USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 45
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[Editor's Note: From the above account of this church it will be ob- served that the following have served as priests at St. James: Rev. Father Wertz; Rev. Father Richard (both deceased prior to 1905) ; Rev. Father Elshorst, who was pastor in the old frame building : Rev. Father Yung, who built the present church; Rev. Father Joseph Georgan (now deceased), who remained three years; Rev. Father James Durward, now retired and occupy- ing his "Hermitage" at St. James; Rev. Zachman, who served until the com- ing of the present pastor, Reverend Meyers, who took charge of this parish in 1908.]
At the "Hermitage" retired, Father Durward lives in seclusion, of late having no housekeeper, he does his own housework. He placed a miniature steeple on the front of the little old harness-shop residence referred to and in it erected a tiny bell which the venerable old gentleman-for indeed he is
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
one-rings at five o'clock every morning, and in the same house he has an improvised altar where he says mass. He also has a small residence, or really the old school building, he built on his grounds, and in this building he has a chapel and more elaborate altar in a neat chapel. He worships in both of these places, at his will. He is a lover of flowers and plants and usually has a fine display of these, as well as an excellent garden.
ST. JAMES'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL.
On May Ist, 1897. Father Zachman arrived at St. James. He was newly ordained, and had been stationed in New Richmond, Minnesota, but a few months, so that St. James might be called his first charge. The little school started by Father Durward had been called "School of the Assump- tion," because it was opened August 15. But the large parish school opened by Father Zachman is dedicated to St. James, another proof that the town was providentially named.
Father Zachman did not come to this parish for several months after he had been appointed, but services went on as usual. Finally, he did come, and his first important step was the building of a large parish school -- the Parish Catholic School of St. James. As the parish house required repairing and furnishing. Father Zachman lived about a month with Father Durward before moving in. He proceeded at once to make improvements. Besides building a school house and a parsonage, he made a number of minor im- provements, such as a furnace, a new organ, a baptismal font, a marble foun- tain for holy water, a church bell, etc. Later on he instructed a brass band, organized the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Christian Mothers and Young Ladies' Society. Holy Scripture says "Ego plantavi, Appollo rigavit sed Deus incrementum dedit" : I plant, Apollo waters, but God gives the increase. The increase during Father Zachman's pastorate has been wonderful. He is a builder, a worker ; a thorough, business-like perseverance is his chief char- acteristic. He is not a showy worker while he works, but his works show the workman when he gets through. Nor has he neglected the invisible world of purgatory, nor yet that invisible city of the dead, called the church- yard. Year after year he has had it cleaned up and decorated, and enclosed it with an iron fence.
The parish school has the ninth grade every year, teaches all kinds of vocal and instrumental music, and also shorthand and typewriting. Later on it will have the tenth grade, or high school.
In the fall of 1895 Father Zachman had the church richly decorated
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
inside, and a beautiful portrait of St. James painted above the altar. A still further proof that the town was providentially named.
On October 5, 1905. Rev. Bishop Cotter, of Winona, Minnesota, as- sisted by a Greek monsignor from Rome, Italy, confirmed a class of sixty- nine, most of whom were young persons who had been baptized by Father Durward during his first years in St. James.
On October 30. 1905, the fifteenth anniversary of Father Durward's ยท arrival in St. James, Father Zachman erected side altars and spread a beau- tiful new carpet on the sanctuary.
The remainder of this article has been compiled by the publishers from data secured by the present priest. Father Meyers.
The church now has a membership of about five hundred and thirty- five. It is the only church of this denomination in Watonwan county aside from the one at Madelia. Of the buildings it may be said that the first church was erected about 1870-a small frame: the present church, a solid brick building, was built in 1885, costing about fifteen thousand dollars. The present frame school building was erected in 1898, costing seven hundred dol- lars; the present parsonage was built in 1902, costing forty-five hundred dollars.
MATER DOLOROSA PARISH, MADELLA.
