USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 22
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Waterworks System. Few cities have as excellent a system of waterworks as Preston. The water, which is clear and sparkling, is furnished from the spring long known as the Vail spring, famous since the days of the first settler. The force of the water is sufficient for all purposes of fire protection, and the equipment is modern in every respect. The pumping station is conducted in connection with the electric light power plant, the site having been donated by Mary O'Brien. The water was first turned into the mains October 19, 1896, the fires having been put under the boilers October 16, 1896, but owing to the great pressure, a flaw in the piping on Main street developed into a crack and exploded with great force, necessitating a delay of several days before the system was put in full operation.
The City Hall and Library. The people of Preston are now completing a combined city hall and Carnegie library. As far back as August 5, 1886, the village purchased land on St. Paul street from the Louis Frank estate for a city hall and fire house. Here the fire apparatus was housed until 1911. May 1, 1911, the council voted to use the license fund to construct a village hall on the old site. May 8, 1911, a special election was held, and it was voted to make the village of Preston a separate election and assessment district, separate and apart from the townships of Carimona, Carrolton, Fountain and Preston, and each thereof in said county.
The village was to consist of the east half of section one, in Carimona; the east half of section thirty-six, in Fountain, and all of section thirty-one, Carrollton, and section six, Preston. At a special election June 20, 1911, the village voted $12,000 in bonds, one-half to be applied toward the payment of debts and one-half to be used in erecting a village hall. Later $10,000 was obtained. The plans were made, and it was decided to have the library and the city hall in one building. August 29, 1911, the plans for the lockup were approved by the state board. Work on the new building was commenced in the fall of 1911. It will
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be completed this summer, although delayed by the falling of a part of the wall, December 11, 1911. The building is of orna- mental brick, one story high, with basement. The library proper is forty by forty feet, and the village hall proper is thirty by sixty feet. The building will house not only the village hall and the library, but also the fire apparatus and the lockup. The rest room will also be located in the new structure.
The Preston library had its beginning in 1898, when the Browning Round Table, commonly known as the Browning Club, and consisting then of men and women, started a small collec- tion of books. The story of the part taken by this club in the fostering of the library is told elsewhere. On March 2, 1908, at the request of the Browning Club and on motion of J. C. Mills, the council unanimously passed a resolution establishing a free public library, to be known as the "Preston Browning Public Library." The sum of $150 was voted for its maintenance for six months. The library of the Browning Club consisting of 327 volumes was accepted at the same time and a library board appointed consisting of: Mrs. C. M. Anderson, Mrs. Har- riet E. Grattan, R. E. Thompson, Mrs. Nellie O'Brien, Mrs. Mary Love, Mrs. Emma A. Mills, Mrs. II. S. Bassett, Cora Bigelow and Reuben Kuethe. On October 12, 1908, the council decided to grant an additional sum of $150 or $25 a month, for the main- tenance of the library for a second six months. The next spring a tax levy was made to support the library for a year. The councilmen at the time of the establishment of the public library, March 2, 1908, were: J. C. Mills, W. H. Williams, J. Drier, Frederick Read and C. E. Snyder. The mayor was Dr. G. A. Love. In June, 1909, the following entry appears in the village books: "Resolved, by the village council of the village of Pres- ton, duly and regularly assembled in the mayor's office on June 22, 1909, pursuant to call, that in consideration that Andrew Carne- gie will contribute the sum of $8,000 for the construction of the library building, the council of said village will procure a suit- able site therefor in said village and levy an annual tax of 10 per cent, or $800, for the care and custody of said building and the procuring of suitable and proper books, and that the authori- ties of said village will properly maintain said building open for the use of the citizens and for the library to be perpetually maintained therein." October 11, 1909, a tax of 1.1 mills was laid for the library for the year commencing May 1, 1910. The site of the old Rink was secured, and the village decided to erect a city hall and library combined. July 10, 1911, the village recorder was instructed to take up the matter in behalf of the village with Andrew Carnegie, to secure $8,000 for a library, this action being the result of the special election held July 7,
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1911. The necessary requirements were complied with, and the building will be completed in the summer of 1912. When the village first took hold of the library in 1908, rooms were secured in the Fillmore County Bank Building. In 1910 the library was moved to the upper floor of the Wesier Building. Since 1908 the librarians have been Florence Kiehle, Cora Bigelow, Mrs. E. B. Read, and Mrs. Gertrude Johnson has been assistant. The first library association in Preston was started January 1, 1867. The officers were: President, H. A. Billings; vice president, Reuben Wells; librarian, J. C. Braden; secretary, Ephriam Mc- Murtrie; treasurer, J. B. Vail; directors, Rev. J. E. Burbank and D. B. Coleman. In the eighties books were distributed from the old L. O. Hamre Building, and were destroyed when that building was burned, in November, 1893.
