An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota, Part 31

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

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In December, 1882, an eighty acre tract on section 24 was surveyed and the plat was filed in the office of the regis- ter of deeds. The tract was divided into one hundred lots. In making out the papers the platted townsite was not properly described, and the defect caused the company to replat the land in 1889. Under the original platting not a lot was sold, although two were given away -one to M. JJ. Barber and one to John Atol.

Two buildings were erected at the Round Lake station during the fall of 1882, both put up by the railroad com- pany. The first was a section house, which was occupied immediately by a man named Holland, who became the section foreman and Round Lake's first resident. The depot (substantially the depot building of today) was erected im- mediately after the completion of the section house, but it was a year later when a station agent was sent to take charge of the office.

The efforts of the town lot company to found a town at the new station wore not crowned with success. although the point seemed to offer advantages.2 Until

"Round Lake, the new station on the Bur- Ington road, In Indian Lake townshlp. is the best polut we know of in this section for a general store. Here is an execlient opening for a country merchant who can put in a good stock." Worthington Advance. Feb. 8. 1883.

"Fred . Tripp, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Tripp, was the first child born in Round Lake village. He was born In the spring of 1884.

the fifteenth day of October, 1883, Sec- tion Foreman Holland and his erew were the only residents. Then E. A. Tripp came with his family to the sta- tion, moved into the living rooms over the depot, and became the station agent, a position he held eight and one-half years.3

Although no town had yet made its appearance at the station, in March, 1884, a postoffice named Indian Lake, was established for the convenience of the nearby farmers. Mr. Tripp was the postmaster and handled the mail in the depot.1 When the Round Lake of- lice, kept by J. N. Dodge in Jackson county, was discontinued a few years later the name of the Indian Lake of- fice was changed to correspond with the station name.

In the fall of 1884 the railroad eom- pany erected a warehouse, which was leased to H. E. Torrance, of Worthing- lon, who bought and shipped grain. The business was managed by E. A. Tripp and M. J. Barber. The same fall Mr. Tripp put np a coal shed and added to his many occupations by becoming a coal dealer.5 In April, 1885, MI. J. Bar- ber eame up from Marshall county, Iowa, erected a store building and opened a general store, engaging also in the lum- ber business. He hreame postmaster and had the office in the store. In May. 1886. N. H. Elliott joined the little community at Round Lake and erected the first residence there, which was lo- cated just north of the depot. In the fall of the same year John Atol erected

'Round Lake's postmasters have been E. A. Tripp, M. J. Barber, Elias Blakesley, M. J. Barber. E. A. Tripp, J. L. Hogan. A. F. Dichn. Elmer D. Tripp and JJ. L. Seeley.

"There was no great demand for fuel, and Mr. Tripp sold only one ear load the first sea- son, and all of that was not disposed of until In the spring.

EAST SIDE OF MAINSTREET ROUNDTAKEMINN

ROUND LAKE STRI.LT SCENE

HISTORIC INDIAN LAKE

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

a little building on a lot which had been given him by the town lot company and started a blacksmith shop, which he conducted about one year.

The growth of Round Lake was slow, and in March, 1887, a correspondent claimed a population of 34 for the vil- lage. Only a few others located in the village during the late eighties. N. II. Elliott put up a barn and engaged in the livery business. Blackman & Mather opened a hardware store and erected the second residence in the village. R. W. Busby engaged in the blacksmithing business. Late in the year 1889 the l'et- erson Mercantile company erected a building and opened a general store, which was managed by C. L. Peterson.

During the closing days of 1889 the Cedar Rapids, lowa Falls & Northwest- ern Land & Town Lot company replat- ted the town. The survey was made by L. L. Palmer, the dedication was made by James B. Close, president of the town lot company, December 2, 1889, and the instrument was filed December 23 of the same year.6

Very little progress was made during the first half of the nineties. Round Lake during these years continued to hold its place on the map as a country hamlet. but no pretention had yet been made to take its place as one of the progressive towns of the county. A few business houses were maintained and supplied the wants of the farmers of the surrounding country.

