USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 37
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1905 President. L. F. Lammers; trustees, John L. Gessell, B. Poppitz, Joseph I. Jones; recorder, Frank Ilumiston: treasurer. J. F. Humiston; assessor, Chris Johnson: justice, C. R. J. Kellam: constable. J. E. Rider.
1906-President, L. F. Lammers: trustees, B. B. Sontag. T. A. Behrenfeld. S. II. Berkness; recorder. J. W. Young: treasurer, C. A. Rob- son: assessor. Chris Johnson: constables, W. S. Freer, Elmer Spaulding.
1907- President. L. F. Lammers; trustees, C. 11. Cabot. John Woolstencroft. B. B. Sontag: reeorder, Fred Cooley; treasurer. Albert Rob- son: assessor. Chris Johnson: justice. C. R. J. Kellam: constables. W. H. Myers. Max Hart - neck.
1908- President. J. F. Liepold: trustees, A. J. Moe. W. J. Ross, B. B. Sontag: recorder. F. A. Cooley; treasurer. Albert Robson: assessor, Chris Johnson: justice. John Woolstencroft : constables. G. J. Alexander, Ernest Rippon.
1909-President. J. F. Liepold; trustees. A. J. Moc. B. B. Sontag, Will Drews; reeorder, F. A. Cooley: treasurer. Albert Robson; assessor. Chris Johnson; justice, C. R. J. Kellam; con- stables, F. Jarmer, Max Harineek.
The establishment of the tow mill and the prevailing prosperous times made the vear 1882 a memorable one in Heron Lake's history. Said a writer who visited the town in March: "We were consider- ably surprised at the many evidences of thrift. enterprise and go-aheadativeness displayed in Heron Lake, and we doubt if any town of like size in southern Min- nesota can surpass or even equal the town in these respects. Many new buildings have made their appearance within the past year and evidences of thriving trade are plentiful." The building improve-
ments completed during the year amount- ed to over $11,000 and were itemized as follows :
J. W. Benson & Co., creamery (includ-
ing fixtures) .$ 5,000
John T. Smith, fourteen tenement
houses 4,200
T. A. Dieson, residenec. 1,500
L. F. Lammers, residence.
1. F. Lammers, millinery store 300
Joli Robinson, residence. 600
John Woolstencroft, billiard hall 850
J. F. Force, store. 1,500
Mrs. Nelson, residence. 300
T. A. Dieson, tenement house, 500
.J. F. Force, tenement house. 600
E. D. Briggs, addition. . 200
Johnson & Dieson, store improvements.
300
C. R. J. Kellam, drug store improve- ments 200
J. T. Smith, improvements 200
l'. MeNair, residenec. 500
1. Readle, barn. 100
N. Edhamer, barn. 100
J. E. Jones, improvements 200
Total $17,750
But the amount expended in improve- ments gives little idea of the volume of business done. Three thousand tons of flax straw were marketed in the village. manufactured into tow, and shipped to the eastern markets, while four thousand tons of hay were baled and shipped. The volume of business done during the year (not including professional business) amounted to a quarter of a million dol- lars, divided among the several firms as follows :12
John T. Smith, general merchandise.
baled low, hay, ete .... ... $100,000
J. W. Benson & Co., general merchan- dise, creamery, hay, etc. 60,000
Johnson & Dieson, general merchandise 20,000
J. F. Force, drugs and general mer- ehandise 15,000
Hazelton & Freemire, general mer-
chandise 6,000
C. R. J. Kellam, drugs, notions, etc. 2,500
F. J. Graves & Co., lumber. 18,000
J. E. Jones, grain.
2,000
J. N. Titus, saddlery
2,000
Wood & Freer, livery. 1,000
C. E. Marsh. Chapman hotel 6,000
C. A. Wood, Pioneer hotel 3,500
.John Woolsteneroft. billiard hall 5,000
C. O. Michelson, meat market 3,000
1 .. Sitzer, meat market. 2,500
"As prepared by a Heron Lake resident in December.
