USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 51
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 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
The patriotic order known as the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion was organized in Washington, D. C., October 11, 1890. Its present membership is over one hundred thousand, with local chapters in every state in the United States, in Cuba, China, Mexico and the Philippines-about fifteen hundred local chapters in all. The object of the society is to pre-
Digitized by Google
469
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
serve and perpetuate the memory and deeds of the patriots of the Revolu- tion ; to locate and establish memorials of historic places; to teach patriotism and inspire reverence and respect for the flag. The headquarters of the society is in Washington, where they have a magnificent building, called the Continental Hall.
The eligibility requirements for membership in this society are very strict, and applications must be specific and authentic as to ancestral history in order to pass the censorship of the official critic. The regulations pro- vidie that "any woman of the age of eighteen years, who descended from an ancestor, who, with 'unfailing loyalty' rendered material aid to the cause of Independence as a recognized patriot. as soldier or sailor, or as a civil officer in one of the several colonies or states," is eligible to membership. These facts must be established by documentary or other authentic evidence. Tra- ditional evidence is not accepted by the censor who passes on the applica- tions.
Fergus Falls Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized on January 30, 1899, with ten charter members, namely: Mrs. Josephine Gilbert Barrows, Mrs. Mary Mygatt Brown. Mrs. Alice Hixson Billings, Mrs. Mary Underwood Gray, Mrs. Helen Orr Hixson, Elma L. Hixson, Mrs. Anna M. McMahon, Janet Huntoon, Elizabeth Underwood and Sallie Warfield.
The first officers were: Mrs. Mary Mygatt Brown, regent; Mrs. Jose- phine Barrows, registrar; Mrs. Anna McMahon, treasurer; Miss Sallie War- field, secretary. The present officers are: Mrs. Effie Wescott Cole, regent ; Mrs. Katherine Hill Ulland, vice-regent; Mrs. Helen Orr Hixson, recording secretary ; Mrs. Kate Shonts Eriksson, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Anna Vanderzee Lake, treasurer; Mrs. Mary Underwood Gray, registrar. Those who have served as regents since the organization follow: Mrs. Mary Mygatt Brown, Mrs. Mary McLean Barrows, Mrs. Emma Clement Shonts, Mrs. Helen Orr Hixson, Mrs. Alice Hixson Billings, Mrs. Effie Westcott Cole, Mrs. Josephine Gilbert Barrows, Mrs. Mary Underwood Grey; Mrs. Anna Vanderzee Lake. Mrs. Mary Fuller Wright, Mrs. Lillian Stringham Mason, Mrs. Kate Shonts Eriksson, Mrs. Katherine Ulland.
Following is a complete list of members of the Fergus Falls Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the name of the ancestor through whom eligibility to membership is established :
Mae Mygatt Brown (J. A.), descendant of Eli Mygatt, Danbury. Con- necticut.
Josephine Gilbert Barrows (F. G. ), descendant of Isaac Gilbert, New Haven, Connecticut.
Mary McLane Parsons (W. L.), descendant of Joseph Young. of Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania.
Digitized by Google
470
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Janet Whitcomb Huntoon, descendant of James Billings, Connecticut.
Emma Clement Shonts (J. G.), descendant of Col. Jabez Mathews, of Frainingham, Massachusetts.
Lillian Stringham Mason (Cahrles), descendant of Samuel Slocum, of Dartsmouth, Massachusetts.
Kate Shonts Eriksson ( Leonard), descendant of James Wigart, of New Jersey.
Helen Orr Hixon ( Daniel). descendant of John Orr, of Bedford, New Hampshire.
Elma Hixon Benton, descendant of John Orr, of Bedford, New Hamp- shire.
Capitola Hixon Billings, descendant of John Orr, of Bedford, New `Hampshire.
Anna McMahon (M. T.), descendant of Allen Breed, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
Miss Elizabeth Underwood, descendant of Emanuel Hover, of Sussex county, New Jersey.
Sallie Warfield Greenwell (J. W.), descendant of Elisha Warfield, of Maryland.
Mary Underwood Gray (F. H.), descendant of Emanuel Hover, of Sussex county, New Jersey.
Izora Brown (B. F.), descendant of John March, Jr., of Bellinham, Massachusetts.
Effie Westcott Cole ( A. B.). descendant of Thomas Tanner, Jr., of Cornwall, Connecticut.
Myra Fuller Wright (C. J.), descendant of Capt. Abraham Fuller, of New York.
Fanny Lincoln Tallmadge (George C.), descendant of Lathrop Davis, of Lebanon, Connecticut.
