History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 69

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

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A new building to be devoted to mannal training and domestic science, with a large gymnasium, is now being erected adjacent to the high school at a cost, when equipped, of not less than $50 .- 000. With a corps of a dozen teachers in the high school and thirty-four more in the grades, under the progressive leadership of Superintendent J. L. Siloconale. the 1,500 school children are having rare advantages in the acquirement of knowledge which shall fit hand, head and heart to do their full share of the world's work.

Here are situated two schools of higher education, each excel- lent in its way, each sustaining a growing reputation and a widen- ing influence. The Red Wing Seminary, for young men, carried on by the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. has academic. collegiate and theological departments, and its graduates each year go out to honor and make better the world by useful lives of service. The Lutheran Ladies' Seminary is an institution for girls and its success is attested in the constant expansion of a very fine plant,

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including dormitories, class rooms and last year a beautiful music hall was built. The whole output in buildings and equipment already represents an investment of thousands of dollars. The school is thriving and it offers exceptional opportunities for young ladies in its literary art, music and domestic courses.

Both of these institutions ocenpy commanding sights on bluffs overlooking the city and the Mississippi river.

Supplementing these schools, public and private, are the Carnegie, Lawther public library, with its reference department. growing year by year increasingly valuable ; an historical society and flourishing ladies' art club.

Red Wing is a city of churches. They represent many de- nominations, but all are in accord in their attitude of worship and reverence for all that is good and worthy. There are many beautiful church structures and. under able pastors, the work of the different societies is flourishing. The Swedish Intheran Church has over one thousand communicants, while other Lutheran churches. St. Paul's Norwegian. Trinity Evangelical, St. John's German, St. Paul's English, have strong parishes. The First Methodist Church is now building a very beautiful edifice to cost $35.000. and the Swedish and German Methodists have distinet organizations. The Presbyterians-the first religious or- ganization in the city-are prosperous, and Christ Episcopal Church, with its graceful gothic structure occupying one of the beauty spots of the city, is thriving. Several other smaller but no less earnest parishes are doing excellent work, among them the Swedish mission Society, with its tasteful new church and par- sonage.

Red Wing was one of the earliest settlements in Minnesota. Swiss missionaries came among the Sioux Indians in 1837. The first man to permanently settle here was Rev. J. W. Hancock, first a preacher to the Indians, then first pastor of the Presby- terian Church. He exerted a benignant influence over the city, living until 1907, when he passed away like a ripened shock of wheat, beloved by little children, revered by all. Red Wing was the first home of Hamline College, and here for long years it flourished. The city owes much to the honored men who founded and those who afterwards maintained its business and social life. Among those of recent years who have done much to stimulate vivie pride and give character to the beauty and tone of life here by their gifts are Theodore B. Sheldon, who bequeathed over $80,000 to build the auditorium-the finest municipal auditorium in the United States; Mrs. Margaret Betcher, $20,000 for a memorial chapel to her husband, Charles Betcher. at Oakwood cemetery; E. H. Blodgett, a gateway to Oakwood cemetery cost- ing several thousands: a site for the public library and more re-

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cently the gift of $50,000 for a Y. M. C. A. building. now being constructed, by James Lawther, one of the pioneers of Red Wing. These generous donations furthering the upbuilding of the town are but an index of the spirit of citizenship here. That spirit per- vades the hearts of all-the well-to-do and, as well, those in more moderate circumstances, and is bound to make itself felt in the future years more and more potentially.

Red Wing's past is secure. The pages of the nation's history are adorned by the illustrious deeds of its heroes, who, under Colvill, made the charge at Gettysburg one of its imperishable assets : Minnesota is indebted to it for one of its best governors, Hon. Lucins F. Hubbard. distinguished as soldier and civilian, while it has given to the world. at home and elsewhere, an un- usual number of honored and useful lives. Red Wing's present is prosperous and happy. Twelve thousand thrifty people, living contentedly among its bluffs and along the Mississippi, con- sider it an inestimable privilege to dwell in one of the most favored beauty spots of picturesque America.

Red Wing's future looms up large, safe and enjoyable to those who know it best. They are confident that. with the growth of Greater America, which shall utilize the Mississippi as an inland canal for freight and passenger service. that shall see further railroad and trolley service. that shall press into practical use in Jarger measure the auto and the air ship -- that in an era like this, Red Wing. with its expanding business. its widening area of teeming factories, its splendid educational system keeping pace, in public schools and seminaries. with the best the country affords. with its magnificent civic spirit alive to all that beautifies and ennobles-with all these, Red Wing will continue to be for those who prize honest industry. happy homes, high civic ideals, "The Desirable City. "Henry R. Cobb.