263
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
B. J. Svennes, shoe shop, boarding house 1,000
T. A. Jones, blacksmith shop. 900
John Robson, blacksmith shop 900
Total $249,300
During the entire decade of the eighties Heron Lake prospered, as did the country at large. There was no feverish boon, but the growth was steady and of a sub- stantial character-keeping pace with the progress of the surrounding country. In 1884 the following were engaged in busi- ness in Heron Lake: John T. Smith, gen- eral merchandise and tow mill; J. W. Benson, general merchandise and cream- ery; Johnson & Dieson, general merchan- dise; John Weir. hardware; Lammers & Wood, general merchandise; J. F. Force, drug store: C. R. J. Kellam, drug store ; E. J. Graves, lumber and real estate; C. E. Marsh. Chapman house ; W. S. Freer, Pioneer house; B. J. Svennes, La Crosse house ; E. D. Briggs, attorney.
In 1885 the population of Heron Lake reached 280. That year there was some advance, the building improvements amounting to $9,500. Comparative dull times prevailed in 1886, but the next year the Heron Lake News reported the expen- diture of $48.000 in new buildings in the village. The hard times period following the panic of 1893 temporarily checked the growth of the town, but the recovery was quick, and we find that in 1895 the pop- ulation had increased to 646. During the next five years there was another increase, the census of 1900 giving the town a pop- ulation of 928. There has been but little increase since that census, but in a busi- ness way Heron Lake has prospered and today ranks as one of the most progressive little cities of southern Minnesota.
In the history of the town there have been two bad fires. The first of these occurred Tuesday afternoon, November 10, 1898, when the John T. Smith tow
mill and a hay barn, coal sheds, stock yard and oil house burned, entailing a loss of $75,000, of which only $20,000 was re- covered in insurance. The fire was a fierce one, and only the favorable direction of the wind saved the town from destruction. Some of the buildings on the north side of the track took fire from flying sparks, but the flames were extinguished before damage resulted. The second disastrous fire occurred in October, 1904, when the losses amounted to about $65,000. The St. John elevator, the Benson elevator and the Western Implement company's store- house were entirely destroyed with all their contents. Eighty thousand bushels of grain and sixteen freight cars were also burned.
THE SCHOOLS.
During the first year of its history Her- on Lake had only a private school. On December 17, 1872, a meeting of citizens was held at John Weir's store to take steps toward the organization of a district and the building of a public school house. Rev. John Benson was chairman of the meeting and John Dalziel was secretary. As a result of this meeting the next session of the legislature passed a bill authorizing the organization of an independent dis- trict at Heron Lake the first independ- ent district in Jackson county. The or- ganization of the district was perfected in March, 1873, when the following named gentlemen were elected as the first board of education: E. C. Sanders, George Hubbs, A. MeSchooler, Ralph Town, John Weir and Zebulon Judd.
A school election was held at Jones' hotel April 12, 1873, at which time a ma- jority of the voters declared in favor of bonding the district in the sum of $2,000 to raise funds for the immediate construc- tion of a school house. The bonds were issued and a building erected, in which,
264
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
however, the Baptist church society had an interest.13
In the spring of 1886 the district de- cided to sell the old school house to the village and issue bonds to the amount of $3.000 for the purpose of erecting a suit- able building on the lots donated by E. F. Drake. At an election in June the bonds were voted, 67 to 52. A school building costing about $5,000 was put up during the summer of 188 ;. It was used as a public school house until 1896, when it was sold to the Catholic church society, and it is now utilized, with additions, as a parochial school building by that church.
By a vote of 258 to 59, at a special election April 1. 1896, bonds to the amount of $20,000 were voted for a new school house. The contract for the erec- tion of the building was let May 19, 1896, to J. D. Carroll on a bid of $18, 142, the corner stone was laid with ceremonies July 18. and it was dedicated in Novem- ber. This handsome brick structure, one of the finest public school buildings in southwestern Minnesota, was totally de- stroyed by fire December 31. 1901. 10- gether with about $5.000 worth of equip- ment. It was insured for $18,300. There- after for several months school was con- ducted in the various churches. halls and store buildings. The school house was re- built during the summer of 1902 and was occupied for the first time late that year.
THE CHURCHES.
