USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 20
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 20
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and disabled members. and now has over $2,500 in its treasury. The story of its part in the building of the City Hall is told else- where. The third floor, which was completed by the association, is a tribute to its generosity and artistic sense, the murial decora- tions alone costing nearly $2,500, and the electrical fittings over $500. The present officers of the association are: President, L. F. Hammel ; vice president, Henry Sanders ; secretary, Charles J. Servatius; treasurer, John Thon; trustees, F. G. Schuman, Andrew Erdman, E. H. Lipert and J. C. Jahreiss.
CHAPTER XXVI
POSTAL HISTORY
Early Stage and Mail Routes in Steele County-Owatonna Post- office-Postmasters-Locations-Rural Routes-Free Deliv- ery-New Building-Present Force-Receipts .- Compiled With the Assistance of J. M. Diment.
During the winter of 1854-55 Congress, for the purpose of aiding in the establishment of western mail routes, granted for that purpose one section of land for every twenty miles of route operated, under certain conditions. Of course, the stage com- panies at once prepared to take advantage of this, and stations were established on these sections, twenty miles apart. The first stage run through Owatonna was from St. Paul south. This was late in 1855. Owatonna was the terminus for a time. A post- office had been established at Medford, but the mail sacks were not opened at Owatonna until later.
In the winter of 1855-1856, or late in the fall of 1855, as is claimed by some of the old settlers, stages commenced running west from Winona carrying mail on west to St. Peter. The first mail bag that went to the latter place contained one letter of greeting from the postmaster at Winona to the one at St. Peter. Stages were not really put on for passenger travel until 1856, and after that they were run regularly. The manager was a man named Lord, who lived in Winona and who, as a rule, drove the stage himself. The route extended from Winona west, through Owatonna and other points to Travers des Sioux or St. Peter. The first stage arrived here from the east during the last week in September, 1855.
A station was located on section 6, near the northwest corner of Owatonna township. Stages were run weekly to St. Peter and return to Winona.
In 1856 M. O. Walker, succeeding Lord, became proprietor of the stage line, and this name became a familiar one in almost every settlement in the Northwest. This stage line continued in operation until the railroad reached Owatonna in 1866, and then moved westward, followed closely by the lines of railway. Walker at one period, in 1857-1858, became badly involved in debt. He owned many different lines of stages, and, as the financial crash, which came at about this time, checked travel,
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many of these lines did not pay expenses. Often the agents or drivers were unable to pay bills for repairs and keeping con- tracted along the route, and it seems several of this character were run up in Owatonna. Finally papers were got out and placed in the hands of the sheriff, who was instructed to attach Walker's horses as they drove through, and this procedure was repeated many times, the sheriff often having from ten to fifteen of Walker's horses in his charge. Yet it was sometimes a difficult matter to attach the teams. The stages carried United States mail, and so long as a mail-sack remained in the wagon, the sheriff dare not attach the team for fear of violating the United States statutes in detaining the mails or obstructing the route. Ordinarily the sheriff would stand behind the corner of the house, and as soon as the sack was carried into the postoffice he would walk out and claim the team. The carriers got so they would watch for this and would get a sack on just as soon as one was taken off. Walker would invariably pay his bills after a short delay, and then matters would move on smoothly until the next creditor would swear out an attachment. In 1859 Nichols & Wheeler became proprietors of the stage line. They continued it for about four years, when it was purchased by Burbank & Co., who operated it until the railroad came in 1877. A north and south stage line was also put in operation at an early date. With the beginning of 1856 stages arrived regularly on this line, which was then operated by Brackett & Co. Williamson & Cot- ter succeeded them and operated the line until the railroad was built through. Philo Finch, of Clinton Falls, was one of the drivers on this route for Williamson & Cotter. They also had a station every twenty miles, located on the lands which they claimed under the grant. They located a town called Oak Glen in Steele county, on section 1, in what is now Blooming Prairie township, and laid plans for the erection of a city. This line continued in active operation until the railway was put through in 1866-1867. The proposed city never succeeded in getting a fair start, and when the railroad reached this locality the village of Blooming Prairie was laid out on section 25, in the same township, and Oak Glen became a thing of the past.
In 1856 a mail route was established from Owatonna to Geneva, and E. C. Stacy was the first to operate it. Nathaniel Winship next got the contract and continued to run it for four years. The mail was carried sometimes with a buggy, again on horseback and frequently on foot. Hugh Murray is remembered as having footed it across the country with the mail on his back.
As early as 1857 a mail route was established from Red Wing to Blue Earth City, and Philo Hawes became the carrier. Part of the time he was in company with a partner under the firm
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name of Cotter & Hawes. This was continued until about the time the railroads were completed to this point.