Miss Ruth Lincoln, descendant of Lathrop Davis of Lebanon, Con- necticut.
Miss Elizabeth Davis, descendant of Lathrop Davis, of Lebanon, Con- necticut.
Malie Alice King (Doctor), descendant of Abraham Van Denson, of Montgomery county, New York.
Anna E. Lake (F. H.), descendant of Cornelius Vandeizee, of Bethle- hem, New York.
Myrtle Jane Lund Diffendorf (P. O.), descendant of Roswell Good- rich, of Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Kate Hill Ulland (O. F.) descendant of John M. La Strange, of New York.
Digitized by Google
471
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Fanny Cowles Adams ( E. E. ), descendant of Samuel Cowles, of Nor- folk, Connecticut.
Alice Josephine Buck Wheelock ( H. W.), descendant of Rev. Daniel Buck, of New Milford, Connecticut.
Emma Child Baxter (L. L.), descendant of Capt. Abijah Child, of Massachusetts.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
When the Civil War closed and the soldiers who fought the battles of the Union returned to their homes to resume their place as citizens of a republic that had been saved by their valor, they laid aside their implements of war and engaged in vocations of peace. While rejoicing in victory and peace, the disbanding of the army was not without a feeling of regret on the part of the soldiers, because of the separation of comrades and the sever- ing of ties that had been welded in the fire of battle. This feeling found expression in the formation of company and regimental associations, and in various organizations of soldiers in the early years following the close of the war. Out of the pleasure and experience of renewed comradeship found in these occasional reunions was conceived the idea of an established national organization of soldiers of the Civil War, an organization that became known as the Grand Army of the Republic, the greatest semi-mili- tary organization the world has ever known.
As a fraternity, the Grand Army of the Republic differs from all other fraternities. It is a fraternity born of war and yet a child of peace. Engendered amid scenes of trial and danger, it has been fostered, nourished and kept alive for a period now of almost fifty years by one of the most tender and loving comradeships of which the world has knowledge. It is fraternity made up of kind words, and kindly acts of friendships which are honest and true. It is a fraternity into which no recruits can come; it can- not be perpetuated. Its inevitable end will come when the last of its mem- bers shall have "passed the lonely way."
The Grand Army is represented by posts and departments in every state in the Union. The local post in Fergus Falls is known as Stanton Post No. 33. Department of Minnesota, Grand Army of the Republic. It was organized, June 15, 1883, by the chief mustering officer of the Depart- ment of Minnesota of that year, Charles Harrington. The following were charter members: Louis Hansen, R. W. Arnold, H. W. W. Woodworth, H. B. Fay, Henry Burdoff, Wright Works, Justus Pickit, C. P. Austin, Edward Pilbeam, K. W. Titus, Henry Earl, E. A. Marshall, Lyman Spaul- ing. D. R. Greenlee, W. W. Hollingsworth, E. E. Corliss, James Compton, R. N. Adams, C. H. Goodsell, J. T. Bean. E. L. Olden, L. J. Morrill, W. H. Smith, Lewis H. Johnson, N. A. Files, E. V. Comstock, B. F. Conradt, B. D. Catlin, W. C. Lincoln, D. Ansinger, H. C. Whiting, Charles E. Hurd,
Digitized by Google
472
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Allen M. Bugbee, J. Hardy, O. C. Chase, G. H. Holden and George F. Cowing.
The first officers were: G. H. Holden, post commander; James Comp- ton, senior-vice commander ; D. R. Greenlee, surgeon; H. C. Whiting, officer of the guard; R. W. Arnold, chaplain; James Compton, quartermaster; W. C. Lincoln, adjutant; Justus Pickit, sergeant-major; J. Hardee, quarter- master-sergeant.
The following have held the position of post commander since the organization : James Compton, O. C. Chase, C. W. Mckay, A. M. Battle- son, E. E. Corliss, P. Winson, F. J. Titus, George E. Burbank, W. G. Hunt, J. G. Durrell. W. H. McBride. I. J. Brown, W. N. Chapman, W. P. Culuert, George F. Cowing, E. Shaner, O. S. Smeet, J. A. McConkey, J. R. Langley, Charles Goodsell, James B. Auxer, W. C. Lincoln and J. Neibels.
