USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 47
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Rushford Gazette. This paper was started on January 1, 1867, by S. J. Brown, who afterwards sold one-half interest to S. S. Stebbins. After awhile the "Temperance Fountain" was started in connection with it. Charles D. Sherwood became proprietor. This publication was discontinued, and the "Southern Minne- sotian" was started. This was a paper of character, and had con- siderable influence on the times. Brown & Sherwood were pro- prietors until September, 1868, when A. E. Ball & Co. bought the concern and managed it until the following April, when it was sold to S. J. Brown, who soon discontinued the publication.
In May, 1869, Frank H. Stout came from Stevens Point, Wis., and conducted a paper until 1870, when he went to Kansas. This was called the Rushford Era.
In April, 1871, Willis Osborne & Brother started The Rush- ford Journal, and conducted it until January, 1873.
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SPRING VALLEY.
The Western Progress was established at Spring Valley in 1868 by Mrs. Bella French, who moved it to Spring Valley from Brownsville, Houston county. She was assisted in the work by "Till" Hutchinson. In the earlier seventies she sold the paper to Mr. Hutchinson, and accepted a newspaper position on a St. Paul daily. Mr. Hutchinson continued the paper for a time, and then sold to J. J. Sargent, who later transferred his interest to Col. M. T. Jones, who conducted it for a year and a half, after which he was accidentally killed August 18, 1879. Col. H. C. Van Leuven was hired to conduct the paper and later secured entire control. He continued as publisher until 1886, when he sold it to Will Meyers. In 1900 A. E. Pfremmer became its proprietor and continued its publication for eight years. Prof. E. E. Camp- bell, at that time principal of the Spring Valley schools, then pur- chased the paper, and after publishing it for a while, sold out to Henry Russell in 1899. November 3, 1903, the paper was trans- ferred to F. E. Langworthy, who consolidated it with the "Mer- cury" under the head Spring Valley Mercury-Vidette. The paper is still conducted by Mr. Langworthy, and is a potent influence in the community.
The Mercury was established March 18, 1880, at Grand Meadow, Mower county, this state, by Langworthy & Son. On the first of August, following, it was moved to Austin, the county seat of that county. April 18, 1881, F. E. Langworthy became editor and publisher. April 15, 1882, the paper was moved to Spring Valley, B. F. Langworthy again entering actively into newspaper work, the firm being Langworthy & Son. This con- tinued until October, 1899, when B. F. Langworthy retired from the business, owing to old age. The business has since been con- ducted by F. E. Langworthy.
The Spring Valley Sun enjoys a good circulation in this part of the state. Its two most prominent editors have been E. G. H. Adams and Sidney J. Huntley.
LANESBORO.
The Lanesboro Journal. This paper first saw the light on June 13, 1874, at Lanesboro. It was published by the Wall Brothers, the personnel being O. G. Wall and S. W. Wall. It was a six- column folio at $2 per year. It claimed to be rather an inde- pendent Republican paper, and started out with a business look. It was well printed and well edited, and was all printed in the office. O. G. Wall sold to Geo. Harding. Harding to L. P. Hunt,
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A. H. LANGUM
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Hunt to M. G. Fellows, Fellows to Robert Donald and Donald to W. W. Wall. In June, 1907, Mr. Wall, who was then the owner, disposed of the paper to Thompson & Cowing, a real estate firm of St. Paul. The firm sent W. E. Moore to take charge of the paper. He printed three issues and then left the village. Following this the shop was closed.
The Lanesboro Leader. This paper was first issued October 1, 1898, by Ola M. Levang, who had previously been engaged ex- tensively in newspaper and magazine work in various parts of the country. The new paper was well received, and in a few months it had a circulation of over 1,000 copies. Year after year the circulation kept on increasing, until at the time Mr. Levang retired as its editor and publisher, in November, 1909, its circulation was over 22,500 copies, the largest circulation of any weekly newspaper in the southeastern part of the state at that time. During the eleven years Mr. Levang published this paper it was regarded generally as one of the most ably edited newspapers in the First congressional district. It had consid- erable political influence, strongly advocating the progressive principles within the Republican party. At the time of its sale it was transferred to C. L. Foss, until recently publisher of the Star- Republican at Rushford. A year later it was leased by him to the present editors, Messrs. G. E. Dorival and A. M. Olstad.
The Lanesboro Herald. This paper was first issued in Sep- tember, 1868, by Lute Christie, and was for a time conducted with ability.
MABEL.
