USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 29
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Association was organized with a capital stock of $2000 to engage in the stock,
grain and produce business. Hans Sol- berg established a restaurant late in the year and T. Sole built a carpenter shop. Johnson Brothers began the erection of a creamery on Cottonwood lake, which, however, was not completed that season.
An early consideration of the people
3 Lots were put on sale at $50 each. The first pur- chaser was Martin Norseth, who paid a bonus of $100 for first choice. The second and third purchasers were Martin Ness and Dahl Brothers. In 1889 the price of lots was $75 and $100 and a few years later advaneed to $300 and $400.
4 Before the close of the year 1888, seventy-five cars of wheat were shipped from Cottonwood, forty-nine ears of wood and coal were received, and there were still 10,000 bushels of wheat stored in the elevator.
M
191
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
of Cottonwood was the establishment of a postoffice. For many years a country postoffice named Vineland, located over the line in Yellow Medicine county, had supplied mail facilities for the people of the Cottonwood lake country, and early in October steps were taken to have the office moved to the new village. This was accomplished and the Vineland post- master, O. S. Reishus, moved the office, renamed Cottonwood, to the village. He purchased new fixtures, erected a building, and in December opened the office, conducting a stationery and book store in connection. The mail route by rail was established January 28, 1889. Mr. Reishus was postmaster only a short time and was succeeded by Christ Dahl.5
Cottonwood's growth during 1889 was almost in the nature of a boom, but it was based on merit alone. A large tract of tributary country, which before had been long distances from market, de- manded a good trading point, and Cottonwood filled the bill. 6
In 1889 Blackmar & Curran, of Min- neapolis, and Martin Norseth organized the Cottonwood Lumber Company, erected lumber sheds and an office, and engaged in the lumber business with Mr. Norseth as manager. John Anderson erected a hotel building, which was leased to O. E. Gilman. P. H. and A. H. Baker put up a new building. O. O. Brenna erected a store building and A. C. Chittenden, of Marshall, estab- lished a branch general store therein. Sperber & Hunzicker purchased the hardware store of Martin Norseth and
"Postmasters of Cottonwood have been as follows: Christ Dahl, 1889-90; J. II. Dahl, 1890-94; John Michie, 1894-99; W. D. Lovelace, 1899-04; Mrs. Sarah Dahl, 1904-12. The office is third-class.
Two rural mail routes are operated from the Cotton- wood office. No. 1 was established November 16, 1903, with Lars Rasmussen as carrier. No. 2 was established April 15, 1904, with Carl Stark as carrier.
"The Marshall News-Messenger of November 1, 1889, said: "Cottonwood is a phenomenal town and
put in a larger stock. J. G. Schutz and John Hollo, of Marshall, built a large store building with a hall on the second floor and established another general store. O. O. Slette engaged in the implement and hardware business. The firm of Dahl & Lieberg was formed and continued, with increased stocks, the general store established by Dahl Broth- ers, adding a millinery department. Anderson Brothers opened a pool hall and temperance saloon. Tone; Bore erected a two-story store building. Grover Brothers started a livery barn, which was destroyed by fire October 15. Several others engaged in business, a number of residences were erected, and at the close of 1889 a prosperous and flourishing village had grown up.
A directory of the business houses published in December, 1889, listed the following:
· Olof Pehrson (C. T. Hanson, manager), gen- eral merchandise.
Dahl & Lieberg, general merehandise.
Sehutz & Hollo, general merchandise.
A. C. Chittenden (Segur Johnson, manager), general merchandise.
Martin Ness, furniture.
Sperber & Hunzieker, hardware.
O. O. Slette, hardware and farming imple- ments.
Charles R. Wall, harness shop.
Mamie and Ida Hunzicker, millinery.
Henry Anderson, meat market.
Anderson Brothers, billiard hall.
O. E. Gilman, hotel.
Grover Brothers, livery barn.
Larson Brothers, blacksmith shop.
Larson & Sole, wagon shop.
Cottonwood Lumber Company (Martin Nor-
seth, manager), lumber.
E. T. Doty, lumber and fuel.
Northwestern Elevator Company (J. S. Otis, manager), grain.
Inter-State Grain Company (Charles Kayser, manager), grain.
