USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 29
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The greatest damage was to the large 80,000 bushel elevator, which was twist- ed nearly half around, smashing in the lower story. and coming down with a crash. The lmilding was eighty feet high, and the lower story was twenty feet. The roof was stove in and the building racked, so it will prob- ally have to be torn down.
The Jantheran church building, which was recently purchased by the Congregational so- ciety, was nearly wiped out, and what fow splinters are left are piled up against Henry Roll's house, nearly a block away. D. F. Cramer's house, which stood within ten feet of where the church stood, was badly dam- aged, the wing being twisted entirely out of shape and will have to be torn down. The damage to this property will probably reach $200.
The depot roof for about sixteen feet on the west end was blown off and scattered over the country in pieces the right size for kindling wood. A piece of timber from the elevator was driven through the roof of George Bolinger's building and into the roof of Borget's furniture store, a block away. The front of Roll's blacksmith shop was taken out, and in falling it struck James Faragher, who had just stepped out of the shop, knocking him down, and but for a number of plows standing in front, which held up the boards, he would have been ser- iously, if not fatally, injured.
The stables of Messrs. Theodore Bofen kamp, Cory, Smith and Unzen, all having horses in them, were blown down, leaving the horses without a scratch. T. M. Williams had a new top buggy smashed to pieces. The Marshalltown Buggy company had a number of buggies back of the News office which were considerably damaged. Burke Bros.' barn was racked out of phimb, but it did not go down. Thomas Kinney had the frame up for a granary. which was scattered to the four winds. John Hollaren's granary and barn were considerably damaged. Ed- ward Egan's separator on James Burke's farm was turned over and damaged. \ box car on the long track was overturned, and a framp was seen to crawl out of it unin- jured. Some grain in the stack and in the shock belonging to T. J. Fagan and Mrs.
O'Neil was scattered by the wind and badly damaged. A dozen or more chimneys look a tumble, and several small buildings were blown down. some of them being carried nearly a block. No one was hurt, and all are thankful that no lives were lost.
Ellsworth was visited by a fire on the night of June 21, 1892, which re- sulted in a loss of about $5,000. The conflagration started in Joseph Fische- nich's livery barn, which was destroyed, together with twelve head of horses therein. Henry Roll's blacksmith shop and the office of the Ellsworth News and the residence of G. H. Eastwood were also burned. The fire had gained such headway when discovered that noth- ing could be done toward saving any of the buildings mentioned, and the at- tention of the citizens was turned to saving the buildings across the street and the contents of the doomed structures. The losses were: Henry Roll, $1,500, with no insurance; Joseph Fischenich, $1,000, insured for $500; G. H. East- wood, $2,500, insured for $500.
A city hall and opera house building was erected by the city during 1894 and 1895 at a cost of several thousand dollars. The initial step to this public improvement was taken at a mass meet- ing on March 25, 1893, at which it was decided to ask the city council to call an election for the purpose of vot- ing on the question of issuing $6,000 bonds for the same. On April 15 the electors decided to issue the bonds by a vote of 44 to 21, but because of the panic, which soon hold the country in its grip, it was necessary to postpone the improvements. A year later, on June 6, 1891, the question was again deeided favorably by a vote of 51 to 10, and the building was completed the following voar. Bonds to the amount of $5,000 were issued.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
During the first half of the nineties there was a slow but substantial advance in the town of Ellsworth, and the popu- lation increased from 258 in 1890 to 352 in 1895. The last half of the dec- ade also showed marked progress, the census of 1900 giving the town a popu- lation of 454.
The year 1899 was particularly one of progress, and about $40,000 were spent that year in improvements. Among the items of expenditure were $14,000 for the public school building, $3,000 for cement walks, $6,000 for buildings by Porter & Aldred, lumber dealers, and $3,200 for a residence by William Wheatley.
