USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 34
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Although it was in the middle of win- ter. quite a number erected buildings. and before the opening of spring engag- ed in business. Stock yards and a depot were erected at once. I. N. Douglas and the Rothchild Grain company bought grain during the winter, loading di- reet from the wagons into the ears. Woodworth & Jones erected the first business house and engaged in the hard- ware business. A. N. Cheney erected a building and opened a general store in February. 1I. N. Douglas put up his elevator during the winter and erected a
elevator, and this being the case, there will probably be a store and a postoffice and a . It is reported the new town will be named Diagonal and will be located on the southwest quarter of section 21. Sum- mit Inke." Worthington Advance. Oct. 20, 1899.
1.Rondville. Rendburg. Diagonal and other names had been proposed.
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IIISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
six room house, which was occupied by are Frank Baker, president ; J. B. Lud- his grain buyer, Alex Thompson, and low, vice president ; R. J. JJones, seere- family-the first family to locate in the tary; W. F. Moss, treasurer. The com- pany has three hundred subscribers. new town. James S. Ramage erected a lumber shed and a house. A. B. French, of Cedar Rapids, started a blacksmith BANK. shop and opened a restaurant in the sec- ond story of the Cheney store building.
Building operations were continued during the early spring of 1900. A. R. Beilke moved a smalt house over from Rushmore in February, and a little later erected a building and opened the second general store. The Rothchild elevator was erected that spring. The postoffice was established in March with A. N. Cheney in charge.19 in May the Summit Lake Presbyterian church, which had been or- ganized October 4, 1893, was moved in from the country, and the school build- ing was brought to the village that fatl.
The townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith in June, 1900, for Thomas U. Brown. The dedication was made June 16 and the instrument was filed June 21. In the fall of 1901 First addition was platted by Mr. Brown.
Several new business enterprises have been established in Reading since the founding of the town, and, although it has not yet grown to a size that would warrant its incorporation, it is a pros- perous little community.
TELEPHONE COMPANY.
One of the best known corporations of Reading is the Farmers' Mutual Tele- phone company, incorporated January 2, 1905, with an authorized capital of $25,000 and with $9,000 paid in. The line is 150 miles in length and includes on its line the towns of Reading, Rush- more, Wilmont and Fulda. The officers
1ªReading's postmasters have been A. N. Cheney, appointed March, 1900; W. H. Eiken-
The State Bank of Reading was open- ed August 2, 1902, with a capital stock of $10,000 and the following officers and directors: Robert J. Jones, presi- dent: Ned Jones, vice president : A. N. Cheney, cashier; N. B. Cheney, Edwin Brickson.
SAINT KILIAN.
On the northwest quarter of section 27, Wilhnont township, three and one- half mites northwest of Wilmont village, is the little inland village of St. Kilian. In the town is one general store, con- ducted on the co-operative plan, a Catho- lie church and school and a number of residences. For the size of the place St. Kilian is one of the strongest church towns of the country. The church building is an exceptionally fine one and the organization has a large membership. Ahnost the entire population of St. Kit- ian is made up of retired or active Ger- man farmers and their families.
Willmout township was settled almost entirely by German Catholic farmers. In the early days these settlers were far from the church of their profession, but in the late eighties their numbers had grown until it was believed that a church could be supported. About forty mem- bers of the faith formed an organization and anthorized Father C. J. Knauf, of Adrian, to bny a forty acre tract of land (the northwest quarter of the north-
berry, February, 1903; R. J. Jones, February, 1904; A. R. Beilke, February 25, 1907.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
West quarter of section 22) for church purposes. Late in the year 1887 steps were taken to raise money for the erer- tion of a church thereon.2º Succeeding in this, they erected a building of which the dimensions were 32×48 feet. Father Knauf supplied the pulpit about two years, and was succeeded by Father Gratz.
About two years after this church was built, John Mock opened a general store on the site and a little later quite a vil- lage sprang up there. A postoffice was established with Mr. Mock in charge. Andrew Pacholl opened a blacksmith shop. John Meyer started a second gen- eral store, Ilub Pass engaged in the sa- loon business, and later Joseph Budde opened the second saloon. The town of St. Kilian, named after the church, be- came a flourishing little inland trading point, and predictions of future greatness were freely made. It seemed certain that some day there would be a good sized town in northwestern Nobles county, and St. Kilian believed that it was to be the town.
