USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 14
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Henry C. Barr homesteaded land in the east half of the northeast quar- ter of section 20, and had his patent signed by President Hayes on January 20, 1881, the entry being effected through the land office at New Ulm.
Chester N. Lewis homesteaded land in the south half of the southwest quarter of section 20. His patent was issued under the signature of Presi- dent Hayes and was dated June 15, 1880; the entry was made at the land office at Worthington.
William C. Banks homesteaded land in the southeast quarter of section 28, and it was patented to him by President Hayes, signed on August 5, 1877, the entry being made at the land office at Worthington.
William J. Leisure claimed a homestead under the act of 1862, in the southeast quarter of section 14; it was patented to him by President U. S. Grant and signed on February 1, 1873; the entry was effected at the land office at Jackson.
John W. Mathews homesteaded land in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 10. It was patented to him by President Hayes. through the land office at Worthington, December 30, 1879.
Judson F. Pearson homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4, and his patent was signed by President Hayes on December 30, 1880; the entry was made at the land office at Worthington.
John Edwin Hemme homesteaded land in the north half of the south- east quarter of section 20; it was patented to him by President Hayes, signed by him on December 20, 1877; the entry was effected at the land office at Worthington.
Simeon Greenfield claimed a homestead under the act of March 20, 1862, in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter and lot No. I, in section 28 .. It was patented to him by President Hayes and signed by him December 30, 1880, and entered at the land office at Worthington.
James C. Porter claimed a homestead in the cast half of the southeast quarter of section 30; also in the west half of the southeast quarter. His patent was signed by President Chester A. Arthur, and was dated Decem- ber 20, 188I.
Charles Maxon homesteaded land in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 20; it was patented to him by President Hayes and signed
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by him on November 5. 1878; it was secured at the land office at Worth- ington.
Elizabeth P. Carpenter homesteaded the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter and lot No. 2. in section +. The patent was issued by President Hayes, and signed by him on December 20, 1877; the entry was made at the land office at Worthington.
Polly R. Young homesteaded the west half of the southwest quarter of section 2, and had the same patented to her by President Hayes, June 15. 1881. This entry was at the Worthington land office.
Seth S. Johnson homesteaded, April 9, 1881, at the Worthington land office, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 18, this township. The patent was signed by President James A. Garfield, and the entry was made at the land office at Worthington.
Albert C. Innes homesteaded, at the Worthington land office, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 12, the patent being signed on March 15, 1882, by President Chester A. Arthur.
John J. Young homesteaded the land in lot 4, in the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4. It was patented by President Chester A. Arthur, and signed on October 1, 1883, the entry being effected through the land office at Worthington.
Elizabeth Moffatt homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of section 24, the same being filed at the land office at Worthington, and finally pat- ented by President Chester A. Arthur on October 26, 1883.
Andrew Greenlee homesteaded land under the act of 1862 at the land office located at Worthington, and had same patented to him on June 5. 1884, by President Chester A. Arthur. It was situated in the east half of the southeast quarter of section 30.
Andrew L. Ely homesteaded land by entry at the land office at Worth- ington, the same being the northwest quarter of section 22; it was patented by President Hayes on December 13, 1879.
David Fast claimed a homestead in the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2; it was entered at the land office at Worthington, and patented by President Cleveland, January 9, 1886.
Montgomery Milford homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 20, at the land office at Worthington, and the patent was issued by President Chester A. Arthur. June 5, 1884.
Israel Burbank homesteaded lot No. 3. in section 34, at the land office at Jackson ; the same was patented by President U. S. Grant, May 26, 1873.
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PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS.
John D. Cook, at the Worthington land office, pre-empted the west half of the northeast quarter of section 14, and on September 10, 1880, it was patented to him by President Hayes.
Joseph A. Hoople, at the Worthington land office, entered the west half of the northwest quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 12, and his papers were signed by President Chester A. Arthur, January 20, 1885.
John Button entered the west half of the northeast quarter of section 26, this township, and had his papers signed by President U. S. Grant, April 1, 1875.