The artist and poet, A. L. Sleyster, started a juvenile library in his studio, and these books are now a part of the volumes in the public library.
The Browning Round Table. This organization, consisting of men and women, and popularly known as the Browning Club, had an important part in the social and intellectual life of Pres- ton, and is given the credit of having originated what has now developed into the public library of Preston.
In 1898 Mrs. Emma Allen Mills, aided by Sarah E. Brown, principal of the Preston High school, invited a number of the leading literary people of Preston to the Mills home for the pur- pose of starting a literary society, or reading club. At that meeting it was decided to read the poetical works of Robert Browning, and the club was organized as the Browning Round Table, but was popularly known as the Browning Club. Mrs. Mills acted as temporary chairman, and was elected as president and leader. It was decided to send for copies of the complete edition of Robert Browning's works, to be used as text books. The club grew in numbers until its membership was about thirty- five. Before long difficulties, inherent to Browning's style, lead to a realization of the need of a public library and its customary reference books. The lack of such in Preston was deplored and discussed, and a proposition was made to levy a tax of $1.50 per member, select a list of books, and thus start the nucleus of what the members hoped some day to be a Preston public library. Accordingly, committees were appointed for the selection of books, the forming and printing of suitable rules and regulations for their exchange and loan. It was agreed that they should be free to all members of the club, and a charge of 5 cents per book made to all others who wished to read them. The books were in great demand and the attempt proved a success. With the charge for loans and fines for keeping a book over time, and also from
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new membership dues, new books were added. A committee was also appointed to secure the small collection of juvenile books made by A. L. Sleyster, photographer, some years previous. K. W. Buell offered to furnish a case for the books in his office, and also to keep a record of withdrawals and returns. It was also voted by the club that while these books were to be kept together as a nucleus of a hoped-for library, yet, if the plan should not succeed, all the books should go back to the original donor. Accordingly, a list of books, with names of the selector opposite each, was filed with the president. The books were never returned.
The poems of Robert Browning were studied all that year and about half of the next year. The president and leader, find- ing it impossible to be present the remainder of the year, resigned. Then the club, finding it difficult to render Browning without the help of one who had previously studied it, decided to read other authors. The men gradually dropped out. Many of these men, however, were afterward prominent in the movement which resulted in the taking over of the library by the city and the establishment of the public library.
The Browning Club, as a member of the Federated Clubs, dates from 1900, a reorganization being effected by the ladies that year. The first meeting of the season of 1900-1901 was held October 12 at the home of Mrs. Julia Lockerby. Mrs. Rosella Bailey was appointed temporary chairman, and Edna McGregor secretary pro tem. It was moved that those present organize into a club to be called the Browning Club, and that the officers be nominated by informal ballot. Mrs. Catherine Moriarty was chosen president; Mrs. Julia Lockerby, vice president; Mrs. Rosella Bailey, secretary, and Edna McGregor, treasurer. Octo- ber 6 the constitution was presented and adopted. Article II was: "The object of this club shall be to form an organized center for the mental and social culture of its members. To this end the club shall encourage a liberal exchange of thought by papers and discussions upon all subjects pertaining to its object." The by-laws were as follows: Article I-Membership. Any woman may become a member of The Browning Club upon the payment of $1.15 and signing the constitution. Article II-Dues. Each member shall pay 50 cents a year dues, unless otherwise voted by the club. Article III-Books. 1. The books of The Browning Library shall be free to members of the club. 2. Any- one may draw a book from The Browning Library upon the pay- ment of 5 cents. 3. Books drawn from the library must be returned within a limit of two weeks.