When it became known that the Bur- lington railroad was to extend and sur- veyors appeared in the vicinity in 1899, certain it was that St. Kilian's day had arrived. But the building of the road proved the death of St. Kilian's pros- poets for future greatness. The town was passed by, and the railroad people founded, nearby, the town of Wilmont. After that there was general deeline. Some of the business houses were moved to the railroad town ; others were closed ; and today the only business enterprise left in the village is a store. The post- office was maintained until March, 1907. Then it was discontinued, and since that
20"We barn that there is a movement on foot to build a Catholic church in Willmont. on section 27, where the congregation holds forty acres. Father Knauf, of Adrian, was
date the people of the village have re- ceived their mail by rural roule from Wilmont.
The St. Kilian townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith for Father C. J. Knauf October 5 to 7, 1891. The plat was dedicated October 27 and was filed De- eember 10, of the same year.
Some ten years after the building of the church the edifice was burned. The congregation then erected the school building, and for one year church ser- vices were held therein. The present handsome and substantial church build- ing was then erected. The Church of St. Kilian was incorporated February 27, 1896, by Joseph B. Cotter, bishop of the diocese of Winona: Peter Pernin, viear general of the same diocese; A. Hechen- berger, pastor; and Charles Fritz and Balthaser Heck, lay members.
LEOTA.
In the extreme northwestern corner of Nobles county, in the center of a pros- perons settlement of Hollanders. is the little inland village of Leota, with a pop- ulation of abont 100 people. The plat- ted town is on sections 5 and 8. of Loota township. The village consists of two churches, a general store, postoľ- fice, harness shop, blacksmith shop and a number of residences.
It was during the year 1891 that Leota was founded. The first building on the site was the Dutch Reformed church, erected by the vanguard of Dutch settlers. In the fall of 1891 John and Nick DeBoer and James TenCate erected a second building and establish- ed a store, which they have ever since
here on Sunday last and took a number of subscriptions for the new church. About half the amount has been subscribed."-Worthing- ton Advance, Dec. 15, 1887.
LEOIA VILLAGE
1
TYPICAL PIONEER HOME
The Original Home of Martin Kallemeyn, Who was the First Hollander to Locate in Leota Township and Who Was Active in the Colonization of that Township. The Building was 14x24 Feet.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
conducted.21 The postoffice was estab- lished in the fall of 1893, with James TenCate as postmaster. With the excep- tion of one year (1907-1908) when the office was discontinued he has ever since served in that capacity.
Herman Hulstof started a blacksmith shop in 1892. The Christian Reformed church was erected in 1898. The same year Jake Kooiman opened an imple- ment house, which he conducted three years. The business was then purchased by Mr. DeGraff, who managed it nntil his death in 1905. A harness shop was started by John Wassen in February, 1900.
The Leota townsite was surveyed by M. S. Smith for James TenCate. It was dedicated Jannary 1, 1902.
ORG.
Org. the last Nobles county village we are to consider, is unique in many ways. It is the smallest community in the county that could be designated a vil- lage: it is said to occupy the highest point of land in Minnesota; it has had more names bestowed upon it than any other Nobles county community; and no one knows why it was burdened with the one it now owns. Org is located on the northwest quarter of section 4, Bigelow township. three and one-half miles southwest from Worthington, and at the junction point of the Sioux Falls
"The old store building burned down May 1, 1898, but was immediately rebuilt.
2"This place was originally called Iselin and was named for Adrian C. Iselin, a banker of New York city, who owned much land in the vicinity."-Origin of Place Names, Northwest- ern Railroad.
23Also sometimes referred to locally as "The Summit."
M"In short, Mr. Call and his neighbors around the summit expect before long to have a station. with telegraph office and all other facilities, at the junction, to be followed by
branch with the main line of the Omaha road.
When the Worthington & Sioux Falls railroad was built in 1876 it left the main line at the top of the grade where Org is now located. It seems to have been the intention of the railroad offi- cials to name this point Iselin,22 but when the running of trains was begun it was designated as Sioux Falls June- tion.23 A section house was put up there, and for ten years was the only thing on the site.