Christ Dahl, postmaster. A. L. Skinner, station agent.
its sudden growth is suggestive of the boom towns of Dakota, but there the comparison ends, for Cottonwood has grown npon its cold merit as an agricultural center and from the equally cold fact that it is surrounded by as thrifty a settlement of farmers as can be found anywhere in the broad Northwest. . . . The growth is phenomenal when one considers that not the least effort has been made to sell lots or induce settlers (o go there. There has been no public sale of lots, no newspaper notice of the town, and never a line of printed matter put out regarding the place."
192
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Rev. K. Thorstenson, pastor Norwegian Lutheran church.
The growth of Cottonwood was rapid during 1890 and at the age of two years the village boasted a population of more than 200 people. There were then about twenty business houses and fifty resi- dences. Progress was rapid also in 1891 and several new buildings were erected. The Marshall Reporter of September 24. 1891. said: "Cottonwood is making a boom this fall. All the stores report good business and there has been more wheat shipped from this place than from any other station on the road. . Cottonwood is having a steady growth, and the large and good country sur- rounding warrants it."
The growth of Cottonwood had been so rapid that when it was three years old the residents decided to incorporate as a village. On December 3, 1891, a petition signed by Martin Norseth and thirty-two others was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, asking that body to call a special election for the purpose of voting on incorporation. The petition was granted and January 12, 1892, was the date set for the election. It was held in Syndicate Hall and "for incorporation" was carried by a vote of 33 to 11. The corporate limits included six and one-half sections of land and included considerable farm- ing country. 7
The election to choose the first village
7These limits were reduced to two sections as the result of a special election on November 1, 1894, when there were set off sections 5 and &, the north half of 17, the north half of 16, the northwest quarter of 15, the west half of 10 and the west half of 3, all in Lueas township.
&During the twenty-one years of the corporate history of Cottonwood licensed saloons have been operated thirteen years and the village has been "dry" eight years. Excepting one year, the license question has been an issue at every regular election under the local option law. The results have been as follows: 1892-License carried.
1893-For. 57; against. 20.
1894-For, 63; against, 27.
1895-For, 16; against, 57.
1896-License by 13 majority
1897-Lieense by 9 majority.
1898-No vote: license in force. 1899-For, 53; against, 51.
officers was held February 1, when sixty-four votes were cast. The officers qualified at once and village government was begun. The first officers served only until their successors were chosen at the regular election the next month.
Following is the roster of village officers from the time of incorporation to the present : 8
1892-President, Thomas MeKinley and Mar- tin Norseth;9 trustees, O. O. Brenna, George Russell, J. H. Dahl; recorder, C. T. Hanson; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justices, O. H. Dahl, P. J. Krog; constables, D. B. York, O. J. Johnson.
1892 (regular election)-President, Thomas MeKinley; trustees, George Russell, Louis Lar- son, J. L. Otis; recorder, C. T. Hanson; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justices, O. O. Brenna, Jr., J. R. Bell; constables, O. J. Johnson, D. B. York.
' 1893-President, Martin Norseth; trustees, G. Arneson, M. T. Ness: recorder, C. T. Hanson; treasurer, J. H. Dahl; justice, J. B. Robertson.
1894-President, Martin Norseth; trustees, J. H. Dahl, Louis Larson, O. O. Brenna, Sr .; recorder, C. T. Hanson; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justiee, J. F. Gibb; eonstables, D. B. York, O. J. Johnson.
1895-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, Thomas McKinley, J. F. Gibb; recorder, C. G. Strand; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justice, O. O. Brenna, Jr .; constable, Ludwig Erickson.
1896-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, Thomas MeKinley, O. J. Johnson, O. J. Olson; recorder, C. G. Strand; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justice, Ole Ranum; constables, Charles Catlin, D. B. York.
1897-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, Thomas Mckinley, O. J. Olson, O. J. Johnson; reeorder, C. G. Strand; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justice, S. H. Adams; constable, F. Gandy.
1898-President, Thomas MeKinley; trustees, George Anderson, Louis Larson, A. T. Lindblad; recorder, C. G. Strand; treasurer, C. R. Wall; justices, O. O. Brenna, Jr., W. D. Fanning; constable, John Munroe.
1899-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, Louis Larson, A. T. Lindblad, James Grieve; recorder, C. G. Strand; 10 treasurer, C. R. Wall; assessor, M. T. Ness; constable, S. H. Adams.
