An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota, Part 28

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Worthington, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 738

USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 28

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The second banking institution in the village was also a private bank. In July. 1884, Mylius Bros. & Co. issued a cir- cular stating that they had opened a real estate and loan agency. being the agents for Close Bros. & Co. For sev -. eral years they engaged in the general banking business under the firm name of Mylins Bros. & Co .. Bankers. In Oc- tober. 1889. application was made for organization as a state bank. and in 1890 the Adrian State Bank took the place of Mylius Bros. & Co., Bankers. The capi- tal stock was $25,000, owned largely by Mylius Bros. The first officers and di- rectors, chosen at the first election, Oc- tober 7. 1889. were George C. Eyland, Jr .. president ; E. H. Mylins. vice presi- dent: H. G. Mansel. cashier; A. M. Becker. A. Schaeffer. A. G. Lindgren. P. E. Brown. In 1906 the capital stock was increased to $10,000. Edwin C. Brickson is the present cashier.

The third banking institution estab- lished in Adrian was the Adrian Ex-

change Bank. a private bank, which opened its doors on May 26. 1890. Its capital stock was $35.000 and the first officers and directors were F. J. Por- ter. president ; James Cowin, vice presi- dent : O. S. Melick, cashier : Emil Graf, George Slade. Besides those who held office: Fred Mohl and O. W. Freeman were stockholders. Temporary quarters were established in a frame building. but the home of the bank was made in the Slade building when it was erected in 1891. The Adrian Exchange Bank was reorganized as the First National Bank of Adrian on November 1, 1905, with a capital stock of $35,000. The first officers and directors were A. G. Lindgren, president; W. R. Faragher. vice president : Charles W. Kilpatrick. cashier : John E. Faragher, Phil Landes. The officers and directors at the present time are C. A. Sands. president : W. R. Faragher. vice president ; Charles W. Kilpatrick. cashier ; Phil Landes. Fred Mohl ..

CHURCHES.

Four church societies are maintained in Adrian-the Roman Catholic. Metho- dist Episcopal. Norwegian Lutheran and Peoples.

St. Adrian's Catholic church has the largest membership and was the first established. It was founded in 1877 with a small membership, and for manv Years was under the pastorate of Father C. J. Knauf. A frame building was crected in 1878 at a cost of about $700. which was furnished by Bishop Ireland. and this served as the house of worship until 1889. The society was incorpor- ated July 24. 1882. the incorporators hoing Thomas L. Grace. hishop: Angus- tin Ravaux. vicar general; Christian .J.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

Knauf, pastor; Michael Sullivan and Michael Becker.

In the fall of 188; a more commod- ious church edifice was commenced, and the building was dedicated by Bishop Ireland in July, 1889. It was a brick vencered structure, and had a tower which extended far above any other building in the town. It had a seating capacity of 500 and the cost was about $15,000. The building was entirely de- stroyed by fire on December 24, 1899. Plans were at once made for a new house of worship, and in 1901 was com- pleted the present magnificent edifice, which cost over $30,000. It is one of the most attractive as well as costly structures of its kind in the state, and has a seating capacity of over 800.

In connection with the church is the parochial school, taught by the sisters of St. Francis, of Rochester, Minn. The Catholic Order of Foresters and St. Jos- eph's society are societies maintained in connection with the church.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1881, when the present church building was erected. The church society also has a parsonage, the value of the church buildings being about $3,000.

The Norwegian Lutheran church was dedicated June 16, 1900.

The Peoples Church of AAdrian was in- corporated November 29, 1898, with the following board of trustees: A. M. Feathers. D. J. Tinnes, Mrs. Clara B. Swanman. Mrs. Lucy A. Porter, C. C. May. The incorporators, in addition to those named as trustees, were Anna M. Childs. Ottihe Hallas, Eva C. Tinnes, Lavina Libaire. G. E. Tinnes, Patience Tinnes. Eliza T. Wilkes, Laura Lind- gren, May G. Campbell, Byola A. Ran- dall, Kate Kilpatrick, Mamie Good- enough. Charles Kilpatrick.

