USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 41
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 41
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East and west from Central avenue, the avenues are numbered First, Second, etc, avenues, consecutively, east and west respectively. North and south from Division street, the streets are numbered First, Second, etc., streets, consecutively, north and south respectively. Many of the older residents, however, still
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stick to the former style of names, and such titles as Front street, Main street, etc., are often heard, and are even occasionally used in print, especially in referring to incidents of by-gone days.
Water Works. The city of Faribault receives its water sup- ply from two deep wells and several surface wells, located near Seventh street. This water is pumped into a reservoir and from there into the mains, the total length of which is seventeen miles. The present water works were constructed in 1883 by the Faribault Waterworks Company and were taken over by the city of Faribault July 1, 1893. The purchase price in 1893 was $100,950, and since then there have been improvements to the amount of about $65,000. The water is excellent, and critical analysis has demonstrated its superiority for domestic use.
Sewer System. The Faribault sewer system was inaugurated in 1893, when bonds were issued to the amount of $15,000. The system covers the principal streets of the city and empties into the Straight river north of the city. Since its inauguration many improvements and extensions have been made. The extent of the system is now twelve miles.
Bridges. The city of Faribault owns sixteen bridges, as fol- lows: Fourteenth street bridge, $550; Second avenue north, small concrete, $1,540; Second avenue north, large two-span rivits, $2,800; Hulett avenue bridge, concrete, $3,700; Seventh street west, foot bridge, wood and concrete, $250; Seventh street west, wagon bridge, steel. $1,100; Fourth street west, wagon bridge, wood, $600; Division street west, reinforced concrete, $1.500; Second avenue south and Division street viaduct bridge, $1,600; Front street east, steel, $4,000; Front street east, small bridge, $1,400; Howe, Front and Second streets, wood, $600; Second street east, steel. $3,500; Shamway avenue, steel, $1,500; Madison street, wood, $400; Third street bridge to St. Mary's hall, $1,600.
City Market. This consists of a building and yards, with scales and shed, on lots 1 and 2, block 32 of the original town of Faribault, acquired by the city at a tax sale January 26, 1894. This is used as a general market place for the farmers of the county, providing a place also for reading, recreation and rest.
Quarry, Etc. The city owns a quarry in Geo. A. Faribault's addition in the southern part of the city, purchased July 3, 1888, and April 25, 1901. It is not now worked. The city gravel pit is situated near the northern boundary line of the city and was purchased May 17, 1907. The city dumping ground consists of one acre in section 25, purchased December 14, 1887.
Telephone and Telegraph. The Northwestern Telephone Company was put in operation in Faribault December 13, 1882.
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F. J. Richmond is the present manager. The Rice County Rural Telephone Company received its franchise to operate in Fari- bault. The telegraph companies came with the railroads. The following telephone and telegraph companies are at present oper- ating in Faribault: American District Telegraph Company, Eastern Faribault Telephone Company, Fox Lake Telephone Company, Northwestern Telephone Exchange, Rice County Rural Telephone Company, Tri-State Telephone and Telegraph Company, and the Western Union Telegraph Company.
CHAPTER XIX.
FARIBAULT INDUSTRIES.
Faribault as a Business Center-The Progressiveness of Its Leading Men-Advantages of Life in the City-History of the Leading Industries-Various Industrial Facts of Inter- est-Edited by M. M. Shields-Banks and Banking.
Individual thrift and enterprise and public spirit are the requisites for corporate growth. This is the secret of the won- derful growth of the West ; it is the secret of many of our eastern cities. It is also the secret of the growth of Faribault in the past and will be in the future. Faribault is a city of nearly 10,000 population. It is located on three of the great railway systems of the country, which extend through the city, furnish- ing excellent passenger and freight accommodations for reaching any point desired. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific roads extend through the city from south to north, and the Cannon Valley division of the Chicago Great Western road and the Faribault-Wabasha division of the Milwaukee road pass through the city from east to west. The Milwaukee road, owning and operating 7,000 miles of track' in Minnesota and adjacent states, furnishes direct communica- tion with St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Eau Claire, Milwaukee and Chicago and all points on its lines. The great Rock Island system, operating 15,000 miles of well equipped road, gives direct connection with St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, and thousands of prosperous cities along its lines. The enterprising Chicago Great Western system, operating 1,400 miles of road, furnishes direct connection with St. Paul, Minne- apolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha and many intermediate points.