"The following additions have been platted: Tripp's-Surveyed June 28. 1892, for E. A. Tripp; dedicated July 30, 1892; filed Aug. 1, 1892.

Tripp's Second-Surveyed for E. A. Tripp; dedicated June 16, 1897; filed April 21, 1898. Cravens'-Surveyed December 6. 7 and 1898, for J. W. Cravens; dedicated Feb. 1. 1×99: filed Feb. 3. 1899.

Boardman's-Surveyed for E. A. Tripp. John Davis, Richard Davis. Nels O. Langseth. Charles Nienaber; dedicated Oct. 21. 1901; filed Dec. 28, 1901.

"The petitioners were H. C. Moeller, C. J.

With the progressive days of the late nineties and the boom in Nobles county land values, came a change in the stand- ing of Round Lake. It developed from a sleepy hamlet into a bustling little town. New enterprises were established, including a newspaper, founded in the summer of 1898, and the Bank of Round Lake, founded that fall. In August, 1898, the population was found to be 169.

With the progress already made and with bright prospects for future ad- vancement the citizens of Round Lake, in August. 1898. decided to incorporate the town. On the tenth day of August a mass meeting was held, when this de- cision was reached. A petition was cir- culated and generally signed by the resi- dents? asking the county commissioners to take action in the matter. This was done at a meeting of the board Octo- ber 4, and on October 11 the first village clection was held. Out of a total of twenty-five votes, only one was recorded against incorporation.s On October 29 another election was held, when the vil- lage's first officers were chosen, and the council met for the first time on Novem- ber 14. Until 1901 the village was at- tached to Indian Lake township for elec- tion and assessment purposes. That year, by a vote of 31 to 1. the precincts were separated.

Following have been the results of the annual elections since the village was incorporated :

Reilly, James L. Hogan, Christ Schmidt, James Bixby, James Walker. David Bixby. Fritz Toel. O. L. Bixby, E. D. Tripp. Ed. Edwards. E. J. Denkmann Martin Gregerson, Charles H. Hlayes. H. R. Tripp, Charles Nienaber. A. Hayes. L. P. Gontjes. A. Freeman, John Ire- land. Herb Horton, Samuel Edwards, J. W. Rosenberg. John Marz, Samuel Mutton. A. F. Diehn. J. C. Thomsen. O. E. Dahl. J. L. Seeley. Frank B. Mitchell. F. H. Wells, Fred Fiero. Jacob Gregerson. C. E. Horton. C. E. Morgan. Frank Horton, Q. Barnes.

$The inspectors of this first election were C. J. Reilly, J. L. Hogan and H. C. Moeller.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

Isos President. A. F. Dichn; trustees, C. Sohuidt, C. J. Reilly, D. Bixby; recorder, J. (. Thomsen; treasurer, J. L. Mangelson; jus- tice, Il. R. Tripp, A. Hayes; constable, F. 11. Wells. James Walker.

100 President, N. F. Diehn; trustee-, C. Schmilt. C. J. Reilly, D. Bixby; recorder, J. (. Thomsen; Treasurer, d. L. Mangelson; jus- tices, John Ireland, J. L. Flint; constables, F. Horton, Ed. Edwards.

1900-President, Charles Nienaber; trustees. H. C. Moeller. Ed. Denkmann. C. Schmidt; recorder, J. C. Thomsen; treasurer, J. L. Mangelson; justice. 1 .. Flint ; constable, Jacob Gregerson.º

1901-President, Charles Nienaber; trus- ters, IT. C. Moeller, Ed. Denkmaun, John Marz: recorder, J. C. Thomsen: treasurer, J. L. Mangel-on; justices, John Ireland, Il. C. Career; constable, Ed. Edwards.

1902-President. Charles Nienaber: trus- ters. II. C. Moeller, John Marz, S. W. Har- rington: recorder. J. C. Thomsen; treasurer, 1. 1 .. Mangelson; justice, J. W. Johnson; constable, E. D. Wellhansen; assessor, H. R. Tripp.