The club now discussed the advisability of joining the Fed-
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EDWARD DUXBURY AND FAMILY
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erated Clubs, and became a part of the State Federation some time in November, 1900. The club motto adopted was :
"All service ranks the same with God,
"With God, whose puppets, best and worst,
"Are we. There is no last nor first."
During this year the Browning Club secured for the town a lecture course, consisting of lectures by Maria Sanford and others, and an entertainment by the Philharmonic Quartette.
April 13, 1901, Mrs. Joan Day was elected president for the ensuing year and Mrs. Rosella Bailey secretary.
It was decided to leave the books where they were, in the office of K. W. Buell, the county superintendent of schools. Jan- uary 6, 1903, the club met with Mrs. Nellie O'Brien to select books for the Browning Club library, and labels were purchased for the books given by Mr. Sleyster. The books were then moved to the store of F. C. Bailey, in the Bailey block. On March 31 it was found that all the books were in except one. During the years 1902-1903 Mrs. Nellie O'Brien was president.
During the years 1903-1904 Mrs. Harriet E. Grattan was presi- dent. The Bay View course of study was adopted. In 1904-1905 Mrs. Joan Day again became president, and proposed that the club agitate the establishment of a town library. The secretary was instructed to write to Andrew Carnegie. This was done, but nothing came of the effort at that time. Mrs. C. M. Ander- son, president for 1905-1906, called a special meeting at her home for the purpose of discussing the possibility of obtaining a room to be used as a public library and reading room, and also to decide upon a list of books to be purchased for the library. A committee consisting of Cora Bigelow, Edna McGregor and Mrs. Jennie Wells was appointed to call upon the business men of the town to solicit aid for the proposed reading room. The business men, however, did not give the looked-for encourage- ment, and it was decided to have no reading room that winter. But the library grew from year to year under the fostering care of the Browning Club, and the way was slowly but surely pre- pared for a public library. The club gave a basket sociable on St. Patrick's Day, 1905, to raise money to buy more books.
In the spring of 1906, as Rev. F. C. Bailey was to close his store, it was decided to move the library into the store occupied by J. W. Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Drake acted as librarians, for which, in lieu of a salary, they received a vote of thanks, and Mrs. Drake was made an honorary member of the club. In the fall of 1906, under the presidency of Mrs. Anderson, who was re-elected, an entertainment, in the form of a home talent play, was given. All who took part in the play were given the free
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use of the books. The receipts from the entertainment were expended on the library. A neat catalogue was made for the books, which then numbered about 327, and it was decided to put on the cover, "Catalogue of The Browning Library Books."
Mrs. Harriet E. Grattan was elected president for the years 1907-1908. The minutes of the club for February 29, 1908, read : "A special meeting of the club was called at 3 o'clock at Mrs. Nellie O'Brien's to talk over the public library and to listen to explanations concerning it, given by Mrs. John C. Mills." The members decided to meet with the council March 2, 1908, and ask it to establish a reading room and library.
Consequently the members of the club went to the council meeting and offered to give their library of about 327 books, their cases and their catalogues to the village if the council would establish a free public library. A budget of estimated expenses for six months amounted to $150, and the council voted this amount. The mayor appointed a library board consisting of five club members and four others, and this work of the Browning ('lub was terminated. The library became the property of the city.
Still the Browning Club had a great interest in the growth of this infant library and co-operated most heartily with the library board in getting up a book shower which added many books to the library.
In May, 1909, it was decided to resume the study of Browning for the ensuing year, and Mrs. Mills was elected leader. Brown- ing was also studied by the club during the years 1910-1911. Shakespeare was studied in 1911-1912.
The present officers of the club are: Mrs. C. M. Anderson, president; Mrs. Harriet E. Grattan, vice president ; Mrs. Emma Mills, secretary ; Mrs. Nellie O'Brien, treasurer.
The Preston Commercial Club, recently organized, has already proven its worth as a social and business organization, and has many plans on foot for the betterment of the village. It was organized November 6, 1911, the stockholders being: Ludvig Gullickson, A. W. Thompson, L. J. Luhmann, A. G. Olson, A. P. Nelson, Henry A. Larson, W. B. Grinnell, A. D. Becker, E. K. Blexrud, George L. Harrington, L. O'Brien, A. H. Langum, G. F. Harrington, J. E. Kumm, A. H. Olson, O. H. Titterud, E. H. Cum- mings, S. A. Langum, E. A. Highum, John W. Hopp, Charles H. Utley.
