USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 19
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 19
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CLINTON FALLS.
The village of Clinton Falls was laid out in the fall of 1855 by Dr. W. W. Finch. In the village plat a block was platted as a cemetery, free to everyone. It was not laid out in lots until after Dr. Finch left. In 1882 the Oak Hill Cemetery Association was formed and Dr. Finch deeded the block to them and it was then platted into lots. This was the first cemetery in the county. The first burial in it was of the remains of Daniel Morrison, who died in March, 1855. A postoffice was established here in the fall of 1856, with James Finch as postmaster. The first and only hotel ever established here was started by C. M. William- son and T. Burns, in the summer of 1857. It was run by them for some time and was known as the Clinton House. The first religious society organized here was the Medford and Clinton Congregational Society, which was organized by Rev. O. A. Thomas.
The first store at Clinton Falls was started by Cyrus Will- iamson in 1857, with a small stock of groceries and notions. In 1861, Judge Green went to Milwaukee and secured what was then considered a large stock of goods, which was hauled to this place by teams from La Crosse, that being the nearest railway point. Later the store was owned by Dr. Finch. In 1856, Dr. Finch commenced building a dam across Straight river, for the purpose of securing sufficient water power to operate mill ma- chincry, but one-half interest was to belong to the Williamson Brothers, who were to build a grist mill, and Dr. Finch a saw- mill, the grist mill to be completed within a year. When the
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sawmill was put into operation, James Finch had a leg broken by a log rolling upon him. The Messrs. Williamson failing to get their grist mill completed early enough, Dr. Finch sent to Chicago and procured a set of small burrs, or what was called a "portable mill," and put it in operation in his sawmill. This was the first grist mill in this county. It was truly a Godsend to the settlers, who had frequently been under the necessity of resorting to their coffee mills to manufacture their meal for bread. Wheat thus ground was very appropriately called meal, as it could not be reduced fine enough to be called flour. Set- tlers used to come here from a distance of forty or fifty miles. Williamson Brothers pushed their work on their grist mill, and in 1857 Hon. G. W. Green purchased an interest, and later the whole mill, and it was pushed forward to completion under the superintendence of Moses Hutchinson, the only practical mill- wright this section of the country then afforded. D. R. Mor- rison was established as miller. Judge Green became sole pro- prietor and continued to operate the mill for many years.
A division of the Sons of Temperance was organized here in the summer of 1876, a charter being granted on the 27th of December. 1876. The charter members were Frank W. Sher- man, Ella Boynton, Annie McCartney, Matie Brown, Matie Green, Nellie Knapp, Susan Larson, R. A. Shadick, M. Shadick, C. C. Finch, F. Il. Church, F. R. Green, W. H. Boynton and Thomas Griffin. The organization was enthusiastically main- tained for some time. After a time, however, the interest flagged and it was finally abandoned.
The village at present consists of a church, a store, a cream- ery and a mill, as well as several residences. A new dam has recently been built across the river and the village is enjoying a settled prosperity. C. M. Finch is the postmaster.
MEDFORD.
The village of Medford is located on sections 8 and 9, in a beautiful valley through which flows the Straight river. The village was laid out in 1856, on land which had been entered as government land by Smith Johnson in 1853. The site was sur- veyed and platted by Rev. O. A. Thomas, for the proprietor, Smith Johnson, Sr. At a meeting of the settlers to consult upon a name wherewith to christen the town, Mr. Colling said that he had a son who was born on board the ship Medford and was named Medford in honor of the ship, and proposed that the town should be named Medford in honor of the boy, which proposi- tion was unanimously adopted. The postoffice at Medford was established in the fall of 1855, with Smith Johnson, Sr., as the
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first postmaster. This was the first postoffice established in what is now Steele county. The office was then kept at Mr. Johnson's residence, and he retained the position until the time of his death in 1860. Succeeding him in the carly days, came the following postmasters: Edwin Drake, Albert Mckinney, D. C. Hunkins, E. T. Howard, Orlando Johnson, L. S. Fowler, John Bailey and S. M. Freeman. The first frame house erected in Medford village was commenced by Mr. Kinyon, and com- pleted in 1856 by Smith Johnson. It was run as a hotel until about 1867, by A. Stebbins. In 1856 the Abbott Brothers put up a steam sawmill and set it in operation, and it furnished most of the lumber for this section of the country. The mill was removed after running a year or two. The same year Messrs. Melvin, Ridcout & Hall erected a fine steam sawmill a short distance below the village site. It continued in active opera- tion until about 1860, when it was burned to the ground and has never been rebuilt.