Faribault has a number of manufacturing enterprises and numerous other industrial establishments, all contributing by their variety and stability to the general thrift and comfort of the entire community. Both for business purposes and private residence Faribault is a most desirable place in which to locate. The city from its advantageous surroundings, its commercial facilities, its business opportunities, its advantages as a shipping and distributing point, its wealth and the intelligence, refine-
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ment and culture of its people for public and private enterprises, its excellent sanitary conditions and the thousand and one things that tend to make the city a desirable place in which to abide, are attracting capitalists and business men from afar, and the outlook of Faribault is of a bright and most promising character.
Faribault has all the elements that contribute to solid and permanent growth of an enterprising community, and these are to be found, not in the extent and variety of her commerce, but in the variety and numerical strength of her manufacturing indus- tries. The inhabitants are composed very largely of those belonging to the industrial classes, mechanics, tradesmen, "sons of toil." There are few who do not labor in some useful sphere. The wealth is quite equally distributed among the population and there are some wealthy, many well to do, but few really poor. The mechanics and laboring men of Faribault generally own homes of their own and as a consequence houses can be rented at very reasonable rates, while shabby and insignificant tenement houses are unknown in the city.
The influence of education upon business and society, and indeed the effect it has either immediately and remotely upon every branch of trade, gives it a peculiar significance. Liberal provision for the education of the young and thorough prepara- tion for the stern realities of life are absolute necessities, in fact requisite to success in every field of effort. The advantages and facilities of Faribault in this department of economy are equal to those of any other place of its size in the state, and it is a happy commentary on the character of the people that all the schools are largely attended and a degree of efficiency attained that tells better than words how faithful, consistent and able are the efforts of the principals and teachers.
Faribault has received a national reputation as an educational center. So famed has it become for the number and excellence of its schools, denominational, state and public, that it has appropriately been christened "The Athens of the Northwest." Within its corporate limits and situated on beautiful wooded plateau just cast of the business center of the city are Shattuck School for boys, St. James School for small boys, St. Mary's Hall for girls, Seabury Divinity School, a theological seminary for educating young men for the ministry. the Minnesota School for Deaf. the Minnesota School for Blind and the Minnesota School for Feeble-Minded and Epileptics. Shattuck, St. Mary's and Seabury Divinity are being conducted under the auspices of the Episcopal Church. On an elevation west of the center of the town is Bethlehem Academy for young ladies, conducted under the direction of the Sisters of St. Dominic, a Catholic order.
The enrollment at Shattuck the past year was 202: at St.
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James, 42; at St. Mary's, 102; at Bethlehem, 118; at Seabury Divinity, 30. The populations of the state institutions were as follows: Minnesota School for the Deaf, pupils enrolled 286, employes 75; Minnesota School for Feeble-Minded and Epilep- tics 1,265, with 200 employes; Minnesota School for Blind, pupils enrolled 95, and 30 employes. The enrollment of the city schools was 1,230; the parochial schools, Catholic, Immaculate Concep- tion parish, 222; St. Lawrence, 125; Lutheran, German Lutheran, 150; total enrollment of denominational schools, 991; of public schools, 1,230; total population of state schools, 1,952; total enrollment of all schools, 3,867.
The free postal delivery system is efficiently carried out by the postmaster and his assistants. The city has sound financial institutions-Chase State Bank of Faribault, the Security Bank of Faribault, the Citizens National Bank of Faribault. It has a public library and a city hospital, St. Lucas, and four ably con- ducted newspapers, namely, the Faribault "Pilot," the "Demo- crat," the "Republican" and the Faribault "Journal."
Faribault has appropriately been termed "A City of Homes." Rents are fair and building comparatively cheap. Faribault and its inhabitants are prepared to welcome all who propose to make this their home or place of business and to lend them every assistance in their power. Much in the way of improvement has been accomplished and there are today in Faribault many desirable sites available which will prove of advantage as the place continues to grow, which are especially suitable for the erection of factories, business blocks or residences.