1900-For, 60; against, 50.
1901 -Against license by 20 majority.
1902-For, SS; against, 56.
1903-For, 80; against, 60.
1904-License by 15 majority.
1905-For, 74; against, 83.
1906-For, 93; against, 81.
1907 -For, 89; against, 73.
1908-For, 68; against, 77.
1909-For, 55; against, 99.
1910-For, 37; against, 93.
1911-For, 47; against, 97.
1912-For, 58: against, 86.
9The vote for president of the Village Couneil was a tie between Messrs. MeKinley and Norseth. Lots were not drawn, as the law provided, and for a short time the village had two presidents.
10Mr. Strand left the village and at a special election in May, 1899, O. J. Olson was elected his successor.
English Lutheran Church
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Main Street
COTTONWOOD SCENES
Public School
Presbyterian Church~
Birdseye View
Norwegian Lutheran Church
193
IIISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
1900 -- President, J. B. Robertson; trustees, Louis Larson, James Grieve, A. T. Lindblad; recorder, O. J. Olson; treasurer, J. F. Gibb; assessor, E. P. Kelly; justices, J. R. Jones, W. J. Mackay; constables, John Munroe, Sven Moen.
1901-President, J. B. Robertson; trustees, N. P. Frederickson, A. O. Anderson, J. H. Catlin; recorder, O. J. Olson; treasurer, J. F. Gibb; assessor, E. P. Kelly; justice, W. A. Goodburn.
1902-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, J. Mero, D. B. York, A. L. Bolstad; recorder, C. R. Laingen; treasurer, J. F. Gibb; assessor, John Michie; justice, O. O. Brenna, Jr .; constables, John Munroe, J. F. Kahler.
1903-President, J. H. Catlin; trustees, J. II. Dahl, G. Fossum, W. M. Davis; recorder, E. P. Kelly; treasurer, C. R. Wall; assessor, John Michie; justice, W. A. Goodburn.
1904-President, George Anderson; trustees, G. Fossum, J. T. Garry, P. T. Dahl; recorder, O. J. Olson; treasurer, John Michie; assessor, Andrew Rossland; justices, J. H. Leas, I. N. Boe; constables, John Munroe, J. F. Kahler.
1905-President, Martin Norseth; trustees, P. H. Bly, Gabriel Anderson, W. A. Goodburn; recorder, Charles Catlin; treasurer, G. A. Arne- son; assessor, Andrew Rossland; justice, O. O. Brenna, Jr.
1906-President, J. H. C'atlin; trustees, T. A. Lende, Adolph Johnson, J. H. Dahl; recorder, C. R. Laingen; treasurer, P. T. Dahl; assessor, John Michie; justice, O. H. Hatlestad; con- stables, I. N. Boe, G. A. Boese.
1907-President, P. H. Bly; trustees, T. A. Lende, E. C. Christian, A. B. Anderson; recorder, L. T. Reishus; treasurer, George Lowe; assessor, G. Fossum.
1908-President, L. T. Reishus; trustees, l'. T. Dahl, D. B. York, T. A. Lende; recorder, John Michie; treasurer, George Lowe; assessor, G. Fossum; justice, G. M. Davis; constables, G. A. Boese, Lauritz Kise.
1909-President, G. A. Arneson; trustees, Andrew Rossland, L. Abrahamson, H. J. Fratzke; recorder, John Michie; treasurer, I. L. Kolhei; assessor, G. Fossum; justices, W. D. Lovelace, O. O. Brenna; constable, Louis Gunderson.
1910-President, A. O. Anderson; trustees, J. T. Garry, C. R. Undem, J. M. Anderson; recorder, W. J. Huddleston; treasurer, P. T. Dahl; assessor, G. Fossum; constable, G. A. Boese.
1911-President, A. (). Anderson; trustees, J. T. Garry, C. R. Undem, J. M. Anderson; recorder, W. J. Huddleston; treasurer, P. T. Dahl; assessor, G. Fossum; justices, R. W. Christie, Louis Gunderson; constable, William Harmening.
1912-President, E. S. Reishus; trustees, J. T. Garry, John Munroe, T. Tharaldsen; recorder, W. C. Frank; treasurer, Henry Arneson; justice, George Lowe; constables, G. A. Boese, A. M. Anderson.