The Red Wing "Sentinel" was the seventeenth newspaper es- tablished in Minnesota. At the beginning it was a four-page, six- column, independent sheet. The first issue was dated about July 20. 1855. Its editor was William Colvill, Jr .. and its pub- lishers Dan S. Merritt and James C. Hutchins. Colvill having been elected secretary of the Territorial Council of 1856. W. W. Phelps, then register of the United States Land Office at Red Wing, volunteered to help him out as temporary editor. It seems that neither could give the paper the time it needed. and on May 15, 1856. the "Pioneer and Democrat" announced that the editor of the ". Sentinel" and its proprietors had that week printed their valedictory. The press and material were then sold to Alexis Bailly. one of the proprietors of the town of Hastings, Dakota county, and were used to start the Dakota Weekly "Journal."

The Minnesota "Gazette" was the twenty-seventh newspaper

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published in Minnesota. No files are in existence that can be found. The origin of this paper was as follows: The press and material of the Red Wing "Sentinel" having been sold to Alexis Bailly on May 15, 1856, and moved from Red Wing to Hastings to start the Dakota Weekly "Journal," Red Wing was left with- out a newspaper. Nehemiah V. and Cornelius Bennett then stepped in with a new plant and started the Minnesota "Gazette." As the "Pioneer and Democrat," of St. Paul, on July 3. 1856. and the Northwestern "Democrat" of Minneapolis, on July 5th, an- nounced the receipt of the first number of the "Gazette," it is safe to assume that it was started about July 1. N. V. Bennett was the editor and Cornelius Bennett the publisher. JJune 6, 1857. the Red Wing "Gazette" changed owners, Mr. Bennett having sold to Dan S. Merritt. Mr. Merritt published the paper under the name of the "Gazette," according to statistics as late as July 25, 1857, and then changed the name back to the Red Wing "Sentinel." picking up the old volume and number of the "Sentinel" and going on as though the "Gazette" had never existed.

Red Wing "Sentinel," No. 2, was the fifty-seventh newspaper begun in Minnesota. After Merritt and Hutchins sold the press and materials of the "Sentinel," No. 1. to Alexis Bailly, it went to Hastings, as has been stated. The "Gazette" was then started by N. V. and C. Bennett, and Merritt went into the hotel business. Tiring of that business, he bought the "Gazette," according to the "Advertiser." of St. Paul, about June 1. 1857. and ran it un- der that name until about August 1 of that year, as the "Adver- tiser" quotes the "Gazette" as late as July 25. The issue of August 1 of the "Advertiser" then makes its first mention of the "Sentinel." so that must have been about the time the change was made. Bennett, in the meantime. formed another alliance with William Colvill, afterward well known as the colonel of the First Minnesota regiment, so that the latter became editor of the "Sentinel" No. 2. as he had been of No. 1. Bennett also be- came its publisher, and, without further ceremony, the volume and numbers of Red Wing "Sentinel," No. 1, were picked up and carried on, the same as though there had been no sale of the press and material of the old "Sentinel" to Bailly, no valedictory of the "Sentinel," as noted by the "Pioneer and Democrat" of May 15, 1855. and no intervening publication of the Minnesota Gazette to supply its place. On March 26. 1859. Merritt sold again, and on April 9, 1859, E. A. Littlefield and Martin Maginnis, the latter afterward delegate to Congress from Montana, became the publishers, Colvill remaining as editor. On February 4. 1860. Colvill sold his interest to W. W. Phelps, who had been the men- ber of Congress from the Red Wing district, because. as he said

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in his retiring editorial, he foresaw a Democratic storm coming in the Charleston convention. In the next issue of the "Senti- nel" Phelps appeared as editor. On August 15, 1860. Littlefield dropped out and Maginnis went on alone as publisher, Phelps remaining as editor. At a meeting noted for its patriotism, held April 23, 1861. in Red Wing, a company called the Goodhue Volunteers was organized and William Colvill was unanimously elected captain and Martin Maginnis first sergeant. The next day the "Sentinel. " at Vol. 5, No. 39, April 24, 1861, was discon- tinned. Its material was sold to James Parker. and made the basis of the Goodhne "Volunteer, " a patriotic paper which did excellent service for the Union until it, in turn, died near the close of the war.