This record was eclipsed two years later, when over $60,000 were expended in building improvements. The princi- pal improvements that year were as fol- lows: Roemer Bros., brewery, $20,000; First National Bank building, $8,500; Henry Roll, residence, $1,000; M. B. Burke, residence, $4,500; W. Z. Newell, residence, $3,000; J. H. MeRobert, two residences, $2,500; Methodist church, $2,500; Citizens Bank building, $3,000. A telephone system was installed during the year, and there were a number of new business enterprises started. The first few years of the twentieth century were prosperous ones for the little town.
On Sunday morning, January 31, 1904, the fire fiend again attacked the town, this time destroying the city hall and opera house. At about eleven o'clock the north side of the opera house block was discovered to be in flames. By that time the fire had gained such headway that the fire department could not get the fire engine and hook and ladder trucks from the burning building, in which they were located. Without the
engine the town was at the mercy of the fire fiend, and had the wind been high or blowing from the south nothing could have saved the town. As it was, the people had the hardest kind of work saving the adjoining property. Bucket brigades were formed and valiant work was done. The loss of the building, to- gether with the fire fighting apparatus, amounted to $10,000, covered by $4,000 insurance. The losses to other property amounted to only a few hundred dol- lars.
Immediately after the fire steps were taken to rebuild the city hall and also to establish a system of water works. It was decided to bring the matter be- fore the voters at the annual election in March, 1904, and at that time the vote was almost unanimous to issue $7,500 bonds for a water works system, and to rebuild the city hall. The same year a combined city hall and opera houst was erected, and for its size Ellsworth has the finest public building in the state. An excellent system of water works was also installed.
Another improvement of importance in the village was made during the year 1908. On May 4 of that year the city council granted' a twenty-five year fran- chise to F. M. Sadler for an electric lighting plant, to be installed within ninety days. Mr. Sadler completed the plant during the summer, and Ellsworth is now lighted by electricity.
Of the 532 inhabitants of Ellsworth (census of 1905) 236 are native born, 242 Minnesota born, and 59 foreign born. The countries of birth of the foreign born are as follows: Germany, 24: Sweden, 1; Norway, 6: Canada. 4: Ireland, 13; Denmark, 1: England, 6; Bohemia, 1; Scotland. ?: Wales, 1.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
During the month of May, 1893, the first steps toward the organization of a volunteer fire department in Ellsworth were taken, and on June 1 the depart- ment was formally organized with the following officers: C. M. Crandall, chief; C. Loveland, secretary; M. J. Murphy, treasurer; Al Cramer, George Senenfelder and Howard Cramer, exec- ntive committee. F. L. Godfrey was foreman of the hose company and W. M. Finley was assistant; P. F. Carroll was foreman of the hook and ladder com- pany; Henry Roll was foreman of the engine company. For a number of years the department was an active organiza- tion. It was a member of the Columbian Inter State Fireman's association, and won signal honors in the tournaments of the association.
On April 29, 1901, the Ellsworth de- partment was reorganized. It now has a membership of 17 and is supplied with all the necessary fire fighting apparatus, including 2,500 feet of hose, a cart car- rying 1,000 feet of hose. a hook and ladder truck and a hand chemical. The officers and members of the department are: F. M. Sadler, chief; Theodore Becker, assistant chief; Charles Flynn, sceretary ; W. F. Marten, treasurer; Jo- soph Albrecht, E. H. Burfiend, N. Il. Cory. John Crowley. E. E. Lovrien, E. F. Murphy, J. C. Reddy, W. J. Reddy. John McCarren, J. F. Raabe, L. D. Shaw, E. I .. Tschirgi.
BANKS.
Ellsworth has two financial institu- tions, the German State Bank and the First National Bank.
The former was founded as the Citi-
zens Bank, a private institution, in 1893, and was owned by E. A. Brown and A. E. Iluntington, of Luverne. On July 25, 1901, the bank was reorganized as the German State Bank, with a capital of $15,000 and an authorized capital of $50,000. The officers are E. A. Brown, president ; Poppe lliekman, vice presi- dent; F. W. Stanton, cashier; W. F. Marten, assistant cashier. The directors are E. A. Brown, Paul Untiedt, Henry Nelson, Poppe Hickman, J. A. Meyer, J. M. McRoberts, T. Hefferan, Jr.