The following item appears in the issue of the Owatonna plaindealer, September 22, 1864:
"Burbank & Co. have decided to put on the road between this place and Rochester. next Monday, two daily lines of stages each way, owing to the great increase of travel. Last Monday afternoon there were twenty-seven persons desiring passage east. Nineteen got on one coach and the rest hired a livery, but this is not an unusual occurrence. The company have the best of accommodations on the road for the convenience of the trav- cling public."
The Owatonna Postoffice was established in 1855, with S. B. Smith as postmaster. Up to that time the name of the town had been spelled "Owatonia," but at this time the "i" was changed to an "n." and the orthography became the same as it is to-day. M. A. Daily was the second postmaster, and he was succeeded in turn by John N. Kelley. about 1858; William Wadsworth about 1862, and Twiford E. Hughes about 1866. April 7, 1870, E. Easton took possession of the office and remained until January 8, 1876, when he was succeeded by Charles S. Crandall. Mr. Crandall held the office until April 10, 1884, when he was relieved by Lewis L. Wheelock, who was postmaster for some time.
In 1888 Amos Cogswell was appointed, and he was followed in 1892 by C. E. Luce. M. J. Toher was appointed in 1896 and the present postmaster, J. M. Diment, was appointed in 1900. Be- fore Mr. Crandall's administration the postoffice was located on the north side of Bridge street, on practically the site of the southern half of the present quarters. Mr. Crandall removed it to his store, on the present site of 108 West Broadway. When a syndicate, composed of L. L. Wheelock, E. M. Morehouse. G. F. Albertus, W. R. Kinyon and H. H. Rosebrock, erected the present building, extending from Bridge street to West Broadway, the office was moved to its present quarters.
Congress has passed an act providing for the erection of a $58,000 postoffice building, on the corner south of the beautiful building of the National Farmers' Bank. The appropriation will doubtless be passed at the next session.
This office was made a money-order office in August, 1866. The first three money orders were purchased by Twiford E. Hughes, Alverson & Graham and Dr. A. S. Mygatt.
The city free delivery service was established July 16, 1900. The carriers were: Andrew J. Parolik, Harry H. Luce and Charles G. Boyer. Arthur Il. Lawson was sub carrier. The service was extended and an additional route assigned for serv- ice, March 2, 1903, with HI. W. Vinton was the new carrier.
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The present carrier force consists of Amos B. Colquhoun, Ber- ton A. Deviny, John A. Diehl, and William J. McDonald. Mil- ton A. Rions is the substitute.
The rural free delivery came into existence in Steele county, February 1, 1902, with the establishment of routes 1, 2, 3 and 4 out of Owatonna. Routes 5 and 6 were established February 2, 1903. Route 7 was established July 15, 1904; route 8, June 1, 1905 ; routes 9 and 10, November 16, 1906. On this date, Novem- ber 16, 1906, there was an entire reorganization of the other eight routes out of Owatonna, and what is known as a com- plete county rural free delivery service fully established. The carriers at the present time are as follows: No. 1, T. J. Rions ; No. 2, H. H. Holmes; No. 3, Fred W. Kinyon; No. 4, William Baldwin ; No. 5, William Stransky ; No. 6, George W. McCrady ; No. 7, F. W. Schultz; No. 8, H. A. McCrady ; No. 9, Elias Elia- son; No. 10, Walter W. Reed.
The Owatonna postoffice force is at present organized as fol- lows: Postmaster, J. M. Diment; assistant postmaster, J. W. Andrews; mailing clerk, George C. Toher; money order clerk, Edward W. Springer ; general delivery clerk, Charles F. Rypka ; stamping clerk, Jay S. Whitman; substitute clerk, Harry C. McCrady.
The fiscal year at the Owatonna postoffice extends from July 1 to June 30. Since 1887 the annual postage receipts have been as follows: 1887, $5,793.89 ; 1888, $6,118.38 ; 1889, $6,214.28; 1890, $6,936.53; 1891, $7,105.64; 1892, $7.318.63; 1893, $8,348.19; 1894, $8,604.49 ; 1895, $9,368.07 ; 1896, $9,686.96; 1897, $10,693.01; 1898, $11,166.78; 1899, $11.229.77 1900, $13,175.51; 1901, $12,334.15; 1902, $13,742.45; 1903, $14,484.41; 1904, $15,086.08; 1905, $16,719.04; 1906, $15,908.91; 1907, $17,645.76; 1908, $19,622.29 ; 1909, $21,271.45, thus bringing up the report to July 1, 1910.