The Red Wing "Republican" was the sixty-second weekly begun in Minnesota territory. and its first issue was dated Sep- temper 4, 1857. with L. F. Hubbard as editor. That its founda- tion, even in those inseenre times, was built deep and strong. is shown by the fact that it is one of the few Minnesota newspapers which survived the trying crises of 1857 and is vet in good work- ing order. It started as a four-page. seven-column sheet, and it then was and still is Republican in politics. November 20, 1857, F. D. Meredith, who died some years ago, became associated with L. F. Hubbard. and the firm name was Hubbard & Meredith until October 1. 1858. Then Meredith retired and Mr. Ihubbard went on alone until August 12. 1859. when Charles L. Davis joined him and the managers became Hubbard & Davis, the for- mer being the main editor. At that time the name was changed to the Goodhne County " Republican." December 19, 1861, Mr. Hubbard enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota regiment and the firm of Ihubbard & Davis was dissolved. F. D. Meredith became the proprietor and Mr. Davis the editor and manager. March 28, 1862. the ownership and editorial management went to C. L. Davis, and Meredith once more retired. Then Davis enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota infantry and. September 19. 1862. placed E. A. Littlefield in charge, who became the editor. At that date the paper was ent to six columns, on account of hard times. May 27. 1864, Littlefield turned over the paper to Colonel Colvill. satisfied. as he said. that there was "more honor than profit in running a country newspaper." Colvill printed a salutatory tersely characteristic of the hero of Gettysburg. It ran as fol- lows: " With this issue I take charge of the ' Republican.' Cor- respondence should be addressed accordingly." August 26. 1864. the paper went back to the seven-column issue. Davis still retaining his interest. March 30, 1866. H. K. Parker became editor and part proprietor. August 9, 1867. William R. Snider bought half of the paper and December 18. 1868. he bought the remain-

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ing half. June 10. 1869, T. II. Perkins, of the Lake City ". Leader," bought a half interest of Snider and, September 30, 1869, Snider sold the other half to S. P. JJennison, the firm becoming Jennison & Perkins. December 26, 1878, Perkins retired and Mr. JJennison became sole proprietor. lle continued alone until July 29, 1880, when there was a combination of the Goodhue County "Repub- lican" with B. B. Herbert's "Advance." The " Advance" was printed Wednesdays and the "Republican " Saturdays. Novem- ber 29, 1884. the "Republican. " the " Advance" and the "Sun." established in January, 1884, united under the ownership of the Red Wing Printing Company. The "Advance" and the "Re- publican" were united December 3, 1884, under the name "Ad- vance-Republican, " which was published on Wednesdays, and the "Sun" on Saturdays, with Mr. Herbert and Tams Bixby as editors.

October 12, 1885, the first number of the Red Wing Daily "Republican" wa's issued. The two weekly editions were then joined into one, published on Wednesdays. the name being the "Advance-Sun." The confusion arising from the fact that the name of the daily and weekly editions were not the same, after some years, caused the name of the weekly to be changed to the Red Wing "Republican," in JJnly, 1895. For a while a semi- weekly edition was again attempted but was once more changed to a weekly, its circulation being ahnost exclusively in the rural districts. January 1, 1886. Mr. Bixby retired and Mr. Herbert and Gen. Jennison became editors and proprietors. In November, 1889. Mr. Ilerbert sold his interest to Jennison : and in March, 1894. Bixby bought Mr. Jennison's interest, and stil continues as president of the company. C. A. Rasmussen became associated with the paper under Herbert & JJennison, first as circulation manager of the Daily "Republican," and later as local editor. On the retirement of these men and the assumption of political duties by Mr. Bixby, Mr. Rasmussen took charge of the paper. In 1898 Mr. Rasmussen was appointed postmaster. J. S. Brenne- man took charge of the business department and Jens K. Gron- dahl became managing editor. Mr. Brenneman sold his interest in the company to A. E. Verity in 1901. the latter becoming managing editor and Mr. Grondahl, who had been away from the business for a short period, returned and took up the duties of business manager. In 1903 Mr. Verity disposed of his holdings and Mr. Grondahl became manager of the business and editorial departments.

The "Republican" is an influential sheet, well written and carefully edited. It has always taken a leading part in the civic and industrial progress of Red Wing and has assisted in mould- ing that sentiment of mutual helpfulness and prosperity which

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has done so much to give the city the position it now occupies. It aims to thoroughly cover the local and county field, to present dignified editorials on the important topics of the day and to give the telegraphic news of the world. Its advertising columns are well patronized, and form a desirable medium for reaching the people of the city and county. The weekly edition contains a resume of the news of the week in a more condensed form than appears in the daily.