For a number of years the Baptists maintained a church organization at Ad- rian. The First Baptist church of Ad- rian was incorporated May 31. 1889, with the following officers. C. H. Max- on, supplying pastor ; Roger Jones, deae- on ; Lottie Swanman, clerk : George Ells- worth. A. S. Meacham, John R. Jones, trustees. A church building was dedi- cated December 5, 1889. when Rev. Mr. Moore was installed as pastor. The or- ganization was maintained for several years.

LODGES.

Adrian is a strong lodge town, and a great many secret and fraternal organi- zations maintain lodges.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ELLSWORTH.

In point of size Ellsworth is Nobles county's third town. As a business point it also takes high rank, for, be- yond question, it draws its trade from the best farming country of Nobles coun- ty. It is located in Grand Prairie town- ship and is in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, the townsite being only one mile from the Iowa state line and one and one-half miles from the Rock county line. It is on the Rock Is- land railroad, of which road it is a di- vision point, and is the terminus of a branch line of the same railroad which runs to Rock Rapids. The population of Ellsworth was 537 in 1905, when the last census was taken.

There is no town in Nobles county which has a finer site. It is laid out on a piece of high level ground, and there is not a foot of wet or low land on the whole plat. The founders of the town could not have chosen a finer location had they the making of it themselves.

While the history of Ellsworth village does not begin until the fall of 1884. we must go back of that date several years to get a correct understanding of the causes that led to the building of such a prosperous town at this point. During the carly period of Nobles coun- ty's colonization, settlement was con- fined largely to the eastern part of the county, but a few, attracted by the ex-

cellent land in the southwestern corner, pushed out there and builded homes. 1 few of these came as early as 1811, and during the next few years quite a num- ber followed and established themselves in Grand Prairie township.

Among the number who came in the early days was "Uncle" Stillwell, who took as his claim the land upon which the village of Ellsworth was afterwards built. Te erected a dwelling at a point one-half mile east of the present busi- ness part of the town, and to supply the wants of the few settlers who were his neighbors, Mr. Stillwell established a small store and for a number of years conducted it from his farm home, oper- ating a pedler's wagon in connection. Although the country was very thinly settled at the time and the greater part of it was wild prairie land, Mr. Still- well had confidence in its future and de- clared on several occasions that a town would some day be located on his place or very near it, basing his judgment on the quality of the land round about. The prediction, came true, but the man who made the prognostication was not there to reap the benefits. He had packed up his goods some two years be- fore and moved away.

Ellsworth came into existence as the direct result of the building of the Bur- lington railroad (now the Rock Island)

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

through that part of the country in the late summer of 1884. The site was so- Weeted by the agents of the Cedar Rap- ids, lowa Falls & Northwestern Land & Town Lot company during the first days of September.1 and the survey of the townsite was made by Surveyor F. D. Randall for the company immediately. The dedication of the plat was made by S. L. Dows, president, and James B. Close. secretary. of the town lot com- pany. on September 29, and the instru- ment was filed in the office of the re- gister of deeds on October 4.2 The new town was named in honor of Eugene Ellsworth, one of the stockholders of the Burlington road.3

Even before the survey of the plat was completed the success of the proposed new town was assured. From all parts of the country came requests for lots so soon as they should be placed on the market. and many came personally to be in on the ground floor. C. IT. Dav- idson, of Rock Rapids, was named agent for the sale of town lots and opened an office of the site.4 The state of affairs as they existed just before the start of the town was related in the Sibley Trib- une of September 11:

Besides having so fine a site. the lown will hw, and is now, surrounded by the finest farming country over the sun shone on, and even now the farm houses. sur-

"The new town on the B. C. R. & N. in Grand Prairie townshin, we learn, has at last bren located. It is on the southeast quarter of section 29, and is named Ellsworth."- Worthington Advance. September 11. 1881.

