating from 1909. They were
organized for the development of the young men mentally,
morally and socially. Tlieir mcmljcrship is limited to thirteen.
An annufil l)anquet is a club feature.
The Stoddard Club. The Stoddard Club was organized in
I90(), ]\Irs. P. 11. Friend being one of the prime movers. Since its
organization it has been engaged in the reading of the Stoddard
Lectures. Tlie club meets every other Thursday at the home of
some one of tlie members. Two readers are appointed for each
meeting and a rouiul table of current events form a part of the
HISTOEY OF MOWEU COUNTY 271
program of each meeting. The elub has given to the public
library a set of the Stoddard Lectures and a copy of Zona Gale's
Pelleas and Etarre. The membership is not limited. ]\lrs. \V. II.
Albertson is president and i\Irs. J. L. Mitchell, treasurer.
St. Augustine's Reading Circle. St. Augustine's Reading
Circle is a societj' of women composed of members of St. Augus-
tine's Catholic Church, who have organized for the purpose of
study especially connected with their faith. They were organ-
ized as a club in February, 1907, with Mrs. T. H. Pridham the
first president. Their work consists of a study of Stoddard's Lec-
tures, and at present the study of the gospel of St. John and the
sacraments and commandments of the church. The circle meets
the second Thursday of the mouth for study and is at present
under the leadership of Mrs. J. Z. Rogers as president. There
were fourteen charter members and the membership has been
limited to that number.
Ladies of the Hospital. In October, 1908, a number of ladies
under the leadership of Mrs. R. S. Holmes organized an auxiliary
to the St. Olaf Hospital Association. The original membership
was seventeen; it is now 100. Few if any societies in our city
have accomplished as much as the Ladies of the Hospital. During
the year they have done the necessary sewing for the hospital,
hemming sheets, pillow cases and towels, etc. 'They have fur-
nished neatly and completely a room in the hospital. They have
purchased a wheeled chair, to lighten the work of the nui'ses.
They have contributed an annual gift of jellies and canned goods
to the hospital. Through their efforts and leadership a fine am-
bulance, costing nearly .$1,000, was purchased and presented to
the city, a place provided for its housing and the society has
undertaken keeping it in repair. The object of the society is to
further the good work of the hospital and to assist the nurses in
their labor. ]\Irs. R. S. Holmes is president.
Austin High School Alumni Association. The father of the
Alumni Association is L. N. McWhorter. It Avas through his de-
sire to have an organization that Avould be helpful from a social
standpoint in keeping the interest in the high school and also
through his energy that the association was organized. During
the summer of 1894 he made a house to house canvas of the
graduates. Later a meeting was held in the assembly room of the
high school, at which time a constitution modeled after the con-
stitution of the General Alumni Association of ]Minneapolis was
presented and adopted.
The organization meeting was held in the high school assem-
bly room, July 13. 1894. with forty-three charter members. The
first annual mooting was held at the Evergreen Farm, in tlie
suiniiicr of ISO."). All graduates of Iho ,\ustiii High School and
272 HISTOl^Y OF MOWER COUJCTY
their spouses are eligible to membership. An amaual publication,
the Altruist, is issued. The presidents of the association have
been : 1895, A. 0. Dinsmoor ; 1896, L. M. McWhorter ; 1897, Wini-
fred Ober Reed; 1898, Gertrude Ellis Skinner; 1899, Ida Eccel-
ston French; 1900, Ada Morgan Crane; 1901, Ida Smith Decker;
1902, Etta Barnes Decker ; 1903, F. W. Greenman ; 1904, George
E. Anderson; 1905, Fred C. Ulmer; 1906, Cecil Freeman; 1907,
Wallace Gregson ; 1908, Thaddeus Thompson; 1909, Chester
Johnson; 1910, Ralph Crane; 1911, J. N. Nicholsen.
Birthday Club. The club in Austin which has had perhaps
the most unique and clever social programs, and which is distinc-
tively social in its function, is the Birthday Club, founded in
1903 at the home of Mrs. A. M. Smith. The membership is prac-
tically Qomposed of young married people and the programs and
meetings occur at irregular intervals, depending upon the circum-
stances, the main one of Avhich is the birthday date of the indi-
vidual member.
The Civil Improvement League has done much toward beauti-
fying the city, planting flowers in waste places, cleaning up alleys
and promoting civic pride. Mrs. Flora Conner and Mrs. W. C.
Holmes were instrumental in its formation. It was fostered by
the Commercial Club, and encouraged by the work of the State
Federation of W^omen's Clubs. The league Avas organized in
1910.
Sunshine Association. Early in September of 1907, in response
to a suggestion made by Mrs. John H. Skinner, the Y. W. C. A.
undertook the distribution of clothing and other necessities to
the needy. This work had long been done by the Herald, but
it was felt that closer supervision was needed. Mrs. J. E. Robin-
son, then secretary of the Y. W. C. A., willingly added this to her
other duties. The Ladies' Relief Society of Austin was invited to
hold its meetings in the rooms. This had been for many years a
splendid organization of representative women, Avho had gener-
ously ministered to the needs of the poor and imfortunate. Owing
to illness, death or removal from the city only three members of
the organization were active at this time, and the working force
Avas composed almost entirely of new members. At the annual
meeting in April, 1908, it was decided to change the name of the
society to the Sunshine Association of Austin, to incorporate and
to engage a general secretary. This was done at small expense.
The society has about fifty members. Meetings for work are
held Thursday afternoons from October to June, although many
women Avlio wish to help a good work along visit the rooms on
itliei' ;ifternnf)ns. where Flora Johnson, the secretary, always
hiis AV(irl< I'oi- willing Ii;inds.
O. II. HK(iGK, M.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 537:3
A vast amount of work has been done by this organization.
Many comforters have been made and distributed, thousands of
gfarments, new and partly worn, have been passed on, and dozens
of complete outfits for infants have been made and given to des-
titute mothers. During the cold months an average of 200 gar-
ments a month are passed on by charitable persons through the
agency of the society. An average of ten calls a week is made by
the visiting committee. Every cry of distress that comes to the
ears of a Sunshiner is quickly investigated and relief always
given to helpless women and little children. The association
has been enabled to do this work by financial contributions from
the Elks, Masons, Eagles, Christian Endeavorers of the Congre-
gational church, a lecture by Kev. J. F. Budlong and generous
gifts from other friends too numerous to mention. Last June
the Herald generously otfered the society rooms rent free, and the
Smishine headquarters are now in the Herald building. At the
present time Mrs. C. L. West is president ; Mrs. George Sutton,
vice-president; Mrs. P. A. Reilly, secretary; Mrs. W. R. Terry,
treasurer ; and Miss Flora Johnson, general secretary of the
organization. Too much credit cannot be given Mrs. C. L. "West
for her work in this capacity. Energetic, capable and self-sacrific-
ing, she has labored in every good cause which has solicited her
attention, and her name is beloved in the many households which
she has benefited.
St. Olav Hospital and Training School. St. Olav Hospital and
Training School is an outgroAvth of a private hospital conducted
by Drs. Hegge & Hegge, in some rented rooms over the Daily
Register office in Austin, Minn. Owing to the rapid gi'owth and
steadily increasing practice of these physicians, it soon became ap-
parent that a hospital should be established in Austin on a more
permanent basis, and Dr. 0. H. Hegge accordingly Avent to the
aimual meeting of the United Lutheran Church, assembled at St.
Paul, Minn., in June, 1896, and spoke before the convention of
Lutheran clergymen about his plan of having a hospital organ-
ized in Austin. This meeting, however, could not be prevailed
upon to take any direct interest in the establishment of this hos-
pital; but a special meeting of some of the local clergymen and
some of the interested laymen was called, and Dr. Hegge did not
give up his efforts until the Austin Hospital Association was
formed and incorporated under the laws of the state of IMinne-
sota. The first board of directors was elected the 5th day of
June, 1896, as follows : Rev. J. Mueller Eggen, Lyle, Minn., presi-
dent; Rev. S. O. Rondestvedt, Grand Meadow, Minn., vice-
president; Rev. E. T. Rogne, Austin. Minn., secretary and treas-
U1-C1-. P. K. Everson, TTnstad, Iowa; L, F. Clausen, .\ustiii. Minn..
274 HISTOIJY OF MOWEK COUNTY
and Dr. 0. H. Hogge, Austin, ^Minu., Avere the other members of
the board of directors.
The Austin Hospital Association, as the corporation was called,
inmiediately acquired sufficient ground at 916 Lansing avenue
for tlie hospital and training school. Lena Nelson, a Lutheran
deaconess from Minneapolis, -was called as sister in charge, and
Drs. O. H. and C. A. Ilegge constituted the regular hospital staff,
although the hospital also opened its doors to all regular physi-
cians and surgeons in Austin and vicinity. The hospital is located
in the best residence district ip Austin, overlooking the banks
of the Red Cedar, about half a mile from the business center, and
removed from the noise, dust and smoke of the factories and
railways.
St. Olav Hospital proved a success from the start, and in 1910
it was necessary to build a large addition, as more room was
needed both for the patients and for the training school. At this
time two new operating rooms with complete surgical equipment
were also added, as well as a fine new ambulance, which Avas
donated by the ladies of Austin.
The Corporation. The general purpose of this corporation,
according to the articles of incorporation, "shall be the owning,
erecting, maintaining and conducting a public hospital for the
medical and surgical care and treatment of persons afflicted
with disease, admitted as patients therein, and to do and perform
all the business incident and necessary to the successful operation
of a public hospital. The corporation is organized for benevolent
purposes and not for profit, and shall, Avhen able to do so, care for
and nui'se worthy poor patients admitted into the hospital free
of charge. The location of said hospital shall be in the city of
Austin, in the county of Mower, in the state of Minnesota."
^Membership. A. "Tlie voting members of this association
shall be members of any Lutheran church who shall have paid a
membership fee of $5 and an annual fee of $1. No member shall
have more than one vote. B. Lutheran clergymen in and about
the city of Austin, Minn., shall be honorary members of this cor-
poration, but may become voting members In- paying tlie fees as
prescribed in the by-laws."
The board of directors of the Austin Hospital Association in
1911 are: Rev. J. A. E. Naess, Austin, Minn., president; Rev.
E. 0. Hofstad, Hayfield, vice-president ; W. R. Earl, Austin, Minn.,
secretary; Gust. Sehleuder, Austin, Minn., treasurer; Rev. 0.
Jolmson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., and Seymour Johnson, Austin,
Minn. Mr. Jolmson has for several years been active manager of
tlie liospital. and under his careful and economical business
miinagi'iiient llic instilulion has greatly prospered.
C A. HIAAmE, M. h.
ilSTUI.'Y OF MOWKi; C'orX'I'V
AUSTIN SCHOOLS.
The first public school in Austin was organized in the suinuier
of 1856. It was taught by Maria Vaughan in a log house which
was afterward occupied by Ormanzo Allen for a dwelling. It
stood on the north side of Water street, where James Anderson '.s
dwelling was afterward erected. The following winter, school
was held in a frame dwelling, remodeled for the purpose, on Maple
street, southeast of where the Fleck house (occupied by the
McCulloeh Printing Company) now stands. Sarah Bemis was the
teacher. The third term of school was taught in the same place
by Kate Conkey. The next move was made to the old "Head-
quarters" in a room Avhich on Sundays was used for church
services. This school was taught by a young man named Saxon.
About this time Mr. Pike taught in the Hunt & Bassford building
across from the court house. "Headquarters" was the place of
holding school till 1866, Avhen the first school house was erected
on the present site of the Public library. It was a one-story, two-
room brick building costing $2,750. It was later used by the
Methodist church, and still later used again for school purposes.
It was removed to make room for our fine Carnegie library build-
ing. After the fire of 1890, Marian Miller, now Mrs. E. H.
Sterling, had 103 first primary pupils in one of the rooms of this
school house. Superintendent Fitch suggested that as the weather
was too warm to need a fire, the children might be put in the
stove. W. T. Mandeville taught the first school therein, com-
mencing in February, 1866. In 1868 the school was first graded
into departments. Other teachers in this building during the
early years Avere Mr. Otis and daughter, and Miss Davidson.
In 1869 it was found necessai'y to provide more school room,
and a fine three-story brick structure was erected on the block
now occupied by the Franklin high school. It was built by D. J.
Tubbs, one of Austin 's pioneers, at a cost of $35,000. It was not
completed till 1870. September 12, 1870, Mr. Tubbs. Avhile at
work, fell two stories, breaking tAvo ribs. The first teachers in
this building Avere Horace L. Strong, superintendent. ^Misses E. L.
Eastman, Eva D. Sherbondy, Julia Hobart, Ella Cook, and Loi
Cook. It Avas here that the high school Avas organized by Superin-
tendent E. BigeloAV, and Avhere superintendents taught Avho have
since achieved success — James J. Doav, superintendent of the
State School for the Blind, at Faribault; Judge W. W. Keysor,
professor in the laAV school of Washington Universitj', St. Louis.
Mo.; A. AV. Rankin, professor in the ITniversity of ^linnesota.
and George B. Aiton. state high school inspector. This old his-
toric building Avas burned April 28. 1890. The fire broke out at
276 IIISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY
8 o'clock in the morning, before the teachers and i^npils had
reached the building.
The present Franklin high school was built immediately on
the same site and was opened March, 1891. It Avas remodeled in
1907 and is one of the best buildings in the state.
The following ward schools have been built : Lincoln school,
in the third word, in 1887. First it was a four-room building. In
1893 two rooms were added, and in 1907 two rooms more. This
school house was burned early in the morning of January 8, 1909.
A beautiful eight-room brick building Avas erected on the same
site and fitted up with the latest and best school house equipment.
The Whittier, a two-room school at the south bridge, Avas
built in 1893.
The Webster, a one-room school east of the Mihvaukee tracks,
was opened in 1891.
The Sumner, a four-room brick school in the north part of the
city, was erected in 1894.
The "Washington, a four-room brick school, AA^as erected in
1907. It is across the road from the high school building, and the
entire basement is occupied by the high school gymnasium, Avith
shoAA^cr baths and dressing rooms. It is heated from the high
school plant.
The Franklin, Lincoln, Sumner and Washington schools haA'e
fan A^entilation. The Washington building is unique in that the
heating coils and fan are located in the attic, the Avarni fresh air
being bloAA'u doAA^n instead of up, as is usually done. The build-
ings are all in first-class condition and great care is taken to keep
them clean and sanitary.
The people of Austin have ahvays taken great pride in their
school and have not been satisfied Avith anything but the best. The
first class to graduate from the high school Avas in 1877. It con-
sisted of tAvo members, Rose E. Litchfield and Olie Crane. A class
lias graduated each year Avith the exception of 1885. The total
number to receive diplomas, including the class of 1911, is 621 —
i48 girls and 173 boys. There is a noticeable increase in the per-
centage of boys in the classes during the last fcAV years, although
the class of 1882 Avas all boys — Frederick R. CIoav, Adelbert 0.
Dinsmoor and Eugene B. Summy. Many have attained distinc-
tion. The leading men and Avomen of Austin are numbered among
the alumni. A large number have finished their education in
liigher institutions of learning and are successful in the various
professional and business lines.
The High School Alumni Association is a "live Avire." Among
oilier up-to-date enterprises. The Altruist deserves special men-
tion. Tiie tentli issue (June, 1910) is before me. It is a twenty-
fiv('-])agi' annuiil edited by Estella Slaven, Daisy MaxAvell, Helen
HI8T0KY OF :\ro\vp:R (orxTY 2rr
Banfield and Wallace Gregeson. It contains history, reminiscence,
wit, and humor which every alumnus will enjoy and appreciate
more and more as the years roll by. The alumni association is
doing much to form and keep alive school spirit and interest.
The school curricula embrace the latest in educational thought.
Courses are offered to meet any demand, whether in academic or
industrial lines. Athletics and gymnasium work is encouraged for
the purpose of developing manly and womanly qualities and
physical health and vigor. From "Milestones of the Austin High
School," in The Altruist, I quote: 1881, the first laboratory
started; 1888, first juniors' reception to seniors; 1894, alumni
association organized, organization of the first football team (Mr.
Selleck organizer), the introduction of music into the high school
curriculum; 1895, first alumni banquet; 1896-7, organization of
the first baseball team; 1903, first eighth grade commencement
year; 1906, introduction of manual training; 1907, remodeling of
interior of high school ; 1908, domestic science finds a place in the
course ; 1909, a high school gymnasium opened, forge work began,
pottery woi'k introduced. Alumni Athletic Association formed.
In 1909 the Columbus Parochial School was opened in a beauti-
ful new building, Avith an enrollment of about 240 pupils. In
September last a high school class of about twenty-five was
formed.
Our public school enrollment the present year is 1,264, 263
being in the high school. Thirty-eight teachers are employed.
The school board members are : H. A. Avery, president ; C. I.
Johnson, clerk; Alex S. Campbell, treasurer; Joseph Keenan,
C. H. Decker and George Hirsh.
Following is a list of superintendents : Horace L. Strong,
about 1869-1874; James J. Dow, 1874-1875; E. Bigelow, 1874-1879;
W. ^Y. Keysor. 1879-1881 ; A. W. Rankin, 1881-1884; H. L. Gibson,
1884-1885; George B. Alton, 1885-1886; E. T. Fitch, 1886-1891;
AV. E. Aul, 1891-1892; W. F. F. Selleck, 1892-1901; Andrew
Nelson. 1901-1906; George A. Franklin. 1906.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA NORMAL COLLEGE,
A recent writer has said that the story of the Soutliern ^linne-
sota Normal College reads like a romance. The first conception
of such an institution took root when one of its founders was
denied the privilege of going to school because of not having the
necessary means of paying his tuition.
Immediately after this refusal he walked down and out of the
regi.stration room of one of Illinois' educational in.stitutions, and.
pausing a moment on the sidewalk, shook his fist at the president's
window and said: "I will have an institution some day where
any boy or any girl can go to school, no matter how poor and no
matter wliat is the stage of their advancement." This determi-
2?8 niSTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
nation finally resulted in the founding of the Southern Minnesota
Normal College and Austin School of Commerce.
In 1896, Charles E. Boostrom made a trip to Minnesota to
determine upon a location for the school, visiting Crookston, Ked
Wing, Kenyon, Detroit and other promising cities. Upon this
trip he met Dr. E. M. Shelde, who was at that time conducting a
pi-ivate normal school at Kenyon. Minn. Professor Boostrom
became acquainted with Dr. Shelde partly through correspond-
ence and partly through a mutual friend, 0. G. Jackman.
On March 16, 1897, Dr. Shelde, Charles R. Boostrom and 0. G.
Jackman met at Kenyon, Minn., and drew up articles of agree-
ment to incorporate and found a school somewhere within the
boundary of the state. The next morning, March 17, found them
in Austin, ready to lay their proposition before the city council.
The late Frank I. Crane, who was at that time mayor of Austin,
immediately called a meeting of the city council and of the citi-
zens, to hear the proposition to be made. Professor Boostrom
•was chosen to set forth the purposes of the institution to be
founded, as follows : To provide an institution, first, for those
poor in money put rich in intellect, and whose early education had
been neglected. Second, for teachers who had had little time to
prepare for teaching and who desired to raise the grade of their
certificate. Third, for those who desired a thorough business and
shorthand education, and, in fact, anyone, no matter how young
or how old, how rich or how poor, who desired the foundations
of an education.
Very little was asked from the city except that five acres of
land should be provided as a suitable location for the future place
and that the school should be given quarters rent free for one
year.
Twenty years ago the schools were not good in the Nortli-
Avest. The settlers were poor and unable to send their children a
long distance to school. As a result, throughout the Northwest
there are many adults Avho possess merely the rudiments of an
English education. The founders of Austin's independent normal
school had the idea of building up the large institution by pro-
viding adult classes in common school branches for the class.
The following committee was appointed by Mayor F. I. Crane
to complete arrangements with the institution: Gus Schleuder,
Dr. II. A. Avery, E. W. Doer, George Hirsh and Ira Padden.
The citizens of Austin readily saw that such an institution,
properly and carefully managed, Avould become a great factor
in the development of their town, and provided temporary quar-
ters, in Avhat had hocu the old Flock house, for the new school.
Meager indeed were llie e(|uipnuMits, and perhaps only a score
HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY 279
or two of students met on the beginning dny of the first session,
September 21, 1897.
When the proprietors arrived to take cliarge of the work the
building was verj- much in need of a complete renovation. The
citizens of Austin delight in telling how Professor Boostrom
donned a pair of overalls and, procuring a spade, proceeded, him-
self, to dig at the debris that obstructed the basement.
From the very beginning the growth of the school was rapid.
By the end of the first year over 150 students had been attracted
by the excellent instruction and the moderate cost of board, room
and tuition.
E. ]\r. Shelde became the tirst president, Charles R. Boostrom,
vice-president and treasurer, while Ole Jackson became the first
secretary. This arrangement continued for the first three years,
when, on account of the failure of Dr. Shelde 's health, he retired
from the corporation and Professor Boostrom succeeded to the
presidency.
At the close of the first year the college company erected a
small frame structure on a tract of five acres of land given it by
Albert Galloway, a public-spirited citizen of Austin. The fol-
lowing summer John Harpman erected a dormitory and boarding
hall for the use of the college, and the building erected soon
proved too small for the "baby giant" of an institution. In an
inconceivably short time the attendance had doubled and had
doubled again and again, students coming from nearly every
northwestern state, for here they had found the place where worth,
not wealth, where industry, not raiment, determined their posi-
tion. The student body consists of every shade of religion and
of political belief and of almost every nationality under the sun,
all being ciiltivated and educated in the law-abiding restraints
which distinguish the American.
To provide quarters for the rapidly increasing institution the
citizens of Austin unanimously voted to erect and equip a building
to accommodate not less than 1,000 students. This was but three
years ago, yet so rapidly had the news of an institution of this
kind spread over the Xoi-fhwcst that the facilities are already
becoming crowded.
Perhaps nothing is more indicative of the spirit pervading the
institution than the remark made to the committee by Professor
Boostrom when the new building was under discussion. "Gentle-
man." he said, "you can't give us this l)uildiiig. If you ])uild the
building for this school you must build with tlie understanding that
we shall haA'c the privilege of paying for the same at the rate of
$1,000 a year until the debt is entirely wiped out. Any institution
that cannot pay its way in the world isn't fit to live."
Perhaps the institution would not have been possible had it
280 HISTORY OF MOWP:i! COUNTY
not been for the tireless and constant assistance of the Avives of
its proprietors during the early years of its history — Mrs. Shelde,
Mrs. Boostrom, Mrs. Harpman and Mrs. Heilman — in their ambi-
tion to aid their respective husbands in their own way and make
the institution a success. In the class room and also at the bed-
side of sick students their work had been done, and well done.
The students are scattered all over the United States from
i\Iaine to California; some are in the treasury department at
AVashington; one has recently distinguished himself as astron-
omer at the United States observatory at Flagstaff, Ariz. ; two
hundred or more of them are stenographers and bookkeepers in
the Twin Cities; many of them are traveling salesmen; while
hundreds of them are meeting with marked success as teachers.
For instance, one young man who Avas Avorking on the farm for
$15 a month six years ago is now traveling auditor for one of the
largest lumber companies in the Northwest. Two others have
charge of the Chicago branch of the Success Publishing Company.
February 6, 1906, Avas red letter day in the history of the
institution, for then it was that the college had as distinguished
guests GoA'ernor John A. Johnson, State Superintendent John
Olsen, and Gen. F. B. Wood. The guests Avere entertained at
1 o'clock luncheon at the home of President and Mrs. Boostrom,
where they were met by two score of Austin's elite, after which
they were escorted to the college chapel, AA^here several hundred
expectant students gave them a rousing reception. When the
governor was introduced the students fairly Avent wild, for in
him they recognized one Avho had the same privations and had to
fight the same battles in the effort to gain an education.
During the summer of 1909 a ncAV department was added and
a ncAV building Avas built, knoAvn as the steam engineering
building.
In May. 1910, Vice-President A. F. Harpman sold' his interest
in the institution to William W. Meiners, who was a graduate of
the scientific course of the institi;tion and had also been one of its
former instructors in the teachers' department. In June of the
same year Professor 0. C. Heilman succeeded Professor Harpman
as vice-president and treasurer, and Professor W. W. ]\Ieiners Avas
elected secretary to succeed Professor Heilman.
AUSTIN COMMERCIAL CLUB.
In other days there have been vai'ious boards of trade, but the
present club had its beginning in 1903, Avhen the Austin Pro-
gressive League Avas organized. A preliminary meeting Avas held
November 18, at Avhich A. W. Wright Avas chairman and I. B.
Sherwood secretary. Fifteen Avere present. At the next meeting,
HISTORY OF :\[0\VK1{ {'OUNTY 2S1
November 25, a large number of professional and business men
Avere present and the following officers were elected: President,
A. W. Wright; vice-president, A. L. Ebcrhart; secretary, T. II.
Pridham ; treasurer, A. JM. Smith ; directors, J. D. Sheedy, Nicholas
Nicholsen and C. F. Cook; membership committee, F. II. McCul-
loch, Coyt Belding, John Skinner, E. P. Kelley and Dr. A. W.
Allen. Since then the presidents have been A. W. Wright, S. D.
Catherwood, R. R. Murphy, Dr. A. W. Allen and 0. J. Simmons.'
There are at present 176 members, and the present officers are:
President, O. J. Simmons; vice-president, J. S. Sheedy; treasurer,
F. C. Wilbour ; directors, F. E. Gleason, E. M. Doane, R. L. Stim-
son, L. W. Decker, W. L. Bassler and T. A. Revord. The club
associates Avith the ]\Iinnesota Federation of Commercial Clubs.
Its work has resulted in a general betterment of business con-
ditions in Austin. The club was sponsor of the paving movement ;
it has brought industries here ; it has fostered the Civic Improve-
ment League; it was active in having the beautiful hiunane foun-
tain erected here by the National Humane Alliance, and it has
helped to advertise the city in various ways. It has also been an
important social feature. The name was changed from the Austin
Progressive League to the Austin Commercial Club, Aug. 4, 1909.
When the club was organized the first few meetings were held
in Harmouia hall, at 115 East Bridge street. Rooms were later
opened at 325 North Main street, over the store of C. L. West.
The present quarters were occupied September 1, 1909, having
been ecpiipped for the special purposes of the club. Few com-
mercial clubs outside of the very large cities have more commo-
dious, comfortable and well-furnished club rooms. A glance at
the views presented will give a faint idea of Austin's commercial
club's quarters. The floors are of polished birch, the walls deco-
rated in old gold and green. The lights are tungsten lamps in
clusters. The woodwork is all old mission oak, and the furniture
is upholstered in leather. There are two pool and two billiard
tables and a shuffle-board in the amusement room, besides a dozen
card tables, the latter separated from the other by an old mission
partition four feet high. The amusement room is 50 x 50 feet.
The general assembly room is the same size as the amusement
room. Here the floor is covered with fine rugs. This room is
also used as a reading room. On the north and south sides of the
assembly room are consultation and conference rooms. There are
two telephone booths, each of which is provided with everything
necessary for recording conversation. There are also cloak rooms,
lavatories and everything to afford comfort and pleasure to its
members.
The business men also have an organization known as the
Austin Business Men's Association, which meets to determine the
282 HISTOHY OF MOWEH COrXTY
hours of closing the stores, for the discussion of matters per-
taining to their line of work. They are also members of a county
organization known as the Mower County Merchants' Association,
which has for its purpose mutual protection, collection of bills, etc.
Once a year the organization meets to listen to reports from offi-
cers and to addresses from able lecturers brought here for the
purpose of instruction in promotion of trade.
AUSTIN HOTELS.
Austin is a good hotel town. J]very traveling man Avho has
ever "made" the town will tell you so. The first hotel was estab-
lished here one year after the village was "staked out" in 1855.
A year later Austin had two hotels. The city grew up around
its hotels, and even today its hotels do much to advertise it.
First Hotel. The first hotel in Austin was opened by J. H.
McKinley early in 1856. Previous to this time the traveling
public had been entertained at private house and by B. J. Brown,
who kept a boarding house. McKinley purchased from Leverich,
who had also kept a sort of a boarding house, a frame building
located on the present site of the Windsor house.
The Snow House. In June, 1856, J. H. McKinley sold his hotel
to George E. "VVilbour and Solomon Snow, who took charge in
September of that year. This was then known as the Snow house,
and contained eight rooms. One of these rooms was large enough
for eleven beds, and was called the school section. Snow & "Wil-
bour managed the hotel until 1859, when Mr. Wilbour returned
east, and Mr. Snow occupied the house for a time as a private
residence. Afterward a hotel was conducted in the building by
various persons. The site is at the corner of Mill and Franklin
streets.