The first store in the village was started in the summer of 1856 by Albert Mckinney. He continued it until July, 1857, when it was rented by W. P. Francis & Co., who put in what was considered a heavy stock of goods in those days. They ran the store for a year or two and then exchanged it for real estate.
In the fall of 1858. Messrs. Sulley & Francis established a paper here, called the "Medford Valley Argus," removing the material from Owatonna. The publication of the paper was dis- continued within a year. Mention of this is made in the general chapters of this work.
In the fall of 1867 an extensive grist mill was erected here by E. T. Howard. It was a valuable acquisition to this part of the county. It had a capacity of 150 barrels a day. Mr. Howard ran it for several years, and was succeeded by White & Baynon, and then Baynon & Mace. In September, 1880, the mill was destroyed by fire and the owners did not rebuild.
In the spring of 1872, Howard & Johnson erected a cheese factory, which was the forerunner of the present Farmers' Co- operative Creamery.
In July, 1866, the first train of cars was run through the village, on what has since become the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In 1901 the Cedar Rapids, Burlington & North- ern, now the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, came through.
The Methodist Church in the village was erected in 1875. The Congregational Church was crected in 1863-4.
On December 20, 1883, a destructive fire occurred in Med- ford village, destroying five stores and a doctor's office. The losses were reported to the country papers as follows: Captain
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Heath, building and pool table, loss $1,000; G. H. Butler, stock, loss $550, insurance $400; A. B. Bryant, drug store, loss $800, insurance $600; J. F. Curtis, drug store, loss $1,500, insurance $1,000; O. Lee, meat market, barber shop, doctor's office, store and hall, loss $2,800, insurance $1.350; John Baily's loss was about $1,000 on store.
A Congregational society was organized at a meeting held at Clinton Falls, on September 13, 1856. Rev. O. A. Thomas was chosen moderator and secretary. The following named were present : Nathan and Phoebe Williamson, Minerva Finch, Helen M. Finch, Avery Adams, Emma T. Adams, David San- born, Joseph Sawyer, Anna C. Sawyer and Zachariah Scribner. At a meeting held in Clinton Falls on April 10, 1857, S. C. Will- jamson and Zachariah Scribner were appointed as a committee to hire a minister, and instructed to engage Rev. O. A. Thomas to preach at Medford and Clinton Falls, as the organization embraced both points. This plan was carried out and Nathan Williamson, of Clinton, and Joseph Sawyer, of Medford, were selected as deacons. In 1864 a church was erected at Medford, which was dedicated February 18, 1864.
Medford is now a prosperous trading point, and has two rail- road stations, a postoffice, a fine creamery. several churches, and the usual stores, shops and the like. Recently the village has seen a revival of activity and in the past two or three years its business has increased considerably.
SETTLEMENTS AND HAMLETS.
Anderson, also known as Lysne, the name of the postoffice, is well located on land originally owned by Thomas M. Ander- son. It is seven miles southeast of Owatonna, on the C. & N. WV. Railway, and is a hustling little settlement and trading point.
Deerfield is a discontinued postoffice twelve miles northwest of Owatonna and six miles west of Medford, which is its nearest shipping point.
Steele Center. A discontinued postoffice six miles south of Owatonna, the county seat, on the C. & N. W. ; C., M. & St. P., and C., R. I. & P. railways.
Riverpoint. A discontinued postoffice ten miles south of Owatonna, the county seat.
Merton. A discontinued postoffice on the C. & N. W .; C., M. & St. P., and C., R. I. & P. railways.
Berlin. A discontinued postoffce nineteen miles southwest of Owatonna, the county seat. Mail by rural free delivery from Ellendale.
Lemond. A discontinued postoffice thirteen miles southwest
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of Owatonna, the county seat. Mail by rural free delivery from Ellendale.
Meriden. A village on the C. & N. W. Railway, nine miles west of Owatonna, the county seat, and six miles east of Waseca, the banking point. Has a German Evangelical Church. Ex- press, American. Telephone, Northwestern.
Havana. A postoffice on the C. & N. W. Railway, five miles southeast of Owatonna, the county seat and banking point. Ex- press, American. Telephone, Northwestern.