AAdditions have been plitted as follows: Myra - Surveyed by H. G. Doolittle for Will C. Jones: dedicated Del. 13. 1884; filed Ocl. 16 1884.

P. Gilman for John Butler and Zephercin

Butler's Surveyed by J. Andet; dedicated May 20. 1885; fled July 11. 1885.

Western Land Company's Resubdivision of Lots in Block 7 Dedicated by the Western Lord Co., hy Ephriam MeMuririe, attorney in fact. June 18, 1800; filed June 21. 1890.

Sorth- Surveyed by M. S. Smith for John F Flynn; dedicated Dec. 24, 1901: fled Dec. 28. 1901.

rounded by great stacks of grain, can be counted by the hundreds, and as the town grow- the country will develop and make it Om of the finest shipping and trading points in southern Minnesota.

Already the ground for an 1800 foot sido- track has been surveyed. and work will have been begun on the same ere this reaches our readers.

One of the company's No. 1 depots, like the one at Sibley, will be put there, and the prospects are that it will make a good town-one that will keep up with the growth of the country at least.

Three elevator lots have already been spok- on for, and the fourth is liable to be taken in a few days. A dozen or more of the business lots (price from $250 down to $400) have been spoken for, and one or two more buildings will spring up there before an. other issue of the Trilmne.

From the towns of Worthington. Ad- rian. Sibley, Spirit Lake, Rock Rapids. Luverne and other nearby points came a number of people to engage in business, some of them bringing lumber with which to construct their buildings. By September 18 twenty-three lots had been sold, and the work of building the town had commenced. H. E. Torrance, of Worthington, was the first on the ground with lumber for his store building. and John Butler, of Rock Rapids, was the second. The first structure begun. how- over. was the saloon building of Lat- tenberger & Stevens.3 Almost simultan- cously a dozen or more buildings wore started during the latter part of Sep- tember. and before the close of the year a flourishing little city had taken its

""Eugene Ellsworth was a large holder of real estate, and his home was at Cedar Falls, Iowa. He owned a large number of lots [in Ellsworth] and manifested a lively interest in the town during his lifetime. Els- worth college, ope of the leading educational Institutions of Cedar Falls, bears his name auml Is a splendid monument to his liberality." Ellsworth News, 1907.

Mike Fahy was on the site for two or three works before the lois were placed on sale. waiting for a chance to get a desirable loca- tion. Ilis vigilance was rewarded, for ho he- came the purchaser of the first lot, upon which ho erected a saloon building.

5"Work on the first building- Sam Stevens and Phil Latteaberger's saloon began Wed- nesday [September 17] and by the time this reaches our readers will be up and enclosed." -Sibley Tribune, Sept. 18, 1884.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

" place on the prairie-a city of about 150 inhabitants. So great was the rush that it was with difficulty enough car- penters were secured to do the work.

When the railroad had been completed to the site of the proposed town a box car had been set off, and until the depot was erected a little later served in that capacity. A. J. Yorker served as the company's first agent at Ellsworth. Henry E. Torrance was the first to open a place of business. He erected a build- ing on Main street (on the site of the present First National Bank building) and opened a general store, which was in charge of John P. Peterson as man- ager and Art Tabler as clerk. Hle also engaged in the grain business, erecting a warehouse. D. L. Riley, of Spirit Lake, was carly on the site with twenty car loads of lumber. He put up an office and became the first dealer in lumber and fuel. E. F. Newell, of Spirit Lake, opened the first hardware store, which was in charge of his brother, Thomas Newell. F. A. Fink, of Rock Rapids, opened the second hardware store a little later.