Phillip Linscheid, at the Marshall land office, entered the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, the final papers being signed by President Grover Cleveland, June 4, 1895.
Marcellus H. Better, at the Jackson land office, entered the west half of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 8. President U. S. Grant signed his patent papers.
Henry Clark filed on the southwest quarter of section 10 at the Jackson land office, and the same was patented to him by President U. S. Grant, September 2, 1872.
James W. Thorn entered land in this township, in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 34; it was entered at the land office at Jackson, and finally patented by President U. S. Grant, May 15, 1873.
VILLAGE OF BINGHAM LAKE.
This sprightly little village is situated in Lakeside township. in section 9, township 105, range 35 west, and was platted by the officers of the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad Company, July 28, 1875.
The village of Bingham Lake was made a separate corporation from Lakeside township in 1900. Its municipal improvements have not as yet materialized to any great extent : it has no water or lighting system.
The postoffice at Bingham Lake was established in 1872 and the first postmaster was Daniel Davis, who held the office until 1886. Among the postmasters who have served since that time are Samuel Taggert, John J.
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Goertzen and C. F. Hiebert. The present postmaster is John J. Gaertzen. The postal receipts for the last fiscal year, exclusive of money orders, amounted to one thousand two hundred and four dollars and twenty-nine cents. The money order department yielded one thousand five hundred dollars. Two rural routes serve the country communities.
TILE FACTORY.
The tile factory at Bingham Lake has in the past been operated with various degrees of success. However, not until the business management of the concern came under the direction of John Henderson, has the plant attained a perfect success. At the present time the plant is running at its full capacity, employing eleven men and making six to eight thousand tile a day.
PIONEER BUSINESS MEN.
Daniel C. Davis was the first permanent settler in the village of Bing- ham Lake and, in company with R. P. Mathews, established all the corners of the townsites. Upon coming to the village, Mr. Davis opened a general store and continued to operate it for three years. He was appointed post- master in 1872, and served until 1886. It is rather of an interesting fact that at the end of the first three months, after taking out his own salary and office expenses, the government's share of the receipts was three cents.
Mr. Davis bought his first stock of goods, amounting to three thousand · six hundred dollars. in New York, as goods could be bought much cheaper in the East than at St. Paul or Minneapolis. However, he greatly over- estimated the needs of the people and had to dispose of a great amount of his stock to Windom merchants. During the grasshopper days he supplied many needy people with provisions, trusting that when they were able he would receive payment, but in many cases his accommodations and sacrifices were lost sight of and the money was never forthcoming.
In 1872 the plat of ground set aside for a park was broken up by Mr. Davis and planted with trees. They were not taken as good care of as they should have been, with the result that the prairie fires destroyed most of them. A few of the original trees are still standing, but the majority have been planted within the last thirty years.
Among the early business-men, besides Mr. Davis, were, Mr. Clines, who came from Lake City. He sold his business to Mr. Young, who was burned out. A. J. Bueller was another one of the early merchants. He
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remained in the village for a while and finally sold out and went to Mon- tana. D. J. Hiebert was also one of the early business-men and did a large and profitable business for many years.
One of the early landmarks of the village is still standing, and that is the first house erected in the village by Mr. Davis and now occupied by William Evans. It is in a good state of preservation and looks better than many of the houses erected in the last few years.
By noticing the present business directory one can see that there has been a great change since the early settlement of the village. Almost every line of business is now represented, and although the village is destined to never become a large town, yet it is growing because the merchants are wideawake and prosperous and the village is located in the midst of a fine farming community, which is the chief basis for all growth.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916.
The business interests of Bingham Lake were represented by the fol- lowing people in 1916:
Bank-First State Bank.
Barber-Frank E. Hyde.
Blacksmith-W. J. Butler.
Brick Plant-John Henderson.
Creamery-Bingham Lake Creamery.
Elevator-St. John Grain Company, The Liem Elevator.
General Dealer-Holt & Wickland.
Harness Shop-Erickson & Anderson.
Implement Dealer-Charles A. Liem.
Meat Market-Henry Wessel. Livery-Joseph Morton.