E. M. Leach & Sons. This concern was for many years known as E. M. Leach's sash, door and blind factory and planing mill. This is the oldest establishment in Faribault, as it was first started in 1857 by L. C. Ingram as a sash, door and blind factory, using a windmill for power. Its location was not far from the railway station. Some time during the war it was mioved up to Central avenue. In 1866 the concern was pur- chased by E. M. Leach and removed to what was then Elm street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Its capacity for busi- ness was at once enlarged by the introduction of a twenty-horse- power steam engine and considerable new machinery. The size of the building was 20x80 feet, two stories, for the main struc- ture, and two additions of a single story, covering still more ground than the other. In the wood-working department about eighty men were employed. There was also a feed mill in con- nection with the establishment and a lumber yard. This was destroyed by fire November 10, 1888. It was immediately rebuilt, 48x66, two stories and a basement, on the same location. In 1907 a new store building was erected, 22×60, two stories,
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fronting on Fourth street. The company was incorporated in 1907 by E. M. Leach, H. P. Leach and A. R. Leach. The output is sash and doors and general milling work, including interior finishings. The premises occupied are very large and the stock carried very extensive, and consists of many kinds of dressed and undressed lumber, sash, doors, blinds, hardwood interior finish, lath, shingles, lime, cement, plaster, paints, etc. The mill is equipped with electric power and various kinds of modern wood-working machinery, and all kinds of sawing, planing, turning and mill work is done, no job being too large or too small to receive the closest attention. Estimates are furnished on contracts and a high class service is guaranteed. The firm buys its supplies by the car lot and the facilities at its command. are such as to enable it to meet the closest competition.
The Shaft-Pierce Shoe Company. This concern conducts one of the most important industries in this portion of Minnesota. The Faribault establishment was started in June, 1904, and has continued to increase rapidly in importance.
The buildings include a main building, 42x150 feet, and an annex, 42×60 fect. The entire structure is of brick and stone, mill construction, of four stories and basement in height, with a daily capacity of 2,000 pairs of misses' and children's and infants' welts, Mckay sewed and hand-turned shoes of medium and fine grades. In a recent interview W. E. Shaft, the president, said : "I started this business in Minneapolis sixteen years ago with a, daily capacity of one dozen pairs of shoes. Our sales have shown a daily increase until we now make shoes for the leading shoe buyers throughout the Northwest. Our 'Minnehaha Shoes' for the juvenile trade is our established trademark and are regarded by leading shoc dealers as a thoroughly reliable product in every respect."
Schimmel Piano Company. Among Faribault's manufactur- ing enterprises and one that has helped to contribute to the industrial development of the city is that of the Schimmel piano factory, manufacturers of high grade pianos, whose office and factory are located at corner Central avenue and Sixth street. The business was established by Fridolin Schimmel, with the co-operation of Faribault's business men, about the year 1893, and from the first the productions of the firm have been in steadily increasing demand, and the Schimmel pianos today are used by many artists and musicians in preference to all others. About the year 1898 Mr. Schimmel became the sole owner of the business.
Sheffield-King Milling Company. The old mill that occu- pied the site of the mill owned and operated by this company was built in 1862 by Alexander Faribault and Henry Mehlhorn.
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It had two run of stones, driven by two wheels, and with eight feet head of water. There was an eleven-foot fall. The build- ing was originally frame, but later was veneered with brick. It was sold to Sater & Bangs not long after it was built. This firm improved it somewhat. Sater subsequently sold his interest and Bangs converted the mill into a five-run mill. In 1867 it was sold to Bean Brothers & Tennant, who operated it until it was burned, December 8, 1876, at a loss of $25,000.
Another mill was commenced soon after this mill was burned, which occupied the same place and was a three-story brick building with a stone basement, 60x62 feet. At first it had seven run of stone. In about a year two more were added, and in addition to water a steam engine of 125 horsepower was put in. The cost of the engine and engine house was about $9,000. The mill was built by a stock company, consisting of the fol- lowing: F. A. Bean, William Tennant, A. P. Story, Miles Hol- lister, T. B. Clement, L. R. Weld, G. W. Lewis, R. A. Mott. G. G. Gunhus, H. W. Bingham and D. W. Humphrey. The company operated the mill until 1876, when it was leased by Bean & Tennant. In 1881 a rolling mill was added.