Four church societies maintain active organizations in Heron Lake, namely : Methodist Episcopal, Catholie, Salem Lu- theran and Norwegian Lutheran. Several other church societies have been formed
at different times in the town's history. but are now dormant. Very soon after the founding of the village the residents took steps to secure religious worship, and in the summer of 1872 some money was raised to help build a church, but it was the next year before a house of worship was erected.
The oldest church organization is the Methodist Episcopal. Services were held as early as 1822. conducted by Rev. W. M. Bear, but it was not until June 9. 1843, that an organization was perfected. On that date. Presiding Elder G. W. T. Wright appointed as trustees Rev. .. Ben- son, P. MI. Jones, J. F. Force, G. II. Hubbs and John T. Smith, "they to be a body corporate under the name and style the First Methodist Episcopal church of Heron Lake." Among the charter mem . bers were C. A. Wood, Lucinda Wood. J. T. Smith, Sarah JJ. Smith. J. F. Force, Sarah J. Force, J. Benson, Mrs. J. Ben- son, David W. Edwards, Martha Edwards, Sarah Gibbs, Elizabeth Parish. Mrs. Rupert. George Aldrich. V. G. Motl. Edward Rodgers, Martha MI. Rodgers. Eli H. Bowman and Elroda Bowman,
For several years the society worship- ped in the Baptist church building, which was the first creeted in the town. Through the efforts of Rev. H. S. Eldred and oth- ers. $1,000 toward the erection of a church edifice had been raised in January. 1886. One-half of this was secured by sub- scription, the balance from the church ex- tension society. In June, 1881. the build- ing was completed, and the Methodists had a home of their own. A parsonage was erected in 1895, The old church building answered the purposes until 1902. when it was replaced by the present hand- some building. which cost $8,000. The cor- ner stone of the new structure was laid July 21, 1902, and the dedication services were held December 2, 1902. conducted
12"The Baptist church is all enclosed and is a Ine building. It is to be used as a school house for three years, when it will become ex- clusively a church. All denominations will wor- ship in it for the present, though it is controll- ed by the Baptist society."-Heron Lake Cor- respondent, July 9. 1873.
HERON LAKES CHURCHAS
UNITED LUTHERAN
METHODIST AND PARSONAGE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND PARSONAGE
SALEM LUTHERAN
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TIDEN FOUNDATION
265
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
by Bishop I. W. Joyce. The Methodist society has prospered and has a large membership. It maintains a Sunday school, Epworth League, Ladies' Aid Society and Womens' Foreign Missionary society. Rev. W. II. Irwin is the present pastor and the following constitute the board of trustees: J. W. Benson, J. D. Wilson, E. L. Ecker, C. A. Wood, C. K. Willard, B. B. Sontag, B. P. St. John, Milo Smith and Pascal Vought.
Following is a list of the pastors who -one of the congregations of the United have supplied the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church of Heron Lake and the dates of their appointment: W. M. Bear, 1872; W. H. Mock, 1873; D. Stone, 1874; W. M. Bear, 1876; H. J. Vanfossen, 1877; W. L. Demorest, 1848; J. C. Ogle, 1879; F. Smith, 1880; W. M. Bear, 1881; 1. Gleason, 1882; W. Wilkinson, 1883; The Catholic church was organized in the carly eighties, and the church building was erected in the fall of 1884. In con- nection with the church is maintained St. Cyril's parochial school, which was es- tablished in 1896 by Rev. Fr. Von den Berg. It is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, of Rochester, and is in a flourishing condition. II. S. Eldred, 1884; M. J. Godfrey, 1886; J. Haubridge, 188%; D. P. Olin, 1888 (part) ; William Gibson, 1888; E. W. Ilaley, 1891; G. W. Burtch, 1893; L. A. Wilsey, 1894; J. F. Porter, 1896; J. W. Raveille, 1897; J. F. Van Camp, 1900; D. C. MeColm, 1903; C. W. Morse, 1904; W. C. Sage, 1905; W. H. Irwin, 1908.