Cottonwood was visited by a fire on April 22, 1893, which brought a loss of
11The first teacher of the school in district No. 15 was P. H. Dahl and the first pupils were P. H. Rognlie, H. N. Dahl, Caroline Dahl, Tillie Dahl, John H.
$5000 and which but for a fortunate cir- cumstance would have destroyed the entire business portion of the village. The fire originated in the office of the Cottonwood Current and spread rapidly despite the efforts of the citizens to check it. There had been a heavy fall of snow and the progress of the flames was finally checked by packing damp snow in a sixteen-inch space between two buildings. The losses were as follows:
Christ Peterson, Cottonwood Current building. $600
Current office. 100
Larson Brothers, blacksmith shop 600
C. R. Wall, harness shop and building. . 1600 George Gigstad, building occupied by O. O. Slette. 1200
J. W. Williams, damage to building occu- pied by Paul Twedt & Company as a saloon . .. 900
The burned district was immediately rebuilt with larger and better buildings.
The progress of Cottonwood during the past twenty years of its history has been rapid and it has developed into an exceptionally good town. Its popula- tion in 1895 was only 303. This was increased to 549 in 1900 and to 883 in 1905. The census of 1910 showed a population of 770.
THE SCHOOL.
On October 7. 1876, school district No. 15-now the Cottonwood district- was organized. Before Cottonwood was founded the school was taught in private homes in the country nearby. 11 In the spring of 1889 an effort was made to form a new district for the village and to erect a school house, but it was un- successful.
The school of district No. 15 was located in the village in January, 1890, and for two months school was held in a building formerly occupied by the Anderson, Tonnes E. Anderson, Henry E. Anderson, Dena Anderson, Nels H. Dahl and Herman H. Dahl.
194
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
store of A. C. Chittenden.12 Then for over a year the village was without a school. 13 At a meeting on March 21, 1891, the voters authorized a bond issue of $1500 to erect a school house in the village, but at another meeting in May the amount was reduced to $1000. A building was erected that fall at a cost of $2000 and school was thereafter held regularly therein. The pioneer building was replaced in the fall of 1903 by the present structure.
A reorganization of the Cottonwood schools was made March 2, 1903, when an independent district was formed14 and a high school course added, which is now a full four-year course. The first class was graduated from the high school in 1907.15 More than 200 pupils are now enrolled in the public schools of Cottonwood. P. A. Reinertson is super- intendent of the schools.
THE CHURCHES.
Three church societies have active or- ganizations in Cottonwood, namely, the Silo Norwegian Lutheran, the Pres-
: 12A partial list of those who have taught in the Cottonwood schools is as follows: Thone Thorstenson, Sadie Robinson, James A. Wilson, Mrs. C. D. Orr, Sarah Foss, Esther Davis, Mary Davis, S. L. Wait, Anna Dahl, Inga Dahl, Ifulda Petterson, Annie Jurisdol, Alice Paulson, Emma Moon, Anna S. Law- renee, Marion W. Gibbs, Anna MI. Gould, S. O. Eidem and Mabel Donoldson.
13The Cottonwood correspondent to the Marshall News-Messenger of July 25, 1890, said: "It seems a pity that we do not have school within the village. The citizens are going to get up a petition to have the district divided and if they succeed will erect a school house and have a permanent school the year round."
14Those who have served as members of the Board of Education since the organization as an independent district have been J. F. Gibb, A. E. Anderson, John Lines, A. O. Anderson, John O. Loe, C. R. Undem, A. O. Lende, J. T. Garry, N. P. Frederickson, W. A. Goodburn, O. J. Olson, A. B. Anderson, C. R. Wall, E. P. Kelly, L. T. Reishus, L. McKechnie, A. O. Ifovdesven and P. H. Bly.
15The following have received diplomas from the Cottonwood High School:
1907-Ralph Undem, Orvin Undem, Jessie Gibb, Clifford Lewis, Norman Ness.
190S-No class.
1909-Myrtle Florence Rouse, Ella Rebecca Lende, Clara Samuella Ludwig, Gertrude Estelle Janssen, Milda Elefta Lende, Neil Martin Kise, Justus Tegner Ness. 1910-Marie G. Jurisdal, Amanda R. Kise, Harvey L. Paulson, Belle A. Gray, Amanda C. Ludwig, Endre B. Anderson, Ella M. Olson, Ida C. Kolhei, Peter J. Waugsness, Maysie M. Gibb, Gladys E. Munroe, John W. Anderson.
byterian and the English Lutheran.