The First National Bank opened its doors September 12, 1900, with the fol- lowing officers and directors: James Porter, president; J. F. Flynn, vice president : W. Z. Newell. cashier; P. F. Levins, P. B. Scholtes, C. A. Bird, T. MI. Williams. Joseph Klinkhammer. The present officers are James Porter, presi- dent ; T. M. Williams, vice president ; C. A. Bird, cashier; E. L. Tschirgi, assis- tant cashier.
CHURCHES.
The Catholic, Congregational, Metho- dist and German Presbyterian societies have church organizations in Ellsworth. The oldest of these is St. Mary's Catholic church, and that church has the largest membership. Many of the set- tlers of Grand Prairie township had come to the county as members of the Catholic Colony company, and the Catho- lie religion had a large following in the new town. In July, 1885, within less than a year after the founding, $5,000 were raised to build at Catholic church, and on November ? the church of St. Mary was organized and incorporated. The incorporators were JJohn Ireland, bishop of the diocese of St. Paul: Au- gustin Ravoux, vicar general of the same
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
diocese ; C. J. Knauf, pastor; and John Butler and Ferdinand Esser, lay mem- hers. There were forty members of the church at the time of founding, and Father Knauf was the first pastor. The church was erected at a cost of about $5,000, and to this an addition was built in 1903, at a cost of $3,000. Pas- tors who have had charge of the church since its organization have been Fathers Knauf, Dowling, O'Kiefe, Ferron, Dyer, Engelbrecht, McDonough, Hartleill and Griffin.
An excellent parochial school is main- tained in connection with the church of St. Mary. This institution was estab- lished in 1900, and during 1906 and 190% a building, costing $18,000, was crected. The corner stone was laid Oc- tober 23, 1906, and the building was occupied early in the following year.
The Congregational church was or- ganized and incorporated August 13, 1890, with the following officers: Rev. (. Wadsworth, pastor; Mrs. M. C. Knight, elerk: F. B. Bassett, treasurer; M. Birkett and F. Bassett, deacons; J. M. Bryan, J. Walker and D. F. Cramer, trustees. The charter members were George Wadsworth, Mrs. Mary C. Knight, Mrs. Medora Bassett, E. W. Knight, B. Jones, F. W. Bassett, Mary Walker, Mrs. Mary Peck, Mary M. Jones, Josephine Ennor, L. Z. Anderson and Anna Anderson.
During the first year services were held in a small church building belong- ing to the Lutheran church society. The church building was bought by the Con- gregationalists in the summer of 1891, and in August of the same year it was entirely destroyed by a cyclone. The Joss was a severe blow to the church so- ciety, the members of which had made sacrifices to get a convenient place for
worship. After the disaster the church members raised money and erected a new house of worship, which was dedicated free of debt February 7, 1892. Its value is about $1,500. The following named pastors have filled the pulpit of the Congregational church since its organi- zation in 1890: Revs. Wadsworth, Hous- ton, McAllister, Conrad, Upton, Anslin- ger, McClane, Downs, Wilson and Gall. The organization of the Methodist church society of Ellsworth was effected October 12, 1899. The first board of trustees and organizers were Fred E. Clark, J. J. Ryan, Joseph Midboe, John II. Skillicorn, A. P. Pratt, Kornell Sut- ter and F. W. Stanton. The church edifice was erected in 1901 at a cost of $2,250 and was dedicated November 10, of that year. The society is now practi- cally out of debt and has a membership of about twenty. A Sunday school, with a membership of sixty and an average attendance of forty-eight for the year, is maintained in connection. Following is a list of the pastors who have filled the pulpit with the dates of their ser- vice: C. S. Rouse, Oct. 1, 1899, to Oct. 1, 1901; J. J. Ramsey, to Oc- tober 1, 1901; J. A. Saunders, lo Oclo- ber 1, 1901; W. II. Putnam, to Oeto- ber 1. 1905; Stanley H. Addison, to October 1, 1906; William Follensbee, to October 1, 1902; Jesse Kinderine, to October 1, 1908.