1903 President, Charles Nienaber; trus- tees. S. W. Harrington, E. D. Tripp. II. D. (. Katt; recorder, J. C. Thomsen: treasurer, 1 L .. Mangel-on: justices. W. E. Thielvoldt, Il. E. Harrington; constables, Steve Freeman, D. Sutherland; assessor, H. R. Tripp.

1901 President, H. C. Moeller; trustees, John Marz, Charles Antritter, J. L. Man- gel-on; recorder, J. C. Thomsen: treasurer, Charles Nienaber; justice, J. L. Flint; con- stable. E. 11. Wellhausen; assessor, H. R. Tripp.

1905 President, J. J. Crowley; trustees, Charles Antritter, Il. C. Moeller, E. D. Tripp: recorder, J. L. Flint: treasurer, Charles Vienaber: justices, W. E. Thielvoldt. F. E. Scout; constables, D. Sutherland, J. Mereer; asesor, F. A. Tripp.

1906 President, Ben Schwarting; trustees, 1. 1. Mangelson, E. Il. Wellhausen, F. L. llegardı; recorder. J. L. Flint; treasurer, Charles Nienaber; justices, J. L. Seeley. E. HI. Richardson: constable, O. L. Bixby; as. "pomor. Il. R. Tripp.

1907 -- President, B. C. Denkmann: trus- tres, E. H. Wellhausen, W. H. Thomsen, Theodore Bahls; recorder, Charles Antritter; treasurer, Charles Nienaber; justices, J. L. Seeley. Oscar Anderson : constable, O. L. Bixby; assessor, W. E. Thielvoldlt.10

1904 President. B. C. Denkmaun; irus- ti, F. 1 .. Hegardt, W. 11. Thomsen. J. L. Mangelson; recorder, Charles Antritter; treas- mer, Charhs Nienaber; justice, J. L. Seeley; constable. J. F. Murphy; assessor, W. E. Thielvoldt.

At this election 36 votes Were In Hans and It votes against license.

After becoming an incorporated munic- ipality Round Lake continued to ad- vance. The year 1899 was a particu- larly active one and there was quite a building boom. Several business blocks were constructed and many residences were built. A temporary set-back was occasioned in the fall of the year by a severe epidemie of smallpox. There were about a dozen cases in the village, and four or five deaths resulted. The town was placed under quarantine and during the period of the epidemic business was paralyzed.

By the time the federal census was taken in 1900 the village had a popula- tion of 226. Since that date there has been no great increase in numbers, the census of 1905 giving the town a popu- lation of 245. Of this number 107 were native born, 93 were born in Minnesota, and 45 were of foreign birth. The countries of birth of the foreign born population were: Germany, 25; Sweden, 8; Norway, 6; Canada, 2; Denmark, 4. While there has been no decided in- crease in population during the last seven or eight years the town has made rapid strides forward and ranks among the most progressive towns of the county. On May 2, 1905, Round Lake was struck by a cyclone. Several buildings were completely destroyed and others were damaged to a greater or less extent. The property damage was about $4,000. Mrs. Marz was injured in the storm.

SCHOOL.

Before 188; the village of Round Lake was without a school. On May 16 of that year school district No. 77 was organized, and in the fall a building

10For Heense received 36 votes at this elec- ton to 18 against Heense.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

was erected. Miss Lillian Tripp was the first teacher. The district used the old building until the fall of 1898, when the present two-story structure was erect- ed at a cost of $2,000.

CHURCH.

The Presbyterian church is the only one in Round Lake. The first religious services were held in the village in 1885, when Rev. Lonsbury, a Methodist minis- ter, conducted meetings in the depot waiting room on two separate occasions. Soon after Rev. E. R. Lathrop, then pastor of the Methodist church of Worthington, conducted services a few times. In 1886 Rev. D. C. Holmes and Fred Graves came, and, at the request of E. A. Tripp, organized the Round Lake Union Sunday school, which had an existence of several years.

The Presbyterian church was organ- ized some years later and Rev. E. M. Lumm became the first regular pastor. For a time services were held in the school house, but later the church edi- fice was erected. The church was in- corporated in March, 1895, with the fol- lowing trustees : William M. Mosher, F. A. Tripp and John Ireland.