Lumber Dealer-S. L. Rogers Lumber Company.
Restaurant-J. J. Soltau.
Stock Buyer-C. S. Cain, N. P. Minion.
Telephone-Windom Mutual, Northwestern.
MIDWAY TOWNSHIP.
Midway township is the central sub-division of the county, on the castern border, and comprises all of congressional township 106, range 34
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west. It is south of Selma township, west of the line between Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, and north of Mountain Lake township. The village of Mountain Lake is within this township and was named "Midway," but latter changed ou petition of the citizens. Originally, this township liad numerous swamps and lakelets, but with the flight of years they have nearly all been reclaimed, and now growing crops wave over their surface. The soil is of unexcelled fertility in these old lake and pond beds. Hundreds of miles of private farm tiling have made this one of the best sections in the county, and still the work is going on.
This township, as are others adjoining it, is largely settled by Russians, who came in to this part of the county in great colonies about 1870 and later. They still retain many of their foreign notions, but are thorough farmers and good citizens. If they have any special hobby it is that of supporting an almost endless number of different kinds of Mennonite churches, which practically are the same, only for some special feature.
The population in 1895 was 528; in 1900 it had reached 607, and ac- cording to the United States census reports of 1910 it was placed at 658.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
This township was organized by the county commissioners board in March, 1895, from territory once included in Mountain Lake township, the new township taking in township 106, range 34, west. The first meeting and township election were called by the board to meet at the house of Cor- nelius Janzen, March 16, 1895.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The records show the following land entries in this township :
Joseph .\. Belling homesteaded, March 18, 1878, at the New Ulm land office, the northeast quarter of section 4, the patent being signed by Presi- dent U. S. Grant.
William Seeger homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 2, at the New Ulm land office, the patent being signed by President Hayes, March 13, 1879.
F. Tows homesteaded the south half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 28. at the land office located at Tracy and it was patented to him by President Chester A. Arthur, March 10, 1883.
Apollos S. Yale, on February 10, 1883, had patented to him by Presi-
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dent Chester A. Arthur, a homestead in the northeast quarter of section 30, the same having been entered in the land office at Tracy.
Thomas Curley, at the Tracy land office, had a homestead which was situ- ated in the south half of the southeast quarter of section 2, the same was patented by President Chester A. Arthur, May 10, 1883.
AAsa L. Warren homesteaded the south half of the southwest quarter of section 34, at the land office at New Ulm, and had the same patented to him by President U. S. Grant, February 20, 1877.
Morris Dunn homesteaded the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10 and the south half of the northeast quarter of the same section, all within township 106, range 34, west. It was patented to him by President Chester A. Arthur, May 3. 1884.
Martin Carty homesteaded the northeast half of the southeast quarter of section 2, the entry being made at the New Ulm land office; the patent was issued to him by President Hayes, January 20, 1881.
Henry Goosen, at the Tracy land office, entered as his homestead the west half of the southwest quarter of section 12; the same was patented by President Arthur, March 10, 1883.
Henry F. Billings homesteaded at the New Ulm land office the east half of the northeast quarter of section 34; it was patented by President U. S. Grant, December 1. 1873.
Paul Seeger homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 20; it was entered at the land office at New Ulm and patented by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1873.
PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS.
Alonzo R. Phillips, at the New Ulm land office. pre-empted the south- west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 8; President Hayes signed the papers on May 24, 1879.
Ilenry M. Kroeker, at the land office at Marshall, entered the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30, the final papers being certi- fied to by President Benjamin Harrison, March 9, 1893.
Ruth M. Chandler, at the land office at New Ulm, entered the north half of the southwest quarter of section 34, President U. S. Grant signing the final papers on May 15, 1876.
Caroline Quiring, at the New Ulm land office, entered the south half of the southeast quarter of section 4, President Hayes signing the papers on January 20, 1881.
Albert Wigton entered at the New Ulm land office, the west half of the
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southeast quarter of section 6, President Hayes issuing the papers on July 24, 1879.
MOUNTAIN LAKE VILLAGE.
