History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The village has a sightly and commodious school building with graded and high school courses, one of the most efficient schools in the county. The first school in the vicinity was a Norwegian school. In 1857, a frame school house was built, about 18 by 24 feet. Here school was taught some- times in English and sometimes in Norwegian. This building, across the road, east of the present school was the community center, serving as general meeting place, town hall, and school house. In 1872, a two story building was erected, giving place in recent years to the present structure. The building is well located, in the midst of spacious lawn, with ample ac- commodations for play grounds, athletic apparatus and the like.

The Spring Grove Hospital fills a need long felt in the community. Seeing the necessity of such an institution, Rev. Alfred O. Johnson, at the solicitation of a number of leading citizens, called a meeting early in 1916, and plans were perfected which resulted in the incorporation, Feb. 15, 1916. A suitable location on the northern outskirts of the village was pur- chased May 12, 1916, and the building was started at once. The institu- tion was opened Jan. 8, 1917, in charge of Emma Larson. She was suc- ceeded Dec. 14, 1918, by Miss Erlanson. The original officers and trustees are still serving. They are: Alfred O. Johnson, president ; Dr. G. M. Helland, vice-president; J. N. Ristey, secretary and treasurer; J. J. Jetson, M. S. Nelson, P. L. Bergsgaard, H. A. Burtness, O. A. Kroshus, all of Spring Grove, and H. E. Burtness, of Caledonia. The hospital is pleasantly located

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on a commanding crest, is equipped with all modern facilities, is well at- tended, and is doing splendid work of healing and comfort.

The post office was established in 1854, through the exertions of James Smith, who was appointed postmaster, and the office was opened at his house, which was a tavern at that time. It was he who gave the name of Spring Grove. He continued to hold the place until about two years afterwards, when Embrick Knudson was appointed, and he removed the office to his house near the old Hinkley place. In 1861, Mons Fladager was appointed deputy, and kept it in his store for about a year, when Mr. Prentiss succeeded to the position and removed the office to his hotel, the old Hinkley store. After a time Dr. T. Jenson was appointed postmaster. He appointed J. C. Tartt as deputy, who took the office into his store in the east part of the village, near the old McCormick place. The office was kept in this way up to 1865, when Nels Olson Onsgard was commissioned. Then came Truls Paulson and next O. E. Kieland. Mons Flatager was then appointed by the Cleveland administration without solicitation, but he refused to serve, and T. I. Doely, who had circulated a petition, was ap- pointed. He was followed by O. B. Tone, who was succeeded by O. C. Vaaler, who is still serving.

Spring Grove had a newspaper nearly forty years ago. In the spring of 1880 an enterprising young man, Sven H. Ellestad, started a small folio, 10 by 24 inches, and called it the Spring Grove Posten. He was editor, proprietor, publisher, and printer. Schmidt Nilson, who became interested in its success, contributed most of the editorial work to its columns. It had a local habitation in a small frame building back of T. T. Bergh's hard- ware store. His press was a small one, and is said to have cost $180. The paper flourished for a while, but the circumstances did not prove propitious, and the publication was discontinued, the subscription list being taken over by the Decorah Posten.

The Spring Grove Herald was started as the Spring Grove Weekly by W. H. Smethurst. The office was located in the Haaken & Haaken building, where Ellingson's restaurant now is. The paper had quite a struggle for existence, and was finally purchased by Frank Bartholomew, now at Winne- bago City. He moved it to the corner building now occupied by the Fladager Brothers. Then he built a two-story building with the printing establish- ment down stairs, and an opera house up stairs. In April, 1893, this build- ing caught fire, and in spite of the heroic efforts of the volunteer fire de- partment, with the fire pumps, this building, the implement warehouse next door, and the church, were all destroyed. It was only by strenuous work that the rest of the business section was saved. But undaunted Mr. Bartholomew printed a fire issue, and operated in a shack until the spring of 1895, when he sold it to O. K. Dahle, who built the present one-story building on the same site, and edited the Herald until he was elected county attorney four and a half years later. It was then conducted by Geo. W. Drowley as lessee, for a time, and later sold to George H. Kuster, then principal of the local schools. He sold to Albert Olson, who in turn disposed of it to E. L. Berg. It was then transferred to B. L. Onsgard, the present owner, who has been in possession since 1906. During this period, the

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Herald has been edited by various parties as lessees: Charles L. Metcalf, three years and until he was elected clerk of court and O. O. Kjomme during the years 1914 and 1915. With these exceptions, the paper has been ably conducted by Mr. Onsgard himself, and under his management has enjoyed a large circle and important influence.