RUSHMORE.

Seventh in size and fifth in age of Nobles county towns is Rushmore, a village of 228 population located on section 19, Dewald township. It is on the Worthington-Sioux Falls branch of the Omaha railroad and is twelve miles west from Worthington and six miles east from Adrian. The geographical lo- cation of Rushmore is such that it has a large territory from which to draw

trade, including the greater portions of Dewald, Olney, Ransom and Little Rock townships and small parts of Larkin and Summit Lake townships.

Rushmore is noted as one of the best business points in Nobles county, and it has been during its entire history. With the exception of two large brick blocks the town is built entirely of wood. It has broad streets, which are lined with large shade trees-the result of the fore- sight of the founders of the town. The pavements of the business streets are nearly all of cement. Nearly all lines of business are carried on in Rushmore. There are two banks, four elevators, two lumber yards, two implement houses, three general stores, two hardware stores, hotel, meat market, newspaper, two mil- linery stores, two blacksmith shops, liv- cry barn, harness shop and a creamery. During its entire history of thirty years there has never been a saloon conducted in the village, and the sentiment is al- most unanimous against the granting of license.

We must go back to the spring of the year 1826 for the beginning of Rush- more's history, although it was two years after that date when the town was founded. In previous chapters has been told the story of the building of the Worthington & Sioux Falls railroad and the selection of two sites in Nobles county for stations on the new road. The first mention, in print, we have of the Rushmore location was on May 25, 18:6, at the time the survey for the new road was being made. On that date the Worthington Advance said: "One [sta- tion] will be in Dewald. near the farm of Mr. Bedford." Two weeks later (June 8) the same publication said : "There will be a sidetrack and flag sta- tion in Dewald, about the middle of

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

section 19, near the Churchill place." When the road was completed the loca- tion was marked on the railroad map as a station, although no side track had men laid and no improvements what- wer made. The site was labeled Miller Station, the name being given in honor of Ex-governor Stephen Miller, who was at the time land agent for the Sioux V'ity & St. Paul Railroad company, and who a little later became a resident of Nobles county.

Miller Station, with no inhabitants and consisting of nothing more tangi- ble than a name, was quiescent two years. Then an event of great impor- taner lo central Nobles county occurred, which resulted in the building of a town at Miller Station. In the spring of 1818 George 1. Seney, a New York capitalist, secured control of extensive railroad lands in the central part of the county and at once began the work of colonizing the lands, bringing out many settlers from New York city and other castern points. In all colonization schemes it is necessary to have a base from which to operate. and to supply this want Mr. Suney decided to build a town at Miller Station, the site of which he had bought.

In the latter part of May S. M. Rush- more and a party of New York gentle- men arrived on the site for the purpose of founding the town and paving the

""On Monday evening last [ May 27] Messrs. 8. 31. Rushmore and George Rushmore with their families arrived In Worthington and touk train Wednesday morning for Miller, the now station on the branch in Dewald town- ship. The Messrs. Rushmore were accompani- ed by Messrs. Panl Schmidt and Charles Grif- lin, with their families, and by three other gentlemen, Messrs. William Anthes, Charles Sears and Randall. All of these parties are frion the wieluity of New York city, except Mr. Raudall, who is from St. Louis. They have secured the townsite at Miller Station, expect to take lands in the vicinity, and will at once build a large store, 23x40, and begin business, They are mostly Methodists and say they expect to build a neat church there this season. Mr. Rushmore showed us sov-

way for the future colonization opera- tions of Mr. Seney.11 Building opera- tions were begun during the first days of June, and there was a great activity all summer. The first builling put under way was a two-story frame store build- ing. 22x18 feet, for S. M. Rushmore & Co. A week later the railroad company began the construction of a depot. But before either of these buildings was com- pleted a dwelling house (the one now oe- cupied by C. J. Fox) was finished for Mr. Rushmore. The store was completed carly in August and a large stock of goods was put in. Rushmore & Co. also erected an elevator and engaged in the grain business, operating a feed mill in connection. Charles Griffin opened a meat market; Frank Peck, a hardware store; and Mr. Ware, a blacksmith shop.12 About the middle of August the railroad station was opened and A. F. Horst was installed as agent. About this time the name of the station was changed from Miller Station to Rushmore, the name being chosen in honor of the pioneer merchant. The postoffice was estab- lished about the middle of Angust and was named Rushmore.13 In the latter part of July a Sunday school was or- ganized.