The Baptist society was the second to perfect an organization. On July 21, 1873, a meeting was held, presided over by R. E. Town, at which the organization was completed with the selection of E. C. Sanders, John Weir and R. E. Town as trustees. The society erected a church building the same year, which was used as a house of worship by all denominations, as the public school building, as a place for public entertainment, and by all so- cieties. The church society was main- tained for several years.
The Scandinavian Lutherans had a church organization in Heron Lake in the early seventies, but it was later when the organizations were perfected. In 1886
money was raised for the erection of a church building. For several years the Salem Lutheran and Norwegian Lutheran congregations, although maintaining sep- arate organizations, worshipped in the same church alternating Sundays. This continned until September 3, 1894, when the Norwegian Lutherans separated from the other church and selected Candidate O. C. Myhre as their pastor. Shortly aft- er its organization it was admitted as church of America. A church edifice was erected in 1898. The church society now consists of about thirty families. Servi- ces are held every other Sabbath, con- ducted by Rev. H. H. Holte. Sunday school is held every Sunday with an at- tendance of about thirty-five.
The Episcopal church also maintained an organization in the eighties.
THE LODGES.
The Grand Army post at Ileron Lake, No. 148. was mustered in March 31, 1886, by the chief mustering officer, General Mark D. Flower. Following were the post's first officers : C. R. J. Kellam, com- mander; William MeNair, senior vice commander ; John Behrenfeld, junior vice commander; John Woolstencroft, quarter- master; C. M. Merly, adjutant; Rev. H. S. Eldred, chaplain ; B. J. Svennes, offi- cer of the guard; A. H. Freer, officer of the day; V. G. Mott, sergeant.
A Womans Relief Corps was organized April 2, 1887, of which Mrs. Kellam was president and Miss Beede secretary.
15
266
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Heron Lake Lodge No. 93. Ancient Or- The charter was granted and the lodge was instituted March 1, 1891. The fol- lowing have held the office of pastmaster : LeRoy Brown, John L. Gesell, John F. Humiston, J. IT. Dudley and C. R. J. Kellam.
der United Workmen, was organized Oc- tuber 16. 1886, with twenty-eight charter members and the following first officers : J. D. Wilson, master workman; W. E. Daniels, overseer; 11. A. Robinson. fore- man; L. F. Lammers, recorder: T. A. Dieson. financier; J. W. Benson. re- ceiver; John Huber, guide : W. 1. Jones, inside guard ; Lawrence Readle, outside guard ; (. A. Wood, past master workman ; B. A. Swartout, J. T. Smith, C. D. Ure, trustees.
Manzanita Camp No. 1256. Modern Woodmen of America, was instituted Feb- ruary 12. 1891, with twenty-six charler members and the following officers: A. HI. (ark, V. C .: b. F. Lammers. W. A .: T. A. Dieson. E. B .: C. S. Eastwood. ( .: 1. E. Foss. E .: T. A. Alexander, watch- man : W. R. Kiesel. sentry: A. 11. Clark. physician : T. E. Hills, L. B. Lorud, and J. Trimble, managers.
St. Cyril Court No. 970, Catholic Or- der Foresters, was organized April 20. 1899, by William A. Bieter. Following were the first officers and charter mem- bers: William A. Bieter, C. R. ; John Me- Glin. V. C. R .; F. W. Lynch, recording secretary : Herman J. Rader. financial sec- rotary: George G. Gehr. treasurer : John McCarvel. P. C. R .; Frank Haas. Jerry Sullivan and Frank Lacpold, trustees; To- seph Thomas, Nicholas Weinant. Joseph J. Birgel. William N. Klaur. Edward D. Flanagan, Joseph E. Fritscher. H. C. Berrean, John G. Liepold. N. J. Henkels. Richard Burke. Alex Sullivan, Joseph II. Knott, Joseph F. Hartman, Adolph Rei- chel. F. R. Hoger. N. J. P. Murphy, Ed- ward Wienicke. The order has a present membership of about fifty-five.