A harness shop was opened by Mike Harrigan, of Spirit Lake, and a shoe shop by Bernard Ball, of Mankato. Four saloons were in operation by November, owned by Lattenberger & Stevens, of Sibley ; Thomas Fahy, of Adrian; Brazil Bros., of Faribault; and Mike Fahy, of lowa. John Buller, of Rock Rapids, and Ezra Rice, of Luverne, erected ware-

houses and engaged in the grain busi- ness. A. J. Rice, of Adrian, opened a drug store during the month of Novem- ber, and Grant & Hannan engaged in the implement business. A correspon- dent wrote to the Sibley Tribune in November, telling some items of inter- est of the town's early history :

Ellsworth has so far been the boss place to sell flax. There have been fifty car loads shipped up to date, and the aver- age is about three ear loads a day. The depot is not yet completed but will be soon.

The business lots here are nearly all sold, the prices running from $150 to $250. Resi- dence lots are held at from $50 to $100. There are several residence lots sold. There are a good many buildings in contemplation, most of which will be commeneed in the spring. Ellsworth can boast of only one lady resident at present, Mrs. Hattie Stevens, formerly of Sibley, but she ap- pears to be quite happy in her new home.

During the winter of 1884-85 the Ellsworth postoffice was established with B. F. Garmer as postmaster," and a few new business enterprises were started. William Peck opened a hotel, Chris Blocklinger started a livery barn, and John Butler opened the second general store, carrying general merchandise, hardware, groceries, drugs, etc.

Times were lively in the spring of 1885, and there were several new business ventures.7 G. H. Eastwood founded the Ellsworth News in April. H. J. Borget put up a building and opened the first furniture store in town. J. J. Lenz & Co. (J. J. and Peter Lenz) started an- other general store. J. G. Senenfelder established Ellsworth's second hotel, and

"Mr. Garmer served about one year. He was succeeded by Ferdinand Esser. who served until January 1, 1889. At that time James Walker received the appointment, and he has held the office ever since. The Ellsworth post- office succeeded that of Grand Prairie, which was established about 1874, when a star mail route was opened hetween Bigelow and Ash Creek. Grand Prairie postoffice was first lo- cated on section 10, where a man named Ayers conducted the office and a little store. Other postmasters of the office were John Butcher, George Barnes, Ole Lund and Oscar Bryan.

T"Our neighbor, Ellsworth, is doing a rush- ing business in the way of building. A large store room, a printing office and hotel are under way. besides a number of buildings which went up earlier in the season. Everything is astir and full of life."-Rock Rapids Reporter, April, 1885.

"A Worthington gentleman who has just returned from Ellsworth informs us that he saw six new buildings going up and thinks there are from fifteen to twenty business houses in the place already."-Worthington Advance, April 30, 1885.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

a number of residences were erected that year, the first being that of George Wig- gens. The Lyon County Reporter, in July, 1885, told of the business houses in the new town at that time:

There are now four general stores, four saloons, two hotels, blacksmith shop, butcher shop, three grain warehouses, livery stable, three farm implement establishments, hai- ness shop, drug store, furniture store, lum- ber and coal yard, newspaper. They have now raised $5,000 for the ercetion of a Catholic church.

Founded as it was in the center of one of the finest farming sections of the Northwest, Ellsworth was from the start a prosperous village. Were it not for the fact that it was surrounded by such a rich farming country, there certainly would have been a retrogression follow- ing the boom with which it came into existence. Few towns having such a lively start and established with no other prospects than the trade of a lim- ited agricultural community have escap- ed a period of dull times soon after the founding. While the active building op- erations and the establishment of new business enterprises were not continued to any great extent for some time after 1885, the town enjoyed prosperous times.

An item of greatest moment to Ells- worth was the selection of the town as a division point of the Burlington road in the early fall of 1886. The company built a five-stall round house. put in a turn-table, enlarged the depot, and made other improvements. A branch road was built the same year from Ellsworth to Rock Rapids. These operations of the railroad company made the town quite lively that fall.

