USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 33
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ISThe license question has never been submitted in Taunton under the local option law and saloons have always been licensed by the Village Council.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
in 1911. The parsonage was erected in 1906 at a cost of $6000.
A German Lutheran society is main- tained in Taunton, supplied by pastors from other churches.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Taunton Fire Department was organized in 1907. Its fire fighting apparatus consists of a chemical engine and its membership is fifteen. John Ross is the chief.
THE BANK.
The State Bank of Taunton began
business in May, 1905, with a capital stock of $10,000. The officers and directors at the time of organization and at the present time are as follows: John Swenson, president; P. P. Ahern, vice president; M. F. Ahern, cashier; and Samuel Lewison. The institution does a general banking business and engages in the real estate, collection and insurance business. The bank has had a substantial growth, the deposits having increased from $15,000 in 1905 to $90,000 in 1911, and enjoys the confi- dence of the people.
CHAPTER XVI.
LYND, FLORENCE, GARVIN, AMIRET, GREEN VALLEY, ETC.
W ITHIN the limits of Lyon county are a number of little villages that have not reached a size that would warrant the beginning of local government, but which are, nevertheless, places of importance in the affairs of the county and of great benefit to the people of the surrounding country. They are Lynd, Florence, Garvin, Amiret and Green Valley.
Besides these villages are a few other places that have names and occupy places on the map. They are Dudley, Burchard, Heckman and Camden. Be- fore Lyon county became dotted with villages and before the days of rural mail routes a number of country post- offices were established, the names of many of which will be recalled only by pioneer residents. Among such post- offices were Rock Lake, Sham Lake, Blan Avon, Ceresco, Hildrethsburg, Island Lake, Brenner and Leo.
LYND.
One of the most important of the smaller towns of Lyon county in a business sense, and by far the most important historically, is Lynd, located on the Great Northern railroad and the Redwood river, six and one-half miles southwest of Marshall. Nestled among the river bluffs, it has the most beautiful
location of any village in the county. It boasts quite a number of business enterprises and is a thriving little hamlet.
Time was when Lynd was the only village in and the county seat of Lyon county, as well as the business, social and religious center of the county. In chronicling its history it is necessary to deal with three distinct villages, all bearing the same name. The oldest of these has been commonly referred to as Upper Lynd and was on the southeast quarter of section 33, Lynd township, one mile southwest of the present vil- lage. Lower Lynd, which became plain Lynd after the abandonment of the upper village, was founded a little after the older village and was located on the north side of the Redwood river-on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 27, Lynd township,-one-half mile north of the present village. Modern Lynd replaced the other village, having been founded in the late eighties, after the building of the Great Northern railroad.
Upper Lynd came into existence in 1868. That year the postoffice, named Lynd in honor of James W. Lynd, the trader who had his post at the site, was established with D. M. Taylor as postmaster. The same year Luman Ticknor opened a hotel and Mr. Taylor
220
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
put in a small stock of staple goods. The store was not conducted long, but Mr. Taylor served as postmaster for several years. In September, 1870. Dr. George W. Whitney established a store in the log building on section 33 that had been used by the trader many years before. Dr. Whitney occupied that building for a short time and then erected a building in Lower Lynd and continued the business.
When Lyon county was organized on August 12. 1870. the county seat was declared to be on the southeast quarter of section 33, which was Upper Lynd. The following year that village reached the zenith of its power. A church was erected, W. T. Ellis established a store, and the townsite was platted by George C. Smith and W. T. Ellis.
The Upper Lynd townsite was sur- veved by T. G. Morrill on August 22. 1871. The certificate of dedication was acknowledged by the proprietors1 before D. D. Morrill, a notary public for Ramsey county, on February 28, 1872, and it was filed in the office of the register of deeds of Redwood county March 20, 1872. Twenty-four blocks were included in the plat. In the center of the map of the plat was one block labeled "Public Square or Park." The north and south streets were named Alexander, Ramsey, Morton and Fenton; the east and west ones, William, Mar- shall, Main and Charles.
W. T. Ellis. the guiding spirit of Upper Lynd, labored hard to make the village a success, but his efforts resulted in failure. Without legal authority, but by common consent, the rival down the river became the county seat, the post- office was moved there, Mr. Ellis moved his store there, and in time the site of
1The dedication was in the following language: "We, the undersigned, George C. Smith and William T. Ellis, proprietors of the village of Lynd, do hereby certify that we caused the same to be laid out into
Upper Lynd became good farming land, as it is to day.