LODGES.
There are in Ellsworth the following lodges: Jewell Lodge No. 49, Knights of Pythias: Ellsworth Lodge No. 182, Ancient Order of United Workmen ; Ellsworth Lodge No. 108, Degree of Honor: St. Mary's Court No. 1043, Catholic Order of Foresters; Ellsworth
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Camp No. 2280, Modern Woodmen of H .; Mary E. Hollaren, C. H .; Eva America ; Martha Washington Camp, Royal Neighbors of America.
Jewell Lodge No. 49, K. P., was in- stituted Nov. 9, 1888, with the follow- ing charter members: D. F. Cramer, W. S. Webb, C. M. Crandall, J. P. Peterson, J. A. Elton, C. O. Piati, C. (. Peterson, M. J. Bryan, O. L. Beck, James Paul, B. F. Garmer. M. Pender- grast, C. J. Kern, Henry Knoch: E. W. Knight, George Slade, W. S. Wygant, Thomas Johnson, W. S. Jones, G. F. lawley, A. Hubbs. The lodge was in- corporated April 29, 1890. The char- der was surrendered in 1893, but the lodge was reorganized March 15, 1896.
Ellsworth Lodge No. 182, A. O. U. W., was organized May 3, 1894, with the following first officers: F. J. Ash, P. M. W .; F. M. Ryan, M. W .; J. F. Me Nulty, foreman: M. Hollaren, over- seer ; M. J. Murphy, recorder; W. S. Ingraham, financier; J. Condon, re- ceiver: P. F. O'Malley, guide; P. F. Carroll, inside watch; S. M. Butcher, ontside watch.
The Degree of Honor lodge was in- stituted February -t, 1898, with the fol- lowing officers: Clara J. Rufan, P. C. son, Mrs. Colwell, managers.
Unzen, L. H. ; Belle Babcock, R .; Bridgic Condon, financier; Annie M. Reihsen, receiver; Cora Murphy, usher; Margaret Whalen, 1. W .; A. Thompson, O. W.
The lodge of Catholic Order of For- esters was organized November 20, 1899, with thirty charter members and the fol- lowing officers: J. P. Reihsen, chief ranger; William Bofenkamp, financial secretary ; P. B. Scholtes, recording sec- rotary; James Burke, treasurer; P. F. Levins, past chief ranger; Niek Lenz, vice chief ranger; B. 11. Basing, Jr., inside sentinel; Matt Pint, Jr., outside sentinel; William Condon, M. B. Burke, John N. Lenz, trustees; Dr. Carter, medical examiner.
The lodge of Royal Neighbors was organized early in 1900 and had a char- ter membership of twenty. The first of- ficers were Mrs. P. F. Levins, oracle; Mrs. C. A. Pratt, vice oracle; Emily Jolinson, recorder; Mrs. L. V. Carvell. past oracle; Mrs. Julia Mohr, receiver; Miss Ethel Pratt, chancellor; Minnie Nelson, inside sentinel ; Mina Gilbert- son. outside sentinel : Mrs. J. P. Reihsen, marshal: P. F. Levins, Marie Gilbert-
WILMONT ONE YEAR OLD
4 -
WILMONT'S RESIDENCE DISTRICT
CHAPTER XIX.
WILMONT AND BREWSTER.
WILMONT.
Although Wilmont is one of the youngest of Nobles county towns, having been founded late in 1899, so rapid has been its growth that it now takes rank as the fourth town in size, the towns of Worthington, Adrian and Ellsworth . only having greater population. Accord- ing to the last census-that of 1905- there were 279 people living within the corporate limits.
