USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 23
USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 23
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
"Assessors being selected as follows: Peter Buhl, Charles Hadash, Martin Hudalla, Theodore John, Frank Jambor, Mike Motzka, John Mor-
267
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
cinczyk, Paul Pampuch, Casper Pietron, Joseph Schenk, Jacob Spychata, John Salawa, Paul Waleczka.
"Motion made and carried that the classes of assessment be changed and have been changed to five classes : First class, $300; second class. $200 ; third class, $150; fourth class, $125; fifth class, $100. It shall be allowed to the assessors when necessary to use one-half classes between the highest and lowest amount.
"Members agree to do all hauling of material necessary for the build- ing of the new church and furnish all stone and sand necessary. If a mem- ber is not able to haul or furnish the same he is to pay the regular cost of such stone and sand and team work.
"In giving the building contract the committee is bound to buy the brick, cement and lime necessary for said building, the rest to be furnished by the contractor.
"The vote of the nine on the building committee to elect seven mem- bers was as follows: Elected, John Sabota, Martin Wrobel, Simon Kaluza, Robert Holig, Peter Wodarz, Stephen Berczyk, Rev. J. S. Guzdek.
"The building committee will now have legal authority to take the build- ing transactions in their charge.
"No other business, therefore the meeting adjourned.
"ROBERT HOLIG, Secretary of the Meeting. "REV. J. S. GUZDEK,
"Vice-President of St. Joseph's Church, of Browerville, Minnesota."
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN.
The church plan was made in the modern renaissance style, dimensions one hundred and fifty-one by seventy feet, by Boehme & Cordella, of Min- neapolis. The interior of the church presents a beautiful architectural dec- oration, with a golden light piercing through the amber-stained windows. Two rows of pillars with their capitals give it a splendid appearance. The structure is made of grayish-white Lime Belt brick. In planning the sketch Rev. J. S. Guzdek was governed by the thought that it was time to put an end to the primitive style of building box churches. Rev. J. Guzdek, in working out his ideas, found a great co-operative factor in his countryman, Victor Cordella, architect and artist. They achieved a great work, and justly deserve a prominent place on the pages of Todd county's history.
268
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
A MOVE FOR ECONOMY.
The building committee accepted the plans with great enthusiasm. The majority, fearing the big cost, asked to lessen the dimensions, to which pro- position the pastor was much opposed, knowing that such change would spoil the architectural symmetry and proportion. Victor Cordella changed the dimensions as far as it could be donc, being most careful not to spoil the symmetry.
In May, 1908, work was begun. Four bids were opened. Hirr & Zierton, a firm of St. Cloud, was the lowest, and to it the contract was given for the building at the cost of $24.350.
The parish supplied bricks, excavation, stones and sand, the rest belonged to the contractor. The stones and brick cost $4, 100; plan. $1,086; freight, $235: steam-heating plant. $2,842 ; pews, pulpit and railing, $2,207; stained windows, $1,879; stations, $350; holy water fonts, $50: bells, $930; statues for the steeple, $500; chandelier and carpet, $550; other minor articles, $400. In this way the church was erected at the cost of $40,000, to the surprise of all. It is a puzzle at the present day to all who at sight estimate it at $70,000.00.
BLESSING OF THE CORNER STONE.
On July 23, 1908. Rt. Rev. Bishop James Trobec blessed the corner stone, in which ceremony a number of diocesan clergy participated. Rev. A. Gospodar, of Swan River, preached an appropriate Polish sermon for the occasion and Rt. Rev. Bishop delivered an English sermon.
The church was completed for Easter in 1909. By strange coincidence the first services in the new church were held on the same date as the last services a year before in the old church.
The old church was razed and during the time the new one was being built services were held in the school chapel.
Everybody was most liberal toward the church ; during the same year Rev. J. Guzdek collected thirty-seven thousand dollars. Within a year the church was fully equipped, having a debt of twelve thousand dollars, which since then has been brought down to three thousand, eight hundred dollars. Rev. J. Guzdek's plan is to pay off all debt this year and by next fall have the church consecrated.
269
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
DEDICATION OF THE NEW CHURCH.