In 1876, George E. "Wilbour made the following remarks in
regard to his hotel: "I did not keep the first hotel. There were
three before mine, kept by Leverich, Brown and McKinley.
McKinley built the first building for hotel purposes erected in
Austin, on the present site of the Central house. Solomon Snow
and myself became proprietors of tliis building in 1856, by pur-
chase, after which it was known as the 'Snow house.' Although
I was not the first landlord in the place, I represent the first first-
class hotel. "We had four lodging rooms, and from twenty to
forty guests every night. To accommodate them we were obliged
to open 'the school section,' in which were eleven beds. Our beds
were filled with prairie hay. Our bill of fare Avas pork, biscuit
and dried apple sauce for breakfast ; fried pork, biscuit and apple
sauce for dinner; and about the same or some of both for supper.
But as it was first class, and as I do not wish to misrepresent,
HISTORY OF MOWEU COUNTY 283
would say we occasionally had a little fresh beef. From 9 to 12
o'clock every evening the boys held a literary sociable, consisting
of original recitations, interspersed Avith more or less music."
The Windsor House was completed on the site of the old Snow
house in 1866. It was a frame house, containing forty rooms and
veneered in brick. The site is now used for business purposes.
Lacy House. In 1857, J. S. Lacy built the second hotel in the
town. It was a two-story frame biiilding with an "ell" attached.
It occupied the present site of the Fleck house. Lacy sold this
house to Asa Brown, who in the fall of 1865 sold to a man named
Cole, who in the spring of 1866 sold to Jacob and A. M. Fleck,
who changed the name to Fleck house, raised the main part of
the building, and put in a basement and added a story to the "ell"
part. As thus enlarged it contaiiaed thirty rooms. In 1872 this
building was destroyed by fire.
The Fleck House. In 1872, A. M. Fleck erected the Fleck
house at an expense of $16,000. It replaced the old Fleck house
which was erected in 1857 as the Lacy house and changed to the
Fleck house in 1866, being destroyed by fire in February, 1872.
The edifice is a brick structure and three stories in height above
the basement. The building is seventy-two feet in length by forty
feet in width, with a Aving 28 x 32 feet. July 28, 1887, Mr. Fleck
sold the place to C. G. Ubelar, of Chicago. It passed through
various hands and is now occupied by the McCulloch printing
plant.
Davidson House. This house Avas built in 1857-58, by Joshua L.
Davidson, as a private residence. It Avas a commodious house
and AA-as used by him as a private residence until war times, when
he made an addition and opened it to the traA'eling public. He
managed it a year or more, then rented it to J. S. Lacy. In the
year 1870, Mr. DaA'idson made a large addition to the house. As
thus enlarged the house contains forty rooms. In 1872, Mr. David-
son again assumed the management of the house. He died there
about a year later. This house passed through various hands,
and Avas conducted for some years by Justice John E. Robinson.
Later part of it Avas moved to the northAvard by Lyman W. l^aird.
The Ilirsch block Avas built on the old site.
Railroad Hotel. This house Avas built by the Chicago, Mihvau-
kee & St. Paul Raihvay Company in 1872. It is a frame building,
brick veneered, tliree stories in height, and contains thirty-seven
rooms. It Avas first managed by John McConnell and Nathan
Hammond. After one year Hammond sold his interest to Joseph
McConnell. The jMcConnell brothers Avere succeeded by Ather-
ton & Sons ; they by SherAvin & French, and they by Hall & Hay,
Avho managed it from 1881 to 18S4. The lioti'l is at present con-
ducted })y Mrs. George H. Sutton niul is now known as tlie Depot
284 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUXTY
hotel. It has wide patronage, and Mrs. Sutton, who assumed the
management after the death of her husband, jMajor Sutton, is an
ideal landlady.
Mansfield House. The ^lansfield house was built in 1879 by
J. H. ]\Iansfield and opened by him late that year. It is a frame
building three stories in height, the front veneered with brick.
The house contains thirty-five rooms most conveniently arranged.
It is now knowTi as the Grand hotel and is conducted by B. E.
Shutt.
The Grand Hotel. This is a commercial and family hotel, well
situated and Avell conducted. B. E. Shutt, the genial landlord,
and his wife personally look after the comfort of their guests, and
the house is popular and well patronized. The rooms are airy,
well lighted and well kept, and the cuisine is excellent. The hotel
was originally called the Mansfield house and was built in 1879.
The Elk Hotel is a modern European hotel. Its rooms are
well furnished and supplied with running hot and cold water.
The cafe service is excellent. The hotel is pleasing in appearance,
both as to interior and exterior, and enjoys a good transient
patronage. The proprietor is "W. H. Nangle. The Elk hotel is
located on an historic corner, the site being the location of the old
Leverieh buildings. The hotel was built in 1909, on the site of a
livery conducted by B. E. Shutt. Burt Churchill Avas the first
manager.
The Fox Hotel is one of the leading hostelries in Austin. In
1890, Charles Fox came here and purchased land on the corner
of Water and Main streets. In 1893 he erected a fine brick hotel
and opened for business in October of that year. The hotel is
modern in every particular, and the geniality of the landlord won
a large patronage. Mr. Fox died in the spring of 1911. The
appointments of the hotel are excellent and the table and rooms
are all that could be desired.
The Harrington Hotel, a modern brick structure, is located
near the ]\rilwaukee station and occupies the site of a previous
hotel, which Avas a wooden frame building. The hotel does a
good business.
The American House and the Garman House are also num-
bered among the hotels of Austin.
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HISTOJfY OF MOWKi; COUXTY 385
CHAPTER XXII.
BANKS AND BANKING.
Story of the Growth and Development of the Financial Interests
of the County, Told by Nathan F. Banfield— First Bank in
the County — Banks of Austin, Grand Meadow, Le Roy, Lyle,
Adams, Racine, Rose Creek, Dexter, Sargeant, Brownsdale,
Waltham, Taopi — Summary of Banking Conditions in Mower
County.
The Bank of Southei'ii Minnesota was established at Austin in
the early sixties by A. L. Pritchard and A. M. Pett, and con-
tinued in business for about two years. It was followed in 1866
by the "Banking and Exchange Office of Harlan W. Page," who
came to Austin that year from his native state of New Hampshire.
He conducted this as a private bank for about two years, during
which time the business increased to such proportions as to
require additional capital to properly care for the needs of the
community. In the fall of 1868 he enlisted the interest of ex-
Governor Samuel Merrill, of Iowa, and his brother, J. H. Merrill,
of McGregor, Iowa, in organizing a new bank. Associated with
the Merrills in business at McGregor was Oliver W. Shaw, a
native of New Hampshire, who had known the Merrill brothers
and Harlan W. Page at Tamworth, in that state, before coming
west, and they sent him to Austin to look the field over. After
doing so he decided to unite with them in the banking business at
Austin. As a result of his decision and action, the First National
Bank of Austin, Minn., was incorporated and a charter granted
to it liy the United States government, October 27, 1868, with a
paid-in capital of $50,000. It took until the 15th of February
following to complete the organization details, and on that date
the new bank opened for business, having bought out and taken
over the private banking business of Harlan W. Page. The first
officers were O. W. Shaw, president, and H. W. Page, cashier,
and they, together with J. H. Merrill, N. P. Austin and E. 0.
"Wheeler, composed the first board of directors. The site selected
for the banking house was the northeast corner of Main and
Bridge streets, which has continued to be the First National Bank
corner. In ]\I^y, 1870, George F. Trenwith, who had been a book-
keeper in the bank, was chosen assistant cashier. In January,
1872, Edward A. Rollins, a capitalist at Philadelphia, and brother-
in-law of O. W. Shaw, having become a large stockholder, was
elected a director in place of J. H. Merrill. The bank continued
under the same management until July 1. 1885, when II. "\V. Page
28& II18T0KY OF M(JWP:H COU.XTY
disposed of his holdings and resigned as cashier to accept the
position of financial secretary of Carleton College, at Northfield.
Minn. He was succeeded as cashier by Nathan F. Banfield, whose
native place is West Roxbiiry, Mass., and who entered the employ
of the bank in March, 1879, through his acquaintance with E. A.
Rollins. He had been appointed assistant cashier in April, 1882,
and elected a director in January, 1884, succeeding George E.
Skinner, of St. Paul. In June, 1903, he was appointed vice-
president and cashier. In May, 1892, Herbert L. Banfield, of
AYorcester, Mass., who entered the employ of the bank in i\Iarch.
1886, was appointed assistant cashier, and in January, 1902, was
elected a director. In November, 1907, Henry J. Drost, a native
of Holland, was appointed assistant cashier and Avas elected a
director, he having entered the employ of the bank in April, 1887.
In 1902, Edward H. Sterling was elected a director, succeeding
his father, James M. Sterling, Avho had served in that capacity
for thirteen years, E. H. Sterling having been in the employ of the
bank since April, 1896. In January, 1909, Nathan F. Banfield, Jr.,
who entered the employ of the bank in August. 1904, was elected
a director. These men constitute the present officers and directors
of the bank, and by their faithful and conscientious attention to
its affairs have contributed in a large measure to its success.
The organization number of this bank in the national system is
1690 ; its first charter period of twenty years was renewed Octo-
ber 27, 1888, and the second, after forty years of business, was
renewed October 27, 1908, for a third twenty-year period. During
a career of forty-two years the bank has been most fortunate in
having as its head and guiding spirit its worthy and beloved presi-
dent, Oliver "W. Shaw, who is still active in its management. In
January, 1902, the capital of the bank was increased to $100,000,
commensurate with the increase in deposits. Its surplus fund is
also $100,000, and undivided profits are $30,000. The taxes paid
the county on capital and surplus average about $-±.000, and
for the year 1910 exceeded $4,200. Interest paid to depositors
for several years past on time deposits has averaged $15,000 per
annum. The business has steadily increased until the deposits
now average more than $900,000, having at certain times in the
year exceeded $1,000,000. The total resources March 7, 1911,
date of last report to the comptroller of the currency, reached the
sum of $1,312,301. Tliese figures show not only the extent to
which lliis bank ti-ies to fulfill its mission and perform its duty ti)
the community, the territory properly tributary to it. and its pat-
rons, wherever they may be, but they also plainly show how m\ich it
owes to its friends and patrons for their loyalty and confidence
during these many years. Owing to the fact of having surplus
and undividi'd ]>r()fits exceeding the capital, it occupies a place on
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, AUSTIN
HISTORY OF MOWKIf COUNTY 287
the roll of honor of The Financier, a distinction enjoyed by com-
paratively few banks in the state. In many instances Messrs.
Shaw and Banfield are doing business with the thirrl generation.
For this liberal patronage so long continued, they feel grateful
and express due appreciation and hope to merit its continuation in
the years to come.
Several young men who have served the bank for periods
varying from five to eighteen years, and did their part in pro-
moting its welfare, have been called to responsible positions in
other places, and to mention them may not be out of place : F. R.
Cordley. who became assistant cashier of the National Exchange
Bank, Boston, now Avith Charles R. Flint & Brother, of New York ;
T. W. Andrew, who went to the same bank, and is now cashier of
the First National Bank, Philadelphia; A. "W. Wright, who
became a lawyer and has been a practicing attorney of this city
for many years ; J. N. Nicholsen, who also became a lawyer and
is now a member of the law firm of Catherwood & Nicholsen, of
this city ; C. J. Sargent, who removed to Red Wing, Minn., where
he is cashier of the Goodhue County National Bank ; W. E. AYal-
dron, who went to Billings, Mont., where he is cashier of the
Yellowstone National Bank ; L. E. Wakefield, who became assist-
ant cashier of the Northwestern National Bank, of Minneapolis,
and is now treasurer of the Wells & Dickey Company, of that city.
The policy of the First National Bank of Austin has always
been conservative; it has adhered to true banking principles and
its officers haA'c concentrated their energy and attention to the
aflFairs of the bank, believing the public approved of that kind of
management and service ; and the position the bank occupies, and
the esteem in which it is held at home and Avherever it is known,
seems to confirm that theory as correct. It has passed safely
through the panics «of 1873, 1893. 1896 and 1907, and through
other hard and trying periods ; has always stood for solidity
and strength, and the people of Austin and Mower county take
.iustifiablc pride in this sound financial institution that has served
them so well for forty-two years. The First National Bank is a
designated depository of the United States and is strictly a home
l)ank, as its stock is all owned in Austin. The +ast published
statement of its condition, made to the comptroller of the currency.
]\rarch 7. 1911, is as follows:
Resources. — Loans and discounts. $729,32r).98 ; overdrafts.
.l!3.040.39; IL S. bonds to secure circulation, .'jilOO.OOO; V. S. and
other bonds, -I?! 37,828.-34 ; banking house. .+18,000; due from banks
and V. S. treasurer. .$242,356.04; cash on hand, $81,760.40; total,
.$1,312,301.65.
Liabilities.— Cai)iti.l paid in. $100,000; surplus fund, $100,000;
288 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
undivided profits, less expenses and taxes, $32,720.26 ; circulation,
$95,600; deposits, $983,981.39; total, $1,312,301.65.
The Mower County Bank was organized at Austin shortly after
the First Xatioual Bank, in the year 1869, by Sylvester Smith,
formerly county treasurer, of Austin; W. T. Wilkins, formerly
treasurer of Fillmore comity, of Preston, and J. C. Easton, a
capitalist of La Crosse, Wis., under the firm name of "Smith,
"Wilkins & Easton, Bankers." In the year 1882, Mr. Easton with-
drew from the bank, as well as from numerous other banks in
which he was interested in towns on the Southern Minnesota rail-
road; and Sylvester Smith having died, the firm was reorganized
by W. T. Wilkins and Fay R. Smith, a son of Sylvester Smith,
who had for some years been identified with the bank under the
firm name of "Wilkins & Smith, Bankers." They had built up
a good business and enjoyed a liberal patronage, and their depos-
its reached a total of $100,000, which was large for that time in
our history. Owing to unwise management and injudicious invest-
ments, coupled with the hard times experience at that period, the
bank failed, June 12, 1886, and passed into the hands of F. I.
Crane, receiver, who settled up its affairs.
The Austin State Bank was incorporated by C. H. Davidson,
G. Schleuder, F. I. Crane and R. E. Shepherd, February 1, 1887,
with C. H. Davidson, president; R. E. Shepherd, cashier, and
C. H. Davidson, Jr., assistant cashier. The bank had a paid-in
capital of $25,000 and opened for business in the building for-
merly occupied by the Mower County Bank. This was conducted
as a state bank until September, 1889, when the Austin National
Bank, of Austin, Minn., Avas organized and succeeded to the busi-
ness of the Austin State Bank. The first officers and directors
were : C. H. Davidson, president ; G. Schleuder, vice-president ;
Henry Birkett. cashier ; R. L. McCormick, R. D. Ilatheway, F. I.
Crane and C. 11. Davidson, Jr. The capital stock of the bank was
$50,000 and it first opened for business in the building formerly
occupied by the Austin State Bank. It occupied those quarters
until March, 1905, when it moved into its own handsome new
building at the northwest corner of Main and Bridge streets.
It has had during its existence but few changes in its official
corps, its first president being as stated above, who was succeeded
in 1895 by G. Schleuder. He continued as president until he
resigned in 1898, when C. H. Davidson again became president.
On the death of Mr. Davidson in September, 1901, F. I. Crane
became president and retained that position until January, 1909,
Avhen he was succeeded by C. II. Ross, of Minneapolis. The present
officers aiid directors are C. H. Ross, president ; C. II. Davidson,
Jr., and J. L. :\Ii1ehelI, vice-presidents; P. D. Beaulieu, cashier;
HISTOK'Y OF :\I()\VEI{ COUXTY 389
F. C. Wilbour, assistant cashier. These to^-ether with Klhcl I).
Mitchell constitute the directorate.
C. II. Ross became first connected with the institution in
January, 1909, in his present capacity. C. II. Davidson, Jr., has
been a director of the bank since its organization, becoming vice-
president in Januarj', 1909. J. L. Mitchell became assistant
cashier of the bank in January, 1890, and in December of the
same year became cashier, holding that position continuously
until his election as vice-president in January, 1909. P. D. Beau-
lieu, the cashier, was elected to his office in January, 1909, coming
to this city from Graceville, Minn. Following is the published
statement of its condition March 7, 1911 :
Resources. — Loans and discounts, $232,803.67; overdrafts,
$902.94; U. S. bonds to secure circulation, $50,000; other bonds,
securities, etc., $10,751 ; banking house and fixtures, $30,000 ; other
real estate owned, $55,817.69 ; due from banks and U. S. treasurer,
$79,901.68 ; cash on hand, $21,747.15 ; total, $131,930.78.
Liabilities.— Capital paid in, $50,000; surplus fund, $10,000;
undivided profits, less expenses and taxes, $7,647.19; circulation.
$48,800; deposits, $315,483.59; total, $431,930.78.
The Citizens National Bank of Austin was organized in May,
1893, by C. L. West. J. AV. Scott, M. J. Slaven, Seymour Johnson,
Jacob "Weisel and L. G. Campbell, and those men constituted its
first board of directors ; C. L. West being president ; M. J. Slaven,
vice-president; J. W. Scott, cashier; A. E. Johnson, assistant
cashier; the capital being $50,000. The bank purchased the
building at the northwest corner of Main and Mill street, of
C. L. West, formerly used by him as a dry goods store, which is
still their banking house. About two years later C. L. West sold
his interest and retired from the bank. L. D. Baird was chosen
to succeed him as president and director. He served as such until
his appointment as national bank examiner, when he sold his
stock and resigned his position. J. W. Scott was then elected
president and A. E. Johnson cashier. A. S. Campbell succeeded
L. G. Campbell as director, the latter having removed to Blooming
Prairie, Minn. The bank continued under this management until
in 1902 ]\Iessrs. Seymour Johnson and A. E. Johnson sold their
stock and withdrew from the bank. B. J. Morey, who had been
cashier of a bank in Chester, Iowa, was chosen cashier to succeed
A. E. Johnson, and he and Henry W. Lightly were added to the
board of directors. In 1903, Jacob Weisel sold his stock and
resigned as director. J. E. Crippen, who came from Ortonville.
!Minn., was appointed assistant cashier and became a director soon
after Mr. Morej^'s connection with the bank. With these officers
and directors the bank continued until the fall of 1908, when
^Messrs. Scott, I\Iorey, Slaven and Lightly retired as officers and
290 HISTORY OF MOWEIJ COUNTY
directors and transferred their interests in the bank to Eobert
Thompson, of Cresco, Iowa, and Lafayette French, P. H. Friend
and J. D. Sheedj% of Austin, who became directors of the bank.
In 1909 the control of the bank changed again and passed into
the hands of H. W. Hurlbut and Sam A. Rask, and they two,
with A. S. Campbell, Robert Thompson and J. E. Crippen, com-
pose the present board of directors, with H. "W. Hurlbut, presi-
dent; A. S. Campbell, vice-president, and J. E. Crippen, assistant
cashier. Vice-President Campbell is owner of Peerless Mills and
has been honored by various positions of trust by the people ; is
now serving as mayor for a second time. The officers are good
business men, and the bank en.joys liberal patronage and is con-
servatively managed, as the following last published statement of
March 7, 1911, shows:
Resources. — Loans and discounts, $119,552.35 ; overdrafts,
$2,487.72; U. S. bonds to secure circulation, $50,000; banking
house and fixtures, $20,326.15 ; due from banks and LL S. treasurer,
$48,603.89 ; cash on hand, $14,865.25 ; total, $255,834.56.
Liabilities. — Capital paid in, $50,000; undivided profits, less
expenses and taxes paid, $2,502.33 ; circulation, $50,000 ; deposits,
$152,876.82 ; reserve for taxes, $455.41 ; total, $255,834.56.
GRAND MEADOW.
The Exchange State Bank. The history of the original bank
in Grand i\Ieadow is a most unique one, as it was not the inten-
tion of the originator to go into the banking business. As a mer-
chant, C. F. Greening was engaged in the hardware business, at
the same time acting as paymaster for several grain firms. During
the fall of 1871 he paid his bills by draAving sight drafts on the
commission men in Milwaukee. In the spring of 1872, having
been elected to the office of town treasurer of the town of Grand
Meadow, which then included the town of Clayton, and some
$1,200 of fluids being turned over to him, he was at a loss what
to do with the money, not having a safe in which to keep it.
Being in Austin shortly afterward and transacting business witli
the First National Bank there, he noticed they used the Union
National Bank, of Chicago, and the Chemical National Bank, of
New York, as correspondents. He thought if those two banks
were good enough for the First National of Austin they Avere
good enough for him. He at once expressed the town funds to
tlie Union National Bank as his bank capital, and a check book
of fifty stamped checks was ordered. He paid eastern bills with
cheeks on the town money and paid town orders with store money,
and was now fully equipped to do an exchange business. The
merchants soon "caught on," and, instead of expressing money
irisToiJv OF M()\vi:i,' cocN'rv 291
or registering letters to pay eastern bills, they bought the new
bank cheeks. The farmers also found it convenient, and some
little deposits were left with the new bank. A good safe was
purchased, with time lock, and the bank was then named "The
Exchange Bank," and the rates then established for exchange
have never been changed. The Chicago correspondent was not
changed until the consolidation of the Union National Bank with
the First National of Chicago, the latter bank having since been
its Chicago correspondent. For thirty-nine years it has had an
account with the Chemical National Bank, New York. The bank
was run in this way until the spring of 1874, when F. K. Warner,
a brother-in-law of C. F. Greening, was added to the firm and
the business carried on mider the firm name of Greening &
Warner's Exchange Bank, until 1882, when C. F. Greening pur-
chased the interest of Mr. Warner and continued as sole owner
of the bank. The capital was at this time $5,000, and gradually
increased until 1906, when it had reached .$25,000. Having grown
to such proportions, it was deemed expedient to organize as a
state bank. This was done in December, 1906, and the incorpora-
tion took effect January 2, 1907, when the doors were opened as
"The Exchange State Bank." The first officers were: C. F.
Greening, president ; P. T. Elliott, vice-president ; Elgar F. Green-
ing, cashier; and they, with S. Y. Hyde, Henry Neumann, E. j\I.
Hoff, W. D. Lockwood, C. L. Engen, Adolph Stoltz and George
Kuhn, Sr., constituted the first board of directors. The capital
stock was $25,000, fully paid in, and the bank opened for business
in the same building that had been occupied by the Exchange
Bank for the previous twenty years, at 12 Main street. The
business increased so rapidly during the first three years after
incorporation that it was decided to build a new bank, which was
done during the year 1910, on the corner of Main and Second
streets. The new building, costing over $12,000, was occupied on
the 14th day of December, 1910, a beautiful structure, modern
in all particulars, built of Indiana Oriental brick and Lake Supe-
rior sandstone, 26% x 75 feet, full two stories and basement,
with hot water heating plant, storage vault below, two vaults on
the main floor, one for customers' safe deposit boxes, the other
for the bank cash and books. The ea.sh safe is one of the latest
improved manganese steel, screw door, triple time lock safes,
weighing nearly a ton and a half. In addition, the vault is
protected with the electric alarm system.
The present officers are: C. F. Greening, president; P. T.
Elliott, vice-president ; E. F. Greening, casliier, wlio has held tluit
office over twenty-one years, or since he was sixteen years of age,
being at that time the j'oungest cashier of a bank in the state of
^Minnesota. The present directors are C. F. Greening, P. T. Elliott,
293 lIlS'roiJY OF MOWEK COUXTY
E. F. Greening, C. L. Engeu, Adolph Stoltz, Henry Neumann,
W. D. LockAvood, W. R. Peyton, August Detloff. Sr., Frank S.
Ilambleton and Andrew Lybeek.
The present capital is $25,000; surplus, $4,000; undivided
profits. $1,964.78. The following is a statement of the bank as
reported to the superintendent of banks on March 7, 1911:
Resources. — Loans and discounts, $177,381.28; overdrafts,
$808; bonds and premiums, $16,320; banking house and fixtures,
$13,697.78 ; other real estate, $1,625 ; due from banks, $50,593.23 ;
cash on hand. $6.807.10 ; total, $267,232.39.
Liabilities.— Capital stock, $25,000 ; surplus, $4,000 ; undivided
profits, $1,964.78; deposits, $236,267.61 ; total, $267,232.39.
The capital of the bank remains the same as when incorporated
and has made annual dividends of six per cent, besides accumu-
lating a surplus and undivided profits of $5,964.78 in its four
years of life as a state bank. The policy of the bank has been to
render to the community all the usual facilities of a conservative
country bank, buying and selling exchange, making loans, col-
lecting and discounting notes and securities, fire and insurance
agents, selling passage tickets to and from Europe, and all other
business incident to banking. The bank does a safe, conservative
business and points with pride to the record of thirty-nine years
since its inception ; that it has always met every demand on pre-
sentation ; that it has never limited a depositor in his withdrawals,
but paid in full on demand, during panics and financial fli;rries,
Avhen many others did not. It is not one of the "get rich quick"
style of banks, but, like the walls of its new home, is one of the
permanent fixtures of Grand Meadow; and of the sixteen banks
in Mower county it stands sixth as to capital and surplus, third
as to deposits and loans and discounts, and fourth as to total
resources.
The Bank of Grand Meadow was organized as a private bank
ill the early seventies by IL M. Lovell, a merchant of that place,
and J. C. Easton, of La Crosse, Wis., who was interested in a line
of banks along the Southern Minnesota railroad. It was managed
by II. M. Lovell as cashier. This was continued for about ten
years, until J. C. Easton withdrew as a partner from the banks
with which he was connected, and H. M. Lovell not caring to
continue in the business, it was discontinued, Mr. Lovell devoting
his attention to his mercantile business in the firm of Lovell &
Sheldon, and to his land interests, the Exchange Bank then
oci-upying tlie field alone.
First National Bank of Grand Meadow. In 1904 the First
National P.aiik of Grand ^Meadow was organized by R. E. Crane,
G. A. Wright, Benjamin AVriglit, W. H. Goodsell and F. M.
Higbio, the first two named being president and cashier respec-
HISTOEY OF MOWElf COUNTY 293
tively. Capital, $25,000. They built a convenient banking house
on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets, and while
thought by some at the time of its organization there would
hardly be a field for two banks, they have worked up a very
satisfactory business, the other bank in Grand Meadow having
at the same time made a steady growth, thus showing the thriving
condition of the village and the prosperity prevailing in the
counti-y tributary. R. E. Crane has been succeeded as president
by Benjamin AVright, and he with W. H. Goodsell, vice-president,
G. A. Wright, cashier, and C. W. Higbie, assistant cashier, com-
pose the present officers. They have a surplus of $4,000 ; average
deposits, $120,000; average loans and discounts, $125,000, and,
considering the time the bank has been in business, it is making a
very creditable growth.
LE ROY.
In the early seventies a private bank was established at Le
Roy by G. L. Henderson & Co., bankers, known as the Le Roy
Bank. After a few years of not very active life it proved unsuc-
cessful and went out of business. It was followed by the banking
house of D. C. Corbitt, who conducted it until in the early nine-
ties, when he was succeeded by Strong, Farmer & Edwards, of
Spring Valley, Minn., a firm of private bankers, under the name
of Bank of Le Roy. This in turn was succeeded in 1893 by the
First National Bank of Le Roy, of which Wentworth Hayes was
president. M. T. Dunn, cashier, and A. J. Hayes, assistant cashier.
The bank has a capital of .$25,000; surplus and undivided profits.
$15,000; average deposits, $150,000, and average loans and dis-
counts of $150,000. Its present officers are W. K. Porter, presi-
dent ; M. J. Hart, vice-president ; A. J. Hayes, cashier ; Lynn A.
Porter, assistant cashier; M. T. Dunn having sold his interest in
the bank and removed to Brainerd, Minn., to engage in the
banking business at that place. It is a successful, conservatively
managed bank, and has a good record and standing in the
community.
In May, 1901, John Frank, C. Hambrecht, S. Englesen, W. M.
Frank, William Allen and F. E. Hambrecht entered the banking
business in Le Roy under the firm name and style of "Citizens
Bank," which they conducted as a private bank until January,
1904, when they incorporated the First National Bank of Le Roy,
into which the business of the Citizens Bank was merged, and
of which William Allen was president; C. IIaml)recht, vice-presi-
dent; W. M. Frank, cashier; Merrill Bowers, a.ssistant cashier.
The bank owns its building; has a capital of $25,000; surplus artd
undivided profits of $10,000; average deposits, $175,000; average
loans, discounts and bonds, $165,000. Tiie general policy of the
294 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
bank is conservative and aggressive. It is ably managed by its
strong directorate and present officers, the latter being C. Ham-
breeht, president ; F. E. Hambreclit, vice-president ; W. M. Frank,
cashier ; Merrill Bowers, assistant cashier ; and is liberally patron-"
ized, as the above figures indicate.