Not until 1886 was an effort made to make any improvement there. In the spring of that year N. A. Call, a farmer and hay shipper, decided to locate there and make it a point of shipment for his hay.24 The railroad company put in a Y that spring. and in the fall erected a depot. H. Sinclair was installed as operator and agent in November but was succeeded the following month by W. HI. Vorhees. Mr. Call put up a large warehouse, and for several years was a large patron of the road. But after these improvements had been made Sioux Falls Junction remained quiescent for thirteen years. The only change during these years was in the name, which be- came Org in 1890.25
In 1899 another attempt to boom the Junction was made, this time with bet- ter success. In July Caroline A. Forbes had the townsite platted. and that fall some improvements were made. An ele- vator was erected and James S. Ramage
a postoffice and a thriving village in due time. The summit has long been thought of as a point for a station and village, and its reali- zation has been considered only a matter of time. It seems now about to be realized."- Worthington Advance, May 20, 1886.
""In 1890 the name was changed to Org hy W. A. Scott, the then general manager of the railroad. No one now living knows why he so named the place, where he got the name or what it means, if it means anything. A legend connects it with 'org' (dorg), bad slang for the word dog."-Origin of Place Names, Northwestern Railroad.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
and the Tuthill Lumber company each corporated in the timetables and is a sta- put up buildings and engaged in the tion. The most interesting thing about it is the origin of the name. Here is what the Northwestern railroad in its "Origin of the Place Names" says of Trent : lumber and coal business. Charles King started a general store and became post- master of an office established soon after he began business. Since that event there has been no improvement in this smallest of Nobles county's villages.
For reasons best known to itself the Omaha railroad has erected a sign board, upon which is the word "Trent," a few feel beyond the junction point, on the branch side. Trent has been duly in-
There is a dispute as to the origin of the name that was selected for this place. One faction asserts that it was named for Trent in the Italian Tyrol of Austria- llun- gary, where was held the famous Council of Ghent in 1545-63 and that fixed many re- ligions tonets. The other faction claims that the name was taken from the river Trent in England.
CHAPTER XXII.
1 THE PRESS.
During its newspaper history of thirty- six years Nobles county has, at one time and another, been the home of over thirty newspapers. Most of these have been weekly publications, one was a monthly, and several were dailies, run in connection with the weekly editions, rang- ing in bfe from a few issues to five years. Of these thirty-odd publications started. nine weekly papers are in exist- ence at the date of the publication of this volume, as follows: Advance-Herald (Worthington), Chas. Hamstreet. pub- lisher : Worthington Globe, by Peter Thompson: Nobles County Democrat (Adrian ). by A. J. Schaeffer : Ellsworth News. by E. E. Lovrien : Rushmore En- terprise, by M. A. Mattison: Round Lake Graphic. by J. L. Flint: Brewster Tribune, by Jes-e Hamstreet : Wilmont Tribune. by M. R. Berkhimer; Lismore Leader. by Leader Publishing company.
Going back of the date of the sound of the first click of the type in Nobles county, we must consider the Colony Journal, published at Toledo, Ohio, to make the history of the press complete. This was a publication issued by Dr. . 1. P. Miller, of the National colony. which was started for the purpose of advertis- ing the Nobles county lands owned by
1"The Colony Journal has done more to spread abroad a knowledge of the advan- tages of Minnesota as a home for the emi- grants and the capitalist than any immigra- tion document issued at the expense of the state."-Western Advance, Aug. 31, 1872.
the colony. It did excellent service in bringing settlers to the county, and many of the pioneers gained their first knowledge of Nobles county from that journal.1
Nobles county's first newspaper was the Western Advance. the name of which was later changed to Worthing- ton Advance. In the summer of 1812 the National Colony company, of which Dr. A. P. Miller and Prof. R. F. Humis- ton were the principal owners, purchased a printing outfit and issued a prospectus; stating that the new paper would begin existence in June. The material
an
was ordered in time to fulfil the promises of the prospectus, but owing to many delays it was impossible to get ont a paper before the last day of Aug- ust. The name of the publication was selected by Rev. B. II. Crever, who at the outset was to have been connected with the editorial management. M. H. Stevens was finally selected to manage the paper for its owners, with the priv- ilege of buying the plant if his manage- ment proved satisfactory to Miller, Hum- iston & Co.