Colmubian Lodge No. 210. A. F. & .A. M .. began its organization under dispen- sation in 1893. On February 11. of that year, a petition was forwarded to the THE BANKS. grandmaster asking for a dispensation. It Heron Lake has two banking institu- tions, the Farmers State Bank and the First National Bank. The former is the older. having been organized as a private bank by P. E. Hill in the fall of 1886- the first financial institution of the town. It continued to be conducted as a private bank until June 1. 1892, when it was re- organized under the state banking laws as The bank of Heron Lake, with a capital stock of $25,000. T. A. Dieson was presi- dent and J. S. Kibbey vice president at the time of reorganization, January 1. 1891. there was a change in management when JJ. N. MeGregor became president. B. Poppitz. vice president, and E. 1. Grimes, cashier. In 1896 B. Poppitz be- came president, and J. N. McGregor vice was signed by thirteen persons, namely, L. F. Lammers, John L. Gessell, John F. Jumiston. LeRoy Brown. C. R. J. Kellam, W. N. Williams. L. B. Lerud. S. A. Pease, C. M. Doughty. G. C. Cooley and David Brown. The petition was approved by the grandmaster April 21. and the dispen- sation was issued the next day. On July 13, 1593, a special session was held for the purpose of organizing under dispensation, Deputy Grandmaster John Hutlass pro- siding. The following were chosen as the first officers : la.Roy Brown, W. M. : J. S. Kibbev. S. W .: J. F. Humiston, J. W. : 1 .. F. Lammers, secretary : L. B. Lerud. treasurer: C. R. J. Kellam. S. D .: C. M. Donghty. J. D .: G. C. Cooley, tyler : J. L. Gessoll. S. S .; W. A. Williams, J. S. president. L. F. Lammers was made
267
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
president June 1, 1898, and one year later B. Poppitz became vice president. The name of the institution was changed to State Bank of Ileron Lake July 30, 1900, and on January 1, 1901, W. P. St. John became president and held the office until his death, October 21, 1905. John T. Smith was made vice president June 1, 1901. After the death of Mr. St. John, W. A. Bieter became president and W. F. Drews was made assistant cashier.
The State Bank of Heron Lake was reorganized in July, 1906, when the ma- jority stock, which had been held by Mr. St. John, was bought by the farmers of the surrounding country and the business men of Heron Lake and the name of the institution changed to the Farmers State Bank. The profits and surplus were paid over to the old stockholders, and the new owners took over the business of the bank, continuing it under the old charter. The officers remained the same except that John Mathias succeeded John T. Smith as vice president. January 1. 1907, offi- cers were chosen as follows: John Math- ias, president; O. E. Dieson, vice presi- dent; W. A. Bieter, cashier; W. F. Drews,
assistant cashier. One year later the fol- lowing officers were chosen : Jerry Sulli- van, president; N. J. Henkels, vice presi- dent; W. F. Drews, cashier; P. W. Moore, assistant cashier. From the date of reor- ganization into the Farmers State Bank the deposits have increased from $60,000 to $150,000 and a surplus of $3,000 has been accumulated. The bank was moved into its present commodions quarters in June, 1901, the cost of the building and furnishings being $12,000.
The First National Bank was organ- ized as the Peoples State Bank in Sep- tember, 1892, with J. W. Benson as presi- dent. The organization into the First National Bank was made June 9, 1900. The new institution started with a capital stock of $25,000, but this was later in- creased to $35,000. The capital and sur- plus at the present time are $45,000. The officers are: J. W. Benson, president; C. M. Doughty, vice president ; W. Il. Jar- muth, cashier; Paul Benson, assistant cashier. The bank building now occupied was erected in 1901 at a cost, including fixtures, of about $15,000.
CHAPTER XXI.
ALPHA, WILDER, OKABENA, ETC.
ALPHA.
I N WISCONSIN township, on the east line of Jackson county, is the little village of Alpha, an incorporated town of about 250 inhabitants. It is on the Milwaukee railroad and is five and one-half miles east of Jackson. Several lines of business are carried on here, and ils merchants enjoy a prosperous trade from a limited area of Jackson and Mar- tin counties. Alpha is the youngest of Jackson county towns.