The Wilmont townsite is located on section 36 of Willmont township and its line northwest from Worthington
section 1 of Larkin township, and is on the Lake Park-Hardwick branch of the Rock Island railroad. It is fifteen miles northwest from Worthington. The vil- lage is spread ont over considerable ter- ritory. Most of the business houses are Jocated on Main street, a thoroughfare nearly a mile long. While there are a few brick structures, most of the bust- ness buildings are of wood. The town draws its trade from part of four town- ships-Willmont, Larkin, Summit Lake and Bloom-a rich and populous ter- ritory. The founding of the town was
1"This week parties purchased of R. Pritch- ard the southwest quarter of section 36. Willmont township, for the Burlington road. where a townsite will be located. This will be about three and one-half miles from St. Kilian."-Worthington Advance. Sept. 8, 1899.
2Additions to the original townsite have Iren platted as follows: Bremer's-Surveyed Jan. 20. 1900, for HIenry R. Bremer; dedicated Feb. 12, 1900; filed Feb. 28. 1900.
a proceeding very acceptable to the farmi- ing community of the vicinity. Before the railroad was constructed and the towns along its line were founded the people of northwestern Nobles county were a long distance from market. Wil- mont, coming into existence in the cen- ter of this territory, was assured a per- manent and prosperous trade.
It was during the summer of 1899 that the survey for the Burlington rail- road was made and during the fall of the same year that the construction of was commenced. During the first days of September Thomas H. Brown, the Burlington right-of-way man, selected the site where a few months later was founded the town of Wilmont.1 This was three months or more before the road was construeted to that point, and there were no active preparations made for the building of the town for some time. The townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith during the month of Decem- ber for Thomas II. Brown; the plat was dedicated January 22, 1900, and the instrument was filed the same day.2 Mr.
Second-Surveyed for N. J. Lorge; dedicated Jan. 30, 1901: filed Feb. 2, 1901.
Keller's-Surveyed for Gustav A. Keller; dedicated July 10, 1901; filed July 31, 1901. First Railway-Surveyed for Thomas Brown in October, 1809: dedicated April 27. 1901: filed Aug. 20, 1901.
Block 2 of Bremer's Addition-Surveyed for Barney Bremer; dedicated July 27, 1903; filed July 30, 1903.
237
238
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Brown selected the name Wilmont for the townsite, naming it after the town- ship. lle desired that there should be a distinction between the two, however, and spelled the name of the townsite with only one L.3
The railroad was completed to the sito December 16, 1899. and. although it was in the middle of winter. the building of the town was- commenced at once, and there was a rush of people to the site-people who came with the in- tention of at once engaging in business. The first arrivals found the site marked by a straw pile, surrounded by a stubble field, but they were men who had "studied the map" and recognized the advantageous commercial position of the proposed new town, and were not dis- couraged by appearances, realizing that a prosperous village was sure to result.
From the day the first train pulled in all was activity. The first train took out a load of grain, which had been bought for H. N. Douglas, of Worthing- ton. A mimber of farmers had their loads of grain on hand, backed up ready to load into the first car, and W. J. Cor- bett, buying for Mr. Douglas, was there with his check book. He was the first resident of Wilmont. The railroad com- pany at once commenced the erection of a depot and stoek yards and dug a well. A. L. Philco was installed as agent and became the second resident of the town. Several elevator sites had been selected
3For the derivation of the name Willmont see chapter 6.
4"When the town was first started there were a great many prophesies made by dif- forent people, Some made the remark that the townsite would be for sale before two yrars for a sheep pasture; others asserted that within five years Wilmont would be the second town in Nobles county. But they were both exaggerations."-Wilmont Initia - tor, Dec. 14, 1900.