The historical records of this church and parish at Madelia date hack to 1855-6, when the country, now the village of Madelia, began to be settled. Among the earliest settlers were counted a number of Catholic people : Theo- dore Leech, Patrick Rutledge. L. Simon, and Mrs. M. Anderson, who is still living in the parish. These Catholic people were soon followed by others in the succeeding years and in 1862, the year of the Indian massacre, Father Sommerseisen gathered together the little band, about thirty in number, at the house of Francis Russel, in Ceresco. There the holy sacrifice of the mass was offered up to God for the first time in the territory now embraced by the parish of Mater Dolorosa.
In 1872 the first church was built in the town of Madelia, on the site now occupied by HI. Joerg's home, and October 24. 1872, Father Wirth celebrated mass for the first time in the new church.
On January 7. 1873, a date never to be forgotten in Minnesota by its survivors, Father Wirth again celebrated mass in Madelia. The forenoon was clear and inviting and for miles around Catholics flocked to the church. In the afternoon a terrible blizzard overtook the country and lasted three days, making at least three hundred victims in Minnesota alone. Many of
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
the Catholic people who went to church that day, experienced bitter struggles for life in attempting to regain their homes, Mr. Decker and Mrs. Cash per- ishing in the attempt.
After Father Wirth, the Jesuit Fathers, of Mankato, attended to the spiritual wants of the people of Madelia until the appointment of its first pastor, Father Prybel, who arrived in 1880. Ile was also entrusted to the mission at St. James. During the term of his successor, Father Elshorst, the residence was transferred to St. James and he attended the needs of the Catholics at Madelia from that place and so also did his successors, who were Father Yung. Father Georgan and Father Durward.
In 1891 Mater Dolorosa parish was raised to the rank of an indepen- dent parish, with Father Smith as its first pastor. He remained at Madelia but a short time and was succeeded by Father O'Connell, who assumed charge on March 26. 1892. By this time the congregation had outgrown the little church and Father O'Connell urged the people to build a new and more worthy place of worship. On Christmas day, 1892, a beautiful and spacious building was ready to receive the people for divine worship. Its cost was six thousand dollars. Sad to record. even at this late date, that beautiful church was completely destroyed by fire on January 1, 1893. The church was rebuilt on its same foundation and was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Cotter,. October 10. 1893.
SCHOOL ERECTED.
In 1899 Father O'Connell was transferred to Caledonia and was suc- ceeded by Father Holper, who also attended to the mission of Lake Crystal, until it was attached to the parish of St. Clair. During his stay. 1898-1904, ground was bought and a beautiful parochial school, the pride and saving feature of the parish, was built. The school was placed in charge of the Ursuline Sisters of Philadelphia, who came in 1809 and were succeeded by the present school Sisters of the Notre Dame, Milwaukee, in 1900. At pres- ent there are three Sisters teaching and the average attendance is one hun- dlred children per year. The building cost nine thousand dollars and is a strong veneered brick building.
The building and its upkeeping upon the congregation, rather small and poor for the burden, and the sole and worthy aim of his predecessor, as already stated, being of paying off the debts. Father Van Hoenackere found the material properties of the parish in a lamentable condition. Without speaking of the rectory, which was devoid of all furniture and which itself
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
was an unworthy shack unfit for anyone to live in, the church and school were in the greatest need of attention and repairs. But like a hero the good Father went about reconstructing things, and many valuable improvements were made. Two lots were also added to the school grounds, which were secured from Walter Dahm for the school as a gift from the owner.
In April, 1912, a residence was purchased one block east of the church. This was remodeled and is the present rectory. Today the parish is com- posed of some seventy families and twenty-five single people, a total number of about five hundred souls, alnost equally divided between the Germans and Irish. Sad to relate (says Father Van Hoenackere, pastor today), "the 'ought to be's' and the 'fallen away' would easily reach the one hundred mark. Scarcely twenty per cent. of the mixed marriages have kept the faith or at least the practices thereof, a number of the children never even having been baptized in the Catholic church."
The total debt of the parish is about twenty-eight hundred dollars.
CHAPTER IX.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF THE COUNTY.