The post is named in honor of Edwin M. Stanton, who, as President Lincoln's secretary of war, rendered invaluable service in the cause of the Union during the Civil War. Since its organization two hundred and sixty- four have been enrolled as members of the post. The present membership is twenty-five. The decrease is due to deaths and the removal of many to other localities.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
The Woman's Relief Corps is an organization of loval women whose special mission is to aid needy soldiers of the Civil War and the widows and orphans of those deceased. It was organized as an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. The national organization was established in 1886, by authority of the national encampment of the Grand Army, and under the direction of the commander-in-chief of the order at that time. The sub- ordinate divisions are the state departments. in each state, and the local corps that are connected with the Grand Army posts. Since the organization the Woman's Relief Corps has grown to a large and influential body of patriotic women, and has raised and distributed thousands of dollars for the relief of those who are its beneficiaries. Unlike the Grand Army the Woman's Relief Corps has an unlimited field from which to enlist recruits: its membership is increasing. while that of the Grand Army is steadily decreasing.
The Fergus Falls organization is known as the Stanton Woman's Relief Corps No. 72. auxiliary to the local Grand Army post. This corps was organized on February 26, 1896, with the following charter members: Emma Baxter, Elizabeth Corliss. Delia Chase. Esther Winsor, Catherine Colvert, Alice Smith, Kitty Hastings, Maria Cooper. Emma Gray. Elizabeth Mckay, Blanche Hurd. Sarah Balfour, Dorcas Evans, Maria Kissinger. Augusta Neibels, Ida Hoefling. Francis Battleson. Elizabeth Lent, Cornelia Titus. Susie Hunt, Margaret Chapman, Susie Alds. Jennie Rose, Lida Bliss.
Digitized by Google
473
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Maranda Burbank, Nancy Underwood, Ella Abert. Anna Smith, Arma Hoefling, Lillian Morrill, Balle Langley, Elma Hixon, Capitola Hixon and Ida Kennedy.
The first officers were as follow: Emma Baxter, president; Elizabeth Corliss, senior vice-president; Elizabeth Mckay, junior vice-president; Ida Kennedy, secretary; Emma G. Gray, treasurer; Esther Winsor, chaplain; Margaret Chapman, conductor : Augusta Neibels, guard; Elma Hixon, assist- ant conductor; Delia Chase, assistant guard. The present officers are as follow: Etta Miller, president ; Mary Wilson. senior vice-president; Har- riet Wade, junior vice-president; Nellie Hart, secretary ; Nellie Gunerius, treasurer : Amanda Butler, chaplain; Augusta Neibels, conductor ; Inez Thomas, guard; Delia Chase, assistant conductor ; Nellie Salvage, assistant guard; Theresa Fellows, first color guard: Anna Adair, second color guard; Mattie Whiting, third color guard: Edith Woodworth, fourth color guard. The following have served as president of the corps since its organization : Emma Baxter, 1896-97; Elizabeth Corliss, 1898-99; Margaret Chapman, 1900-01 ; Ida Hoefling, 1901-02; Amanda Butler, 1903 ; Delia Chase, 1904-05; Amelia McBride, 1906-07; Elida Carlson, 1908; Susie Hunt, 1909; Etta Miller, 1910-16. The present membership of the corps is one hundred and twenty-four.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
The only men from Otter Tail county to enlist as representatives of the county in any war were mustered into service for the Spanish-American War. The organization of a company in Fergus Falls for that war was completed April 28, 1898, the company being mustered in as Company F. The officers of the company were C. L. Baxter, captain; Charles D. Dan- strom, first lieutenant ; A. C. Jessen, second lieutenant. The non-commis- sioned officers were, M. P. Meigs, first sergeant; Andrew Scellum, Al. Kidder, George Beardsley, duty sergeants: Guy Hurd, A. Phelps, A. Wess- berg, N. E. Nelson and P. J. Barbau, corporals.
The company was ordered to report at St. Paul, Friday, April 27, 1898. and left Fergus Falls one hundred strong on the evening of that date. Prior to its departure the citizens manifested their good will and best wishes by raising a subscription for a handsome company flag. The presentation speech was made by C. C. Houpt. Captain Baxter responded on behalf of the company. This company went into the organization camp at St. Paul and became a part of the Fourteenth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry. After remaining in St. Paul for a few weeks, the regiment was sent to Chattanooga and later went into camp at Chickamauga. This company did not get into any active service remaining in this camp until the close of the war. On their return home, October 1, 1898. they were tendered a grand reception by the citizens of Fergus Falls.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XXVIII. POSTAL HISTORY.
FERGUS FALLS POSTOFFICE.