Pratt. A postoffice on the C., M. & St. P. Railway, five miles east of Owatonna, the county seat and banking point. Express, Wells-Fargo & Co. The village is named from Horace Pratt.
Saco. A station on the C., R. I. & P. Railway, six miles southwest of Owatonna, the banking point and usual postoffice.
Hope Station, six miles north of Ellendale and ten miles south of Owatonna, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, was established at the request of the farmers of this vicinity in 1906. The farmers appeared before the railroad and warehouse com- mission, August 8, 1905, and at that hearing the railroad agreed to establish the station at the location desired. It was opened the following spring. There is now a creamery, an elevator and a general store at this point.
FORMER VILLAGES.
Ellwood village was platted in 1854, in the southwest quar- ter of the northwest quarter of section 24, Clinton Falls town- ship, by F. Wilber Fisk.
Dodge City was started in the northwest corner of Merton township, in 1856 by a Mr. Coburn who opened a small store there. The country was so sparsely settled that the store did not pay, and Mr. Coburn sold out to O. T. Jones, who after a while sold out the stock and closed the store.
Adamsville was the name originally given to the now dis- continued postoffice of Berlin. The postoffice was established in 1856 with Hiram Pitcher as postmaster. Mr. Pitcher car- ried the mail from Owatonna, many times going on foot and in the winter using snow shoes. The name was changed to Berlin in 1857.
Somerset Village .- A village called Somerset was platted on section 20 in Somerset township, in 1856, by John and William Catlin and Carles Ellison. They divided a forty-acre tract into streets, lots and blocks. A store building was erected, but was never occupied as a store, and finally, after considerable
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effort on the part of those interested, the project was aban- doned and the site reverted to farm property.
Somerset postoffice was the name originally given to what afterward became River Point in Somerset township. A post- office was established here in 1857. with Dr. Thomas Kenyon as postmaster. Other early postmasters were Charles Ellison, Mr. Bill, Dr. W. H. Twiford, Lewis Robinson, W. R. Catlin and D. M. Smith. The name was changed sometime in the late seventies, so far as can be ascertained.
Elmira Village .- In 1857 a village named Elmira was laid out on section 18 in Somerset near the township line by Thomas Twiford, who platted about eighty acres of land. A company was formed through which a dam was thrown across Straight river and a sawmill was erected. A frame hotel was erected, which in those days was considered a credit to the county. Mr. Twiford also established a store. An earnest and determined effort was made to start a town here, and considerable stress was laid upon the prospects of the embryo city as to county seat honors. Five or six thousand dollars was expended in placing the village on a good foundation : but as it failed to get the railroad, the proprietor gave up hope and finally vacated the plat.
Aurora postoffice was established in the southeast part of Aurora township at the residence of Charles Adsit in September, 1856. It was moved to Oak Glen station, (in what is now sec- tion 1, Blooming Prairie township) then back to Adsit's place and was finally located at Aurora station.
Oak Glen station was an old stage coach station on the mail line from Owatonna to Lansing. The mail contractor in the summer of 1856, erected a half-way station here and J. B. Per- ham divided the site into blocks, lots, alleys and streets. The postoffice, afterward located at Aurora station, was located in this settlement for a short time.
Aurora Station was an important point in Aurora township in the early days of the C. M. & St. P. Ry .. and bade fair to become a large settlement. But it was wiped out by fire, and the present site of Bixby, selected as a more suitable location for the village between Owatonna and Blooming Prairie.
POSTOFFICES.
There are at present in Steele county, ten postoffices with postmasters as follows: Havana, Frank R. Herzberg: Pratt. Matilda S. Lieb : Bixby, Peter C. Johnson ; Blooming Prairie, Theodore P. Fagre : Clinton Falls, Cyrus M. Finch ; Lysne (An-
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derson), Louis W. Thompson; Owatonna, James M. Diment; Meriden, Samuel E. Grandprey ; Medford, W. A. Bailey.
RAILROADS.