The Mabel Enterprise was established in December, 1884, by James Ostrander. During its early history it changed hands fre- quently and was owned at various times by the Russell Brothers (Charles F. and William), Gagen & Smalley, Daniel Gagen and Frank Bartholomew.
The Mabel Tribune. J. T. Wheaton purchased the Mabel Enterprise, Feb. 1, 1895, and established the Tribune. June 6, 1895, II. E. Wheaton purchaed a half interest, and the firm was known for some time as the Wheaton Brothers. The Wheaton Brothers enlarged the paper from a seven column folio to an eight column folio, and then changed it to a five column eight-page paper. J. T. Wheaton became sole owner in February, 1897. G. A. Terry was also connected with the paper for a while.
The Mabel Sentinel. George W. Growley purchased the Mabel Tribune and changed the name to the Mabel Sentinel and con- tinued it until 1895, when he took his plant to North Dakota, leaving Mabel without a paper. The subscription list was sold
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to S. A. Langum, of the Preston Times, who conducted a Mabel page in the Times for a while.
The Mabel Record was established in July, 1906, and the first number was issued August 3, 1906. Ernest R. Antrim was pub- lisher, C. L. Christopherson, manager, and J. A. Nelson, editor. Mr. Antrim who had practical charge of the paper from the first, became sole owner and manager, August 9, 1907. It is worthy of note that Mr. Antrim has printed every issue himself, without missing a number, since August 3, 1906. The Record has a good circulation, has maintained a sound editorial policy, and is very popular in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. It enjoys the confidence of the community, and has considerable influence among a large constituency.
PETERSON.
The Peterson Gazette was started about 1890 by S. A. L. Thomp- son. He sold to A. O. Alm, who discontinued the publication.
The Peterson Herald was started about 1897 by Jacob Tenny, who was quickly followed by M. A. Tolrud, N. J. Amble and L. B. Johnson in turn. Then the paper was discontinued for nearly ten years. In November Carl A. Smaby revived the publication and continued it until May 1, 1912, when, having become inter- ested in the Rushford Star-Republican, he sold the Herald to the Commercial Club and C. E. Butler, of Preston, was engaged as editor and manager. Mr. Butler took charge with the issue of April 25, just previous to Mr. Smaby's departure, that issue being volume 3, No. 24. Mr. Butler issued three numbers and resigned. The business men then secured the services of Carl Olson, a newspaper man, who, after an interesting career in the theatrical business, became editor of the paper at Spring Grove, for which he was fitted by experience on several dailies in La Crosse. After a year in Spring Grove Mr. Olson came to Peter- son in the spring of 1912 and assumed his present duties.
HARMONY.
Several attempts were made to publish a paper in Harmony during the nineties, but these attempts were all unsuccessful and short lived.
The Harmony News was started in 1897 by Daniel Gagen, who continued to publish it until February, 1899, when John P. Taylor purchased it and after a month's ownership sold it to L. O. Haugen, the present owner and publisher. The paper is Repub- lican in politics and is interested in every movement that tends to advance the interests of the village.
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CANTON.
In 1880 Harry T. Blair started the Canton Observer, the town's first newspaper. It was printed in the old Grange hall, which was first located on lot north of R. A. Sturgeon's drug store. The old building is now in.a dilapidated condition on the rear of lots occupied by the pump shop. The Observer light shone for a few years and then went out on the departure of the editor. In 1895 the Leader, edited by H. O. Helgeson, ran for some time. In 1901 W. H. Dudley launched the Free Lance, turning it over to E. M. Eames in 1899. The Free Lance was originally published at Harmony. Editor M. A. Tolrud had charge of the Free Lance a short time. For a short time R. M. Bosworth edited the paper and then handed the quill to B. F. Stead, who conducted the paper until 1904, when he sold out to Geo. H. Iseminger, of Blooming Prairie. In the summer of 1907 Mr. Iseminger departed and the paper closed its career.
Canton was without a newspaper for a year and a half until in April, 1909, when Harry T. Boyd started the Canton Reporter. He equipped the office with power presses and placed the paper on a good business basis. In March 1, 1911, Editor J. S. Hatlestad, of Lane, S. D., bought the Reporter and at once began to improve the plant as well as to issue a more newsy paper. The Reporter is now on a solid footing and is well patronized by village and country about. In politics it is independent Republican.
FOUNTAIN.
Fountain Review. F. R. Haines established the Fountain Review in May, 1906. May 8, 1907, it passed into the possession of J. K. Johnson, who still conducts it.