On April 21, 1909, on Wednesday following Whitsunday, the parish celebrated the best feast of its history-the silver jubilee of its existence. The new church was blessed the same day. Rt. Rev. Bishop Trobec, of St. Cloud, and at the time the only Polish bishop; Paul Rhode, auxiliary bishop, of Chicago; Rev. St. Nawrocki, of Chicago; Rev. B. Goral, of Milwaukee, and a number of other diocesan clergy were present at the double solemnity.
On account of Rt. Rev. Bishop Trobec leaving on that afternoon for Europe to go to Rome "ad limina" the parish tendered him a hearty fare- well. After his departure, Rt. Rev. Bishop Rhode proceeded to bless the four new bells, which he named Joseph, John. Mary and Paul, respectively. It was a day of general rejoicing. Pleasing memories, no doubt, will abide for years with all who participated in the celebration.
Shortly after the church was blessed Rev. J. Guzdek made a trip to Europe for an extended vacation, which he deserved for his arduous labor. While there he visited his native country and practically all of Europe, and also settled his military affairs with the Emperor Francis Joseph, of Aus- tria, who freed him from further military obligations which he was under, giving him the title, "reserved military chaplain," in the rank of captain.
CONTINUATION OF PASTORAL WORK.
On his return from Europe Rev. Guzdek resumed work on improve- ment as follows: Made basement of the church into a large hall equipped with stage; inclosed premises with original fence and cemetery with iron fence; laid cement platform before the church and cement sidewalks; put waterworks and electric lights in the three parish buildings; built new stair into the school; renovated the altars; donated to the church a large oil painting of St. Ann, masterpiece of his genius, valued at five hundred dol- lars ; built a grotto and beautified the premises to such an extent as to make them the main feature of the town of Browerville, estimated in value at seventy-five thousand dollars.
He caused societies to organize. The Rosary Society has three hun- dred members, with post-mortem rights by which the society pays the funeral expenses. At present Mrs. St. Berczyk is president of the society. The Rosary Society of young ladies has one hundred and fifty members, with Mary Bartylla, president ; Anna Cygan, vice-president ; Gertrude Berczyk,
270
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
treasurer, and Julia Gerstenberger, secretary. St. Aloysius Young Men's Society has eighty members, of whom Rev. J. Guzdek is president; Peter Arbeiter, treasurer, and John Hudalla, secretary. The Arch-confraternity of the Sacred Heart has a membership of three hundred with Rev. J. Guz- dek as president; Alex Wodarz, secretary, and Mrs. Frank Votzka, treas- urer. St. Joseph's Society. the Polish Union, Group of America, has Greg- ory Gertenberger, president ; Joseph Schenk, secretary, and Casper Gmyrek, treasurer. Third Order of St. Francis Society, a local committee of the Polish National Council of America, has Rev. J. Guzdek, president ; Simon Kaluza, secretary; Martin Wrobel, treasurer; with Alex Wodarz, Michael Czoch, John Sobota, Peter Wodarz as advisors.
The present board of directors of the St. Joseph's parish consists of Rt. Rev. Joseph Bush, president ; Rt. Rev. Edward Nagl, vicar-general; Rev. J. Guzdek, vice-president : Vincent Hudalla, treasurer, and Norbert Bartyla. secretary.
TRUSTEES OF THE CONGREGATION.
The office of trustees, from the founding of the parish, was performed by the following members: Joseph Cygan. John Marcinczyk, John Becker and Joseph Luke. These constituted only a church committee because the real trustees, as members of the board of directors, acted as such only after the year 1895, when the parish was incorporated according to the regulations of the plenary council of Baltimore and the state of Minnesota. From that time on the office of proper trustees was held by Martin Wrobel and Charles Lamuzga until 1899: Frank Lukas, Peter Wodarz, Joseph Schenk, Simon Bartylla, Theodore Jon, Peter Drong. Frank Goligowski. Alex Wodarz and Francis Kubica until 1906; Frank Buhl and Francis Berczyk, 1906 to 1909: Robert Holig and Michael Czock, 1909 to 1912: Robert Bartylla and Vin- cent Hudalla at the present time.
GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Two-thirds of the citizens of Browerville are Polish and German Cath- olics and one-third Americans. The latter belong to either the United Breth- ren or the Christian church.
In 1913 the Slavonians from the surrounding country built a Greek Catholic church cast of town on a little hill near the Long Prairie river. A
271
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Greek Catholic clergyman of Minneapolis holds yearly services for them. They number about twenty families.