The cities and villages of Steele county, while depending to a large extent on the farmers for their trade, have nevertheless been made possible in a great degree by the railroads, though a few are off the route of the steam lines, and many were founded long before railroads in this county were deemed a possibility. The county is now crossed by three railroads, the Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul .- The Minneapolis & Cedar Valley Railroad Company was incorporated March 1, 1856, with an authorized capital stock of $3,000,000 to construct a railroad from Minneapolis to a point of juncture with the Root River Valley & Southern Minnesota Railroad in Dakota county, from one to six miles from Mendota, and thence in a southerly direc- tion to Faribault, thence through the valley of the Straight river to the southern boundary line of the territory. The com- pany was also to have the right to build at any time, a line from the Mendota junction to St. Paul, also a like road to Hastings.
The summer previous, 1855, had witnessed a heavy increase in the population of Steele county. Railroad agitation had already begun in earnest, all who were interested here took an active part in working the matter up. Railroads, it seemed absolutely necessary to have and strenuous efforts were made to put the scheme in operation. Persons went to St. Paul to attend the sessions of the seventh territorial legislature and the charter above mentioned was granted, and the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley railroad was incorporated. Among the incor- porators were: Franklin Steele, Isaac Atwater, D. M. Hanson, James F. Bradley, Ezra Abbott, R. P. Russell, A. M. Fridley, H. H. Sibley, John W. North, James Shields, Alexander Fari- bault, John C. Ide, Charles Jewett. F. W. Fisk, Benjamin L. Arnold, William F. Pettit, John H. Abbott, A. B. Cornell, A. Town, A. B. Vaugn, H. O. Billings, Orlando Wilder and others. Four men, Henry H. Sibley, of Mendota; Franklin Steele, of Minneapolis; James Shields, of Faribault; William F. Pettit, of Owatonna, and A. B. Vaugn, of Austin, were commissioned to open books and receive subscriptions. The commissioners snc- ceeded in securing stock subscriptions to the amount of $200,000. Owatonna, Faribault and Northfield were the most active in rais- ing this amount of stock. The first meeting of the stockholders was held in Mendota in February. 1857, at which time the fol-
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lowing named directors were elected: Ezra Abbott, of St. Anthony ; Franklin Steele, of Ft. Snelling ; H. H. Sibley, of Men- dota; J. W. North, of Northfield; James Shields, of Faribault ; William F. Pettit, of Owatonna, and A. B. Vaugn, of Austin ; Ezra Abbott, treasurer ; Franklin Steele, secretary, and J. H. Abbott, chief engineer. In June, Mr. Abbott and L. Kellett com- menced surveying the route and by the close of September, the location was made and the estimates for the construction com- pleted.
May 22, 1857, at a special session of the territorial legislature called by Governor Gorman by reason of the Congressional land grant. this road was one of four which received a grant of alternate sections designated by odd numbers, six miles in width, on each side of the roads and their branches. The com- panies were to pay 3 per cent of their gross earnings in lieu of all taxes and assessments, and the lands granted by Congress were to be exempt from all taxation until sold or conveyed by the companies. The corporations were generally given ten years to construct their respective roads. April 15, 1858, the legislature passed what was afterward known as the five mil- lion dollar loan, by which state bonds to that amount were to be issued for the benefit of the roads. Governor Sibley refused to issue these bonds, but afterward yielded to the Superior court. The amount issued to the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley road was $600,000. But for various reasons the railroads were unable to dispose of these bonds to advantage, and therefore did not pay the interest, and work on the railroads was suspended. The controversy was finally ended by the state legislature in 1860, when it was voted that the state should enforce its liens and become owner of all franchise lands and the roadbeds of the defunct companies. The Minnesota Central Railroad company was incorporated in 1862 to follow the same route of construc- tion originally laid out for the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley rail- road. In 1865 Faribault was reached, and in August, 1866, trains were running through Steele county. In the meantime a line was in course of construction in Iowa, and the lines united at Rose Creek, near Austin, thus making this railroad the first to connect St. Paul with the east. In 1874 the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul adopted its present title, having in the meantime absorbed the Minnesota Central and many other lines.
Chicago & Northwestern .- The Transit Railroad Company was chartered March 3, 1855, with a capital of $5,000,000 and the route designed for it by the act of May 22, 1857 was from Winona via St. Peter to a feasible point on the Bix Sioux river, south of the forty-fifth parallel of north latitude, also from
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its terminus to any point on the Missouri river south of the same parallel of latitude. This act was passed at a special ses- sion called by Governor Gorman, by reason of the magnificent grant of land made by Congress that same year. The Transit company was one of the four railroads, which, by this act of the special territorial legislature of May 22, 1857, received alternate sections, designated by odd numbers, six miles in width on each side of the roads and their branches.