The Radical. This paper was at first published in Fountain in 1880, and after being issued a year or so went to Rochester and remained a few months, after which it was again operated in Fountain. The editor and proprietor was C. S. Powers.
WYKOFF.
The newspaper has figured conspicuously in the life of the village since 1878, when F. C. Stowe began issuing the Dollar Weekly. He soon became discouraged and handed the reins over to C. S. Powers, of Fountain, who drove the vehicle in the inter- ests of the Greenbackers. At the close of the campaign Mr. Powers gave way to Krueger Brothers, who, in 1879, established the Wykoff Record. The malady of non-support set in and became chronic, terminating the paper's career in three months'
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time. In 1882 the News was started by A. R. Burkdel, but did not last long. Next came Jacob Fenney with the Advertiser, which prospered for several years. In the latter nineties A. M. Wallace brought the Preston Courier outfit to Wykoff and gave the village its first real newspaper. Following Mr. Wallace's removal to Fairfax the destiny of the paper was guided by C. E. Wilson, Emily Boyd and others until 1902, when the plant was purchased by Sidney J. Huntley. Mr. Huntley not only put new life into the sheet, but infused a new brand of energy and enterprise into the whole village, his efforts doing more to reinstate Wykoff upon the map than any previous attempt of individual or corporation. Mr. Huntley sold the Messenger to E. G. Kleck in 1907. Kleck had too many side issues in hand and the paper was allowed to drift until it completely lost its grip. The Enterprise then sprang into existence, the first issue appearing November 20, 1908, with E. P. Johnson and G. N. Sheppard at the steering wheel. In June, 1910, Mr. Sheppard dropped from the firm, selling his share to Mr. Johnson, who has since conducted the paper alone. The paper has a circulation of 800 and is Republican in politics.
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C. H. SMITH
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CHAPTER XXXV.
BANKS AND BANKING.
Financial History of Fillmore County-The Early Banks of Easton and His Partners-Many Old Banks Still in Existence -Story of the Starting, Growth, Progress and Standing of the Present Banks-Edited by M. Scanlan.
The first effort of the pioneer was to secure his location and to there erect a habitation. The question of livelihood was one of immediate importance and no sooner was the pioneer and his family provided with a place to live, however poor or temporary, than he began to break the ground for crops. Mills for grind- ing the grain and sawing lumber were also an early necessity, and as there were many articles of daily need which the soil did not produce, the establishment of general stores could not long be delayed. But even in the most primitive community money is a vital need. The money lenders followed fast in the foot- steps of the pioneer. Before long it became apparent that there must be some sort of an institution of financial exchange. Pri- vate banks were usually established as an adjunct of some other business. Some continued for a few years only, but others grad- ually assumed the importance of national or state institutions. This to a large extent is true of the early history of Fillmore county. Today the county is on a sound financial basis and the prosperity of the community is shown by the financial statements of the various banks which handle the money of the people at large. The county now has twenty-one banks, six of these being national banks and fifteen of them being state banks. They are: National: First National Bank of Chatfield, First National Bank of Preston, First National Bank of Spring Valley, First National Bank of Rushford, First National Bank of Mabel and the First National Bank of Harmony.
State: First State Bank of Chatfield, State Bank of Lanes- boro, Scanlan-Habberstad State Bank of Lanesboro, Rushford State Bank, Peterson State Bank, State Bank of Mabel, First State Bank of Canton, First State Bank of Fountain, Exchange State Bank of Wykoff, First State Bank of Wykoff, First State Bank of Spring Valley, Ostrander State Bank, Farmers' & Mer-
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chants' State Bank of Preston, State Line Bank of Prosper and the Harmony State Bank.