The old folks adhere to the Polish church, for in it their children were brought up. Members belonging to the Polish parish are all Silesians, with the exception of a few- Bohemian and Slavonian families.
A real Bohemian settlement is in the neighborhood of Browerville, but religiously is unorganized.
CHARACTER OF POLISH NATION.
The Poles are strongly attached to religion, as can be inferred from the great sacrifices they make for church and religious purposes.
POLES AS AMERICAN CITIZENS.
The Polish nation, in spite of the great tragedies which in its history it has gone through, and the sufferings caused by the present European War, shows a steel character of perseverance. United by Kasciuszko and Pulaski, great in American history, they form a class of faithful citizens of America, Being accustomed to work, and to bear misery, poverty. suffering and per- secutions in German, Austrian and Russian servitude, they became an important element in America. Expression can be given to the fact that any hard labor, considered by other nationalities as too dangerous or too menial, will be done by Poles, for they well understand that it is not the work but the character that degrades a man. As emigrants from Polish soil they took a liking to the farms in America. These they cultivated most carefully, improving them from year to year. In attaching themselves to American soil they have also become its most devoted citizens, and in time of need no doubt will stand as its most zealous defenders.
The members of St. Joseph's congregation are mostly farmers, with a small number who are engaged in commerce and town industry.
PRESENT MEMBERSHIP.
The parish numbers two hundred and fifty-six families, about one thou- sand four hundred and fifty souls and one hundred and fifty school children. It prides itself in possessing a good choir of twenty-eight members under the,
272
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
direction of Sister Avellina, organist ; a dramatic club, and stringed orchestra under the direction of Sister Armella, music teacher.
The yearly income for the maintenance of the parish is nearly four thousand dollars, pew and rent donations. There is a monthly collection for the purpose of adorning the church and altars.
Further calculations are that the school building will undergo a remod- eling and a residence be built for the Sisters as soon as the parish is freed of debt.
CHAPTER VII.
TODD COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
The Hewitt Banner was established in 1904, by Jesse M. and John J. Goar, who conducted the same until January 27, 1906. From then until January 1, 1914, it was run by W. C. Dally, and from then until February, 1914, by J. V. Barstow; from then on till July, 1915, by V. E. Joslin and it is now the property of L. A. Groover, who runs a lively five-column octavo sheet. In its politics is is a Republican paper and is a good news-letter each week.
The Todd County Argus, of Long Prairie, Todd county, was established by J. H. and J. E. Sheets in 1872, and it passed into the hands of its present owner on September 21, 1914. A. E. Roese, the present man at the helm, is making a first-class paper, or rather is keeping it to the high standard to which it had been built by the Sheets family who are all thorough newspaper men. Long years has the Argus been issued as a welcome caller at the homes of Todd and surrounding counties. It is now a six column paper ; subscription rate one dollar and fifty cents per year and it goes to many sec- tions of the Union aside from Todd county. It was formerly a Republican paper. It is printed on an up-to-date power press and is a well-edited, finely- printed newspaper. It has ever sought to build up the county and state of Minnesota by each issue saying true and good things concerning the country. Would there were more such boosters as the Argus has been for all these forty-three years.
The Eagle Bend News, of Eagle Bend, Minnesota, was established in the fall of 1893, by W. E. Hutchinson, who is still owner and editor. It is a neatly-printed, eight-page newspaper having six columns to the page. Its subscription rate is one dollar a year. It is run on a power press-two- revolution Cottrell-by a gas engine. It circulates mostly in Todd and Otter Tail counties, and is a Republican journal of no uncertain sound. This paper is published in a building owned by Mr. Hutchinson, erected in 1900. It has all the latest equipment and does job work to the satisfaction of all who patronize the establishment.
(18)
274
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
OFFICES ALL HAVE GOOD EQUIPMENT.
The Grey Eagle Gasette was established on October 17, 1900, by Fred D. Sherman, now the commissioner of immigration at St. Paul. Its other- owners have been M. J. Walburn and Will Wilke. Politically, the Gasette is Republican. It has a good circulation in Todd county. It is printed from a power press propelled by a gas engine, and in form and size is an eight- page, six-column paper of the quarto form. Grey Eagle is indeed fortunate in having so good a local newspaper within her borders.