The first postmaster in Fergus Falls was Henry Hanigsen and the estab- lishment of the office seems to have been brought about through the influence of Ole Jorgens. Mr. Jorgens, in his reminiscences, says that he and his neighbors in Aurdal and Fergus Falls townships sent a petition in the sum- mer of 1870 to the postoffice department at Washington asking for a mail route from Pomme de Terre to Fergus Falls, and for postoffices at Wall Lake, St. Olaf and Fergus Falls. Mr. Jorgens found, in the spring of 1870, that there was no postoffice at all in the western part of the county, and, as he says, there was none closer to his home at Wall Lake than Clitherall or Evansville, Douglas county. It is for this reason that he interested himself in getting these three postoffices established. According to Mr. Jorgens he secured the location of the three postoffices which he had suggested should be established, and Henry Hanigsen ( the official record gives his name as Heinrich Haingsen ) was appointed on July 6, 1870, as the first postmaster of Fergus Falls. The mail for the village was brought from Pomme de Terre once a week, Peter Frones, an old soldier and sailor, being the first carrier. It is reported that for a time he walked the entire distance between Pomme de Terre and Fergus Falls, carrying the mail on his back, but later made the trip in a two-wheeled cart. Mr. Jorgens made out the first monthly report of Hanigsen to the postoffice department at Washington.
The first postoffice in the village was located in a log building on Mill street just back of the present First National Bank building. The first post- master was a German, and there are those still living in Fergus Falls who in a facetious way, claim that he could not read English, and that thus handi- capped, he had to resort to a unique method of distributing the mail. Boxes for individual patrons were then unknown. Everyone in the community knew that the weekly mail was expected on Friday afternoon and some member of each family arranged to be present at the postoffice that afternoon to get the family mail. Upon receipt of the pouch bearing the mail. the postmaster walked to the middle of the room, carefully unlocked the pouch, turned the bag upside down and emptied its contents in the middle of the floor. This performance would be followed by an invitation to the crowd on the outside to come in and look through the pile for their mail.
The growth of the postoffice in Fergus Falls from 1870 to 1916 illu-
Digitized by Google
475
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
strates in a striking way the development of the little village into the metropolis of this section of the state. Whereas, one man handled all of the business in 1870, and for some years following that time, it now requires no less than thirty-one employees to do the work connected with the post- office. The postmaster now has one chief assistant, seven clerks, four city carriers, ten rural carriers and two janitors to assist him and additional help is now needed to handle the business. In addition there is one substitute clerk and four substitute city carriers, these four substitutes working two hours each day. Each rural carrier also has a substitute, but these in most cases are employed only during the fifteen day vacation period allowed each employee of the postoffice. The oldest clerk in point of continuous service is J. P. Nelson, who has been with the office since October 1, 1900.
Some of the landmarks in the history of the local postoffice are as fol- low: October 1, 1900, city free delivery service established with three car- riers; December 16, 1901, a fourth carrier added to the city delivery ; Febru- ary I, 1904, five rural routes established out of Fergus Falls; August 5, 1905, three additional rural carriers allowed Fergus Falls; August 15, 1906, county rural service established, and at the same time two more carriers ยท added to the rural service out of Fergus Falls; August 22, 1911, postal sav- ings department established ; January 1, 1913, parcel post system inaugurated. The postoffice was raised from the third to the second class in the nineties, the change taking place when the annual receipts reached eight thousand dollars. The change brought all of the employees of the postoffice, except the postmaster, under the civil service. 'Before that time the postmaster appointed all of his subordinates. The postal receipts have been increasing so rapidly during the past few years that the postoffice will undoubtedly be raised to the rank of a first-class office within the next two years. This will take place as soon as the receipts amount to forty thousand dollars a year.
The present beautiful postoffice building was erected in 1903-04 and occupied for the first time May 15, 1904, during the incumbency of B. D. Underwood. One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars was appropri- ated for the site and building, but the whole amount was not used. The contract for the building was let to John Lauritzen, a local contractor, the total cost of the site and building amounting to one hundred and eleven thousand. The selection of the site arrayed the whole city into two rival camps, each side intent upon locating the new building upon the site of their choice. It is not necessary in this connection to go into a discussion of. the merits and demerits of the two sites at first proposed by the two rival factions, the Nangle corner and the Hoyt corner. It is sufficient to state that neither corner got it, but that as a compromise, and to prevent an insurrection.
Digitized by Google
476
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
another site was chosen. Something of the maneuvering incident to the locating of the site is told by the Hon. E. E. Corliss in his reminsciences. The building not only contains the postoffice department, but also a court- room and offices for the district attorney, district clerk, United States mar- shals, witness and jury rooms, filing rooms, and a temporary lockup for federal prisoners awaiting trial.
