History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 68

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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tary, F. D. Putnam. These gentlemen and R. W. Putnam and F. JJ. Seebach constitute the present board of directors.

The Red Wing Furniture Company was organized in 1880 and the following officers were elected: President, F. W. Iloyt; sec- retary, A. H. Allen; treasurer, A. II. Boxrud : superintendent, N. J. Holmberg. The firm purchased the factory of Erickson & Swanson (established in 1874). on Dakota street. and remodeled the building, erected a warehouse and put in new machinery. The buildings were destroyed by fire December 9. 1904, but were immediately rebuilt and resumed operations in June, 1905. The capital stock is $50.000 and the product consists of a general line of fine furniture, including chamber suites, buffets, dressers, com- bination bookcases and ladies' desks. The amount of the output annually is about $75,000, and the goods have a market through- out the Northwestern states as far as the Coast. The present officers are: President and manager. P. Jorgenson; vice presi- dent. T. R. Bjorngaard ; treasurer. W. H. Putnam ; secretary. Vic- tor Swanson. The directors are Peter Nelson, J. F. Swanson, Peter Kempe. T. R. Bjorngaard. M. Kappel. W. H. Putnam, O. M. IIall. P. Jorgenson and Andrew Ellingson. The main factory building is 50x100 feet. three-story brick, with a warehouse 50x 100 feet.

The Charles Betcher Lumber Company produces high grade mill work of all kinds-sash, doors, moldings, interior finishings, commercial fixtures, hardwood flooring of oak, maple and birch, end matched and steel scraped. Its factory has all the appliances and woodworking machinery and tools necessary in an up-to-date shop, and it has constantly on hand a large stoek of lumber in different varieties of wood in order that it may be well seasoned for working. The capital stock is $100,000 and the value of the product is over $150,000 per annum. The officers are: President and treasurer, Charles A. Betcher; secretary, Oscar Seebach.

The company has a most interesting history that is in fact a part of the history of the city. The real beginning was in June. 1856, when Cogel & Blakely began the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. In 1859 Charles Betcher, father of Charles A. Betcher. the present president, purchased the interest of Mr. Blakely. In 1861 they purchased the old Freeborn mill, upon which site the present factory is located. The Freeborn mill was the first mill in Red Wing. It was put up by the Messrs. Pettibone and Knapp and passed through several hands before it came into the posses- sion of the Messrs. Cogel and Beteher. In 1867 the structure was rebuilt, enlarged and improved. In 1875 Mr. Cogel retired, and since then the concern has remained in the possession of the Betcher family. At one time the concern owned many branch yards, much standing timber in Minnesota and Wisconsin and

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several lumber camps, as well as a number of stores, including a hardware store in Red Wing and a heavy hardware and wagon stock store in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis store was sold in 1888, and the Red Wing and other stores were later disposed of. The sawmill was burned in October, 1905, and the branch yards and logging interests were sold, but the sash and door factory is constantly developing. This plant was burned in September, 1893, but was immediately rebuilt on a larger scale, and again enlarged in 1906. at which time the retail lumber interests of the concern in Red Wing were sold to the Ballord-Trimbell Company.

Charles Arthur Betcher, who, like his father before him, has been prominently identified with the business and civic develop- ment of Red Wing, is a native born son, having first seen the light of day August 25. 1862. son of Charles and Margaret Beteher. of whom a sketch is found in this history. He attended the Red Wing public schools and the Red Wing Seminary, in which latter institution he was under the able tuition of Prof. Hood. At Shattuck School, Faribault, where he prepared for college, he graduated in 1880 as valedictorian of his class and with an average of high scholarship. After having passed his entrance examinations to Yale he was offered two opportunities, one of passing through that classic institution and the other of engaging at once in his father's business. He chose the latter course and in 1881, anxious to start business, he entered the hardware store of C. Betcher & Co. Two years later he entered his father's lumber office. Thus equipped with a knowledge of the details of the business, he was sent to Minneapolis in 1884 to take charge of the heavy hardware and wagon business which his father owned in that city. When the Minneapolis branch was sold in January, 1888, Charles A. returned to this city as secretary and treasurer and manager of the Charles Betcher Lumber Company. In this position he remained until 1903, when, upon the death of his father, he became president of the com- pany. The sawmill of the lumber company was burned in Octo- ber, 1905, and the branch vards and logging interests were sold, but the sash and door factory was increased and a large busi- ness is developing. This latter plant was started originally in the early fifties, but burned in September, 1893, being imme- diately rebuilt on a larger scale and again enlarged in 1906, a fuller account of which is found in the history of the company, which appears elsewhere. Aside from his interests in his own concern, Mr. Betcher has been a director of the Goodhne County National Bank since 1902. treasurer and director of the Red Wing Malting Company since 1902, president and director of . the Red Wing Linseed Company since 1905, treasurer and di- rector of the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company since 1909, and