Lower Lynd was founded in 1871, by A. R. Cummins and A. D. Morgan. It was beautifully situated on the river bottom, with bluffs rising abruptly on either side, and was nearly surrounded by timber. The townsite consisted of about twenty acres of land, divided into eight blocks, and occupied a position within a little bend of the river, on the north side. Separating the blocks were three streets. named Cummins, Main and Bridge.
Levi S. Kiel and A. D. Morgan erected a large hotel building on the site and Mr. Morgan established a store. The new Lynd secured the county seat in 1872. the postoffice was moved there, a church building was moved from the older town, and Lower Lynd became the metropolis of Lyon county.
Its importance was not destined to continue, however. The Winona & St. Peter railroad was built through the county in 1872 and left Lynd to one side. Marshall was founded and rapidly outstripped its inland rival. In the fall of 1873 the voters of the county declared their preference for Marshall for the county seat, and in January, 1874, Lynd lost that aid to future greatness. At the time of the removal of the county seat the Prairie Schooner said that Lynd contained two stores of general merchandise, a postoffice, shoe shop, hotel. blacksmith shop, wagon shop, carpenter shop and several offices.
Lynd steadily declined after it lost the county seat. At the beginning of the year 1876 the county paper stated that Lynd had one store and was the center of a large settlement. In time practically all the business enterprises
lots, streets and alleys for town purposes as here platted and that we hereby give the streets and alleys as here platted to the public. [Signed] George C. Smith, William T. Ellis."
FLORENCE SCENES
Lutheran Church
Main Street
School House
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
were abandoned. although the postoffice continued to be conducted by Levi S. Kiel until after the building of modern Lynd. The pioneer hotel building and several residences still occupy the site of old Lynd.
With the building of the Willmar & Sioux Falls railroad in ISSS came the founding of the third. or modern, Lynd. When the grade for the road was made in the fall of 1887, a grade for a siding was made on the southwest quarter of section 27, a half mile south of the old town, and in August, 1888, the track was put in.
W. H. Sherman, vice president of the Willmar & Sioux Falls Railroad Com- pany, and C. E. Rice platted the town- site. It was surveyed by C. L. Van Fleet on November 6, 1888, and the dedication was made by the proprietors on November 20. Four blocks only were platted. They were divided by streets named First, Second, Third and Fourth and at right angles by Rice and Railroad Streets.2
Modern Lynd was not built in a day; in fact, its growth was very slow. The first building erected on the site was an elevator put up by the Northwestern Elevator Company. The people of the vicinity wanted a store established, 3 but for several years no one made the venture. The first store was opened in 1891 by F. W. Cowham, who conducted it until the fall of 1895 and then sold to W. R. Gregg. The Lynd postoffice, which had been conducted so long by
2Two additions to Lynd have been platted, namely: Rice's, by C. E. Rice on March 14, 1905; Sharratt's First, by A. A. Sharratt on April 15, 1911.
3"There has been talk of putting in a store at Lynd, but it does not materialize very rapidly. This is a good point and some one will be here soon to make his fortune." -- Lynd Correspondent to News-Messen- ger, November 17, 1890.
4Mr. Cowham served as postmaster until November, 1895, and W. R. Gregg has since held the office.
One rural route is operated from the Lynd office. It was the first rural free delivery route established in Southwestern Minnesota and the first trip on it was made December 4, 1899. Philip Snyder was the first carrier and C. W. Cady was substitute. The latter
Levi S. Kiel, was moved to the store and Mr. Cowham became postmaster.' After the Cowham store, the next building erected in Lynd was a residence by A. E. Alexander, who moved from a farm. The Methodist church was put up in 1896 and a residence by Philip Snyder in 1897.
The first thirteen years of Lynd's history saw very few improvements made, and this was due largely to the fact that good titles to lots could not be secured. In 1901 the matter was cleared5 and the advancement that year was rapid. Nicholson Brothers put up buildings and engaged in the lumber and hardware business. Larson & Voog built a store and residence and engaged in business. Charles Zellmer erected the store building now occupied by H. C. Hauser. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Austin put up a building and established the first hotel.
During the past decade Lynd has made' fair progress and taken its place as one of the substantial little villages of Lyon county. Among the buildings erected since 1901 are the residences of A. A. Sharratt, F. Nicholson, Mrs. Gillman, Mrs. Williams, C. W. Cady, George Moffatt, G. S. Wunderlich, Stephen Nicholson, Otto Raav and F. W. Vanstrom, the tenement house of Claus Frahm, the school house erected in 1905, the First State Bank building in 1910, the blacksmith shop of Claus Frahm, and the wagon shop of F. E. Bills.
has been carrier sinee November 1, 1901, and is the second oldest carrier, in point of service, in the state.