This road received $500,000 in bonds under the five million dollar loan, but was unable to dispose of them to advantage, or to pay the interest, and forfeited its property to the state in 1860. The Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company, which was an outgrowth of the Transit line, was organized March 10, 1862, and completed its line from Winona to Rochester in 1864. Two years later in August it reached Owatonna. In 1867 the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company became interested in this line and under date of June 7, 1900, acquired it by purchase.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific .- The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company reached Owatonna from Albert Lea, June 13, 1900. It later pushed its way north and was in operation through Faribault to the Twin Cities in Jan- uary, 1902. June 15, 1903, the line was acquired by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.
Red Wing, Duluth & Southern .- In 1887, the city of Owaton- na voted bonds to the amount of $40,000 to assist in the construc- tion of a line which was to run from Albert Lea, through Owa- tonna, thence to Red Wing, and northward. This line was never constructed, and the bonds were never issued.
The Dan Patch Air Line, designed eventually to become a part of a system connecting the Twin Cities with Chicago by electric line, has been surveyed through Steele county and many of the people of the county have subscribed to its stock.
OWATONNA FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fire department of Owatonna was organized in 1875 by the election of M. R. Strong, chief, and I. W. Burch, secretary. Charles H. Randall was the second chief, serving from 1877 to 1879, at which latter date C. W. Hadley was appointed, serving until 1884. The membership fee of this company was $1 to join the fire department, and all members were to run to the fires without pay. They were also to take charge of their own fire apparatus, which consisted of two eighty-gallon chemical four- wheel wagons, weighing about two tons each, which the city had purchased of the Champion Fire Extinguisher Company, of Louisville, Ky., paying $2,800 on board the boat at Louisville,
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Ky. Upon the arrival of these fire extinguishers, they made a test on a burning building situated on South Elm street. In making the run, a man was killed, the victim being a stranger who, while helping to draw the apparatus, tripped and fell in such a way that a wheel passed over him. This apparatus was used to good advantage, and saved thousands of dollars' worth of property until the present waterworks were constructed in 1890.
The fire department was disbanded in 1884, by a resolution of the city council. S. S. Green was then instructed to organize a fire department, which was to be composed of not more than forty members, and for compensation they were to receive twenty-five cents for each meeting, and $1 for each member who worked at a fire, the member so working to report at the fire house after the fire fighting was done.
At the reorganization in 1884, S. S. Green became the chief. In 1886 he was followed by C. E. Luce. In 1887, E. M. Twiford was appointed and has served continuously with the exception of the years 1899 and 1900 when Ovid Wood took his place, Mr. Twiford being mayor of the city those two years. The presi- dents have been as follows: 1884, H. Luers; 1886, E. M. Twi- ford; 1887, S. S. Green; 1890. C. E. Luce ; 1892, William Ganse- witz; 1893, L. B. Fenner ; 1895, William Gausewitz; 1898, L. B. Fenner; 1904, L. F. Ilammel, who is still serving. The secre- taries have been : 1884, C. E. Luce; 1886, Benjamin E. Darby ; 1890, Walter Amos; 1894, E. A. Brown; 1896, J. P. Thon ; 1898, Charles J. Servatius, who is still serving.
The present officers are : President, L. F. Hammel : secretary, Charles J. Servatius; treasurer, John Thon; chief, E. M. Twvi- ford ; assistant, F. G. Schuman ; foreman hose cart No. 1, R. H. Jahreiss ; foreman of hose cart No. 2, William Essler ; foreman of the hook and ladder company, John Thon.
There are at present twenty-five members of the fire depart- ment, one of whom is employed continuously and six of whom sleep in the fire house at the City Hall. There is also a branch fire house on Rose street, between Oak and Cedar. The appa- ratus consists of a combination hose and chemical wagon, two hose carts, a hook and ladder, and other equipment. The chem- ical wagon has a capacity of fifty-two gallons and has about 200 pounds pressure. There are 16 fire boxes in the city and 125 hydrants, the water having a pressure of about 72 pounds, gravity, in the business districts. The hose equipment consists of about 2,800 feet.
The Owatonna Fire Department Relief Association was or- ganized April 5, 1895, and has been a most important factor in the civic growth of the city. Starting with $11 in its treasury, it has contributed over $11,000 to the city, has cared for its sick
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