The two banks are the State Bank of Spring Grove and the Onsgard State Bank.

The Onsgard State Bank had its beginning in the seventies when Nels Olson Onsgard, then a store keeper, began to handle the financial affairs of his customers as a personal accommodation, selling them drafts, arrang- ing loans and the like. In 1890, this business was organized as the Bank of Spring Grove, and established in the rear of the store. Later a brick addi- tion was built, facing northward on the other street. Sept. 6, 1907, the Onsgard State Bank was incorporated, with Nels O. Onsgard as president, O. K. Dahle as vice-president, O. N. Onsgard as cashier, and B. N. Onsgard as assistant cashier. In 1911, O. N. Onsgard became vice-president, B. N. Onsgard cashier and O. E. Hallan, assistant cashier. In 1915, after the death of Nels Olson Onsgard, O. K. Dahle became president, the other officers remaining as before. In 1917, P. T. Newhouse succeeded O. N. Onsgard as vice-president. On Nov. 1, 1918, B. T. Haugen became second assistant cashier. The officers are now: president, O. K. Dahle; vice- president, P. T. Newhouse; cashier, B. N. Onsgard; assistant cashier, O. E. Hallan; second assistant cashier, B. T. Haugen. The institution moved to its sightly new banking house, Feb. 7, 1916. This building is well equipped for its purpose, having aside from the main banking room, a con- sulting room and an officers' room, with other conveniences. The bank has a capital of $25,000, surplus and undivided profits of $15,622.96; loans and discounts of $266,758.18; total deposits of $388,054.81; and immediate cash reserve of $53,463.70, according to the report of Dec. 31, 1918. The bank aims to give to its patrons every service compatible with conservative banking judgment. Realizing that in the development of the rural dis- tricts lies the future of the village, it is helping in that development in every way possible, and impresses on the farmers that the banking house is their real financial headquarters, where consultation may be had on all subjects pertaining to their mutual interests.

The State Bank of Spring Grove was incorporated Nov. 1, 1904, by C. J. Scofield, of Caledonia ; O. B. Tone, O. B. Nelson, Mons Fladager and Dr. Trond Stabo, of Spring Grove; and E. J. Scofield, of Elbow Lake. Nov. 10, these gentlemen, as directors, met and chose O. B. Tone as president, O. B. Nelson as vice-president, and C. J. Scofield as cashier. In the meantime, a bank building, a sightly structure of brick, a real ornament to the busi- ness street of Spring Grove, and in every way excellently equipped for its purpose, had been erected. Doors were opened on Dec. 12, 1904, in sole charge of the cashier, C. J. Scofield. The capital stock was $15,000 and the surplus $5,000. The institution since then has enjoyed a well deserved growth. From a staff of one the working force has increased to four. Oct. 1, 1906, Charley M. Langland became assistant cashier; in January, 1916, Archie C. Scofield, son of the cashier, became second as-

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sistant cashier; and on June 5, 1918, M. C. Ike became bookkeeper. O. B. Tone, the first president, served until his death, March 14, 1917, and at the January meeting of 1918 was succeeded by O. B. Nelson, and Mr. Nelson was succeeded as vice-president by Peter Fladager who, after the death of his father, Mons Fladager, in 1906, had become a director at the Jan- uary meeting of 1907. In January, 1914, Charley M. Langland succeeded Dr. Trond Stabo as director. But in January, 1918, Dr. Stabo again be- came a director. So with the retirement of O. B. Tone and Mons Fladager, both deceased, and the addition of Charley M. Langland and Peter Fladager, the directorate is the same as originally constituted. In 1905, the first full year of business, the bank had deposits of $56,002.36, and loans and dis- counts of $44,112.27. In 1910, the deposits were $205,434.35, and the loans and discounts $176,976.19. In 1915, the deposits were $313,852.46, and the loans and discounts $339,032.46. The bank is in close touch with farm- ing conditions, and aims to be a farmers bank in every particular. It en- deavors to assist the farmers in their financial affairs, looking after their investments and giving advice at all times. It has also taken an important part in distributing helpful literature, encouraging business methods in agriculture, and lending its best assistance in the progress of the com- munity. According to the report, at the end of 1918 the bank had a capi- tal of $15,000; surplus and undivided profits of $14,785; loans and discounts of $289,092.97; total deposits of $393,678.76; and immediate cash assets of $69,859.96.