^The signers of the petition were C. O. Dailey, C. C. Peterson, T. J. Anthony, C. M. Pardoc. A. F. Arneson, J. P. Peterson, Ed- ward Ryan, A. Stubbs, G A. Elton, John But- Ier. P. H. battenberger. James Maher, K. Il. Knight, John H. Brabender, John O'Connor, M. J. Bryan, Ferd Esser, S. B. Campbell, G.

On the eighth day of November, 1886, a census of the village was taken-the first step in a movement to bring about incorporation. The territory which it was proposed to incorporate consisted of 1,410 acres and was found to have a population of 312 persons. On the same day the census was taken a petition was circulated and generally signed," pray- ing the board of county commissioners for incorporation and asking that that body "appoint a time and place when and where the electors actually residing upon said lands may vote for or against such incorporation."

At a special meeting of the county board held at Worthington on Decem- ber 10, 1886, the necessary steps were taken to bring about the incorporation under the general laws of 1885. Jan- uary 13, 188%, was the date set for hold- ing the election and the store of Jolin- son & Peterson was the place designated as the polling place. C. C. Peterson, Michael Hollaren and James Condon were named inspectors, under whose su- pervision the election should be held.

The election was held on January 13, as provided, and "for incorporation" carried. In February another election was held, when eighty-four votes were east and the following village officers were chosen: President of the council, James Maher; Iruslees, It. J. Borget, K. H. Knight and James Condon; recor- der. (. M. Crandall : treasurer, G. H. Eastwood; justices. Ford Esser and J. W. Abbott ; constable, Edward Ryan.

Those who have been elected to office in Ellsworth since the first election are as follows :

1. Eastwood, J. M. Bryan, M. C. Nelson. C. M. Crandall. B. F. Garmer, Thomas Johnson. G. Bollinger, J. Peter Inzen. P. E. Fogarty, I. D) Griffin. M. Fahy. J. G. Senenfelder. James Abbott, Fred A. Fink, E. W. Knight. Michael Hollaren. W. G. Thayer and W. S. Webb.

ELLSWORTH BUSINESS STREET

14E

CATHOLIC CHURCH, PAROCHIALESCHOOL AND PARSONAGE

METHOPIOT CHURCH.

METHODIST CHURCH

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

1888-President, J. P. Peterson; trustees, F. M. Ryan, M. J. Bryan, H. J. Borget; re- corder, C. M. Crandall."

1889-President. F. M. Ryan; trustees, M. Ilarrigan, G. H. Eastwood, Bernard Ball; re- corder. Thomas Johnson; treasurer, M. C. Nelson; justice, J. W. Abbott.

1890 -- President, F. M. Ryan; trustees, M. Ilarrigan, M. C. Nelson, Henry Roll; record- er. D. F. Cramer; treasurer, J. P. Peterson ; Justice, W. Il. Peck.

1891-President, F. W. Bassett; trustees, B. H. Basing, Henry Roll, Nick Lenz; re- corder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, J. P. Peter- $011.19

1892- President, James Maher ; trustees, Henry Whalen, Bernard Ball, T. M. Williams; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, Nick Lenz; assessor, MI. Hollaren; justice, G. W. Smith.

1893-President, James Burke; trustees, F. J. Schouweiler, Bernard Ball, Ilenry Whalen; recorder. D. F. Cramer;" treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, MI. Hollaren; constable, M. J. Bryan.

1894-President. J. C. Morrison; trustees, D. F. Cramer, Ilenry Whalen, P. Barry; re- corder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, Edward Fogarty; constable, M. J. Bryan.

1895-President, James Montgomery; trus- tees, D. F. Cramer, Henry Whalen, James Condon; recorder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice. Edward Ryan; constable, James Maher.

1896-President, J. F. McNulty; trustees, J. P. Reilsen, P. F. Carroll, Edward Fo- garty; recorder, G. H. Eastwood; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, M. Ilollaren; constable. Bernard Fischenich.

