USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 24
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The first bank established in Marshall is defunct. It was the Bank of Mar- shall (later a state bank), which opened
35The first officers and members of the department were as follows: F. M. Healy, chief; Harry Addison, chief engineer; George Hughes, foreman; William Thorburn, assistant foreman; E. L. Healy, president; Joseph Pierard, viee president; Thomas J. Baldwin, secretary; Charles H. Johnson, treasurer; James Andrew, Ray Baldwin, Frank Cutting, Charles Lauden- slager, Fred Webster, Oscar Krook, William Simmons, Len Barnes, George Upton, George Taylor, Jay Truax, Charles Goodwin, Eugene Goodwin, Z. Smith, Guy Remore, Cliff Golder and John Sturgeon.
its doors late in April, 1878. It was founded as a private institution by W. S. Dibble, who was the manager, and Jonathan Owen. It was conducted under the firm name of Owen & Dibble until the spring of 1883, when Mr. Dibble became sole owner. Until 1890 the bank was housed in a frame building and then was moved into a brick block erected by the owner.
The bank was a popular institution and a flourishing business was built up by Mr. Dibble. It became a state bank. with a capital stock of $25,000, in the spring of 1891. The bank was discon- tinued April 11, 1900, Mr. Dibble at that time disposing of the business to the First National Bank.
The second bank founded in Marshall and the oldest now in existence was the Lyon County Bank-later reorganized as the Lyon County National Bank. It was founded as a private institution, with a paid-up capital of $25,000, and began business late in August, 1878. The officers and owners at the time of founding were H. B. Strait (who was at the time a member of Congress), presi- dent; C. B. Tyler, vice president ; S. D. How, cashier; and D. L. How. Business was begun in the building still occupied, the Messenger Block having been erected by the bank people at that time. In S. D. How was vested the management of the bank and that gentleman con- ducted it for more than fourteen years.
The Lyon County Bank was reorgan- ized as the Lyon County National Bank, capital stock, $50,000, on August 1. 1891. The officers and directors chosen
36The officers of the department at the time of reorganization were as follows: Fred M. Healy, chief; John Schneider, assistant chief; W. B. Thorburn, foreman; J. B. Murray, assistant foreman; W. H. Simmons, foreman hose company No. 1; A. J. Whit- taker, foreman hose company No. 2; Charles Kelson, seeretary; John Watson, treasurer; T. J. Baldwin, Charles II. Johnson and J. B. Murray, trustees.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
at that time were as follows: H. B. Strait. president; M. Sullivan, vice president : S. D. How, cashier; F. W. Sickler, assistant cashier; HI. B. Strait, M. Sullivan, S. D. How, C. B. Tyler, A. C. Chittenden, James Lawrence and J. G. Schutz, directors. In addition to these D. D. Forbes and Joseph Ciesielski were stockholders.
There have been only a few changes in the management of the Lyon County National Bank. Cashier S. D. How resigned October 3, 1892, and was suc- ceeded by F. W. Sickler, who has served ever since, with the exception of a short time when J. G. Schutz was cashier. President Strait died February 25, 1894, and was succeeded by C. B. Tyler, the present incumbent. James Lawrence is the present vice president. During its long life the Lyon County National Bank has been in able hands and is one of the sound financial institutions of the county.
The First National Bank of Marshall was authorized to begin business August 16, 1891, and on September 8 opened its doors in the building it still occupies and owns. Its capital stock was $50,000 and the owners of the stock were H. M. Langland, G. W. Pitts, M. W. Harden, R. M. Addison. C. F. Johnson, Olof Pehrson, F. E. Parsons and Andrew Nelson. The first officers and directors were as follows: H. M. Langland, president; R. M. Addison, vice presi- dent; M. W. Harden, cashier; C. C. Guernsey, assistant cashier; R. M. Addi- son, Olof Pehrson, F. E. Parsons, C. F. Johnson and H. M. Langland, directors.
During the first twenty years of the institution's history the only_change in management occurred in June, 1901, when E. S. Frick succeeded C. C. Guern- sey as assistant cashier. The only other changes since organization occurred in January, 1911. At that time R. M.
Addison succeeded H. M. Langland as president, M. W. Harden became vice president, E. S. Frick became cashier, and H. N. Harmon was made assistant cashier. The present directors are R. M. Addison, H. M. Langland, Andrew Nelson, M. W. Harden and E. S. Frick.