The creamery industry is an important one in Spring Grove. The first creamery in Spring Grove was started by Nels Olson Onsgard, merchant and banker. The successive owners were then: Graham & Tollefson; Ole N. Kjome, Sylling & Larson, Gaare & Sylling; and Nels Kjome, the latter of whom sold to the co-operative company. The Spring Grove Co-operative Creamery Co. was incorporated Jan. 28, 1909, by Knute H. Rauk, P. C. Onstad, O. C. Vaaler, Albert Bergsrud, Magnus Thoreson, Peter Kinneberg and K. E. Kieland. K. H. Rauk was the first president. The present officers are: president, Henry Roverud; vice-president, C. B. Doety; secre- tary, Carl Haugen; treasurer, Peter Onstad; directors, Knute H. Rauk, O. A. Kroshus and John N. Schmidt.

The vicinity of Spring Grove was selected as the site of a village in 1852 by James Smith, and at once became a famous stopping place for the heavy stream of pioneers coming from Brownsville, or up over the Iowa prairies and bound for the rich farm lands to the westward and north- westward. He put up a house and a store on the eastern part of section 11, and began to accommodate travelers. In 1855, he sold his store to William Hinckley. Hinckley bought land of Embrick Knudson, and erected and opened a store a half a mile west of Smith's place. About this time Embrick Benson sold to William Flemming forty acres on which most of the village is now located. Flemming opened a hotel, called the "Pumpkin Tavern." About this time Smith platted a village which never materialized. He soon sold to Robert McCormick who kept a public house. Nick and Jesse Demer- ing opened a saloon near the "Pumpkin Tavern," but soon sold to a Mr. Badger, of Wisconsin, who put in a stock of merchandise. This building

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with its contents was soon burned. Tartt & Smith from Dorchester, Iowa, then opened a store but remained only a short time. In the meantime the forty first owned by Benson and then by Flemming had passed into the hands of Peter Halverson. In February, 1860, he sold to Mons Fladager, the real founder of the village. Mr. Fladager opened a store in the "Pump- kin Tavern" building. In 1864, he erected a store on the site of the old Badger building. In 1881, he completed a brick block. The same store is now occupied by his sons. Mr. Fladager platted the present village. When he arrived here there were but two people, William Hinckley, keeping a general store, and Peter McCormick, keeping a hotel.

In the meantime, the surrounding country had been settled by sturdy Norwegian pioneers, the vanguard coming in 1852. Of the first colony, there now remain but two: Mrs. Mons Fladager, who was Jorend P. Lom- men, daughter of Peter Lommen, and L. T. Johnson. The early township history has been related. The interests of the township center in the village, the town hall being located but half a mile to the westward. This building was erected in 1896, has suitable sheds, and in the yard a com- manding flag pole has been erected. Nearby is the beautiful cemetery where so many of the pioneers repose.

This cemetery is the third in the vicinity. The first was on the south- east corner of section 10, on the farm of H. N. Narveson. At that time it was expected to erect the church there. Some thirty or forty people were laid to rest here, the first being Hans Ostensen Melbranter. After the church was built, a cemetery was platted in its yard after the ancient custom. This cemetery, surrounded by a beautiful hedge, is still in exist- ence, and here many of the noble pioneers are buried, though it is not now in use. The present cemetery is a beautiful sweep of ground on a height about a mile from the village.

HOUSTON

Houston, the metropolis of northern Houston county is located in the picturesque Root River Valley, not far from where that stream is joined by its south fork. Its railroad service is furnished by the southern Minne- sota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.

The town is in an unusually flourishing condition, and its business sec- tion presents a scene of prosperity and industry. The high school building, the combined village hall and community center, the office of the Houston Signal and the People's Telephone Exchange, the two banks, the Iverson Lumber yard and several new store buildings are all architectural features which contribute greatly to the general air of thrift and success. The resi- dences are also comfortable and commodious, with sightly lawns, well cared for, and furnished with modern conveniences. A live Commercial Club of which A. C. Evanson is president and C. F. Schonlau is secretary keeps well abreast of the times, and does its share toward maintaining the general prosperity.