In addition to this there are thirty associate members. The officers are: Ludvig Guillickson, president; A. W. Thompson, vice president; A. H. Langum, secretary; A. G. Olson, treasurer ; directors, George L. Harrington, E. H. Cummings, A. H. Langum.
The club has modern quarters in the Syndicate Block, with a
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large gymnasium and dance hall, billiard room, pool room, three card rooms, a reading room and various other advantages.
The object of the club, as set forth in the constitution is as follows: "The general purpose of this corporation shall be to promote commercial and manufacturing enterprise and activity, to assist, encourage and protect the business interests and to foster and advance the welfare, prosperity, growth and develop- ment of the village of Preston, and to establish and maintain a social club for the social benefit of its members and friends."
Cemeteries. Preston has six cemeteries, the German Lutheran, the Greenwood, the German Methodist, the Norwegian Lutheran, the Crown Hill and the St. Joseph.
PRESTON TOWNSHIP.
Preston. The shire town of the county is the southeast of the four central towns, and has for immediate neighbors Carrolton on the north, Amherst on the east, Harmony on the south, and Carimona on the west. In form and size it corresponds with a town of government survey. The south branch of Root river impinges upon the northwest corner of the town, and Camp creek, arising in Harmony, runs north from section thirty-three to sec- tion five, where it joins the main stream. It is a good farming town with considerable rolling prairie; Union prairie involving the northeastern part and Highland prairie the southeastern. The soil varies from a rich black loam in the valleys to light clay of a sandy character on the hills. In addition to the streams men- tioned the town is well watered with springs which bubble up at the surface, yielding sparkling water in abundance.
Early Settlement. The earliest settlers known to have taken claims here were Andrew Tollefson and Torger Peterson, who, coming from their native Norway, arrived in August, 1853, and took up their local habitations in sections twenty-two and twenty- three. Mr. Tollefson built his house on section twenty-two, but afterwards moved it onto section twenty-three. The log house erected in 1853 by Andrew Tollefson on section twenty-two is still standing, though its aspect has been considerably changed.
In 1854 D. M. Little, a native of Ohio, came here and pre- empted land in section three. A. J. Tillotson, of Ohio, also came with him, but Mr. Little went back and did not return until 1856. Robert Krees settled in section twenty-two. Robert Hen- derson came from Canada in 1854 and took some land in section twenty-six. Ole Munson was on section fifteen, Andreas Tollef- son was on section fourteen. E. O. Wilson, a Norwegian who had stopped a while in Illinois, took up his abode about the same time. The Duxburys settled on Partridge creek in the southern
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part of the township. There were quite a number of others.
In 1855 William Ginder settled on section five and Chris. Hahn settled on section four. This year also brought several others.
During the year 1856 Henry Milne located in section twenty- six, and Robert McCallum secured a claim in section twenty-two. These men were from Scotland. William Boice, of Dutchess county, New York, settled in section thirty-two. John Mills, an Englishman, transferred himself to section twenty-two. John Long, of Maryland, placed himself in section eight. The history of the town and city of Preston is necessarily blended together in a great measure, and in the sketches of the two they overlap each other.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Preston town- ship were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located: August 15, Joseph Weymouth, 30; August 17, Aaron Grigsby, 7; August 17, John Jones, 18; August 17, Edwin O. Wilson, 19; September 1, Rufus D. Weymouth, 29; September 15, Robert Wilson, 18; No- vember 8, Duncan M. Little, 3; November 24, Andrew J. Tillot- son, 3.