LYLE.
In 1892, A. H. Anderson opened the Exchange Bank of Lyle,
of -which he was sole proprietor and which he conducted as a
private bank for nine years. During the early part of that time
the business Avas moderate in volume, but gradually increased
until in January, 1901, it had increased to such an extent that it
was deemed advisable to incorporate the business and increase
the capital. Accordingly, the First National Bank of Lyle was
organized in January, 1901, by A. H. Anderson, L. W. Sherman,
F. M. Beach, A. B. Wilder, John Beach and J. H. Goslee, all of
these men being the first board of directors, the officers being as
follows: A. H. Anderson, president; L. W. Sherman, vice-presi-
dent; F. M. Beach, cashier. In 1908, Miss J. C. Reirson became
assistant cashier. The bank owns its banking house, at the corner
of First and Grove streets. The present officers are F. M. Beach,
president; L. W. Sherman, vice-president; R. A. Anderson, cash-
ier, and J. C. Reirson, assistant cashier. The directors elected
at the last annual meeting were F. M. Beach, L. W. Sherman,
R. A. Anderson, A. B. "Wilder and B. J. Robertson. The capital
is $25,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, $10,000 ; average depos-
its, $215,000; total resources, $260,000. It is an ably managed
bank, has been successful during its entire career, and has well
earned the confidence of the public.
ADAMS.
The tliriving village of Adams having been without banking
facilities until 1898, in January of that year Mrs. Sophronia Dean,
of Northfield, Minn., and J. G. Schmidt, a banker of that place,
together with William W. Dean, opened a private bank known
as the Bank of Adams, owned and operated by Dean, Schmidt &
Dean, with William W. Dean resident partner and active manager.
They purchased a lot and built an attractive, convenient banking
house, which they occupied as soon as completed. The business
was conducted as a private bank until January, 1906, when the
First National Bank of Adams was organized, into which the
private bank was merged. Its first officers were J. G. Schmidt,
president; W. W. Dean, cashier. Upon the retirement of J. G.
Schmidt, I\rrs. S. Dean was chosen to succeed him. The present
HISTORY OF MOWKi; COl'XTY •.'!).-.
officers and directors are as follows: Mrs. S. Dean, president;
Michael Krebsbach, vice-president; W. W. Dean, cashier; A. J.
Krobsbach, assistant cashier; and L. H. Carter, John II. Krebs-
bach and Warren H. Dean. The bank has a capital of $25,000;
surplus, $5,000; average deposits, $215,000; total resources,
$270,000. The First National Bank has been an important factor
in promoting the growth of Adams, has been a successful institu-
tioUj^aud has the confidence of the public.
RACINE.
This A'illage, located in the northeastern township of tlie
county, was without local banking facilities until the year lS!)cS,
when the "Bank of Racine," a private institution, was opened by
Silas Utzinger, C. F. Kumm and S. H. Hale, the active manager
being Silas Utzinger. In February, 1908, this private bank was
converted into the Racine State Bank, Avhich was incorporated
at that time by the same interests. The business has steadily
grown in volume, the bank now having capital of $15,000, sur-
plus $2,000, and average deposits $75,000. The present officers
and directors are Silas Utzinger, president ; Chris Schwartz, vice-
president ; R. "W. Chadwick, cashier; E. G. Utzinger, assistant
cashier, and C. H. Stephan, S. J. Sanborn, J. G. Schroeder and
J. F. Bollinger. Owing to their geographical location, many of
Iheir customers are residents of the adjoining counties of Fill-
more and Dodge. The bank has been a large factor in develop-
ing tlie interests of this prosperous community and enjoys a high
rating.
ROSE CREEK.
Augustus Vaux, a lumber merchant of Rose Creek, in company
'"ith F. M. Beach, John Cronan, C. ^^\ Lacy and E. W. Decker,
opened the Bank of Rose Creek, a private institution, with F. M.
Beach, president ; John Cronan, Aace-president, and Augustus
Vaux, cashier, in the year 1902. These persons sold their inter-
ests in the liauk to ]\Ir3. S. Dean, William W. Dean and Warren
H. Dean in February, 1906, and they conducted it as a private
institution until ]\larcli. 1908, when it was incorporated as the
"State Bank of Rose Creek." The following were elected officers
at tliat time and liave been re-elected annually: ^Irs. S. Dean,
president; John Cronan, vice-president; W. II. Dean, cashier.
The bank occupies its own building erected in l*t()2.
The following is a statement of the condition of the State Hnnk
of Rose Creek at the last call on ]March 7, 1911 :
Resources. — i.oans ;ui(l disenunls, $85,;i()5..'5() ; overdrafts,
$(;7<i.l2; r. S. and otlier lioiids, $12.iM)n; l.aidsing house and fix-
2dG HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY
tures, $5,085.21 ; cash on baud and in other banks, $27,596.75 ;
total, $130,723.38.
Liabilities. — Capital stock, $10,000; surplus and undivided
prolits, $1,646.97; deposits, $119,076.41; total, $130,723.38. This
J)ank is closely connected with the First National Bank of Adams,
having substantially the same shareholders, and the foregoing
figures tell their own story of the growth and healthy condition
of the bank.
DEXTER.
In October, 1902, F. C. Hartshorn, of Clarion, Iowa, who had
bought several farms in the vicinity of Dexter, together with his
son-in-law, D. L. Mills, and Lee T. Jester, of Grand Meadow,
organized a private bank known as the Bank of Dexter, with
$25,000. They built a handsome, convenient banking house, and
under the management of D. L. Mills as cashier, conducted the
bank for four years, during which time they worked up a good
business. In January, 1907, they sold the business to G. A.
AA^right and W. A. Nolan, of Grand MeadoAV, and Henry "VVeber,
Jr., F. M. Conklin and G. J. Schottler, of Dexter, Avho incorpo-
rated the business under the name of the First State Bank of
Dexter, with the above named gentlemen as directors, G. A.
Wright being president and F. M. Conklin, cashier. About two
years ago the stock held by Grand ]\Ieadow people, represented
by Messrs. Wright and Nolan, was sold and they retired from
the bank. Its present officers are Henry AVeber, Jr., president ;
G. J. Schottler, vice-president; F. M. Conklin, cashier; Theodore
Kramer, assistant cashier. Capital $10,000; surplus, $2,500;
average deposits, $80,000. The bank is i\-e]] patronized and doing
a successful business.
SARGEANT.
The Bank of Sargeant was organized as a private bank by
McD. AVilliams, of Dodge Center, and Thomas Doig, of Claremont,
and F. W. Blanch, son-in-law of the latter, they three being,
respectively, president, vice-president and cashier, who conducted
it until its sale in 1906 to W. G. Shaffer, of New Hampton, Iowa ;
W. H. Schoonmacher and F. AV. Smock, of Riceville, Iowa, who
incorporated it as the State Bank of Sargeant, witli AY. G. Shaft'er,
president, and F. AA^. Smock, cashier, the latter being the resident
and active officer of tlie bank. It has a capital of $10,000; surplus
and profits, $2,000; average deposits, $35,000. The bank occupies
its ov.'n building, having erected a new banking office two years
ago. Its owners ar" connected with banking interests in lowii
and stand highly in ib'-ir respective communities. It does a
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 2!>7
general baukiug, collection and real estate business, its lerritory
extentiing into the adjoining county of Dodge.
BROWNSDALE.
The Bank of Erownsdale was organized as a private bank in
February, 1904. with $.").000 capital, the co-partners being N. K.
Dahle, AVilliani AVaterraan, J. H. Ruprecht, M. Stephenson and
W. G. Weisbeciv, the first two named being president and cashier
respectively. In January, 1905, William "Waterman resigned as
cashier, sold his interest in the bank and removed to Nebraska.
George M. Shortt Avas chosen cashier to succeed him. In Feb-
ruary, 1908, having run as a private bank for four years,, the
business was incorporated and the name adopted was the State
Bank of Brownsdale. Its present oflicers are N. K. Dahle, presi-
dent ; M. Stephenson, vice-president ; George M. Shortt, cashier,
and they, together with F. E. Gerbig and W. G. AVeisbeck, con-
stitute its present board of directors. It has a capital of $10,000 ;
surplus, $1,100 ; average deposits, $50,000. It is a prudently man-
aged institution, and the progress it has made reflects credit upon
its officers and is evidence of the prosperity of the community it
serves.
WALTHAM.
The Bank of Waltham, a private bank, Avas opened by Vebleu,
Rask and company, in 1903, Avith a capital of $10,000; 0. A.
Veblen, president; O. P. Rask, vice-president, both of Blooming
Prairie, Minn., and at that time connected Avith the First National
Bank of that place, and C. E. Sanders, cashier. It Avas so con-
ducted until June, 1908, Avhen the Waltham State Bank Avas
incorporated, taking over the business of the Bank of Waltham,
A. A. Morsching having succeeded C. E. Sanders as cashier.
Built and owns its banking house ; is located in a thrifty German
settlement and doing a safe and satisfactory business. Has a
capital of $10,000; surplus, $2,000; average deposits, $40,000.
Present officers are 0. A. Veblen, of Minneapolis, president ; J. A.
Stephan, vice-president; L. S. Chapman, cashier; W. A. Clui])man.
assistant cashier, all Avell and favorably knoAvn, and the pub-
lished statements of the liank shoAV it to be in a prosperous
condition.
TAOPI.
In the spring of 1906 L. E. Bourquin, of Butler county, Iowa,
believing Taopi afforded a favoraldc opening for a l)ank. decided
to locate there, and in ^lay of that year oi)ened a private bank
called the -'Bank of Taopi,"' in the Aliemaii store Imiiding. whiT(>
298 HISTOPiY OF MOAA'ER COUNTY
they transacted business until the completion of the two-story
brick banking house erected that summer. In IMarch, 1908, the
bank was converted into a stat? organization, adopting as its
corporate name "The First State Bank of Taopi," the incorpo-
rators being W. F. Jordan, Tliomas Kough, P. J. Peterson and
L. E. Bourquin, with P. J. Peterson, president ; Thomas Kough,
vice-president ; L. E. Bourquin, cashier, and A. J. Bourquin,
assistant cashier. In October, 1910, L. E. Bourquin sold his
interest to G. W. Pitts, vice-president of the Bank of North-
Avestern Iowa, at Alton, in that state, and his son, G. S. Pitts, of
the same place, who then assumed the management of the bank.
Directors are P. J. Peterson, W. F. Jordan, Thomas Kough, G. W.
Pitts and G. S. Pitts, and the officers are G. W. Pitts, president ;
Thomas Kough, vice-president ; G. S. Pitts, cashier, and Gladys
C. Pitts, assistant cashier.
The last statement made to the superintendent of banks ]\larcl!
7, 1911, is as folloAvs :
Resources. — Loans and discounts, .^20,374. 79 ; bank building
and fixtures, $4,300; cash and due from banks, $10,475.17; other
resources, $77.27; total, $35,227.23.
Liabilities. — Capital stock, $10,000 ; surplus, $500 ; deposits,
$24,727.23 ; total, $35,227.23.
G. W. Pitts purchased about 2,500 acres of what is known as
the "Big Taopi Farm," and has erected new farm buildings on
some of the places, and is subdividing the large tract into smaller
farms, and is active in promoting the interests of that locality.
The Mower County Transcript, one of the oldest newspapers
published in Austin, for some time past has collected the state-
ments of the ditferent banks in the county and from them has
compiled a condensed statement of all the banks, showing their
capital and surplus, deposits, loans and discounts, and total
resources. The one taken from the last reports, made March 7,
1911, in response to the call made by the comptroller of the cur-
rency to the national banks, and by the superintendent of banks
to the state banks, is as follows :
Condition of Banks of Mower County, Minnesota, March 7, 1911.
fupita: an.l T.ital I.oins and
Surplus
First National, Austin $ 232.720.26
.\ustin National, Austin 67.047.1!)
Pitizens National, Austin r.2,n02.3.'5
First State, I.eRoy .Xi.OOO.OO
First National, LeRoy 30,000.00
First National, Grand Meadow. 2».63o.7.'>
ExchanBe State, Grand Meadow 29,000.00
First National, Lyle 33.223.28
First National, Adams 30,000.00
First State, Rose Creek 11,200.00
State Bank, Brownsdale 11,000.00
First State, Dexter 12.,->00.00
Waltham State. Waltham 12.200.(10
State Bank, SarKeant 12.000.00
Racine State Bank. Racine 37,000.00
First State, Taopi 10.000.00
Totals * (i2,VrTn".71 .$3,072,120.31 *.3,Sm4,4.3.-..69 .$2,389,885.1)0
Deposits
Resources
Discounts
983,981.39
$1,312,301.65
$ 729.325.08
31.'),483..')0
431,9.30.78
232.803.67
l.'-.2,876.82
255.834.50
119.552.35
160,840,5.')
204.543.71
151, 219,59
190.898.01
180,076.05
2:;:'. t.w, mi
lis, .-.(111. 57
236,267,61
217.200,99
2(!(1,424.--
173. ',1011. (17
214,40,1,51
ii;s.(iii4.;u
119,076.41
i:!i.7(;:!.44
.S.-,,:!I15.30
48,625.05
:!fi.(!S3.1t!l
82,324.28
'.I4,:!24.2S
i;4.o.si.4i
41,292.41
.-.3.5,s:{.:!i
44.173.8!)
29,014.68
41.12.3.25
29,713.11
74,966.75
92.347.63
,56,007.46
24,730.21
35.814.40
20,374.79
HISTOBY OF MOWER COUNTY 299
CHAPTER XXIII.
PIONEER GIRLHOOD.
Reminiscences of Mrs. Lyman A. Sherwood— Trip From Winona—
Incidents on the Way — Arrival in Austin — Austin as a
Pioneer Village — Fourth of July Celebration — Incidents of
the Early Days — Life in "Old Headquarters"— Work on the
Cemetery — Off for the Civil War — Indian Scare — Other
Anecdotes.
Austin is fortunate in having as a resident one who came here
as a girl, and has lived through the events wliieh have made
Austin what it is today. Spriglitly as a woman half her years, it
seems almost impossible that she saw Austin when but a cluster
of houses existed here. There have been few movements in
which she has not taken a part, and she is still in the prime of
her activities, loved by the few left Avho knew her as a girl, and
revered and held in the deepest affection by the younger genera-
tion. The following article by Mrs. L. A. Sherwood, formerly
.Vita Belle Albro, contains a few of her experiences, the hearing
of which when she consents to tell them gives so much pleasure
to her friends.
"Reminiscing" I find rather difficult, especially where on;i is
writing for others to read. The events of the past come crowding
so thick and fast that it is hard to clioose that wliicli will be the
most interesting. I find myself going back to the beginning, or
rather to the time Avhen the J. L. Davidson family, consisting
of father, mother and six children (the eldest brother being at
Oberlin college at the time), moved from AVinona, Minnesota, to
Austin. Moving in those days was not "altogether a thing of
beauty and a joy forever." There were no railroads and no easy
transportations. One thing we did have, and that was bad
roads and plenty of them. Having had a good bit of travel, for a
child of my age, before coming to Minnesota, both by rail and
l)oat, I was anticipating a great deal of pleasure in having a
four-day trip "overland." We were not going in a "prairie
Schooner" or with oxen, as many did. We had fine horses, and
with a part of our household goods well packed in two respect-
able looking wagons, and the two cows tied behind, we made a
very good appearance. It was on AVednesday, tlie 24th day of
31ay. 1857, that we left AVinona for Austin. Fatlier couldn't talk
of anything else. It was going to l)e another Cliicago right away.
Getting started rather late in the afternoon, we only went as far
as Stockton the first dav. 1 remember what a cosv little nest it
300 TITSTOllY OF :\IOWER COUXTY
looked, nestled in among the hills. 1 thought I wouldn't mind
staying there always. The weather was beautiful — birds wort-
singing, tiowers springing up all around, and the grass was liko
velvet, and I can remember as we drove along the next day how
I enjoyed the winding up and down, in and out, around and
about of that road that led us over the bluffs "and far away."'
We were to leave the bluffs Thursday, and I was enjoying every
minute of the time. We had our lunch at noon in a beautiful
spot between two bluffs. I had wanted several times during tlu'
forenoon to get down from the load and gather flowers, but no !
there was no time for that ; we were moving. So I made a hasty
meal at luncheon time and spent the rest of the time we were
to stop in gathering the flowers and moss I had so much wanted.
As we rode along on our "winding way" we could often touch
the bluffs on one side, while on the other look way, way down,
two or three hundred feet or more, and just discern a little stream,
trickling along, singing its own little song. When we were on
the top of one bluff we could look across and see where we would
be on the next one if we ever got there. I had been cautioned
when Ave started about sitting very still when I Avas on the load
alone, for the seat was just laid on, and so far I think I must
have remembered to "sit still," for nothing had happened. We
were on the top of the last bluff. The road down was very steep.
Father called and said "The wheels must be chained." So Ave
stopped, brother got down from the Avagon, and I was thinking
hoAv would we ever get down that hill, with the wheels chained,
and I Avanted to see how they chained the Avheels. So I leaned over
the side and down I Avent, and the next thing I knew I Avas going
doAvn hill at quite a speed. I Avas frightened, of course, but I luid
learned to roll down hill wiien quite a little girl at Susan B.
Anthony's beautiful home, Avhere I used often to vist with my
mother, and I thought as I found myself going doAA'n, "If I can
only steer aAvay from those big rocks perhaps I Avon't get hurt."
However, I think I must have been too much frightened to steer
straight, for I was soon caught in a clump of bushes. I picked
myself up and climbed to the top of tlie hill. iMotlier Avas so
frightened Avhen she saAV me fall tluit she jumped from the
wagon, forgetting all about the bird cage which she Avas carrying
and had dropped. She Avas going after me. Father saw I Avould
soon be in those bushes. So he held her back. After they found
1 Avas not liurt and the birds safe, they had a good laugh, very
nuich at my expense, I am afraid. The Avheels Avere cliained and
motlier and I Avere back in our places. Father told rae that here-
after I had better keep my face to the front and my eyes looking
straiglil jilipad. The idea of giving a child, and a girl at that.
sucli ail order! Regardless of the chained Avheels, we reached
HISTOUY OF :\rOWEI? COUNTY 301
the bottom of the hill in safety. The horses pricked up their
ears and started otf on a brisk trot. It looked like fair sailing
now, and as we had left the birds behind (except our own) we
began singing ourselves to while away the time. After a while
we began having little patches of mud. Then there were more
of them. They were larger, and deeper. The wagon would go up
on one side and down on the other. I was beginning to wonder
how father expected me to keep my face to the front and eyes
looking straight ahead, or stay on the wagon either, but I hung
on to something and did the best I could, for I hadn't had a father
A-ery long, and I confess I was a little bit afraid of him. Finally
these mud holes were so bad we couldn't get through them with
one team, so it took the four horses to pull the load through, then
they would go back and get the other load, and that is the way
it was the most of the time till we reached High Forest Friday
night. All this while we had had beautiful weather, but Saturday
morning there was a change. Clouds began coming. It wasn't
quite as warm, but we started bright and early, for it was our
last day. About 10 o'clock it was raining hard and growing
colder. The rain changed to snow and sleet. By noon we could
hardly see the horses, and they finally stopped and refused to
go any further. There we were, on that bleak prairie, not a tree
or shrub of any kind in sight, and not a house. There was one
''lone tree," as it was called, somewhere, but nowhere near us.
Anyone who has never crossed that prairie, in the old days, com-
ing from Winona to High Forest, don't know what they have
missed. As the horses wouldn't go another step, we concluded
to stay, too, and make ourselves as comfortable as possible. The
wagons were put together in shape of a "V," the cows tied close
behind and the hoi'ses close to the wagon box in front. Our
bedding was put in the corner and mother, Delia (sister) and T
and the birds were in and covered up with more bedding, and
told to keep still. We had tried to eat our lunch, but were so
cold it Avas impossible. I don't know just how long avc stayed
there. If seemed a very long time to me, probably an hour and a
half, when one of the boys said he believed he heard an empty
wagon coming. The storm was beginning to pass aAvay. and
soon a man with an empty wagon stopped beside us. He said he
was going our way, and the women folks could be put into his
wagon. This was done, bedding under us and bedding over us.
He said he had only to stop at Pierson's a minute, then he could
go right on. When the wagon stopped we knew we must be at
Pierson's. A man came to the wagon and said, "What you got,
Col])y, a load of hogs?" and began lifting the quilts. Very sud-
denly the quilts Av<'re dropped and we concluded the man didn't
like the looks of Colby's pork. Our stop was very sliort and we
303 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
•were soon on the way again. ]\Ir. C'olhy, the gentleman who had
befriended ns, lived two miles out of Brownsdale, towards Aus-
tin. AVhen wr reaehed his house we found it was tive o"eloek.
Fatlier ajid the boys came a Avhile after with the teams. It was so
late in the afternoon Mr. Colby thoutilit we had better stay
there till Monday, which we did. and were very grateful for the
kind otfer. AVe thought we never would get warm again. The
Colby home consisted of one room down stairs and one above.
There were three children-in the Colby family. Thinking of our
stay there in after years, I wondered how they managed to stow
us ail away at night, but they did, and Sunday afternoon there
was a Methodist class meeting there. "We could do anything in
these days.
Leaving the Colby family, whose hospitality we were so grate-
ful for, we reached Austin Monday morning al)out ten o"eloek,
the twenty-ninth day of May, 1857. We came into town by the
"Old Territorial road," now known as "Lansing avenue."' AVe
had a very good view of our future home. At the head of Main
street, where the Fox residence is, was the home of L. N. Griffith.
. To the Avest on "Water street, where the George Hormel residence
is, was the home of the Rev. Stephen Cook. That completed the
houses of any description west of Main street. ]\Iain street at that
time was nothing but hazel brush. There were no streets. One
could go where one chose. "We drove to the hotel kept by Snow
& AVilbour, the only hotel in the town, located on ]\Iill street, on
the site of the Williams house. To go the same way today would
take us through Murphey's dry goods store and tlie meat market
of John Briebach. Across from the hotel there were two or three
small buildings, one occupied by Yates & Lewis as a store. Dr.
Orlenzer Allen, the father of Dr. A. W. Allen, now here, luul ;i
drug store in the same building. A little further east on the
south side of the street, where the German hotel now stands, was
a log building, the home and store of Fathei- Brown. Water
street had a few buildings. J. C. Ackley lived where the express
ofifice now is, or a lot below. Then there were perhaps half a
dozen more going toward the river. A Mr. "Walters lived in one.
A Mr. Brown lived in another. Esquire Sylvester Smith and Dr.
and Lawyer Allen lived in others. Possibly tliere were a few
(itliers. "i'liei'e were three houses on Chatham street, where tlie
Elk hotel now stands. K. L. Kimble and his brother had a liard-
wai'e store in the first. The postoffice was also there, and llie
family lived in the second floor. The next store was that of
Sprague & ITanchett. The last was the home of Chauncey Lev-
ericli. I lliiiik these were all the buildings with the exception.
jiossilily, of one or two others right in the same vicinity. 1 liad
lal<en llieiii all in while wailing for father and mother to decide
HISTORY OF :\r0WElJ COUNTY ;'.<)•'>
what to do about ri'inaining at the liotel. Of course' 1 tlid iu)t
then kuoAv the naiiu's of the people, but learned them afterward.
And I am reminded right liere how the first Dr. Allen hap-
pened to make his home in Austin. In the fall of 1856 he started
from his home in Wisconsin with his wife and son George for
Faribault to locate. Coming by way of McGregor, they i-cachcd
Austin In- night. So they were obliged to stay here until tlic
next day. The hotel was so full they could not be accommodated
there. Mr. Snow took them over to a Mr. Brown's, son of the
merchant, living on Water street, where the large double house
now stands. Tliey found they could have a room for the night.
Tliey had been there but a few minutes when a man came for the
doctor to pull a tooth. This he did for fifty cents. The next
morning, while at breakfast, a man drove up to the door in great
haste. He said he had heard that there was a physican there.
He wanted him to go and see his wife, who was very ill. The
doctor being a very kind-hearted man, could not refuse. So he
went and did not go on his way to Faribault, as he had intended,
tlie next day. The result of this hurry call was that Mower
county had one more voter, and Dr. Allen decided to remain in
Austin, where it was apparent he was very much needed. Thus
he became our first physician and remained here for many years,
finally going back to AVisconsin, where lie felt that his duty
called him. When he left here he retained his property, thinking
to return. The time, however, never came, as he was called to
his eternal home. His son came a few years later, bringing the
dear mother with him. Mrs. Allen was one of our first callers,
and the friendship begun in those early days continued until the
day of her death, which was only four or five years ago, when she
was in her eighty-second year.
"But to resume," as "Samanthy"' says. We found after
going into the house that the people were glad to see us and glad
that we had come to town. But it was Monday morning, the
house was full and there was not much to eat, and to have seven
more come to dinner looked like a mountain to Mrs. Snow, as
she confided to us after we became better acquainted. We decided
to go over to the house. Father had bought a piece of salt pork
and potatoes from Mr. Colby, we had brought some provisions
with us, and thus could get om- own dinner. So we started cross-
lots again through hazel brush and I am afraid right through
"The First National Bank." But that did not matter in those
days. On reaching the building, mother did not know whether
to laugh or to cry. H looked like a great barn. The front below
was not inclosed. The stairs were on the outside. On going
ui)stairs we found one large room. Not a word was said, but 1
tliink father must have Iciiowii liow wi' felt, for lie said: "Well.
304 HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUNTY
this is the only place. We'll have to stay here till the house is
ready for us." Sis said: "Every back is fitted for its burden,"
so w.e went to work. The stove was immediately set up ; by noou
the table was set, and a good dinner ready to be eaten, and what
is more, seven hungry people ready to eat. By night we had a
very comfortable looking home. Carpets and sheets were used for
partitions, and if we didn't have all the comforts of life, we had
a place to stay.
We had brought with us quite a supply of provisions, half
barrel of butter, sacks of codfish, coflt'ee and everything in that
line, for father said it would be hard to get things to eat. What
we wanted most was fresh meats. Once in a while a farmer would
sell a pig, but unless one had ordered it or happened to get to the
man first when he came to town, one was not so sure of getting a
piece. The farmers hadn't many pigs to kill, and beef was out
of the question. Callers began coming the very next day after
our arrival. AVe thought it very kind in them to come and not
to be formal about calling, and then they had a curiosity to see
how we looked. They had been here all winter long and not a
new arrival. We found there was another reason in several
cases. Mrs. Kimbal was the first to come. How well I remember
her — her black eyes snapping, with the fun that was in her.
She stayed quite a while. Finally she said I like the looks of
those cows about as much as anything; don't you think you could
let me have milk right along? There was no reason why we
could not, so mother said yes, she could have it by the quart,
brother didn't know how much it would be as yet. ]Mrs. Kimbal
said she had been paying ten cents a quart all the time ; that Avas
what everybody paid. Mother thought if that was the case,
that's what we would charge, but it was terrible. The callers
didn't always want something to eat, but when they did they
knew they could have it. The boys were going to Winona every
week for lumber for the house, and they could always bring out
supplies of some kind, and in this we all did quite a bit of trading,
which finally led to our having a store of our own. No man
would go to the "river"' for goods of any kind unless others were
going. It wasn't safi>. Tlie roads were in such a terrible condi-
tion the ino.st of the time that they might find themselves going
lo China, and no one to help. So if there wasn't two teams to go
no one went, or it was very seldom one would start out alone.
And it was so easy to get out of things. One little incident T must
mention. Father came in one day and said : "Wife, have you any
darning needles?" Mother answered : '"* Yes, two or three. Why,
did you want them?" "No, T was just down to Brown's store; a
man from tlic country caiiic in for supplies, among tlicni darning
needles. Mr. Brown had but two; llie man wanted both. .Air.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 305
Brown woiildu't let him have both; it woukl break his assort-
ment, and besides someone else might want one. I lliought if you
didn't have any, I'd go and get that one."
The second Sunday we were here there was a terrific storm
came up in the afternoon. It came so quickly there was no time
to think what to do. We were all outdoors, mother, Delia and I.
We hurried upstairs as fast as possible, but could hardly get up,
the wind was so bad. We were in just in time to see the west
windows blown in. We couldn't keep the door shut, so I found
a stick and braced it against the door, then sat on it to keep it
in place. Milk pans were blown otf, shelves and everything went
lielter skelter. We expected the house would go over. The men
couldn't get upstairs, and they expected every minute to see the
building go over. Galloway 's new building blew down ; also Mr.