The pride and glory of our republic during the last four score years, at least, has been its free public schools. The organizers of the great North- west Territory inserted a clause in the articles of that part of its Consti- tution, demanding that certain lands be set apart for school purposes. Every part of what was originally the Northwest Territory, including Indiana. Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, utilized these provisions in the formation of their separate governments, as one by one these states and territories were cut off from the original territory. It was provided that schools should be provided for all classes, without money or price-the lands being taxed for the maintenance of such free schools.
PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE STATE.
The following scheme shows the elements of the public school system in Minnesota :
District schools are divided into common, independent and special schools, graded and ungraded. Then we have the state rural schools, the state semi-graded schools, the consolidated rural schools, the state graded schools, the state high schools. normal schools and, finally, the university.
A common school district is controlled by a board of three members ; independent and special districts have their own superintendents, and in the main are not subject to the county superintendents.
The state graded schools and state high schools are subject to a board of five members: The president of the State University, the superintendent of education and president of the normal school board are ex-officio mem- bers: a city superintendent or high school principal and a fifth member is appointed by the governor.
The normal schools are controlled by a board of nine members; five of these are resident directors; three are appointed for the state at large, and one, the superintendent of education, serves ex-officio.
The university is controlled by a board of twelve regents; the governor,
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
the president of the University and the superintendent of education are all ex-officio members, and nine are appointed by the governor.
The public schools are supported by a direct tax upon the property of the school district, by a county one-mill tax, by a state mill tax, and by the income from the permanent school fund, together with small fines that are credited to this fund.
In addition to these funds, the state of Minnesota distributes annually (provided they attain a prescribed standard of excellence ), $150, $100 or $75 to each rural school; $300 to each semi-graded school of two or three departments: $1.500 or $750 to consolidated rural schools; also, $750 to each graded school of four or more departments, and $2.200 to each high school that admits all qualified students free of tuition.
LIBRARIES.
To encourage the establishment and maintenance of school libraries the Legislature has appropriated $21.500 annually. The state will aid any school district towards the purchase of a library to the amount of twenty dollars on the first order for each school building, and ten dollars annually there- after, provided the district raises a like amount and selects the books from the list prepared by the state library board, which is composed of the state superintendent of education and the high school board.
CERTIFICATES.
Teachers' certificates are issued by the superintendent of education upon examination or upon the indorsement of a university or college diploma, or a diploma from a state normal school.
Examinations for common school certificates are given at one or more places in the county in February and in August, under the direction of the county superintendent. All manuscript for teachers' certificates is exam- ined and marked under the direction of the superintendent of education.
AIDED BY SCHOOL LANDS.
Whereas, by an act of Congress of the United States, approved on Feb- ruary 26, 1857, entitled "An act to enable the people of Minnesota Terri- tory to form a constitution and state government and for the admission of stich state into the Union," sections numbered 16 and 36 in every township
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
of the public lands of the state were granted to the said state of Minnesota for the use of schools.
From time to time these school lands were sold to actual settlers on long time at good rate of interest and the proceeds placed in the state treasury to be paid out for public school purposes, nothing only the interest being allowed to be used, hence the state has a perpetual school fund which will ever give its educational facilities an advantage over many other states, where only the sixteenth section was set apart for school purposes. In Watonwon county there are now more than three hundred farms, which were originally school lands.
SCHOOLS OF 1875.
In 1875 there were thirty-five organized school districts in Watonwan county, of which twenty-six were in session and located as follows: Long Lake, three: South Branch, three; Antrim, three: Fieldon, three; Odin, two; Rosendale, three: Madelia, two: Riverdale, two: St. James, three: Adrian, one. The number of scholars enrolled in the summer schools were six hun- dred and seventy-six.
FIRST SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY.
The earliest schools in the county were at Madelia settlement. Credit for the high standard of efficiency of the Madelia schools belongs to no one more than to the present superintendent. J. C. Straely. Although hay- ing served in this capacity only two years, yet during this time the standard of the schools has been raised at least twenty-five per cent. Naturally he has not accomplished this mark alone, as he has been ably assisted by an efficient corps of teachers and an appreciative school board.