Houston is noted as the shipping and trading point of as rich an agri- cultural region as is to be found in southern Minnesota. From up and down

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the Root River valley, and from the rich valleys leading into it, come the prosperous farmers to do their shopping, their banking and their shipping. The co-operative movement is here represented by the Houston Creamery Co., the Houston Co-operative Elevator Co., and the Farmers' Co-operative Shipping Association. It is also the headquarters of the Mound Prairie Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Houston is the shipping and receiv- ing place for Money Creek and for several smaller hamlets. Its principal exports are dairy products, stock, small fruit and grain. In former days it was the site of several mills, but all that is now left of this enterprise is the mill of the Redding Flour and Feed Co. a mile and a half east of Hous- ton, on the railroad and the south fork of the Root River.

The village has two banks, a newspaper, two elevators, two lumber yards, a village hall, a park, a creamery, two cement sand block establish- ments, stock yards, waterworks and electricty.

The village of Houston was organized April 7, 1874, in accordance with an act of the legislature of the state, approved Feb. 9, 1874. The first officers elected were: H. Rasmussen, president; A. P. Johnson. E. A. Brown and P. Errikson, trustees; D. F. Case, clerk; O. A. Johnson, mar- shal; I. Abrahamson, treasurer; E. A. Horner, justice of the peace, and G. C. Turner, assessor. At this election D. C. Dyer was moderator; D. C. Sherman, inspector, and P. Downing, election clerk.

Houston's village hall and community center, which is the pride of the village, and of the whole northern part of the county, is the result of an ideal long cherished by many of the leading citizens. The old village hall, as erected some years ago, was built along the lines usually followed in such a building, and was suitable for the ordinary purposes of such a struc- ture. But as the village grew, and modern ideas were introduced, and the community began to take on a more sightly architectural appearance, many of the citizens felt that the time was ripe for the erection of a build- ing which would be a true community center, furnishing not only a pro- tection for the fire apparatus, a meeting place for the council, and an elec- tion place, but also an adequate auditorium, suitable for graduations, musicales, theatrical performances and large public gatherings of all sorts. After the usual agitation, the matter was brought to a vote, May 6, 1912, when by a ballot of 73 for to 63 against, the citizens decided to issue bonds to the amount of $4,500. At that time A. T. Rowland was president of the council; C. J. Swenson, A. P. Omodt and Henry Larson, the trustees; G. L. Schonlau, the clerk; and these men were all actively concerned in the progress of the work. The architect was I. G. Iverson, to whose credit stand many of the other artistic buildings of the community, and he gave to the work his personal supervision. Captain Samuel B. McIntire acted as attorney and did much toward bringing the project to a successful con- clusion. Martin Nelson, of Rushford, was the contractor; A. T. Rowland installed the heating plant; T. E. Trondson & Son did the painting and decorating; D. A. Comstock and his father did the plumbing. The Ladies' Civic Club, the Business Men and the Dramatic Company raised $700 for the scenery, seats and piano. The hall was officially opened with a dramatic production by Houston's best local talent.

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The building, which is of steel and cement construction, presents a most artistic appearance, and is truly an ornament to the community. The ex- terior walls and columns are finished in soft gray tones of rough cast ce- ment plaster, and trimmed with a plain cornice in rich brown. The main room, including the permanent elevated stage is 36 by 90 feet. The stage measures 36 by 20, leaving an auditorium 36 by 70 feet. Over the rear of the hall extends a balcony, 36 by 14 feet. The entrance measures 18 by 10 feet, and the council room 30 by 14 feet. The dressing rooms occupy a space 36 by 6 feet. Underneath the stage and council rooms are located rooms for fire apparatus, furnaces and fuel.

In the earliest days, the people of Houston obtained their water from the natural waterways. In time wells were dug and cisterns built. Later drilled wells were installed, furnishing the people of the village with an excellent supply. The first efforts toward a public supply were taken on April 23, 1904, when the village voted $5,000 bonds for the installation of a system. The system has since been developed. Still further develop- ments are expected in the future. The service now consists of a White com- pressed air system of distribution, an ample supply of water being obtained from a flowing well. The pump, having a capacity of 200 gallons a minute, is driven by a gasoline engine. The pumping station is a brick structure, ad- joining the village hall, with which it corresponds in exterior finish and decoration. The street system consists of 1,100 feet of six-inch mains, 2,200 feet of four-inch mains, and seven double hydrants.