Ackley's new house, which was being built where the "Hub"
building now stands, was blown down, but we were spared any
serious accident. Every one in town was ready to come to our
assistance and vras watching our building till the storm had
We had a Fourth of July, too, that first summer. The exer-
cises were held somewhere near Kenwood avenue, west, under
the beautiful oaks, which at that time might have been taken for
a good sized orchard. We had a "fife and drum" to head the
procession. Esquire Smith was president of the day. Judge Allen
read the Declaration of Independence, Rev. Mr. Gurney gave the
address, Rev. Cook offered the prayers, and the singing was what
might have been expected from a much larger town. The singers
were Wm. Cook, John F. Cook, Rufus Kimble, John Hallot,
Quincy Andrews, Mrs. Dr. Wheat, Mrs. R. Kimble, Mrs. J. L.
Davidson and Hattie Adams. I was too small to be in the chorus,
but my hoop skirt was there, borroAved for the occasion and worn
by one of the ladies.
Flowers decked the speakers' stand, ciilled from nature's
green house. Everything had passed oft' finely. They had come
to the end of the program when the president arose to make his
last remarks, closing by saying, "We have been hearing about
all kinds of institutions this morning, now we will adjourn to the
bread-and-butter institution," when doAvn went the platform and
everybody on it. It had been built rather high, and not very se-
cure, and was so surprised with the amount of talent Au.stin had
displayed that it just collapsed. No damage was done. Every-
one felt so happy on that beautiful day that they were not going
1o let a little thing like that mar their pleasure. Ample justice
was done to the good things that had been prepared to make men
liappy. P('Oi)l(' came from far niid iicai-. witli ox teams, horse
icaiiis and on foot. 1o tliat first ••Fourth nf .Inlv " celebration.
306 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
Austin was always an adventurous town, it seems, adding
a good deal of spice to every undertaking. Austin had been
chosen the county seat, but we had to steal the records in order
to get them. These were hid under a bed for safe keeping until
the excitement had died out. The county treasurer did not know
what he could do for excitement, but finally decided to burn the
books. J. E. Willard, deciding to return east (or rather his Avife
deciding), determined to let his friend, Ed. Ford, have his office
as clerk of the court. Another man, however, went to Judge
Donaldson and got his official appointment, feeling quite gay that
he had for once outwitted someone. But when he wanted the be-
longings to the clerk's office, those holding them would not give
them up. Thus some time passed. Finally a plan was made by
which to get the desk and records, the desk being nothing but a
table about three feet long with a box containing a few pigeon
holes. The clerk's office at the time was in Galloway's store by
the front window, behind the counter. A customer was found
that would go some night after dark and purchase some goods
that was kept in the cellar. As one small lamp was the only light
kept in the store in the evening that light had to be taken to the
cellar. AVhile the parties were in the cellar with the light, Allen
Mollison jumped over the counter, which was quite near the door,
and the "clerk's office" was easily lifted over the counter and
went to its new home. Everything seemed to be all right, but
the "seal." That could not be found, and it was some time be-
fore it was found. Then in some mysterious way it came to light
again and was hid in a pile of calicoes in ^Irs. Davidson's store,
till it was thought safe to produce it.
The first concert given in Austin was by the Sherwood broth-
ers, assisted by John Hallot, a yoiuig gentleman living in Austin
at the time. It was given in Headquarters the latter part of July,
1857. A little later a- family by the name of Baker came and
gave us a treat in the musical line. So from the first Austin has
always been called a musical town.
The women of Austin have always been foremost in work for
the betterment of our town. How Avell I remember the time when
a meeting had been called at our house for forming a society, by
which, in some way, we could earn money to purchase grounds
for a cemetery. There had been several deaths here and no place
to bury our dead. The society was formed and called the "Ladies'
Mite Society of Austin." The men, hearing of what we had done,
thought it time for them to go to work. This they did, and they
purchased the ground that is knoAvn as the old part of the
cemetery. A very small portion up in front was surveyed and
laid out in lots. The ladies took the work of fencing the ground.
The men did nothing more towards finishing the survey or lay-
lllSTOlfY OF :\rOWEI{ COUNTY :50T
ing out the vest of the blocks. Several years passed. When the
ladies thought it was time again for them to do something, we
decided on a day (I think it was a day in September, 1864) for
work on the cemetery grounds and invited the men to help us.
We were to give them their dinner and supper. Early in the
morning of the day appointed one could see men and women
carrying implements of all kinds, wending their way to the
cemetery, and all day one could see men and women working,
the women driving stakes, holding chains, picking brush and
burning it. The dinner and supper were served across the street
in the yard belonging to AVilliam Crane. Austin certainly looked
like a deserted village that day, and the work which the ladies
begun has been kept up till now we have one of the most beauti-
ful resting places for one's loved ones "gone before" in Minne-
sota.
Shall I ever forget the day the little company of men, headed
by Captain Mooers, marched into town ? It was known they were
coming. A "war meeting" was to be held in the afternoon, and
I had thought to have my little school dismissed before they ar-
rived. But when the sound of that "fife and drum" broke upon
our ears we all rushed to the door, pupils and teacher, and we
were there ready to receive them. So they came to a halt before
the door, and it is needless to say they were received with cheers
and the waving of handkerchiefs from the little band of scholars
that were there to receive them.
Before that company of soldiers left town that night their
numbers had been increased by several of our own townsmen,
and many will remember that that brave captain was one of the
first to fall for "his country" in a very few months after going
to the front. The ladies of Austin purchased a silk flag for the
company with the names of the donors printed upon its silken
folds. It has been through many a battle, but never was trailed
in the dust. It was brought home by the captain, George Baird.
after the close of the war and is now in Mrs. Baird 's possession.
The people who lived in Austin in October. 1862. will never
forget the night we expected the Indians and they didn't come.
We made great preparations for them and posted our sentinels
on the outskirts of town. The blacksmiths were running bullets
all night. A company had just been raised in Austin and the
towns and country around and had gone to reinforce General
Sibley, who was then fighting the Indians, so our force of men
was not as large as it would otherwise have been. We had brave
ones left, however, and they worked with a will. Nearly all
thought it not possible for the Indians to got here, but the people
were coming in so thick and fast, hotel and private houses filling
and manv would not leave tlieir wagons for fear they would not
308 IIISTOKY OF MOWEK COUNTY
reach them in time to get away. When the Indians did come,
such a frightened lot you never did see — children were brought in
half dressed, women with no shoes on, or perhaps one shoe. It
was enough to frighten anyone, knowing what had just been done
around New Ulm. Father and mother were away and would not
return till next day, so sister and I were all alone. We had
friends that came to stay with us and finally two or three families
that came to the hotel and couldn't get in wanted to come to our
house and we were glad to have them.
Mr. Ackley told me if I could get father's papers and our
small silver in any shape that wouldn't take up any room I had
better get them ready; we would want some quilts, he would
have his horses ready and could take all that was at our house
if the Indians should come. I put three dresses on my sister and
three on myself, put the silver and papers into two towels, sewed
them securely, then put one on Delia (my sister) and I wore one,
bustle .shape, and in that condition we waited and waited. Three
shots in quick succession was to be the signal. Sometime after
midnight the first one came. We were at the door in an instant,
each with a bundle of silverware. But the other shots were never
heard and about daylight, after much pleading and many tears,
I allowed Delia to take off some of her extra adornments.
And so ended our Indian scare.
In looking over the past fifty-four years and thinking what
Austin was and what she is today we feel we can well be proud
of our little city. We have never had a boom and for many
years had no railroad. We had a great many things to contend
Avith, but we have come out of the fray with our banners flying
and we are a "city of homes."
Of the J. L. Davidson family that reached Austin on the
twenty-ninth day of ]\Iay, 1857, only two remain. The rest are
lying in our beautiful Oak Wood cemetery, waiting. The two
are : Adella Davidson Mandeville and Alta Belle Albro Sherwood.
H1ST01{Y OF :\rOWER COUNTY im
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
Introduction by Gertrude Ellis Skinner — Story of the First
Newspaper in the County — History of the Founding, Growth,
Development and Present Status of the Journals of Mower
County.
The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow. Kdilor.->
seldom think they write history. Your copy of the local paper
may be used to wrap the family laundry, cover the pantry shelf
or be placed under the carpet. In a month from the time a
newspaper is issued, it would be difficult to locate a single copy,
but in the newspaper office itself, it has been preserved and placed
upon file. These files become an asset of the office and increas«
in value as the papers become yellow with age. Here in the
musty volumes is found the history of your toAvn, your county,
your state. The history of this county could not be written were
it not for the records of newspaper files. The State Historical
Society recognizes the value of newspaper history and a complete
file of every newspaper in the state is kept by the Historical
Society. Inaccurate history, do you say? Perhaps so, and yet
the most accurate it is possible to get, and infinitely more nearly
accurate than almost any other historical source. The editor of a
newspaper not only means to get correct information but uses
the source method for every important article he prints. Each
day, if he edits a daily, each week, if a weekly, his effort stands
before the bar of pul)lic criticism. His critics are those intimately
concerned in the articles published. They do not trust to memory,
hearsay, legend or tradition. They are eye or ear witnesses or
star actors in the passing drama. They surely are trustworthy
critics. With them the newspaper must pass muster. If facts
are not stated correctly, they are corrected. What other history
could stand this crucial test? The newspaper that is not substan-
tially accurate, cannot and does not live. Time gives authen-
ticity. Criticism is forgotten, minor inaccuracies overlooked and
the newspaper record stands as the accepted history of an event.
A newspaper is not mere gossip. It is a record of passing events.
Reports of buildings, new industries, biographies, social events,
religious movements, births, deaths, politics, policies, honors tlial
come in people, crimes which blacken our record, onward and
backward moves in pr-ogi-ess, disasters, amusements, accidents,
epidemii-s — all make up the newspaper liistoi-y of a coimnunit \ .
It is the niiri-or of life as it is dailv liv.'d here and now.
310 HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUXTY
The newspaper is everywhere recognized as the adjunct of
civilization. The new town, however far removed from the busy-
marts of trade, clamors for a newspaper. Never satisfied until it
gets one, and never satisfied after it has one. The newspaper is
the nucleus of criticism for the entire community. Everyone
knows how it should be run better than the editor. Its policies
and its literature are criticized and yet people want it and at
heart are loyal to it, for they recognize its value. They read it
and M-ant it to push along movements they are interested in.
A religious revival, county fair, market day, civic improvement
measures, new policies or politicians — all need the newspaper to
give them an impetus. The press must arouse the people.
Through no other avenue can so many be reached. A mass meet-
ing can touch but a mere handful compared with the numbers
reached in each issue of a newspaper.
The more progressive a community, the more they read news-
papers. Mower county has always been a good field for the press,
because of the intelligence of its people. There are but few
families in the entire county where the local newspaper is not
read. It is an interesting fact that this county has never had a
newspaper printed in a foreign language.
Mower county has eight newspapers — seven weeklies and one
daily. They are : The Grand ^leadow Record, The LeRoy Inde-
pendent, The Adams Review, The Lyle Tribune, The Mower
County Republican, The Mower County Transcript, Tlie Austin
Weekly Herald, The Austin Daily Herald.
AUSTIN.
]\rower County ]\Iirror — Mower county had been organized
about two years before a paper was printed wathin its borders.
Several etforts were made to secure the establishment of a paper,
but each failed. Finally, David Blakely, who was then publishing
a paper called the Pioneer, at Bancroft, Freeborn county, was
induced to come to Austin and establish the IMower County
Mirror. The consideration of this removal, it is said, was the
election of Mr. Blakely to the office of register of deeds of Mower
county. Bancroft, where Mr. Blakely had been engaged in the
publication of the Pioneer, was an embryo village, located a short
distance northwest of Albert Lea. It was then a competitor
against Albert Lea for the county seat honors, and Mr. Blakely 's
paper took an active part in the tight which, however, ended in
the securing of the coveted prize l)y Albert Lea. Early in the
fall of lsr)S, tli(^ office was removed to Austin, and with the same
malerial, tin- Mower ('(Hiiity ^lirror was l)rouglit into existence.
The heatl of liie new paper was delayed in reaching here, and
HISTOEY OF MO WEE COUNTY 311
for several weeks the paper was issued at Austin, hearing the
old head, "Bancroft Pioneer." C. H. Davidson rolled the forms
and set type for the first issue of the Mirror, being then a lad
of eleven years of age. During the years 1859 and 18()(), Mr.
Blakely held the office of register of deeds and continued the
publication of the paper. Finally, early in the fall of 1860, he
removed the press, type and material to Rochester, and tliere
established the Rochester Post.
The Minnesota Courier. — After the publication of the Mirror
ceased Mower county was without a paper for several months.
The want of a newspaper, however, was soon supplied by the
establishment of the Minnesota Courier. The first issue made its
appearance December 5, 1860, as a six column folio, all published
in Austin. The founder was B. F. Jones. Among the home adver-
tisers in the first issue were the following: Attorneys, Aaron 8.
Everest, Allen & Shortt, D. B. Johnson, Jr., G. M. Cameron.
Physicians, Drs. J. N. Wheat and Orlenzer Allen; T. J. Lake,
county treasurer; Piper & Hunt, blacksmiths, J. S. Lacy, hotel;
S. AV. Rice, blacksmith; H. B. Kimball, painter; G. W. Bishop,
sherifl!; E. Parleman, jeweler; H. S. Holt, wagon maker; and
G. "\V. Mitchell, cabinet shop. The publication of the Courier was
continued until January 4, 1864, when it ceased to exist. The
editor, B. F. Jones, had gone into the service, and his father,
William C. Jones, took charge and managed the paper for some
time previous to the last issue.
The Austin Register. — The first issue of the Mower County
Register made its appearance July 2, 1863. H. R. Davidson was
editor and proprietor. The paper was then a six-column folio
sheet, all printed at home. The subscription price was .$1.50 per
year. Among the advertisements in the first issue were the fol-
loAving: W. Truesdale, farm machinery. Allen & Shortt, Aaron
8. Everest and H. R. Davidson, attorneys. H. Jacobs, manufac-
turer and dealer in ready-made clothing. J. S. Lacy, proprietor
Lacy House ; V. P. Lewis, hardware dealer. Lansing advertise-
ments : Hartly & Sons, plow manufacturers and blacksmiths.
"AVestern Home House," S. T. Wells, proprietor. E. F. Arm-
strong, manufacturer of men's boots and shoes. Brownsdale
cards: Thomas Allred, boot and shoe store. Heath House, R. C.
Heath, proprietor. One of the local items in the second issue was
the following: "AVe want no Jeff. Davis!" H. R. Davidson con-
tinued the management of the paper until his death, wliich
occurred ^May 4, 1864. At tliis time C. H. Davidson, a l)r()tliti'
of the foimder, took charge of the paper, and shortly afterward
the firm name "C. H. Davidson & Co." appeared at the mast
liead. In the issue of July 14, 1864, it is announced tliat James T.
Wheeler, of St. Cliarles, III., had become associated with Mr.
312 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Davidson in the publication of the Register. The firm became
Davidson & Wheeler. The new member of the firm did not, how-
ever, remove to Austin, and in a short time his connection with
the paper was severed. After this C. H. Davidson continued to
conduct the Register alone, until August, 1868, when H. 0. Has-
ford purchased a half interest in the paper, and the firm of David-
sou & Basford Avas formed. In April, 1871, D. AY. Craig became
a partner of Davidson & Basford in the publication of the Reg-
ister. June 29, 1871, the name was changed to the Austin Register.
Davidson & Basford continued the publication of the Register
until June 13, 1878, when that firm was dissolved, C. II. Davidson
selling his interest to H. 0. Basford. After retiring from the
Register Mr. Davidson purchased an interest in the Transcript.
In August, 1883, the Register office, with the balance of Basford 's
brick block, fell to the ground, causing a great loss to all the
owners. The cause, it is supposed, was the poor quality of stone
used in the foundation of the building.
]\Ir. Basford ran the paper alone until January 12, 1899, when
he took his son Harry into partnership. In 1901 the paper Avas
leased to S. SAveningsen, then postmaster, who ran it for a year
AAnth W. 6. Cameron of Winona, as editor. H. 0. Basford & Son
then resumed management. Mr. Brooks purchased an interest
and the firm became Basford, Brooks & Basford. INIr. Brooks
remained but a short time. The next change came Avhen Johu
Bingham purchased a half interest and the same year the Basfords
sold their interest to W. J. Tyler. Mr. Bingham retired and I\Ir.
Tyler ran the paper until May, 1908, AA'hen the Register suspended
publication. A daily Avas published from December, 1890, until
1908.
MoAver County Republican. — The equipment of the Register
Avas purchased by Miss Jennie Keith and Paul C. Keith and the
neAV publication called The MoAver County Republican started
August 21, 1908, Avith Keith & Keith as editors. The next April
]\Ir. Keith Avent to Adams to assume charge of the Adams RevicAv.
Avhich the firm had purchased, and Miss Keith took sole charge of
the Republican.
MoAver County Transcript. — This paper made its first appear-
ance on April 16, 1868, at the village of Lansing. It Avas then a
seven-column folio, neatly printed and edited. Cohvell Brothers
AA'ere the publishers, and A. J. Burbank editor. Those were the
most bitter days in the history of Mower county, and the Avarfare
of the "Page" and "anti-Page" factions, as they Avere called,
brought Mower county into notoriety throughout the Avhole West.
The Transcript Avas started in the interest of the Page faction, and
the Register assumed the "anti" side. A few years later the
Transcript changed its vieAvs and both papers vigorously prose-
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 01 3
ented a common cciiise. A few Aveeks after the first issue tlie name
of Sherman Page is hoisted at the head of one of the columns as
editor of the teacher's or educational department. At tliat time
he was county superintendent of schools. A few months later the
name of A. J. Burbank was taken from the columns as editor, and
the Colwell Brothers are stated to have succeeded Mr. Burbank.
Still later it appears that Prof. J. H. Johnson, Mrs. Maria Doolittle
and Ella Cook had charge of the educational columns.
The Transcript was published at Lansing until the issue on
December 17, 1868, which was dated at Austin, the office having
been removed to that place. The Colwell Brothers remained in
charge of the paper until the issue of April 1, 1869, when it
passed into the hands of Colwell & Boardman. The former,
A. N. Colwell, was the senior member of the old firm of Colwell
Brothers. A few weeks after the change of proprietorship the
paper was enlarged to a nine-column folio. For several months
during the summer of 1869, the paper was run without any name
or names at the head of its editorial columns, but finally in the
issiie on September 30, 1869, the announcement is made that
"George W. "Wright assumes the editorial and business manage-
ment." He retired with the issue of November 25, 1869, and was
succeeded by George H. Otis. At this time the Transcript was
owned by what was called the Transcript Company. George H.
Otis, who succeeded Mr. Wright, conducted the paper alone until
the issue of March 2, 1871, when Col. C. A. Lounsberry secured
a half interest in the paper, and the firm of Lounsberry & Otis
was formed. I\Ir. Lounsberry took the editorial and i\Ir. Otis the
business management. Col. Lounsberry remained with the Tran-
script until May 25, 1871, when he withdrew.
After the withdrawal of Colonel Lounsberry, George H. Otis
continued the management of the Transcript until August 31,
1871, when the paper was purchased by A. A. Harwood. Mr.
Harwood owned and conducted the Transcript for a number of
years. On July 23, 1874, the paper was changed to an eight-
column folio, having for some years been smaller. During the
spring of 1877, S. C. Eldred became associate editor and business
manager. Mr. Harwood had become postmaster of the Austin
office, and ^Ir. Eldred, who had been foreman of the office, was
taken into partnership. His connection with the paper in that
capacity, however, was brief, and IMr. Harwood again assumed
sole charge. In this shape the paper was continued until the issue
on June 13, 1878, when the paper and outfit was purchased by
C. II. Davidson and J. N. AVheeler, and the name of th<' firm
Davidson & Wheeler appears at the head of the columns, succceit-
ing lliat of A. A. Harwood. ^Ii-. Harwood was a treucliant writer
314 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
in one of the stormiest political periods in the county's history.
He died at Washington, D. C, August 17, 1884.
Davidson & Wheeler conducted the paper until January 2, 1879,
when C. H. Davidson purchased his partner's interest. ^Ir.
Davidson sold to Parke Goodwin and C. L. Barnes Decemher 17,
1886, and they sold to S. S. Washburn and N. S. Gordon of
Waseca, April 1, 1887. The paper was changed January 14, 1S87,
to its present form of eight pages, six columns. Mr. AYashburn
sold his interest to Mr. Gordon December 25, 1889, and Mr.
Gordon erected the two-story brick block on Mill street, still occu-
pied by the Transcript. In April, 1891, the Transcript became
all home print. October 16, 1893, Mr. Gordon sold a half interest
to C. D. Belden and devoted himself to the mechanical depart-
ment. ]Mr. Belden bought out Mr. Gordon December 10, 1898,
and has since been editor and sole proprietor.
The Austin Herald. — In 1881 the Mower County Democrat
was first issued, with Campbell & Hunkins as editors, Mr. Camp-
bell, whose home was in Spring Valley, running a Spring Valley
department. In May, 1890, A. B. Hunkins, who was then running
the paper alone, conceived the idea of issuing a paper every
Saturday evening and delivering it by carrier to the various
homes in the city. The plan was to be tried for three months
and the subscription price 25 cents. The paper mXist have
proved popular, for on November 9, 1891, the Austin Daily
Herald was issued. It was printed in a large room, on the second
floor of the brick building, corner of Water and Main streets. In
August, 1892, F. H. McCulloeh bought a half interest in the job
department. Mr. Hunkins secured a site at the head of Main
street and erected a small frame building of peculiar style of
architecture, which was the home of the Herald until 1890, when
a lot was purchased on Lansing avenue and a three-story brick
veneer building, 16x24, erected. Mr. Hunkins was appointed post-
master and Mr. McCulloeh ran the paper for one year, from Jan-
uary, 1895, to January, 1896. During this time the daily issue
was discontinued and only the weekly edition, the IMower County
Democrat, issued.
On January 13, 1896, F. H. McCulloeh bought the job depart-
ment and C. F. Ellis and Frank Roble the newspaper. The pub-
lication of the Daily Herald was resumed and under different
ownership has been published continuously since. October 1,
1897, John H. Skinner, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, bought Frank
Roble 's interest and for a year and a half Ellis & Skinner were
owners and publishers. Under their management the politics of
the paper changed from Democratic to Independent Republican
and the name of the weekly publication was changed from the
IMower County Democrat to the Austin AVeekly Herald.
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY ;315
July 1, 1899, Mr. Skinner became sole owner by purchase of
Mr. Ellis's interest and ran the paper with his wife, Gertrude
Ellis Skinner, as associate editor, until December 1, 1907, when
Fred C. Ulmer purchased a half interest and under the owner-
ship and management of Skinner & Ulmer both publications of
the Daily and Weekly Herald are at present issued.
The Herald has outgrown its quarters, which were ample ten
years ago, and has built a new building of cement stone, includ-
ing the old building and exactly twice its size. Two type-setting
machines (Typogx'aphs) have replaced hand composition and a
new Duplex "Web Perfecting Press has been installed.
The success of the Herald has demonstrated that a newspaper
can be run independent of the financial aid of politicians or a
political party, as the Herald has never taken money in politics,
and therefore claims its title of Independent with some pride.
The Austin Democrat. — This newspaper was first issued July
8, 1868. The founders were Isaiah Wood and Milo Lacy. The
paper was an eight column folio sheet, all published at home and
Democratic in politics. The firm of Wood & Lacey continued the
publication of the Democrat until February 23, 1870, when Milo
Lacey, on account of ill health, withdrew from the firm, and was
succeeded by a Mr. Cook.
On October 11, 1870, Isaiah Wood, the senior editor of the
Democrat, after a prolonged illness, died of quick consumption,
aged a little over twenty-eight years. In November, Milo Mc-
Whorter purchased the Wood interest in the Democrat, and the
firm became McWhorter & Cook. In a short time, however, Mr.
McWhorter became sole proprietor and conducted the paper alone,
until its publication was suspended. The last issue was that of
July 12, 1871.
The Independent. — This paper was established at Austin on
August 26, 1874, by B. F. Jones, formerly editor of the Minne-
sota Courier, as editor and publisher, and G. W. Haislet, pro-
prietor. The publication of this paper was continued until May,
1875, when it died.
The Mower and Fillmore County Republican. — The Mower
County Republican appeared August 27, 1875, printed at Preston,
Minn., with T. F. Stevens as editor and A. E. Meigs, business
manager. Five or six weeks thereafter Maj. W. A. Hotchkiss re-
moved the Fillmore County Republican to Austin, and consoli-
dated with the first named paper, as the Mower and Fillmore
County Republican.
The Austin Times. — The Times was started in June, 1895, by
Tom Hutchinson, who ran same as "Hutchinson's Times" until the
first of February. 1896. when he deserted the paper. The plant
was purchased under cliiittrl mortgage foreclosure by S. II. Ilar-
316 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
rison, who then took possession of the paper and plant, issuing the
first number February 22, 1896. He remained as its proprietor
from then until February, 1903. During this time it was for two
years the official paper of Mower county and also issued from the
same plant a morning daily for about six months — from May,
1901, until November of the same year, when the plant was
burned. In February, 1903, E. B. Kottek and John Jensen be-
came the editors and proprietors by sale and published the same
until the fall of the same year, when the publication and the plant
became the property of the holder of the mortgage, Ira Padden.
The LeRoy Independent. — This newspaper was founded by a
man named Haynes in 1875, as the "LeRoy News." He continued
it for about six months and sold to C. B. Kennedy, who was its
editor and proprietor for three years and then leased the office to
James A. Henderson, who managed it a year, with C. F. Burdick
as assistant for about three months. J. S. Bishop then purchased
the office and operated the same nearly three j'^ears, and then sold
to J. McKnight, who took possession April 16, 1883. After J.
IMcKuight there were several changes. Then came S. C. Wheeler,
B. T. Barnes and A. E. Pennell, successively. William M. Frank,
John Frank and C. F. Hambrecht then owned the paper for a
while. They sold to S. E. Brouson, and after him came Harlan
G. Palmer, Avho in February, 1908, sold to Ralph Prescott, the
present editor.
Grand Meadow News. — The first newspaper at Grand ]\Ieadow
was called the News. It was started in 1878, by the Dunlevy
Brothers, who came from Lansing, Iowa. It was Republican in
politics; a bright, newsy sheet, and for some time received sub-
stantial encouragement. It Avas run at Grand Meadow for about
two years, when it was removed to Lansing, Iowa.
Another paper, also called the News, was later established in
Grand Meadow. It was started in the spring of 1880, by M. V.
Scribner, a photographer. He ran the paper for about one year,
then removed it to Fairmont; and later to Wells, Minnesota.
The Grand Meadow Record. — This publication had its first
issue in Grand Meadow in December, 1882. L. G. Moore founded
this journal. The early files have not been preserved. Bert A.
Johnson is the present editor of the paper.
Grand Meadow Mercury. — In the spring of 1880, B. F. Lang-
worthy & Son established the Grand Meadow Mercury. They
conducted it here for a little over one year, then removed it to
Austin. In the early summer of 1882 the paper was removed to
Spring Valley, Fillmore county, and the name changed to Spring
Valley Mercury.
Brownsdale Journal. — Voliiiiic 1, nuiiil)er 1 of this six column
folio, made its appearance July 1, 1884. Rosa E. Moore was
HISTOEY OF MOWER C'OUXTY .Ti:
editress and assistant manager, lier husband, L. G. Moore, being
the owner and manager.
The Brownsdale Leafllet.— On August 6, 1890, B. A. Johnson,
son of M. B. Johnson, Avith a small hand lever press and a few
fonts of type, launched forth the first issue of the Brownsdale
Leaflet, size 9x12. It was later enlarged. On July 1, 1891, the
News outfit, a paper whose life was but three months, was pur-
chased from J. W. Burchard and the paper enlarged to a six
column folio. On October 1, 1892, L. L. Quimby moved from New
Richmond, Wisconsin, and purchased a half interest and the
paper was enlarged to a five column quarto. On June 1, 1893,
Mr. Quimby purchased a half interest with B. E. Baldwin in the
hardware and implement business, which interest he held until the
following March, selling to D. L. Tanner. About a month later,
April 19, Mr. Quimby purchased Mr. Johnson's interest in the
Leaflet and conducted it alone until May 17, 1907, when he was
forced to give it up on account of his growing telephone business.
Since that time Brownsdale has had no paper.
The Lyle Tribune, an independent paper, is printed and pub-
lished at Lyle by Wm. Nordlaud. The paper was established in
1893. Elmer T. AVilson Avas one of the early editors. The paper
was published by John Gould & Co. from 1896 until January 1,
1902, when sickness forced him to retire from business. At that
time the paper was leased to Mr. and Mrs. R. Ferris, w^ho managed
it until July of the same year, when Chas. Gould & Co. took charge
of the paper, until December 1, 1902, when it was purchased by
the present owner. The printing office has been located in various
parts of the village, but never had a permanent home until No-
vember 1, 1909, when the present building was purchased. In
the early years of the paper an old Washington hand press and a
few fonts of type was the equipment, but in 1907 a cylinder press
and gasoline engine were installed, Avhieh, together with the other
modern equipment that had been added from time to time, put the
plant on a substantial basis, enabling it to turn out the work re-
quired by the thriving village in which it is located. Under the
present management the circulation of the Tribune has nearly
doubled, and the .job department has become one of the strongest
features of the plant.