The oldest of these is Silo Norwegian Lutheran Church, whose founding ante- dates the birth of the village. It was organized in 1880 by Norwegian families living in the vicinity of the future village16 and at once became a strong society. Rev. K. Thorstensen was pas- tor from 1880 to 1893, Rev. M. Ramstad from 1893 to 1907, and Rev. T. H. Haugen from the last named date to the present time.
The Norwegian Lutherans had no church home until after the founding of Cottonwood. A fine building was put up in 1889 and has ever since been used by the congregation. The value of the church property is $13,000, including $3500 expended for a parsonage in 1911. The church has a large membership. 17
The First Presbyterian Church of Cottonwood was organized in 1895 by Rev. R. N. Adams, synodical mission- ary. J. B. Robertson and J. F. Gibb took a prominent part in organizing and financing the society. The initial mem- bership was small, 18 but the church has
1911-Stella Haugan, Clara Hatlestad, Mabel Lien, Hilda Haraldson, Myrtle Townsend, Wilsie Anderson, Elmer Anderson, Paul Bottolfson, Helge Bly, Corelian Lende.
1912-Joseph Kise, Sikke Kleppe, Lauron Love- lace, Ella Peterson, Tilda Thon, Mabel Christenson.
16The first members of Silo church were George Anderson, Gabriel Anderson, Nels T. Dahl and family, Hans P. Dahl and family, Peter H. Dahl, Christ H. Dahl, Jacob II. Dahl, Nels N. Rosvold and family, P. H. Rognlie, John H. Anderson, Iver Nelson and family, Nicolas Nelson, Torjus S. Nordgaard and family, Jacob L. Midboe and family, Peter Eliason, E. T. Hamre, Christopher Peterson and family, John Peter Krog and family, Engebret Rasmussen and family and M. T. Ness. The first officers of the church were as follows: Rev. K. Thorstensen, chairman: Torjus S. Nordgaard, secretary; Jacob I. Midboe, treasurer; Iver Nelson. Sr., Gjermund Anderson and Nels N. Rosvold, trustees.
17The present officers of Silo church are Rev. T. H. Haugen, chairman; G. O. Aamodt, vice chairman ; A. E. Anderson, secretary; Martin M. Egeland, treas- urer. The trustees are I. L. Kolhei. chairman; John C. Peterson L. J Eikland, C. N Larson and Hans Berg. The deacons are Rev. T. H. Haugen, C. R. Undem. N. Aarrestad, Lawrence Olson, G. O. Aamodt, O. S. Barstad, Martin M. Egeland and A. E. Anderson.
18First members of the Presbyterian church were Mr. and Mrs. Ilarrison Price, J. B. Robertson, MIr. and Mrs. J. F. Gibb, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Kelly, Mrs. James Garry, Mrs. William Gibb, Mr. and Mrs. John Lines, Mrs. J. H. Catlin, Mr. and Mrs. John Michie and Mr. and Mrs. W D. Lovelace.
195
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
prospered and has a present member- enty-five. Services are held every three ship of sixty-seven. For three years weeks. services were conducted twice each month in the Great Northern depot and THE LODGES. in 189S a church edifice was erected at The oldest fraternal order in Cotton- wood is Cottonwood Lodge No. 213, Ancient Order United Workmen, which was organized April 6, 1896, with thir- teen charter members.21 It now has a membership of sixteen. a cost of $1400. It was dedicated January 22, 1899, by Rev. R. N. Adams. Rev. J. H. Staney has been pastor of the church since October, 1910. The church session consists of J. B. Robert- son, John Michie and John L. Leas.
Equity Lodge No. 221, A. F. & A. M., was instituted September 30, 1896, by Past Grand Master W. F. Dickinson, of Redwood Falls, and for a short time was operated under dispensation. 22 The charter was dated January 14, 1897, and the lodge was formally constituted in March. The lodge is still active and has a large membership. 23
Constance Chapter No. 183, Order Eastern Star, was instituted March 25, 1905, with ten charter members.24 Reg- ular meetings are held and the lodge has a membership of thirty-seven.
Fortunate Camp No. 7104, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized December 23, 1901.25 The present mem- bership is sixty-eight and meetings are held regularly in Masonic Hall.