5" The town of Lynd has for many years been sadly stunted because of the lack of title to the land. Until a few days ago no one knew to whom the land be- longed and it rested with the courts to decide the matter. T. P. Baldwin bid the lands in at forced sale and contested for possession, but the decision handed down was not in his favor. The court says that the land belongs to Rice & Canfield.
"The boom has already begun. Three lots have been sold to a Mr. Larson, of Wisconsin, who will open a lumber yard and an elevator in a short time. It is understood that a store will also soon be opened." -Marshall Reporter, April 5, 1901.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lynd is the outgrowth of the first religious society formed in Lyon county, which was established in September, 1867, by the first settlers.6 Rev. C. F. Wright was the first pastor.7 After the founding of Marshall in 1872 the charge was divided and two separate organiza- tions were maintained.
In September, 1889, the Lynd church was incorporated with the following as trustees: L. S. Kiel, W. H. Langdon, L. Gilman, W. R. Gregg, M. C. Kiel, William Cook, A. C. Tucker, E. E. Taylor and W. L. Watson. It was the intention to erect a church edifice at that time, but it was several years later when the building was finally erected.
The matter of a church home was again taken up at a meeting of the trustees on January 28, 1896, when a building committee was selected. The church officers at that time were L. S. Kiel, president; Jacob Rouse, secretary; and W. R. Gregg, treasurer. The build- ing was commenced the following May, the corner stone was laid June 13, and the church was occupied for the first time in August, 1896. The cost was $1200. A parsonage was completed in March, 1911, at a cost of $1200.8
Early in 1889 a Presbyterian church society was organized in Lynd and services were for a time held in the school house, conducted by Rev. N. D. Graves, of Marshall. The trustees at the time of organization were Hiram Fellows, D. C. Pierce and Andrew Nel- son. Alexander Burr was clerk and treasurer.
6For a more complete history of this church the reader is referred to page 147.
"Other pastors of the Lynd church have been Revs. A. H. Riley, Eastman, G. H. MeKee, O. C. Gregg, W. T. Ellis, George Galpin, S. F. Lemans, Joseph IIall, Ellery, Lindsley, Hitchcock, A. A, Wilcox, J. W. Farr, J. W. Stebbins, Langworthy. Williams and George W. Root.
$The stewards of the Methodist church of Lynd are
The Lynd State Bank was incor- porated June 1, 1910, and opened for business July 11 of the same year, with a capital stock of $10,000. The original stockholders and officers were the same as at present, namely: J. E. Vanstrom, president; S. J. Forbes, vice president ; and F. W. Vanstrom, cashier. The bank owns its own home, which was erected at the time of founding. The growth . of the institution has been satisfactory. Within six months after founding the deposits were $30,000 and there has since been a steady increase.
FLORENCE.
Florence is an unincorporated village on the Great Northern railroad and on the northwest quarter of section 20, Shelburne township. There are a bank, several stores and shops in the village, where the people of Shelburne and adjoining townships do their trading.
Like the other villages of Lyon county on the Great Northern railroad, Florence was founded in 188S. The site for the station was selected in November of the year before,9 and in May. 18SS, it was announced that the new station would be named Florence. The name was bestowed in honor of Florence Sherman, daughter of the founder of the town. Train service was begun in the fall and on October 9, 18SS, the village was platted by W. H. Sherman, who had purchased eighty acres of land from H. P. Sanden for the purpose. It was surveyed by Jackson & Vause and con- sisted of seven blocks. The streets, running north and south, were named
C. W. Cady, recording steward; A. E. Alexander, S. Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Austin, W. R. Gregg, H. W. Ruliffson, N. F. Larson and William Banks. The trustees are W. R. Gregg, S. Nicholson, A. E. Alexander, C. H. Austin and Fred Nicholson.
9"The last station, making six in all, will be located on section 20, in Shelburne, six and one-half miles beyond Clear Lake [Russell], ten miles west of Balaton and nineteen miles southwest of Marshall."-Marshall News-Messenger, November 11, ISS7.
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Morton and Harrison, and the avenues porating as a village in 1902, but the step was not taken.
were named Garfield, Lincoln, Logan and Blaine. 10
The townsite proprietor erected a store building-the first structure in the town-and leased it to Thomas H. Owens, who sold a farm near Tyler and established a general store in the new town. For several years he was the only business man in Florence and he conducted the store until his death on March 15, 1894. The postoffice was es- tablished soon after Mr. Owens located in Florence and he became the first postmaster. 11 The second building erected was a blacksmith shop put up by a Mr. Swenson.