On the 31st day of August. 1822. the first issue was taken from the press.2 It was an eight column folio and the
"The first copy that was taken from the press was given to Mrs. R. F. Humiston. the second to Dr. Gro. O. Moore.
16
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
two outsole page - were "patent." The be in perfect harmony, it must be acknowl- sub-cription price was $2.00 per year. edged that a newspaper with no policy, and drifted about by every local breeze, to endeaser in please all and displease none, would be but a sorry concern. In such we can have no part or interest. The editorial utterances were strongly republican. Myso- S. Grant for presi- dent. Henry Wilson for vice president, and M. H. Dunnell for congressman, je- crivel many favorable notices in the Ad- vance during the campaign that followed the establishment of the paper. I quote al length from the sahitatory :
We commence the publication of the West- ern Avance, believing that there is a suf ficient demand for a paper of such character as we intend to make it, to insure its sue-
Politically, the Advance will support re- publican principles and such measures as we believe in be for the best interests of our country. Locally, while we shall be consis- tently republican, wo shall countenance no use of the party's strength for personal mo- tives, but regard the good of the entire community as conducing to our own best interests.
We have not assimned the editorial man- agement of the paper without fully appre- ciating the local differences. at the present time the subject of much di-enssion, but we shall steer clear of the personal phase the subject has assumed, deeming our duty to the public to be to advocate the carrying out of principles, but not to occupy our space in spreading abroad the details of every personal matter that may grow out of their discussion.
We shall in a manner consistent with our ideas of public policy freely and earnestly advocate the principles of temperance. he- living. as we do, that intemperance is un- dermining rapidly not only the social in- stitutions of our country, but is destroying by i's demorilizing power the strength of our democratic form of government.
But our main efforts will be devoted to making a home newspaper, such as if will be the duty of every citizen of whatever opinion on local differences to support. In- stitutions to aid in building up the country
cannot be maintained without to
3
The only ropy of the first Issue of the Advance known to be in existence is consid- erildy worn, and the few words omitted from the above paragraph cannot be made ont.
"The Advance, with His present issue, drops the word "Western' and substitutes instead the name of the town, 'Worthington' : This will be mon convenient for exchanges In copying. and will tell at a glance where the paper Is mished. Ishes serving a better purpose in advertising the place." Worthington Advance, Sept. 12, 1874.
During the first year of its existence The Advance enjoyed prosperous times. Settlers were pouring into the country at a rapid rate. the little village of Worth- ingion was growing by leaps and bounds. and all lines of business flourished. Then came the disastrous grasshopper days. and the newspaper business suffered se- verely. Mr. Stevens presided over the destinies of the Advance, until March. 1874. when he withdrew. The colony company then installed Mr. A. P. Miller as manager. A few months after that gentleman took charge the name of the publication was changed from Western Advance to Worthington Advance,4 and about the first of the year 1875 he bo- came the owner of the paper, having pur- chased il from Miller. Humiston & Co.5
Mr. Miller, who is now in the news- paper business al Los Angeles, Cal., was undoubtedly one of the best newspa- per men that ever conducted a Nobles county journal. and he was financially snecessful. Hle belonged to the old school of journalism, and no subject was dis- cussed in an impersonal manner. Hlv had a large vocabulary, a good command of the language, wrote his editorials with vitriol, and neither asked nor gave quar- ter in a word war. Whether he was berating his subscribers for not paying their subscription dues. denouncing his
""The question as to the ownership of the Ulvance is raised so frequently that some statement of the facts and of the position of the paper seems to be demanded. The Worth- ington Advance, with all the material. good will, hook accounts, etc .. is the property of the undersigned. The purchase was made last summer and the necessary papers have been duly executed. Miller. Humiston & Co., the former owners, have no Interest In the paper whatever and no more vojer in its manage- ment than any other citizen or citizens. Let this statement oner for all settle the ques- tion of ownership "-A. P. Miller In Advance, Jan. 15, 1875.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
contemporaries as incendiaries, thugs and blackmailers, laying bare the personal history of political aspirants, or writing poetry. his articles were always interest- ing and were always read. He succeeded in making an enemy of nearly every man in the community during his reign over the Advance. Repeated efforts were made to start successful opposition papers and cause li's retirement, but all such efforts were fruitless, and he conducted the Ad- vance nearly fifteen years. He advocat- ed spiritualism. and for years he filled his paper with the teachings of that be- lief and berated those who did not agree with him. He once described his be- liefs as follows :
"We are a free thinker and an agnos- tic. But we are also a Christian, a spiritualist, a communist, a socialist, and, if you please, an anarchist. They are all right in part. To sum it up in one word, we are an eclectic. "6
The Advance continued to be republi- can in politics under Mr. Miller's man- agement, as it has ever since been. Dur- ing the grasshopper days the paper was reduced to a seven column folio, but on April 4. 1828, the old form of eight columns was resumed.