The Adams Review. — The Review is the youngest of the
Mower county newspapers, and was established in 1897 by V. "W.
Sabin. Two years later W. F. St. Clair of Nebraska, acquired an
interest in the paper. Mr. St. Clair increased the business and
subscription list of the paper considerably and enjoyed an excel-
lent patronage. In 190(5 he sold the plant and business to K. L.
Niles, and in April, 1909, 'Slv. Niles disposed of the property to
Keith & Keith, who are also owners of the Mower County Re-
318 HISTOJ^Y OF MOWEE COUNTY
publican, Austin. Paul C. Keith is the resident editor and man-
ager, and is well supported by the enterprising business men of
Adams. The Review aims to furnish all the local news that is
news, and has a large list of subscribers in southern Mower
county. The paper gives evidence of a continued prosperous
career.
Alumni Altruist. — When interest in the Austin High School
Alumni Association began to wane, Ida Smith Decker conceived
the plan of publishing a paper to be circulated among the absent
as well as the local members of the association, the paper to con-
tain greetings and news from the various classes and graduates.
Mrs. Decker was the author and editor of the first edition, Avhich
was published ready for the annual alumni meets in June, 1901.
It served its purpose admirably and interest was at once awak-
ened. It has been published every year since with the exceptioii
of 1903. The omission was so marked and the call for the paper
so insistent that at every alumni meeting since a fresh, crisp copy
of the Altruist has been the central attraction. Unlike some of
our county publications, it has always been self-supporting.
Copies are mailed to members all over the country. It is the
only publication of its kind in the state and has done more to
make the association a success than any other factor.
The following have served as editors: 1901, Ida Smith Decker,
'81 ; 1902, Etta Barnes Decker, 79 ; 1904, Gertrude Ellis Skinner,
'81 ; 1905; Ada Morgan Crane, '92 ; 1906, The Todd Sisters, '99,
'02, "04 ; 1907, George E. Anderson, '93 ; 1908, Grace Kimball, '95 ;
1909, Fred C. Ulmer ; 1910, Stella Slaven; 1911, Lucile Gilbertson.
Among the newspapers of the county started Avithin the last
decade, which lived but a few months and then ceased publica-
tion are: "The Racine Recorder," "Rose Creek Rose Bud" and
"Austin "Weekly Journal." For several years "The Dexterite"
was published in Dexter and then for lack of patronage sus-
pended publication.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 319
CHAPTER XXV.
THE PHYSICIAN.
His Proud Achievements — His Solemn Oath — His Ethics — The
True Physician — His Reward — His Delicate Relation to the
Human Family — His Inventions and Discoveries Free Gifts —
The Pioneer Doctor — His Character and Services — His
Limitations — The Pioneer Physicians of Mower County — The
Mower County Medical Association — Edited by A. W. Allen,
M. D.
"j\Ien most nearly resemble the gods when
They afford health to their fellow men."
In an age when, in tlie combat of man against man, heroes are
worshiped according to tlie number 'they slay in battle, it is
inspiring and eleA'ating to be permitted to pay tribute to the meii
who Avon glory in fighting disease and through whose devotiori
and skill thousands of useful lives have been saved and been
made happy.
"For every man slain by Ca?sar, Napoleon and Grant in all
their bloody campaigns, Jenner, Pasteur and Lister have saved
alive a thousand." The first anfesthetic has done more for the
real happiness of mankind than all the philosophers from Socrates
to Mills. Society laurels the soldier and the philosopher and
practically ignores the physician. Few remember his labors, for
what Sir Thomas Browne said three hundred years ago is surely
true: "The iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy and
deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit to
perpetuity."
"i\Iedicin(^' is the most cdsinopoiitan of the three great 'learned'
professions. ]\Iedicines never built a prison or lit a fagot, never
incited men to battle or crucified anyone. Saint and sinner,
white and black, rich and poor, are equal 'and alike when they
(U'oss the sacred portals 'of the temple of Aesculapius." No other
secular profession has ever reached such a consciousness of duties
Avhich it corporately owes to the rest of the woi'ld. ^Vhat are the
principles which a profession, more profuse in its disinterested
charities than any other profession in tlie woi'Id lias established
for its guidance?
It was about 2,300 years ago that the ])ractitioners of the, art
of healing liegan to take an oath eiiipliasizing the responsibilities
whieli the nobility and lioliness of the art imposed upon them.
Hippocrates, forever to be revered, gave the oath his name. AVheii
320 HISTOKY OF MOWEE COUNTY
a Greek physician took the Hippocratie oath and a graduate of
the modern medical school takes it, the act is one not only of
obligation for himself, but of recognition of a great benefactor
of mankind. Tlie Hippocratie oath assumes that when a man
has learned the art of restoring the sick to health he has passed
into a realm in Avhich the rules of personal selfishness are imme-
diately abridged, if not expunged, and recognized in a system
of principles and rules governing all licensed physicians, and
enforced and respected by high-toned and cultured gentlemen —
a standard of professional honor so sacred and inviolate that no
graduate or regular practitioner will ever presume or dare to
violate it.
Robert Louis Stevenson, seeing the life of the medical man
only from without, Avas not far wrong when he spoke of the
modern scientific medical man as probably the noblest figure of
the age. The noble and exalted character of the ancient profes-
sion of medicine is surpassed by no sister science in the mag-
nificence of its gifts. Reflecting upon its purity, beneficence and
grandeur it must be accorded to be the noblest of professions.
Though the noblest of professions, it is the meanest of trades.
The true physician will make his profession no trade, but will
be accurate in diagnosis and painstaking in prescribing. He will
allow no prejudice nor theory to interfere with the relief of
human suflfering and the saving of human life; and will lay
under contribution every source of information, be it humble or
exalted, that can be made useful in the cure of disease. He will
be kind to the poor, sympathetic Avith the sick, ethical toward
medical colleagues and courteous toward all men.
The true physician is he who has a proper conception and
estimation of the real character of his profession; whose intel-
lectual and moral fitness give weight, standing and character in
the consideration and estimation of society and the public at
large. His privileges and powers for good or for evil are great;
in fact no other profession, calling or vocation in this life occu-
pies such a delicate relation to the human family.
There is a tremendous dcA'eloping and educating power in
medical work. Tlie medical man is almost the only member of
the community who does not make money out of his important
discoveries. It is a point of honor with him to allow the whole
world to profit by his researches when lie finds a new remedy
for disease. The greatest and best inedical and surgical discov-
eries and inventions have been free gifts to suffering humanity
the moment their value was demonstrated. The reward of the
physician is in the benefit which the sick and helpless receive, and
in the gratitude, which should not be stinted, of the community
at large. Medical men are not angels; they are in fact very
ITTSTORY OF MOWET^ COUNTY 321
(nimau cveaturt'S with haul work to do, tmd often many mouths
to feed; but tiiere is a strain of benevolence in all their work.
From the beginning they are taught a doctrine of helpfulness
to others, and are made to think that their lifework should not
be one in whicli every service must receive its pecuniary reward.
The physician is a host in himself, a natural leader among his
fellow men, a center of influence for the most practical good, an
etiflcient helper in times of direst need, a trusted and honest
citizen. What more can any prophet ask than honor in his own
country and a daily welcome among his ow^n friends !
It does not take long for the waves of oblivion to close over
those who have taken a most prominent and active part in the
affairs of the day. The life of the pioneer doctor is no exception
to this law, for as. Dr. John Browne tells us, "It is the lot of the
successful medical practitioner to be invaluable when alive, and
to be forgotten soon after he is dead, and this is not altogether
or chiefly from any special ingratitude or injustice on the part of
mankind, but from the very nature of the case." However, the
pioneer physician still lives in the memory of many of us, though
he is now more rare as an individual than in the years gone by,
and is gradually passing out of existence. The history, written
and xinw^'itten, of the pioneer physician of Mower county, as
elsewhere, presents him to view as working out the destiny of the
wilderness, hand in hand with the other forces of civilization for
the common good. He was an integral part of the primitive
social fabric. As such he shared the manners, the customs, the
aims, and the ambitions of his companions, and he, with them,
was controlled by the forces which determine the common state
and the common destiny. The chief concern of himself and com-
panions was materially engaged with, the serious problem of
existence. The struggle to survive -was, at its best, a competi-
tion Avith nature. Hard winters and poor roads were the chief
impediments. Only rough outlines remain of the heroic and
adventurous side of the pioneer physican's long, active and
honored life. The imagination cannot, unaided by the facts,
picture the primitive eonditons with which he had to contend.
Long and dreary rides, by day and night, in summer's heat and
winter's cold, through snow, and mud, and rain, w^as his common
lot. He trusted himself to the mercy of the elements, crossed
unbridged streams, made his way through uncut forests, and
traveled the roadless wilderness. He spent one-fifth of his life
in his conveyance, and in some cases traveled as many as two
hundred thousand miles in the same.
Dr. Oliver "Wendell Holmes has graphically described the old
doctor's daily routine: "Half a dollar a visit — drive, drive,
drive all day: get up in the night and harness your own horse —
322 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
drive again ten miles in a snowstorm; shake powders out of a
vial — drive back again, if you don't happen to be stuck in a drift ;
no home, no peace, no continuous meals, no unbroken sleep, no
Sunday, no holiday, no social intercourse, but eternal jog, jog,
jog in a sulky."
He always responded to the call of the poor, and gave freely
his services to those who could not pay without hardship. "Who
can narrate the past events in the life of such a man ? His deeds
were "written upon the tablets of loving and grateful hearts,
and the hearts are now dust. The long and exhausting rides
through storm, or mud, or snow; the exposure to contagions;
the patient vigils by the bedside of pain; the kindly deeds of
charity ; the reassuring messages to the despondent ; the shield-
ing of the innocent; the guarding of secrets; the numberless
self-abnegations that cannot be tabulated, and are soon for-
gotten, like the roses of yesterday." Wealth did not flow into
the old practitioner's coffers; in fact, he needed no coffers. He
was a poor collector, and with all his efforts he obtained but
little, and never what was his due. As an offset to the generally
acknowledged abilities of the old doctor in every other line of
his Avork, it must also be admitted that he was greatly deficient
in business tact. Often content with the sentiment of apparent
appreciation of services rendered to his patrons, of lives saved,
of sufferings assuaged, and of health restored, he was too easily
satisfied with the reflection that he had a very noble profession,
but a very poor trade.
Though poor in purse, he was rich in heart, in head, and in
public esteem. He made at least a very measurable success ot:
life, if success consists in being of some small use to the com-
munity or country in which one lives ; if it consists in having an
intelligent, sympathetic outlook for human needs ; if it is success
to love one's work ; if it is success to have friends and be a friend,
then the old doctor has made a success of life.
He was a lonely worker, and relied largely on his own unaided
observation for his knowledge. Isolated by conditions of liis
life, he did not know the educating influences of society work.
He was a busy man, with little leisure for the indulgence of liter-
ary or other tastes. He possessed, however, what no books or
laboratories can furnish, and that is: a capacity for work, willing-
ness to be helpful, broad sympathies, honesty, and a great deal
of common sense. His greatest fame was the fealty of a few
friends; his recompense a final peace at life's twilight hour. He
was a hardworking man, beloved and revered by all. He was
discreet and silent, and held his counsel when he entered the
sick-room. In every family he was indispensable, important, and
oftentimes a dignified personage. He was the adviser of the
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 323
family in matters not always purely medical. As time passed,
the circle of his friends enlarged, his brain expanded, and his
heart steadily grew mellower. Could all the pleasant, touching,
heroic incidents be told in connection with the old doctor, it
would be a revelation to the young physician of today; but he
can never know the admiration and love in which the old doctor
was held. "How like an angel light was his coming in the
stormy midnight to the lonely cabin miles away from the nearest
neighbor. Earnest, cheery, confident, his presence lightened the
burden, took away the responsibilitj', dispelled the gloom. The
old doctor, with his two-wheeled gig and saddle bag, his setous,
crude herbs, and vet?esections, resourceful, brave and true ; busy,
blunt and honest, loyally doing his best — who was physician,
surgeon, obstetrician, oculist, aurist, guide, philosopher and
friend — is sleeping under the oaks on the prairies he loved so
well."
"We shall ne'er see his like again,
Not a better man was found.
By the Crier on his round.
Through the town."
The early history of the pioneer physician is naturally a
story of feeble resources. His professional limitations were,
therefore, necessarily great. To enable us to understand these
limitations we must take a retrospective glance at the condi-
tions of medicine sixty years ago. Imagine, if you can, the for-
lorn condition of the doctor without our present means of
physical diagnosis, without the clinical thermometer, the various
specula, the hypodermatic syringe, the ophthalmoscope, the oto-
scope, the rhinoscope, the aspirator, and many other similar
instruments; without the aid of hematology, of anaesthetics, of
antisepsis, of the modern microscope, without our laboratories
and experiments, our chemistry, our bacteriology, our roentgen
rays, our experimental pharmacology, and our antitoxins — with-
out anything except his eyes, his ears, his lingers, his native vigor
and resourcefulness; then we can appreciate the professional
limitation of our fathers, appreciate no less the triumphal marcli
of medicine during a single lifetime. It requires no prophet's
power to foretell the fact that the science of medicine stands at
this hour upon the threshold of an era which will belittle all
the past. In this most wonderful era of the world's history, this
magic age, the science of medicine is rapidly being elevated into
the position of one of the bulwarks of society and one of tlie
mainstays of civilization. It made possible the building of the
Panama canal, made Havana a clean city, and diminislied the
possibility of introducing yellow fever among us. It has kept
32-i HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
cholera in check, pointed out the danger of bubonic phiguc
through the rat-infested districts of San Francisco, and it uow
urges that the government shall maintain sentinels to guard the
gulf coast from yellow fever, the ^Mississippi from cholera, the
whole United States from bubonic plague. It also discovered the
stegonyia as a yellow fever carrier, and the rat and ground
squirrel as plague distributors.
The medical history of Mower county begins with J. C. Jones,
Avho located in LeRoy township in the spring of 1855. His wife
was also a physician. They remained until 1866 and then re-
moved to Missouri.
AUSTIN.
The pioneer physician of Austin was that venerable practi-
tioner of the kindly old school, Dr. Orlenzer Allen, who came in
April, 1856, and practiced until 1870, when he removed to Wiscon-
sin, where he lived until the time of his death, April 5, 1883. He
was born at Alfred, New York, in 1830, and located in "Wisconsin
in 1842. His medical education was received at the Rush I\Iedical
College, at Chicago, from which institution he graduated in 1856.
Dr. Allen was an ideal country physician, kindly, self-sacrificing
and able. His twin brother, Ormanzo, was also a prominent figure
in Austin and Mower county in an early day. The next physician
to locate in Austin was Dr. J. N. Wheat, a homeopath. He came
in September, 1856. Dr. Wheat was born in Old Hadley, Massa-
chusetts, January 16, 1818, spent his boyhood in New York and
Ohio, and graduated in medicine at Buffalo in 1852. He became
one of the foremost citizens of Mower county. Dr. S. P. Thorn-
hill came in tlie winter of 1869-70. He was born in Rockingham
county, Virginia, March 21, 1821, and studied medicine at West
Carlisle, Ohio. He served as regimental and brigade surgeon in
the Civil war, and subsequently c^me to Austin, where he died
in 1879. Dr. Hiram L. Coon graduated from the Rush Medical
College in 1855, came to Austin in 1856, remained a few years
and then moved to Northfield. Dr. W. C. Jones came to Austin
during the Civil war, practiced a few years and died about 1879.
He was the father of B. F. Jones, at one time a newspaper editor
and politician of Austin. Dr. W. L. Hollister came to Mower
county in 1867, lived at Lansing a while, and then came to Austin
in 1871. He still resides here. Dr. 0. W. Gibson came to Austin
in February, 1867. He was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania,
in 1839. During the C^ivil war he served in both army and navy
as surgeon. Dr. James P. Squires came to Austin in 1873. He
was born in Livingston county. New York, in 1825, and graduated
in medicine at Buffalo, New York, in 1851. He was an array sur-
geon and came here from Faribault county, this state. Dr.
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY 325
Thomas Phillips, a homeopath, came in May, 1882. He was born
in Canada, graduated from the University of Chicago in 1880 and
later from the Hahnemann Medical College in the same city. Dr.
Ellen M. Fairbanks, wife of Alonzo Fairbanks, came to Austin
Avith her husband in 1859. In 1881 she graduated from the
Woman's Medical College at Chicago. A Dr. McDonald, a grad-
uate of McGill University, Montreal, practiced here a few years
in the early eighties. Dr. C. H. Johnson came to Austin, June 16,
1884. He was born in Canada, in 1855, graduated from McGill
University, Montreal, and came here at once. With this the story
of the earlier physicians of Austin ends, those coming since
the middle eighties being numbered among the comparatively
modern physicians of the city.
BROWNSDALE.
Brownsdale was the home of a number of physicians at an
early day. Dr. Hunter came to Brownsdale in the fall of 1871
and died the following year. Dr. Eryhmy came from Preston,
Minnesota, in the spring of 1871 and remained until the spring
of 1874, Avhen he went to California, where he died a few years
later. Dr. Bidell, another early physician, stayed in this county a
year or so, either in Brownsdale or Grand Meadow, and then went
to the Dakotas. He was a graduate of the Chicago Medical
school. Dr. A. S. Britz came in 1876 and stayed until 1880. He
was born in Indiana, March 1, 1844, served in the Civil war, and
graduated in medicine at Chicago. After leaving here he went
to Clearwater, Minnesota. Dr. Hall came from Preston in 1876
and after remaining a iew months went to Lake City. Dr. Mink-
ler, who graduated in medicine in Canada, came here in 1875, but
in a short time returned to Wisconsin. Dr. Dodd, a graduate of
the Rush Medical College, Chicago, came in 1880. In 1882, owing
to failing health, he went to California, where he died. Dr. David
Ivyto, Avho had graduated in medicine at Indianapolis, practiced
here a short time in 1883. Dr. C. S. Beaulieau came in 1880 ; Dr.
Gray in 1883; Dr. Johnson in 1884; and Dr. Foward in 1884. Dr.
G. W. Gray was born in 1851 and came to Minnesota in 1877,
practicing in Grand iMeadow until 1883, when he came to Browns-
dale. Dr. Frank M. Johnson was born in AVisconsin in 1854. He
graduated from the Rush Medical College in the class of 1882,
and came to Brownsdale in the fall of 1883.
DEXTER.
Dr. R. Simmons was tlie tirst pliysician in Dexter. Tie came
1873. ri'iiiaiiicd a t'l-w vears. lhcii vcturiicd to Indiana, liis
326 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
former home. He was a graduate of the Cincinnati Medical Col-
lege. The next physician to locate here was L. D. Johnson, who
afterward moved to Grand Meadow. Dr. McCormick practiced
here for a while and then moved to the Dakotas.
GRAND MEADOW.
The first physician at this point was Dr. Samuel Jenks, who
came in 1872. He was a native of New York, and a graduate of
Rush Medical College, Chicago, class of 1872. He was a well edu-
cated successful physician. He remained till 1880, when he moved
to the Dakotas. The second physician was Dr. Wilder, who came
in the fall of 1876, and was associated with Dr. Jenks, both in
practice and in the drug business. He removed to Iowa City in
1878. He came from Wisconsin and was not a regular graduate
in his profession. Dr. 0. A. Case came to Grand Meadow in
1877.. He removed from here in 1878. Dr. Remington came in
the winter of 1881 and left the following summer. Dr. L. D. Jack-
son located in Grand Meadow in March, 1879. He was born in
Vermont in 1851, and graduated from the Rush Medical College
in 1877. Upon coming to this county he practiced in Dexter be-
fore coming to Grand Meadow.
ROSE CREEK.
Dr. Obadiah Wheelock, the first physician in Rose Creek, was
born in New York in 1828, graduated in medicine at New York,
and came to Rose Creek in 1872. He belonged to the eclectic
school.
LANSING.
Dr. Josef Allays was the first to practice medicine in Lansing.
He came in 1857 and settled in section one. He was a Catholic
priest, and combined the duties of priest, physician and farmer.
He moved from here to Chicago. Dr. R. Soule came in 1865. His
career is told elsewhere. Dr. Lafayette, a Frenchman, came to
Lansing from Red Wing, in the fall of 1866. He was of the
eclectic practice. After remaining here three years he went to
Missouri.
LEROY.
Dr. Jones came here from Pennsylvania in 1855, and settled
on the Joe Mason farm. When Dr. Alsdorff came he gave up
practice and in 1866 went to IMissouri, where he took up farming.
Dr. G. M. Alsdorflf. an eclectic, came to LeRoy in 1864. He was
born in Pennsylvania, November '^4, 1824, and there remained
A. E. HENSLIN, M. D.
C. LECK, M. D.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 3-^7
until coming to Minnesota. When the new village was laid out,
in 1867, Dr. Alsdorff opened an office, and the following year
moved to the new location. Dr. Bingham, a graduate of the Rush
JMedical College at Chicago, practiced for a short time and then
went to Lanesboro, where he died of smallpox. Dr. E. J. Kings-
bury came from Decorah in 1869. He Avas born in New York state
in 1832, and in 1854 graduated from the American Medical Insti-
tute at Cincinnati. In 1855 he came to Mower county, preempted
land in Bennington township, assisted in the organization of the
town and became a prominent citizen. Subsequently he prac-
ticed in Spring Valley and Decorah before coming to LeRoy. Dr.
Corbitt came from Michigan in 1868, and remained here at inter-
vals until his death in 1880. He was an allopath, and graduated
in medicine at New York. Dr. C. W. Thrall came here from
Wisconsin and entered into partnership with Dr. Kingsbury. He
was a regular and a graduate of the Rush Medical College, Chi-
cago. From here he went to LaCrosse. In the spring of 1880,
Dr. F. C. Davy came here and became a partner of Dr. Alsdorff.
After leaving here he attained considerable distinction as a chem-
ist. In the spring of 1881, Dr. Aldenkirk, a homeopath, came
here. Later he went to Iowa.
LYLE.
The first physician to locate in Lyle was Dr. A. Truane, who
came in 1870. He moved from Lyle to Wisconsin. Dr. Tanner, a
homeopath, came in 1870, and made a short stay. In 1881, Dr. M.
6. Gordon, of Montreal, located here. He remained but a short
time.
MOWER COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
In the preceding paragraphs has been related the story of the
early physicians of Mower county. The present-day physicians
are nobly following in their predecessors' footsteps. The Mower
County Medical Association was organized October 3, 1902. The
meeting was called to order by Dr. W. S. Fullerton, state or-
ganizer, and Dr. C. A. Hegge, the former being made temporary
chairman and the latter temporary secretary. The officers elected
were: President, AVilliam Hollister; vice president, W. F. Cobb;
secretary, C. A. Hegge ; treasurer, G. F. Schottler. The physicians
present at the organization were : A. W. Allen, 0. H. Hegge, C.
A. Hegge, William Hollister, W. H. ]\IcKenna, F. Kimball Fiester.
C. F. Lewis, II. F. Pierson, E. H Washbrrn-Rodgers, O. C. Marck-
lien, George W. Gray, G. J. Schottler, W. W. Freeman, W. F. Cobl)
and W. A. Frazer. Since then the presidents have been: 1903.
328 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY
William Cobb ; 1904, A. E. Henslin ; 1905, H. F. Pierson ; 1906, G.
J. Schottler; 1907, W. A. Frazer; 1908, C. C. Leek; 1909, M. J.
Hart; 1910, C. F. Lewis. The society has done much to sustain
the ethics of the profession, to promote the sanitation of the
county, to protect the health of the community and to guard
against charlatanry in all guises and forms. The society is now
constituted as follows : President, C. F. Lewis ; secretary, Clifford
C. Leek, Austin; other members, A. W. Allen, Austin; W. F
Cobb, Lyle; A. N. Collins, Austin; W. A. Frazer, Lyle; G. W
Gray, Brownsdale; M. J. Hart, LeRov; C. H. Hegge, Austin;
H. Hegge, Austin ; A. E. Henslin, LeRoy ; C. H. Johnson, Austin
R. S. Mitchell, Grand Meadow ; Homer F. Pierson, Austin ; G. M
F. Rogers, Austin; G. J. Schottler, Dexter; E. V. Smith, Adams
P. T. Torkelson, Lyle.
Other physicians in the county are : F. E. Daigneau, Austin
"VV. H. McKenna, Austin; Alb. Plummer, Racine; C. B. Lynde,
Rose Creek, and H. L. Baker, Waltham.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY.
Outbreak of the War — The First War Meeting in Mower County —
Newspaper Clippings of Stirring War Events — List of Veterans
Who Enlisted from Mower County, with History of Their
Regiments — Honor Roll of Mower County Heroes Who Laid
Down Their Lives for the Union — Col. Henry C. Rogers and
His Record.— By Col. A. W. Wright.
When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 of the mili-
tia of the several states to maintain the Union April 15, 1861,
Mower county was but six years of age, as an organized county,
and had a population of less than 3.500, all pioneers in a new
state which became a part of the Union less than three years be-
fore the outbreak of the war. It was a cruel time to take the men
from field, store, shop and home. They had little on which to de-
pend save the labor of their hands, and their families needed
them. But an attack had been made on Fort Sumter, the flag
of the Union had been fired upon, and the hearts of these hardy
patriotic men and women were fired.
At this time Alexander Ramsey, governor of Minnesota,
chanced to bo in Washington and immediately sought Secretary
HISTOEY OF MOWEK COUNTY .Iv'f)
Cameron, and in writing tendered 1,000 soldiers from Minnesota in
defense of the government, which offer was presented to the presi-
dent and by him accepted. The governor telegraphed these facts
to the adjutant general of the state, with orders to make a call
for troops. The call, however, did not reach Mower county in
time for any of her sons to be included in the first regiment, except
Allen Mollison, who is believed to have been the first man to en-
list from Mower county.
The people were busy breaking farms and building homes and
villages, and the magnitude of the secession movement was not
realized. While the Minnesota Courier, the only paper published
in Mower county, was filled with war news in every issue, the
vital need of men to defend the union did not strike home to
]\Iower county men until the fall. The Courier of May 8, 1861,
contained the information that about twenty-five of the young
men of Austin and vicinity had enrolled their names in response
to their country's call, but no names were given in the published
article. In June of that year, H. B. Kimball, Fred McCormick
and William Mills enlisted in the Mantorville company.
The first real war meeting in Mower county was held at
"Headquarters," September 4, 1861. At about the same time
Captain White, of Freeborn county, was in Austin, with the
proposition that if Mower county could not raise a full company
that the two counties unite. However, it was decided that Mower
county could raise a full company, and the meeting for this pur-
pose was accorded much enthusiasm. The meeting was called to
order by Ormanzo Allen, and Milo Frary was elected chairman.
On motion of L. A. Sherwood, B. F. Jones was named as secre-
tary. Capt. R. P. Mooers made a speech, and on liis motion a
committee of ways and means was appointed as follows : W. B.
Spencer, J. W. Fake, J. P. Jones, G. W. Bishop, Ormanzo Allen,
S. W. Bostwick, J. Stewart, A. D. Brown, H. H. Heartley, George
Conkey, E. S. Moodey and John Rowley. Ormanzo Allen, J. W.
Fake and 6. W. Bishop were appointed a central county com-
mittee, and J. W. Fake was empowered to procure speakers to
make a tour of the county. The following recruiting officers were
appointed: R. P. Mooers, Lyle ; J. P. Jones, Nevada; W. B.
Spencer, LeRoy ; G. W. Bishop, Austin ; Lewis Hardy, Frankford ;
J. W. Stewart, Racine; A. D. Brown, Red Rock; A. J. Clark,
Brownsdale; H. C. Rogers, Udolpho; H. Hartley, Lansing; W.
Reed, Pleasant Valley; H. Irgins, Adams.
As a result of this meeting a military company was raised
and a meeting of the volunteers held October 13, 1861. B. F.
Jones was elected chairman, and R. P. Mooers, secretary. The
company was authorized to elect a first lieutenant, and the first
ballot resulted in eighteen votes f(n- W. B. Spencer, ten for G. W.
330 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Bishop, and one for R. P. Moores. On the next ballot, Mr. Spencer
was elected over G. W. Bishop by a vote of 22 to 8.