The village of Mountain Lake received its name from the lake of the same name, located about two miles southeast of the village. In the center of the lake was an island almost circular in form, flat on top and rising out of the water about forty feet. The upper part of the island was covered with trees which could be seen for many miles. This spot served as a lard- mark and a guide for many of the early settlers.
Near this lake and island the railroad station was first located. In time the station was moved to the present site and the name of the village was changed to Midway, but the name proving unsatisfactory, was changed back to Mountain Lake.
The village was platted in 1870, but made little progress until after the building of the railroad in 1873. In this year, three general stores were doing business in the village and were owned by S. J. Soule, J. Lynch and Paul Seeger. The store owned by Seeger was probably the first and was located on the site of the State Bank. The store room was very small, but was quite adequate to the needs of the times. Mr. Seeger came from Cumea, Russia, in 1873. and settled on the first claim in the vicinity of Mountain Lake. He was also among the first postmasters. The first blacksmith was Carl Penner, who later moved away and died in California. Among other early business men in the village were Howard Soule, Jacob Reiner, John Janzen and Abraham Pemer.
With the coming of the railroad, immigration set in rapidly and the village grew by leaps and bounds. In 1886 the village was incorporated with a population of three hundred people, mostly Mennonites from south- ern Russia.
Among other business factors in the village have been the following:
Jacob Heier, who began the furniture business in 1878 south of the railroad track, settled in Mountain Lake in 1874 and began work as a car- penter. David Ewert, who in 1880 opened a lumber yard and store in partnership with H. P. Goertz, came to the village in 1878. P. H. Goosen, the blacksmith, who came into the village in 1875. H. P. Goertz, one of the very earliest settlers and among the very few living in the town, started business with David Ewert and in 1882 started in the lumber business for himself. He also settled in the village in 1875. Henry Hammer located in the village in 1883 and opened up a harness shop in 1877. Mr. Hammer
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first settled on a tree claim, eight miles north of the village. Frank Balzer entered into the lumber business in 1886 and still operates his place of busi- ness. Balzer & Hiebert opened a general store in 1888. Mr. Balzer, the druggist, began the drug business in 1889. John C. Hliebert became a dealer in general merchandise in 1891. Abraham Nickel, the harness man, began business in 1891. Edward Rupp, merchant, began business in 1892. A. E. Woodruff opened a large merchandise store in 1894. Thiessen Brothers began their implement business in 1895 . In 1896 Julien Glasman opened a new meat market. John Jungas began the operation of a shoe store in 1897. In 1898 P. P. Goertzen a jewelry store and was quite successful.
One of the early physicians to locate in the village was Dr. John Wat- son, a graduate of Bellone Medical College, New York City. He began the practice of medicine in Mountain Lake in 1901.
Among other men who have contributed to the business welfare of the town are, J. D. Schroeder, J. J. Unruh, Theo. Nickel and G. D. Schroeder.
Among other early settlers have been the following: Abraham Funk, 1875: H. Goosen and G. Gerdes in the early seventies: Abraham J. Fast, 1875: Henry J. Fast. 1875: Gerhard Neufeld, 1878: Jacob P. Harder, 1873 : John Janzen, 1873; Henry Dickman and Peter Dick (Krim).
MUNICIPAL.
The village of Mountain Lake became separated from the township in 1886. . \ Penner was the first president of the town council and John Jan- zen, the first recorder. The present officers are inclusive of the following: President. J. II. Dickman ; treasurer, F. F. Schroeder ; recorder. M. S. Han- son: trustees, John Jungas, D. Heppner and A. Janzen : marshal, William Burk; justices, Herman- Teichroew and John P. Rempel; constables, J. J. Brown and W. Burk; assessor, Herman Teichroew.
The town is very active in the way of improvements. Twenty thousand dollars have been spent in installing a water-works system. The town is furnished with water from a drilled well four hundred and fifty feet deep. three hundred feet of which is drilled through solid rock.
POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice at Mountain Lake was one of the first government offices established in the county and at the present time its receipts are the second largest in the county, amounting to four thousand three hundred dollars.
BETHEL CHURCH, MOUNTAIN LAKE.