Those who obtained land in 1855 were as follows: May 26, John Kaercher, 6; June 15, Andrew Thompson, 24; August 30, William Ginder, 5; August 8, Elias Lint, 18; August 8, Samuel M. Shuck, 7; September 3, Joseph Ober, 34; October 5, David R. Smith, 19; October 6, Torger Pederson, 23; October 6, Andrew Tollefson, 22-23; October 6, Michael Tullison, 9; October 9, Henry O. Billings, 3; October 10, John Duxbury, 28; October 10, Thomas Duxbury, 28-29; October 10, Robert Henderson, 26; October 10, Thomas Reece, 28-33; October 17, David B. Frecmire, 31; October 17, Oorenso Luce, 30; November 16, William Eppinger, 17; No- vember 16, John Maust, -; November 16, Thomas Wilson, 20-29; November 16, Orrin West, 31; November 16, John B. Willey, 30; November 16, Robert Wilson, Sr., 18.
Early Events. John Henderson, son of Robert and Janet Henderson, was born on July 5, 1854. Mary Bendrickson on April 20, 1856. Purdy Hart and Phebe J. Boice were married in the spring of 1857. Rufus D. Weymouth and Mary S. Painter were married in August, 1857. On July 8, 1854, Bendrick Bendrickson, a son of Knudt and Robina Bendrickson, died at the age of five years, and was buried on his father's farm in section twenty-four. Purdy Bain died on November 21, 1856.
Political. The primary election and town meeting to set the local machinery in motion after the institution of the state gov-
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ernment was on May 11, 1858. The town officers elected at that time were: Supervisors, S. B. Murrell (chairman), John Dux- bury and Thomas S. Vickerman; town clerk, B. S. Loomis; col- lector, D. R. Smith; assessor, Oliver Williams; justices of the peace, S. B. Murrell and Duncan Murray; constables, William D. Lipe and William Hutton; overseer of the poor, E. O. Wilson; overseers of the highways, J. K. Bradbury and Berge Oleson. At this election 133 votes were polled. The political machinery in town, so far as the discharge of official duties is concerned, has gone on smoothly which ever party has been in power. In 1911 the village was separated from the township.
Railroad Bonds. Bonds were issued by the authority of town on August 27, 1879, to the amount of $25,000, in aid of the con- struction of the "Caledonia, Mississippi & Western Railroad." These bonds were fifty in number for $500 each, were to receive 7 per cent interest, and were payable on or before the expiration of twenty years. They were conditioned upon the road being built into town.
Preston in the War of 1861. The action of the town in recruit- ing our armies in the field will not suffer in comparison with others in the country. On two occasions the town was required to raise money for additional bounty, and it was promptly done. On August 5, 1864, at a meeting of the board of supervisors, a tax was levied to pay an additional bounty of $200 to each and every man who should volunteer, and thus help fill the quota of the town. Again, in December, 1864, in response to the presi- dent's call for more, the supervisors levied another tax to put the bounty up to $400 each to be paid by the town.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
SPRING VALLEY CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
Spring Valley City-Its Modern Aspect-Early Days-Munici- pal History-Fire Department-Library-Rest Room-Water- works and Lights-Commercial Club-Other Advantages- Spring Valley Township-Early Settlement and Organization -Former Villages-Edited by Sidney J. Huntley.
God touched the earth in kindness, and lo, it dimpled where It felt His mighty finger, and a valley nestled there; And He told the angel artist to paint a sky more blue Than ever dainty violet or airy bluebell knew, And to stretch it o'er that valley, as a promise from its God, That peace and plenty there should spring like flowers from the sod.
"Flowers bloom best midst environment of sunshine and intel- ligent cultivation, and cities live longest and happiest where conditions conduce to the loftiest development of moral, financial and physical culture." This was written by a common sense philosopher long before this city had its beginning, but it is so pertinent to the subject in hand that it requires no stretch of distinguishing ability to cite Spring Valley as an exemplification of the quotation.
To those who have an intimate acquaintance with Spring Valley, the story of its general status will furnish pleasure rather than interest, while to the many who may get their first or more intimate impressions of its advantages through this work, brief details may prove a valuable index to possibilities which will result in future profits to both town and reader.
Spring Valley, a city of nearly 2,000 inhabitants, is located in the western part of Fillmore county, on the southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and also on the Chicago & Great Western Road. Since the city was founded its growth has been slow, but substantial, and with un- faltering progress along the line of permanent development, until today it has a commercial, social and artistic standing excelled by none of its neighbors, and equalled by few of them. And the important factors of this development are the unexcelled advan-
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