On the morning of Tuesday, October 15, 1861, the military
company that was afterwards known as the Mower County
Guards, Co. K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, left
Austin, thirty-two strong, with the intention of joining the Third
Regiment at Fort Snelling. Before departing the boys were ad-
dressed by Rev. Stephen Cook. The personnel of the company
was as follows : First lieutenant, W. B. Spencer ; privates, R. P.
Mooers, P. E. Jenks, George Carrier, William Gifford. Henry
Loomis, William Pace, Kobert P. Tifft, Marion Lyle, A. C. Smith,
James Morrison, A. J. Clark, Augustus Rose, Thomas Edelman,
Samuel Parks, James Gray, Samuel Shutz, I. N. Morrill, George
Mail, V. W. Houghton, T. J. Bishop, W^ H. Bullock, Brayden
Lincoln, John Frank, Samuel Surface, Horace Barber, S. C.
Matthews, H. B. Bourgard, E. E. Earl, Eugene Parmeter, Nathan
M. Thomas and Soloman Tallaman. Of the above I. N. Morrill and
Hon. John Frank, at least, are still living.
During the week of October 23, 1861, several of the men
came home on parole, five or six of them being under age, and
seeking the written permission of their parents or guardians. At
about this time the company was increased by the enlistment of
Charles Hiuit, George Baird, Caleb Powers, William "Whitford,
Charles Smith, Samuel Clayton and A. C. Houghton. The name
Mower County Guards was given by General Sanborn.
September 10, 1862, the Mower County Rangers had been
organized, transferred to the Seventh Regiment and sent against
the Indians. The original officers were: Captain. H. C. Eogers;
first lieutenant, E. W. Ford; second lieutenant, L. A. Sherwood;
orderly sergeant, M. "Whitford.
On October 15, 1862, a letter was received in Austin from
Captain Mooers of Co. K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer In-
fantry, announcing the battle of luka, September 20, and the
wounding of George S. Hutchinson, Aaron B. Morse, Isaac
Dczotell, John E. McCun, Saul M. Milhollin and Martin Kiefer.
On October 3, 1862, before this letter reached Austin, Captain
Mooers was killed at the Battle of Corinth. He was born in New
York, came west in 1855, and gave up his profession as an en-
gineer for farming in Lyle township. He was commissioned cap-
tain of the Mower County Guards and killed in action.
January 6, 1863, the county commissioners divided Mower
county into eight military districts as follows : 1 — Adams and Ne-
vada. 2 — Lyle, "Windom and Austin. 3 — Lansing. 4 — Red Rock
and Udolpho. 5— Pleasant Valley and Grand Meadow. 6— Ra-
cine. 7 — Frankford and Bennington. 8 — LeRoy.
May 12, 1863, the military election under the military act took
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 331
place at Browusdale, and resulted as follows: Colonel, B. F.
Langworthy, Grand Meadow; lieutenant coloned, P. G. Latiu)-
reaux, of Lansing; major, Ornianzo Allen of Austin.
NEWS CLIPPINGS.
The newspapers of the period give us a true picture of con-
ditions dm-ing the Civil war, and for that reason the following
clippings relating to war affairs are here reproduced :
Minnesota Courier. — September 4, 1861. Contrabands in
Town. On Friday last v,'e learn that two negroes — fugitives
from Missouri — passed through town on their way to Canada.
They were mounted on horses, which they took from their mas-
ters to assist them on their journey. Those who saw them say
they Avere fine looking fellows, and worth, perhaps, in Missouri
from eight to twelve hundred dollars each.
November 27, 1861. Flag for Mower County Guards. The
material was purchased in St. Paul by Mrs. B. F. Lindsey and
Mrs. J. L. Clark, is all silk, and is said by the lady who made it
up, and who has furnished several other companies, to be the
finest one and manufactured of the best materials. The Guards
promised to send it down by some of the company during the
winter provided they remained at the fort and were not ordered
south. On receiving the flag Mr. Martin, on behalf of the com-
pany, Captain Mooers being absent, received the flag and re-
turned the thanks of the company in a brief and appropriate
speech, which was responded to by the company with three rous-
ing cheers for the ladies of Austin, and the burning of the usual
amount of powder. "We think it no more than right that the
ladies, who have given their time and energy in raising the
money, by soliciting subscriptions to furnish the company with
a flag, should at least receive a passing notice from us, and the
thanks of our lady friends generally. We are of the opinion that
if Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Lindsey had not taken the matter in hand,
our company would today have been without a flag. They have
done their part well, and from what we know of the ladies of
Austin they will not soon be forgotten. The cost of the flag was
$16.98.
August 6, 1862. Volunteering and Being Drafted. A volun-
teer receives the full bounty — $25 advance bounty, one month's
pay ($1.3) in advance, and $75 at the end of his time of service,
together with the usual 160 acres of bounty land. Besides all
this his family receives pecuniary assistance during his absence
The drafted militia receive but $11 per month, and no money
bounty. They can be held to service out of the state three
months by order of the governor. Let no one, however, deceive
33-2 HI8T0BY OF MO^YER COUNTY
himself with the idea that drafted sokiiers will serve only threi'
mouths, for after the militia are drafted, Congress can easily
hold them to serve during the war.
August 13, 1862. "Private Bounty. Grand Meadow, August
7, 1862. I will give to every volunteer that may join any com-
pany noAV forming in this county from Pleasant Valley, Grand
Meadow, Eacine, Frankford and LeRoy, a bounty of $2 for single
men, and to every married man five bushels of wheat for the use
of his family, extra. Volunteering to be from this date to
August 31. Respectfully, B. F. Langworthy."
August 20, 1862. The citizens of Adams township have raised
by private subscription, $142, to be paid in cash on or before two
months, provided, however, this bounty will prevent drafting in
Adams to-^vnship.
Capt. E. W. Ford left this place on Saturday last for Fort
Snelling with upwards of seventy men, all from this county, to
be mustered into the United States service imder the call for
600,000 men. Mower county will furnish her quota without re-
sorting to a draft. On Sunday last four more started for the fort
to join Mr. Ford's company, and we hear of several others who
are ready to go, provided they can get into the company from
this county.
The war meetings which have just been held at Austin, Frank-
ford and Brownsdale were well attended, and the result is that
Mower county has almost raised her quota. The three towns
above named we believe are now exempt from the draft. The
town of Lansing is awake and will this week, in all probability,
raise the quota of that to"\vn. It is time for the other towns
to be looking out if they expect to escape the draft.
September 3, 1862. The draft is postponed until October 3.
* * * When we get the 600,000 men into the field who are
now organizing for the war, thus swelling our grand army to
over a million, we can sweep the rebels from the face of the earth
in a month or two. We can then form a solid column of bayonets
and cannon, reaching almost from the Atlantic to the Mississippi,
and by one determined "forward march," drive all the traitors
and rebels down into the gulf, like a drove of frightened swine.
It will be a privilege to belong to that great army of the Union —
a glorious thing to think of and talk about after the war, and
for your children to be proud over through coming generations.
"I was a soldier in the army of the Union that saved the Re-
public," will be as proud a title to the respect of your country-
men and of the world, as now is the claim of those few remaining
veterans who can say, "I was a soldier in the army of the Revolu-
tionary war. and fought under Washington."
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY X]?>
Mower County Register. March 2, 1865. The draft hangs by
a liair ! At any moment it may descend upon us. How shall wo
avoid it? By going into the army in person or by proxy; by going
ourselves or sending substitutes. Where volunteering goes on
briskly, the draft will not reach; where volunteering ceases, the
conscription will be ordered to commence. Rouse, then, and let
us make every exertion, and exert every energy for the recruit-
ing of our army. By sundry alterations at the Provost Marshal's
office, the town of Austin has to furnish under the last call for
300,000 thirteen men. "We learn further that movements are now
progressing for the purpose of raising a town bounty as an in-
ducement to volunteer.
July 21, 1864. News from the boys of Company C, Ninth
regiment : Through the kindness of Mrs. Stephen Chandler we
have been shown a letter from her husband, which enables us to
secure knowledge of the whereabouts of our liberty-defending
patriots. Mr. Chandler is a prisoner in Meridan, Mississippi.
Those of Company C yet prisoners are : Capt. E. W. W. Ford, A.
Avery, J. Clark, William Breckon, Ludoviso Bourgard, A.
Wheeler, Duane Philes, C. Steward, J. Woodbury, S. H. Ames, AV.
Lyons, Conrad W. McCaskill, I. Bisgrove, E. Rice, W. Rice, C. D.
Rhodes, T. H. B. Vandegrift, John Barnett and Stephen N.
Chandler.
January 28, 1864. Promotions. The following worthy promo-
tions have been made in the Fourth regiment : First Lieutenant
S. T. Isaac to be captain ; First Lieutenant D. L. Wellman to be
captain ; First Lieutenant C. C. Hunt to be captain ; Second Lieu-
tenants Orlando Graham and S. W. Russell to be first lieutenants ;
Orderly Sergeant C. W. Douglass to be second lieutenant.
In the same issue the announcement is made that Co. K,
of the Fourth Minnesota regiment, has re-enlisted for "three
years or during the war" — every man except two. The following
is a list of members who re-enlisted : Captain — Charles C. Hunt.
First Lieutenant — C. W. Douglass. Sergeants — Geo. Baird, Mar-
ion R. Lyle, V. W. Houghton, Samuel M. Clayton. Corporals —
R. S. Perkins, Stephen Maxon, John Mullen, S. E. Morse, A. M.
Kenniston. Privates— W. H. H. Bullock, Henry B. Burgor, F. H.
Belot, N. Barnes, A. Chapel, Jacob II. Epler, N. Frost, McConnell
Fitch, John Frank, A. C. Hursh, A. O. Hollister, P. E. Jenks, M.
Kiefer, W. S. Kimball, S. Mathews, C. Powers, E. A. Parker, John
Rochford, S. Giflft, Geo. Thernott, Solomon Tallman, E. A. Whit-
comb, 0. H. Wiley. Up to this time, January, 1864, Mower county
has furnished 275 men for the service. Geo. Baird became first
lieutenant of the company, and for a considerable time had com-
mand of the company.
334 HISTORY OF MOWEl? COUXTY
PRECIOUS RELIC.
Mower county has a precious relic in the shape of a battle-
stained flag, carried through the Civil war by the valiant Co.
K, of the Fourth ]\Iinnesota Volunteer Infantry. ]\Iany ]\Iower
county people contributed for its purchase, and the silk was ob-
tained in St. Paul by Mrs. B. F. Lindsey and Mrs. J. L. Clark,
who went to St. Paul by stage to buy a flag, but finding none
purchased silk ribbon and made one. It was presented to the
company at Fort Snelling, before the regiment was ordered
south. Following are the names of the men and women who con-
tributed to the purchase of the flag: F. D. Lewis, Fernald ]\Ior-
gan, William Simpson, L. A. Sherwood, Ian Osdel, H. Sutherland,
J. L. Smith, L. Stone, M. Graves, E. Chapin ; the Mesdames G. W.
Bishop, R. L. Kimball,. S. W. Paul, E. Parliman, J. S. Lacy, J. Bo-
dine. J. Stage, H. Allen, 0. Allen, S. Smith, L. Hunt, G. W.
Mitchell, J. L. Davidson, H. I. Holt, W. W. Cook, J. H. Mclntire,
AV. Brown, H. Jacobs, W. L. Kimball, Q. E. Truesdell, George
Baird, J. B. Niles, Wm. Hunt, E. W. Ford, L. Piper, A. Galloway,
D. B. Johnson, R. 0. Hunt, B. F. Jones, O. Allen, E. D. Fenton,
G. M. Cameron, O. Somers, T. J. Lake, L. N. Griffith, A. S. Everest,
J. C. Ackerly, J. W. Fake, C. J. Shortt, J. B. Yates, G. H. Bemis,
B. F. Lindsaj^, J. L. Clark, and the Misses Hattie Adams, Philenda
Deming, A. J. Wheat, A. B. Albro, Lizzie Johnson, A. Loomis.
The flag was carried through the following engagements:
1862 — Siege of Corinth, INIississippi, May ; Battle of luka, Missis-
sippi, September 19; Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 3 and
4. 1863 — Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1 ; Forty Hills, ]Missis-
sippi. May 3; Raymond, Mississippi, May 12; Jackson, Mississippi.
May 14 ; C^hampion Hills, Mississippi ; Vicksburg, ]\Iay and June ;
Mission Ridge, Tennessee, November 24 and 25. 1864 — Altoona,
Georgia, October 5 ; Savannah, December. 1865 — Columbia,
South Carolina, February 17 ; Bentonville, North Carolina, ]\Iarch
20 and 21 ; Raleigh, North Carolina, April 14. Upon the company
being mustered out of the service, this flag was placed in the
keeping of Lieut. Geo. Baird by a vote of the company as a token
of the regard of the members of the company for him, for many
of whom he had been a personal friend, adviser and comforter,
also because of his conspicuous gallantry and bravery in the field.
FALL OF VICKSBURG.
When the news of the fall of Vicksburg was received at
Austin, a grand jubilee meeting was held at Headquarters hall,
on \hv cvciiiiig of .Inly 10, 18(i3. J. 11. C. AVilson was caUed to
the chair, and T. .1. Lake ajjpointcd secretary. Speeches were
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 335
made by Revs. Parker, Tiee, Clark and Lake, also by Colonel
Lewis, of the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin, who had just returned
from the "seat of war," and Judge Ormanzo Allen. Colonel
Lewis' speech was most interesting. Fresh from the army and
having endured all the hardships of the war, he could talk as
soldiers only can talk on such occasions, and his remarks pro-
duced the wildest enthusiasm. He closed by saying "Copper-
headism is worse than secession among the soldiers. When his
comrades found he was coming north, each said, "Kill a copper-
head for us!" Amid much enthusiasm the following resolution
was adopted: "Resolved, That the soldiers of the Minnesota
Fourth, always in the advance, and always victorious, have
achieved for themselves honor and glory worth more than all
the achievements that can be possibly made by the greatest and
most distinguished civilian in the land, in the capture of Vicks-
burg — the Sebastopol of Rebeldom."
ROLL OF HONOR.
In this connection has been compiled from the adjutant-gen-
eral's report, the names of the soldiers, who enlisted from Mower
county. If any are omitted, it is not intentional, for great care
has been exercised in collecting this matter, and none have
greater veneration for the brave soldier than the compilers of
this volume. As the only possible way to ascertain the where-
abouts of each soldier, is to depend upon the official reports as
published under authority of the state, any mistakes in spelling
names or the omission of them entirely, should be charged to
such official reports.
Mower county was represented in the Union army as follows :
FIRST INFANTRY.
Allan Mollison, so far as known the only member of this regi-
ment from ]\Iower county, enlisted in Company G. When the call
came for volunteers, Allan Mollison was a blacksmith in Austin,
and the sole support of a widowed mother. He walked alone to
Owatonna and there joined others. Then all walked to Fari-
bault, to enlist in a company raised by Captain McCune. They
marched thence to Fort Snelling and INIollison was mustered into
service as a private in Company G, First ^Minnesota Volunteer
Infantry, on his twenty-fifth birthday, April 29, 1861. He was
afterward promoted to corporal.
The Fii-st Regiment was hurried on to Washington, and took
part in the first Battle of Bull Run. It was here that Mr. ^[olli-
•son first showed that daring which made him the idol of his com-
pany. In the retreat of the regiment. Captain ^FcCune was shot
336 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
down. The regiment reformed later and the battle was resumed.
Between the firing lines lay the wounded captain. Volunteers
were called to go out amid the hail of bullets and bring back
the captain. At once, Allan Mollison, the sturdy blacksmith,
responded. He ran out across the shot-torn field, raised the
wounded captain, and brought him safely to his company. The
wound received by Captain MeCune was a fatal one, however.
Mr. Mollison saw as much real war as any man in the army.
The battles of the First Minnesota are a part of the history of
the nation, and in them all he took his share. He was at Balls
Bluff, where General Baker was killed, went through the penin-
sular campaign with McClellan, and fought at South IMountain,
Antietam, the Wilderness and Gettysburg. After Gettysburg he
was transferred to the First United States Cavalry, was in Gen-
eral Grant's campaign as far as Cold Harbor, and accompanied
General Sheridan in his raid through the Shenandoah valley.
He was wounded live times and was a prisoner at the rebel prison
of Belle Island for three weeks. He served three years and four
months. He was born in Airdrie, Scotland, April 29, 1836, and
died at Austin, Minnesota, July 6, 1906. His brother Thomas
was killed in the Union service and his brother Edwin served and
was killed as a colonel in the Rebel cavalry.
SECOND INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized in July, 1861, and originally
commanded by Horatio Van Cleve. Ordered to Louisville, Ken-
tucky, in October, 1861, and assigned to the Army of the Ohio.
It was engaged in the following marches, battles, skirmishes and
sieges, viz.: Mill Spring, January 19, 1862; siege of Corinth, in
April, 1862, then transferred to the Army of the Tennessee;
Bragg's Raid, Perryville. October 8, 1862; skirmishes of the
Tullahoma campaign, Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863;
Mission Ridge, November 28, 1863. Veteranized in January, 1864,
and participated in the battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta
campaign, viz. : Resaca, June 14, lo and 16, 1864; Kenesaw ]Moun-
tain, June 27, 1864; Jonesboro ; Sherman's March through Geor-
gia and the Carolinas, and Bentonville, ]\Iarch 19, 1865. The
men were mustered out at liouisville, Ky., and discharged at Fort
Snelling, ]\Iinnesnta, July 11, 1865. This regiment covered itself
with laurels at the luittlc of ^Mission Ridge, where they were
l)adly cut up in a cluirgc Ihey made on the enemy's works. Few
^linnesota regiments, if any, performed moi'c long and laborious
marches than the "Bloody Second."
Company A — Sergeant II. (I. C.isr.
Company B — Originally (•(Huniaiided by Captain William
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 337
l\[arkham; mustered into the service of the United States, for
three years, on June 26, 1861, by Capt. A. D. Nelson, mustering
officer. Privates — Daniel Ames, Henry Peck.
Company C — Originally commanded by Capt. Peter Mantor,
mustered into the United States' service June 26, 1861, by Capt.
A. D. Nelson, mustering officer. First lieutenant — AVilliam T.
Mills. Privates — Headly B. Kimball, George H. Ames, Robert A.
Dermin, William J. Johnson, Frederick McCormick, Edwin R.
IMorrill, Asaph Mayo, Edvsdn Frazier, Nelson C. Frazier, Philan-
der Scheffield.
Company H — Francis Neller.
THIRD INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized in October, 1861, and originally
eoamianded by Col. Henry C. Lester, of Winona. Ordered to
Nashville, Tennessee, in March, 1862. Captured and paroled at
jMurfreesboro in July, 1862. Ordered to St. Louis, Missouri,
thence to Minnesota. Engaged in the Indian expedition in 1862.
Participated in the battle of Wood Lake in September, 1862.
Ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas, in November, 1863. Veteran-
ized in January, 1864. Engaged in battle of Fitzhugh's Woods,
March 30, 1864. Ordered to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in April, 1864 ;
thence to Duvall's Bluff September 2, 1865. Mustered out at
Duvall's Bluff September 2, 1865. Discharged at Fort Snelling,
Minnesota.
On account of the ill-advised surrender of the regiment at
Murfreesboro, a number of the officers were dismissed from the
service, which partially demoralized portions of it, and they
Avere sent north to guard the frontier. Their lack of experience
in the arts of war had more to do with the surrender than lack of
courage, as the regiment subsequently proved by their behavior
on the field of battle.
Company C — Originally commanded by Capt. John R. Ben-
nett, was mustered in service October 25, 1861, A. D. Nelson,
mustering officer. First lieutenant — Lewis Hardy. Sergeant —
William F. Grummons. Corporal — George McKay.
Company F — J. H. DeReamer.
Company I — Private — Andrew J. Clark.
Company K — Private — Oscar Haws.
FOURTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
This regiment was originally commanded by Col. J. 1^. San-
born, of St. Paul, organized December 23, 1861 ; ordered to
Benton Barracks, Missouri, April 19, 1862; assigned to army of
the :Mississippi, May 4, 1862. parti<-ipated in the following
mai'i-hcs, battles, sieges and skii'iiiislies : Siege of Coi-iiitli. .\pti!.
338 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
1862; luka, September 19, 1862; Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862;
siege of Vieksburg, Forty Hills, Raymond, Jackson, Champion
Hills, assault on Vieksburg, capture of Vicksbiu-g, July 4, 1863.
Transferred from Seventeenth to Fifteenth corps; ]\lissiou Ridge,
November 25, 1863; veteranized, January, 1864; Altoona, Octo-
ber, 1864 ; Sherman 's march through Georgia and the Carolinas ;
Bentonville, March 20, 1865, and Raleigh, April 14, 1865; mus-
tered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 19, 1865 ; discharged at
Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
Company A — Originally commanded by Capt. Luther B.
Baxter, was mustered into service October 4, 1861, by A. D.
Nelson, mustering ofifieer. Captains — Charles W. Douglass,
Charles C. Hunt (Company G). First lieutenants — Ira N. Mor-
rill, George Baird. Second lieutenants — A. E. Wood, "W. B.
Spencer.
Company E — Originally commanded by Capt. Ebeuezer
LeGro, was mustered into service November 27, 1861. Corporal —
Elijah F. Armstrong. Privates — Austin Rosenburgh, Harrison
H. Hartley.
Company F — Originally commanded by Capt. Asa W. White,
was mustered into service October 11, 1861. Privates — Nathan
M. Thomas, John McCaskel.
Company I — Private — Ashley Cameron.
Company K — Originally commanded by Capt. Robert P.
Mooers, was mustered into the LTnited States service for three
years, December 23, 1861, by Capt. A. D. Nelson, mustering
officer. Captain — Robert P. Mooers. Second lieutenant — AY. B.
Spencer. First Sergeants — Ira N. Morrill, Charles C. Hunt,
George Carrier, Marion Lyle, George W. Bishop. Corporals —
John E. Hussey, Samuel B. Rolfe, George Mail, Alonzo C. Hough-
ton, Samuel Surface, John Frank, Vincent B. Lincoln. Musi-
cians — William B. Whitford, James Davis. Wagoner — Ambrose
C. Smith. Privates — Thomas I. Bishop, W. H. H. Bullock, George
Baird, AVilliam H. Bogart, Asa B. Carlton, Nathaniel Trost, James
Guy, Thomas Greene, George S. Hutchmson, Horace Barber,
Henry Bugor, Israel Baker, Samuel j\I. Clayton, Ethan R. Earl,
Harvey B. Earl, William H. Gift'ord, Virgil AV. Hughton, Plymp-
ton E. Jenks, Wilbur S. Kimball, Asa C. Lawrence, James Morri-
son, Stephen Maxon, Samuel E. ]\Iorse, AVilliam ]\r. Pace, Caleb
Powers, Robert S. Perkins, Samuel Shutz, Robert T. Tiflft, Syl-
vanus AVoodworth, Miles M. Trowbridge, E. A. AVliitcomb,
Stephen Tifft, Henry Loomis, Samuel Loomis, Samuel J. Alathews,
John Mullin, Joseph F. Owen, Samuel Parks, Eugene E. Par-
menter, Joseph H. Reed, Charles Shuler, Solomon Tollman, Peter
G. Mills, AV. C. Sommers, Ole S. Oleson, Edwhi A. Park(>r, Sher-
win Clow, Jacob H. Epler, Abram 0. Hollister.
HISTORY OF M0WP:R COUNTY 339
FIFTH INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized in ^lay, 1862, and originally com-
manded by s
a member of the house of representatives in this state and in the
fall of that j^ear was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the
Eighth Minnesota, and held that position until mustered out at
the close of the war. In the fall of 1865 he was elected secretary
of state and was re-elected in 1867, when his health precluded his
longer holding that position. In the winter of 1869-70 he was
appointed pension agent of Minnesota, and held that position until
his death. At the battle of Murfreesboro, in December, 1864,
Lieutenant-Colonel Eogers Avas in command of his regiment.
Colonel Thomas having command of the brigade, and his troops
were ordered to hold a position in an open field against the enemy
located in the woods adjacent. The fire became so hot that Colonel
Rogers ordered his men to lie down, while he, with that courage
which knew no fear, rode up and down the line, a conspicuous
target for the enemy. He faced the bullets in safety until just
as the victory was won, when a bullet struck his right arm, passed
through it, and would have gone through his body but for the
fortunate interposition of a belt buckle. From this Avound he
never recovered, and his health imtil his death remained in a
precarious condition. He died May 8, 1871, at Brownsdale. The
Grand Army of the Republic post, formed at Brownsdale in 1882,
took his name. The monument fund Avas started in the spring of
1883, through the energetic exertions of Albert Swift, post com-
mander. He was materially aided in his efforts by A. C. Hawley.
of St. Paul. Henry C. Rogers Post contributed $25. The remain-
der came from prominent men in St. Paul, among whom are the
Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Gen. J. B. Sanborn, Gen. J. T. Averill, Gen.
J. H. Baker, the Hon. William R. ^Marshall, Col. AVilliam Crooks.
Gen. A. C. Hawley, the Hon. AV. AV. Braden, the Hon. Charles
Kittleson. the Hon. S. P. Jeiniison. the Hon. David Day, the Hon.
Albert Scheffer, the Hon. Af. D. Flower, the Hon. A. R. AlcGill and
346 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
the Hon. Samuel Nichols. The monument is located about a mile
and a half south of Brownsdale, in GreenAvood cemetery. It is a
cottage monument in design, made of blue Vermont marble.
CHAPTER XXVII.
POSTAL HISTORY.
Growth and Development of the System — First Offices in Mower
County — Stories of the Stage Coach Drivers — History of the
Present and Discontinued Postoffices of Mower County —
Edited by George E. Anderson.
The postal service has existed within the memory of every per-
son living, and is therefore a matter of such every-day concern
that probably few persons realize that it is a feature of govern-
ment as old as the written history of man. The influence and
accomplishments of the postal service have practically extended
the progress of commercialism throughout the world. So far as
history records, a system of communication was evidently con-
ceived by Cyrus shortly after his conquest of the Persian empire
in the year 550 B. C. That systematic ruler sought to keep in
touch with the affairs of his vast domain, and to that end required
his governors to write to him frequently about their several dis-
tricts. In order to make these communications safe and expedi-
tious he built post roads throughout the empire and established
posthouses at distances along these roads. The service, however,
both in ancient and medieval periods was established for the gov-
ernment alone and not for the general public.
The first postofifiee which was established for the general pub-
lie was in 1516, between Berlin and Vienna. In 1823 England
established a postal system, but it was only used for communica-
tions between the royal family.
The postal system in America dates from 1639, when the Gen-
eral Court of Massachusetts, by an ordinance, legalized such a
system and directed that all letters brought from across the sea
or to be sent to parts of the colonies, should be left at the house
of Richard Fairbanks, in Boston, and by him sent to the proper
destination. He was allowed a peiuiy compensation for the trans-
mission of each letter and was accountable to the authorities for
any dereliction of duty. The postal system. lioAvever. in tlie early
colonial days, was somewhat of a go-as-you-please system. In
1785 the colonies decided to manage the postal business on their
HISTOllY OF MOWEK COUNTY ;Mr
own responsibility, and appointed Ben. Franklin postmaster, at
$1,000 a year. lu 1776, the total number of postofftces in opera-
tion was only twenty-eight, fourteen of which were in Massa-
chusetts. Real developments of the postal service in the United
States began in 1789, and the marvelous progress which has been
made since that time is a matter with which the public is more or
less familiar. In that year there were seventy-five offices, yielding
a revenue of less than $40,000. Today we have over 60,000 post-
offices, yielding a revenue of over $200,000,000. The service has
grown and expanded to such a degree that twenty years ago
would have been considered extravagant, and yet the service is
practically in its infancy. But it already forms an intricate net-
work over all our land and extends to the far-off island posses-
sions, and yet its achievements are not nearly at an end. It is in
view of these facts that a short historical sketch of the postal
service and its development in this covmty may be of interest in
this work.
In the days of the earliest settlement there were no postoffices
in the county, but letters were often brought by travelers to set-
tlers from friends back east or in the old country. The first post-
office in Mower county was called Elkhorn, and was established
in 1855 with Jacob ]\IcQuillan as postmaster. It was on the old
stage route, and mail was received once a week.
Next came the offices at Frankford and Austin, established
within a short time of each other, and the old Chandler postofflce,
which was opened shortly afterward.
In those early days mail was brought to this county by stage,
or sometimes by friendly disposed travelers coming in from Mis-
sissippi points. The roads were scarcely more than a trail, and
often all passengers on board a stage had to get out and assist in
prying the stage wheels from the mud with rails cut from road-
side saplings. Sometimes, too, the mail pouches were carried on
the shoulders of the stage driver, while the passengers with their
baggage waded through swamps over which it was impossible
for the stage to pass when weighted with any burdens. The
stories of the old stage coach days would fill many volumes.