The townsile plat was surveyed July 20, 22 and 23, 1828, by D. J. Mac- pherson for George 1. Seney; the dedi- cation was made August 20, and the

eral plans for the church, which they ex- peet to build under the auspices of the Church Extension society. The railroad will build a small depot during the present season, and henceforth Miller will be known as one of the thriving villages of the county." -Worthington Advance, May 30, 1878.

12,John Thompson was the contractor who put up most of the first buildings. He was as- sisted by C. J. Fox, who was one of the first settlers of Olney township. his homestead being only a short distance west of the vil- lage.

"The change in name was made because of the fact that there was a Miller postoffice In Minnesota.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

plat was filed August 26.14 A number of lots were disposed of during the year, upon which were erected the buildings before mentioned.

The building of the little village of Rushmore was continued during 1879. In March E. L. Wemple, who had been appointed agent for the sale of town lots. completed a hotel building and opened a hotel which he conducted for more than a quarter century. A church building was erected, a school house was built, and a number of new business en- terprises were established. A business directory of the little town, made in the fall of 18:9. shows the following :

S. M. Rushmore & Co., general store, feed mill. elevator

E. L. Wemple, Rushmore hotel

W. A. Turner. hardware

A. F. Horst, station agent. huimber dealer. school teacher

Frank Peck, tinware W. M. Lockwood, grocery and notion store Thaddeus Scherzinger, jeweler

B. HI. Wetzel, blacksmith Jonas Bedford, blacksmith15

The federal census of 1880 gave the .new village a population of 99. An in- dustry of vast benefit was added to the lown early in 1881, when Bedford & Co. started a flouring mill.

During the first few years of its life Rushmore had made rapid progress and had grown into a village amply able to

"Additions to the original townsite have been platted as follows:

First-Surveyed in July, 1878, for George I. Seney; dedicated Nov. 5. 1879; filed April 10. 1880.

Wood 之 Bryden's-Surveyed for Wheeler Dowd and Wood & Bryden; dedicated June 1, 1893; filed June 2. 1893.

Bedford's-Surveyed Nov. 5, 1894. for S. B. Redford; dedicated Dec. 21, 1894; filed Jan. 3. 1895.

13"About year ago we visited Rushmore and found a railroad station, a feed mill and elevator building and a store partly built and getting in a stock of goods. Now we find a brisk little town with a general merchan- dise store, a grocery store, a tin shop, a lum- ber yard, a jeweler, two blacksmith shops, a neat school house. just completed at a cost of about $1,500. and the neatest little hotel building in Minnesota."-Worthington

Advance, Sept. 11, 1879.

take care of the trade of the surround- ing country. Thereafter for many years there was only a slight growth in size and business enterprises. During the eighties and early nineties the town con- tinned to advance slowly with the de- velopment of the surrounding country. occasionally adding to its business life by the establishment of some new en- terprise. After the hard times period following the panic of 1893 came more prosperous times in Nobles county, and Rushmore again took rapid strides for- ward. During the closing year of the last century the population had reached 204.16

It was at this time that the eilizens decided on incorporation. A petition was presented to the county board in March, 1900,17 and. favorable action having been taken by that body, an elec- tion was held March 27, when, by a vote of 32 to 9, the electors decided to have village government.18 The first officers were chosen at an election April 11. and the village government began in- mediately after that event. At a spec- ial election held May 1, 1900, the new municipality, by a vote of 22 to 0. do- cided that it should become a separate election and assessment precinct, thereby separating it from Dewald township.

1Census taken March 7, 1900.