The First Bank. Gilbert & Easton commenced the banking business in Chatfield November 25, 1856. W. A. Gilbert was a member of congress from northern New York at that time and J. C. Easton was the resident member of the firm, having recently removed to Minnesota from New York. Mr. Gilbert withdrew from the firm after a year or two and the business was continued by Mr. Easton as a private bank until 1888, doing business during this period under the name of Root River Bank. It was the first bank doing business in southern Minnesota, except perhaps a private bank in Winona (which was later merged in the First National Bank of that city), and one of the very first in the entire state. Mr. Easton established a number of banks throughout southern Minnesota, at Caledonia, Rushford, Lanesboro, Spring Valley, Owatonna, Austin and Winnebago City, all of which were successfully conducted under his supervision for a long period of years. During this period from 1856 until 1883 he resided in Chatfield. Mr. Easton sold the Root River Bank to George H. Haven, a merchant of Chatfield, in 1888, and the business was continued by Mr. Haven under the same name (Root River Bank) until June 20, 1905, when it was incorporated as First State Bank of Chatfield, with G. H. Haven, president; Levi Bemis, vice-pres- ident, and S. E. Bibbins, cashier ; these officers, with E. G. Bolles and G. A. Haven constituting the first board of directors. G. A. Haven became cashier October 1, 1905, and with the president G. H. Haven continues in the active management of the bank. Mr. Bemis, upon his decease in August, 1910, was succeeded by Ensign G. Bolles, the present vice-president. H. Fairbank was elected a director. The present board of directors are G. H. Haven, E. G. Bolles, S. E. Bibbins, G. A. Haven and H. Fairbank.
The policy of the bank is conservative, seeking first of all to protect its depositors and stockholders from all possible loss. That this policy has been successfully carried out is evidenced by the fact that during the nearly fifty-six years of its continuous existence, first as Root River Bank and later as First State Bank of Chatfield, no depositor has ever lost a dollar entrusted to its care or ever asked for the money due him without receiving it.
The Root River Bank first occupied the building on the west corner of Main and Fourth streets, a one-story frame structure, removing in 1870 to the two-story brick building corner Main and Third streets now occupied by First State Bank. So that during the nearly fifty-six years of its life it has had but one change of management. The present building was purchased by the bank in 1907 from J. C. Easton's estate and entirely rebuilt and refitted with modern fittings and appliances.
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Following is the condition of the bank at the close of business April 18, 1912:
Resources. Loans and discounts, $273,257.10; overdrafts, $705.47; bonds and other securities, $23,300.27; banking house, furniture and fixtures, 6,387.65; total cash assets, $65,372.71; checks and cash items, $46.29; total, $369,069.49.
Liabilities. Capital stock, $25,000.00; surplus fund, $3,250.00; undivided profits, net, $3,776.59; total deposits, $337.042.90; total, $369,069.49.
The Bushford State Bank began business on March 7, 1867, as a private bank under the name of Bank of Rushford. The own- ers were Niles Carpenter and J. C. Easton, and the firm name was Carpenter & Easton. Previous to this Mr. Carpenter was auditor of Fillmore county and Mr. Easton was a capitalist and owner of several banks in Fillmore county. On November 21, 1872, George G. Stevens, of Rushford, purchased Mr. Easton's interest in the bank and the firm name became Carpenter & Stevens. Mr. Stevens was one of the early settlers of Rushford and owned the present business part of the town. The bank con- tinued under this ownership until January 18, 1897, when they associated with them John Roberton, of Winona county, and Fred A. Olson, of Rushford, under the firm name of Carpenter, Stevens & Co. On November 29, 1901, Niles Carpenter sold his interest in the bank to George G. Stevens and the business was continued by Stevens, Roberton & Co. until John Roberton died and his son, James G. Roberton, and his brother, William Rober- ton, also M. A. Maland, became the new owners as Stevens, Rob- erton, Maland & Co. This was soon destined to be changed again, this time by the death of G. G. Stevens, which occurred March 16, 1903, and the remaining partners continued as Rob- erton, Maland, Olson & Co., until they incorporated as a state bank under the name of Rushford State Bank, which was done July 17, 1906. The officers, directors and stockholders were elected then and are now as follows: Wm. Roberton, president ; M. A. Maland, vice-president ; J. G. Roberton, vice-president; F. A. Olson, cashier.
The following is the last published statement made to the superintendent of banks, February 20, 1912:
Resources. Loans, $433,463.54; overdrafts, $2,380.61; real estate, fixtures, $7,400.00; banks, $94,342.44; cash, $16,650.69; items, transit, cash, $4,130.07; total, $558,367.35.
Liabilities. Capital, $25,000.00; surplus, $5,000.00; undivided profits, $638.75; deposits, $527,728.60; total, $558,367.35.
The general policy of this institution is prompt and careful attention to all business entrusted to it, no matter whether large or small. With ample capital and surplus it is in a position to
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handle everything in line of banking business on a satisfactory basis.
When it began business in 1867 it occupied and owned its building where the Presbyterian church is now located, and ten years later purchased and occupied the present stone building which has been remodeled at different times to meet the demands of a growing business.