Sunshine Lodge No. 2157, Royal Neighbors of America, began its exist- ence January 31, 1906.26 It has a present membership of fifteen.
19The first members of the Synod church were the following and their families: Sylfest L. Orwoll, Lasse S. Orwoll, Jacob L. Midboe, C. H. Dahl, O. S. Reishus, E. T. Hamre, John L. Johnson, Lars Midboe and Mrs. Anna Dahl. Those selected as offieers at the time of . organization were C. H. Dahl, Jacob L. Midboe, Lars J. Midboe, E. T. Hamre and O. S. Reishus. Pastors who have occupied the pulpit were Revs. Valler, Lea, Berg, Aasen, Aanestcad, Rognlie and Reishus.
20The first members of the English Lutheran church were the following gentlemen and their families: Ole Dall, P. H. Bly, David Frank, Rudolph Frank, Edward Frank, Herman Botcher, August Prechel, Henry Kheen, Henry Olson, E. S. Reishus, C. Fratzke, Ed Strochine, Gustav Thiel and Sarah Dahl.
21Charter members of Cottonwood Lodge were Thomas MeKinley, J. F. Gibb, C. G. Strand, G. A. Arneson, R. C. Laird, J. R. Kjemhus, C. D. Orr, C. R. Wall, Ludwig E. Erickson, Thomas Chepeski, John 1. Berre, Joseph Mero and George Russell.
22The first officers of Equity Lodge were S. H. Adams, J. H. Catlin, Thomas MeKinley, J. W. Lind- blad, James MeKay, W. G. Martine, L. MeKechnie and James Townsend.
23The present officers of the lodge are J. P. Garry, N. P. Frederickson, Joseph B. Mathews, Charles Laingen, William Tolzman, G. A. Boese, James Grieve, George Lowe, Robert Cummings and John Michie.
24The charter members of Constance Chapter were Amelia Michie, Leuehlau MeKeehnie, Ellen Grieve, John Michie, Albertine Boese, Sadie Munroe, C. R. Laingen and J. George Koelz.
25The Woodmen camp had the following charter members: D. J. Atrops, Gust Boeberg, Ole Britton, W. M. Davis, W. G. Gibb, William Hamre, E. P. Kelly, A. H. Lowe, O. W. Petterson, John Ophus, A. S. Severson, F. B. Thomas, J. A. Anderberg, A. L. Bolstad, Robert Cummings and II. H. Galbraith.
26The charter members of Sunshine Lodge were Mabelle Tharaldson, llattie V. Strand, William S. Strand, Edna J. Leland, Mary Kjemhus, Anna B. Budd, Allie N. Judd, Sara Browne Jones, John R. Jones, Anna S. Hering, Minnie Gibb, Edith O. Gibb, William G. Gibb, Emma Ensign, George N. Ensign, Anna Christian, Charles L. Cravens, Albertina Boese and Lillie Abott.
The First English Lutheran Church of Cottonwood is only three years old, but the society it succeeded was one of the old religious bodies of the village. When Cottonwood was founded in 1888 a number of the members of the Silo church left the parent society and founded a Synod Norwegian Lutheran church. 19 A church home was erected in 1892 at a cost of $3000, the corner stone having been laid in November of that year.
The members of the Synod Norwegian Lutheran church and a number of German Lutherans of Cottonwood and vicinity united on June 6, 1909, and formed the English Lutheran church. 2º The first pastor was Rev. Aasen and the church is now under the pastorate of Rev. Laux, who is also in charge of the German Lutheran church of Posen. The society has a membership of sev-
196
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
As a result of the fire of April 22. 1893, the Cottonwood Fire Department was organized. Immediately after the conflagration the Village Council ordered a chemical engine, hook and ladder truck, hose cart, hose and other appara- tus. By this one move Cottonwood advanced from no fire protection at all to one of the best protected villages in the vicinity.
The department was organized in August, 1893, with the following first officers: Herman Dahl, chief; W. J. Mackay, captain of chemical company; Will Garry, assistant; C. R. Undem, captain hook and ladder company; R. C. Laird, assistant; L. McKechnie, secre- tary; S. H. Adams, treasurer. The de- partment now has a membership of twenty. G. A. Boese is chief and his assistant is P. T. Dahl.
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