Other postoffices are mentioned in connection with their re- spective localities.
CHAPTER XXVII
BLOOMING PRAIRIE VILLAGE.
Modern Blooming Prairie-Its Beauties, Situation and Advan- tages-Coming of the Railroad-Early beginnings-Mu- nicipal Improvements-Park, Waterworks, Sewer-Fraterni- ties-Churches-Leading Stores-Elevators, Mill and Cream- ery-Schools-Grain Industry-Edited by John C. Brainerd.
Blooming Prairie village ranks next to Owatonna in size and importance in the county, its population numbering about one thousand souls. Its progress since its founding in 1867 has been steady, and its situation gives foundation to the belief that the growth will be more rapid. It receives trade from four counties, and is not in too close proximity to either Owa- tonna or Austin. It has a well laid out appearance, a park which is developing new beauties with the passing years, a fine system of waterworks, a short sewer, good schools, and sev- eral excellent churches. Its business men are progressive and prosperous, and have taken an interest in the welfare of the village. Good stores, a newspaper, two good banks and a fine hotel all add to the advantages and comfort of life in this locality.
Blooming Prairie has a population of about 1,000 people. It contains five churches, a graded and high school, two banks, one creamery, three grain elevators, one newspaper, a water- works system, a telephone company, a private sewer system, elec- tric lights, a railroad station, express and telegraph service, a mill, a foundry and factory, a live stock yard, two lumber yards, cement sidewalks, a fine park, four blacksmith shops, four physi- cians, one dentist, one livery, one feed stable, one draying establishment one undertaker, one real estate office. five general stores, three lodge rooms, one opera hall. a tow mill, a feed mill, two meat markets, a hotel. three restaurants, two millinery rooms, three painting and paper hanging establishments, two hardware stores, a furniture store and two drug stores, three agricultural, implement and vehicle dealers, a men's tailor, four saloons, a cigar factory and a photograph gallery.
Following is a brief business directory of Blooming Prairie. Physicians, B. Melby, E. H. Cooley, H. G. Wood, J. W. Warren. General stores, Alliance Cash Co., Blooming Prairie Mercantile Co. (also a men's furnishing store), P. H. Dock, A. A. Hrubetz,
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Joseph Ruzek. Hardware and agricultural implements, Ed. Morton, Bell & Herron. Furniture and agricultural implements, L. S. Ulland ; druggists, Olson & Fjelstad, E. W. Cooley. Feed mill, Susan Johnson. Cigar maker, Thos. M. Bruzek. Black- smiths, T. S. Morton & Son, Walter Rasmussen, Christ Lund, J. A. Schisler. Tow mill (branch), Union Fibre Co., of Winona. Men's tailor, Christ Mortenson. Newspaper, Blooming Prairie Times. Meat markets, R. H. Johnson, B. Betlach. Hotel, the West. Photograph gallery, Fairbanks Bros. Restaurants, W. C. Peterson, L. E. Zweiner. Thomas Keefe. Milliners, Blooming Prairie Mercantile Co., the Campbell sisters. Painting and paper hanging, Blooming Prairie Paint Co., John R. Harty and L. Erickson. Other are mentioned in detail in the general his- tory of the village.
The incorporate limits of Blooming Prairie includes sections 24, 25 and 36 and half of sections 23, 26 and 35 in township 105, range 19. About 40 acres was included in the original plat. Part of that tract has been abandoned, a part replatted, and several additions have been made.
The first buildings erected on the present site of Blooming Prairie village were the shacks for the men employed in con- structing the C. M. & St. P. Ry. About this time C. C. Hartley moved a blacksmith shop from the country to the present site of the village, and a shack was also built probably as a lumber office. The first frame house erected was the railroad station. The second was the residence of C. C. Hartley, long known as the Western house, and Christ Vollhardt built a place that was used as a residence, place of refreshment and hotel, being known as Union hotel.
Christ Vollhart has lived in Blooming Prairic during practi- cally its entire existence. He came here early in 1867, on a construction train, and erected hotel. At that time there was here the railroad station, the boarding house or hotel of C. C. Hartley as well as the blacksmith shop of C. C. Hartley. The first birth in the village was probably that of his son, Henry Voll- hardt, in 1868, and the first death was doubtless that of his daughter, Louise, who died in August, 1868, at the age of four years.