Red Wing Printing Company. The "Republican" has, since its beginning, conducted a job printing department but. through- out the early years, the newspaper was predominant. In 1884, with consolidation of the "Sun" and "Advance" with the "Re- publican." the job department became more conspicuous. The history of the job department has been practically that of the newspaper and has been in charge of the same officers. In the past eight or ten years the job department has carried on a vigorous campaign to develop taste for high class printing and in this campaign it has been very successful. The kind of stationery and general printing turned out in Red Wing ten or fifteen years ago would not today be accepted at any price, because of this de- velopment of high class art printing. The best and latest im- proved machinery that money can buy is used in this department and some of the best printers in this part of the country have been in charge, the present competent force being under the direction of David Gustafson, who has won wide recognition as an artistic printer. Every kind of printing. from a letter head to a beauti- fully bound book, with all kinds of artistic catalogue printing and high class advertising specialties. are produced. The reputa- tion of the products of this company has extended all over this country and printers' journals make use of samples of work originating with the Red Wing Printing Company. There have even been instances when large printing establishments in Europe have sent for samples of the Red Wing Printing Company prod- ucts to get new and improved ideas. Aside from holding the business of the local field. the company has a large amount of work from cities and villages throughout the Northwest. The company moved into its present commodious building in March, 1909. The present officers are : President, Tams Bixby : vice presi- dent, (. A. Rasmussen; secretary and manager. Jens K. Gron- dahl; treasurer, N. Halvorson.

The "Advance" was established in October. 1873, with E. . J. Hodgson and B. B. Herbert as editors, under the name of the "Grange Advance," and was in its original design devoted to the promotion of home manufactures and the advancement of agricultural and industrial interests and the upbuilding of the order of the Patrons of Husbandry as a social and educational

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

institution among the farmers. At the end of the first six months, owing to the pressure of other busines Mr. Hodgson retired and Mr. Herbert continued the publication alone, and during the sum- mer of 1874 associated with him Dr. T. R. Mann, of St. Paul, in the editorial work. During the fall of 1874 the nature of the paper was changed to a strictly local paper, and Mr. Mann re- tired. August 25. 1875, Mr. Herbert sold the paper to H. H. Young and, May 28, 1878, Mr. Young sold the paper to the "Ad- vance" Publishing Company. At the time of its consolidation with the "Republican," Mr. Herbert had again assumed the management.

The Red Wing "Journal" was published in May, 1890. by A. F. Ingalls, owner of the Pine Island "Record." It was published several years under this management and then purchased in July. 1896, by W. W. Woodbeek. of Minneapolis. In December of the same year, Warney & Pratt, of Minneapolis, purchased the plant of Mr. Woodbeek and resold the same to him in February, 1897. The "Journal" was again sold in April, 1897, to E. L. Grondahl, who placed E. D. Morris in charge. The plant was then taken over by the "Times" Printing Company and the name changed to the Red Wing "Times. " the managers and editors being David Gustafson and E. C. Sykes. The Consolidated Commercial Print- ing Company then conducted it until it was combined with the "Argus."

The Red Wing "Free Press" was established September 24, 1909, by N. P. Olson. of Anoka. Min., who, on July 16, 1909, pur- chased the "News" from the trustees who had been in charge. Mr. Olson is an experienced newspaper man and has some ex- cellent plans for making his paper a snecess. He was managing editor of the "Penny Press" for three years, then conducted the Minnesota "Democrat," which he moved to Anoka and edited for eight years as the Anoka "Free Press." The Red Wing "Free Press" is Democratic in politics, and is designed to become the mouthpiece of the Democracy in this locality.

The Red Wing "Independent" was started by Douglas II. Tandy and Prof. O. Whitman and continued for a few months. It was then discontinued for a short time but later resumed pub- lication. The active editor, during a greater part of its existence, was Jens K. Grondahl. A biographical work has said of this paper : "When the Red Wing 'Independent' was started in 1891, Jens K. Grondahl was engaged to conduct the paper, a post which proved to consist in preparing all the local and editorial 'copy.' distributing it among the three printing offices which did the 'setting up' and, after the matter was in type, collecting the type and carrying it to the office where the paper was printed. Oeea- sionally these manifold duties were supplemented by the light

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work of running off the edition on the cylinder press and de- livering the paper to the waiting customers." After a short period of existence the paper ivas discontinued.