For several years after the founding there were few improvements to mark the site, but in 1893 the village advanced rapidly. Amberson Brothers established the second general store (now conducted by M. O. Gorseth), H. O. Jeglum en- gaged in the implement business. a Nor- wegian Lutheran church was put up, the Shelburne Warehouse Association engaged in the grain business. L. Anderson put up a building which was occupied by a harness shop and shoe store for a time and later by a general store in charge of T. Dreger. C. O. Green built a hotel which was opened early in August, a school house was completed late in the year, and several others engaged in business.
Florence has not grown as has some of the neighboring villages, but it has developed into a prosperous little com- munity and each year marks some progress. There was talk of incor-
10Sanden's First Addition was platted November 24, 1909, by H. P. Sanden.
11Other postmasters of Florence have been David Owens, John Martin, M. O. Gorseth and Anton Larson.
12A complete roster of the teachers in district No. 78 is as follows: Dora Anderson, 1893; Mattie (. Snartum, 1894-95; Caroline Thompson, 1896; Mary Davis, 1897; Herbert Dresser, 1898; Sophia Semonsen, 1899; Albert Peterson, 1900-01; Josephine Sundblad, 1902-03; Angnes Johnson, 1904-05; Rangna Johnson 1906: Elisa Hall, 1907; Martha Bly, 1908-09; Lydia Lundquist, 1910; Edla C. Johnson, 1911-12.
The history of the Florence school antedates that of the village itself. In 1884 school district No. 47, embracing the southwest quarter of Shelburne township, was organized, and a school house was built on C. P. Myran's farm, the southwest quarter of section 20, just south of the future village. The teachers of that school were Cora Low- land, Mary Bingham, Amelia Lien, T. H. Owens, Blanch Chapman, Mattie Sanders, Mabel C. Grover and Ella Pierce.
The present district, No. 78, was or- ganized in 1893. ' In the fall of that year a school house was erected in the village at a cost of $750. Forty-five pupils are now enrolled in the school, which is in charge of Edla C. Johnson. 12 The members of the school board are A. E. Green, clerk; H. P. Sanden, trea urer; and Anton Hynden, director.
The Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence was established in 1878, ten years before the village was founded. 13 The first pastor was Rev. Martin Shirle, who was in charge of the church one year. He was succeeded in turn by Rev. Eggeland, 1879-82; Rev. Martin Shirle (second call), 1882-90; Rev. Bernt Askevold, 1890-94; Rev. Sorenson, 1894- 97; Rev. Helga Aanestad, 1897-07; and Rex. Axel Berg, 1907-12.
Camp No. 3871, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized in November, 1897,14 and has had an active life. Twenty-three members are now on the rolls.
13Early members of the church were Peter Sanden, Hans P. Sanden, Cornelius Myran, Paul Ronning, E. K. Ronning, J. P. Myran, Andrew Sanden, Christopher Johnson, Edward Anderson, Evan Berg, Evan Blegen, Iver Blegen, Carl Anderson, Andrew Berg and Thomas Ronning.
14The charter members of the Modern Woodmen lodge were John Martin, Hans P. Sanden, K. E. Ronning, Edward Ronning, Louis Anderson, Evan Berg, Peter Myran, Ole Myran, Lonis Blegen, Theodore Drake, Soren Jacobson, Mike Ofstad, M. O. Gorseth and Peter Ronning.
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IHISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
The State Bank of Florence was in- corporated June 5, 1908, with a capital stock of $10,000. The first board of directors was composed of P. A. Chris- tianson. A. E. Green, M. O. Gorseth. C. H. Christopherson, Ed. Anderson, H. P. Sanden and S. A. Christianson.
GARVIN.
Of the smaller villages of Lyon county, Garvin is one of the most im- portant and has a number of business enterprises that would be a credit to more pretentious places. It is a station on the Dakota Central division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, about midway between Tracy and Balaton. and is on the southeast quarter of section 27. Custer township.