In 1880 B. B. Sheffield purchased the old mill at Walcott. This mill was burned in 1895. At about this time the Sheffield interests purchased the old Bean & Tennant mill. In 1898 an elevator was moved near the mill site. At the same time a brick office building was erected. The capacity of the mill was also doubled. The plant of the mill is located on the Cannon river, at the intersection of Cannon river and the Roberd's lake road. Around it is quite a colony, including a hotel, store and houses, most of which were moved from the vicinity of the old Walcott mill shortly after that mill was destroyed by fire. The cooper shop was built in 1900. The company was incorporated with its present name in 1901. B. B. Sheffield disposed of his interests about four years ago. The company employs over 100 men and has a capacity of 2,800 barrels per day. The officers are: H. H. King, president; E. C. Merton, secretary and treasurer ; directors, E. C. Merton, H. H. King, G. W. Ewe. W. W. Allen is the local superintendent and the head office is at Minneapolis.
Farmer Seed and Nursery Company. This company was first organized in Chicago in 1891, with Otto Kozlowski as manager and William Kueker as secretary. In the spring of 1894 the company moved to Faribault and erected a three- story building, 35x50 feet, at the intersection of Fourth street and the Milwaukee tracks. The same year they purchased the Prescott farm of forty acres, which is just outside the city limits of Faribault, and commenced growing the seeds themselves,
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this work having previously been done under contract. Two years later they added seventy-seven acres to the farm. In 1897 a two-story addition was built to the east of the building. In 1899, the wooden building having become too small for the business, they purchased a large stone warehouse, 65x155 feet, which was directly across the street. This building was for- merly occupied by the Faribault Thresher Company. In 1900 the Shields farm of eighty acres and the Bishop farm of eighty acres were added to the lands then owned by the company, and in 1902 a two-story elevator was built to the warehouse. In 1906 they built a wing on the east, two stories in height, 60x40 feet. In 1907 a second story was added to the entire warehouse. In 1909 the back part of the warehouse was increased to three stories. In 1908 another forty-seven acres was added to the farm. The company started growing nursery stock about four years ago. In 1909 they purchased a nursery farm at Mankato, which they still own, controlling about 100 acres of nursery stock. Their trade is wholesale and retail. In 1909 the present name was assumed. The output is retailed throughout the Northwest. The company has a floor space of 35,000 square feet. On account of the need of extensive printing, a modern printing room has been opened, in which matter for wholesale and retail catalogues is set up and other printing work is done. During the busy season about sixty persons are employed. The present officers are: William Kueker, president and manager ; William F. Luedke, secretary.
The Ernst Fleckenstein Brewing and Bottling Company dates from 1857. Its greatest disaster was a fire which destroyed the old plant twenty-one years ago. E. Fleckenstein died in 1901 and the company passed into the hands of William M. Flecken- stein, president ; Edward R. Fleckenstein, vice-president ; Alfred A. Fleckenstein, treasurer; Emma R. Fleckenstein, secretary. The plant has a capacity of 10,000 barrels and employs twenty hands, its output consisting of carbonate beverages and beer.
Faribault Roller Mill Company. This company, which is under the same management as the Faribault Furniture Com- pany, manufactures Gold and Silver and Cream of the Harvest flour. It occupies the site of the old Dike mill and the old mill is still a part of its present modern plant. This mill was the incidental outgrowth of a sawmill which was built by Henry Riedell in 1856, at the corner of Fifth and Willow streets. The sawmill was run by a portable steam engine and had a circular saw. In 1857 Mr. Riedell concluded to construct a gristmill and so he ripped out the lumber for that purpose and put it up and got it enclosed the same year. W. II. Dike and William Judd at this stage purchased the building, put in the machinery
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and had it completed and in running order in 1859. The mill was 30x40 feet, three stories high and had four run of stones, with six reels, and could make 100 barrels of flour a day, which was an enormous amount in those early days. The power was derived from an upright engine with two boilers and two flues in each. In 1862 Mr. Judd sold out and the firm became Dike & Greggs. It was thus run until the year 1867, after which Mr. Dike run it alone up to 1870. Previous to this time it was known as the "Rice County Mills." At that time the concern became known as the Crown Point Roller Mills. It is claimed that this mill was the first to ship flour to New York from Minnesota and that it was thus the pioneer in the business which has become so colossal in Minneapolis. The first consignment of flour was to Plummer & Co., in 1859, and the brand was "Cannon River Mills." It was what might be called straight grade of flour. While Mr. Dike was sole owner he made an addition of an elevator to the mill with a capacity of 25,000 bushels.