Electricity for street lighting and business and residential purposes is furnished by the Root River Power & Light Co., with headquarters at Preston. The service reached Houston in 1918, and is being made available to an increasing number of patrons. From 1904 to 1918, the streets were lighted by gas from the gas plant installed at the same time as the water- works. Still earlier the street lights had been supplied with gasoline and still earlier by kerosene.

The village park, which was platted with the village, occupies a full block. It is a favorite picnic place, and provides an out-door assembling place for celebrations and anniversaries. It has some excellent trees and shrubbery and is provided with a grandstand.

Houston has no organized fire department. But it is adequately pro- vided with fire protection. In the basement of the village hall is a hook and ladder truck, and two hose carts, together with 1,000 feet of hose, for which the waterworks system supplies sufficient pressure.

The town hall, a fire proof structure, excellently suited for its needs,. is located just east of the village line.

Houston is usually fortunate in its educational equipment, having one of the best school systems in this part of the state. The first school was taught in an old shanty once used by Joel Marsh in the lower town, on the bank of the river near the present bridge. When the village was moved, the school followed the business houses, and in time a two-room house was erected on the southern margin of the village. Several years later, the building was doubled and four teachers employed. Later an additional teacher was secured. In 1908, the present beautiful and com-

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modious building was erected. It covers the usual graded and high school studies. In addition to this it has a most excellent Normal department which is turning out some good teachers. Courses are also given in Manual Training and Domestic Science. District No. 16, to the north of vil- lage, has consolidated with the local district, the children being brought to school in a bus. Among the many who have labored for the interests of the educational system in Houston, special mention should be made of Captain Samuel B. McIntire, who was a member of the board from 1872 to his death in 1917.

A post office was established as early as 1857, A. Marsh being the first postmaster. In 1866, the post office, like all other business activities of the place, was moved to the newer location, being transferred, building and all, while Mr. Marsh was yet postmaster. His successors were L. A. Tennison, D. F. Case, F. N. Goodrich. . In 1871, when Mr. Case was in charge, the office was made a money order office, the first order being is- sued Aug. 3. The successors of Mr. Goodrich have been Samuel B. Mc- Intire, W. A. Vance, Isaac Goodwin, C. F. Schonlau and G. A. Comstock, who is now serving. There are six rural routes served from this office. No. 1 was established in 1902, M. J. Taylor, carrier; No. 2 was established in 1902, K. P. Field, carrier; No. 3 was established in 1903, K. O. Senness, carrier; No. 4 was established in 1903, Thomas Lane, carrier; No. 5 was established in 1904, John Sanden, carrier; No. 6 was established in 1915, J. M. Kerrigan, carrier.

The Houston Valley Signal was established Aug. 17, 1882, by T. Mc- Connell. April 26, 1883, the son, Charles A. McConnell, was received into partnership and the firm became McConnell & Son. Oct. 11, 1883, C. F. Schonlau bought an interest and the firm became McConnell & Schonlau. March 6, 1884, Mr. Schonlau became the sole owner. In 1910, he received his son, Gerard L. into partnership, and the firm became Schonlau & Son. The paper, the office building and the business methods pursued in the printing department are models of their kind, and have received wide praise. The beautiful fire proof building is one of the architectural orna- ments of the village, and is the best newspaper office and printing shop in southeastern Minnesota. A simple, but most effective, filing and cost sys- tem, devised by Mr. Schonlau himself, solves the problem of efficiency and easy reference, in a way seldom attained in a journalistic and printing office. The paper itself is newsy, and has always stood for the best interests of the village, the community, and the county at large.

· The two banks in Houston are the Security State Bank and the Hous- ton State Bank, in which latter is consolidated the Farmers' and Mer- chants' State Bank and the Citizens' State Bank. In earlier times, D. L. Buell did a banking business under the name of the Bank of Houston, and D. C. Dyer under the name of the Exchange Bank.

The Security State Bank of Houston opened for business Nov. 21, 1911. The first officers were: John Q. Briggs, president, A. C. Evanson, vice-president, A. T. Rowland, C. F. Schonlau and J. J. Sliter. L. H. Briggs was the cashier and N. E. Forsyth the assistant cashier. These officers still remain in charge of the institution. A beautiful new building which

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1343

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343