The stage driver was often an important personage. He was
one who saw life in various forms in various places, and the
opinions with which he favored the crowds gathered at the stop-
ping points along the line were listened to with the deepest
respect. Especially was this true during the Civil war, when
the stage driver brought the latest war news and opinions from
the larger centers. At that time the people of the villages of
Minnesota had little sympathy with those who were lukewarm
in the Union cause. Consequently the complaint was universal
when N. 'SI. "Wilder, the stage driver, expressed the opinion tluit
:m8 history of mower couktty
there might be some virtue in the Secession oanse. On June 18,
1862, the contract for carrying the mail from Owatonna to Osage
A'ia Austin was annulled by reason of what was termed Mr. Wild-
er 's too free expression of sympathy with the Confederate move-
ment. For a time the contract thus taken from Wilder was
restored to the previous carriers, Williamson & Cotter. Later,
however, Mr. Wilder demonstrated his loyalty and the contract
was again placed in his hands.
In 1867 the railroad was put through, touching at Lansing,
Ramsey, Austin, Le Roy and other points. Some stage lines, how-
ever, continued to exist, and as late as 1870 the following list
appears in the newspapers as the correct enumeration of the stage
mail routes in Mower county:
From Austin to Albert Lea ; Rochester to Le Roy ; Kasson to
Mower City; Mower Citj' to Spring Valley; Mower City to Aus-
tin ; Nevada to Austin ; Austin to Moscow ; Lansing to Neury ;
Albert Lea to Austin ; ]\Iitchell to Adams ; West Mitchell to
Lyle ; Riceville to Le Roy ; Northwood to Austin ; Minneapolis to
Lansing, Austin, Rose Creek, Adams and Le Roy. All were stage
routes except the one from Austin to Albert Lea and the one from
Minneapolis to points in this eount3^
AUSTIN POSTOFFICE.
Austin postoffice was established about 1856 with Alanson B.
Vaughan, the first merchant at this point, as postmaster. His
store in which he opened the office was situated near the present
site of the Elk hotel at the corner of Chatham and Bridge streets.
Mr. Vaughan Avas succeeded in 1857 by L. N. Griffith, who moved
it to a small building on the site now occupied by the Hormel
provision market. This small building Avas erected by ]\Ir. Grif-
fith and the boxes were put in by Jonas Haney. The rental
charges Avere ten cents a quarter for a box, and Mr. Griffith, AAdio
is still a hale and hearty resident of Austin, informs us that the
patrons considered that an exorbitantly high price to pay for
such service. The appointment of Mr. Griffith was the result of
an effort to keep the center of the village somcAvhere near the
present court house square. Mr. Vaughan Avas a Republican, and
he realized that President James Buchanan Avould soon appoint
a Democrat to the office. The leading Democratic candidate for
the appointment Avas Jerry B. Yates, whose aim Avas to move the
postoffice, and consequently the center of the village, to the pres-
ent site of the Catholic church, Avhere most of his property Avas
located. In tliose days a postmaster who resigned had the priA'i-
lege of appointing his oAvn successor. Consequently ]\Ir. Vaughan
resigned in favor of INIr. Griffith, Avho was a Democrat, thus plac-
HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY 349
ing in office oue who was of the same political faith as Buchanan,
and at the same time keeping the center of the village near where
the majority of the citizens desired it. When Mr. Griffith first
assumed the duties of the office, the cancellation and fees
amounted to about one dollar and a half a day, the patrons com-
ing from a radius of twenty miles or more. But as other offices
were established the business decreased to about twelve dollars
per month, and consequently Mr. Griffith resigned. He appointed
as his successor A. S. Everest, who assumed office in 1858 and
purchased the office building and fixtures. Mr. Griffith relates
that in those days all the mail was carried in one pouch, for all the
points along the stage line. When the pouch reached an officCj.
the postmaster unlocked it, took therefrom the mail directed to
the patrons of his office, placed therein the mail deposited at the
office for other points, and then locked the pouch again. Mr.
Everest, Avho succeeded Mr. Griffith, was an attorney, served as
coiuity treasurer, and the county headquarters for a number of
years were maintained at his office. He was an extensive land
owner, and a part of his farm is now that part of Austin west
of Kenwood avenue and south of Oakland avenue. Everest was
succeeded by J. S. Lacy, who was an early hotel-keeper, having
erected the Lacy House on the present site of the McCulloch
Printing Company plant. He in turn was succeeded by C. J.
Shortt, who was also an attorney, and for a number of years was
a justice of the peace in Austin. Mr. Shortt resided in Austin
until his death, after which his family moved back east. After
Mr. Shortt came Lyman A. Sherwood. Mr. Sherwood was a lieu-
tenant in the Civil war, and was clerk of the district court nine
years before being appointed postmaster. George Baird was the
next postmaster. Mr. Baird came to Mower county in 1856. He
was a captain in the Civil war and served for many years as
sheriff of the county. Charles Sawyer was appointed to succeed
Mr. Baird. He was employed in Ackley's shoe store. After him
came J. C. Smith. A. J. Phelps, who was a justice of the peace,
was the next postmaster. He in turn was followed by C. H. David-
son. Mr. Davidson was born in Illinois, March 13, 1846. He came
to Austin in 1857, with his father, Joshua L. Davidson, and was
employed in the first newspaper office in Mower county, which
was then the Mirror. In 1863, in company with his brother, he
started the Mower County Register, a paper which is now suc-
ceeded by the j\Iower County Republican. Later he purchased
the Transcript, which he conducted until 1886. Mr. Davidson was
prominently identified with every movement which was for the
betterment of the county and community. A. E. Meigs was the
next postmaster. He conducted the office in connection with a
news stand, east of what is now the First National Hank buildiiit,'.
350 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
He was succeeded by A. A. Harwood, who was also an editor. Mr.
Harwood came originally from Owatonna. After Mr. Harwood
came R. I. Smith, a photographer, who afterwards conducted a
gallery over Pooler's drug store. Subsequently C. H. Davidson
was reappointed. After this came H. 0. Basford, who kept the
office in the building where the Normal Restaurant is now located.
Mr. Basford was then the editor and sole owner of the Mower
County Register, and later started the first daily in Mower county,
if not in southern Minnesota. He now spends his summers in
Austin, and is a highly respected citizen. He was succeeded by
Christ Johnson, who after his term of office was a merchant in
partnership with the father of T. A. Revord, in the hardware
business, the store being located in the building now occupied by
K. O. Wold's drug store. After selling his interest there he
formed a partnership with his son-in-law in the clothing business,
the store occupying the present site of the Golden Eagle. He sub-
sequently removed to Buffalo, Minn., where he now resides. After
Mr. Johnson, George Baird served a second time, but died before
the expiration of his term of office. President Grover Cleveland
then appointed A. B. Hunkins for a term of four years. Mr.
Hunkins was owner and editor of the weekly Democrat, which
has been succeeded by the Herald. The first rural route in Mower
county was inaugurated under Mr. Hunkins, as was also the city
free delivery system, which was established ]\Iarch 1, 1898. After
leaving the postmastership, Mr. Hunkins conducted the Austin
Canning Factory for a number of years, and later was engaged for
some time in perfecting an addressing and folding machine. He
secured a patent, and later moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he
became a manufacturer. Mr. Hunkins was succeeded as post-
master by S. Swenningsen, who was then a member of the upper
house of the Minnesota legislature. Previous to his holding the
postmastership he had been a merchant and for many .years clerk
of court. He was associated in business with C. I. Johnson, who
is now a shoe merchant in Austin, and F. E. Gleason, now an
Austin jeweler. Mr. Swenningsen now lives in California. Dur-
ing Mr. Swenningsen 's term, the rural carrier roiites were in-
creased to six, emanating from this office in all directions and
forming a complete rural service, covering a radius of ten miles
or more from the city. For some time previous to Mr. Swenning-
sen 's administration, the postoflice was located on the present site
of the Hormel provision market. This was seemingly a favorite
location for the postoflfice, as the site was occupied for postal
purposes at several different periods of Austin's history. After
conducting the office at this point for four years, Mr. Swenningsen
moved the ofifice to the present site, corner of Main street and
Oakland avenue. After Mr. Swenningsen, came 0. J. Simmons,
HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY 351
who assumed office April 1, 1907, and was reappointed by Presi-
dent AVilliam Taft, in 1911. ]\Ir. Simmons has proven an able and
capable officer, and the efficiency of the service he has maintained
demonstrates his fitness for his responsible and often trying posi-
tion. ]\Ir. Simmons may well be proud of the fact that he will be
the first postmaster in the handsome government building now in
the process of construction.
The official roster of the Austin postoffice at the present time
is as follows : Postmaster, 0. J. Simmons ; assistant postmaster,
George E. Anderson ; clerks, C. I. Eiley, W. J. Eice, G. E. Sharp-
stene, H. F. Olson; city letter carriers, "William L. Wells, T. S.
Thompson, C. L. Carter, F. I. Scullin, Sven Anderson, Jr. ; rural
letter carriers, M. J. Smith, J. A. Mills, Carl Johnson, C. B. Kearns,
"W. 0. Johnson and H. A. Rutherford ; substitute city carrier,
Ralph Craig; substitute rural carriers, I. S. Van House, H. C.
Aldrich, B. A. Campbell and P. A. Riley; special delivery mes-
senger, Charles H. Earl. In addition to these employes, there are
a number of railway postal clerks who make this their permanent
headquarters, Austin being a terminal for several of the railroad
mail routes.
Austin became a money order office in 1866. The first order
was issued to James C. Ackley, remitter. Payee, F. W. Detome,
Milwaukee, Wis. Amount, $13.80. Date, August 6, 1866. The
first order paid was to Ormanzo Allen. Amount, $8.50. Date,
August 13, 1866. It became a presidential office in 1867. The
first postal note was purchased by Prof. A. W. Rankin, drawn in
favor of parties in Wisconsin, for $4.99.
It is conceded that the growth of the postal receipts is an
accurate barometer by which may be judged the growth of any
community. It may be of interest to know that during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1881, there were 1,904 domestic money orders
issued at the Austin postoffice, while thirty years later we find
that there were issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910,
10,286 domestic orders, amounting to $70,497.13, yielding fees of
$592.71. During the same year there were 8,481 domestic orders
paid, amounting to .$51,049.92. There were issued during the year
174 international orders, to the amount of $2,109.82, yielding fees
of $24.28. Twenty-nine international orders were paid during the
year, amounting to $733.55. During the same year there were
registered at this office 3,388 pieces, enumerated as follows : 1,856
domestic letters, 1,171 domestic parcels, 110 foreign letters, 26
foreign parcels, 225 official free and registered matter. There
were 3,261 pieces of registered pieces received for delivery. Dur-
ing the past ten years the receipts of the office have been as fol-
lows : 1900. ,$12,226.43 ; 1901, $13,044.54; 1902, $14,196.11 ; 1903,
$14,419.57; 1904, $15,116.13; 1905, $15,491.77 ; 1906, $16,737.47 ;
352 HISTOEY OF MOWEE COUNTY
1907, $18,076.67; 1908, $20,999.17; 1909, $21,004.67; 1910, $22,-
804.31.
Through the efforts of Congressmau J. A. Tawney, who was
for a number of years chairman of the appropriations committee
of the national House of Eepresentatives, Austin secured an appro-
priation of $58,000 for the purpose of buying a site and erecting
a suitable government building. A tract of land fronting 102 feet
on Bridge street and 125 feet on St. Paul street was purchased
eight years ago by the secretary of the treasury, under whose
supervision government buildings are erected, but it was not until
August 22, 1910, that active building operations were begun on the
two-story building which will serve as a permanent postoffice home
in this city for many years at least.
The Northern Construction Company of Milwaukee was
awarded the contract for constructing the building, and B. F. Jud-
son, of Washington, D. C, represents the government as super-
intendent of construction. Cold weather interfered with the con-
stroiction during 1910, and labor was not resumed officially until
April 12, 1911, when the corner-stone was laid with great cere-
mony by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, A. F. & A. M. The
Grand Master and other grand officers were in attendance to assist
in the exercises, which were preceded by the biggest fraternal
parade ever witnessed in Austin. Since this event rapid progress
has been made and it no doubt will be ready for occupancy by
January 1, 1912.
The building will be forty-nine feet on Bridge street and
seventy-six feet on St. Paul street. At the north will be a fine
lawn, while on the east will be a vitrified brick drive. There will
be an entrance on each street. Its style of architecture will be
Kenaissance and its beauty will be enhanced by a carefull^y
selected combination of materials.
The foundation which is already completed is built of granite
and extends to the first floor line, above which Bedford limestone
and gray brick is used. It will be one of the most attractive
buildings in the city, and certainly one of the finest government
buildings in this part of the country.
In the basement will be found the city carriers' swing rooms,
which will be used by the carriers when not on duty. There will
also be a janitor's room, a postoffice storage room, fuel and boiler
rooms, and lavatories. A steam heating plant will be installed,
also a secondary hot-water system for Avarm seasons.
The entire first floor will be devoted exclusively to postal pur-
poses. The postmaster's room will be located in the southeast
corner, and will be finished in harmony with the prominent posi-
tion it occupies with respect to the entire building. The money
order and registry department will be located in a 14x20 room, in
HISTORY OF MOWEK COUNTY ;553
the northwest eorner. At the east end of this room will be a 7x8-
I'oot vault, which will be used for the storage of surplus postal
supplies, also the postal and money order records. Directly back
of this room, on the east, will be the mailing vestibule and plat-
form, which will be used by the mail messenger as storage place
for incoming and outgoing pouches and sacks. In the east center
will be located the workroom proper. It will be 32x40 feet, and
will extend the entire two stories of the building, thi;s making a
high, light, airy and comfortable workroom. This room will also
be finished in harmony with the general plan of the building, and
will also be equipped with a vault. The lobby, which will be situ-
ated on both the St. Paul and Bridge street sides of the building,
Avill be an architectural feature. The floors will be terazzo, fin-
ished with marble borders. The screen work will be constructed
of marble and oak. On the St. Paul street side will be found the
general delivery, stamp window and drops. There will be 376
lock boxes of four different sizes, divided into three sections, in
each of which will be a window for the delivery of such packages
as are too large for the boxes. Two writing desks of handsome
design Avill be provided for public use, as well as directory cases
and bulletin board. The lobby walls above the marble and oak
wainscoting will be of handsome design, the construction of which
will be composed of plaster pilasters, molded caps and cornices.
The design of the ceiling will be an elaborate one and in perfect
harmony with the general plan of the lobby. The entrances will
be furnished with revolving doors. The main floor will be of rein-
forced concrete instead of the usual wood construction. The main
stairway starts at the southwest corner of the building and leads
to the second story, which comprises five unassigned rooms, four
of which are 14x15 feet, and one 14x42 feet. This floor will also
be ecjuipped with all modern conveniences and will afford ideal
office rooms for other government departments. A stairway from
this floor leads to the attic, which may be used for surplus storage
quarters.
The main entrances will each be lighted with two large lights
suspended on ornamental brackets, and the lighting throughout
will be furnished from combination gas and electric fixtures.
The lavatories will be of marble floors and marble wainscoting
throughout. Not to leave anything in the way of modern improve-
ment undone, a complete telephone system will be installed.
OTHER POSTOFFICES.
Lyle PostoflBce. The government has been represented in the
village of Lyle l)y a regularly appointed postma.ster since the
organization of tlic villa ge. l)ut records are not available Avhereby
354 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
a glimpse of the past maj' be had earlier than July 1, 1887, when
C. P. Collins officially canceled postage behind closed doors. 0. G.
Myhre succeeded Mr. Collins in the office. May 1, 1889, and for
three years served the patrons of the office. Mr. Stanley, better
known as Captain Stanley, was next in order, authorized by the
government to administer the afl'Jiirs of the office, which he did
creditably until October 17, 1894, when the Cleveland administra-
tion ushered in a change in the local office and Frank B. Losey
stood at the helm. Losey 's term, however, was shorter than
Cleveland's, his term closing January 1, 1896, when George Rob-
ertson assumed the roll of postmaster in the Lyle office. On Feb-
ruary 1, 1903, Burton J. Robertson succeeded his father and has
since had charge of the office. The office has had a steady growth
from the beginning, luitil at present it serves mail to about one
thousand people, with the following force in charge : B. J. Rob-
ertson, postmaster; Chris Johnson, assistant postmaster; Grace
Sherman, assistant postmistress; John Carter, Chris Johnson and
AVill Murphy, carriers. Instead of being annexed to some other
business establishment as a side issue, it occupies a building by
itself and receives and delivers mail from and to nine incoming
and outgoing trains daily. Since 1908 the office has been in the
third class. Routes 1 and 2 were established ]\Iay 2, 1904, and
No. 3 was established October 1, 1908. The annual business done
amounts to $3,300.
Grand Meadow Postoffice. The Grand Meadow postoffice was
started in 1860 on the farm of B. F. Langworthy, northeast quar-
ter of section 12, in Avhat is now the township of Grand Meadow.
In 1870, when the railroad came through, the office was removed
to the village. The office became a registry office in 1870. It was
changed to the third class October 1, 1909. The office was made
a money order office in 1879. The first order issued was by Rol-
land Dunbar, July 7, 1879, the amount being $1. The first order
paid was to Peter Rose, July 23, 1879, the amount being $28.35.
The postmasters have been B. F. Langworthy, Hicks and Vining,
C. F. Greening, R. Dunbar, John Criswell, S. Y. Paddock, and the
present incumbent, C. E. Hovda. The assistant is Addie B.
Doherty. The carriers are W. F. Rice, Charles Nashold and
Joseph Sorben, routes Nos. 1, 2 and 3 having been established
June 4, 1900; May 15, 1901, and February 1, 1903, respectively.
The office does a good annual business and Mr. Ilovda has proven
a most capable official.
Adams Postoffice. The Adams postoffice was established in
1859, on section 8, in Adams township. Later it was moved to the
village. The first money order was issued to Ole A. Bergens, July
27, 1892. The first order was paid to Erick Jenson, August 24,
1892. Johnsbnrg was discontinued into this office December 31,
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY 355
1900. Rural Route No. 1 was established January 2, 1901, with
O. H. Njos as carrier. Route No. 2 was established March 2, 1903,
with Louis Slindes as carrier. The postmasters have been John
S. Irgens, Harold Irgens, A. D. Harris, P. M. Rooney, Mathias
Krebsbach, A. Torgerson, Anton Kinn, James Slindee, E. L. Slin-
dee. Mr. Slindee is assisted by Mrs. Annie C. Slindee, assistant
postmistress, and N. P. Gurvin, clerk.
Brownsdale Postoffice. Brownsdale postoffice was established
in the fall of 1856. with John L. Johnson as postmaster. The
office was kept in his store. Mails were received once a week,
brought from Austin on horseback. Mr. Johnson remained in
charge of the office until 1858, when H. W. Shook received the
appointment of postmaster. He was relieved in turn by A. D.
Brown, R. C. Heath, E. J. Stimson, H. Tilton, A. Stevens, Stephen
Ives, A. J. Hunt and W. S. Woodard. Mr. Woodard was suc-
ceeded by E. J. Stimson, who was followed by Albert Swift in
1891. He held the office till 1897, when he was succeeded by "Wm.
H. Palmer, the present incumbent.
The office was created a money order office July 1, 1874. The
first order was issued Julj^ 6, 1874, to Mons Erickson, of Browns-
dale, in favor of Ole "Wilson, of Kasson, Dodge county, Minnesota ;
amount, $5. The first order paid was issued at Dublin, Va., to
George "W. "Weiser, in favor of James M. Weiser; amount, $50;
was paid July 18, 1874.
Dexter Postoffice. This office was established in 1874. For a
time it was kept at the railroad station by Amasa Converse, the
first postmaster, who was succeeded by the following postmasters :
John L. Gaskill, L. M. Gaskill, George W. Buck, 0. J. Dickens,
P. Sheridan, B. S. Benner and E. W. Dorr, the last named being
the present incumbent. He has served since June 17, 1901. The
Manilla and Sutton offices have been discontinued into this office.
Mr. Dorr has an assistant and a clerk. Two rural routes emanate
from this office, and were established in 1900 and 1904. respect-
ively. The carriers are the Messrs. Chase and Gilmore. The
annual business is in the neighborhood of $2,000.
Racine Postoffice. Racine postoffice was originally established
in 1878 with T. W. Stewart as postmaster. The present postoffice
was established in 1890, when the railroad came through. Among
the postmasters have been Robert Eiehhorn and 0. B. Morse. The
present postmaster is Chris Schwarz. The first money order was
issued May 23, 1899, to H. Mork. The first order was paid the
same day to G. Preibl. Rural routes Nos. 1 and 2 were estab-
lished respectively on May 15, 1901, and May 2, 1904. The annual
business done is about $1,000.
Rose Creek Postoffice was esta])lislied in 1868 and Isaac :M. Ray
was appointed tlic first postmastci-. The office was kept in iiis
356 HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
residence in the Patrick Mealy house. After the first postmaster
came C. R. Varco, George Sutton, F. G. Raj^ Thomas Cronan, and
then again F. G. Ray. who is still serving. The office was made a
money order office in 1878. The first order was drawn July 1.
1878, by John Hallin, for $10, in favor of Andrew Peet, Independ-
ence, Kan. The first order was to J. A. Priest, July 5, 1878. the
amount being $5.
Lansing Postoffice. The Lansing postoffice was established in
the summer of 1858, with P. D. Vaughan as postmaster. The office
was kept at his house in section 3, where it remained until about
1864 or 1865, when it was removed to the store building, with
A. B. Vaughan as postmaster. The office remained here until
about 1868, when the office was moved across the street to the
store building in section 11, Mr. Vaughan retaining the office.
October 29, 1875, W. B. Vaughan received the appointment of
postmaster. The office was created a money order office July 1.
1878. The first order drawn was for $2.90, by P. D. Vaughan, in
favor of Walter H. Shupe, of New York, dated July 1, 1878. The
first order paid was for $3.65, to Mrs. J. S. Greeley, from ]\Irs.
Josephine Miller, of Beaver Falls, Minn. After W. B. Vaughan
came George W. Bartlett, who was appointed April 25, 1886. His
successor was H. M. Mclntyre, the present incumbent, who re-
ceived his commission May 21, 1889. Coi'uing was discontinued
into this office, October 1, 1906. One rural route was established
March 2, 1903. The present force in the office consists of H. M.
Mclntyre, postmaster; assistant, H. S. Mclntyre; clerk, A. E.
Mapes ; rural carrier, E. W. Carll ; substitutet rural carrier,
F. A. Carll. The annual business done is about $1,000. The money
order business amounts to about $5,000.
Waltham Postoffice. Waltham postoffice was established in
1866, with Col. A. J. Burbank as postmaster. The office was kept
at the Waltham House, of which he was landlord. The mail route
from Brownsdale to Kasson, in Dodge county, passed by this office,
from which route it was supplied. The office remained here until
1868, when Moses Boliou was appointed postmaster, and the office
removed to his house in section 9, where it remained until 1872,
when it Avas discontinued. The present office was established
INIarch 9, 1886, with J. A. Stephan as postmaster,. IMr. Stephan is
still serving in that capacity, and has the longest term of service
of any postmaster in the county. The first money order was
issued January 4, 1899, to Rev. F. C. Milius, and the first order
was paid February 22, 1899. Rural service was established from
this (iffice iMiircli 2, 1893, and covers a wide territory.
Taopi Postoffice. This postoffice was established in tlu> spring
of 1875, will] William P.raiiicrd as llie first postmaster. It was
first kc|)1 ill a coop"!- shop in block 3, and later moved into C.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 357
Alleman's store, on Main street, block 2. In course of time C.
Alleman was appointed postmaster, and held the office until
Frank Lyons was appointed by President Grover Cleveland. It
was then moved further down on ]\Iain street. J. JM. Lukens was
next appointed, and was succeeded by M. H. Lyons, who kept the
office in the old Corbitt building on Main street. G. I\I. Campbell
was ajipointed postmaster December 1, 1897, and was followed by
Jane Campbell, who was appointed December 18, 1902. The first
money order was issued January 13, 1894, to Peter Kasel, and the
first order paid was to Mrs. Anthony Loftus, January 19, 1894.
The rural service was established May 1, 1904. John Johnson is
now serving as rural carrier.
Other Offices. There are also postoffices at Sargeant, Renova,
Elkton and Mayville. It is impossible to give a history of these
offices owing to the fact that the postmasters have refused to fur-
nish the information in spite of the fact that several letters of
inquiry have been addressed to them.
DISCONTINUED POSTOFFICES.
Among the discontinued postoffices in Mower county may be
mentioned Coi'uing, Frankford, Johnsburg, Ramsey, Root River,
Sutton, Udolpho, Chandler postoffice, Madison, Brooklyn, Ben-
nington and others.
Coming. The postoffice at this point continued for many
years, but was discontinued in October, 1906.
Chandler Postoffice, This office Avas established in 1856, with
"\V. Means as postmaster. It was on the route between Osage and
Owatonna, and mail was received once a week. The successor of
Means was D. L. Chandler, who kept the office at his house, sec-
tion 33. township of Austin.
Elkhorn. This was established in 1855 with Jacob jMcQuillan
as postmaster. ]Mail was received from Chatfield once in two
weeks. The office was discontinued when Hamilton was estab-
lished.
Udolpho postoffice was established about 1874, with Samuel
Duunell, brother of Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, as postmaster. The
office was kept at his house in section 2. He was succeeded by
Philip Setzer, as postmaster, and the office moved to his house in
section 1. It remained here a short time, when Joseph Reynolds
received the appointment of postmaster and the office removed to
liis house in section 1. It Avas again removed and Gideon Stod-
dard appointed postmaster. The office Avas kept at his house on
section 2. ]Mrs. ^lalina S. Carll kept the office at her house in
section 2.
358 HISTORY OF MOWER COUXTY
The first mails were received Twice a week, via Brownsdale.
Walthain postoffiee and this office, to Blooming Prairie.
Brooklyn. The first postoffiee in AVindom township was estab-
lished in 1858, nnder the name of Brooklyn. It was on the mail
route from ^McGregor to Austin. The name was afterward changed
to Canton. Horatio Marsh was the first postmaster. He was suc-
ceeded a few years later by Walter Fuller, who resigned shortly
after the railroad was built, and the office was discontinued. ]\Ir.
Fuller turned over the records of the office to George Sutton, then
postmaster at Rose Creek.
Frankford Postoffiee. This office was established in 1856.
Lewis Patehen was appointed postmaster. Early postmasters
were T. M. Chapman, Charles Lamb and Lewis Patehen.
Madison. A i)ostoffice was established at this point about
1857 by AVarren Brown. Later the postoffiee was re-established
in charge of Moody & Co. Later E. Bassett took the office and
continued it about twelve years, but later gave it up.
CHAPTER XXVHL
GRAND ME.A.DOW TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Location and Soil of Township — Early Settlement — Organization
— Village of Grand Meadow — Opening of the Settlement and
Early Business Interests — Societies — Churches — Postoffiee —
Library — Catastrophes — Early Events — Village Government.
Grand ]\Ieadow township embraces congressional township 103
north, range 15 west of the fifth principal meridian. Its bounda-
ries are Pleasant Valley township on the north, Frankford town-
ship on the east, Clayton township on the south. Dexter township
on the west. The soil is of excellent quality, well adapted to the
growth of all the crops commonly cultivated in this section of the
country. This is a prairie township. The surface in the northern
part is rolling, while in the southern it is quite level. An agree-
able variety is imparted to the landscape by groves of trees, which
have been planted with a liberal hand to aid and supplement the
work of nature. The attention of the farmers of this district.
until within a few years, mainly devoted to the production of
wheat and other grains, is now being largelylurned to the inter-
ests of stock raising and the dairy. Deer creek, which takes its
rise in Clayton township, flows through the southeastern part of
Grand IMeadow, mostly in sections 85 and 'M). In the northeastern
HISTOEY OF MOWER COUXTY 351)
quarter are two branches of Bear creek, one of which, rising in
section 3, passes through sections 2 and 12. The other lies farther
south, and crosses the eastern lioundary of the township in sec-
tion 13.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement in the town of Grand Meadow was made
by Erlund Olson, in the autumn of 1854. Olson was a native of
Norway. He came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled
on the northeast quarter of section 12. The log house built by
him here was the first in the town. After remaining here for some
years. Olson sold his place and removed to the town of Racine.
The next settlers were Arthur McNelly and Andrew McCabe —
the former a native of Ireland, the latter of New York state.