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

vice president and director of the Forest Products Company since 1908. Hle was one of the originators and a charter mem- ber of the Red Wing Commercial Club, and its president, 1901-02. lle was also originator and charter member of the Red Wing Manufacturers' Association and its president from 1901 to 1908. Ilis military record includes service as first sergeant of Company G, Minnesota National Guards. from 1883 to 1884, and as captain of the same from 1888 to 1892. Originally an old time Democrat, he became an independent voter on the issue of free silver and Bryanism. His public offices, however. have been held by merit and irrespective of party affiliations. Among the positions with which his fellow citizens have honored him are those of member of the city council. 1892-93; member of the city cemetery board. 1889-90, also 1906 and at present, and member of the city auditorium board. 1904 and at present. In 1908 he became presi- dent of the latter board. In Christ Episcopal Church, of which he is a faithful attendant, he has been vestryman since 1906. Charles A. Betcher was united in marriage February 12. 1885, to Carrie B. Eddy, daughter of E. W. Eddy, one of the carly pio- neers of Minnesota. To this union has been born one son, Charles E. Betcher, whose sketch follows. Mr. Betcher is an admirable citizens in every respect. and his record plainly set forth be- speaks his merit louder than would the most laudatory en- comiums. Mr. Betcher has recently erected a beautiful home on Fourth street, which is one of the residential ornaments of the city.

Charles Betcher, founder of the Red Wing family of that name and an active factor in the industrial growth of the city from its earlier days, was born in Greifswald. Prussia. Germany. January 31. 1830. He attended the common and academic schools of his native kingdom and there acquired the excellent educa- tion to which he afterward added a store of business sagacity and knowledge acquired through active contact with the world of affairs. In 1849 he came to America and located in Rochester, N. Y., later taking up his residence in Wayne county, in the same state. In 1855 he moved to Winona. Minn .. and opened a hard- ware store with a branch at Red Wing. It was in May, 1856, that he took up his residence permanently in this city. Three years later he embarked in the lumber business by purchasing the Blakely interest in the firm of Cogel & Blakely, the firm be- coming Cogel & Betcher. Later Mr. Betcher became the sole proprietor. In 1889 the firm of Charles Betcher Company was incorporated. Hle discontinued the hardware business about 1893. In his latter years Mr. Beteher took a deep interest in the early history of the county and city and was president of the Old Settlers' Association. During his forty-seven years'

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residence in Red Wing he was identified with almost every pub- lic measure pertaining to its growth and prosperity. He steadily pushed ahead and saw his efforts crowned with success. He was a cautious but energetic business man, of fine executive ability and thoroughly at home in the intricate details of the various branches of business that demanded his attention. In his death, July 6, 1903, Red Wing lost one of her ablest and most prominent citizens. In 1856 Charles Betcher was married at Pultneyville. N. Y., to Margaret Gothrup, a native of New York state. She came to Red Wing with her husband and now occu- pies the beautiful Betcher mansion at the head of Fourth street. In 1907 she erected at the entrance of Oakwood cemetery the Charles Betcher Memorial Chapel, a beautiful and enduring tribute to her husband's memory.