The Red Wing "Argus." In October, 1864. a company of leading Democrats was formed for the purpose of issuing a news- paper. This company purchased the Goodhue County "Volun- . teer, " changed its name and issued the first number of the Red Wing "Argus, " with Edmund R. Otis as agent and editor. Mr. Otis retired in October, 1868, and was succeeded by C. F. George as editor and publisher. In June the office was sold to Capt. Charles L. Davis, who employed E. R. Otis as editor. After changing necessitndes the paper was purchased, in the nineties. by Sulzer, Shedd & Livingstone and issued in the form of a Sun- day paper. In December, 1897, it was purchased by the Red Wing "Times. " but the name " Argus" retained. In April, 1890. L. G. Meacham and W. G. Maek purchased the "Argus" and in July of the same year sold to O. G. Wall, of Minneapolis, and E. S. Haines, of Wabasha, who continued the publication until about March. 1900, when the Goodhne County "News" moved from Cannon Falls and absorbed the "Argus."

The Goodhue County "News" was started in Cannon Falls by M. S. Norelius, of Vasa. and V. E. Johnson, of Minneapolis. Mr. Norelins sold his interest to Mr. Johnson, who moved the plant to Red Wing in 1900. forming a partnership with J. S. Pardee, of St. Paul. The company absorbed the "Argus," and both the "News" and the "Argus" were continued under one manage- ment. After some months. E. G. Schmied, of Chicago, purchased Mr. Johnson's interest, and the company became Pardee & Schmied. The Goodhne County "News" and the Red Wing "Argus" were issued from the same office and, aside from the title page, were identical, the "News" being the country edition and the "Argus" the city edition. During about two years of this management the " Argus" was issued in tabloid form as the official organ of Minnesota Democracy. In 1904 the Red Wing "Daily News" was started and existed for exactly one year, until Thanksgiving Day, 1905. G. H. Allen then took over the weekly edition and published the Goodhue County "News and Argus Press." as he called it. After Mr. Allen's departure from town the "News" was taken by a board of trustees and issued from the Republican office. July 16, 1909. it was sold to N. P. Olson, of Anoka.

Second Class Rates. The postoffice records show the granting of second class rates to many publications. The following dates, supplied by the local postoffice, does not in all instances indicate the date of the establishment or the date of discontinuation of the various papers mentioned, as such dates are not always co-

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meident with the granting and withdrawing of second class rates, but the list is interesting. nevertheless, in that it shows the period during which the various publications were sent through the mails :

"Public Health," monthly, published by the State Board of Ilealth : granted in May. 1885, and discontinued September. 1894. Daily " Republican. " daily, published by the Red Wing Print- ing Company ; granted October, 1885. Red Wing " Republican." weekly, published by the Red Wing Printing Company; granted Jannary, 1895. " Advance Sun." weekly, published by the Red Wing Printing Company: granted October, 1885, and discon- tinued July, 1895. "Parish Messenger," monthly, published by the rector of the Episcopal Church; granted November, 1885, and discontinued June. 1891. "Argus," weekly, published by Charles Davis: discontinued March, 1900. Goodhue County "News," weekly, published by Pardee & Schmied; granted March, 1900, and discontinued September. 1909. "Budbareren," weekly, published by the Hauge Printing and Publishing Society ; granted August 1, 1879. "Bornevennen." weekly, published by the Hange Printing and Publishing Society; granted August, 1879. "Little Messenger." weekly, published by the Hange Printing and Publishing Society ; granted January, 1905. "River- side, " semi-monthly, published by the State Training School; granted September. 1893, and was discontinued October, 1905. "Riverside." monthly, published by the State Training School : granted October, 1905. "Our School." monthly, published by Boraas & Kunze; granted November, 1902, and discontinued De- cember, 1905. "Hemica." monthly, published by the Red Wing Seminary; granted October, 1904. "Cresset," monthly, published by the Red Wing Ladies' Seminary. Red Wing " Methodist," monthly, published by the pastor of the Methodist Church ; granted June, 1893, and discontinued September. 1894. "Agrarian." monthly; granted March. 1895, and discontinued February, 1896. "Herald," granted March, 1895, and discon- tinued February, 1896. "Secretsof Success," monthly. published by W. L. Beeman ; granted August, 1890, and discontinued 1891. The "Independent." weekly ; granted January. 1892, and discon- tinued March, 1892. The "Nordstjernen, " weekly, published by the Red Wing Printing company : granted January. 1895, and discou- tinued November, 1898. The "Journal," published by A. F. In- galls ; granted May, 1890, and discontinued December, 1897. The "Teutonia," published by H. Risch; granted August, 1892, and discontinued March, 1899. The "Free Press," weekly, published by N. P. Olson; granted September, 1909.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 69

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