6""There were certainly some enthusiastic scenes in the town in those days. In one In- stance, of which we were an nye witness,
and preparations were begun for the erection of the buildings. Before the close of December lumber was on hand and the erection of a few business houses had begun.4
January was a busy month. . \ cor- respondent writing from the new town about the 25th of that month said that Wilmont boasted of fifteen business houses and one dwelling-an excellent showing for a town of less than six weeks of age.5 Among the very first business men to establish themselves in the town were C. W. Becker, who came in December and started the town's first lumber yard: Humiston & Footh, who engaged in the machine and implement business: N. J. Lorge, who engaged in the hardware business; U. G. Cumming & Co .. who also started a hardware siore; W. H. Spong, who opened a res- taurant January 18: Charles Emrich - and son, who engaged in the black- smithing business ; Montgomery. Rooi &- Co., who opened a lumber yard and en- gaged in the grain and implement busi- ness : C. F. Yaeger & Co., who opened a harness shop: T. G. Connelly, who con- ducted the first meat market: Charles and William Barkelew, who engaged in the livery and draying business: W. J. Corbeil, grain buyer: W. P. Devereaux & Co., who built an elevator and en- gaged in the grain business: the Daven- port Elevator Co., who put up an ele- vator in February: George Baker, who
a man jumped off the train at noon, and. running to a lumberman, shouted in a loud voice what he wanted in the lumber line, and then shouted for help (carpenter help). and, loading a sill on his shoulder, proceeded to the lot he had purchased, followed by half a dozen carpenters. At nightfall the build- ing was up. It was men of such got-up-and- dust that founded Wilmont."-Wilmont Initia- tor. Dre. 14, 1900.
"The business was managed by Henry Footh, who made his first sale January 9. Mr. Footh erected the first residence in Wil- mont.
WILMONT VILLAGE
PUBLIC SCHOOL
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
was one of the first contractors to lo- cate in the town; C. W. Mead, who op- ened a real estate office; and several others." The postoffice was established in February, Mr. C. W. Becker receiv- ing his commission as postmaster on the 13th. He has conducted the office ever since.
All those who engaged in business enjoyed a prosperous trade from the start. A correspondent to the Worth- ington Advance of March 2 wrote:
Despite the youthful appearance of our town, we are doing a business many an older town might be proud of. Forty-five ear loads of the various commodities pro- duced in southern Minnesota represented the outgoing business for the short month of February, besides much incoming business.
The building operations and the estab- lishment of new business enterprises continued through the spring months and into summer. In March Scholtes & Poort opened a general merchandise store: L. C. Long & Son founded the Wilmont Initiator : and D. A. Nye open- ed a barber shop. In April Mr. Ros- enthall. of Pipestone, established another general store, and Stuntebeck Bros. op- ened the town's first saloon. Among the other new enterprises that spring were the First National Bank, which be- gan business about Mav 1 with Edwin Brickson in charge: a drug store, which was opened by R. F. Pepple in June ; and a restaurant by Mr. Morgan. Sev- eral residences were erected, and before the summer was past four large eleva- tors had been constructed.
"The first lady to locate in the village was Mrs. Henry Footh; the second was Mrs. A. L. Phileo: the third, Mrs. N. J. Lorge; the fourth, Mrs. S. L. Long.
"Included all of section 36 and the past half of section 35, Willmont township, and the north half of section 1 and the northeast quarter of section 2. Larkin township.
DThe petition was signed by Henry W. Footh. Sidney Long. C. W. Becker. W. M. Finley, Charles W. Mead, E. Latourell, Chris- tian F. Yaeger, U. G. Cumming. N. J. Lorge. Ed. G. Werner, C. W. Davis, G. V. Scholtes.
In the latter part of April, 1900, a census of the village was taken, when it was found there were 196 people re- siding within the limits of a territory which it was proposed to incorporate into the municipality of Wihnont.8 A petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, asking that body to grant municipal government to the new town.9 and on April 23 the county board took favorable action. It made provision for holding a special election on May 29 at the harness shop of C. F. Yaeger & Co. to vote on the question of incorporation and named C. W. Mead, U. G. Cumming and William Finley inspectors to have charge of the election.
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