The selection of postmasters in Fergus Falls has engaged the attention of politicians here as well as elsewhere in the United States. The next post- master in the city knows that his position will depend upon whether the state of New York will go Republican or Democratic. To follow the history of each postmaster and the incidents surrounding his appointment would far transcend the limits of this article. In fact a volume might be written about the postmasters and those who wished to be postmasters, the major portion of the volume naturally being about the latter group. There have been seven postmasters since 1870, four Republicans and three Democrats. The Repub- licans have been, Henry Henigsen ( 1870-71), George Nichols ( 1871-88), Justus Pickit ( 1894-97) and B. D. Underwood ( 1900-14). The Democrats have been Horace Pickit ( 1888-94), Jesse Billings ( 1897-1900) and the pres- ent incumbent, Harry M. Wheelock. from June 16, 1914. Probably the most noted fight for the office was staged when Justus Pickit won the appointment from B. N. Johnson. The newspapers of that day give only a faint indication of the surplusage of adjectives which were wasted before Pickit was finally appointed. Jesse Billings was a Democrat but appointed by a Republican president, a fact due to his wonderful popularity with the citizens of the city and his activity against Bryan in 1896. The postmasters of this city have had various occupations; merchants, druggists, tailors and newspaper men have filled the official chair, and it is claimed that one incumbent of the office devoted his talents to the exciting if not remunerative vocation of checker playing.
In the early days the office was not sufficiently compensating to make it self-sustaining and the postmaster had to eke out his living by doing something else-the something usually being merchandising. The first post- master to devote most of his time and attention to the office was George L. Nichols, who was appointed December 5. 1871, but he also engaged in merchandizing. The postmaster of today receives an annual salary of twenty-eight hundred dollars, and the janitor of the building receives a much larger yearly income than did the postmasters of the seventies. The postmaster of two score years ago was on duty from ten to fifteen hours a day, while at the present time the postmaster and all of his subordinates work only eight hours a day.
As has been stated before, the first postoffice was located in a log building which stood to the rear of the present First National Bank building.
Digitized by Google
.
477
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
It remained there until 1871 or 1872, when it was moved to the drug store of Nichols & Dearborn on Lincoln avenue (lot 10, block 20), in the same building occupied by C. J. Hanson as a harness shop. George 1 .. NNichols. who was postmaster for seventeen years ( 1871-88). divided his attention between the drug business and the postoffice. While he was postmaster he moved the office to the dry goods store of Harrison & Beare, a brick building on Court street, standing on the north bank of Red river. where the Fergus Auto Garage is now located. The postoffice remained there until April 1. 1881, when it was moved to the new store-room of J. H. DeParoq, which was leased for one year beginning April 1. 1881. This building stood on Mill street and will be remembered as standing to the rear of the present First National Bank building and adjoining Mrs. Burbank's millinery store. Shortly afterwards the present building of the First National Bank was erected and the postoffice was then moved into the rear room of this build- ing. the same now occupied by C. D. Baker. It remained here until May 15, 1904, when it was taken to the present beautiful building on south Mill street, the first government building to be erected in the city.
POSTOFFICES OF OTTER TAIL. COUNTY.
The first regular mail service in Otter Tail county was established in the summer of 1869. On the 4th of July the first star route mail carrier came to Parkers Prairie with the first sack of mail which was ever brought into the county. G. A. Linquist, former county treasurer and now a resi- dent of Fergus Falls, acted as guide for the carrier from Parkers Prairie to Otter Tail City. Until the early part of the seventies the county only had weekly service but with the building of the Northern Pacific through the county daily service was inaugurated for at least part of the county. It was some time after this before Fergus Falls had daily service. For a time the county seat received mail by stage from Crampton on the west and Wadena on the east. Daily service was not established in Fergus Falls until the Great Northern reached it in 1879.
Gradually the county was covered with star routes and before the end of the seventies there was more than a score of postoffices scattered over the county. As fast as the townships were organized postoffices were estab- lished in the most thickly settled communities although the great majority of these received mail only once a week. The number of postoffices kept increasing from year to year until the inauguration of the rural free deliv- ery system in 1904, at which time there were sixty-eight postoffices in the county. The list for 1904 follows: Amor. Arthur. Aurdal, Axel. Balmoral. Basswood, Battle Lake, Bessie, Blowers. Bluffton, Butler. Carlisle, Center Grove, Clitherall, Dalton. Davies. Deer Creek, Dent. Dopelius, Dora, Ed- wards, Effington, Elizabeth, Erhard, Faust, Fergus Falls, French, Gresham,
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.