ISigned by G L. Gray, J. G. Bronk. George Smith. J. Burr Ludlow, August Olson, A. W. Thompson, H. C Constable. C. J. Fox. A. R. Beilke, E. S. Wemple, E. L. Wemple, H. C. llanson, E. S. Whipkey. Olof Hanson. A. W. Ferrin. E. G. Edwards, W. H. Chris- tianson. C. E. Boddy, F. A. Carrell. John G. Mitchell, J. A. Dahlberg. E. P. Hermann, G V. Pettit. J. B. Duel, J. Stoven. A. N. Peterson, Frank McCoy. B. Fagerness. Jacob Staib, William Warring, W. A. Putnam, W. A. Still, N. Feather. A. L. Daugherty, J. D. Pettit, W. J. Daugherty. George Weidman and S. Fagerness.

18The inspectors of this first election were A. W. Ferrin, J. G. Mitchell and E. S. Wem- ple.

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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.

The results of the elections for village officer- have been :

1900 President. S. B. Bedford; trustees, 1. W. Ferrin, William Warring. F. A. Car- roll: recorder. W. S. Still; treasurer, J. G. Bronk ; assessor, J. G. Mitchell; justices, E. G. Edward -. E. S. Wemple; constables, J. Staib. J. B. Ludlow.

1901 President, S. B. Bedford; trustees, s. T. Wood. A. W. Ferrin, William War- ring; recorder. (. E. Boddy; treasurer, J. G. Bronk; assessor, J. G. Mitchell.

1902 President, S. B. Bedford; trustees, William Warring. S. T. Wood. J. D. Pettit: recorder. C. E. Boddy ; treasurer, J. G. Bronk: assessor, J. B. Ludlow; justices. E. S. Wemple, E. G. Edwards; eonstables, H. (. Constable. Henry Thompson.

1903 President. S. B. Bedford; trustees, 1. W. Ferrin, William Warring. S. T. Wood; recorder, C. E. Boddy; treasurer, J. B. Lud- Jow : assessor. J. G. Mitchell; justice. A. A. Rankin; constables, Alfred Reese, E. G. Ed- wards.

1904-President, S. T. Wood; trustees. H. C. Constable. S. B. Bedford, F. A. Carrell; recorder, Thomas Prideaux: treasurer. J. B. Ludlow: assessor, W. C. Thom; justice. E. G. Edwards: constable. E. II. Bassett.

1903 President. S. T. Wood; trustees, H. C. Constable, S. B. Bedford. F. A. Carrell; recorder. Thomas Prideaux; treasurer, J. B. Ludlow: justice. E. S. Wemple; constables, Jacob Stoven, Melvin Hovey.

1906-President, S. B. Bedford; trustees. 11. C. Constable. S. T. Wood, J. H. Brydon: recorder, A. J. Chrisman: treasurer, J. B. Ludlow ; assessor, W. C. Thom; constable, Melvin Hovey.

1907 President. J. B. Ludlow; trustees, W. C. Thom. I. C. Constable. W. H. Christian- son: recorder, A. J. Ehrisman: treasurer. F. R. Bryden; assessor. S. Fagerness; justice, E. S. Wemple; constables, Il. A. Nelson, A. T. 1 .. Thompson.

1908-President. J. B. Ludlow: trustees, W. H. Christianson, H. C. Constable, W. C. Thom; recorder, A. J. Ehrisman: treasurer, F. K. Bryden: assessor. S. Fagerness.

The present decade has been one of progress. From the little hamlet of early days it has grown into a prosper- ous village of considerable importance. The year 1903 was particularly prosper- perons. Two handsome brick blocks- buildings that would be a credit to any town of Nobles county were construct- ed. and several other structures were erected the same year.

The population when the census of

1905 was taken was 228. Of this num- ber 10% were foreign born, 93 were Min- nesota born, and 32 were of foreign birth. Of the last Germany furnished 9; Sweden. 6: Norway. ^; Canada, 4; Ireland, 1; Denmark, 4; Wales, 1.

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An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota, Part 31

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