Among the prominent citizens of Blooming Prairie village and vicinity, whose names should be preserved for future gen- crations are the following: A. B. Clark, C. W. Gardner, L. Ellington, R. 1. Fuller, E. B. Sproud, J. N. Dunton, Octave Gar- ricpy, Frank C. Brown, George A. Peterson, John A. McConnell, J. C. Brainerd, Joseph A. McConnell, John G. Lennon, C. C. Hartley, Thomas Feeney, O. A. Veblin. Norman Evans, G. Jen- sen, Aseph Mayo, M. M. Guthrie, Ole Ecker, L. E. Hatch, Theo.
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L. Hlatch, J. Palmer Johnson, C. H. Williams, A. Olson, C. D. Giddings, E. Morton. T. S. Morton, George H. Johnson, E. H. Wheeler, Christ Vollhardt, Aaron Pettie, A. J. Pettie, C. B. Pet- tie. Harrison Pettic. D. T. Pettie, I. C. Pettie, Dr. Saulsbury, Thomas Bray. J. A. Beatty, C. E. Hancock, A. Colquhoun, George M. Topliff, Jos. C. Carey, Peter Haley, Joseph Branning, Ira Foster, H. A. Gleeson, Alec Hughes. Charles D. Giddings, George W. Porter, Jacob Ryder, Charles E. Johnson, Thomas B. Ingersoll, A. G. Ingersoll, J. C. Rae, Charles Rae, Michael Gleen, Edward Burke, C. H. Scott, Christ Calusen, William Cashman and H. N. Thurston.
The village of Blooming Prairie is situated in the southeast corner of the township of the same name, its limits adjoining the counties of Dodge, Mower and Freeborn. It occupies the most elevated portion of Steele county and the highest plain in southern Minnesota, the elevation being about 1,300 feet above the sea level. A short distance east of the village is the source of the Cedar and Zumbro rivers, and the Straight and Turtle rivers rise nearby to the west. The village was very appro- priately named, as its site is on one of the most beautiful prairies in the west which was originally clothed with a profusion of wild flowers changing in their kind and color from the white and blue of early spring to gold and purple of the autumn day.
The rails of the Minnesota Central Railway, now a portion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, were laid through here in the summer of 1867, and a station and a postoffice opened both named Blooming Prairies. The first station agent was J. C. Note- man and the first postmaster, Chas. W. Gardner. About this time the lots and streets were surveyed and staked. The tract being a portion of the original land grant to the railway company and was purchased by Selah Chamberlain, of Cleveland, and George E. Skinner, of Faribault, who shortly afterward formally recorded the plat.
The tributary country is one of the most fertile in southern Minnesota, and as it was fast settling up the town speedily be- came an important trading point and was soon one of the large primary grain markets. The first stock of merchandise was placed on sale by A. C. Hawley, generally known as Captain Hawley, in a small tent near the present depot building with L. Ellington employed as clerk. It is reported a heavy storm occurred soon after the grand opening and many unprescribed mixtures of tobacco, fish, starch, coffee, etc., were made. The remaining merchandise was removed to a small warehouse on the railway grounds south of the depot, one part of which was used for handling grain, the postoffice was also kept in this build- ing. Mr. Gardner purchased the stock of merchandise a few
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months afterwards and removed it and the postoffice to a build- ing which he erected in 1868, on block 7, opposite the depot, and which is a portion of the building still standing there.
In the spring of 1868 one of the first store buildings was put up by E. B. Sprant, on block 7, and in which he conducted a mer- cantile business for some two years when he sold out to J. N. Dunton & Son. In 1867 the first hotel was opened by Chris Vollhardt and operated as such for some years and called the Union Hotel. The first blacksmith shop was opened for busi- ness by C. C. Hartley on lot 12, block 13, in 1867. Mr. Hartley also erected a hotel in the same year in block 13, which was long known as the Western house. In 1870 Chas. W. Gardner sold his mercantile business to Mr. Octave Garricpy, of Minneapolis, and Mr. Ellington, who was in the employ of Mr. Gardner, was appointed postmaster. Mr. Garricpy continued in the mercantile business until the year, 1876, when he returned to Canada, his native home, where he now resides.
In 1870 E. H. Wheeler purchased a building on block 6, and opened a blacksmith shop, employing T. S. Morton; the next year Mr. Morton succeeded to the business and removed his shop the following year to lot I, block 8. The building has been re- paired and additions made, but the old building still stands and Mr. Morton still works at the old place where he has for these many years conducted a successful business. For some time his son, Byron H., has been associated with him in the blacksmith and machine business.