Charles E. Betcher is the third of his name to become identi- fied with Red Wing business interests. his father and grand- father both having occupied influential positions in the eom- munity. the former being deceased and the latter in the prime of his activities. Charles E. was born in Minneapolis, Minn., March 18. 1886. only son of Charles A. Betcher, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vohune. Ile came to Red Wing with his parents at an early age and here received his common school education, later taking a course at the Shattuck School, Faribault. from which he graduated with high honors in 1905. In 1905 he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Uni- versity. New Haven. Conn .. and graduated in 1907. At once after graduation he returned to Red Wing and became director. secretary and manager of the Red Wing Linseed Company, a po- sition he still retains. Mr. Betcher votes the Republican ticket and attends the Episcopal Church.

The Trout Brook Tannery was organized in 1872 and for a time was in a flourishing condition. In 1880 J. F. Porter, the proprietor. also erected a sorghum mill near the tannery. Recently Mr. Porter has sold out and removed. The old tannery and sorghum mill have been torn down. and the former is being replaced by a tannery nearer town erected by the S. B. Foot Company, which purchased Mr. Porter's interests.

Fishing Industry .- Since the earliest days the abundance of fish in the vicinity of Red Wing has provided a livelihood for a number of men, and in pioneer times often saved the settlers from the pangs of hunger. At present a number of families make their living by fishing in this vicinity, the catches being sold to the Bay City Fish Company, of Bay City, Wis.

The Red Wing Filter Sand Company was organized by Adolf Gallasch, Sr., who was the first to discover and use for the pur- pose of filtration the silica filter sand contained in the Twin

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Bluffs. Its filtering and qualities are recognized all over the United States as an effective ageney in the mechanical purifying of impure water. The sand taken from the bluffs is first screened to take out the gravel, then it is dried and again screened to pro- dnce the three grades, the grades desired by the customers being regulated by the quality of the water to be filtered and the amount which it is desired shall pass through the sand in a given time. The sand has a wide market and has been widely used by municipal and private water works. It is highly praised by chemists and by users. The sand is used for sand blast as well as for filtration purposes. Adolf G. Gallasch is now the active manager of the plant, which is located near the end of West avenue, in South Red Wing.

The Red Wing Telephone Company was incorporated Decem- ber 15, 1904, with the following officers: President. A. P. Pierce; vice president, C. A. Rasmussen ; secretary and treasurer, D. M. Neill. The directors were the above named gentlemen and W. C. Krise, E. II. Moulton, A. J. Scherf. HI. E. Akenson and R. L. Gron- dahl. The officers and directors have been the same to the pres- ent time, with the addition of N. II. Featherstone to complete the board of directors. The authorized capital stock of the company is $150,000. The first operation of the system was started May 1, 1905. Since then the growth of the service in Red Wing and adjacent suburban territory has been remarkable. Under the management of Mr. Neill the number of instruments in use has increased to about 1,500 and the service given the patrons is most excellent. Since its first operation the switchboard and offices have been in the Goodhue County National Bank building. The enterprise is strictly local, and has had its share in the present prosperity of Red Wing and Goodhue county.

Lovgren, Peterson & Friestad were among the first manufac- turers in Red Wing. They had a plant located on Fifth street, between Bush and Phim, and for many years made wagons, sleds, plows, safes and the like, on a scale that was truly magnificent compared with the size of the village at that time.

The Red Wing Compounding Company was organized Janu- ary 1, 1909. with the following officers: President, Dr. W. M. Sweney; vice president, James II. Sweney: secretary, John Hempftling; treasurer, Lawrence Penfold. The company makes a general line of proprietary articles and has a rapidly growing business with great future possibilities.

The clam fishing industry is very important in the neighbor- hood of Red Wing. While the main channel of the Mississippi at this point is now about depleted as far as a elam shell erop is concerned, the fishing operations are still continued in the ereeks and inlets, and valuable pearls are found from time to time, a

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number of these precious gems having already been taken from the waters of this vicinity.

Red Wing cigars are in great favor with local smokers and also have an outside market. The principal cigar manufacturers in this city are: C. J. Bohmbach. F. J. Hasler, G. F. Eichinger, W. A. Jellineck, John Malloy, G. J. Miller and the Red Wing Cigar Manufacturing Company.