The First National has had a remark- able growth and has larger deposits than any other bank in Lyon county. According to a recent statement, the deposits are about one-half million dollars. Since the organization the stockholders have received in dividends $95,000. The bank has a surplus and undivided profit of over $28,000.
The Marshall State Bank is the youngest of the city's financial institu- tions. It was opened for business June 15, 1909, with a capital stock of $25,000. Its officers, chosen at that time and still at the head of the bank, are as follows: Spurgeon Odell, president; James A. MeNiven, vice president ; S. J. Forbes, cashier. Those gentlemen are also the directors and owners of the stock. The bank owns the building it occupies and the one adjoining.
The Marshall State Bank does a general banking business, makes farm loans, deals in real estate, attends to collections, and writes insurance. Dur- ing its life of three years the bank has built up an excellent business and has gained the confidence of the people to an extent seldom equalled by an insti- tution of the same age.
The officers of the State Bank were formerly associated in the real estate, loan and collection business under the firm name of Odell & MeNiven. They succeeded D. D. Forbes & Company, one of the pioneer real estate firms of the city
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
The municipal power and light plant was built in 1894. furnishing water and electric lights. The plant was enlarged in 1905 and new and better machinery added. Another addition was made two years later and in 1908 all-day electric light service was inaugurated. This service is now used extensively for power by printing offices, butcher shops, laundry, creamery, machine shops, gar- ages, elevators, etc.
The plant is strictly modern and one of the best in Southwestern Minnesota. It is equipped with high-pressure boil- ers. cross compound direct-connected engines, and 2300 volts, sixty cycle, three-phase alternating current system. The city water is supplied by artesian wells. Pressure is maintained on the water system by direct driven steam pumps. Recently a central heating system has been installed and most of the business houses on the southwest side of Main Street are heated from the municipal plant. The heat is supplied by the exhaust steam from the pumps and a portion of the engine exhaust.
One of the institutions in which the people of Marshall take great pride is the flouring mill operated by the Mar- shall Milling Company. It is one of the really big concerns of Southwestern Minnesota, maintaining an enormous plant. and it has placed Marshall on the map for many people who otherwise would not have heard of the city.
The Sleepy Eye Milling Company in 1892 bought a small flouring mill in Marshall, and in 1893 the Marshall Mill- ing Company was organized and incor- porated. Its first officers were William Gieseke, president; William F. Gieseke,
37The officers of the Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company are as follows: C. E. Yost, of Omaha, president; C. P. Wainman, of Minneapolis, vice president; George F. McFarland, of Omaha, general manager; M. L. Lane, of Minneapolis, com-
secretary .; and A. Blanchard, treasurer. For more than a decade the business was conducted on a comparatively small scale, but the business grew and in 1905 there was completed at a cost of $100.000 a modern mill. Other improvements have since been made, and the Marshall Milling Company today has one of the finest plants in the Northwest.
The mill 'proper is a six-story brick building and is operated twenty-four hours a day. There are large elevators, warehouses and other buildings that go to make up a model plant.
The Northwestern Telephone Ex- change Company is one of the business institutions of Marshall. It is the suc- cessor of the Southwestern Minnesota Telephone Company, which installed the first telephone exchange in Marshall. The last named company, established by Pipestone capitalists, entered Lyon coun- ty in 1897 and built exchanges at Marshall, Tracy and Minneota. T. F. Robinson was president and manager of the company and C. E. Patterson was in charge of the Marshall exchange.
The present company purchased the properties in Lyon county August 1. 1906, rebuilt the lines, in 1910, and moved the exchange to the News- Messenger Building. M. B. Hanson is the local manager.37 Several rural lines are given connections with the Marshall line. The first rural telephone line was built by the old company in 1901.
One of the big business institutions of the city is the Marshall Tile and Side- walk Company, which was incorporated in January, 1907. The plant is one of the best equipped in the state and covers about six acres of land. The best tile manufacturing machinery on
mercial superintendent: J. W. Christie, of Omaha, treasurer; W. R. Overmire, of Omaha, auditor; George K. Blakely, of Sioux Falls, district commercial man- ager.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
the market has been installed. The curing bin is made of cement blocks and all the tile are steam-cured. The com- pany manufactures cement drain tile and building blocks and builds side- walks and does other contract work. The product is used extensively through- out Lyon county and the trade territory extends to all points on the North- western, Great Northern and Milwaukee
railroads within a radius of one hundred miles.