In 1892 a conniry postoffice named Earl was established near the point where the village of Alpha was afterwards built, but it was not until the closing days of 1894 that it was announced a town would be founded in the vicinity. Then the Milwaukee road placed the name Wiscon- sin on its time card as the name of a new station on section thirteen, Wisconsin township. At The same time it was an- nounced that Messrs. Williamson and Paddock, the owners of the site, were about to survey a townsile and that prep- arations had been made to build an ele- valor and establish a lumber yard. Not much progress toward town building was made during the winter, but early in the spring of 1895 several buildings were put up, a few business houses were established
and the town-known for a time as Wis- consin-came into existence.
The name of the Earl postoffice was changed to Irwin, in honor of the super- intendent of the Southern Minnesota di- vision of the Milwaukee road, in April, and for a few months the town was known by that name.1 During the spring and summer the following gentlemen engaged in business at Irwin : Charles Ran- dall, grain buyer and lumber dealer; Edward Schoewe, general store; Rack- ness Ellis, general store; M. A. Rhodes, general store; I. D'Mersse- man, elevator. In August the postoffice was reestablished and named Alpha, with P. O. Raekness as postmaster, and late in the year a school house and church were built.
The plat of the townsile, also named Al- pha, was put on record November 27, 1895. It was surveyed by Arthur Gibson for George B. Paddock, who made the dedication. The original plat was on the north side of the railroad track and con- lained only eight blocks. The streets run- ning north and south were named Hunter,
1. We visited the little town of Ir- win, six miles east, and found it small but busy. The city has six families at present. The town has no postoffice. One was estab- lished a short time ago, but the postmistress is at present teaching school thirty miles west of town."-Jackson Republic, May 31, 1895.
269
270
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Knoy. Mam. Pahaer and Beach : the past and west avenues were named Railroad, Paddock and Williamson.2
During the next three years the growth of Alpha was not great. although a few new enterprise- were started. But begin- ning in the fall of 189% and continuing during the year 1899 the village enjoyed a boom, due to the prosperous times and bountiful crops, and advanced rapidly to the from. Many new buildings were erer- ted and many new business enterprises were started. An Alpha correspondent stated that the building improvements for the year 1899 amounted 1o over $35,000, itemized as follows :
Christ Reacher. store. × 2.500
Alpha Bank building 3,000
1. Groth. hardware store 2.500
1. Cobb, hardware store. 1,500
W .. 1 .. Cobb. blacksmith shop 100
W. L. Cobb, addition. .
Bohlander & Bochl. addition.
T. Il. Hageman. livery barn. . 1,000
.I. D. Young & Co. improvement 200
Trey & Klein, store 1.000
C. C. Norgren, store 1,000
S. M. Ohon. butcher shop
300
(. Il. Whi-semore, wagon shop
300
L. Hageman. Sr .. residence.
L. Hageman. Jr .. residence
1.40010)
Henry Bohm, residente
1,000
Charles Combes, residence
1.200
E. Erickson. residence.
1,200
1. I'Mer-seman, residence
1.500
William L. Hull. residence
1,200
William Hinthorn, residence
1.100
William E. Carr. residente
300
Conrad Freeman, residence. 600
John Wachter, residence 500
R. Rodeck. improvements. .
A. D. Packard & Son. improvement- 600
1. D. Packard & Son. two stores 1,800
P. O. Rackness. improvements. 200
Theodore Jasper. improvement - 100
Depot 2.000
Frey & Klein, improvements 200
Total $35.100
So great was the growth of Alpha that the residents believed the time had come to incorporate. In April. 1899, a petition Additions to Mpha have been platted as fol-
Immiis Kinsel's First. by Louis Kiesel Septem- her 24. 1; surveyed by Orrin Nason
A. D. Packard's by A. D. Parkard & Son May 5. 1599: surveyed by .I. T .. Hoist
Packard's, by A. D Packard and G. D. Pack- ard July 12, 1899; surveyed by J. L. Holst.
was circulated asking the county commis- sioner- to take the noussary steps to bring about the desired change in government. The petition was granted May 25. it was ordered that a special election to vote on the question of incorporation be held .Inly 3, and P. O. Rackiness, J. S. Rhodes and Charles P. Randall were named as the inspectors of the election. "For incor- poration" curried,3 and the first village officers were cho-on at another election held July 25.
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