Wagons .- The manufacture of wagons is an enterprise which has flourished here since the earliest days, some dozen firms hav- ing been engaged in the business at various times. The largest manufacturers of this line at the present time are C. A. Erickson, Michael Kappel and M. Remshart.

J. M. Hjermstad has a machine plant and does considerable work in his line. more especially in installing machinery for other concerns and keeping same in repair. Remshardt & Oliva also do some machine work.

Tents and awnings are manufactured by the Red Wing Tent & Awning Company.

O. R. Wermuth is now the sole representative of the fur busi- ness. In former years E. T. Howard was an extensive dealer and manufacturer in this line. H. J. Lillyblad has a glove factory which at certain seasons of the year has a considerable output.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

MODERN RED WING.

Its Advantages, Opportunities and Wealth-Some of the Things Which Have Made It Famous-History of the Various News- papers Which Have Been Published Here-Associations and Societies-Miscellaneous.

Red Wing is "beautiful for situation." Recently one of its citizens journeying in the East met a cultured gentleman who has held important positions under the government and traveled ex- tensively. When it was announced to him where his Friend hailed from. he quickly replied, "Red Wing? Oh, yes -- it's that very beautiful little city nestled among the bluffs, lying along the Mississippi river below St. Paul. Twenty years ago I stopped off there and climbed the grand old bluff and got one of the most picturesque views of my life. How very fortunate you are to live in such a place !"

This expression from the man of affairs finds an echo in the hearts and minds of all who, as residents or strangers. have had the opportunity of standing on Barn bluff. which, like a sentinel. rises three hundred feet above the city. From its heights there stretches out a panorama of surpassing loveliness. At its base lies the city. its homes clustered here and there amid lesser bluffs, covered during the summer months with greenest verdure, while along the river front are to be seen the manufacturing industries which are the backbone of the city's prosperity.

Red Wing is not merely picturesque. The beauty with which heaven so richly endowed it would always give it a unique favor among the peculiarly attractive places to be found on Mother Earth. but, happily, its natural charms have been supplemented and augmented by a progressive population, possessed of a rare sense of the value of civic improvement and keenly alive to all that enhances the moral, intellectual and artistic as well as the material growth of the city.

Among the smaller cities of the United States, it has attracted, by its splendid civic attitude an'd unusual natural beauty. wide attention and been the subject of numerous magazine articles and much newspaper comment, appreciative and admiring.

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Better yet. its people do consider themselves fortunate, in- deed, in being dwellers in so goodly a town. They believe with all their hearts that Red Wing is what it is widely called-"The De- sirable City."

There is a reason for it. It is disclosed in the facts and fig- ures which are herewith given. Even these are not prosaic and dull, but if you note them-and we will make them as concise as possible-you will see that they fairly bristle with business energy and throb with a life characteristic of a people committed to a love of the beautiful and a desire for the true and an ambi- tion to "get on in the world."

Red Wing is the county seat of "old Goodhue"-one of the most fertile and thriving counties within the commonwealth of Minnesota. It is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi river. In all its windings. from Itasca to the Gulf. through the · heart of the great continent. nowhere is the old Father of Waters more majestie or picturesque than at this point. Broad stretches of islands and river channels are environed by banks on which are towering bluffs, like lofty citadels, commanding the situation and adding grandeur to the scene.

Red Wing has a population of 12.000 and is steadily growing. The territory from which trade is drawn is a wealthy agricultural listriet and in this area dwell one hundred thousand people. Goodhue county, Minnesota, if which Red Wing is the shire town. has a population approaching 40.000. while Pierce county, Wisconsin, directly across the Mississippi river, numbers more than 30,000 souls.

Red Wing has an excellent city government. The city owns its own waterworks and is now instituting a pure water supply from artesian wells: its paid fire department is one of the best equipped and most efficient in the Northwest : a gas and electric company, with 16 miles of mains : a handsome city hall. The city is divided into four wards. has a mayor. nine aldermen, a board of public works. under whose direction many public improve- ments are made. and other boards care for the water. fire de- partment, cemetery, auditorium and public library.