In the fall of 1871, Turner & Riedell leased the mill, and the following year the property was purchased by W. G. Turner, who increased its size and capacity and transformed it, in obe- dience to the milling revolution which was sweeping over the country, into a roller mill.
Faribault Marble Works. One of the oldest established industries of Faribault is the Faribault Marble Works, which has grown until the products can be seen in all the counties in southern Minnesota and in many throughout the Northwest. The present proprietor, T. J. McCarthy, purchased the works in 1879 from the Patterson Brothers and placed J. H. Night- ingale in charge for five years. Since that date Mr. McCarthy has carried on the business with much success. The work done is the cutting of marble and granite monuments, curbing and general stone work.
Westervelt & Ball. This company, located on Division street, between Central and First avenues, east, does general repairing and makes Concord buggies and express wagons. The members of the firm were O. M. Ball and J. B. Westervelt. The partnership was formed in 1883 and their first shop was on Second avenue, between Third and Fourth streets. This was burned and the company then built a shop near the Third street bridge, on property now occupied by the Rock Island tracks. When the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Com- pany was purchasing property to build their road through the city it purchased the site of this factory and the company moved to its present location. In 1907 Mr. Ball purchased Mr. Wester- velt's interest, but the old name is still retained.
Farmers' Co-Operative Elevator Company. This elevator is
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located at the intersection of Second street and the Chicago Great Western tracks. The company was organized in 1897. The first elevator built was on the corner of Fourth street and the Chicago, Milwaukee tracks. In the elevator was burned. It was rebuilt the same year at its present location. The capacity of the present elevator is 35,000 bushels. The company also owns coal sheds with fourteen bins. In 1908 a 30x60 warehouse was built. The motive power used in the elevator is electricity. The present officers of the company are : Theodore Thom, president ; George Durland, vice-president ; D. Purfeerst, secretary and treasurer ; B. J. Sheridan, manager.
B. F. Orr Elevator. This elevator was erected by the Shef- field Milling Company, at the corner of Third street and the Chicago Great Western tracks. It was later purchased by the Big Diamond Milling Company. In March, 1909, it was pur- chased by B. F. Orr. The capacity of the elevator is 20,000. A feed and flour department is also maintained.
Schwartz-Bion Candy Company. This factory was originally erected by the Theopold-Morris Candy Company about ten years ago. In 1907 it was purchased by Copeland & Schwartz. March 7, 1910, the present firm took charge. The members of the firm are Charles Schwartz and A. M. Bion. About twenty men are employed and a general line of candy manufactured.
Endres Bros. Bottling Works. This firm was organized October, 1897, by John S. Endres, Godfrey Endres and Michael Endres. It was first located at the old Sheeran & Filler stand on Central avenue. Later the company purchased the stone building now used by the Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery Company, at the corner of Division street and First avenue. east. In 1902 this building was sold to the Milwaukee Railroad and a three-story stone building on Central avenue, between First and Second streets, was purchased from the J. B. Wheeler estate. The company manufactures soft drinks and cigars and does general bottling.
Fariott Engine Factory. This factory was started in 1905. owned and conducted by Walter Scott. Its output consists of Fariott gasoline launches and Fariott gasoline engines, from three to twelve horsepower. The factory covers a floor space of 3,200 square feet and employs about seven men. The product is sold directly to consumers, about ten engines being turned out every week. The factory is located at 728 West Fourth street.
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