The Exchange State Bank of Wykoff was started as a private bank in the year 1880 by L. G. Kilborn, under the name of Ex- change Bank of Wykoff, and occupied a small lean-to building in the center of the main business block. In the fall of 1887 L. G. Kilborn sold out his business to Fred Wendorf, who was at that time blacksmithing and selling farm machinery. Fred Wendorf then continued the business at the old stand until the fall of 1894, when he moved into a new and modern brick building, built in the same block by Mr. Wendorf, with a large and comodious vault for the better accommodation of the business which had outgrown its former location. On the morning of March 28, 1895, fire swept over and consumed the entire business block, with the exception of the new bank building, which had been completed and occupied only a few months, leaving it with its roof burned off, the only building remaining in the block. Dur- ing the summer of the same year, 1895, the business block was rebuilt of brick, Fred Wendorf, banker, advancing the money necessary to carry on the construction of same, until its comple- tion. At one time during this period about $20,000 was necessary to carry on the good work. On March 21, 1908, in accordance with a state law which had been passed prohibiting private banks in this state, the above named institution was organized into a state bank, with $15,000 capital stock, and twenty-one stock- holders as organizers, as follows: Fred Wendorf, Otto A. Wen- dorf, John Wendorf, August Derenthal, A. F. Erdman, E. Erd- man, C. J. Spies, D. C. Green, John L. Froehlich, John Lottes, Wm. S. Kidd, Dr. J. T. Dunn, Fred Evers, Louis Kidd, Fred Wolt- man, M. Egleston, Osmond Brakke, M. F. Flanagan, O. M. Row- ley, A. F. Schroeder, E. L. Behring.
Since the organization of the bank the following stockholders have been added to the above list : Phil. Hoffman, C. V. Hoffman, Hedwig Affeldt, Will Hahn, E. G. Jeche, Cory Means, E. A. Erdman, Gust. Erdman, Wm. E. Grabau, Wm. Schmidt, B. D. Far- rington, C. II. Farrington, John Grabau, Jr., F. W. Boyer, H. T. Dutcher, Prof. E. F. Wallman.
At the first meeting of the stockholders Fred Wendorf was chosen as president, August Derenthal as vice-president and John Wendorf as cashier. At the same meeting the following stock- holders were elected as directors of said bank: Fred Wendorf,
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August Derenthal, Dr. J. T. Dunn, A. F. Erdman and Fred Woltman.
The above officers and directors have been re-elected each year and are still holding their respective offices, excepting Dr. J. T. Dunn, who, having sold out his practice and moved to Albert Lea, Minn., resigned as a director. Wm. S. Kidd has been appointed as a director to fill the vacancy. John Wendorf, cashier, starting in with his father at the age of fifteen years as janitor, assistant bookkeeper and the like, has practically grown up with the business.
In the fall of 1910 the directors, having the wellfare of their patrons at heart, installed one of the American Bank Protection Company's electric burglar alarms, thus absolutely insuring their patrons against loss of their funds and valuable papers by bur- glary. They also have a nest of safety deposit boxes for rent to customers for the safekeeping of valuable papers, etc., where they are safe against loss by burglary, fire or other causes.
The bank is in a flourishing condition and earning good returns for its stockholders and adding to its surplus funds each year, and thus making it a stronger institution each year and safer as they grow older and stronger. The latest financial state- ment reads as follows:
Resources. Loans and discounts, $80,563.56; overdrafts, $119.04; other bonds, stocks, etc., $5,644.07; banking house fur- niture, etc., $5,654.92; due from banks, $38,044.56; cash on hand, $2,712.97; other resources, $307.53; total resources, $133,046.65.
Liabilities. Capital stock, $15,000.00; surplus fund, $2,500.00; deposits, $115,546.65; total liabilities, $133,046.65.
The policies of the officers and directors of this bank are to treat its customers fair, to give them an honest deal every time, to look out for their welfare the whole year around, and to pro- vide safety and give them good returns for their earnings.
The First State Bank of Canton was organized and opened up for business as a state bank April 1, 1908, it being the suc- cessor of the Winnesheik County Bank. The incorporators were C. J. Weiser, president of the Winnesheik County State Bank, of Decorah, Ia .; R. Algyer, cashier of said bank, and F. A. Masters, of Canton, Minn.
The first officers of the First State Bank of Canton were C. J. Weiser, president; R. Algyer, vice-president, and F. A. Masters, cashier. There has never been any change and these are the present officers and directors of this institution. This bank was organized with a paid up capital of $10,000 and a surplus of $2,500. In 1911 the surplus was increased to $3,000.
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