FARM VIEW NEAR MOUNTAIN LAKE.
EE
GERMAN SCHOOL, MOUNTAIN LAKE.
HIGH SCHOOL, MOUNTAIN LAKE.
ـحايا
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
exclusive of money orders, for the last fiscal year. Four rural routes serve the country people from this office. Among the postmasters who have held the office are the following: Howard Sonler, John Janzen, Abraham Siem- ens. Joe Wigton, J. D. Schroeder and I. I. Bargen. Mr. Bargen, the present postmaster, has served in the capacity continuously for the last fourteen years and although a Republican, received his last appointment under a Democratic administration.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB.
The Mountain Lake Commercial Club began its existence on March I, 1915. In the beginning the membership numbered nearly one hundred, but since the number has decreased until there are only about eighty members. The club is composed of business and professional men in Mountain Lake and neighboring communities. A great many public questions have been brought up and discussed at the meetings with the result that a great deal of good has been accomplished. Among the questions have been those of sewerage, roads, a public rest room, etc. The officers who were first elected still retain their offices. They include the following: President, Frank Balzer; vice-president, Henry P. Goertz; secretary, D. G. Hiebert; treas- urer, F. F. Schroeder; executive committee, Dr. W. A. Piper, D. C. Balzer and A. A. Penner.
The purpose of the club is to bring into one organization, the business and professional men of Mountain Lake and vicinity, so that by frequent meetings and the full interchange of views, they may secure an intelligent unity and harmony of action, that shall result to their own benefit, as well as the future development of the community in which they live.
MENNONITE HOSPITAL.
The Mennonite hospital of Mountain Lake began its existence about 1905. The organization included only local men, among whom were, H. P. Goertz, D. Ewert, J. D. Hiebert, F. Balzer, J. H. Dickman, J. G. Hiebert. For a few years the institution was run without much success. Finally, in 1912, the company was reorganized and the institution sold to the Bethel Deaconess Home, of Newton, Kansas, and is now considered as a branch of it. The hospital is managed by a local board consisting of one member from each of the five Mennonite churches. H. P. Goertz is president of the board; D. P. Eitzen, secretary; Aaron Peters, treasurer.
(II)
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The physicians in charge are Doctor Piper, of Mountain Lake, and Doctor Sogge, of Windom, who are assisted by three sisters and two or three helpers. In 1915 the institution had sixty-four patients and thirty-two operations were performed.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND FIRE COMPANY.
In 1913 the Mountain Lake Milling Company installed an electric light plant which furnishes the town with electricity. However, arrangements have been made whereby connections are to be made with the Rapidan sys- tem and hereafter light will be furnished by that concern.
The fire company is composed of fourteen men, well supplied with a fire engine, hose, ladders, chemical tanks and other necessary fire equip- ment. The present indebtedness of the town is about thirteen thousand dollars.
INDUSTRIES.
David Hiebert, who came from Russia, started the Mountain Lake flour-mill in 1875. He conducted the business for a period of ten years of time. He sold to Neufield & Friesen, who after two or three years sold to Abraham Penner. Mr. Penner was not a miller and therefore was not very successful. He soon sold out to Diedricks & Hiebert, the present owners, who after running the business for four years, formed an incorporated company known as the Mountain Lake Roller Milling Company. The officers at present are : President, J. J. Diedricks; vice-president, J. J. Hiebert : sec- retary-treasurer, D. G. Hiebert. The company is incorporated for forty thousand dollars. The capacity of the mill is one hundred and twenty bar- rels per day. Their special brands of flour are "White Rose," a first-grade flour, and "Natural Patent," a second-grade flour. Besides they make rye, graham, wheat graham, corn meal and rye flour. An elevator is run in con- nection with the mill which has a capacity of ten thousand bushels.
At the time of incorporation, an electric plant was installed in connec- tion with the mill and was very successful. Recently, however. an oppor- tunity presented itself of securing better service by connecting with the Con- sumers Power Company. The Milling Company has just entered into a ten-year contract with the above company, service to begin on October I, 1916. The Milling Company continues to distribute light and power.
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