The officers and stockholders of the company are as follows: W. W. Sim- mons, president; Samuel Molter, vice president ; Spurgeon Odell, secretary; W. F. Gillette, treasurer; James A. McNiven, J. G. Schutz, Anton M. Rydeen, M. M. English and Herman Schurz.
rdseye View
Tracy Scenes
City Hatt
Burning Primary School
Business Se
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THE NEW DOSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AV DA, LEMAX AS
CHAPTER XI.
TRACY-1875-1912.
R ANKING second in size among Lyon county municipalities is Tracy, a city of 1876 people, according to the last census. It is in Monroe township, in the extreme south- eastern corner of the county, the business center being only one mile from the Redwood county line and two and one-half miles from the Murray county line. It is a division point of the Northwestern railroad and is the eastern terminus of the Dakota' Central branch of that road. Its elevation above sea level is 1403 feet.
Tracy is a prosperous and progressive city and presents an attractive appear- ance. It has broad streets, lined with substantial business houses and hand- some residences. As a business point Tracy takes high rank, because of its favorable location as regards trade territory. All the improvements to be found in Minnesota towns of its size are in Tracy. It has an excellent water- works system, electric light plant, good schools and churches.
While Tracy was not founded until 1875, we may go back of that date several years to get at the beginning of its history. When the Winona & St. Peter railroad was constructed in 1872 there was apparently no thought of planting a village where Tracy was later built, and the only station established
in Lyon county at that time was Marshall. But a country postoffice named Summit (which the Tracy office succeeded) was located on the line of the road just over the line in Redwood county, one and one-half miles east of the future city of Tracy. The office was established in 1872 and Levi Mont- gomery was the postmaster, conducting it at his farm home. Summit postoffice was operated there until moved to Tracy in the spring of 1875.
During the first half of the seventies quite a number of homesteaders located in Monroe township and there was also quite a flourishing settlement on Lake Shetek, only a short distance south of the site of Tracy. In the spring of 1875 the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company, which had come into pos- session of section 23 by grant, laid out the village and named it Tracy, in honor of a director of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company.
The original plat included portions of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the section and was surveyed by J. B. Berry. It consisted of ten blocks on the northeast side of the track, divided by South, Morgan, First, Second, Third and Fourth Streets. The dedication was made April 27, 1875, by Albert Keep, as president of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company, and the
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
instrument was filed in the office of the register of deeds May 18, 1875.1
Almost simultaneous with the plat- ting of the site came the building of the town. The first building was put up early in the spring of 1875. It was a warehouse, erected by Neil Currie. The station was established about the same time, with J. L. Craig as first agent. The Currie warehouse served the pur- pose of a depot until the summer of 1876. The second building on the site was a hotel erected by Henry H. Welch, who conducted the hostelry until the fall of 1879. The third building and the first store was located on the site early in the spring. The building had been erected on the farm of E. L. Starr, just east of the site, in the fall of 1874, by H. N. Joy and that gentleman moved it to Tracy and located it at the corner of Front and Third Streets. In it a store was opened, conducted under the firm name of Taylor & Joy.
Although the village was platted as Tracy, the site was known as Shetek, or Shetek Station, until June, 1876, taking its name from the postoffice. It was in May, 1875, that Summit postoffice was moved to the new village and named Shetek.2 The office was conducted in the store of Taylor & Joy and H. N. Joy was the first postmaster. 3
Several other enterprises were started
Additions to Tracy have been platted as follows:
Randall & Youmans', November 20, 1878, by Carlton S. Randall and Charles M. Youmans; surveyed by C. L. Van Fleet.
First Railway, August 9, IS81, by Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company; surveyed by Thomas F. Nicholl.
Cowles & Davis', May 28, 1883, by John P. Davis; surveyed by George P. Ela.
Second Railway, June 6, 1883, by Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company; surveyed by George P. Ela. Moses & Hennings' (East Tracy), April 24, 1884, by William Hennings and William S. Moses; surveyed by S. P. MeIntyre.
Randall's, May 10, 1884, by John J. Randall and Carlton S. Randall; surveyed by J. W. Blake.
Johnson's, March 17, 1886, by Ole Johnson; sur- veyed by S. P. MeIntyre.
Swenson's, October 15, 1902, by Andrew Swenson ; surveyed by W. A. Hawkins.
Miller's, April 4, 1904, by Earle S. Miller; surveyed by W. A. Hawkins.
Moses' Second, November 11, 1904, by William S. Moses; surveyed by W. A. Hawkins.
at Shetek Station during the summer and fall of 1875. Gley & Brauns opened a general store and erected the second warehouse, J. P. Davis opened a third general store, Truax & Dudrey and J. M. Wardell established lumber yards and sold farm machinery and Mr. Wardell opened a furniture store, David Stafford built a hardware store, Allen Bates engaged in the saloon business,4 a Mr. Mathews conducted a harness shop, and two churches were organized.