They took claims on section 13. In August, 1856, B. F. Lang-
worthy made a claim on section 12. He purchased other land near
by. at $2.50 per acre, until he acquired in all 960 acres. In 1875
he sold it at $25 per acre, and removed to Spring Valley. In the
latter part of the year 1856, S. H. Rice, a native of the Buckeye
state, settled on the northwest cjuarter of section 35, which
remained his home until the time of his death in 1881. Mr. Rice
was one of the original signers of the Grand Meadow railroad
bonds, issued to the Southern IMinnesota Railway Company. Isaiah
Peterson came with his family to Grand Meadow in the spring of
1857, and settled on section 6, where they remained but two years.
In 1858 two children of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson died of croup. A
son, named Peter Peterson, was born to them in the fall of 1857.
AVilliam Seabern settled at an early day in the township 's history
on the southeast quarter of section 32. Joseph Ross, coming a few
weeks later, settled on the southwest quarter of section 33, adjoin-
ing Seabern 's land. Ross was from Nova Scotia. He enlisted in
the northern army in 1862, and died in the service at Nashville,
Tenn, About the year 1858, L. E. Pearce came from Pennsylvania
and took a claim on section 26. After making a little improve-
ment, he returned to the Keystone state, where he married. In
the course of a few years he came back and settled on his farm.
He was engaged for some time in the grain and lumber business
at Grand Meadow village ; later he did a commission business in
]\Iilwaukee. In 1858, one William Pye, who came from ^Michigan,
settled on section 34. After living here some years, he went to
Wisconsin, where he was subsequently joined by his family, Gil-
bert Christopherson took a claim in section 11, in 1856. lie
remained in the township two or three years and then returned to
Dane county, Wisconsin. Andrew Halverson, Ole Sortlatten and
Ilelge Johnson were Norwegian settlers of 1858. Halverson set-
tled in the northern jnirt of section 14. Sortlatten came directly
360 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
from Norway and settled in the south part of section 11. John-
son came here from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled in the
north part of the town. About the year 1879 he went back to
Wisconsin. 0. E. Sorben, A. Finhart and Ole Loe were also among
the early Norwegian emigrants. Clark Markham. with his
brothers, Erastus and Joseph, came here about the year 1859,
and settled in section 16. C. B. Remington settled in section 8,
in 1859. A Mr. Parker, Avho settled in section 17, went away in
1864. William Fineudall and D. Vandenover came to Grand
]\Ieadow township in the year 1860, or near that time, and settled
in secton 5. Henry "Weber settled in the northern part of sec-
tion 4. A Mr. Gleason and his son-in-law settled in sections 17
and 18. They afterward removed to Rochester. Chauncey Kuapp,
mentioned elsewhere, Avas also an early settler.
ORGANIZATION.
The town of Grand ]\[eadow was organized in 1862. The first
town meeting was held at the house of B. F. Langworthy, in sec-
tion 12, on April 20 of that year. B. F. Langworthy, Chauncy
Knapp and Orson W. Case were appointed judges of election,
Alonzo Avery, clerk. The following is the list of town officers
elected: B. F. Langworthy, chairman; C. Knapp, 0. W. Case;
A. Avery, clerk; G. C. Parker, treasurer; C. B. Remington and
S. H. Rice, justices of peace; W. A. Lunt, asse^^sor; N. C. Mark-
ham and J. j\r. McCabe. constables.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first store for the sale of general merchandise in the town
Avas that of D. B. Colman.
The first hardware store was C. F. Greening's, opened in 1871,
and still doing business.
The first child not of aboriginal parentage, born within the
limits of this township was Forest E. Langworthy, later editor of
the Spring Valley Mercury, published at Spring Valley, Fillmore
county, Minnesota.
The first deatli was of a child of ]Mr. and ]\Irs. George Chat-
Avood.
Tlie first school liouse in tlie toAvn stood on tlie southeast quar-
ter of section 115. Delia Evans Avas tlu> first teacher.
The first girl Ixii'ii in tiic township Avas a daughter to ]\Ir. and
]\Irs. John Peterson.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME.
In the early days of the fifties a gentleman from one of the
hilly eastern states Avas looking over the lands of this neighbor-
HISTOPvY OF MOWEI? COU^'TY 3G1
hood, and standing on an eminence with one of the few residents
of that time, he remarked, as he looked over the great expanse of
fertile lands, "AVhat a Grand Meadow." His exclamation was
truthful, and that name was adopted for all time. Grand Meadow-
is certainly a beautiful piece of country. Gently undulating, suf-
iieient to give ample drainage, no swamps, rocky hills, or sand
dunes, all good available land, with the beautiful groves dotting
the prairies, streams and little lakes, with a soil unsurpassed for
fertility and ease of cultivation. There are cosy and comfortable
homes, and a better grass or pasture country can hardly be
found. In fact it led to the remark of one of a party of Elgin,
Illinois, dairymen, who were here a short time ago, to exclaim:
"I do not wonder that Minnesota can equal or even surpass Illi-
nois in dairying when they can raise such grass as I see here."
THE VILLAGE OF GRAND MEADOW.
The trai-t of land upon which this village is platted was en-
tered in 1858 by one X. Albee, w4io sold it to Henry Martin, of
Connecticut. A transfer was made by Mr. Martin to Messrs.
Hall, Easton, Thompson and Holly, who thus became proprietors
of the original village site. F. H. Armstrong, of Alpena, Mich-
igan, and L. E. Pearce laid out lots, and offered them for sale on
the south side of the railroad track. The price of these being
much less than that asked for the lots of the afore-named com-
pany, many were induced to buy them in preference to the others.
Thus the south side became gradually settled, became the most
desirable part of the village for residence. It should here be
mentioned that the village was laid out in 1870, the railroad at
that time having been built as far as the creek east of the village
site.
Lumber was hauled from Spring Valley to put up the first
buildings, two warehouses and a lumber office, the latter owned
by Richards & Bray. It was later occupied by John Tyrrell as a
residence. The first house built for a dwelling was that later oc-
cupied by E. M. Barnard. Its builder. L. E. Pearce. moved to
]\Iorris. Stevens county, in 1875. Pearce also l)uilt the first ware-
house.
EARLY BUSINESS.
The first .store Avas kept by D. B. Coleman in the building later
used as a postofifice. Then. 1870, it stood in the street, but was
afterward moved to where C. F. Greening's brick block was later
erected. For this small room ]Mr. Coleman paid rent at the rate
of .^40 per month. Tlie building was later used for a licpior
302 HISTOEY OF MOWER COUNTY
saloon. Most of the older dwelling houses in this part of the vil-
lage were built in the years 1870 and 1871. The Bell house,
George Chatwood proprietor, was the first to be finished and
opened as a hotel at Grand Meadow. After a lapse of three or
four years it was leased for a period of five years by John Mc-
Devitt. At the end of that time, W. T. Hughart undertook its
management. Mr. Hughart put an addition on the north side by
moving across the street the Centennial house, built by him in
1876. Mr. A. Axtell was next in charge for a brief season, and
later the hotel wa.s discontinued. The Brown house was built by
John Brown. It was first kept by him and afterward, for a few
months, by Frank Dunbar. In 1877 ]\Ir. Brown sold the property
to F. M. Pierson. At one time this was the only public house in
the village, continuing to be such until George J. A. Correll be-
gan to entertain guests at his place of business. Two elevators
were built here in 1875. Bonner & Hyde's was the earlier begun,
but Cargill's was first completed. The latter was burned in 1880.
Another was built in its place. During the years 1876 and 1877
immense quantities of grain were marketed here. It is said that
in the last four months of 1877 the freight bills of the shippers
amounted to $22,000 per month. A Mr. Plummer was the first
to wield a sledge hammer within the village precincts. ]\Ir. Plum-
mer came from Hamilton, but he did not come to stay. AVhere-
fore, when John Peterson put up a shop opposite the Collins
house, establishing himself and his trade in Grand Meadow for
life, as it woiald seem, he gained a right to be considered really
the pioneer blacksmith of the place. George Xewson, the first
village barber, came here in 1876. J. Skyburg engaged in busi-
ness in company with M. H. Fjelstad, in June, 1874, who had
previously been engaged in trade here. They ran the business
together until 1878. when Mr. Skyburg sold his interest in the
business to Mr. Fjelstad. The next year (1879) Mr. Skyburg
again embarked in the mercantile business in company with Ole
Johnson. This firm remained in business about one and a half
years, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Skyburg con-
tinuing the business.
GRAND MEADOW IN 1873.
In 1873, Grand ^Meadow had tlie following business houses: H.
P. Coleman, general store and drugs, two stores; RoUin Dunbar,
deputy postmaster, general store; A. Fjelstad, general store; An-
derson & Clausen, furniture dealers; Ed. Peterson, harness maker
and saddlery; August Fischer, shoemaker; Lore & Luttenberger,
carpenters; Brown's hotel. Jolin Brown, proprietor; C. C. Cole,
blacksmith and plowmaker; John Peterson, blacksmith; Charles
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 3G3
F. Greening, hardware and bank. B. F. Langworthy was post-
master, Dr. S. M. Jenks, B. F. Wood, S. M. R. R., station agents.
L. E. Pearee dealt in produce and machinery, as did also M. F.
Vening, H. W. Elms and G. W. AVood. U. S. Potter was a grain
buyer. F. M. Peirson, a resident of the village, has lived a longer
time in this county than any other person now living within its
limits.
GRAND MEADOW IN 1885.
In the fall of 1885, Grand Meadow had four churches. Congre-
gational, Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic; a postoffice, a rail-
road station, a schoolhouse, two hotels, a boarding house, a
dentist, a physician, a Turkish bath, a feed mill and several stores.
The G. A. R. post, H. B. Sheldon, commander, was in a flourish-
ing condition. Following is a brief business directory of the vil-
lage at that time : C. F. Greening, general merchant and bank-
ing; Lovell & Sheldon, general merchants; S. S. Baken, drugs and
decorations ; J. Skyburg, dry goods ; Hudson & Elliott, hardware ;
A. Thiel, shoes; Mrs. L. M. Hughart, meals; H. Orth, furniture;
W. A. Nolan, harness shop; Charles Martin, farm machinery; C.
P. Gladen, wagon maker; Nels Green, blacksmith; Peterson &
Grimes, blacksmiths; J. J. Gilbertson, farm machinery; E. E.
Myhre, tailor; "W. "W. Ranney, general merchant ; Phillip & Brown,
meats; John Criswell, postmaster and jeweler; Dr. Jackson, phy-
sician; F. M. Pierson, proprietor of the Brown house; W. H.
Bentley, skating rink; J. Larkins, station agent; George New-
sum, barber; M. 0. Wilsie, lumber; E. M. Barnard, Alrah Hunt,
C. W. Martin, grain buyers ; Geo. J. A. Corell, hotel and grocery ;
A. Folsom, dry goods ; Barnard & Elliott, Mrs. Lettie Palmer, mil-
liners; W. T. Hughart, justice; A. B. M. Lindsley, president, C.
F. Greening, treasurer, H. M. Lovell, secretary of creamery; Ed-
ward Lewis, drayman; H. M. Lovell, bird fancier; Thomas
AVagoner, buttermaker ; Charles "Wood, hay presser ; Lars Frank-
son, feed mill; W. T. Hughart, Turkish bath; Mrs. S. A. Nolan,
boarding house.
INCORPORATION.
An act passed the legislature early in 1876 authorizing M. F.
Vining, C. F. Greening and AV. H. Bentley to conduct a village
election in Grand ]Meadow. The election was held on the first
Monday in April, 1876, and the following officers elected : Presi-
dent, E. M. Barnard ; recorder, B. F. AVood ; AA^m. Bentley, Gilbert
H. Allen, S. M. Jenks. The present officers of the village arc:
President. T. J. Grimes ; recorder, N. O. AVilsie ; C. L. Sehroeder,
G. AY. Day, C. A\\ Alartin.
3CA HISTORY OF MOAVER COUNTY
MODERN GRAND MEADOW.
Grand Meadow is a prosperous village with a population of
some 600 inhabitants. It is well laid out, has some excellent ce-
ment sidewalks, and is planted with many shade trees. Its citi-
zens are progressive and the buildings modern and sightlj\
Among the activities of Grand Meadow may be mentioned :
Five churches, Methodist and Congregational resident pastors,
one lumber yard, one fine high school, two hotels, one newspaper,
three general stores, city, Masonic and M. W. A. halls, one opera
house, one hardware store, one drug store, one clothing store,
one merchant tailor, one jeweler, one dentist, one furniture and
undertaking establishment, one harness shop, one automobile
garage, two blacksmith establishments, one creamery, two car-
penter shops, one woodworking establishment, one saw mill, one
physician, one livery, two custom grist mills, two restaurants, one
millinery store, one pool and billiard hall, one barber shop, one
meat market, one telephone company, two land companies, one
feed and coal establishment, one draying line, two painting estal)-
lishments, and a postofifice. The Exchange State Bank has the
finest bank building in this part of Minnesota.
Among the older settlers still represented in the business of
the village are C. F. Greening, Exchange State Bank ; John Peter-
son, blacksmith; P. Schleiger, drugs; M. 0. AVilsie, lumber yard:
Erick Torgrimson, general store (business conducted by son,
G. T.) ; Erick Myhre, merchant tailor; C. W. Martin, conducting
the Hyde elevation; Fred Pierson, "Old Brown House"; AV. A.
Nolan, harness and automobiles; Thomas J. Grimes, blacksmith;
George Day, woodwork ; Jolm Peterson, blacksmith ; Lars Frank-
son, grist mill.
Streets. Tlie streets of Grand IMeadow present an excellent
appearance. Few villages in the state are better supplied with
sidewalks, and the trees, pleasant residences, and sightly public
and business buildings, add much to the attractiveness of life
here. For several years the streets were lighted with oil. Lamps
of gasoline gas are now provided, and an acetylene plant is under
advisement.
City and Masonic Hall. This is a pretty structure built of
brick and erected in 1890. The lower tloor is used as a village
hall and the upper tioor is well furnished and devoted to Masonic
purposes. The waterworks, tower, pump and well were put in
in lilOl.
M. W. A. Hall and Opera House. In 1909 a stock company
was formed for the purpose of erecting a l)uilding to be used for
a fraternity hall and place of entertainment. The building was
HIST01?Y OF MOWER COUNTY oG5
started in 1909 and dedicated in 1910. It is of ))nck with an
ornamental t:ront. The place is well lighted with gas, and iew
stages in southern Minnesota are as well equipped. The building
is 100x50 feet. The auditorium is 50x66 and the stage 24x50 feet.
A fme balcony adds to the seating capacity. The Woodman Hall
Association was organized, as stated, in 1909. The otRcers
Avere: President, E. F. Greening; secretary, W. D. LockAVOod ;
treasurer, G. A. Wright; directors, F. M. Higbie, C. W'. Martin,
Andrew Haugen, C. B. Hovda, August Biederbeck and G. G. Tor-
grimson. The present officers are the same with the exception
that Fred Seabern is secretary.
Fire Protection. Grand Meadow is excellently equipped to
guard against fire. In the early days the village had various
bucket brigades. The present Grand Meadow Hose company was
organized September 18, 1894. At that meeting H. B. Sheldon
was the chairman and C. F. Greening, secretary. The first otifieers
elected were : Foreman, W. A. Nolan ; assistant, P. W^ilson ; sec-
retary, John J. AVeeks; treasurer, C. F. Greening; standing com-
mittee, F. H. Townsend, P. McDonough and Ed Bartlett. The
present oificers are: Foreman, W^. A. Nolan; assistant, Tlieo.
Bratrud; secretary and treasurer, E. F. Greening.
The Grand Meadow Cemetery is suitably located, and well
cared for. On March 11, 1873. a meeting of citizens was hold,
and various sums were subscribed for the purchase of a ceme-
tery. Temporary officers were appointed as follows: President,
0. W. Case; treasurer, L. E. Pearce ; secretary, B. F. Langworthy.
A committee of three, consisting of 0. W. Case, H. P. Colemau
and AYilliam Lewis Avas appointed to draft the by-iaws. Pho
Grand Meadow Cemetery Association was then formally organ-
ized, the directors being O. AY. Case, B. F. Langworthy, L. E.
Pearce, A. R. Austin, C. F. Greening, N. C. Markham and AYil-
liam Lewis. C. F. Greening Avas the first actuary. The first
burial Avas probably that of Arthur AA'ood, October 7, 1873. The
present officers are: President, John Peterson; treasurer and
actuary, C. F. Greening; secretary, Philip T. Elliott; C. AV. IMai-
tin, A. D. Moore, L. AI. Lindsley and W. P. Lewis.
Grand Meadow Library. In November, 1883, tlie sum of H'B-l
was raised liy suliscription among the citizens of the place for
the beginning of a public library. Of this amount, the village
council gave $10, in order to carry out the design. An associa-
tion Avas formed, Avith the following officers: Rev. (}. B. Caplc.
lu'csident; AV. AY. Ranney, librarian; Airs. H. B. Sheldon iiiid
Airs. H. B. ALirtin, directors.
The library is now in a fiourishing conditon, and has roon.s
over the postoffice. The present officers are: President, F. H.
.\i-iiistroiiir ; secretarv and treasurer, A. T. Keeler ; Mrs. V. P.
366 HISTOIJY OF MOWER COUNTY
Peyton, Clare Peterson, ^Irs. C. F. Greening, AV. D. Loekwood.
Dr. R. S. Mitchell and P. F. Elliott.
Home Telephone Company. C. V. Greening, lianker of Gran^l
iMeadow, ^v;^s a ]>ioiicer in the telephone business. He built a
little line for family use. In 1898 some of his )ieigiibors wanted
to have telephones connected to his line. Incidentally he con-
nected up a few telephones. He did not realize, at the time, that
he was laying the cornerstone for tlie great telephone industry.
He added telephones to his exchange until he had nearly three
hundred telephones in Grand jMeadow and Dexter. In 1906 he
sold his telephone system to the Home Telephone Company, which
was organized that year. C. F. Greening was elected sec^'.^a'-;.'
of this new company; AY. H. Goodsel, president; and ]\i;u'tin
Axness, general manager. The company sold the Dexter exchange
to the Dexter Telephone Company and the business grew so that
the Grand Meadow Exchange had over three hundred telephones
in 1911. The company owns half inter'^st in the to-l lijics con-
necting the neighboring towns: Racine, Stewartville, Spring Yal-
ley, LeRoy, Ostrand'n-, Adams, Elkton, and Dexter.
The Nolan Auto Company is one of the important conceru.s
of Grand iMcadow. It is said that tlie company sells more auto-
mobiles than any other agency in this part of the state. An
excellent garage and warehouse is maintained, and the members
of the company have put much energy and ability into its man-
agement. The officers are: President, AV. A. Nolan: secretary,
G. T. Torgrimson ; treasurer, G. A. \Yright.
The Farmers' Grain Company. This company, wliicli does a
general grain, coal and feed liusiness, was organized ]\Iarch 16,
1907, and purchased the old Ripley elevator building. Tlie first
officers were : President, C. L. Schroeder ; vice president, Henry
Corcoran; secretary, G. A. Wright; treasurer, R. E. Crane: A.
Lybeck, H. Neuraan; P. M. Iligbie, George AY. Coon, Jr. S. Y.
Moen was the buyer. The present officers are: President, F. M.
Higbie; vice president, M. H. Corcoran; AV. H. Goodsell, C. 1j.
Schroeder. Edward Christgau is the buyer.
Grand Meadow Cooperative Butter and Cheese Association.
This creamery is one of the oldest in Alinnesota. It was organ-
ized Marcli 14, 1889, and l)uilt a creamery at once. The first
officers were : President, A. D. Aloore ; vice president, AVilliam
8eabern; secretary, 0. E. Low; treasurer, E. Torgrhnson ; 11. J.
Lockwood, L. M. Lindsley, 0. K. Lestrud, P. E. Peterson, C. J.
Higbie. The present officers are: President, A. G. Daleu; vice
president, L. N. Lindsley; secretary and treasurer, G. A. AVrigiit :
George F. Brown, S. J. Olson, AV. H. Goodsell, John Krause and
John Joyce, Jr. The creamery does a large trade and enjoys a
Avide patronage.
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 3G7
Grand Meadow Creamery Association. This organization was
perfected Februaiy 4, 1882, with A. B. Lindsay, president; C. F.
Greening, treasurer; H. M. Lovell, secretary. Business was
started with a stock capital of $3,000. A suitable building was at
once erected, and furnished with the most approved machinery,
run by a steam engine of fifteen-horsepower. In the autumn of
188:3. a feed mill was added, at a cost of $500. A dividend of
10 per cent was declared on June 1, 1884, leaving a sufficient
capital to carry on the business. In 1883, from the milk of about
seven hundred cows, were made 90,000 pounds of butter, which
was sold for $21,000. This association did not prove a success,
and the building is now used l)y Lars Frankson as a feed mill.
GRAND MEADOW HIGH SCHOOL.
Independent School District. No. 77, was organized in 1872.
The first schoolhouse was built in the southeast cjuarter of block
2.5, Proprietors addition to the village, and at the present time
the district owns the whole block. The first site was donated to
the district by the townsite proprietors, so long as it shall be used
for school purposes. The balance of the block has been acquired
since at various times by purchase. The original school house
was a one-story, 14x20, frame building -without ceiling or plaster,
and unpainted. This was used for the first year and the first
teacher was Lizzie Anker, of Frankford township. In 1863 a
new building was erected at a cost of $2,000 by G. W. Lore and
Louis Lutenberger, under contract between District 77 and D. B.
Colman, and w^as paid for wuth district bonds drawing twelve per
cent interest. The building was used until 1894, when, becoming
overcrowded, it was sold to John Hudson, who moved it down
onto Second street, where it was burned in the great fire of
1900. A new building was erected during 1894, of four rooms,
by John Kingsley, of Chatfield, was occupied the same fall, and
was burned January 24, 1895, the fire originating in the hot air
pipes, i^chool was in session at the time and the flames and
smoke developed so suddenly that had it not been for the splen-
did discipline and fire drill of the scholars, under Prof. P. C.
Tonning (now assistant state superintendent of schools), many
of the pupils mu.st have been injured, if not killed in escaping
from the upper rooms. As it w'as, most of the furniture, books
and supplies were destroyed. With the energy and resourceful-
ness of Professor Tonning, the school was in session again tlirce
days after, in the town hall and two churches (]\Iethodi.st and
Congregational), as though nothing had happened. Another
building was erected on the same site and of the same dimensions
as the one burnt'd during the summer of 1895. and school again
3G8 HISTOKY OF MOWER COUNTY
opened in September of that year. This was operated until
1903, when, it becoming so crowded, a special school meeting was
called February 20, for the purpose of voting on the question of
organizing as an independent school district. Out of fifty-five
votes cast, but two were in opposition.
Another special meeting was held April 27, 1903, for the pur-
pose of voting on a proposition to build an addition to the present
school and to inaugurate the state high school system. The vote
stood fifty-six for and fiftj'-four against the proposition. It was
then voted to issue $6,000 of school bonds for the purpose of
erecting the new building. The vote stood fifty-two in favor and
eight against the proposition. Plans were drawn and the con-
tract let to Tosten A. Stenvig, of Harmony, Minnesota, for the
sum of $3,450, the basement for $583, and the steam heating plant
for $1,965, or a total of $5,998. The building was completed in
time to hold the fall term of school as a state high school, and
has so continued to the present time. The value of the school
property at the last annual meeting was something over $14,000.
All the high school branches are now being taught, with a corps
of eight teachers. Under the able management of Prof. "W. A.
Alexander, an agricultural course has been added to the regular
studies, and for all of the drawbacks from the dry season, our
students carried off many prices at the county fair in 1910 for
their garden products. The present school board consists of Hon.
AV. A. Nolan, president; Philip T. Elliott, secretary; C. F. Green-
ing, treasurer (for last thirty-five years) ; S. P. Hambleton, ]\Iartin
Sorom and 6. T. Torgrimson. The faculty consists of the follow-
ing: Superintendent, Prof. W. A. Alexander; principal. Villa
Harris ; assistant principal, Gladys Putnam ; eighth grade, Nellie
Keenan ; seventh grade, Irene Warren ; fifth and sixth grades,
Grace F. Leonard ; third and fourth grades, Emma Warren ; first
and second grades, Eva Barber; .janitor, Anton Odden. Nine
months school is always held, with an average attendance of
about 200. Grand Meadow is .instly proud of her high school.
SOCIETIES.
Booth Post No. 130, Department of Minnesota, G. A. R.
January 23, 1SS5, sixteen of the "old lioys"" nu'1 in llie skatinu
rink and organized as ;i (Jrand Army post. Lieut. W. W.
Ranaey. C'npt. Alhetl Swill, iuid Alfred Lounsbury, of Post 11,
Brownsdale, aded as nmsleriii^- (.llicers, and Bootli Post 130 was
duly iiistituled. and a.lded tu the dcpai-tuieul rolls. W. W. Ran-
iK'v hein-' a ivsid.'iit of (ifan^l .Meadow, hroii.ulit his liMiislVr
eai'd and was <lnly nnisleivd in as on.- of the charter meinl.ers.
P.ooth Post was named after one of the hov soldiers of llaniiltnn,
HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY 3(i'J
in Fillmore county, who went to the war, and gave liis all, his
life, for the country. The charter members are as follows:
H. B. Sheldon, Company I, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry;
A. J. Scribner, Company I, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry;
"NV. "W. Ranney, lieutenant, Company A, Twenty-sixth Kentucky
Volunteer Infantry ; James F. Carson, Company — , Fourth Mas-
sachusetts Cavalry; Oliver Lewis, Company K, Forty-ninth Wis-
consin Volunteer Infantry ; C. F. Greening, Company A, Elev-
enth, and Company H, Twenty-third AViseonsin Volunteer Infan-
try ; R. A. Donaldson, Company K, First Minnesota Heavy Artil-
lery ; H. H. Hartley, Company E, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer
Infantry; J. W. Farquar, Company C, Twelfth United States
Infantry, and Company D, Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cav-
alry ; C. P. Gladen, Company — , One Hundred and Sixth New
York Volunteer Infantry ; A. J. Stewart, Company A, Fovirth
^Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; Benjamin Wright, Company C,
Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ; E. 0. Hovda, Com-
pany K, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery; C. N. Bostwick, Com-
pany C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry ; Nels. Seaverson,
Company K, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery ; N. S. Green, Com-
pany A, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Of the
above named sixteen charter members, all have answered the
"last roll call" except four — Lieut. AV. AV. Ranney, A. J. Scrib-
ner, C. F. Greening, and Benjamin AA'right. The following Averci
the first officers of the post : Commander, H. B. Sheldon ; senior
vice commander, C. P. Gladden; junior vice commander, R. A.
Donaldson; adjutant, AA'". AY. Ranney; surgeon, A. J. Scribner;
chaplain, C. N. Bostwick; quartermaster, C. F. Greening; 0. D.,
A. J. Stewart; 0. G., Benjamin Wright; S. M., N. S. Green;
quartermaster sergeant, H. H. Hartley.
The first representative to a state encampment was C. P.
Gladen. John Espenscheid, who was one of the early recruits
to the post, was the first mem])er to answer the "last roll call."
He passed away on November 10, 1885. The first memorial serv-
ices were held in the Alethodist church on Sunday, May 23, 1887.
Rev. Allen delivered the address, assisted by Rev. Colwell, of the
Congregational churcli. j\Iemorial Sunday lias Itccn kept ever
since, first by the Mctliodist society, and then tlio Congrega-
tional society, alternately. In the fall of 1889, the mothers, wives
and daughters of soldiers organized a AVoman's Relief Corps.
Booth Corps No. 62, and justly proud the post is, of that si)lendid
auxiliary. Their main aim seems to be to aid the suffering and
needy. August 17. 1891, it was decided to build a home for the
post and corps. A .subscription list was circulated, and in te.v
days .+523 liad been secured. The building was started, and the
ln'Miitiful little home was <-()iii|>Ic1(m1 and occupied the s;ime fall.
370 HISTOKY OF MOWEE COUNTY
That noble body of women composing the W. E. C. donated the
sum of $115 towards the new home. At the tirst meeting in the
new building, it was unanimously voted that the post hall should
never be used for any purpose except for the meetings of the
post and corps, so long as the post survived. That agreement
has been religiously kept, and will be kept so long as the post
exists, and thanks to the W. E. C, we have the neatest and
cleanest post hall in the state that we have seen. On the comple-
tion of the building it was found that we were free from debt,
and no debt has ever been held against the post. With no rent
to pay, we have always had a nice balnce in the treasury, both
general and relief funds. At a meeting of the post in January,
1906, the question Avas discussed as to what should be done
with the hall when the post ceased to exist. It was unanimously
voted that the trustees of the post should at once execute a deed
of the property, running to the trustees of the W. E. C, and their
successors in office, as a mark of love and esteem to that band of
women who had been our helpers for so long. The deed was
duly executed and is held in escrow so long as the post 
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