Although the railroad was built in 1879 the station was not established that early and the site was not entitled to a place on the map until 1886. Four years earlier a side track had been laid there and in railroad circles the site was known as Siding No. 7.15 The siding became known as Terry in the spring of 1886, and on April 30 the Terry town- site was platted by the railroad com- pany. It was surveyed by C. C. Pudor and was dedicated by Albert Keep, as president of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company. Two blocks only were included in the original plat. The streets were named First, Sherman, Grant and Sheridan. 16
In the fall of 1886 the postoffice was established and for some time the office
was at the home of William R. Owens, the postmaster.17 The station bore the name Terry only about one year and was then renamed Kent. The first building erected at the station was a flathouse put up by a Mr. Seefield in 1887. H. L. Green was employed as grain buyer by Mr. Seefield. He lived in one end of the flathouse and stored grain in the other. About 1SS9 the flathouse was replaced by an elevator and Mr. Green continued as grain buyer several years.
The name of the station was changed from Kent to Garvin, in honor of H. C. Garvin, traveling freight agent of the railroad, in July, 1891. Until business houses were founded there, however, the place was generally referred to as Seefield, after the owner of the elevator. The second structure on the site was a business building put up by William Owens, in which he opened a store. He conducted the store a few years and then sold to Annie Shand. About the time that William Owens erected his store building he and his brother. Owen Owens, each built dwelling houses; in the village.
After selling the pioneer store, William Owens and his brother put up another building and established the second general store. About the same time Andrew Anderson erected a small build- ing and engaged in the blacksmith business. Other enterprises followed and the village of Garvin gradually developed. It has had a steady growth
15 When this sidetrack was laid in 1882 it had appar- ently been the intention of the railroad company to establish a station, for in the Marshall News of August 11, 1882, I find the following:
"Lyon county has a new village, located in the town of Custer, on the Dakota Central, midway between Tracy and Balaton. The company has płatted a townsite and put in a sidetrack. A depot and an elevator will be built immediately."
16Additions to Garvin have been platted as follows: Blocks 3 and 4. August 8, 1900, by the railroad company; surveyed by J. C. W. Cline. .
Bredevien's, December 9, 1905, by Hans J. Bred- evien ; surveyed by W. A. Hawkins.
Blocks 5 to 14, inclusive, June 17, 1909, by the railroad company; surveyed by F. R. ('line. Blocks 15 to 19, inclusive. November 26. 1910, by the railroad company : surveyed by F. R. Cline.
17The office has had only two postmasters. William R. Owens served from the fall of 1886 until September, 1900, since which time Evan M. Jones has been post- master.
Two rural routes are supplied from the Garvin offiee. Both were established March 1, 1903. Samuel Jones was carrier of No. I and David V. Jones of No. 2.
CCC
Congregational Church
Street Scene
Old School House
GARVIN SCENES
Main Street
Home of E.S.Rich
The Creamery
The Hotel
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IHISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
and each year witnesses additions to the town.
Garvin has an excellent school, with three instructors and about eighty-five pupils. Before the village of Garvin was founded, on December 3, 1879, district No. 47 was organized.18 The first teacher of the school was Annie G. Shand and the first officers of the district were E. H. Cutts, clerk; Thomas L. Harris, treasurer; and Daniel Willford, director. 19 A two-room school house was built in 1901 and that was replaced in 1911 by a four-room brick school house, erected at a cost of $11,500. The present instructors are Eunice Davis, principal: Agnes Peterson and Clara Jacobson. 20
The First Congregational Church of Garvin was organized in 1891 with only eight members, as follows: John N. Jones, William W. Jones, Annie P. Jones, Mary Anne Jones, Edith Owens, Thomas T. Jones, Evan M. Jones and Maggie Jones. The first deacons were William W. Jones and Evan M. Jones and the pastor was Rev. Edward Thomas. 21 The church was erected in 1899 and the value of the church property is now 18The signers of the petition for the organization of the district were Daniel Willford, E. H. Cutts, A. S. Cutler, L. Soward, Thomas L. Harris, Robert Owens, Hugh R. Hughes, Robert R. Owens, Margaret Jones, Ojen Johnson, John H. Hughes, John S. Owens, H. C. Masters, John L. Harris, C. M. Goodrich, W. W. Harrison, John Avery, Walter DeLong, Simon De Long, James Steele, John H. Griffiths, Solomon Evans, George S. Robinson, Edward Glynn, B. R. Bass, Jeremiah Evans, David Davis, H. Peterson, Clemet Helleson, Thomas Nelson and Hans Jacobson.
19Other officers of the distriet have been A. G. Bumford, Clinton Willford, O. R. Owens, Hans John- son, Ed. Edwards, W. W. Jones, C. R. Holden, N. S. Peterson, A. L. Colburn and E. M. Jones.
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