1897-President, A. E. Harrington; trus- tees. J. P. Reihsen, Edward Fogarty, P. F. Carroll; recorder, W. M. Finley; treasurer, Niek Lenz; justices, Edward Ryan, G. W. Smith; constables, William Jenkins, D. F. Sweeney.

1898-President, M. J. Murphy; trustees, J. P. Reihsen, William Bofenkamp, John Crowley; recorder, William Finley; treasurer, Nick Lenz; justice, Lawrence Esser; con- stable, William Jenkins.

1899-President, F. W. Stanton; trustees, W. M. Finley, P. B. Scholtes, James MeDow- ell; recorder, John F. Flynn; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, D. F. Cramer; justice, Edward Ryan; constable, William Jenkins.

1900-President. M. J. Murphy; trustees, Edward Fogarty, P. B. Scholtes, James Mc- Dowell; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Lawrence Esser; justice, L. W. Abbott; constable, T. A. Towsley.

"James Walker was appointed recorder Oct. 5. 1888, to fill a vacancy.

10 Nick Lenz was appointed treasurer Sept. ", 1891, to fill the vacancy caused by the re-

1901-President, J. P. Reihsen; trustees, Edward Fogarty, L. B. Carvell, P. B. Sehol- tes; recorder, D. F. Cramer; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Lawrence Esser; justice, S. Il. Loveland; constable, William Jenkins.

1902-President, J. P. Reihsen; trustees, William Bofenkamp, Edward Fogarty, L. B. Carvell; recorder, Charles Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor. B. H. Basing, Jr .; justice, M. Hollaren; constable, James Maher.

1903-President, William Bofenkamp; trus- tees, Edward Fogarty, Will Newell, P. B. Scholtes: recorder, C. C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H. Basing, Jr .; justices, G. W. Smith, Bernard Ball; con- stable, M. Finnerty.

1904-President, William Bofenkamp; trus- tees, Edward Fogarty, P. B. Scholtes, W. Z. Newell; recorder, Charles C. Crowley; treas- urer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. H. Basing, Jr .; justice, Lawrence Esser; constable, Pat Hefferan.

1903-President, William Bofenkamp; trus- tees, WV. Z. Newell, F. M. Sadler, P. B. Scholes; recorder, Charles C. Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor. B. H. Basing, Jr .; justices, G. W. Smith, A. A. Burns; constable, M. Finnerty.

1906-President, William Bofenkamp; trus- lees, W. Z. Newell, F. M. Sadler, P. B. Scholtes; recorder, Charles Crowley; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, B. HI. Bas- ing. Jr .; constable, P. Ilefferan.

1907- President, William Bofenkamp; trus- tes, P. B. Scholtes, F. M. Sadler, E. F. Mur- phy; recorder, E. L. Tschirgi; treasurer, M. B. Burke; assessor, Nick Lenz; justice, G. W. Smith; constable, Theodore Beckers.

1908-President, P. B. Scholtes; trustees. F. M. Sadler, F. W. Stanton, John Crowley; recorder, E. L. Tschirgi; treasurer, MI. B. Burke; assessor, Nick Lenz; justice, Vicker- man; constable, W. J. Reddy.

There is very little of historic inter- est to record for the late eighties. Dur- ing those years Ellsworth settled down to a normal basis. The feverish excite- ment attending its founding and early day activities was a thing of the past. During those years the town made but little advance in the building line or in adding industries, but it grew into a substantial and sound municipality with a surety of permanence established. The census of 1890-the first federal census moval of Mr. Peterson from the village.

11G. H. Eastwood was appointed recorder March 27, 1893, to fill a vacancy.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

after Ellsworth's founding gave the vil- lage a population of 258.

Un the evening of August 13. 1891, at half past five o'clock, Ellsworth was visited by a cyclone of considerable forer, which did a great deal of property dam- age, but which resulted in no loss of life. The story of the storm was told in the Ellsworth News of August 14:

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An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota, Part 28

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Worthington, Minn. : Northern History Number of Pages: 738

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Worthington, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 738