In 1871 Lewis Ellington and F. C. Brown opened a small stock in block 14, on Fourth and the postoffice. Mr. Ellington, postmaster, was removed to this building. Mr. Brown retired from the business after a few months and Mr. Ellington united his business with that of Geo. A. Peterson, who had previously operated a store in Austin, but sent his stock here in 1872, doing business under the name of G. A. Peterson & Co., and under this firm name the business was conducted. Mr. Ellington retired in a few months and Mr. Peterson became sole proprietor and continued in business for some time when he sold to J. A. McConnell.
Municipal Improvements .- The village of Blooming Prairie was politically a portion of the township and the physical im- provements were few for some years; the streets were ungraded ; the soil was beautifully black, the road and bridge fund very small and the street in wet seasons almost impassible. A few boards were laid down for sidewalks in some favored spots and removed from place to place as occasion seem to require. The walks on Main street were very individual in character, some were on a level with the street and some from one to three
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feet higher, cach business place had a walk for its own accom- modation. a few connecting steps and some connecting planks made walking much safer in the streets, especially in the dark.
During the legislative session of 1873 and 1874 the act incor- porating the village was passed. At the first charter election in March. T. S. Morton was chosen president of the council ; trustees, G. A. Peterson, H. A. Gleason and Octave Garriepy : recorder. J. C. Brainerd ; justice of the peace, Peter Haley ; con- stable, J. C. Rea : W. Bowman, assessor. Village improvements were now the order of the day, the grade of the streets was established. sidewalks brought to grade, hitching posts taken out of Main street, all with many a protest. A parcel of land, centrally located, was purchased and a voting place and a lock-up were erected, on this site now stands the two-story brick building fitted for a voting place, jail and storage for fire apparatus.
The village plot was originally bare of trees. Considerable interest was soon displayed by all in planting trees on the streets and lots, which are now so beautifully and abundantly shaded.
In August. 1889. a fire broke out in the hay mow of the large barn on the Skinner farm, adjoining the village ; the villagers were very active in their efforts to subdue and control the fire, and Mr. Skinner, as evidence of his appreciation of their good work, presented the village with a block of ground for park pur- poses. This was promptly planted with trees, mostly maple. elm, bass and birch. They have made a rapid growth and are the foundation of a beautiful park.
The present officers of the village are as follows: President, James Bergin ; trustees, E. W. Cooley. A. O. Bensen, G. F. Hyde ; recorder, A. A. Peterson : treasurer, T. C. Cashman ; justice, M. Guthrie : marshal, John Driscoll ; board of health, B. Melby. A. Fairbanks and Jolin Driscoll; school board, A. Solberg. Alex. Fjelstad, E. A. Gilmore, C. W. Ricketts. A. E. Johnson.
Blooming Prairie Village Hall .- This neat edifice was erected during the administration of M. Guthrie as president of the vil- lage. The lower floor is devoted to the fire apparatus and the jail, while the upper floor contains the village auditorium and the council chambers. The fire apparatus, housed in the lower part of the building, consists of two hose carts, a hook and ladder truck, a chemical apparatus and a hand pump. The fire de- partment consists of twenty-four members and was organized June 29, 1905. A. O. Bensen is the chief.
Schools .-- The first school building was located on lot 7, block 4, a site donated by Mr. Skinner to the district. A few years later the location being desired by a church site an ex- change was made with Mr. Skinner for a much larger portion of
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land, and the school house sold to him. This building was removed to lot 7, block 13, where it is now occupied. On the new site a substantial brick veneered school building of four rooms was erected in 1876, this is still occupied and in good condition. In 1899 the village school district erected a beautiful eight-room brick building on a site north of the old grounds. This building is well equipped with library and laboratory. The school grounds complete comprise a fine tract of ten lots adjoin- ing the park. The first teacher in the old school building was J. K. Bucklin. Professor Fate was the first principal in the four-room building, and L. H. Isaacs, now superintendent of schools, in South St. Paul, was the first principal in the new high school building.
Postoffice .- The Blooming Prairie postoffice, of which Theo. P. Fagre has been postmaster for four years, does an annual busi- ness of nearly $4,000, maintains five rural routes and gives the village and surrounding country most excellent service. The postmaster is assisted by Miss Florence Keefe, and S. S. Siverson has also been sworn in as clerk. The rural carriers are H. L. Wheeler, Ira J. Smith, Carl G. Jolson, Christ. E. Weger and Jolın Gorvin. The office was established in 1868 with C. W. Gardner as postmaster. He was succeeded by L. Ellington, wlio served until July, 1876, when A. Mayo was appointed and served until 1886, when M. Guthrie took office. He served two terms and was followed by John G. Lennon. Then came Mr. Lennon's bondsmen, and in 1898 W. L. Buckson assumed office. He was succeeded in 1906 by the present postmaster.
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