The Shetek Station correspondent to the Marshall Messenger of November 12, 1875, told of the growth of the little village during the first season of its history :
This thriving little burg in the big bend has been making good use of its time this summer, and where a year ago there was nothing the traveler now looks out on a nice little village. Notwithstanding the drawbacks it has received, there are few settlements on the frontier that. have made better records in the same time. The second town in Lyon county in importance, it has the same elements of life and growth that have pushed Marshall into its present thrifty condition.
Shetek Station's present business and publie buildings are as follows: The Methodists and Congregationalists have each a· comfortable church building; there are three general stores, kept by Gley & Brauns, Taylor & Joy and J. P. Davis; Truax & Dudrey and J. M. Wardell have each a lumber yard and deal in farm machinery; J. M. Wardell has opened a furniture store; Mathews has a harness shop; Stafford keeps a hardware store; there are two warehouses, Currie's and Gley & Braun's; there is a good hotel kept by Welch and a saloon by Bates. This, we think, makes a good showing for one summer.
2" We learn that the postmaster general has changed the name of Summit in Lyon county to Shetek and appointed H. N. Joy postmaster."-Prairie Schooner May 28, 1875.
3I1. N. Joy served as postmaster of Shetek about one year. He was succeeded for a short time by S. S. Truax, and in June, 1876, the name of the office was changed to Tracy. In September, 1876, E. O. Braun. took the office and served until July, 1888. Under hi. administration, in July, 1879, a money order office was established. Charles W. Main was postmaster from July, 1888, to January, 1892; M. D. Gibbs to March 1, 1896; O. J. Rea to February, 1900; W. R. Edwards to April 1, 1908; and A. H. Rowland from that time to the present.
Three rural free delivery routes are operated from the Traey office. No. I was established January 15, 1900, with F. M. Hanks as carrier; No. 2, October 15, 1904, with R. N. Rowland as carrier; No. 3, August 15, 1906, with H. J. Flatequal as carrier.
4The Board of County Commissioners on May 31, 1875, granted license to Allen Bates to sell liquor at Shetek Station from June 1, 1875, to June 1, 1876. The license fee for the year was $35.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Although several business houses had been started, Shetek Station was still a very small village in 1875, and when the census was taken that year the popula- tion of Monroe township, including the village, was only 181. During 1876 the grasshoppers were a burden and not much progress was made. During the summer the name of the village was changed from Shetek Station to Tracy5 and the railroad company erected a depot building. At that time the county paper referred to Tracy as a village of two or three stores, two church build- ing :: , school house, hotel, etc. Likewise there was little advancement during 1877. J. L. Craig established the first livery stable that year.
More prosperous times came in 1878. The grasshopper plague was a thing of the past and many new settlers located in Tracy and the vicinity. A corre- spondent writing to the county paper in March said: "Our village is all life now. Every train is bringing new settlers to our border, so that the future of our town will undoubtedly bask in sunshine. Trade is brisk, taking the time of year into consideration. Improvements are going on every day. Sidewalks have been built, which we have long needed. Another store build- ing is going up."
In May, 1878, a citizen of Tracy wrote to the Currie Pioneer as follows:
Several new buildings are going up, among which are the new hardware store of Mr. Rob- ertson, the dwelling house of Rev. John Gimson, an addition to the Tracy Hotel, and an addition to the store of D. Stafford. Mr. Hughes, of the firm of Hughes & Owens, has returned from Chicago, where he purchased a stock of goods for the new store, which is now nearly com- pleted. The drug store is also nearly finished and another one is about to be commenced. A third hardware store is talked of, also a furniture store.
5"Allow me the privilege of writing you a few lines from this place. As you will see, the name has been changed from Shetek to Tracy. It is a little more lively here than usual and looks quite like a little town. Our hotel has been enlarged to a two-story
Among the enterprises started in 1878 were a hardware store by D. H. Evans, a general store by Iverson & Thurin, meat market by E. L. Starr, store by Beach & Company, grocery store by Mr. Warren, millinery store by Mrs. Warren, and a machinery depot by Ole Rialson & Company.