The Advance was purchased Nov. 15, 1888. by the late Rev. Robert MeCune. who at one time previously had been edi- tor of the Toledo Blade, and he con- ducted the paper nearly five years. In September, 1893, Carl S. Eastwood, who had previously been proprietor of, and who is at the present time conducting. the Tleron Lake News, came to Worth- ington and purchased the Advance. He at once put in a large power press, added new type and material and made other improvements in the paper. He enlarged it to a six column quarto, and during part of the time printed it all at home.
He attempted the publication of a daily Advance, which had an existence from Nov. 3, 1894, to Jan. 1, 1895, but the venture was not a financial success.
Mr. Eastwood sold his interests March 5. 1896, to HI. Hawley. The latter made many improvements in the equipment of the office, adding a Simplex type setting machine. a paper folder, and a lot of other new material. During the first few years he was in charge the Advance was an eight column quarto ; in the spring of 1901 it was made a six column quarto, all printed at home, but on Dec. 25, 1903, the "patent" features were re- sumed. Mr. Hawley demonstrated that a daily paper could live in Worthington by publishing one over five years. The first issue of the Daily Advance was pub- lished in September. 1899, and was a three column folio. It was later en- larged to a four column paper, and in 1902 to a six column. Mr. Hawley de- nied that the venture was a profitable one, and the daily was discontinued Nov. 19. 1304. O. S. llawley was in charge of the Advance from Jan. 1. 1905, when II. Hawley look the office of register of deeds. to which he had been elected the preceding fall. till August 26, 1905, when the plant was sold.
Thos. Dovery, formerly of Barron, Wis., became the publisher on the last named date, and presided over its des- tinies until July. 1908. Then the Worth- ington Advance went out of existence and was succeeded by the Advance- Herald. Mr. Charles Hamstreet, who for many years had been conducting newspa- pers in different towns of the county. and who had a short time before become the owner of the Worthington Herald. bought the subscription list and good will of the Advance, consolidated the two under the name of Advance-Herald, and
6Advance, March 22, 1888.
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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Is now conducting the paper. He has made many additions and improvements and is publishing the best local paper in southwestern Minnesota. It is a six column quarto and is all published at home. Mr. Dovery removed the Advance plant to Idaho, where he is now engaged in publishing a paper.
Nobles county's second newspaper was a campaign publication, a two column folio, known as the Claim Shanty Vin- dicator, which had an existence from Oet. : to Nov. 1. 1821. It was published at Worthington by the central committee of the democratie and liberal republican parties, and the Bennett Bros, were the editors. The little plant upon which it was printed was owned by W. R. Bennett. The salutatory is so unique that I re- produce part of it here:
Believing that something should be speed- ily done to counteract the baneful effects produced by the republican press upon the people, it has been deemed advisable to commence the publication of a paper, that thereby some of the evils might be reme- died, and that truth might find its way into more remote localities.
To that end the Vindicator will be pub- lished every week, and at so trifling a sm that all may have an opportunity to under- stand what is the best course to pursue at the approaching election. It will faithfully defend what its name implies, the interests of the settlers and particularly those who have pioneered their way into the wilds of the country to build themselves homes, and thereby put something away against the evening of life. In so doing such language will be used that can easily be understood. No attempt will be made at elognener, but the political situation will be discussed in a fair. impartial and intelligible manner.
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