Red Wing is notable as a manufacturing center. Outside of Minneapolis. St. Paul and Duluth, it is the largest manufacturing town in the Northwest. Its record as a shipping point is sig- nificant. both by railroad and waterway. Red Wing's railroad freightage amounts to 30.000 carloads a year, said to be the heaviest amount for a manufacturing city of its size in the United States. Over thirty manufacturing institutions are located here. employing a capital of $3,000,000. having 1,500 men on a payroll which annually amounts to $600,000. and the value of whose prod- uets exceed $7.500.000. Among the most important of these in-

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dustries are two potteries, two sewer pipe factories, two malting plants, two breweries, two Hour mills, a linseed mill, a large tan- nery, a launch factory, marine engine works, brick factory, hat factory, two shoe factories, two furniture factories, a large advertising novelty concern, and with them other in-

dustries, each growing and successful. The newest of these numerous enterprises is the Forest Products Company. It has purchased large tracts of timber along the river, has a saw- mill and plant in East Red Wing and contemplating the manu- facture of many by-products of the forest and the introduction of a system of practical forestry on its extensive timbered areas, promises to become one of the most important of the city's com- mercial assets within a very few years.

From a business standpoint, Red Wing's busy factories are the mainstay of its prosperity, combined with the wealth which flows in on all sides from the fertile acres of an exceptionally splendid agricultural region. on which dwell a thrifty. industrious and intelligent people. Red Wing is the trading center for thousands of sturdy farmers, who raise things worth raising and readily sold at high prices: Red Wing is the home of twelve thousand people who are intensely busy making things worth making. which command attention for their excellence and are eagerly sought for in the world's markets. Under these conditions its workingmen, retail and wholesale business men, as well as those in professional lines. are thriving.

The city is making rapid progress along the avenues of com- munity life which uplift, beautify and ennoble. A strong organi- zation is its eivie league, whose purpose is to stimulate and further the beautification and tidiness of the town. Its effective work has been shown in a crusade which ridded the city of many old signs. in the placing of waste paper cans at the corners of many streets, the care of " Webster's Way," which leads up Barn Bluff. and prizes offered to the children of the "Junior Civie League" for best kept flower gardens, vegetable gardens, neatest front vards and neatest back yards. A ride through the city with its boulevarded streets. lined with shade trees of many kinds, its well kept lawns and tidy yards, will reveal how thoroughly the people have caught the contagion for the city beautiful. The city itself is emulating the spirit of its citizens. Its park system is both expanding and improving. It includes two miles of river frontage. Already a portion of it. called Levee Park, is com- pleted and, with its concrete river wall, beautiful drives and shaded walks and steamboat landing, it has become a favorite resort of the people during the summer season. Leading up from the park is Broadway, the gateway of the city. This has been beautifully boulevarded and parked through the generosity of

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John H. Rich, who is a leader in the pervasive passion for civic improvement. Further extension of this parkway is planned. The Colvill park, the old homestead and residence of Col. Wm. Colvill, the hero of Gettysburg, on the river front in East Red Wing, has been purchased and made a very popular pienie ground by the untiring efforts of the Colvill Park Association. an organi- zation of ladies of the city who are actively interested in the general welfare. Mrs. D. M. Neill is president of this association.

Notable as Red Wing is for its business enterprise and love of the beautiful, its people recognize that there must be symmetry in community proportions as well as in all other growth if sub- stantial and worthy progress is to be attained. They have not forgotten the intellectual and spiritual forces, which are more subtle but, nevertheless, more potent in permanent upbuilding than the things which appeal to eye and ear. Here sight and insight, "the seen and the unseen." are rounding into form the plastie forces at their command. and both are emphasized.

Educationally. in facilities and in progressiveness as well, Red Wing stands foremost among the cities of the state. Its pub- lie schools are noted for their excellence and the advanced posi- tion they have taken. Its high school building cost $40.000 and its curriculum includes not only the usual literary, classical and scientific courses, but also normal. commercial, manual training. domestic science and agricultural courses. It was one of the first ten towns of the state to inaugurate a complete agricultural course. The school property already includes a school farm of seven acres where several hundred boys and girls during the past summer planted. cultivated and raised school gardens success- fully.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 68

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264