The old building, which was constructed of brick, was built in 1892. at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. In time, this building became too small to accommodate the increased attendance and the growing needs of the times. Consequently, these facts led to the construction of a new brick structure in 1914. at a cost of forty-three thousand dollars. The building is thoroughly modern in every respect and is used exclusively by the high school. The enrollment of the entire school in the spring of 1916 was four hundred and thirty. That of the high school was one hundred and seventy-two. Nine- teen teachers were employed.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
When a stranger appears in St. James and inquires about the most important institution in the city he immediately receives the answer, "the public schools." The city has one of the best school systems in the state and doubtless the best in this section. No one deserves more credit for this than the present, but retiring, superintendent, Prof. J. C. Davies. How- ever, he gladly shares the credit for this high standard of efficiency with his able corps of teachers, and especially with Professor Young, the present. but retiring, principal of the high school and to whom the state high school inspector gave credit as being one of three best high school principals in the state of Minnesota. With the leadership of such men as these at the head of a school system and aided by a helpful and appreciative school board, it is no wonder that the schools have risen to such a high point of efficiency.
The city school was organized in 1871, the first building being out by the lake. As time advanced this building was outgrown. A new site was selected nearer the center of the town, it being the one on which the high school building now stands. A brick building was constructed, which was thought to be ample for all time. But the folly of this idea has long since been seen, as already two large additions have been made. The first addi- tion was in 1901 and the last one just recently completed, at a cost of forty. thousand dollars. With the last addition the school has a complete and modern building and an assembly room that has few equals.
The high school was organized in 1892 and the first graduating class was in 1896, a class many times smaller than that of 1916, which was com- posed of forty-six members. There are four different courses and perhaps more. They consist of science, language, commercial and industrial arts. The latter course includes complete instruction in domestic science, manual training and agriculture. In the language course, four different languages are offered as follows: Norwegian, Swedish, German and Latin.
The old Northside school buikdling stood near where the Minneapolis & St. Louis depot now stands. With the coming of the railroad a new site was necessary. Mr. M. K., Armstrong, a wealthy landowner and public spirited man, arose to the occasion and donated the site of the present Northside building which bears his name. This building was constructed in 1902, costing twenty-two thousand dollars, fully equipped. In the sixth, seventh and eighth grades the departmental system is used with decided success.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
The corps of teachers numbers twenty-six, with a total school enroll- ment of nearly six hundred and seventy-five. The members of the school board are as follow: President, J. K. Sonnesyn; secretary, 1. E. Cham- bard; treasurer, Fred Church; W. S. Manning, Marion Clark and A. M. Hanson. The board has succeeded in filling all the vacancies for the com- ing year. Prof. J. J. Skinner becomes the new superintendent and Mr. Keen Young, the principal.
A MARKED CONTRAST.
In 1882 the school of the village of St. James employed two teachers, with a total enrollment of one hundred and eighty-two; in 1885 there were three teachers and two hundred and two pupils enrolled; in 1890 there were fifteen teachers and five hundred and twenty-five pupils enrolled.
1890 REPORT.
In 1890 the superintendent of the schools in this county gave the fol- lowing: Pupils entitled to apportionment, eight hundred and eighty-six ; not so entitled, four hundred and thirty-nine; total enrolled, thirteen hun- dred and nine. Average length of school year, five and eight-tenths months per year ; teachers employed fifty-eight ; average wages paid. $32.07 for men and $27.944 for women ; number of districts of common schools, forty-eight ; total school houses, forty-five : cash on hand, $6,021 ; salary of school super- intendent, $480. The superintendent made sixty-two school visits that year. Rate of taxation for schools, one and fifteen-hundredths mills on the dollar.