During the first four years of its history the aspirations of Tracy were not great, and few had the temerity to predict that it would ever become aught but a little trading point. But early in the year 1879 came knowledge that a railroad was to be built from that village westward into Dakota Territory. The effect on the struggling village was magical. The town was filled with strangers, some looking for farms, others for business opportunities. Before the close of spring fourteen frame buildings had been completed, others were in process of construction, and several new enterprises were founded. The town was lively all summer because of the activity in railroad construction, and there was a large increase in population. The census of 1880 showed a popula- tion of 322. An item of importance in the history of Tracy during this period was the establishment of a United States land office there in May, 1880.
Early in 1881 the citizens of Tracy believed the village had developed to a point where incorporation was desirable and they asked the Legislature to take the necessary steps. The village was incorporated under the general laws of the state by an act approved February 5, 1881. The following commissioners were named in the act to set the ma- chinery in motion: M. T. Bohannan. J. M. Wardell, D. H. Evans, E. O.
building and the railroad company is at work ereeting a building 24x48 feet. It is to be used for a branch land office of the company."-Tracy Correspondent, June 23, 1876.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Brauns and M. D. Gibbs. The first election was held at the Commercial Hotel March 15, 1881, when 103 vote .; were cast and a set of village officers was chosen. A short time later the Village Council was organized and Tracy began municipal government.6
Following is a list of those who have been elected to office under the village and city governments:7
1881-President, J. M. Wardell; trustees, Peter Iverson, Nathan Beach, M. T. Bohannan; recorder, F. S. Brown; treasurer, Anson Warren; justice, Daniel Pieree; constable, S. S. Truax.
18848-President, J. M. Wardell; trustees, W. H. Little, Peter Iverson, Anson Warren; record- er, C. W. Main; treasurer, G. H. Jessup; justices, M. D. Gibbs, David Stafford; constable, James MeMasters.
18SS-President, H. M. Workman; trustees, J. W. Bedle, Martin Thurin, John Lloyd; re- corder, F. S. Brown; treasurer, R. E. Hughes; justice, W. I. Carver: constables, R. D. Marlette, C. N. Groat.
1889-President, J. M. Wardell; trustees, Martin Thurin, L. F. O'Brien, A. H. Perry ;- recorder, F. S. Brown; treasurer, G. H. Jessup; justice, W. I. Carver.
1890-President, J. M. Wardell; trustees, A. H. Perry, W. F. Parker, L. F. O'Brien; recorder, F. S. Brown; treasurer, G. H. Jessup; justices, W. I. Carver, James Kneal; constables, James Mullins, R. E. Willis.
1891-President, Martin Thurin; trustees, J. W. Bedle, L. S. Tyler, E. P. Parks; recorder, F. S. Brown; treasurer, G. H. Jessup; justices, W. I. Carver, Levi Montgomery.
1892-President, Martin Thurin; trustees, L. S. Tyler, E. P. Parks, R. E. Hughes; recorder, O. F. Norwood; treasurer, D. T. MeArthur; justice, W. I. Carver; constable, A. A. Chris- tensen.
1893-President, D. T. McArthur; trustees, O. F. Norwood, W. F. Parker, Swan Anderson; recorder, C. W. Main; treasurer, R. E. Hughes; justice, T. M. Quarton; constable, A. A. Chris- tensen.
1893 (city)-Mayor, H. M. Workman; alder- men, C. F. Lehmann, O. J. Rea, J. W. Bedle, E. P. Parks; recorder, C. W. Main.9
1894-Mayor, D. H. Evans; aldermen, A. R. Thompson, H. B. Swartwood; recorder, Morris Workman; treasurer, W. O. Musser.
6 Village government was abandoned in 1893 and was replaced by government under a city charter, the change having been made on August 3. A commission to prepare a new charter was named February 9, 1907, completed its work and reported the following August. Again in April, 1911, a new commission was named to draft a charter to submit to the voters for approval or rejection. It completed its work March 5, 1912, but as it had not reported within the six months' time limit, it became necessary to have the commission reappointed before making a final report. At the eity election in April, 1912, the new charter was adopted by a vote of 237 to 116.
7Saloon license has been granted in Traey during its
1895-Mayor, J. M. Wardell; åldermen, O. F. Norwood, D. T. McArthur, E. P. Parks.
1896-Mayor, W. F. Parker; aldermen, W. J. Richard, D. T. MeArthur; recorder, L. J. Hunter; treasurer, W. O. Musser.
1897-Mayor, W. H. Little; aldermen, T. M. Quarton, H. J. Pattridge; recorder, D. F. Densel; treasurer, W. O. Musser; justices, A. T. Downing, M. D. Gibbs.
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