The Long Prairie Leader was established at Long Prairie on November 14, 1883, by Frank B. Simmons, who came from Little Falls where he had been associated with the newspapers of that city. Simmons sold to Harvey Fisher and Bert Rodman, and they to W. G. Graham and in 1892 he sold to a stock company headed by Rudolph Lee, present editor of the paper. The present form and size of the Leader is a six-column quarto, all home print. It is eight, ten or twelve pages as necessity requires from issue to issue. Subscription price is one dollar and fifty cents per year. The office was erected in 1914 exclusively for the publication of the paper and has two floors. Circulation is largely in Todd county. The machinery used in the production of this journal includes a linotype, news press, two-revolution Babcock press for large job work, job presses, power cutter, power stitcher and all other machinery used in up-to-date plants doing job and newspaper work.
The Browerville Blade was established at Browerville, Minnesota, May 4, 1905, by Mrs. Del M. Wright, but is now the property of K. H. Balcom. It is an eight page folio, printed on a power press. It circulates in the vicinity of Browerville and has a yearly rate of one dollar. The plant in which it is printed has two jobbing presses, a newspaper press, cutter, perfor- ator, stapler, etc. It is independent in its politics and pays strict attention to the best needs of the community in which it is published, always striving to get the news, the whole news and print it fresh and in decent English language, hence it is a home newspaper and welcome in hundreds of Todd county homes.
ABLE MEN MANAGE THIE LOCAL PAPERS.
The Staples World was established in 1890 hy John T. Drawz, who was sole owner until October 1, 1914, when the paper passed into the hands of
275
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
its present owner, J. W. Featherston. Mr. Drawz is now running a job office at St. Paul, Minnesota. The present owner came from Sisseton, South Dakota, where he had conducted the Standard for two years, he being its owner. For one year prior to that he had owned the Sentinel at Sauk Rapids. He has been in the newspaper business twenty-eight years, nearly all of this time in Minnesota. He conducts an independent paper but is Republican in his politics. It is an eight-page, six-column paper, all home print. It circulates in Staples, Todd and adjoining counties. It is run from presses propelled by an electric motor.
The Bertha Headlight was established in January, 1899, by William Young, who soon after sold to I. J. Courtright, who continued until May I, 1909, when it was leased to W. H. Hansen, and at that time the name was changed to the Herald. In March, 1910, Mr. Hansen purchased the plant.
The Clarissa Independent was established on July 27, 1900, by P. S. Dorsey, who continued to conduct the paper until July 22, 1902, when George A. Etzell became the owner. This has been, in a way, one of the most suc- cessful newspapers in Todd county. It has always been independent in its politics. It has a well-equipped printing establishment.
CHAPTER VIII.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
Todd county easily ranks with the foremost counties in the state in the matter of its public schools. Not alone is this true of the common public school system but also of the parochial, or church schools. The Catholic and Lutheran schools at Long Prairie and the Catholic (English and Polish) schools at Browerville are excellent examples of thorough organizations of their class. The co-operation between these institutions and the board in charge of public instruction has ever been for the highest good to the greatest number.
ยท Round Prairie had the first school in Todd county and that was more than forty years ago. In 1911 the records show the county had one hundred and fifty-one schools in operation. The buildings have improved in char- acter as the years have passed, until today no county has more excellent buildings and better cared for grounds, as a rule, than Todd county. Here one finds many of the best types of rural schools to be found in all Minnesota. With improved roads, the country school is fast forging to the front. Five years ago there were sixty schools in Todd county drawing special state aid. More than seven months constitutes a school year here. In 1910 there were five graded schools, three semi-graded schools and three high schools. New and improved buildings are the order of the day in all parts of the county- when one is needed it is immediately erected. The five graded schools already mentioned are located at Bertha, Clarissa. Browerville, Grey Eagle and Burtrum. Gutches Grove, Hewitt and West Union had semi-graded schools. Other county school superintendents have been excellent, but none superior to the present one.
ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
From the last annual report made by the county school superintendent the following showing was made for this county :
ER B
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, STAPLES
LINCOLN SCHOOL BUILDING, STAPLES
277
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Number of pupils entitled to apportionment
5,542
Number not entitled to apportionment 963
Total enrollment 6,505
Average number of days cach pupil attended 232
Number of women teachers during the year 1914-15 -- 247
Number of men teachers during the year 1914-15 -. 39
Number teachers graduates of Normals. 49
Number teachers graduates from high schools 108
Number districts loaning text-books free
152
Number districts selling text-books at cost
2
Number of frame school houses erected during the year I
Number of brick school houses erected during the year 3
Value of brick school houses erected during the year __ $34,000 Value of all school buildings erected during the year_ $46,650 Total number books in libraries 12,640
Total number of libraries in county 124
Number school houses having no trees about them 0
Number standing in natural groves I39
Aggregate indebtedness of all districts
$126,400
Average length of school in months
I
J 1
8
OTHER STATISTICS.
The total receipts for high and graded schools was $82,844: for rural schools, $119,845; total, $202,690. The amount disbursed was just equal to the above amounts.
It cost for the 1914 school year in Todd county, $13.41 for the educa- tion of each pupil sent to the rural schools. It cost $35.45 per pupil for each attending the city or village schools, which calls forth the question whether the country boy or girl is considered worth only one-third as much to the world as those living in town.
In 1910 there were only fifty-eight schools drawing special state aid, but in 1914-15 the number was increased to one hundred and twelve, by which fact the revenue was increased in Todd county from state to local funds available to the amount of $6,400.
Five years ago there were only about five and one-half months of school per year here, but now the term is nearly eight months.
The matter of consolidated schools is just beginning to engage the
278
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
attention of Todd county school patrons. Already two such schools are under course of erection-one near Grey Eagle and another near Staples.
Industrial work, where the hand is taught as well as the head, is fast coming into fashion in this county. The articles made by both boys and girls show considerable skill.
In brief, it may be stated that Todd county in 1914 had nearly nine thousand scholars and four thousand parents; two hundred and sixty teach- ers ; four hundred and seventy school officers ; and these were all to be looked after by the worthy school superintendent, Victor S. Knutson, who in making his three hundred and fifteen visits traveled over four thousand miles.
AS VIEWED BY THE PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT.
The following is a page of a report issued by the county superintendent, Mr. Knutson, to the school patrons and officers in Todd county in 1915, and will serve as a permanent record of school matters here.
"We can have well-equipped school buildings, excellent school boards, splendid school spirit in the district, and still have a very poor school. Such could be the results only when we have a poor teacher. Fortunately, the year just passed had very few of those kind of teachers, and there were but a few failures and those were given passports before the year was out. We trust that there will be no failures this coming year. It seems impossible to keep our good teachers in this county for any length of time. The increased salary they are paying in other states and other parts of this state take away some of our very best teachers. We are glad to report, however, that many of our school boards are beginning to realize that fact, and are paying suffi- cient wages to old teachers that have made good. The girl who works but six, seven or eight months a year and then has to attend summer school and prepare herself for teaching almost all the time during vacation, at from forty to fifty dollars per month has not much left at the end of the year.
"During the past year several of our teachers have taken an active part in the social life of the community. They have taken an active part in the preparation of farmer club programs, in school entertainments and various social activities in the community. We should urge upon our teachers to do even more of this work the coming year.
"We hope that the patrons of our schools will show the teacher the same kind of consideration that they would their own son and daughter were they away from home under the same conditions. There is nothing that will
.
279
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
inake teachers do better work than to be happily received and well taken care of in the district. It will cheer them on to do better work. On the other hand we shall insist that the teachers do all in their power to make it pleasant for the people with whom they come in contact, and with whom they must work. We shall urge them to make life easy for the people with whom they board and to make it a pleasure rather than a burden for patrons of our schools to board the teacher. With this splendid co-operation which we are pleading for between the patrons and the teacher we know our teachers will make a success this coming year."
-
CHAPTER IX.
BANKS OF TODD COUNTY.
Todd county is prosperous and hence her banking business is excellent., At an early day there was no use for bankers here, but long since that branch of business has verily become a necessity. The great growth of bank deposits has accompanied the development of the dairying and hog raising business, so that, inasmuch as these industries are just getting fairly estab- lished, what the production of wealth in the county is to be in the next few years can be realized. The following is a statement of bank deposits in this county as made public to the bank examiners and comptroller of currency upon date given below.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.