ROSENDALE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
The first schools in Rosendale township were taught in 1869-70. Henry C. Sergent taught in the winter in 1869, at the house of George Knudtson. His sister, Hellen Adell Sergent ( now wife of E. Z. Rasey of St. James ), taught the following summer in a "spare room" of her father's house. She had an attendance of about twenty pupils, and received for her wages either eighteen or twenty dollars per month. Later, she attended the State Normal school at Mankato and received the appointment of county school superintendent, soon after the office was created in Minnesota. She was examined for her qualifications by State Superintendent H. B. Wilson, at St. Paul. At the hands of the county commissioners she was made
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Watonwan county's first woman superintendent, and also has the distinc- tion of being the first woman in Minnesota to hold such an office. She was a teacher at St. James for two years after the first two-story school house was completed. She had sixty pupils and taught an interesting and most highly appreciated school in what is now the city of St. James.
ODIN SCHOOL.
The present building is a two story frame structure constructed in 1902 at a cost of two thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. The school has two teachers and an enrollment of about sixty-eight.
DARFUR SCHOOL.
The school building is located in the southwestern part of town and is surrounded by a beautiful playground. No high school work is offered, but thorough instruction is given in all the grades by two competent teach- ers. The building consists of a two-room brick structure, erected in 1906 at a cost of three thousand dollars. The enrollment averages about one hundred.
LEWISVILLE SCHOOL.
Under the able leadership of Principal William T. Weld, the school has made great strides toward educational efficiency. The school exhibit of 1916 attracted the attention not only of patrons and friends, but of out- siders as well. Special mention should be made of the sewing and agri- cultural exhibits, which were excellent.
The school and site are estimated at seven thousand dollars. The building, which was constructed in 1912. is being remodeled to meet the growing needs of the school and community. Three teachers are employed. The enrollment for the past year was ninety-six.
ORMSBY SCHOOL.
In 1901 a two-story frame building was erected at a cost of two thou- sand dollars. The school board employs two teachers who serve the needs of about fifty school children. The school building was constructed with a two-fold idea. First. as a place of instruction ; second, as a social center. The latter idea has been carried out conclusively, as is evidenced by the many gatherings of all kinds held at this building.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
BUTTERFIELD SCHOOLS.
The village of Butterfield supports a fine modern school house, costing fourteen thousand dollars. It was erected in 1898 and is a handsome brick structure. Five teachers are employed in these schools and the enrollment is over one hundred and fifty.
PRESENT SCHOOL STATISTICS.
The following facts have been extracted from the county school super- intendent's report of July, 1915, which is the last completed report to the state :
There were on that date sixty-one districts in Watonwan county, of the rural and semi-graded class. Nine months were then being taught each year in graded and semi-graded schools of this county and the, strictly speaking. country districts had only seven months, as a rule. The follow- ing shows the districts and the number of pupils in each, as per enrollment :
District. No.
Pupils.
District. No.
Pupils.
District. No.
Pupils.
District No. 1 40
District No. 22.
38
District No. 41.
11
District No. 3. 15
District No. 23. 32
District No. 42. 20
District No.
4. 26
District No. 24. 46
District No. 47
12
District No. 6.
32
District No. 26. 7
District No. 15. 10
District No. 7.
18
District No. 27.
23
District No. 17.
14
District No.
8. 21
District No. 28. 43
District No. 1S.
23
District No. 9. 12
District No. 29
22
District No. 19.
22
District No. 10.
18
District No. 30. 30
District No. 50.
24
District No. 11
2S
District No. 31.
29
District No. 51.
39
District No. 12.
21
District No. 32.
57
District No. 52.
34
District No. 13.
29
District No. 33.
27
District No. 53.
33
District No. 14.
21
District No. 34
42
District No. 51.
30
District No. 15.
55
District No. 35.
17
District No. 55
95
District No. 16.
21
District No. 36.
18
District No. 56.
60
District No. 17.
18
District No. 37.
33
District No. 57
41
District No. 18.
33
District No. 38.
12
District No. 58.
21
District No. 19.
29
District No. 39
10
District No. 59
37
District No. 21. .
31
District No.
District No. 61
18
District No. 5. . 4
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